Vol 01 - Chapter 04 - Of Prayer.
Chapter 04 - Of Prayer
1. If we would, even in this life, have a foretaste of the great and glorious promises, it must be obtained by prayer, diligent searching, and continual knocking. For no man can have admission into the kingdom of GOD, unless he beg it earnestly of God. No man can be delivered from the power of sin and the devil, unless he offer up his prayers in the name of CHRIST. For though CHRIST has purchased for us all manner of, good things; yet without faith shall no man be partaker of them. And the properties of faith are, to pray, to seek, and to knock. By prayer only we are entitled to those `1 good and perfect gifts,’which come down from above, from the Father of lights," James 1:17. O Eternal God and Father, teach nle, I pray thee, by thy Holy Spirit, that as I have lost all by dying in Adam, so I may recover all by rising again in CHRIST. Grant that I may daily die unto myself, by continual mortification and repentance, and devote and give up myself en tirely to thee: that so all the good things I have lost may be restored to me, through Jesus CHRIST our Lord. Amen.
2. The neglect of prayer is a violation of the commandments of God and CHRIST, who commands us to "pray without ceasing," Luke 18:1, &c. not for his sake, for he well knows what things we stand in need of, (Dlatt. 6: 32:,), hut_ fm_ air_ awa, time wp Tn..a.v, b L-4,z a portion of the treasures and kingdom of God. He therefore that lives in the neglect of prayer, is a breaker of the first and third commandment, and a despiser of God; bringing voluntary destruction upon himself. He that neglects prayer, is a despiser of the promises annexed to the performance of that duty. "Call upon me, and I will deliver thee. Ask, and ye shall receive." Thereby representing God as unmindful of his promises, or not able to fulfil them. By the neglect of prayer, our faith, which is the great foundation of holiness, does by degrees perish and decay. For prayer is the nourishment of faith.
3. Prayer is the life of faith, making it flourish and prosper like a tree by the river side; and faith is the root of all that is good in us. Faith is our power, our spiritual consolation, our strength against all our enemies and temptations. By prayer we " receive the Holy Spirit," Luke 11:13, Zechariah 12:10; Zechariah 1:1-21 : e. by prayer, we make room for, and (as it were) give leave to the Holy Spirit to exert his power in us; to come and "make his abode with us," John 14:23. By prayer, we obtain the true light and knowledge of GOD,- so as perfectly to understand his will. Lastly, by this we abide in his kingdom, and are partakers of the blessings of heaven.
4. And yet, if I resolve not to pray till I know myself worthy, I shall never do it at all. And if I should not desire God to bestow upon me his grace and favor, till, by my own strength, I became just and holy, I should never obtain any thing. Alas! poor man, what can you bestow upon him Or, what can you obtain by the workings of thy corrupt nature; which, however specious in thine own eyes, are of no value in the sight of God: Verily, nothing at all. As then thine own Z,urthii~~ s frill here avail rhee nothing, so thine unworthiness shall do thee no harm; for the Lord Jesus CHRIST is he that "forgiveth thine unrighteousness, and covereth all thy sin." Therefore conclude with thyself, that as a drop of water is swallowed up in the sea, so are all thy transgressions in the boundless mercies of Jesus CHRIST.
O merciful and compassionate Father! who teachest me in thy holy word, how I ought to live the life of thy Son Jesus CHRIST, and walk in the straight path, turning neither to the right hand nor to the left; that I may neither fall through a vain presumption of my own piety, nor be cast into despair by the gloomy prospect of my guilt, and so die in my sins; grant that I may seriously consider, that neither my good works can merit, nor my sins hinder, the grace of CHRIST my Redeemer; that so I may continue firm and resolute amidst all the temptations of mine enemy, that I may neither be misled by the devil of presumption and spiritual pride that walks at noon-day, nor be afraid of the destroying angel of despair that walks in darkness; but that, having conquered the weakness of my nature, I may continue steadfast in the faith, filled with spiritual joy and consolation. Let thy grace, blessed Lord Jesus, begin, improve, and perfect this good work in me! Amen.
5. "Am I a God at hand, (says the Lord,) and not a God afar off" Where then shall we find him Must we look for him only in consecrated temples Must we seek him in the ends of the earth Must we search for him in the regions of darkness, or upon the top of mount Tabor We are indeed frequently forced to the fatigue of long journies, to beg the protection of the princes of this world; but God is every where. "He filleth heaven and earth," and is nearer to all creatures, than they, are to themselves. " He is above all, and through all, and in us all." The utmost dimension of space, and even the boundless extent of eternity, appear to him but as a single point. As a man that walks at noon-day in an open field is environed with light, whether he discern it or not; so are-all creatures surrounded with the presence of GOD, " in whom they live, and move, and have their being."
And these are properly the waters upon which the Spirit of God moves, penetrating through all beings and all spirits. God is, therefore, always near to us, though many of us are not so to him; having no more perception of his presence, than a blind man has of the light which surrounds him. God never turns away himself from us; but we turn away from him. He therefore that has faith, though with Jonah, he were in the depths of the sea, yet he would be in the kingdom of God. And he that has it not, though lee have the uppermost scat in the synagogue, and` join in all the visible acts of communion; yet, in the sight of GOD, he is without, and has no part in the kingdom of God.
O Lord Jesus CHRIST, who art the very way, the true light, and only gate of heaven, I praise thee from my heart, that you teachest me how I am in thee, and you in me, in whatsoever place I am; how You, my true and only High-priest, art with me, and deliverest me from my sins, whensoever I lift up my heart to thee. " Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you art with me." Teach me, O Lord, always to acknowledge this, and not to undervalue thy hidden treasure; but that I may in the true faith seek it, find it, taste it, and enjoy it for ever! Amen.
6. What we have observed of place, may be applied to time also, to which the eternal and unchangeable God is by no means confined, so as not to be always at liberty to hear our prayers. The princes of this world are not always to be spoken with, being engaged in the necessities or diversions of life. But our God cannot be thus separated from his creatures. At one view, he sees, and hears, and considers all things that are done upon the earth, and "understandeth our secret thoughts." God is confined to no time, but always ready to hear and to help us; yea, is continually standing at the door and knoc'sing, that we was open unto him. So that he is always ready, but we are not. Whereas if we would constantly and without ceasing, wait for him, we should never fail of an answer to all our prayers.
7. Every Christian is anointed and baptized with the Holy Spirit, 1 John 2:20;- which Spirit, when it is not resisted nor grieved, but obeyed, is continually praying in the heart of man, raising and exalting the devout soul from earth to heaven. Whosoever will faithfully attend to the workings of the Holy Spirit, and not stifle his operations, will easily be convinced of the truth of this. He will every now and then perceive a devout sigh springing up from his heart, and breaking forth into these, or the like words, Good GOD, holy Father, have mercy upon me! As myrrh, frankincense, or other sweet perfumes, by being thrown upon burning coals, send forth a smoke and delicious fragrancy, which they would not do without the help of fire; so, whenever the fire of the Holy Spirit toucheth our hearts, there arises a perfume of. affectionate sighs and prayers. And these are "the golden vials of the holy angels," Revelation 5:8. These are the holy incense with which they perfume even heaven itself.
8. But we complain that God does not give us what we ask for, and therefore think our prayers are not heard. I answer, 1, GOD, in hearing our prayers, regards more our happiness than our desires, and reserves to himself the liberty of bestowing the blessings we ask, either upon our bodies or our souls. Thus, perhaps, I ask of God some temporal blessings, which he seeing not to be fit for me, instead of them, gives me spiritual ones; byy which means I not only receive what I prayed for, but so much more, as the good of the soul is to be preferred before that of the body. If it should please God to visit you with some bodily distemper, and you pray for health, doubt not but your prayers are heard; and you shall certainly enjoy, if not the health of your body, yet the health of your soul, which is far better; and every man in his senses must think so. For what advantage would it be to have a sound and healthful body, and a sinful, distempered soul! But when it is well with the soul, a man may say with David, "My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."
9. Wherefore, if you dost not receive the blessings you prayest for, consider that it is not convenient for thee to enjoy them here, but that the answer of thy prayers is reserved for the other life, which is more noble and durable. There the Lord will bestow on thee a thousand-fold; all that he seems to deny thee here. For as he cannot forget our prayers; so he cannot choose but answer them graciously; if not in this life, yet in that which is to come. As many prayers as you offerest tip here, so many blessings shall you receive hereafter. There "we shall reap, if we faint not." Then shall the Lord say to every soul, "Behold thy prayer which thou offeredst to ine. See, here is what you prayedst for, and a thousand times more than you desiredst." He would be a foolish husbandman, that should expect to reap as soon as he had sown; and should cry out, that he had sown a great deal of seed, but could see no sign of harvest! You fool! wait till the season of harvest, and then you shall receive the fruits of thy labor.
10. The first help to prayer is our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus CHRIST, the Son of GOD, 1 John 2:2. He is pleading our cause before GOD, when we are hardly able to express what we want; who is therefore called the Word of the Father, because GOD, by him, has discovered his will to us; as he is also called (1 the Mediator," because he solicits our cause before God. When Moses complained that he was of a slow speech, and a slow tongue, that so he might avoid carrying the commanded message to Pharaoh, God tells him, "Aaron thy brother can speak well, he shall be to thee instead of a mouth." So we also; when we shall pray, are dull, and slow of speech, and therefore must fly to CHRIST, our heavenly Aaron, who is to us instead of a mouth. Therefore CHRIST commands us to pray in his name, who is our eternal High-priest, a( having an everlasting priesthood," (Hebrews 7:24,) " interceding for us," (Romans 8:34,) " in whom we have boldness, and access with confidence by the faith of him," Ephesians 3:12.
11. The second help is the Holy Spirit. "I will pour out upon the house of David, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and supplication," Zech.
12: 10. This Spirit is given us as a testimony of the Divine grace, and our adoption. Hence St. John says, "By this we know that we are in GOD, because he has given us of his Spirit." And St. Paul, "Ye have not received the spirit of bondage, but the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. For the Spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God." He was typified by the anointing of the priests under the law, in imitation of whom, God has anointed us with the Spirit of CHRIST, that we should offer to him daily the calves of our lips.
12. The third help to strengthen us in prayer, are the promises of God. (` Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee. He shall call upon me, and I will hear him. Before they call, I will hear. The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ask, seek, knock. The Lord is rich in mercy, (Ephesians 2:4,) to all that call upon him."
13. The fourth help in prayer is, the remembrance of those saints whose prayers God has heard. Look at the examples of the ancients, and be strengthened. And we must needs be so, when we reasonably call to mind examples of God's former providence and assistance. Upon this foundation, all the prophets of old built their prayers. When God was angry with Israel for the golden calf, and said to Moses, (` Let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and I may consume them;" then "Moses his chosen, stood before him in the gap, [putting God in mind of his former mercies,] saying, why does thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which you has brought forth out of the land of Egypt, with great power, and with a mighty hand Wherefore should the Egyptians speak and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth P Turn from thy fierce wrath,' and repent of this evil against thy people. And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do against this people."
14. The fifth comfort in prayer is, The tender love of God to mankind, and his promises to help the afflicted. God does not, like proud, insolent men, despise the miseries of the distressed. For God judges not as corrupt men judge. He has not eyes of flesh, " nor does he see as man seeth." It generally happens among us, that the more need a man has of friends, the fewer he finds. On the other hand, God has a more tender regard for him that is destitute and afflicted. " The Lord is nigh to them that are of a contrite heart, and will save such as be of an humble spirit. That you may take the matter into thine hand, the poor commit.teth himself unto thee, for you art the helper of the friendless." And indeed such as they are the proper objects of Divine mercy. And to show the certainty of these promises, the holy Psalmist, Psalms 146:7-9, recites the several kinds of affliction to which God more particularly engageth his mercy,: `The Lord helpeth them to right that suffer wrong. The Lord feedeth the hungry. The Lord looseth men out of prison. The Lord giveth sight to the blind. The Lord helpeth them that are fallen. The Lord careth for the righteous. The Lord careth for the stranger. He defends the fatherless and widow."
15. What we have said upon this head is elegantly comprized in the prayer of Daniel, ch. 9: 4, &c. "O Lord our GOD, that have brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty arm; [here is the putting God in mind of his former mercies;] hear, O GOD, the prayer of thy servant, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. [This is pleading the name and merits of Jesus the Messiah.] O Lord, hear, O Lord, forgive, O Lord, hearken and do. [These are the groans of the Holy Spirit.] O my GOD, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations; [in regard of his promise;] because for our sins, and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are round about us. [Here is a confession of sin, and an acknowledgment of their misery.] For we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness, but for thy,great mercies." [This is an acknowledgment of man's unworthiness, and God's mercy.]