A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 244 (Question 98 cont.)
SERMON CCXLIV.
III. ANOTHER distinction of Prayer is, that it is either Mental or Vocal. The reaſon of this diſtinction is, becauſe there is in Man a Soul and a Body; which though both are concerned in the Duties of Worſhip, yet the Soul is the Principal; and though the Body is uſed by it as an inſtrument, in its imperate acts for the moſt part, yet there are ſome operations which it can perform, without making uſe of the Bodily Organs in the doing of them; and this gives a foundation for the diſtinction now under conſideration; which may be more particularly conſidered.
1. MENTAL Prayer is when we only ſend up our Deſires to God in our Thoughts: And of ſuch Praying we have an account given; thus Gen. 24.45. 1 Sam. 1.13. We obſerved that Prayer is an offering of our deſires to God; now as the deſires themſelves are inward, ſo alſo they may be inwardly expreſt to God; and this doth properly belong to Secret Prayers, and cannot be uſed alone in ſuch as are Social; And though Chriſtians may uſe their Tongues in Secret Prayer, provided they do not thereby make them Publick; but only as may help to keep their minds more intenſe; yet there is no occaſion for it in regard of God's audience; no… needs there any external Sign at all, to acquaint him with what we are doing; for as he ſees, ſo he hears in Secret: And it is the Heart which he principally regards in Duty, Pſal. 51.6. And as, if that be away, all the noiſe that we can make, will be but howling; ſo if that be thus employed ſincerely, it will be a Sacrifice acceptable to him; ver. 17. And a Child of God ſhall find a great deal of occaſion for his uſing of his manner of Praying in his courſe here; and it is a Priviledge which all the World cannot take from him: the Heart hath a Language as well as the Tongue, and he who is the Father of Spirits underſtands it as well: for the Pſalmiſt confeſſeth, Pſal 130.2. Thou underſtand…st my thought afar …. Now theſe tho'ts may be ſent up to God, whether in Ejaculations, or in a more continued Prayer, when there is not a word uttered by the Lips, nor any external ſign in a…y B…d…y geſture, that can acquaint by ſtanders that we are Praying to God; and this is the advantage of God's Children, that they can hold Communion with him in their Prayers, in every place, in all Companies & upon all Occaſions. Sometimes God's People are d…b…ed in his Providence, ſo that they cannot get alone to pou… out their Hearts before God▪ but this hinders not their Precious converſe with him: though this doth not diſcharge them from their Secret Retirements where they may have more ſcope, and freedom from impediments, when they can have opportunity ſo to do; but if they cannot, it need not to cut off this Duty; but they may be alone with God in their Minds, when they cannot get alone with their Bodies; though Perſecutors may reſtrain their Bodily freedom ſhut them up in Priſons among Wicked Men, and not ſuffer them to be alone, yet there is a way to Heaven which they cannot block up; but in ſpite of their Enemies, they may mount up to Heaven, and carry their requeſts to the Throne of Grace, and leave them before God; and whilſt this Door is open, they are ſafe.
2. VOCAL Prayer is the offering of our deſires to God in o…ward expreſſions. This indeed is not eſſential to Prayer, … the whole eſſence of it is contained in the former; but it is a circumſtance in ſome caſes neceſſary; that it may be done in Secret Prayer we before obſerved, provided it take not from the Secrecy of it: And God's People have found by experience, that it hath been helpful to them to keep their thoughts more intent, and prevent their wanderings; but, in regard of Social Prayer, it is neceſſary. A Child of God may have Fellowſhip with him in Mental Prayer; but Chriſtians cannot offer up their joy…t Prayers to God but in that which is Vocal; for we before obſerved, that in Social Prayer one is the Mouth of the reſt in offering requeſts to God, who may teſtify their concurrence with their Amen; whereas none can know the Heart immediately but God; but we are to impart our thoughts to others by external Signs, and peculiarly by Words, which are the Interpreters of the Mind. And here we may more particularly take notice of theſe things,
(1.) THAT Mental Prayer muſt always accompany Vocal, in order to our obtaining Audience with God. We muſt uſe words to edify others, but our Hearts muſt go with them if we would Pleaſe God; it is therefore charged as hypocriſy, Ezek. 33.31. For with their mouth they ſhow much love, but their heart goeth after their covetouſneſs. Lip-Services, when the Heart is abſent, are the way to procure a Curſe inſtead of Bleſſing: if Men come with an Idol in their Hearts, they ſhall be anſwered according to their Idol, Ezek. 14. beg. Meerly Lip-Prayers, be they never ſo loud, are no better than howlings in God's eſteem.
(2.) THAT God hath given to Man his Tongue to Glorify him withal, after a ſpecial manner. Other Creatures beſides have their Tongues which are of uſe; but it is a peculiar Priviledge of Man, that he hath a Tongue beſtowed on him, by which to expreſs his inward tho'ts to others; and this is called Man's Glory, becauſe by it he is furniſhed for rational converſe with Men, far excelling hereby all brute Animals; for though they hear the various Sounds they make which may be differenced, and is helpful in their ſenſible Communion; yet they have not a power of forming theſe into a Language or Speech, which may interpret the mind; but this Man is favoured withal; and without it humane Society would be very lame and imperfect: And th…s may be included in that, Job. 35.11. Who teacheth us more than the beaſts of the earth, and maketh us wiſer then the ſowls of heaven.
(3.) GOD requires of his People that they do employ their Tongues to Worſhip and Glorify him. Prayer therefore being one part of his Worſhip, theſe are alſo to be employed in it: The Apoſtle joyns theſe two together, Rom. 10.10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteouſneſs, and with the mouth confeſſion is made unto ſalvation. And the Pſalmiſt when he calls upon himſelf to Praiſe and Glorify God, particularly calls upon his Tongue in this employment, Pſal. 57.8. It is not enough for Chriſtians to Pray in their Cloſets, but they are to Pray in the Aſſemblies, and it belongs to the open Profeſſion of the Goſpel. And for this reaſon a Profeſſing People are deſcribed by their calling on the Name of the Lord.
(4.) THIS ſhows the Vanity of th…ſe that appoint and applaud their ſilent Meetings for the Worſhipping of God. There is a ſort of Men we know ſo do, and tell us how greatly edifying they are; but it is meer Enthuſiaſm. We acknowledge that there are ſilent Prayers, but then they are not Social; and it is hard to tell how ſuch may be rationally edified by ſuch pretended Communion; where they uſe nothing but exotical Geſtures, and rid…culous Poſtures of Body, which others cannot underſtand: Social Prayers they cannot be, and if Secret they ought to be done in Secret; or ſo as though we are in Company, yet they are known only to God and our own Souls.
(5.) THAT theſe Prayers may be preſented in any Language, provided it be known. The Folly of Praying in a Language unknown hath been before conſidered; and what we here further obſerve, is that every Language is a like Elegible, provided it be underſtood; it is Superſtition in thoſe that will have it in one of the three Languages which Chriſt Sanctified on his Croſs, as if it added Holineſs to the Duty: that Language which is Barbarous to one, is Native to another; and let it be one of thoſe expreſt, if not underſtood by ſuch as uſe it, it is Barbarous to them; according to the Apoſtles ſenſe, 1 Cor. 14.11. Therefore …f I know not the meaning of the wic…, I ſhall be unto him that ſpeaketh a Barbarian, and he that ſpeaketh … all be a Barbarian unto me. God will in Goſpel times be Worſhipped by all Kindreds and To…gues, and they muſt do it with Underſtanding.
IV. ANOTHER diſtinction of Prayer is into Ordinary and Extraordinary. The ground of this Diſtinction is becauſe beſides the daily calls that we have to ſet apart ſome Time to invoke God, and preſent our Supplications to him, there are ſome Occaſions wherein the People of God are called to ſeparate themſelves to this Duty after a more extraordinary manner; not that we ſhould at any time do this Duty after a per…unctory manner, but with ſuitable Solemnity, as ſuch who adventure into the Preſence of the great King, to preſent our Petitions to him, which ought not to be with common Frames; but the occaſions of the one and the other, come under different reſpects in regard of the Circumſtances of them, which may be here briefly conſidered.
1. ORDINARY Prayer is that which is to be uſed on all Occaſions, in which we are to ſeparate our ſelves from other …mployments to draw near to God: And that both in Secret, and in private Families daily, and in the publick Aſſemblies, in their uſual Meetings for this end; of which we have already conſidered, and no more needs here to be added.
2. EXTRAORDINARY Prayer is when upon more Solemn Occaſions we ſet apart ſome longer portion of time to preſent our Prayers to God. And theſe are either for Humiliation o… Thankſgiving; either to deprecate God's Judgments, or to celebrate his Mercies, Concerning theſe in general, obſerve,
(1.) THAT there are no ſet or ſtated times for th…ſe preſcribed in the Goſpel. In the times of the Law there were three Feaſts, and one Day of Faſting appointed by God, and theſe Days were ſ…ctined by God to be Sabbaths, or holy Time; but as they belonged to Moſes's Paedagogy, ſo they ceaſed with that, when it was adequated: And there are no other ſ…rr…gated in their room, under the Goſpel-Inſtitutions; though the duty do ſtill abide; nor are we to revoke theſe. Hence that obj…rgation, Gal. 4.10. Ye obſerve days, and months, and times, and years. But there are the ſame occaſions for them during the abode of the Church in this World.
(2.) THAT the People of God ought to uſe their Prudence in their obſerving of theſe things: And that both in reſpect of the time when, and the time that is ſpent in ſuch Duties; which may be longer or ſhorter as occaſion ſuits. There is no time but the Lord's Day that is made holy in Goſpel times, by a ſtamp of Divine Authority, by ſeparating it from Common to Sacred uſes; though there muſt be time taken up in Religious Duties, according to the nature and importance of them. And though … for the times, yet the duty's ſake, it is to be ſpent in ſacred Employment; and ſo is every part of time to be occupied for Religious Worſhip whenſoever it is attended. And God's People may ſeparate more or leſs time for this as occaſion is; though this calls for a more … larged…eſs than in our ordinary Prayers. And we have Examples of this difference the Word of God.
(3.) … the Providence of God is to be obſerved for a call it this. The duty is directed … God's holy Word: but as we are not always to attend it, for then we muſt interfere with other neceſſary Duties, which do alſo require time to be performed in; but there is a Voice of God, which it is our duty to hearken to; and there is not only a voice in his Word, but alſo in his Providence which he expects that we ſhould underſtand and … withal. Hence that Precept, M…c 6.9. The Lords v…ce cryeth unto the city, and the men … w…ſ…m ſ…l ſee thy name. And that rebuke, Iſa… 22 12. and in that d…y did the … God …f b…ſts call to weeping and to …, and to …a…neſs, and to girding with ſack…l…th, &c.
(4.) THAT hence the People of God have no Rule to appoint stand Anniverſary Days for this. The ſanctifying of time by putting a relative Holineſs on i… in its revolutions, whether Weekly, Monthly, or Annually, is a Divine Prerogative; but i… on theſe extraordinary Occaſions, we are to take the call of Providence, whether for returning or giving of Thanks, the Seaſons for this Duty muſt depend on him who diſpoſeth …f theſe Cha…ges at his pleaſure, and hath given us that Precept, Eccl. 7.14. In the day of proſperity be joyful, but in the way of adverſity conſider. Jam. 5.13. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any man merry: let him ſing pſalms. And ſuch was the practice of the Church under the Law, on other occaſions, beſides the days which God himſelf had fixed by a poſitive Precept.
(5.) THERE may be occaſions to begin the duty with Hu…ation, and ſ…t it …p with Thankſgiving. There have bee…, and ſtill are ſuch things in the Providence of God, which give a ſudden turn to the …airs of God's People; and whilſt they have been covered with Sackcloth, under deepeſt ſenſe of ſorrowful things, God hath turned the Scene, and cloathed them with Garments of Praiſe, Pſal. 32.11. Thus we find it was in J…h…ſophat's time, 2 Chron 20.
(6.) THESE Duties are to be attended more Privately or more Publickly. And we have inſtance, for both theſe in the Word of God. And the … this is, becauſe the Providence of God … the occaſions for both. There are Perſonal and Family Concerns, as well as th…ſe … the Body of a People; and … are to be obſerved, and anſwerably …mpr…ed as well as thoſe: ye… it often … out, that … it fares well with a Pe…le, … may be ſ…e trials upon a Perſon … a Family; and when a People are in … may be ſingular Bleſſings afforded to a … …a…ily. Now God's dealing with … of theſe are to be carefully con…idered, and application to be made to God accordingly. We are deeply conce…ed with t…e Cau… of God, and …g…t to mourn when they …, and rej…yce when it g…es well with them. …. 12.15. And yet we are to reſent the dealings of God with our ſelves and outs; Nature teacheth it, and Grace directs it.
NOW concerning the Nature of theſe Duties, that may be gathered from what was before obſerved of Petition & Thankſgiving; only rem…m…ring, that they call for a … ſolemn ſeparating of our ſelves to them, and ſpending of ou… time in the proſecution of them; and for that reaſon we ought to ſanctify our ſelves to the Service: And there are ſeveral Circumſtances to be obſerved about them. And were,
1. THAT there is difference to be made in the external … in the Secret, and the Publick … on theſe Solemnities. This is pl…y …ated in that of our Saviour, M…t. 6. begin. w…ere our Saviour ſpeaks deſignedly … a Secret Faſt; it being improper for one that is S…c…al; and the reaſon is not, becauſe we ſhould be aſhamed of our ſerving of God, but to prevent …ain Oſtentation, with which the Phariſees had ſpoiled their Devotions, and ſh…wn their hypocriſy.
2. THAT there were …ivers things in the Levitical Law, which were appendices to theſe Duties, which … with them. God then treated his People m…e by external things, which were Ceremonial, which do not belong to the eſſence of the duty; ſuch is a total abſtinence in days of F…is, putting on Sackcloth and lying in the Aſ…es; which had no moral holineſs in them, but did ſtand to ſignify ſome ſpiritual thing, which we are to learn to practice by them. Hence that, Joel 2.13. And rent your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God.
3. NEVERTHELESS there are th…ſe external Obſervations, … Duties which do very well be…me … Solemnities, and are ſerviceable to help … The outward, as well as the inward Ma…, are to be employed in the Duties of Worſhip; and to be improved to help us in our Devotions; and there is a decorum in out Carriage differently to be uſed upon Days of F…ſting, and Days of Thankſgiving; Days of …umiliation are to abaſe ourſelves before God, to lay ourſelves low, and affect ourſelve… with our own unworthineſs, it then becomes us to abſtain from our B…dily Comforts by …, that we may be ſo … of what our deſerving is; but yet not ſo, as in ſtead of helping will hinder us in the performing of the Duty of Worſhip, and God requires Mercy & n…t … and we ſhould leave off our Ornaments on ſeen D…s, and not come to Solem…ze our Mour…g a…d Lamentation, as it we were going …o … jolly Meeting. On the other hand, …n Days or Occaſions … extraordinary Thankſgiving, there is a ſ…able exter…al deportment of ourſelves that we may make it appear that we do rejoice; and to help ourſelves i… it, we may now put on our Ornaments, and make a more liberal uſe of the go…d th…s of God, but not … to … our Service Carn…, and … Spiritual … at by it … may af…ct ourselves with t… kindneſs of God, and ſh…w … our Thankfulneſs. … theſe things we only … in outward C…em…es, we ſhall …ut offer the ….
4. … there be nothing in Pra…er but what may be ſerviceable to each … Dut…s; yet there is ſomething … w…re p…c…l…rly belongs to … of them; and we are to ſet our ſerves to improve them to …romo…e this Service.
And here obſerve.
(1.) THAT …, ou… great Buſineſs is, … our ſelves before God in deep ſenſe of our … Sins, and ſo justify him in our … and wait … for t…e A…on… ment. It is to implore his Mercy, under an apprehenſion of our went and unworthineſs: And for this end we ought now to make a diligent ſearch into our Hearts and our Lives, to find out our Sins, in order to a ſo…king, Repentance, Lam. 3.40. Let us ſearch and try …r ways, and turn again to the Lord. And to go to God and beg of him earneſtly to diſcover to us what is the Controverſy, that we may know it, and a right bewail it, J…b 10.2. And we ſhould obſerve it …n it's Circumſtance and Aggr…vations, that we may be the more deeply abuſed, and v…le in our own eyes: We are therefore upon this ſearch and diſcovery made, to make c…r…ial Confeſſion of our Sins unto God; to lay our ſelves open before him in our …i…e…eſs, and expreſs it with deep ſelf-abhorrence; and not only to Confeſs the thing that we have done, but out own juſt deſervings by reaſon thereof, as, Dan. 9.8. O Lord to us be…ngeth confuſion of …a…e, &c. And to ly low and acknowledge that God would be juſt if he ſhould reject us, and that it will be his meer Mercy to Pardon and Accept us, Ver. 9. And this ſenſe is to put us … rejecting our own righteouſneſs, and relying upon that of Chriſt alone for the acceptance of Prayers, and obtainment of An…rs of Peace; and by all of this to quicken our ſelves to the greater …arneſtneſs and Importunity in our Addreſſes to the Throne of Grace; and to make us to ly there, waiting on God till he ſpeaks Pe…e to us: And doubtleſs ſuch and ſo ſolemn a Duty of it's own Nature calls for our laying aſide all other and worldly Buſineſs, becauſe it requires intenſeneſs, both of Body and Soul.
(2) THAT in ſolemn Thanksgiving our next Buſineſs is, To offer our cordia. Praiſes to God for ſignal benifits received from him. The uſual Order of this is, when in a time of ſtrai…s we have ſolemnl… ſought God, and obtained the Merc…e… wanted; and now the law of Gratitude obligeth us to ſtudy our returns of acknowledgment, and Practice accordingly; this put the Pſalmiſt upon that reflection, Pſal. 116 12. I… but ſhall I render unto the Lord, for all his benifits towards me? And this is the Order which God himſelf hath put it into, Pſal. 50.15. Cad upon me in the day of trouble, I … deliver thee, and thou ſhall gl…rify me. And that we may be helped to a right diſcharge of this Duty, it properly belongs, that we affect our ſelves with the greatneſs of the Kindneſs received; and for that end to reflect upon our ſelves, what we have d…ne to procure our Troubles, how righteous God was in bringing them, how merciful in m… derating of them, how unſuitably we carried in under them, and what poor In prove…ent we made of them, and how frowardly we went on notwithſtanding, them; what our Diſtreſs was, how helpleſs we were in our ſelves, and what Kindneſs there was contained in it, and that in all the Circumſtances, which calls for our ſ…queſtred Reflections and Meditations: And in our giving Thanks we are to acknowledge all theſe to God, and hind our hearts with them, the more firmly to him, and our cheerful ſerving of him. And in the purſuit of this Duty, we are to take a particular notice of thoſe glorious Perfe…ions of God, which are remarkably ſignalized in ſuch Providences; the Mercy, Pity, Wiſdom, Power, F…hfulneſs of God, which are here made Illuſtrious, Pſal. 145.5, &c. And by this we are to endeavour to get our Hearts raiſed to higheſt ſtrains of Love to God, and cheerful ſerving of him.
5. SOME there be who bring in Sirging of Pſalms as a diſtinction of Prayer; and lay doten the Doctrine o… it under this To…ck. I ſha…l not here diſpute whether it be an Ordinance different from Prayer, or be an Appendix to it, and one Media of offering it to God: But that it not only was an Inſtitution in Iſrael of old, (Pſal. 81.4.) but that it abides in the Inſtituted Worſhip of the New-Teſtan…ent is very evident by the Precept given about it there, Col. 3.16. Let the word of Chriſt d…ll in you richly in all wiſdom, teaching and admoniſhing one another in …ſalms, and b…s, and ſpiritual ſongs, ſinging with grace in your hearts to th… L…d. And that it was not only practiſed in the Publick aſſemblies, but Privately too, is inſtanced in Paul and Sil…s, Acts 16.25. And tho' this Service ſeems to be more ſpecially adapted to giving Thanks to God, and ſetting forth of his Praiſes; yet we find the ſweet Singer of Iſrael compoſing his Pſaln…s to ſundry ſorts of Matter, ſometimes in an H…g…ack ſtrain, in ſorrowful Moans, ſometimes to be Commemorative and Hiſtorical, ſometimes to Propheſies and Meditations, and moſt frequently to Commemorate the glorious W…rks of God for his People, and to ſet forth his Praiſes therein. For this reaſon the Spirit of God hath indited and committed to Writing many of theſe, for the uſe of the Church in all Ages; and theſe are doubtleſs the moſt proper to be uſed by the People of God in their Devotions, becauſe they are not only accommodated to all the caſes of particular Perſons, or a People together, that can even…, but alſo becauſe they are Inſpired Writings, and therefore moſt proper for them to exerciſe their Faith in the Singi…g of them: Certainly no ordinary Gift can ind…te better, however ſome luxuriant fa…c…es pleaſe themſelves therewithal. And although there is n…lady to be uſed in this Service, Skill wherein is an excellent Gift of God; yet there are many Godly Men who are not Priviledged with it, & God will accept of their broken Muſick, it their Hearts be …ht with him; who are therefore to Sing with Underſtanding, and Affection, Pſal. 47.7. And it moſt be done with a fix'd Heart, Pſal. 57.7. And with the wh…le Heart, Pſal. 111.1
AS to the Queſtion, Whether Inſtrumental Muſick is to be uſed in the Worſhip of God? All that I ſhall offer is, that tho' this was appointed in the P…dag…gy of Moſes, yet it was part of Cerom…al Worſhip, which as ſuch is ceaſed, and we have no Inſtitution for it in the G…ſpel; and it is moſt agreeable to New Teſtament times to omit it. And let us intend our care to do it with our Hearts as well as L…ps, and ſo it will be acceptable with God through Chriſt.