The sacrifice of the faithfull, or, A treatise shewing the nature, property, and efficacy of zealous prayer together with some motives to prayer, and helps against discouragements in prayer : to which is added seven profitable sermons / by William Fenner ...
         Fenner, William, 1600-1640.
      
       
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             The sacrifice of the faithfull, or, A treatise shewing the nature, property, and efficacy of zealous prayer together with some motives to prayer, and helps against discouragements in prayer : to which is added seven profitable sermons / by William Fenner ...
             Fenner, William, 1600-1640.
          
           [19], 214, 85 p.
           
             Printed for John Stafford ...,
             London :
             1648.
          
           
             Imperfect: The seven sermons lacking in filmed copy.
             Reproduction of original in Cambridge University Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Prayer.
           Sermons, English -- 17th century.
        
      
    
       A41125  R478  (Wing F698).  civilwar no The sacrifice of the faithfull. Or, A treatise shewing the nature, property, and efficacy of zealous prayer; together with some motives to p Fenner, William 1648    20991 11 0 0 0 0 0 5 B  The  rate of 5 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the B category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 
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           To
           the
           Christian
           Reader
           .
        
         
           HAving
           been
           informed
           upon
           very
           good
           grounds
           ,
           that
           the
           former
           Sermons
           of
           Mr
           
             William
             Fenner
             ,
          
           have
           found
           good
           acceptance
           ,
           both
           in
           regard
           of
           the
           worthinesse
           of
           the
           Author
           ,
           and
           also
           in
           regard
           of
           the
           usefulnesse
           of
           the
           Sermons
           ;
           I
           could
           not
           but
           give
           my
           approbation
           to
           these
           ensuing
           Sermons
           of
           the
           same
           Authour
           ,
           and
           desire
           that
           they
           may
           find
           the
           like
           acceptance
           with
           all
           Godly
           wise
           Christians
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           may
           become
           profitable
           to
           the
           Church
           of
           God
           .
        
         
           Imprimatur
           ,
           
             EDM
             ▪
             CALAMY
             .
          
        
      
       
       
         
           THE
           SACRIFICE
           OF
           THE
           FAITHFULL
           .
           
             OR
             ,
          
           A
           TREATISE
           shewing
           the
           nature
           ,
           property
           ,
           and
           efficacy
           of
           
             Zealous
             Prayer
             ;
          
           together
           with
           some
           Motives
           to
           Prayer
           ,
           and
           Helps
           against
           discouragements
           in
           Prayer
           .
        
         
           To
           which
           is
           added
           seven
           profitable
           Sermons
           .
           
             
               1.
               
               The
               misery
               of
               the
               Creature
               by
               the
               sinne
               of
               man
               ,
               on
               
                 Rom.
                 8.
                 22.
                 
              
            
             
               2.
               
               The
               Christians
               imitation
               of
               Christ
               ,
               on
               
                 1
                 Ioh.
                 2.
                 6
                 
              
            
             
               3.
               
               The
               enmity
               of
               the
               wicked
               to
               the
               light
               of
               the
               Gospel
               ,
               on
               
                 John
                 3.
                 20
                 
              
            
             
               4.
               
               Gods
               impartiality
               ,
               on
               
                 Esay
                 42.
                 24.
                 
              
            
             
               5.
               
               The
               great
               Dignity
               of
               the
               Saints
               ,
               on
               
                 Heb.
                 11.
                 28.
                 
              
            
             
               6.
               
               The
               time
               of
               Gods
               grace
               is
               limited
               ,
               on
               
                 Gen.
                 6.
                 3.
                 
              
            
             
               7.
               
               A
               Sermon
               for
               spirituall
               Mortification
               ,
               on
               
                 Col.
                 3.
                 5.
                 
              
            
          
        
         
           By
           
             William
             Fenner
             ,
          
           Minister
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ▪
           Fellow
           of
           
             Pembrok
          
           Hall
           in
           
             Cambridge
             ,
          
           and
           Lecturer
           of
           
             Rochford
          
           in
           
             Essex
             .
          
        
         
           
             LONDON
             ,
          
           Printed
           for
           
             John
             Stafford
             ,
          
           and
           are
           to
           be
           sold
           at
           his
           House
           over
           against
           
             Brides
          
           Church
           in
           Fleet-Street
           ,
           1648.
           
        
      
       
       
       
         
           The
           CONTENTS
           of
           the
           first
           Treatise
           on
           
             Lament.
             3.
             5.
             7.
             
          
        
         
           
             THE
             opening
             of
             the
             words
             in
             which
             are
             three
             properties
             of
             effectuall
             Prayer
             .
             
               pag.
            
             1.
             
          
           
             1.
             
             The
             unsatiablenesse
             of
             it
             till
             it
             be
             heard
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             The
             sensiblenesse
             of
             it
             whether
             it
             be
             heard
             or
             no
             .
          
           
             3.
             
             The
             supply
             it
             hath
             against
             danger
             ,
             and
             discouragement
             .
             
               p.
            
             2.
             
          
           
             1.
             
               Doct
               :
            
             An
             effectuall
             prayer
             is
             an
             unsatiable
             prayer
             .
             p.
             3.
             
          
           
             
               Quest
               .
            
             Must
             a
             man
             alwayes
             pray
             ?
          
           
             
               Ans.
            
             A
             man
             must
             give
             over
             the
             act
             of
             prayer
             for
             other
             duties
             ,
             but
             he
             must
             never
             give
             over
             the
             suit
             of
             Prayer
             .
             p.
             5.
             
          
           
             Rules
             to
             know
             whether
             our
             Prayers
             be
             unsatiable
             or
             no
             .
          
           
             1.
             
             It
             is
             an
             earnest
             begging
             Prayer
             .
             p.
             6.
             
          
           
             2.
             
             It
             is
             constant
             Prayer
             .
             p.
             8.
             
          
           
             A
             godly
             mans
             Prayer
             is
             not
             out
             of
             his
             heart
             ,
             till
             the
             grace
             he
             prayed
             for
             be
             in
             .
             p.
             9.
             
          
           
             3.
             
             It
             is
             a
             Prayer
             that
             is
             ever
             a
             beginning
             .
             
               ib.
            
          
           
           
             4.
             
             It
             is
             a
             proceeding
             Prayer
             ,
             it
             windes
             up
             the
             heart
             higher
             ,
             and
             higher
             .
             
               ibid.
            
          
           
             5.
             
             It
             is
             a
             Prayer
             that
             purifieth
             the
             heart
             .
             p.
             10.
             
          
           
             It
             is
             more
             and
             more
             fervent
             .
             p.
             11.
             
          
           
             And
             more
             and
             more
             frequent
             .
             p.
             12.
             
          
           
             It
             will
             take
             time
             from
             lawfull
             recreations
             ,
             and
             from
             the
             lawfull
             duties
             of
             our
             calling
             .
             p.
             13.
             
          
           
             And
             it
             will
             adde
             humiliation
             and
             fasting
             to
             Prayer
             .
             p.
             14.
             
          
           
             
               Use
               .
            
             To
             condemne
             those
             who
             pray
             for
             grace
             ,
             and
             yet
             sit
             downe
             before
             grace
             is
             obtained
             .
             p.
             15.
             
          
           
             Such
             Prayers
             are
             .
          
           
             1.
             
             Endlesse
             .
             p.
             16.
             
          
           
             2.
             
             Fruitlesse
             .
             p.
             17.
             
          
           
             2.
             
               Doct
               :
            
             A
             godly
             soule
             is
             sensible
             of
             Gods
             hearing
             or
             not
             hearing
             his
             Prayer
             .
             p.
             19.
             
          
           
             
               Quest
               :
            
             How
             can
             the
             soule
             know
             whether
             it
             speed
             in
             Prayer
             or
             no
             ?
          
           
             
               Answ.
            
             1.
             
             When
             God
             gives
             a
             soule
             further
             and
             further
             ability
             to
             pray
             ,
             it
             is
             a
             signe
             that
             God
             heares
             it
             .
             p.
             20.
             
          
           
             But
             if
             the
             soule
             have
             no
             heart
             to
             continue
             its
             suit
             ,
             it
             is
             a
             signe
             that
             God
             never
             meanes
             to
             heare
             that
             mans
             Prayer
             .
             p.
             21.
             
          
           
             2.
             
             The
             preparednesse
             of
             the
             heart
             to
             Prayer
             ,
             is
             a
             signe
             that
             God
             means
             to
             heare
             .
             p.
             21.
             
          
           
           
             3.
             
             Gods
             gracious
             looke
             is
             a
             signe
             that
             he
             will
             heare
             ;
             for
             sometimes
             God
             answers
             his
             people
             by
             a
             cast
             of
             his
             countenance
             .
             p.
             22.
             
          
           
             4.
             
             The
             conscience
             of
             a
             man
             will
             answer
             him
             ,
             whether
             God
             heares
             his
             Prayer
             or
             no
             .
             p.
             26.
             
          
           
             But
             a
             mans
             conscience
             may
             be
             misinformed
             .
             p.
             27.
             
          
           
             A
             wicked
             man
             may
             have
             a
             truce
             ,
             though
             no
             true
             peace
             in
             his
             conscience
             .
             p.
             28.
             
          
           
             5.
             
             The
             getting
             of
             the
             grace
             that
             a
             man
             prayes
             for
             ,
             is
             a
             signe
             that
             God
             heares
             his
             Prayer
             .
             p.
             29.
             
          
           
             But
             God
             may
             give
             many
             temporall
             blessings
             ,
             and
             common
             graces
             ,
             yet
             not
             in
             love
             ,
             but
             in
             wrath
             .
             
               ibid.
            
          
           
             6.
             
             If
             a
             man
             have
             Faith
             giuen
             him
             to
             beleive
             ,
             it
             is
             a
             signe
             that
             God
             heares
             him
             .
             p.
             30.
             
          
           
             Good
             works
             are
             good
             signes
             of
             Faith
             ,
             but
             they
             are
             but
             rotten
             grounds
             of
             Faith
             .
             p.
             31.
             
          
           
             
               Object
               :
            
             Every
             Promise
             runs
             with
             a
             condition
             .
             
               ibid.
            
          
           
             
               Ans.
            
             1.
             
             The
             Promise
             is
             the
             ground
             of
             Faith
             ,
             and
             the
             way
             to
             get
             the
             Condition
             .
             p.
             32.
             
          
           
             2.
             
             Faith
             is
             the
             enabling
             cause
             to
             keep
             the
             Condition
             .
             p.
             33.
             
          
           
             Two
             things
             doe
             much
             hurt
             in
             Prayer
             .
          
           
             1.
             
             Groundlesse
             incouragement
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             Needlesse
             discouragement
             .
             p.
             36.
             
          
           
           
             3.
             
               Doct.
            
             God
             would
             not
             have
             any
             Christian
             soule
             to
             be
             discouraged
             in
             Prayer
             .
             p.
             39.
             
          
           
             A
             definition
             of
             discouragement
             .
             ibid.
          
           
             4.
             
             
               Reasons
               .
            
             1.
             
             Because
             discouragement
             hinders
             the
             soule
             in
             prayer
             .
             p.
             42.
             
          
           
             2.
             
             Discouragement
             takes
             away
             the
             strength
             of
             the
             soule
             in
             Prayer
             .
             p.
             43.
             
          
           
             3.
             
             If
             we
             have
             fearfull
             apprehensions
             of
             our
             sins
             ,
             so
             as
             to
             thinke
             they
             will
             never
             be
             forgiven
             ,
             we
             can
             never
             pray
             aright
             .
             p.
             45.
             
          
           
             4.
             
             If
             we
             have
             any
             secret
             despaire
             ,
             we
             can
             never
             pray
             to
             purpose
             .
             p.
             46.
             
          
           
             There
             is
             a
             double
             desperation
             .
          
           
             1.
             
             Of
             infirmity
             ,
             which
             draws
             the
             soul
             from
             God
             .
          
           
             2.
             
             Of
             extremity
             ,
             which
             puts
             life
             into
             a
             mans
             Prayers
             and
             endeavours
             p.
             47.
             
          
           
             A
             man
             never
             prayes
             well
             till
             he
             feeles
             himselfe
             undone
             .
             p.
             49.
             
          
           
             We
             should
             take
             heed
             of
             discouragements
             ;
             for
          
           
             1.
             
             Discouragements
             breed
             melancholinesse
             in
             the
             soule
             .
             p.
             53.
             
          
           
             2.
             
             They
             breed
             hard
             thoughts
             of
             God
             .
             p.
             54.
             
          
           
             3.
             
             They
             will
             cause
             a
             man
             to
             thinke
             that
             God
             hates
             him
             .
             p.
             56.
             
          
           
             4.
             
             They
             will
             bring
             a
             man
             to
             despaire
             .
             p.
             57.
             
          
           
             Ministers
             should
             not
             preach
             the
             pure
             Law
             without
             the
             Gospel
             .
             p.
             58.
             
          
           
             Secret
             discouragements
             in
             the
             heart
          
           
           
             1.
             
             They
             take
             away
             the
             Spirit
             in
             the
             use
             of
             the
             meanes
             .
             p.
             62.
             
          
           
             2.
             
             They
             drive
             us
             from
             the
             use
             of
             means
             .
             p.
             63.
             
          
           
             3
             They
             make
             a
             man
             continually
             to
             pore
             on
             his
             sins
             ,
             so
             as
             he
             shall
             never
             be
             able
             to
             get
             out
             of
             them
             .
             p.
             64.
             
          
           
             4.
             
             They
             breed
             nothing
             but
             sorrow
             .
             p.
             66.
             
          
           
             5.
             
             They
             leave
             the
             soule
             in
             a
             maze
             ,
             that
             it
             knows
             not
             whether
             to
             turne
             it selfe
             .
             p.
             67.
             
          
           
             6.
             
             They
             whisper
             into
             a
             man
             a
             sentence
             of
             Death
             ,
             and
             an
             impossibility
             of
             escaping
             .
             p.
             68.
             
          
           
             The
             conclusion
             of
             the
             whole
             .
             p.
             69.
             
          
        
         
           
             The
             Contents
             of
             that
             Sermon
             
               ROM.
               8.
               22.
               
            
          
           
             
               EVery
               creature
               hath
               a
               three-fold
               goodnesse
               in
               it
            
             
               1.
               
               A
               goodnesse
               of
               end
               .
               p.
               70.
               
            
             
               2.
               
               A
               goodnesse
               of
               nature
               .
               p.
               71.
               
            
             
               3.
               
               A
               goodnesse
               of
               use
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               There
               be
               foure
               evils
               under
               which
               every
               Creature
               groaneth
               .
               p.
               73.
               
            
             
               1.
               
               The
               continuall
               labour
               that
               the
               creature
               is
               put
               unto
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               2.
               
               The
               creature
               sometimes
               partakes
               of
               the
               plagues
               of
               the
               ungodly
               .
               
                 ib.
              
            
             
             
               3.
               
               The
               Creature
               hath
               an
               instinctive
               fellow-feeleing
               of
               mans
               wretchednesse
               .
               p.
               74.
               
            
             
               4.
               
               Because
               they
               are
               rent
               and
               torne
               from
               their
               proper
               Masters
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               
                 Doct.
              
               Every
               Creature
               groaneth
               under
               the
               slavery
               of
               sinne
               .
               p.
               75.
               
            
             
               Not
               only
               under
               the
               slavery
               of
               sinfull
               men
               ,
               but
               so
               far
               as
               they
               minister
               to
               the
               flesh
               of
               the
               Saints
               ,
               they
               groane
               under
               them
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               
                 Object
                 .
              
               Did
               ever
               any
               man
               heare
               any
               unreasonable
               creature
               groane
               under
               sin
               ?
            
             
               
                 Answ.
              
               It
               is
               spoken
               Hyperbolically
               ,
               to
               declare
               the
               great
               misery
               the
               creatures
               are
               into
               serve
               sinfull
               man
               .
               p.
               76.
               
            
             
               2.
               
               Analogically
               in
               regard
               of
               a
               naturall
               instinct
               of
               blind
               reason
               ,
               that
               is
               in
               all
               the
               creatures
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               3.
               
               It
               is
               spoken
               by
               way
               of
               supposition
               ,
               if
               they
               had
               reason
               they
               would
               groane
               .
               p.
               77.
               
            
             
               4.
               
               Intelligently
               ,
               because
               a
               man
               cannot
               wreng
               the
               creature
               ,
               but
               he
               wrongs
               God
               in
               the
               creature
               .
               p.
               78.
               
            
             
               5.
               
               Specifically
               ,
               because
               the
               Godly
               come
               before
               God
               in
               the
               behalfe
               of
               all
               the
               creatures
               ,
               and
               mourne
               for
               the
               abuse
               of
               the
               creatures
               .
               p.
               79.
               
            
             
               Foure
               Reasons
               why
               the
               creatures
               groane
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               Because
               they
               are
               distracted
               in
               their
               service
               .
               p.
               80.
               
            
             
             
               2.
               
               Because
               of
               the
               unprofitablenesse
               of
               their
               service
               .
               p.
               82.
               
            
             
               3.
               
               Because
               of
               the
               uncessantnesse
               of
               their
               service
               .
               p.
               83.
               
            
             
               4.
               
               Because
               of
               that
               misery
               and
               woe
               the
               creatures
               lye
               under
               .
               p.
               84.
               
            
             
               Every
               creature
               hath
               ,
            
             
               1.
               
               A
               specificall
               end
               .
               p.
               85.
               
            
             
               2.
               
               An
               ultimate
               end
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               A
               wicked
               man
               hath
               no
               true
               right
               unto
               the
               creature
               .
               p.
               86.
               
            
             
               But
               he
               hath
            
             
               1.
               
               A
               civill
               right
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               2.
               
               A
               providentiall
               right
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               3.
               
               A
               vindicative
               right
               .
               p.
               87.
               
            
             
               4.
               
               A
               Creatures
               right
               ,
               as
               he
               is
               a
               creature
               .
               
                 ib.
              
            
             
               But
               he
               hath
               no
               filiall
               right
               ,
               no
               son-like
               right
               in
               Christ
               .
               p.
               89.
               
            
             
               
                 Use
                 .
              
               To
               shew
               that
               wicked
               men
               have
               little
               cause
               to
               be
               merry
               at
               any
               time
               ,
               because
               there
               is
               nothing
               neare
               them
               ,
               but
               groaneth
               under
               them
               .
               p.
               90.
               
            
             
               All
               creatures
               groane
               to
               God
               for
               vengeance
               to
               be
               powred
               upon
               the
               wicked
               .
               p.
               92.
               
            
             
               And
               these
               groanes
               are
            
             
               1.
               
               Upbraiding
               groanes
               .
               p.
               95.
               
            
             
               2.
               
               Witnessing
               groanes
               .
               p.
               96.
               
            
             
             
               3.
               
               Accusing
               groanes
               .
               
                 p.
              
               100.
               
            
             
               4.
               
               Iudging
               and
               condemning
               groanes
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               
                 Use
                 .
              
               For
               exhortation
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               To
               take
               heed
               how
               we
               doe
               abuse
               the
               Creatures
               of
               God
               .
               
                 p.
              
               101.
               
            
             
               2.
               
               Take
               heed
               of
               sinning
               against
               God
               by
               the
               Creatures
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               3
               Take
               heed
               of
               setting
               thy
               heart
               upon
               the
               Creature
               .
               
                 p.
              
               102.
               
            
             
               4.
               
               Use
               all
               the
               Creatures
               in
               humility
               and
               thankfulnesse
               .
               
                 p.
              
               102.
               
            
             
               5.
               
               Use
               the
               Creatures
               as
               so
               many
               Ladders
               to
               help
               thee
               to
               climb
               up
               towards
               Heaven
               .
               
                 p.
              
               103.
               
            
          
        
         
           
             The
             Contents
             of
             that
             Sermon
             
               1
               JOHN
               .
               2.
               6.
               
            
          
           
             
               THE
               opening
               of
               the
               words
               in
               foure
               particulars
               .
               
                 p.
              
               108.
               
            
             
               
                 Doct.
              
               A
               true
               Christian
               walks
               as
               Christ
               walked
               .
               
                 p.
              
               109.
               
            
             
               A
               man
               must
               first
               be
               in
               Christ
               ,
               before
               he
               can
               walk
               as
               Christ
               walked
               .
               
                 p.
              
               110.
               
            
             
               
                 Object
                 .
              
               Can
               any
               man
               walk
               as
               Christ
               walked
               ?
               
                 p.
              
               111.
               
            
             
               
                 Answ.
              
               None
               can
               walk
               as
               Christ
               walked
               in
               regard
               
               of
               equality
               ;
               but
               in
               regard
               of
               similitude
               they
               may
               .
               
                 p.
              
               111.
               
            
             
               The
               life
               of
               Christ
               should
               be
               the
               Example
               of
               our
               life
               .
               
                 p.
              
               112.
               
            
             
               Christ
               came
               into
               the
               World
               to
               redeeme
               us
               for
               our
               justification
               ,
               and
               to
               be
               an
               example
               of
               life
               unto
               us
               for
               our
               sanctification
               .
               
                 p.
              
               114.
               
            
             
               This
               Question
               answered
               .
               
                 viz.
                 
              
            
             
               What
               it
               is
               to
               walke
               as
               Christ
               walked
               .
               
                 p.
              
               116.
               
            
             
               Foure
               Reasons
               of
               the
               point
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               Because
               as
               Christ
               came
               into
               the
               World
               to
               justifie
               the
               ungodly
               ,
               so
               he
               came
               to
               conforme
               them
               to
               his
               image
               .
               
                 p.
              
               117.
               
            
             
               2.
               
               Because
               in
               vaine
               we
               are
               called
               Christians
               ,
               if
               we
               be
               not
               imitators
               of
               Christ
               ,
               and
               live
               as
               he
               lived
               .
               
                 p.
              
               119.
               
            
             
               3.
               
               Because
               all
               that
               are
               in
               Christ
               ,
               are
               Members
               of
               his
               body
               ,
               therefore
               they
               must
               have
               the
               same
               life
               ,
               and
               be
               quickned
               by
               the
               same
               Spirit
               .
               
                 p.
              
               121.
               
            
             
               4.
               
               Because
               of
               that
               neere
               relation
               that
               is
               betwixt
               Christ
               and
               every
               one
               of
               his
               Members
               .
               
                 p.
              
               123.
               
            
             
               1.
               
               
                 Use
                 .
              
               To
               shew
               that
               all
               men
               that
               live
               not
               the
               life
               of
               Christ
               ,
               doe
               blaspheme
               the
               name
               of
               Christ
               .
               
                 p.
              
               127.
               
            
             
               Of
               all
               sinnes
               under
               Heaven
               ,
               God
               cannot
               endure
               the
               sins
               of
               them
               that
               take
               the
               name
               of
               
               Christ
               upon
               them
               .
               
                 p.
              
               198.
               
            
             
               
                 Doct
                 :
              
               Every
               Minister
               is
               bound
               to
               preach
               home
               to
               men
               in
               particulars
               .
               
                 p.
              
               132.
               
            
             
               3.
               
                 Reas.
              
               1.
               
               Particulars
               are
               most
               operative
               .
               
                 p.
              
               133.
               
            
             
               2.
               
               Particulars
               are
               most
               distinct
               ,
               and
               most
               powerfull
               .
               
                 p.
              
               135.
               
            
             
               3.
               
               Particulars
               are
               most
               sensible
               .
               
                 p.
              
               137.
               
            
             
               
                 Doct
                 :
              
               Every
               Minister
               is
               bound
               to
               preach
               so
               ,
               as
               to
               make
               a
               difference
               betwixt
               the
               pretious
               and
               the
               vile
               .
               
                 p.
              
               138.
               
            
             
               
                 Reas.
              
               1.
               
               Because
               ,
               otherwise
               a
               Minister
               prophanes
               the
               holy
               things
               of
               God
               .
               
                 p.
              
               139.
               
            
             
               2.
               
               Otherwise
               he
               cannot
               be
               the
               Minister
               of
               Christ
               .
               
                 p.
              
               141.
               
            
             
               3.
               
               Otherwise
               he
               is
               like
               to
               doe
               no
               good
               by
               his
               Ministery
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
          
        
         
           
             The
             Contents
             of
             that
             Sermon
             on
             
               JOHN
               3.
               20.
               
            
          
           
             
               THE
               Context
               opened
               in
               foure
               particulars
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               What
               mans
               naturall
               estate
               ,
               and
               condition
               is
               without
               Christ
               .
               
                 p.
              
               145.
               
            
             
               2.
               
               Gods
               gracious
               provision
               for
               mans
               salvation
               .
               
                 p.
              
               146.
               
            
             
             
               3.
               
               The
               condition
               required
               ,
               
                 viz.
              
               Faith
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               4.
               
               The
               reprobation
               of
               the
               World
               if
               they
               doe
               not
               believe
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               But
               Christ
               is
               neither
               the
               efficient
               ,
               nor
               deficient
               cause
               thereof
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               But
               the
               cause
               of
               their
               damnation
               is
               from
               themselves
               proved
            
             
               1
               By
               their
               owne
               conscience
               .
               
                 p.
              
               147.
               
            
             
               2
               By
               experience
               .
               
                 p.
              
               148.
               
            
             
               3.
               
               By
               Reason
               .
               
                 p.
              
               149.
               
            
             
               In
               the
               words
               are
               two
               parts
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               The
               wickeds
               rejection
               of
               the
               word
               of
               grace
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               2.
               
               The
               cause
               of
               that
               rejection
               .
               
                 ib.
              
            
             
               
                 viz.
              
               1.
               
               First
               ,
               from
               the
               qualification
               of
               their
               persons
               .
            
             
               2.
               
               From
               the
               disposition
               of
               their
               nature
               .
               
                 ib.
              
            
             
               
                 Doct
                 :
              
               A
               wicked
               man
               hates
               the
               word
               of
               Gods
               grace
               ,
               yea
               grace
               it selfe
               .
               
                 p.
              
               150.
               
            
             
               This
               hatred
               is
            
             
               1.
               
               An
               actuall
               hatred
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               2.
               
               It
               is
               a
               passion
               of
               the
               heart
               .
               
                 p.
              
               151.
               
            
             
               3.
               
               It
               causeth
               the
               heart
               to
               rise
               up
               against
               an
               union
               with
               the
               word
               .
               
                 p.
              
               153.
               
            
             
               This
               union
               of
               the
               word
               is
               set
               in
               opposition
            
             
               1.
               
               To
               generall
               preaching
               .
               
                 p.
              
               154.
               
            
             
               2.
               
               To
               mercifull
               preaching
               .
               
                 p.
              
               155.
               
            
             
             
               3.
               
               To
               now
               and
               then
               preaching
               .
               
                 p.
              
               156.
               to
               
                 p.
              
               160.
               
            
             
               If
               the
               World
               doe
               not
               hate
               a
               righteous
               man
               ,
               it
               is
               either
            
             
               1.
               
               Because
               he
               is
               a
               great
               man
               .
               
                 p.
              
               160.
               
            
             
               2.
               
               Because
               he
               is
               a
               man
               of
               admirable
               wit
               ,
               end
               knowledge
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               3.
               
               Or
               because
               God
               gives
               him
               favour
               in
               the
               eyes
               of
               the
               World
               .
               
                 ib.
              
            
             
               4.
               
               This
               hatred
               causeth
               the
               heart
               to
               rise
               against
               that
               which
               is
               repugnant
               to
               its
               lusts
               .
               
                 p.
              
               162.
               
            
             
               A
               wicked
               man
               may
               love
               3
               kinds
               of
               preaching
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               Eloquent
               preaching
               ,
               that
               savours
               more
               of
               humanity
               then
               of
               Divinity
               .
               
                 ib.
              
            
             
               2.
               
               Impertinent
               preaching
               .
               
                 p.
              
               163.
               
            
             
               3.
               
               Now
               and
               then
               some
               preaching
               ,
               to
               satisfie
               the
               cravings
               of
               his
               Conscience
               .
               
                 p.
              
               164.
               
            
             
               
                 Reas
                 :
              
               1.
               
               A
               wicked
               man
               hates
               the
               word
               ▪
               because
               he
               hates
               all
               truth
               ,
               even
               the
               very
               being
               of
               the
               word
               .
               
                 p.
              
               165.
               
            
             
               2.
               
               Because
               he
               hates
               the
               very
               nature
               of
               the
               word
               .
               
                 p.
              
               167.
               
            
             
               3.
               
               Because
               he
               cannot
               endure
               the
               knowledge
               of
               the
               word
               .
               
                 p.
              
               169.
               
            
             
               All
               naturall
               men
               hate
               the
               word
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               Because
               no
               entreaties
               ,
               no
               beseeches
               can
               possibly
               reconcile
               them
               .
               
                 p.
              
               171.
               
            
             
             
               2.
               
               Because
               neither
               mony
               ,
               nor
               price
               can
               make
               them
               friends
               .
               
                 p.
              
               175.
               
            
             
               3.
               
               Because
               all
               the
               love
               in
               the
               World
               cannot
               unite
               them
               together
               .
               
                 p.
              
               176.
               
            
             
               4.
               
               Because
               neither
               the
               love
               of
               God
               ,
               nor
               the
               bloud
               of
               Christ
               will
               soder
               them
               together
               .
               
                 p.
              
               177.
               
            
             
               Every
               naturall
               man
               had
               rather
               be
               damned
               then
               leave
               his
               sinnes
               ,
               rather
               goe
               to
               Hell
               then
               be
               a
               new
               creature
               .
               
                 p.
              
               178.
               
            
          
        
         
           
             The
             contents
             of
             that
             Sermon
             on
             
               ESAY
               .
               42.
               24.
               
            
          
           
             
               THE
               words
               contain
               five
               things
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               The
               Author
               of
               the
               destruction
               .
               
                 p.
              
               185.
               
            
             
               2.
               
               The
               causes
               of
               it
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               3.
               
               The
               judgement
               it selfe
               :
               
                 p.
              
               186.
               
            
             
               4.
               
               The
               people
               on
               whom
               it
               was
               inflicted
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               5.
               
               The
               effects
               of
               it
               .
               
                 p.
              
               187.
               
            
             
               1.
               
                 Doct.
              
               God
               is
               the
               Author
               of
               all
               judgement
               that
               befalls
               a
               Nation
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               1.
               
               
                 Use
              
               For
               comfort
               to
               Gods
               children
               ,
               seeing
               God
               is
               the
               Orderer
               of
               all
               events
               .
               
                 p.
              
               119.
               
            
             
               2.
               
               
                 Use
              
               For
               terrour
               to
               the
               wicked
               that
               God
               
               whom
               they
               hate
               shall
               be
               their
               judge
               .
               
                 p.
              
               190.
               
            
             
               3.
               
               
                 Use
                 .
              
               To
               learne
               in
               all
               calamities
               to
               looke
               up
               unto
               God
               .
               
                 p.
              
               191.
               
            
             
               2.
               
                 Doct.
              
               Sinne
               and
               disobedience
               against
               the
               Law
               of
               God
               ,
               is
               that
               which
               brings
               downe
               punishments
               ,
               and
               judgements
               ,
               upon
               a
               Nation
               ,
               Church
               ,
               or
               People
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               
                 Use
                 .
              
               1.
               
               To
               discover
               the
               weaknesse
               of
               our
               Land
               ,
               in
               what
               a
               poore
               condition
               it
               is
               by
               reason
               of
               sinne
               .
               
                 p.
              
               193.
               
            
             
               2.
               
               To
               shew
               who
               be
               the
               greatest
               Traytors
               to
               a
               Kingdome
               .
               
                 p.
              
               194.
               
            
             
               3.
               
               To
               teach
               all
               of
               us
               to
               set
               hand
               and
               heart
               ,
               Prayers
               and
               tears
               a
               worke
               against
               sinne
               .
               
                 p.
              
               195.
               
            
             
               Especially
               it
               concernes
               those
               that
               are
               in
               places
               of
               Authority
               .
               
                 p.
              
               197.
               
            
             
               3.
               
                 Doct.
              
               The
               Lord
               often
               times
               brings
               fearfull
               ,
               and
               unavoydable
               judgements
               ,
               and
               punishments
               ,
               upon
               his
               owne
               professing
               people
               .
               
                 p.
              
               200.
               
            
             
               Foure
               signes
               of
               Judgement
               a
               comming
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               When
               the
               Ministers
               of
               God
               with
               one
               voyce
               ,
               foretell
               judgements
               to
               come
               .
               
                 p.
              
               202.
               
            
             
               2.
               
               When
               sinnes
               of
               all
               sorts
               doe
               abound
               .
               
                 ib.
              
            
             
               3.
               
               When
               the
               Divell
               and
               wicked
               men
               cast
               in
               bones
               of
               dissention
               .
               
                 p.
              
               203.
               
            
             
               4.
               
               When
               all
               mens
               hearts
               begin
               to
               faile
               .
               
                 p.
              
               204
            
             
             
               Three
               Directions
               ,
               what
               is
               to
               be
               done
               in
               such
               times
               .
            
             
               1.
               
               Let
               us
               shake
               off
               the
               love
               of
               all
               things
               here
               below
               .
               
                 p.
              
               206.
               
            
             
               2.
               
               Let
               us
               lay
               our
               heads
               upon
               the
               block
               ,
               and
               be
               willing
               that
               God
               should
               doe
               what
               he
               will
               with
               us
               .
               
                 p.
              
               208.
               
            
             
               3.
               
               Let
               us
               pray
               and
               cry
               mightily
               to
               God
               ,
               before
               we
               dye
               ,
               even
               all
               the
               time
               we
               have
               to
               live
               ,
               for
               mercy
               ,
               peace
               ,
               and
               truth
               .
               
                 ibid.
              
            
             
               The
               Church
               of
               
                 England
              
               like
               the
               ship
               of
               
                 Jonah
                 .
                 p.
              
               209.
               
            
             
               The
               Authors
               Admonition
               to
               the
               People
               .
               
                 ib.
              
               &
               
                 p.
              
               210.
               &c.
               
            
             
               More
               then
               ordinary
               Faith
               requisite
               for
               these
               times
               of
               danger
               .
               
                 p.
                 211.
                 212.
                 &c.
                 
              
            
          
        
      
    
     
       
       
       
         
           A
           DISCOURSE
           OF
           the
           nature
           of
           prevalent
           Prayer
           ,
           together
           with
           some
           helps
           against
           discouragements
           in
           Prayer
           .
        
         
           
             LAMENT.
             3.
             VER.
             57.
             
          
           
             Thou
             drewest
             neare
             in
             the
             day
             that
             I
             called
             upon
             thee
             ,
             thou
             saidst
             feare
             not
             .
          
        
         
           THis
           Book
           of
           the
           Lamentations
           doth
           plainely
           shew
           what
           miseries
           and
           distresses
           sinne
           is
           the
           cause
           of
           .
           Now
           this
           people
           of
           the
           Jewes
           ,
           because
           of
           their
           Idolatries
           ,
           their
           contempt
           of
           Gods
           Ordinances
           ,
           their
           slighting
           and
           misusing
           the
           Prophets
           ,
           &c.
           
           Their
           Cities
           were
           taken
           ,
           the
           Temple
           burned
           ,
           their
           liberties
           confiscated
           ,
           themselves
           banished
           out
           of
           their
           countrey
           ,
           
           and
           deprived
           of
           the
           ordinances
           of
           their
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           signes
           of
           his
           presence
           ,
           before
           they
           were
           rebellious
           :
           but
           now
           they
           sought
           God
           a
           long
           time
           ;
           they
           prayed
           ,
           but
           God
           would
           not
           heare
           ,
           In
           so
           much
           that
           many
           poore
           soules
           amongst
           them
           were
           discouraged
           ,
           and
           almost
           ready
           to
           despaire
           ;
           That
           had
           not
           the
           Lord
           put
           in
           some
           incklings
           of
           hope
           ,
           they
           had
           utterly
           fainted
           .
           Now
           whilst
           these
           poore
           soules
           were
           praying
           and
           crying
           ,
           and
           groaning
           ,
           and
           now
           ready
           to
           give
           over
           for
           discouragement
           that
           God
           will
           not
           hear
           them
           ,
           presently
           the
           Lord
           flings
           in
           comfort
           ,
           and
           beckens
           to
           their
           hearts
           not
           to
           be
           discouraged
           ,
           but
           to
           pray
           on
           and
           feare
           not
           .
           
             Thou
             drewest
             near
             in
             the
             day
             that
             I
             called
             upon
             thee
             ,
             thou
             saidst
             feare
             not
             ;
          
           the
           words
           containe
           in
           them
           three
           properties
           of
           effectuall
           prayer
           .
        
         
           
           First
           ,
           the
           unsatiablenesse
           of
           it
           till
           it
           bee
           heard
           .
        
         
           
           Secondly
           ,
           the
           sensiblenesse
           of
           it
           whether
           it
           be
           heard
           or
           noe
           .
        
         
           
           Thirdly
           ,
           the
           supplies
           it
           hath
           from
           dangers
           and
           discouragements
           that
           it
           is
           in
           .
        
         
           
           First
           the
           unsatiablenesse
           of
           it
           ;
           All
           the
           praiers
           of
           this
           people
           though
           they
           had
           beene
           of
           many
           yeares
           ,
           yet
           they
           counted
           them
           as
           the
           prayers
           of
           one
           day
           ;
           in
           the
           day
           that
           I
           called
           upon
           thee
           :
           They
           account
           all
           their
           
           thousands
           of
           supplications
           and
           prayers
           as
           one
           suite
           ;
           never
           had
           they
           done
           their
           prayers
           till
           God
           did
           heare
           them
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           the
           sensiblenesse
           of
           it
           ,
           whereby
           
           it
           is
           able
           to
           know
           whether
           God
           doe
           heare
           it
           or
           no
           :
           Thou
           drewest
           neere
           in
           the
           day
           that
           I
           called
           upon
           thee
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           the
           supplyes
           it
           hath
           against
           
           dangers
           and
           discouragements
           ;
           God
           slings
           in
           comfort
           into
           their
           hearts
           ,
           giving
           them
           incklings
           of
           hope
           to
           support
           them
           agaynst
           their
           discouragements
           ,
           thou
           saidst
           feare
           not
           :
           from
           the
           first
           of
           these
           ,
           observe
        
         
           
             That
             an
             effectuall
             prayer
             is
             an
             unsatiable
             prayer
             ,
          
           A
           man
           that
           prayes
           effectually
           ,
           sets
           down
           this
           in
           himself
           as
           his
           first
           conclusion
           never
           to
           cease
           ,
           nor
           to
           give
           over
           praying
           till
           he
           speed
           :
           This
           is
           the
           first
           and
           prime
           thing
           that
           a
           godly
           heart
           lookes
           at
           ,
           as
           
             David
          
           in
           his
           prayers
           :
           He
           begins
           in
           this
           manner
           ,
           
             Heare
             my
             crie
             O
             God
             ,
             attend
             unto
             my
             prayer
             .
             Psal.
          
           61.
           1.
           
           So
           ,
           
             Give
             eare
             unto
             my
             prayer
             O
             God
             ,
             and
             hide
             not
             thy selfe
             from
             my
             supplications
             ,
          
           Psal.
           55.
           1.
           
           
             Hear
             my
             voyce
             O
             God
             in
             my
             prayer
             ,
          
           Psal.
           64.
           1.
           
           As
           if
           he
           should
           say
           ,
           Lord
           ,
           now
           I
           come
           to
           call
           upon
           thee
           :
           now
           that
           I
           come
           to
           thee
           ,
           to
           begge
           these
           and
           these
           graces
           that
           my
           soule
           wants
           ,
           I
           beseech
           thee
           to
           heare
           me
           :
           for
           I
           am
           resolved
           never
           to
           give
           over
           
           my
           suit
           ,
           never
           to
           give
           thee
           rest
           ,
           but
           for
           to
           continue
           my
           prayers
           and
           supplications
           ,
           till
           thou
           give
           a
           gratious
           answer
           to
           my
           soul
           and
           heare
           me
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           the
           first
           and
           prime
           thing
           that
           the
           soule
           looks
           after
           ,
           it
           being
           the
           very
           end
           of
           prayer
           to
           be
           heard
           ;
           it
           is
           not
           with
           prayer
           as
           with
           Oratory
           ;
           the
           end
           of
           oratory
           is
           not
           to
           perswade
           ,
           but
           to
           speake
           perswasively
           ;
           for
           a
           man
           may
           use
           all
           the
           perswasions
           that
           may
           be
           ,
           and
           use
           all
           the
           perswasive
           arguments
           that
           the
           wit
           of
           man
           can
           invent
           ,
           and
           speake
           as
           cuttingly
           ,
           as
           perswasively
           as
           may
           be
           ,
           and
           yet
           the
           heart
           may
           be
           so
           intractable
           as
           not
           to
           be
           perswaded
           ;
           it
           is
           not
           so
           with
           prayer
           .
        
         
           The
           end
           of
           prayer
           is
           to
           prevaile
           with
           God
           .
           Beloved
           ,
           there
           is
           difference
           between
           the
           end
           and
           office
           of
           prayer
           ;
           the
           office
           of
           prayer
           is
           to
           pray
           ,
           the
           end
           of
           prayer
           is
           to
           prevaile
           .
           There
           is
           many
           a
           man
           that
           doth
           the
           office
           of
           prayer
           ,
           and
           yet
           never
           gets
           the
           end
           of
           prayer
           .
           A
           man
           hath
           never
           gotten
           the
           end
           of
           his
           prayers
           ,
           till
           he
           hath
           gotten
           that
           he
           prayed
           for
           .
           It
           is
           not
           with
           prayer
           as
           with
           a
           Physician
           ,
           that
           may
           give
           the
           best
           physick
           under
           heaven
           ,
           and
           yet
           the
           Patient
           may
           die
           under
           his
           hands
           ;
           and
           therefore
           one
           gives
           counsell
           that
           a
           Physician
           never
           meddle
           with
           a
           desperate
           man
           .
        
         
         
           But
           if
           the
           soule
           be
           an
           effectuall
           suitor
           with
           God
           ,
           it
           can
           never
           faile
           of
           its
           suite
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           an
           unsatiable
           Suitor
           ,
           that
           never
           leaves
           his
           prayer
           till
           it
           terminates
           the
           end
           of
           it
           .
           I
           cried
           unto
           the
           Lord
           with
           my
           voice
           ,
           and
           he
           heard
           me
           out
           of
           his
           holy
           hill
           .
           
             Selah
             .
             Jerom
          
           translates
           it
           for
           ever
           .
           
             Psal.
          
           3.
           4.
           never
           doth
           a
           child
           of
           God
           pray
           ,
           but
           he
           prayeth
           so
           as
           that
           his
           praier
           and
           Gods
           eare
           may
           be
           joyned
           together
           ;
           I
           cried
           unto
           the
           Lord
           ,
           and
           the
           Lord
           heard
           me
           :
           This
           also
           sheweth
           how
           the
           Prophet
           cried
           and
           praied
           ,
           namely
           so
           as
           his
           crying
           and
           Gods
           hearing
           were
           coupled
           together
           .
           But
           some
           may
           object
           ,
           
           How
           can
           a
           man
           be
           unsatiable
           in
           his
           praiers
           til
           he
           speed
           ?
           must
           a
           man
           be
           alwaies
           a
           praying
           ?
           God
           calls
           men
           to
           other
           duties
           of
           his
           worshippe
           ,
           and
           of
           his
           owne
           particular
           calling
           ;
           after
           morning
           I
           must
           have
           done
           till
           noone
           ,
           after
           noone
           I
           must
           have
           done
           till
           night
           :
           whether
           God
           heare
           me
           or
           no
           ,
           must
           I
           be
           alwaies
           a
           praying
           till
           I
           speed
           ?
           then
           I
           should
           doe
           nothing
           else
           but
           pray
           ;
           how
           then
           are
           we
           to
           continue
           our
           praiers
           till
           God
           heare
           us
           ,
           and
           give
           the
           grace
           that
           we
           pray
           for
           ?
           to
           this
           I
           answer
           .
        
         
           A
           man
           must
           give
           over
           the
           words
           and
           
           times
           of
           prayer
           for
           other
           duties
           ,
           but
           a
           man
           must
           not
           give
           over
           the
           suite
           of
           prayer
           .
           A
           poore
           begger
           comes
           to
           a
           housekeepers
           gate
           
           and
           begs
           ,
           but
           none
           heares
           him
           ;
           now
           he
           being
           a
           poore
           man
           ,
           hath
           something
           else
           to
           doe
           ,
           and
           therefore
           he
           sits
           downe
           or
           stands
           and
           knits
           or
           patches
           ,
           and
           then
           he
           begs
           or
           knocks
           ,
           and
           then
           to
           his
           work
           again
           ;
           though
           he
           do
           not
           alwaies
           continue
           knocking
           or
           begging
           ,
           yet
           he
           alwaies
           continues
           his
           suite
           :
           O
           that
           my
           suite
           might
           be
           granted
           me
           ,
           or
           that
           I
           might
           have
           an
           almes
           here
           ;
           so
           when
           the
           soul
           is
           begging
           of
           any
           grace
           ,
           though
           it
           doth
           not
           alwaies
           continue
           the
           words
           of
           praier
           ,
           yet
           it
           alwaies
           continues
           the
           suite
           of
           praier
           .
           
             David
             he
             would
             dwell
             in
             the
             house
             of
             the
             Lord
             for
             ever
             .
             Psal.
          
           23.
           6.
           
           A
           wicked
           man
           it
           may
           be
           will
           turne
           into
           Gods
           house
           and
           say
           a
           prayer
           ,
           &c.
           but
           the
           Prophet
           would
           (
           and
           so
           all
           godly
           men
           must
           )
           dwell
           there
           for
           ever
           ;
           his
           soule
           lyeth
           alwaies
           at
           the
           throne
           of
           grace
           begging
           for
           grace
           .
           A
           wicked
           man
           he
           prayeth
           as
           the
           cock
           croweth
           ;
           the
           cocke
           crowes
           and
           ceaseth
           ,
           and
           crowes
           again
           and
           ceaseth
           again
           ;
           and
           thinkes
           not
           of
           crowing
           til
           he
           crowes
           again
           :
           so
           a
           wicked
           man
           praies
           and
           ceaseth
           ,
           prayes
           and
           ceaseth
           againe
           ;
           his
           minde
           is
           never
           busied
           to
           thinke
           whether
           his
           prayers
           speede
           or
           no
           ;
           he
           thinkes
           it
           is
           good
           Religion
           for
           him
           to
           pray
           ,
           and
           therefore
           he
           takes
           that
           for
           granted
           that
           his
           praiers
           speede
           ,
           though
           in
           very
           deed
           God
           never
           heares
           his
           praiers
           ,
           nor
           no
           
           more
           respects
           it
           ,
           then
           he
           respects
           the
           lowing
           of
           Oxen
           ,
           or
           the
           gruntling
           of
           hoggs
           :
           he
           is
           found
           in
           his
           prayers
           as
           the
           wilde
           Asse
           in
           her
           months
           :
           
             Jer.
          
           2.
           
           The
           wilde
           Asse
           in
           regard
           of
           her
           swiftnesse
           cannot
           be
           taken
           but
           in
           her
           months
           ,
           she
           hath
           a
           sleepy
           month
           ,
           and
           all
           that
           while
           she
           is
           so
           sleepy
           and
           dumpish
           that
           any
           man
           may
           take
           her
           ;
           in
           her
           months
           you
           shall
           finde
           her
           ;
           so
           a
           wicked
           man
           hath
           his
           prayer
           monthes
           ,
           his
           praier
           fits
           :
           it
           may
           be
           in
           the
           morning
           ,
           or
           in
           the
           evening
           ,
           or
           day
           of
           his
           affliction
           and
           misery
           you
           shall
           have
           him
           at
           his
           prayers
           ,
           at
           his
           prayer
           fits
           then
           you
           shall
           finde
           him
           at
           it
           ,
           but
           otherwise
           his
           mind
           is
           about
           other
           matters
           .
           But
           the
           childe
           of
           God
           what
           ever
           he
           ailes
           ,
           he
           goes
           with
           his
           petition
           presently
           to
           the
           throne
           of
           grace
           ,
           and
           there
           he
           never
           removes
           till
           he
           hath
           it
           granted
           him
           ,
           as
           here
           we
           see
           the
           prayers
           of
           the
           Church
           consisting
           of
           many
           yeares
           ,
           yet
           are
           counted
           but
           one
           suite
           ;
           try
           therefore
           and
           examin
           whether
           thy
           praiers
           be
           unsatiable
           praiers
           yea
           or
           no
           ;
           and
           for
           helpe
           herein
           take
           these
           markes
           ;
           first
           if
           thy
           prayers
           be
           unsatiable
           
           praiers
           ,
           then
           it
           is
           a
           begging
           praier
           ;
           thou
           praiest
           as
           if
           thou
           hadst
           never
           praied
           before
           ,
           as
           if
           thou
           hadst
           never
           begun
           to
           pray
           ,
           and
           thou
           never
           thinkest
           that
           thou
           hast
           done
           any
           thing
           till
           thou
           hast
           done
           the
           deede
           .
           As
           a
           hungrie
           
           man
           eates
           as
           if
           he
           had
           never
           eate
           before
           ,
           so
           the
           unsatiable
           soule
           praies
           as
           if
           he
           had
           never
           prayed
           before
           ,
           till
           he
           hath
           obtained
           that
           he
           hath
           praied
           for
           ;
           but
           a
           wicked
           man
           he
           praies
           not
           thus
           .
           
             Iob
          
           speaking
           of
           carnal
           professors
           ,
           
             Iob
             27.
             10.
             
             Will
             he
             call
             upon
             God
             at
             all
             times
             ?
          
           seest
           thou
           a
           wicked
           man
           go
           to
           a
           good
           duty
           ,
           go
           to
           praier
           ,
           do
           you
           think
           that
           he
           wil
           hold
           out
           alwaies
           ?
           he
           will
           never
           do
           it
           ;
           for
           a
           wicked
           man
           he
           reasons
           with
           himself
           ,
           I
           have
           called
           upon
           God
           thus
           &
           thus
           long
           ,
           I
           hope
           I
           need
           not
           pray
           any
           more
           for
           this
           thing
           ,
           &
           so
           he
           gives
           over
           .
        
         
           But
           a
           godly
           man
           he
           will
           be
           alwaies
           calling
           upon
           God
           .
           Beloved
           ,
           there
           is
           a
           beginning
           
             to
          
           an
           action
           ,
           and
           a
           beginning
           
             of
          
           an
           action
           ;
           thou
           never
           beginnest
           to
           lift
           up
           a
           weight
           till
           thou
           stirrest
           it
           from
           ground
           ;
           indeede
           thou
           mayst
           begin
           towards
           the
           action
           by
           pulling
           at
           it
           ,
           by
           reaching
           at
           it
           ;
           but
           thou
           never
           beginnest
           the
           lifting
           up
           of
           the
           weight
           til
           thou
           stir
           it
           from
           its
           place
           :
           thou
           mayst
           give
           a
           pull
           at
           prayer
           ,
           and
           tugge
           at
           a
           grace
           ,
           but
           thou
           hast
           not
           so
           much
           as
           begun
           that
           duty
           ,
           till
           thou
           seest
           God
           begin
           to
           hear
           thee
           ,
           till
           thou
           seest
           the
           grace
           a
           coming
           ;
           therefore
           the
           Prophet
           
             David
          
           when
           he
           prayed
           and
           had
           not
           that
           he
           prayed
           for
           ,
           his
           prayers
           returned
           into
           his
           owne
           bosome
           ,
           
             Psal.
          
           35.
           13.
           there
           to
           lie
           to
           be
           a
           continuall
           suiTe
           unto
           God
           .
           A
           wicked
           
           man
           praies
           ,
           and
           he
           leaves
           his
           praier
           behind
           him
           in
           his
           pew
           ,
           or
           in
           his
           hal
           ,
           or
           chamber
           ;
           but
           a
           godly
           man
           praies
           and
           his
           prayer
           is
           in
           his
           heart
           ,
           his
           praier
           is
           not
           out
           til
           the
           grace
           be
           in
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           an
           unsatiable
           prayer
           ,
           it
           is
           evermore
           
           a
           proceeding
           prayer
           ;
           you
           would
           think
           that
           these
           are
           two
           contraries
           and
           one
           opposite
           to
           the
           other
           ,
           but
           they
           are
           not
           ,
           only
           they
           are
           two
           severall
           things
           :
           as
           it
           is
           ever
           a
           beginning
           praier
           ,
           because
           in
           his
           own
           thoughts
           he
           reckons
           or
           thinkes
           that
           he
           hath
           nothing
           till
           he
           speedes
           ;
           so
           the
           soule
           that
           is
           unsatiable
           in
           praier
           ,
           he
           proceedes
           ,
           he
           gets
           neere
           to
           God
           ,
           he
           gaines
           somthing
           ,
           he
           windes
           up
           his
           heart
           higher
           ,
           or
           somthing
           or
           other
           he
           gets
           :
           As
           a
           child
           that
           seeth
           the
           mother
           have
           an
           apple
           in
           her
           hand
           ,
           and
           it
           would
           faine
           have
           it
           ,
           it
           will
           come
           and
           pull
           at
           the
           mothers
           hand
           for
           it
           :
           now
           she
           lets
           go
           one
           finger
           and
           yet
           she
           holds
           it
           ,
           and
           then
           he
           pulls
           againe
           ,
           and
           then
           she
           lets
           goe
           another
           finger
           and
           yet
           she
           keepes
           it
           ,
           and
           then
           the
           child
           pulls
           againe
           ,
           and
           will
           never
           leave
           pulling
           and
           crying
           till
           it
           hath
           got
           it
           from
           his
           mother
           :
           So
           a
           child
           of
           God
           seeing
           all
           graces
           to
           be
           in
           God
           ,
           he
           drawes
           neere
           to
           the
           throne
           of
           grace
           begging
           for
           it
           ,
           &
           by
           his
           earnest
           &
           faithful
           praiers
           ,
           he
           opens
           the
           hands
           of
           God
           to
           him
           :
           God
           dealing
           as
           parents
           to
           their
           children
           ,
           holds
           them
           off
           for
           a
           while
           ,
           not
           
           that
           he
           is
           unwilling
           to
           give
           ,
           but
           to
           make
           them
           more
           earnest
           with
           God
           :
           to
           draw
           them
           the
           neerer
           to
           himselfe
           ;
           a
           wicked
           man
           praies
           and
           his
           praiers
           tumble
           downe
           upon
           him
           againe
           ;
           and
           his
           heart
           is
           as
           dead
           as
           ever
           it
           was
           before
           ,
           as
           sensuall
           as
           ever
           ,
           as
           carnall
           and
           earthly
           as
           ever
           ,
           as
           hard
           ,
           as
           impenitent
           and
           secure
           as
           ever
           .
        
         
           A
           godly
           man
           when
           he
           praies
           ,
           though
           he
           have
           not
           gotten
           the
           thing
           totall
           that
           he
           desired
           ,
           yet
           he
           is
           neerer
           God
           then
           he
           was
           before
           ;
           his
           heart
           growes
           every
           day
           better
           then
           other
           by
           his
           praiers
           ;
           he
           obtaines
           still
           something
           ,
           as
           the
           Prophet
           
             Hoseah
          
           speakes
           of
           knowledge
           
             Hos.
             6.
             3.
             
             Then
             shall
             we
             know
             ,
             if
             we
             follow
             on
             to
             know
             the
             Lord
             ▪
          
           so
           I
           may
           say
           of
           praier
           ,
           &
           of
           al
           other
           good
           duties
           ,
           then
           we
           pray
           if
           we
           proceed
           on
           wards
           in
           praier
           .
        
         
           A
           man
           may
           know
           and
           know
           ,
           and
           yet
           never
           know
           the
           Lord
           ,
           till
           he
           goe
           on
           in
           knowledge
           ;
           so
           a
           man
           may
           pray
           and
           pray
           ,
           yet
           if
           he
           goe
           not
           on-wards
           in
           his
           praiers
           ,
           his
           praiers
           are
           nothing
           .
           A
           godly
           man
           praies
           as
           a
           builder
           builds
           ;
           now
           a
           builder
           he
           first
           layeth
           a
           foundation
           ,
           and
           because
           he
           cannot
           finish
           in
           one
           day
           ,
           he
           comes
           the
           second
           day
           ,
           and
           findes
           the
           frame
           standing
           that
           he
           made
           the
           first
           day
           ,
           and
           then
           he
           adds
           a
           second
           dayes
           worke
           ,
           and
           then
           he
           comes
           a
           third
           day
           and
           
           findes
           his
           two
           former
           dayes
           worke
           standing
           ;
           then
           he
           proceeds
           to
           a
           third
           dayes
           worke
           ,
           and
           makes
           walls
           to
           it
           ,
           and
           so
           he
           goes
           on
           till
           his
           building
           be
           finished
           .
           So
           prayer
           it
           is
           the
           building
           of
           the
           soule
           till
           it
           reach
           up
           to
           heaven
           ;
           therefore
           a
           godly
           heart
           praies
           and
           reacheth
           higher
           &
           higher
           in
           praier
           ,
           till
           at
           last
           his
           prayers
           reach
           up
           to
           God
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           a
           signe
           of
           a
           wicked
           man
           to
           pray
           and
           to
           let
           his
           prayers
           fall
           downe
           againe
           upon
           him
           .
           And
           here
           I
           appeale
           to
           the
           consciences
           of
           wicked
           men
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           not
           so
           with
           them
           ;
           they
           pray
           and
           pray
           ,
           but
           their
           hearts
           are
           as
           dead
           and
           deceitfull
           ,
           as
           proud
           and
           vaine
           ,
           as
           ignorant
           ,
           blockish
           and
           rebellious
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           had
           never
           praied
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           it
           is
           more
           and
           more
           a
           fervent
           
           praier
           ;
           if
           a
           little
           praier
           will
           not
           serve
           the
           turne
           ,
           if
           he
           speeds
           not
           to
           day
           ,
           then
           he
           will
           pray
           more
           earnestly
           to
           morrow
           ;
           and
           if
           that
           will
           not
           serve
           the
           turne
           ,
           he
           will
           adde
           more
           .
        
         
           As
           a
           man
           in
           winding
           up
           of
           a
           bucket
           ,
           if
           two
           or
           three
           windings
           will
           not
           fetch
           it
           up
           ,
           he
           will
           winde
           it
           up
           higher
           and
           higher
           ,
           till
           it
           comes
           up
           ;
           for
           if
           he
           should
           onely
           winde
           up
           once
           or
           twise
           and
           no
           more
           ,
           but
           hold
           it
           just
           at
           the
           same
           pin
           ,
           the
           bucket
           would
           never
           come
           up
           ;
           So
           if
           a
           man
           praies
           and
           praies
           ,
           and
           windes
           not
           up
           his
           heart
           higher
           ,
           but
           
           holds
           it
           just
           at
           the
           same
           pegge
           it
           was
           ,
           praies
           in
           the
           same
           fashion
           he
           did
           ,
           grace
           will
           never
           come
           up
           .
           Marke
           then
           how
           thou
           prayest
           ,
           examine
           thy
           heart
           ;
           dost
           thou
           pray
           to
           day
           as
           yesterday
           ,
           with
           no
           more
           zeal
           ,
           nor
           feeling
           affection
           ,
           nor
           sencible
           desire
           ?
           thou
           praiest
           not
           unsatiably
           .
        
         
           No
           ,
           thou
           restrainest
           thy
           praying
           from
           growing
           ,
           an
           excellent
           discription
           of
           an
           hypocrite
           ,
           
             Iob
          
           14.
           4.
           though
           falsly
           applied
           to
           
             Job
             .
             Thou
             restrainest
             prayer
             before
             God
             ;
          
           in
           some
           translations
           it
           is
           
             Thou
             keepest
             thy
             prayers
             from
             growing
             ,
          
           thou
           restrainest
           thy
           praiers
           as
           a
           dwarffe
           is
           restrained
           from
           growing
           ,
           so
           thou
           restrainest
           thy
           praiers
           from
           being
           more
           and
           more
           earnest
           and
           effectuall
           and
           fervent
           ,
           unsatiable
           praier
           is
           growing
           in
           zeale
           and
           affection
           .
        
         
           
           Fourthly
           it
           is
           a
           more
           and
           more
           frequent
           praier
           ,
           so
           that
           if
           twice
           a
           day
           will
           not
           serve
           the
           turne
           ,
           
             he
             will
             pray
             three
             times
             a
             day
             .
             Psal.
          
           55.
           17.
           and
           if
           that
           will
           not
           prevaile
           ,
           
             he
             will
             pray
             seven
             times
             a
             day
             .
             Psal.
          
           119.
           164.
           and
           when
           that
           is
           not
           enough
           ,
           he
           will
           be
           even
           ever
           a
           praying
           ,
           hardly
           broken
           off
           day
           or
           night
           .
           
             Psal.
          
           88.
           1.
           he
           cares
           not
           how
           often
           he
           praies
           ;
           it
           may
           be
           that
           thou
           hast
           been
           a
           suitor
           for
           strength
           and
           grace
           against
           corruptions
           ,
           and
           hast
           put
           up
           many
           praiers
           to
           the
           
           same
           purpose
           .
           If
           now
           thou
           stickest
           at
           any
           praiers
           ,
           thy
           praiers
           are
           not
           unsatiable
           ;
           an
           unsatiable
           soul
           never
           resteth
           ,
           though
           it
           have
           made
           ten
           thousand
           praiers
           ,
           till
           it
           have
           gotten
           the
           grace
           ;
           it
           is
           so
           with
           other
           things
           ,
           and
           therefore
           we
           neede
           not
           wonder
           at
           it
           ;
           when
           a
           man
           doth
           his
           worke
           one
           day
           ,
           he
           will
           do
           it
           another
           ,
           and
           so
           on
           as
           long
           as
           he
           lives
           till
           his
           worke
           be
           done
           ;
           so
           must
           we
           doe
           for
           heaven
           and
           for
           grace
           .
        
         
           Fifthly
           it
           is
           ever
           more
           and
           more
           a
           backt
           
           praier
           :
           if
           ordinary
           praiers
           will
           not
           serve
           the
           turne
           :
           a
           godly
           heart
           will
           cut
           off
           time
           from
           his
           recreations
           and
           pleasures
           ,
           though
           in
           themselves
           lawfull
           .
           Beloved
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           with
           thy
           soule
           in
           its
           wrastlings
           and
           strivings
           for
           grace
           and
           power
           against
           corruptions
           ,
           that
           ordinary
           praiers
           will
           not
           satisfie
           it
           ,
           but
           it
           will
           be
           necessary
           to
           give
           over
           even
           lawfull
           delights
           ,
           and
           give
           that
           time
           to
           praier
           ;
           so
           a
           man
           will
           doe
           for
           the
           world
           ,
           if
           he
           have
           a
           businesse
           of
           importance
           ,
           that
           will
           bring
           him
           in
           gaine
           ,
           he
           will
           be
           content
           to
           part
           with
           his
           delights
           ,
           and
           recreations
           ,
           and
           pleasures
           ,
           to
           follow
           after
           it
           ;
           so
           a
           man
           must
           doe
           for
           his
           soule
           ,
           and
           if
           that
           be
           not
           enough
           ,
           then
           lay
           aside
           the
           duties
           of
           thy
           calling
           ,
           to
           take
           time
           from
           that
           .
           If
           a
           man
           have
           two
           houses
           on
           fire
           both
           together
           ,
           the
           one
           his
           mansion
           dwelling
           
           house
           ,
           the
           other
           some
           backe
           roome
           or
           stable
           ,
           if
           he
           can
           ,
           he
           will
           save
           both
           ;
           but
           if
           he
           see
           that
           by
           spending
           his
           time
           on
           quenching
           the
           fire
           on
           the
           stable
           ,
           that
           his
           great
           mansion
           house
           will
           burne
           downe
           ,
           he
           will
           then
           neglect
           the
           other
           and
           let
           it
           burne
           if
           it
           will
           ,
           and
           imploy
           himselfe
           about
           his
           house
           ;
           So
           when
           the
           soule
           is
           in
           misery
           under
           the
           want
           of
           grace
           ,
           that
           it
           cannot
           live
           under
           ,
           but
           must
           perish
           eternally
           if
           it
           have
           it
           not
           ,
           then
           the
           soule
           being
           better
           then
           the
           body
           ,
           rather
           then
           that
           the
           soule
           miscarry
           ,
           we
           will
           neglect
           the
           body
           sometime
           .
           And
           if
           this
           will
           not
           serve
           ,
           abstaine
           from
           meate
           and
           drinke
           ,
           fast
           it
           out
           ;
           thus
           the
           people
           of
           God
           are
           faine
           to
           doe
           many
           times
           ;
           their
           lust
           and
           corruptions
           being
           even
           as
           the
           devill
           himselfe
           ,
           which
           cannot
           be
           cast
           out
           but
           by
           praier
           and
           fasting
           ;
           there
           is
           an
           excellent
           place
           :
           
             Joel
             :
             2.
             12.
             
             Therefore
             now
             turne
             unto
             the
             Lord
             with
             fasting
             ,
             weeping
             and
             mourning
             ,
             rent
             your
             hearts
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           Therefore
           now
           ,
           now
           your
           sinnes
           are
           so
           divelish
           ,
           now
           your
           sinnes
           are
           so
           deepely
           rooted
           in
           your
           soules
           ,
           now
           your
           corruptions
           are
           come
           to
           be
           such
           plague
           soares
           within
           you
           ,
           doe
           you
           not
           thinke
           that
           your
           ordinary
           repentance
           ,
           and
           ordinary
           praiers
           and
           humiliations
           will
           serve
           the
           turne
           ,
           but
           now
           backe
           them
           with
           fasting
           and
           mourning
           .
           Here
           now
           
           thou
           mayst
           examine
           thy
           soule
           whether
           it
           have
           praied
           effectually
           ,
           unsatiably
           yea
           or
           no
           ;
           hath
           it
           ever
           a
           begging
           praier
           ,
           that
           thou
           praiest
           as
           if
           thou
           hadst
           never
           praied
           before
           ?
           is
           it
           evermore
           a
           proceeding
           praier
           ,
           that
           thou
           doest
           every
           day
           draw
           neerer
           to
           God
           then
           other
           ?
           is
           it
           more
           and
           more
           a
           backt
           praier
           ,
           a
           fervent
           and
           frequent
           praier
           ?
           hast
           thou
           taken
           from
           thy
           recreations
           ,
           from
           thy
           calling
           to
           give
           to
           it
           ,
           yea
           from
           thy
           belly
           and
           backe
           ,
           and
           used
           all
           meanes
           for
           a
           prevailing
           with
           God
           ?
           then
           are
           thy
           praiers
           effectuall
           and
           unsatiable
           .
        
         
           This
           then
           condemnes
           the
           praiers
           of
           most
           
           men
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           they
           pray
           and
           pray
           for
           grace
           ,
           and
           their
           praiers
           come
           to
           an
           end
           ,
           and
           cease
           before
           they
           have
           it
           ;
           the
           angrie
           fretchard
           praies
           for
           patience
           and
           meeknesse
           and
           yet
           sets
           downe
           without
           it
           ;
           the
           covetous
           worldling
           praies
           to
           be
           weaned
           from
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           his
           praiers
           are
           done
           before
           he
           is
           so
           ;
           so
           the
           lukewarmeling
           deadhearted
           and
           vaine-thoughted
           professor
           praies
           for
           better
           thoughts
           ,
           for
           more
           zeale
           ,
           and
           yet
           comes
           to
           his
           
             be
             it
             so
          
           before
           he
           have
           it
           ▪
           and
           so
           every
           wicked
           man
           praies
           ,
           and
           he
           is
           come
           to
           his
           
             Amen
          
           before
           the
           grace
           is
           given
           ;
           let
           all
           such
           men
           know
           that
           such
           praiers
           first
           they
           are
           endlesse
           ,
           secondly
           they
           are
           fruitlesse
           .
        
         
         
           First
           they
           are
           endlesse
           :
           The
           Philosopher
           said
           that
           that
           for
           which
           a
           thing
           is
           ,
           that
           is
           the
           end
           of
           the
           thing
           :
           now
           praier
           is
           for
           the
           speeding
           with
           God
           :
           and
           therefore
           he
           whose
           praiers
           speed
           not
           with
           God
           ,
           his
           praiers
           are
           endlesse
           :
           thou
           hast
           praied
           against
           thy
           pride
           ,
           but
           art
           as
           proude
           still
           :
           thou
           hast
           praied
           against
           thy
           choler
           and
           art
           as
           teachy
           still
           :
           thou
           hast
           praied
           against
           earthlines
           and
           worldlines
           ,
           and
           art
           earthly
           and
           worldly
           still
           :
           thou
           hast
           praied
           against
           security
           and
           deadnes
           of
           heart
           ,
           and
           lukewarmenesse
           in
           Gods
           service
           ,
           and
           art
           lukewarm
           ,
           dead
           hearted
           and
           secure
           still
           :
           to
           what
           end
           are
           all
           thy
           praiers
           ,
           when
           thou
           enjoyest
           not
           the
           end
           of
           thy
           praiers
           ?
           to
           what
           end
           is
           plowing
           of
           thy
           ground
           if
           it
           be
           not
           fallow
           ?
           when
           thy
           plowing
           is
           done
           ,
           to
           what
           end
           is
           the
           worke
           of
           thy
           servant
           ,
           if
           thy
           businesse
           be
           not
           done
           ,
           and
           dispatched
           when
           all
           is
           done
           ?
           As
           good
           never
           pray
           as
           pray
           to
           no
           end
           ,
           as
           good
           that
           thou
           never
           hadst
           begun
           to
           pray
           ,
           as
           to
           cease
           ,
           and
           to
           give
           over
           thy
           praiers
           before
           thou
           hast
           obtained
           the
           grace
           thou
           prayest
           for
           :
           
             The
             prayers
             of
             the
             wicked
             are
             an
             abomination
             unto
             the
             Lord
             ,
             but
             the
             prayer
             of
             the
             upright
             is
             his
             delight
             :
             Prov.
          
           15.
           8.
           that
           is
           ,
           the
           praiers
           of
           a
           wicked
           man
           that
           continues
           in
           his
           wickednesse
           ,
           when
           his
           praiers
           are
           done
           ,
           
           praiers
           are
           an
           abomination
           to
           the
           Lord
           :
           but
           the
           praiers
           of
           the
           upright
           though
           he
           were
           before
           he
           praied
           never
           so
           wicked
           ,
           yet
           if
           it
           be
           the
           praier
           of
           an
           upright
           and
           godly
           man
           ,
           when
           his
           praiers
           are
           done
           ,
           that
           his
           praiers
           rid
           him
           of
           his
           sin
           ,
           and
           make
           him
           an
           upright
           man
           ,
           his
           praiers
           are
           Gods
           delight
           .
        
         
           Beloved
           ,
           many
           pray
           against
           distrust
           in
           Gods
           providence
           ,
           Infidelity
           in
           Gods
           promises
           ,
           Impatiency
           under
           Gods
           corrections
           ,
           &c.
           and
           yet
           have
           never
           the
           more
           trust
           and
           affiance
           in
           God
           ,
           never
           the
           more
           patience
           under
           the
           hand
           of
           God
           ,
           all
           these
           praiers
           are
           
             endlesse
             .
          
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           thy
           praiers
           are
           
             fruitlesse
             :
          
           to
           
           what
           purpose
           is
           a
           beggers
           begging
           of
           an
           almes
           ?
           if
           he
           be
           gone
           before
           the
           almes
           be
           bestowed
           ,
           his
           begging
           is
           fruitlesse
           ;
           so
           all
           thy
           praiers
           are
           lost
           ,
           if
           thou
           art
           gone
           from
           the
           Throne
           of
           grace
           ,
           before
           grace
           is
           given
           thee
           :
           for
           if
           such
           a
           praier
           be
           endlesse
           ,
           then
           is
           it
           also
           fruitlesse
           :
           it
           will
           never
           do
           thee
           any
           good
           .
           what
           is
           a
           fruitlesse
           tree
           good
           for
           ,
           but
           to
           be
           cut
           down
           ?
           what
           is
           a
           fruitlesse
           Vine
           good
           for
           ,
           but
           to
           be
           burned
           ?
           So
           all
           thy
           praiers
           are
           lost
           ,
           all
           thy
           beginnings
           of
           grace
           are
           lost
           .
           we
           know
           saith
           the
           man
           that
           was
           borne
           blind
           ,
           
             John
          
           9.
           that
           God
           heareth
           not
           sinners
           ,
           we
           know
           it
           :
           Why
           may
           some
           
           say
           ,
           how
           do
           you
           know
           that
           God
           heares
           not
           sinners
           ?
           why
           ,
           we
           know
           it
           by
           e●perience
           ,
           by
           examples
           .
        
         
           A
           drunkard
           prayeth
           to
           God
           to
           cure
           him
           of
           his
           drunkennes
           ,
           &
           yet
           he
           doth
           not
           leave
           his
           ill
           company
           ;
           all
           the
           world
           may
           see
           that
           God
           hears
           not
           the
           drunkards
           praier
           because
           he
           cures
           him
           not
           ,
           but
           lets
           him
           go
           on
           in
           his
           sin
           ;
           and
           so
           for
           all
           other
           sins
           :
           seest
           thou
           a
           man
           goe
           ,
           on
           in
           his
           sinnes
           ?
           thou
           mayest
           see
           that
           God
           heareth
           not
           his
           praiers
           .
           if
           a
           man
           should
           be
           sicke
           on
           his
           death
           bed
           ,
           and
           send
           for
           the
           Physicians
           and
           Apothecaries
           in
           the
           Country
           ,
           and
           send
           for
           his
           Father
           ,
           Mother
           ,
           and
           for
           all
           his
           friends
           to
           come
           to
           him
           to
           minister
           to
           him
           :
           yet
           I
           know
           he
           is
           not
           cured
           by
           them
           so
           long
           as
           I
           see
           his
           deadly
           disease
           remaines
           upon
           him
           ;
           so
           if
           I
           see
           a
           mans
           pride
           ,
           hypocrisie
           ,
           security
           ,
           deadnesse
           of
           heart
           ,
           his
           lust
           ,
           anger
           ,
           &c.
           lie
           upon
           him
           :
           notwithstanding
           all
           his
           praiers
           ,
           I
           know
           God
           heares
           not
           his
           praiers
           ;
           he
           prayes
           to
           be
           cleansed
           from
           his
           sinnes
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           purged
           from
           his
           lust
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           redeemed
           from
           his
           vaine
           conversation
           :
           if
           now
           God
           let
           his
           sinnes
           continue
           in
           him
           ,
           and
           lets
           him
           goe
           on
           in
           them
           ,
           we
           see
           plainely
           God
           heares
           not
           him
           .
           O
           what
           a
           pittifull
           and
           miserable
           case
           are
           such
           men
           in
           ,
           that
           pray
           and
           pray
           ,
           and
           yet
           all
           their
           
           praiers
           are
           endlesse
           and
           fruitlesse
           !
           is
           not
           that
           man
           in
           a
           pittifull
           case
           ,
           that
           all
           physick
           ,
           all
           cost
           and
           charges
           is
           lost
           upon
           him
           ;
           when
           his
           cating
           and
           drinking
           ,
           his
           sleeping
           ,
           and
           winding
           and
           turning
           from
           this
           side
           to
           that
           side
           do
           him
           no
           good
           ;
           do
           we
           not
           say
           of
           him
           that
           he
           is
           a
           dead
           man
           ?
           so
           if
           a
           mans
           praiers
           and
           supplications
           to
           God
           be
           endlesse
           and
           fruitlesse
           :
           that
           man
           must
           needs
           be
           a
           dead
           and
           a
           damned
           man
           so
           long
           as
           he
           goeth
           on
           in
           that
           case
           .
        
         
           Now
           we
           come
           to
           the
           second
           part
           of
           the
           Text
           ,
           
             the
             sensiblenesse
             of
             the
             godly
             soule
             .
          
           whether
           it
           speed
           or
           no
           ,
           the
           soule
           that
           praies
           aright
           ,
           
             that
          
           praies
           unsatiably
           :
           it
           is
           able
           to
           say
           the
           Lord
           doth
           heare
           me
           ,
           the
           Lord
           doth
           grant
           me
           the
           thing
           that
           I
           praied
           to
           him
           for
           ;
           Thus
           saith
           
             Jonah
             ,
             I
             cried
             unto
             the
             Lord
             and
             he
             heard
             me
             ;
             out
             of
             the
             belly
             of
             Hell
             cryed
             I
             ,
             and
             thou
             heardst
             my
             voice
             ,
          
           Jonah
           2.
           2.
           
           How
           could
           
             Jonah
          
           say
           God
           heard
           his
           voice
           ,
           if
           he
           had
           not
           known
           it
           ?
           therefore
           he
           knew
           it
           .
           But
           against
           this
           some
           may
           object
           ,
        
         
           How
           can
           this
           be
           ?
           how
           can
           the
           soule
           
           know
           that
           God
           heares
           it
           ?
           we
           have
           no
           Angels
           ,
           nor
           voices
           from
           Heaven
           
             now
          
           to
           tell
           men
           ,
           as
           the
           Angel
           told
           
             Cornelius
          
           that
           his
           praiers
           were
           accepted
           ,
           and
           come
           up
           before
           God
           ;
           or
           to
           say
           as
           Christ
           to
           the
           woman
           in
           
           the
           Gospell
           ,
           
             Be
             of
             good
             comfort
             ,
             thy
             sins
             are
             forgiven
             thee
             ;
          
           I
           know
           God
           heares
           me
           with
           his
           All-hearing
           eare
           ,
           and
           therefore
           I
           have
           a
           good
           beliefe
           in
           God
           :
           but
           how
           shall
           I
           know
           that
           God
           heares
           my
           praiers
           in
           mercy
           ,
           so
           as
           to
           grant
           that
           I
           pray
           for
           ?
        
         
           There
           be
           
             sixe
          
           wayes
           to
           know
           whether
           the
           soule
           shall
           speed
           in
           prayer
           ,
           yea
           or
           no
           .
           
        
         
           
           The
           first
           is
           ,
           
             the
             having
             of
             a
             Spirit
             of
             further
             and
             further
             praying
             .
          
           When
           God
           gives
           the
           soule
           a
           further
           and
           further
           ability
           to
           pray
           ,
           when
           God
           opens
           a
           way
           for
           the
           soule
           to
           the
           Throne
           of
           grace
           ,
           and
           gives
           him
           a
           free
           accesse
           to
           the
           gate
           of
           mercy
           ,
           and
           a
           spirit
           to
           hold
           out
           in
           prayer
           :
           It
           is
           a
           signe
           that
           God
           meanes
           to
           hear
           it
           .
           When
           a
           Petitioner
           hath
           accesse
           to
           the
           King
           ,
           and
           presents
           his
           Petition
           ,
           If
           the
           King
           imbolden
           him
           in
           his
           speech
           ,
           and
           let
           him
           speak
           all
           that
           he
           would
           speak
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           signe
           that
           the
           King
           meanes
           to
           grant
           that
           man
           his
           petition
           ,
           because
           otherwise
           the
           King
           would
           never
           have
           endured
           to
           have
           heard
           him
           so
           long
           ,
           but
           would
           have
           commanded
           him
           to
           be
           gone
           .
           So
           it
           is
           with
           the
           soule
           at
           the
           Throne
           of
           grace
           ;
           if
           it
           come
           with
           a
           petition
           and
           prayer
           to
           God
           ;
           if
           God
           dispatch
           the
           soule
           out
           of
           his
           presence
           ,
           so
           that
           the
           soul
           hath
           no
           heart
           to
           pray
           ,
           nor
           to
           continue
           its
           suite
           ;
           but
           praies
           deadly
           and
           
           dully
           ,
           and
           is
           glad
           when
           he
           hath
           said
           his
           prayers
           ,
           and
           hath
           done
           :
           it
           is
           a
           fearefull
           signe
           that
           God
           never
           means
           to
           heare
           that
           mans
           prayers
           :
           but
           if
           thou
           praiest
           and
           praiest
           ,
           and
           hast
           not
           done
           in
           thy
           praiers
           ,
           but
           God
           by
           casting
           in
           a
           spirit
           of
           prayer
           and
           zeale
           ,
           and
           fervency
           in
           prayer
           ,
           imboldens
           thy
           heart
           in
           its
           petitions
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           signe
           that
           God
           will
           heare
           thee
           ,
           and
           grant
           thee
           thy
           prayers
           .
        
         
           
             Blessed
             be
             God
          
           saith
           the
           Prophet
           ,
           
             that
             hath
             not
             turned
             away
             my
             prayer
             ,
             nor
             his
             mercy
             from
             me
             ;
          
           How
           could
           the
           Prophet
           say
           that
           the
           Lord
           did
           not
           turne
           away
           his
           mercy
           from
           him
           ?
           How
           !
           because
           he
           turned
           not
           away
           his
           prayer
           from
           him
           .
           Many
           Expositors
           expound
           it
           
             of
          
           not
           turning
           away
           his
           prayer
           from
           his
           heart
           ;
           as
           if
           he
           should
           say
           ,
           Lord
           ,
           thou
           continuest
           my
           heart
           to
           pray
           ,
           thou
           hast
           not
           taken
           away
           my
           prayer
           from
           my
           heart
           ;
           therefore
           I
           know
           that
           thou
           continuest
           thy
           mercy
           unto
           me
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           
             the
             preparednesse
             of
             the
             heart
             to
          
           
           
             pray
             ,
          
           is
           a
           signe
           that
           God
           means
           to
           heare
           .
           When
           the
           Merchant
           stretcheth
           his
           bagge
           wider
           and
           wider
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           signe
           that
           he
           means
           to
           put
           something
           in
           it
           :
           so
           when
           God
           
             opens
             the
             heart
          
           of
           a
           poore
           soule
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           signe
           that
           he
           means
           to
           
             fill
             it
             ;
          
           when
           God
           prepares
           the
           
           soule
           with
           more
           hunger
           and
           thirst
           after
           grace
           ,
           with
           more
           longings
           and
           breathings
           :
           it
           is
           a
           signe
           that
           God
           hath
           already
           
             prepared
             his
             eare
          
           to
           heare
           that
           prayer
           ;
           it
           is
           a
           signe
           
             that
          
           heart
           shall
           speed
           with
           God
           in
           prayer
           :
           Psal.
           10.
           17.
           
           
             Lord
             thou
             hast
             heard
             the
             desire
             of
             the
             humble
             ,
             thou
             wilt
             prepare
             their
             heart
             ,
             thou
             wilt
             cause
             thine
             eare
             to
             heare
             .
          
           First
           ,
           God
           prepares
           the
           heart
           to
           pray
           ,
           and
           then
           he
           bows
           his
           eare
           to
           heare
           .
        
         
           Examine
           thy
           soule
           then
           ;
           art
           thou
           more
           and
           more
           prepared
           to
           pray
           ?
           hath
           God
           spoken
           with
           a
           powerfull
           voice
           to
           thy
           soule
           to
           open
           it selfe
           wide
           ?
           it
           is
           a
           signe
           that
           God
           meanes
           to
           fill
           thy
           soul
           with
           his
           graces
           .
           But
           if
           thou
           canst
           rush
           into
           Gods
           presence
           ,
           and
           leave
           thy
           preparednesse
           behind
           thee
           ;
           leavest
           thy
           soule
           and
           thy
           thoughts
           ,
           and
           thy
           affections
           behinde
           thee
           ;
           and
           comest
           with
           a
           straightned
           heart
           in
           thy
           deadnesse
           and
           lukewarmenesse
           ;
           
             this
          
           is
           a
           fearefull
           signe
           that
           God
           will
           not
           heare
           thee
           .
        
         
           
           Thirdly
           ,
           
             Gods
             gracious
             looke
             ,
             is
             a
             signe
             that
             he
             will
             heare
             thee
             :
          
           for
           sometimes
           (
           beloved
           )
           God
           answers
           his
           people
           by
           a
           cast
           of
           his
           countenance
           ,
           with
           a
           gratious
           smile
           of
           his
           face
           .
           Psal.
           22.
           24.
           he
           hath
           not
           despised
           nor
           abhorred
           the
           affliction
           of
           the
           afflicted
           ,
           neither
           hath
           he
           hid
           his
           face
           from
           him
           ,
           but
           
           when
           he
           cryed
           unto
           him
           he
           heard
           .
           Hereby
           was
           the
           Prophet
           able
           to
           know
           that
           God
           did
           heare
           his
           prayer
           ,
           because
           he
           did
           not
           hide
           his
           face
           from
           him
           ;
           when
           his
           poore
           soule
           saw
           God
           smile
           on
           him
           ,
           and
           set
           a
           favourable
           eye
           upon
           him
           ,
           this
           made
           him
           say
           that
           God
           heard
           his
           cry
           .
        
         
           This
           is
           a
           riddle
           to
           the
           world
           .
        
         
           If
           you
           should
           aske
           the
           men
           of
           the
           world
           what
           the
           meaning
           of
           
             Gods
             gracious
             countenance
          
           is
           ,
           or
           what
           they
           see
           of
           it
           ?
           alas
           ,
           they
           can
           say
           nothing
           of
           it
           ;
           they
           know
           not
           what
           it
           meanes
           ;
           onely
           the
           godly
           man
           understandeth
           ,
           Psal.
           34.
           15.
           
           
             The
             eyes
             of
             the
             Lord
             are
             upon
             the
             righteous
             ,
             and
             his
             eares
             are
             open
             unto
             their
             cry
             ,
          
           These
           two
           goe
           together
           ,
           
             their
             prayers
          
           enter
           into
           
             Gods
             eares
             ,
          
           and
           they
           know
           it
           ;
           why
           ?
           because
           they
           see
           it
           in
           his
           countenance
           upon
           them
           ,
           as
           a
           Petitioner
           may
           read
           his
           speeding
           with
           the
           King
           by
           his
           countenance
           towards
           him
           ;
           so
           a
           poore
           soul
           may
           see
           how
           prayers
           prevaile
           by
           Gods
           countenance
           and
           look
           upon
           him
           .
        
         
           If
           thou
           then
           art
           a
           stranger
           to
           Gods
           countenance
           ,
           if
           God
           never
           admitted
           thee
           into
           his
           presence
           to
           see
           his
           face
           and
           countenance
           ;
           it
           is
           a
           signe
           that
           God
           little
           regards
           thy
           prayers
           ,
           and
           hath
           no
           minde
           to
           heare
           thee
           .
           A
           wicked
           man
           is
           like
           a
           varlet
           that
           
           stands
           without
           dores
           and
           begges
           an
           almes
           ,
           but
           is
           not
           suffered
           to
           goe
           into
           the
           Gentlemans
           presence
           ,
           and
           therefore
           knowes
           not
           how
           he
           speeds
           ,
           whether
           the
           Gentleman
           will
           give
           him
           an
           almes
           ,
           or
           whether
           he
           be
           providing
           a
           cudgell
           to
           beat
           him
           away
           :
           so
           a
           wicked
           man
           prayes
           and
           puts
           up
           his
           petitions
           to
           God
           ,
           but
           he
           is
           not
           able
           to
           come
           before
           God
           :
           he
           cannot
           see
           whether
           God
           looke
           as
           if
           he
           meant
           to
           heare
           his
           prayers
           ,
           yea
           or
           no
           ;
           he
           knows
           not
           but
           that
           God
           may
           be
           providing
           a
           curse
           and
           plague
           for
           him
           in
           stead
           of
           a
           blessing
           .
           But
           a
           child
           of
           God
           comes
           within
           the
           list
           of
           Gods
           countenance
           ;
           he
           can
           tell
           when
           God
           smiles
           on
           him
           :
           and
           when
           he
           takes
           another
           looke
           :
           he
           is
           able
           to
           come
           into
           Gods
           presence
           ,
           Job
           13.
           16.
           
           
             He
             also
          
           (
           saith
           Job
           )
           
             shall
             be
             my
             salvation
             :
             for
             an
             hypocrite
             shall
             not
             come
             before
             him
             .
          
           A
           strange
           verse
           .
           
             Job
          
           saith
           ,
           
             God
             is
             his
             salvation
             :
          
           and
           he
           gives
           this
           reason
           why
           he
           was
           able
           to
           say
           so
           :
           
             for
             an
             hypocrite
             shall
             not
             come
             before
             him
             .
          
           One
           would
           think
           that
           this
           were
           no
           reason
           :
           but
           yet
           it
           is
           an
           undeniable
           reason
           ,
           as
           if
           
             Job
          
           had
           said
           ,
           I
           come
           into
           his
           presence
           ,
           and
           he
           lookes
           like
           a
           Saviour
           ,
           a
           Redeemer
           upon
           me
           ;
           but
           an
           hypocrite
           shall
           not
           come
           before
           him
           :
           he
           stands
           like
           a
           rogue
           and
           begs
           without
           the
           gate
           .
        
         
         
           Indeed
           a
           wicked
           man
           comes
           into
           Gods
           presence
           ,
           in
           regard
           of
           Gods
           
             Omnipresence
             :
          
           but
           this
           is
           not
           enough
           :
           thy
           Oxe
           ,
           and
           thine
           Asse
           stands
           in
           Gods
           presence
           :
           yea
           
             so
             ,
          
           the
           very
           Devils
           themselves
           are
           in
           Gods
           presence
           .
           But
           if
           thou
           come
           not
           into
           Gods
           presence
           of
           grace
           ,
           if
           God
           doe
           not
           admit
           thy
           soule
           into
           the
           list
           of
           his
           Throne
           :
           it
           is
           a
           signe
           that
           God
           heares
           thee
           not
           .
           Men
           should
           therefore
           examine
           their
           consciences
           ,
           what
           face
           or
           presence
           of
           God
           they
           come
           into
           or
           see
           :
           when
           they
           pray
           in
           their
           prayers
           ,
           whether
           they
           come
           before
           God
           ,
           yea
           or
           no
           .
        
         
           Beloved
           ,
           no
           wicked
           man
           under
           heaven
           can
           come
           before
           God
           :
           this
           is
           made
           the
           marke
           of
           a
           godly
           man
           onely
           ,
           Psal.
           140.
           13.
           
           
             The
             upright
             shall
             dwell
             in
             thy
             presence
             ,
          
           (
           marke
           here
           )
           
             dwelling
             in
             Gods
             presence
          
           is
           onely
           determined
           to
           the
           righteous
           :
           the
           upright
           shall
           dwell
           in
           thy
           presence
           :
           And
           here
           I
           appeale
           againe
           to
           the
           hearts
           and
           consciences
           of
           wicked
           men
           ,
           what
           presence
           of
           God
           doe
           they
           finde
           in
           their
           prayers
           ?
           they
           see
           their
           Pews
           ,
           and
           the
           walls
           or
           hangings
           ,
           &c.
           before
           them
           :
           they
           see
           the
           heavens
           and
           the
           clouds
           above
           them
           :
           they
           are
           like
           rogues
           that
           know
           nothing
           within
           dores
           .
           Doe
           they
           see
           Gods
           presence
           and
           countenance
           ?
           no
           :
           it
           is
           the
           upright
           man
           onely
           that
           dwels
           in
           Gods
           presence
           :
           
           He
           sees
           how
           God
           lookes
           on
           him
           ,
           how
           his
           face
           smiles
           on
           him
           :
           and
           therefore
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           a
           wicked
           mans
           coming
           to
           Church
           ,
           and
           falling
           on
           his
           knees
           ,
           and
           uttering
           the
           words
           of
           prayer
           that
           is
           a
           coming
           into
           Gods
           presence
           :
           then
           ,
           this
           would
           be
           a
           false
           saying
           of
           the
           Prophet
           .
           For
           a
           wicked
           man
           may
           go
           to
           Church
           and
           fall
           upon
           his
           knees
           ,
           &c.
           but
           never
           
             come
             before
             God
             .
          
        
         
           This
           presence
           ,
           is
           ,
           
             to
             see
             the
             face
             of
             God
             .
          
        
         
           
           Fourthly
           
             the
             conscience
             of
             a
             man
             doth
             answere
             him
             whether
             God
             heare
             him
             yea
             or
             no
             .
          
           As
           it
           was
           with
           the
           high
           Preist
           ,
           whensoever
           the
           high
           Preist
           came
           into
           Gods
           presence
           to
           inquire
           of
           him
           ,
           though
           God
           did
           not
           appeare
           visibly
           unto
           him
           ,
           yet
           he
           might
           reade
           Gods
           answer
           in
           his
           
             Vrim
             and
             Thummim
             ;
          
           he
           might
           there
           know
           Gods
           minde
           :
           so
           
             a
             mans
             conscience
          
           is
           his
           Urim
           and
           Thummim
           .
           When
           he
           comes
           before
           God
           ,
           his
           own
           conscience
           gives
           him
           an
           inckling
           whether
           he
           speede
           or
           no
           :
           1
           
             Ioh.
             3.
             20
             ,
             21.
             
             If
             our
             hearts
             condemne
             us
             ,
             God
             is
             greater
             then
             our
             hearts
             &
             knoweth
             al
             things
             .
             Belived
             ,
             if
             our
             hearts
             condemne
             us
             not
             ,
             then
             have
             we
             confidence
             towards
             God
             .
          
           If
           a
           mans
           conscience
           tell
           a
           man
           that
           his
           praiers
           are
           rotten
           ,
           that
           his
           humiliation
           is
           rotten
           ,
           that
           his
           heart
           is
           not
           upright
           ,
           that
           yet
           he
           is
           not
           purged
           from
           his
           sinnes
           ,
           that
           his
           seeking
           of
           
           God
           is
           fained
           and
           hypocritical
           ;
           it
           is
           the
           very
           voice
           of
           God
           in
           his
           soule
           :
           and
           
             if
             our
             consciences
             condemne
             us
             ,
          
           God
           (
           saith
           the
           Apostle
           )
           
             is
             greater
             then
             our
             consciences
             .
          
        
         
           There
           no
           is
           condemnation
           to
           them
           which
           are
           in
           Christ
           Jesus
           .
           
             Rom.
          
           8.
           1.
           as
           if
           he
           should
           say
           ,
           those
           that
           are
           in
           Christ
           ,
           God
           doth
           not
           condemne
           them
           ;
           they
           have
           not
           that
           condemnation
           :
           nay
           their
           owne
           conscience
           doth
           not
           condemn
           them
           :
           so
           that
           ,
           that
           man
           whom
           any
           condemnation
           either
           from
           God
           ,
           or
           from
           his
           owne
           conscience
           ,
           condemnes
           ,
           that
           man
           is
           not
           in
           Christ
           ;
           being
           not
           in
           Christ
           ,
           he
           can
           never
           be
           heard
           .
        
         
           Indeede
           ,
           a
           mans
           conscience
           may
           be
           misinformed
           by
           Satan
           under
           a
           temptation
           ;
           as
           you
           may
           see
           in
           the
           verse
           before
           my
           text
           :
           
             Thou
             hast
             heard
             my
             voyce
             :
             stop
             not
             thine
             eare
             from
             my
             cry
             .
          
           Here
           the
           Church
           being
           examined
           ,
           their
           consciences
           told
           them
           they
           were
           heard
           in
           their
           praiers
           :
           but
           being
           under
           a
           temptation
           ,
           their
           consciences
           were
           afraide
           that
           God
           heard
           not
           .
           So
           many
           a
           poore
           soule
           :
           examine
           it
           ,
           and
           it
           cannot
           deny
           but
           that
           these
           and
           these
           tokens
           of
           grace
           and
           fruites
           of
           Gods
           Spirit
           are
           in
           it
           ;
           yet
           their
           consciences
           are
           afraide
           that
           the
           Lord
           will
           not
           give
           them
           these
           and
           these
           other
           graces
           that
           they
           want
           :
           that
           the
           Lord
           will
           not
           heare
           them
           for
           
           such
           and
           such
           blessings
           .
        
         
           I
           meane
           not
           neither
           a
           truce
           of
           conscience
           :
           for
           there
           may
           be
           a
           truce
           of
           conscience
           in
           wicked
           men
           .
           A
           truce
           may
           be
           betweene
           mortall
           enemies
           :
           but
           no
           peace
           but
           amongst
           freinds
           .
           Wicked
           mans
           consciences
           are
           like
           the
           Lion
           ,
           1.
           
           
             Kings
          
           13.
           who
           when
           he
           had
           killed
           the
           Prophet
           ,
           stood
           by
           the
           Corps
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           Asse
           ,
           and
           did
           not
           eate
           the
           body
           ,
           nor
           teare
           the
           Asse
           ;
           so
           a
           wicked
           mans
           conscience
           ,
           it
           is
           as
           the
           divells
           band-dogge
           or
           roaring
           Lion
           :
           till
           it
           hath
           slaine
           the
           sinner
           ,
           it
           stands
           stone-still
           ,
           and
           seemes
           neither
           to
           meddle
           or
           make
           with
           him
           ,
           but
           lies
           as
           seared
           or
           dead
           in
           him
           .
           I
           meane
           not
           this
           conscience
           .
           But
           when
           God
           hath
           sprinkled
           the
           conscience
           with
           the
           bloud
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           made
           the
           conscience
           pure
           :
           this
           is
           a
           signe
           that
           God
           heares
           his
           praier
           .
        
         
           I
           meane
           not
           the
           stammering
           of
           conscience
           ,
           when
           it
           is
           dazelled
           ,
           or
           overwhelmed
           :
           but
           when
           it
           speaks
           down
           right
           as
           it
           meanes
           .
           A
           godly
           mans
           conscience
           sometimes
           may
           judge
           otherwise
           then
           the
           thing
           is
           .
           But
           ,
           examine
           what
           thy
           conscience
           tells
           thee
           in
           sober
           sadnesse
           ,
           deliberatey
           ,
           convincingly
           ,
           :
           and
           
             then
             ,
          
           know
           that
           the
           Lord
           tels
           thee
           .
           If
           thy
           conscience
           saies
           peremptorily
           that
           thy
           heart
           and
           waies
           are
           rotten
           ,
           and
           unsound
           ;
           
           
             then
          
           know
           that
           the
           Lord
           tells
           thee
           so
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           Lord
           sayeth
           so
           to
           thy
           soule
           .
        
         
           Fifthly
           
             the
             getting
             of
             that
             grace
             that
             a
             man
             
             prayes
             for
             ,
          
           is
           a
           signe
           that
           God
           heares
           his
           praiers
           .
           But
           this
           is
           not
           a
           true
           signe
           alwaies
           but
           with
           distinction
           .
        
         
           
             When
             the
             grace
             given
             ,
             and
             the
             good
             will
             of
             God
             the
             giver
             ,
             cannot
             be
             severed
             :
             then
          
           it
           is
           a
           true
           signe
           .
           But
           when
           the
           gift
           and
           the
           good
           will
           of
           the
           giver
           may
           be
           severed
           ,
           then
           it
           is
           not
           a
           true
           signe
           .
        
         
           Thou
           maiest
           pray
           unto
           God
           ,
           and
           God
           may
           give
           thee
           many
           temporall
           blessings
           ,
           and
           
             many
             common
          
           graces
           of
           his
           Spirit
           ;
           God
           may
           give
           thee
           good
           parts
           ,
           a
           good
           memory
           :
           he
           may
           give
           thee
           a
           good
           measure
           of
           knowledge
           and
           understanding
           ,
           even
           in
           divers
           things
           ;
           he
           may
           give
           thee
           some
           kinde
           of
           humility
           ,
           chastity
           ,
           civility
           :
           thou
           maiest
           be
           of
           a
           loving
           and
           flexible
           disposition
           :
           so
           he
           may
           give
           thee
           a
           good
           estate
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           houses
           ,
           lands
           ,
           wife
           and
           children
           &c.
           
           God
           may
           give
           thee
           
             all
             these
             ,
          
           and
           yet
           hate
           thee
           ,
           and
           never
           heare
           one
           praier
           thou
           makest
           ;
           thou
           maist
           pray
           for
           a
           thousand
           blessings
           ,
           and
           have
           them
           :
           and
           yet
           never
           be
           heard
           ,
           so
           long
           as
           the
           good
           will
           of
           the
           giver
           is
           severed
           from
           them
           ;
           all
           outward
           blessings
           and
           common
           graces
           may
           be
           severed
           from
           Gods
           
           good
           pleasure
           to
           a
           man
           .
        
         
           Therefore
           in
           temporall
           blessings
           ,
           or
           in
           common
           graces
           ,
           if
           thou
           wouldst
           know
           whether
           God
           heare
           thee
           or
           no
           :
           know
           whether
           God
           hath
           given
           thee
           a
           
             sanctified
             use
          
           of
           them
           or
           no
           .
           If
           God
           hath
           given
           thee
           many
           common
           graces
           ,
           or
           temporall
           blessings
           ,
           and
           
             a
             heart
          
           to
           use
           them
           to
           his
           Glory
           ;
           then
           every
           blessing
           thou
           hast
           (
           there
           is
           not
           a
           droppe
           of
           drinke
           ,
           nor
           a
           bit
           of
           bread
           that
           thou
           hast
           ,
           but
           )
           it
           is
           a
           signe
           of
           Gods
           everlasting
           love
           to
           thee
           .
           Why
           ?
           because
           this
           ,
           and
           the
           good
           will
           of
           the
           giver
           can
           never
           be
           severed
           .
           But
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           if
           a
           man
           have
           not
           a
           sanctified
           use
           of
           that
           he
           hath
           ,
           
             then
          
           it
           is
           the
           greatest
           severity
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           most
           eminent
           plague
           and
           curse
           of
           God
           upon
           the
           soule
           
             to
             give
             it
             ;
          
           for
           a
           mans
           parts
           may
           be
           his
           bane
           ,
           his
           civility
           may
           be
           his
           curse
           ,
           and
           meanes
           of
           the
           finall
           hardnesse
           and
           impenitencie
           of
           his
           heart
           .
        
         
           
           Sixthly
           
             faith
             ;
          
           if
           a
           man
           have
           faith
           given
           him
           
             to
             beleive
             ,
          
           it
           is
           a
           signe
           that
           God
           heares
           him
           ;
           
             be
             it
             to
             thee
          
           (
           saith
           Christ
           to
           the
           man
           in
           the
           Gospell
           )
           
             according
             to
             thy
             faith
             ;
          
           so
           goe
           thou
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           be
           it
           to
           thee
           as
           thou
           beleevest
           .
           Dost
           thou
           pray
           for
           grace
           ?
           according
           as
           thou
           beleevest
           ,
           so
           shalt
           thou
           receive
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           no
           signe
           that
           God
           will
           heare
           me
           ;
           
           
           I
           have
           so
           many
           corruptions
           of
           my
           heart
           against
           me
           ,
           and
           so
           many
           threatnings
           of
           Gods
           frownes
           against
           me
           ;
           I
           have
           no
           signe
           that
           God
           will
           heare
           me
           .
        
         
           Wouldst
           thou
           have
           a
           signe
           ?
           
           
             An
             evill
             and
             an
             adulterous
             generation
             seeketh
             a
             signe
             :
          
           this
           is
           
             a
             tempting
             faith
             ,
          
           to
           seeke
           for
           signes
           to
           believe
           .
           
             Thomas
             ,
          
           said
           Christ
           ,
           Joh.
           20.
           29.
           
             because
             thou
             hast
             seen
             me
             ,
             thou
             hast
             belived
             :
             blessed
             are
             they
             that
             have
             not
             seene
             and
             yet
             believe
             .
          
           That
           man
           that
           believes
           because
           he
           feels
           griefe
           in
           his
           heart
           ,
           teares
           in
           his
           eyes
           ,
           groans
           in
           his
           spirit
           ,
           because
           he
           prayes
           long
           and
           earnestly
           ,
           and
           sweats
           in
           his
           praier
           ,
           or
           mourns
           in
           his
           humiliation
           ,
           I
           suspect
           his
           humiliation
           ,
           his
           teares
           ,
           his
           griefe
           ,
           his
           praiers
           ,
           and
           all
           that
           he
           hath
           .
           Why
           ?
           these
           are
           good
           signes
           of
           faith
           :
           but
           
             rotten
             grounds
          
           of
           faith
           ?
           the
           Word
           and
           promise
           of
           God
           must
           be
           thy
           ground
           .
           But
           against
           this
           the
           soul
           may
           object
           ▪
        
         
           That
           every
           
             Promise
          
           runnes
           with
           a
           
             Condition
             :
          
           
           and
           therefore
           if
           I
           have
           not
           the
           condition
           ,
           how
           can
           I
           beleeve
           the
           promise
           God
           hath
           promised
           ?
           
             Blessed
             are
             they
             that
             hunger
             and
             thirst
             after
             righteousnesse
             ,
             for
             they
             shall
             be
             satisfied
             :
          
           There
           is
           a
           
             Promise
          
           of
           filling
           ,
           but
           it
           is
           with
           a
           condition
           of
           hungering
           .
           
             Blessed
             are
             the
             meek
             ,
             for
             they
             shall
             inherit
             the
             earth
             .
             Blessed
             are
             the
             pure
             in
             heart
             ,
             for
             they
             
             shall
             see
             God
             ,
             &c.
          
           if
           I
           have
           not
           the
           Condition
           annexed
           to
           the
           Promise
           ,
           how
           dare
           or
           how
           can
           I
           believe
           the
           Promise
           ?
        
         
           The
           
             Condition
          
           is
           not
           the
           way
           to
           get
           the
           
             Promise
             ;
          
           the
           
             Promise
          
           is
           the
           ground
           of
           faith
           ,
           
           and
           the
           way
           to
           get
           the
           condition
           ;
           because
           the
           promise
           is
           the
           
             Motive
          
           cause
           that
           moves
           the
           soule
           to
           get
           the
           condition
           .
           Now
           ,
           the
           
             Mover
          
           must
           be
           before
           the
           
             Moved
             ;
          
           then
           if
           
             beliefe
          
           of
           the
           
             Promise
          
           move
           thy
           soule
           to
           get
           the
           condition
           of
           the
           promise
           ,
           then
           beliefe
           of
           the
           promise
           must
           be
           before
           that
           the
           soule
           can
           keepe
           the
           condition
           of
           the
           promise
           .
        
         
           
             Saul
          
           made
           a
           promise
           to
           
             David
             ,
          
           1
           Sam.
           18.
           that
           he
           should
           be
           his
           sonne
           in
           law
           in
           one
           of
           his
           two
           daughters
           ,
           upon
           condition
           that
           he
           should
           give
           him
           an
           hundred
           fore-skins
           of
           the
           Philistims
           .
           Now
           ,
           
             David
          
           did
           first
           believe
           the
           promise
           ;
           and
           thereby
           he
           was
           allured
           to
           fight
           valiantly
           ,
           to
           keepe
           the
           condition
           ,
           to
           get
           a
           hundred
           fore-skins
           of
           the
           Philistims
           .
           So
           Psal.
           116.
           
           
             I
             believed
             and
             therefore
             did
             I
             speake
             .
          
           He
           beleeved
           Gods
           promise
           ,
           and
           then
           he
           spake
           with
           condition
           .
           So
           ,
           
             we
             believe
          
           saith
           the
           Apostle
           ,
           
             and
             therefore
             doe
             we
             speake
             .
          
           First
           ,
           the
           soule
           beleeves
           ;
           and
           then
           every
           action
           of
           a
           Christian
           wherin
           it
           moves
           to
           the
           keeping
           of
           the
           condition
           ,
           
           springs
           from
           this
           root
           ;
           nay
           beloved
           ,
           a
           man
           cannot
           keep
           any
           condition
           in
           the
           Bible
           without
           faith
           ;
           
             he
             must
             believe
             .
          
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           
             faith
             is
             the
             inabling
             cause
             to
          
           
           
             keep
             the
             condition
             .
          
           Dost
           thou
           thinke
           to
           get
           weeping
           ,
           mourning
           ,
           and
           humiliation
           for
           thy
           sinnes
           ,
           and
           then
           thereby
           to
           get
           the
           promise
           to
           thy selfe
           ?
           then
           thou
           goest
           in
           thy
           owne
           strength
           ;
           and
           then
           ,
           in
           Gods
           account
           ,
           thou
           dost
           just
           nothing
           ,
           John
           15.
           5.
           
           
             Without
             me
             ye
             can
             doe
             nothing
             ,
          
           saith
           Christ
           ;
           therefore
           first
           
             lay
             hold
          
           on
           me
           ,
           
             beleeve
          
           in
           me
           ,
           
             abide
          
           in
           me
           .
        
         
           What!
           doe
           you
           first
           think
           to
           pray
           ,
           to
           mourne
           ,
           to
           lament
           and
           bewaile
           your
           sinnes
           ,
           to
           do
           this
           and
           that
           in
           turning
           your selves
           ,
           and
           sanctifying
           of
           your selves
           ?
           Indeed
           you
           may
           fumble
           about
           these
           things
           :
           but
           you
           can
           never
           do
           any
           of
           them
           in
           deed
           and
           to
           the
           purpose
           :
           
             without
             me
             ye
             can
             doe
             nothing
             .
             I
             had
             fainted
          
           saith
           the
           Prophet
           ,
           
             unlesse
             I
             had
             beleeved
             to
             see
             the
             goodnesse
             of
             the
             Lord
             in
             the
             land
             of
             the
             living
             ,
          
           Psal.
           27.
           13.
           where
           we
           may
           see
           three
           things
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           
             the
             Promise
          
           that
           he
           should
           see
           the
           
           goodnesse
           of
           the
           Lord
           :
           otherwise
           he
           could
           not
           have
           beleeved
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           
             the
             Condition
             :
          
           if
           he
           doe
           not
           
           faint
           .
        
         
         
           
           Thirdly
           ,
           
             the
             method
             the
             Prophet
             went
             by
             .
          
        
         
           
           First
           ,
           he
           beleeved
           to
           see
           the
           goodnesse
           of
           the
           Lord
           .
           As
           if
           he
           had
           said
           ,
           if
           he
           had
           not
           first
           laid
           hold
           on
           the
           Promise
           ,
           if
           
             I
          
           had
           not
           beleeved
           to
           have
           seen
           the
           goodnesse
           of
           the
           Lord
           in
           the
           Land
           of
           the
           living
           ,
           I
           had
           fainted
           .
        
         
           Beloved
           ,
           it
           is
           true
           that
           the
           keeping
           of
           the
           Condition
           ,
           is
           before
           the
           
             fruition
             of
             the
             Promise
             :
          
           but
           not
           before
           
             beleeving
             the
             Promise
             :
          
           because
           the
           
             doing
             of
             the
             Condition
          
           is
           effected
           by
           
             beleeving
             the
             Promise
             .
          
        
         
           This
           is
           the
           cause
           that
           many
           fumble
           about
           grace
           ,
           but
           never
           get
           it
           :
           they
           are
           ever
           repenting
           ,
           but
           never
           repent
           :
           ever
           learning
           ,
           but
           never
           learne
           the
           knowledge
           of
           the
           truth
           everlasting
           :
           ever
           striving
           ,
           but
           never
           get
           power
           over
           their
           corruptions
           ,
           &c.
           because
           they
           fumble
           about
           it
           
             in
             their
             own
             strength
             ,
          
           and
           take
           it
           not
           in
           the
           right
           method
           .
        
         
           Let
           the
           soule
           come
           with
           faith
           in
           Christ
           ,
           and
           believe
           it
           shall
           speed
           and
           have
           grace
           ,
           and
           power
           from
           Christ
           his
           grace
           ,
           and
           from
           Christs
           power
           :
           and
           
             then
          
           it
           shall
           speed
           ;
           Christ
           hath
           promised
           (
           
             John
          
           16.
           )
           that
           whatsoever
           we
           aske
           the
           Father
           in
           his
           name
           ,
           he
           will
           give
           it
           us
           .
           Christ
           (
           beloved
           )
           is
           an
           excellent
           
             Surety
             .
          
           Indeed
           ,
           our
           credit
           is
           crackt
           in
           Heaven
           :
           we
           may
           thinke
           to
           goe
           and
           fetch
           
           this
           and
           that
           grace
           in
           our
           owne
           names
           ,
           and
           misse
           of
           it
           :
           as
           the
           
             servant
          
           may
           goe
           to
           the
           
             Merchant
          
           for
           wares
           in
           his
           owne
           name
           ,
           but
           the
           Merchant
           will
           not
           deliver
           them
           to
           him
           in
           his
           own
           name
           ,
           unlesse
           he
           come
           in
           his
           
             Masters
          
           name
           and
           bring
           a
           ticket
           from
           him
           :
           and
           
             then
          
           when
           the
           servant
           sheweth
           his
           Masters
           ticket
           ,
           the
           Merchant
           will
           deliver
           him
           what
           wares
           he
           asketh
           for
           in
           his
           Masters
           name
           .
           So
           when
           a
           soule
           goeth
           to
           the
           
             Throne
             of
             grace
          
           with
           a
           ticket
           from
           
             Christ
             ;
          
           if
           he
           can
           say
           Lord
           ,
           it
           is
           for
           the
           honour
           of
           Christ
           :
           I
           come
           for
           grace
           and
           holinesse
           ,
           and
           strength
           against
           my
           corruptions
           :
           Lord
           ,
           here
           is
           a
           ticket
           from
           Christ
           :
           most
           
             certainly
             ,
          
           he
           shall
           speed
           .
        
         
           But
           ,
           men
           must
           take
           heed
           that
           they
           foyst
           not
           the
           name
           of
           Christ
           :
           that
           they
           foyst
           not
           a
           ticket
           to
           say
           that
           Christ
           sent
           them
           ,
           when
           it
           is
           their
           own
           
             selfe-love
             ,
          
           and
           their
           owne
           lust
           that
           sends
           them
           ;
           it
           is
           not
           enough
           to
           pray
           and
           at
           the
           end
           to
           say
           
             through
             Christ
             our
             Lord
             ,
             Amen
             .
          
           No
           :
           for
           this
           may
           be
           a
           meere
           foysting
           of
           the
           Name
           of
           Christ
           .
           But
           ,
           canst
           thou
           pray
           and
           shew
           that
           Christ
           sent
           thee
           ,
           and
           say
           as
           the
           servant
           ,
           I
           come
           from
           my
           Master
           ,
           and
           he
           sent
           me
           ?
           Lord
           ,
           it
           is
           for
           Christ
           that
           I
           come
           :
           it
           is
           not
           to
           satisfie
           my
           owne
           lust
           ,
           nor
           to
           ease
           and
           deliver
           me
           from
           
           the
           galls
           of
           my
           conscience
           ,
           nor
           to
           free
           me
           from
           hell
           ;
           but
           for
           Christ
           ;
           Lord
           ,
           I
           begge
           grace
           and
           holinesse
           ,
           that
           I
           may
           have
           power
           to
           glorifie
           Christ
           .
           It
           is
           for
           the
           honour
           of
           my
           Lord
           Christ
           that
           I
           come
           .
           When
           the
           soul
           comes
           thus
           in
           Christs
           name
           ,
           beleeving
           it
           shall
           speed
           ,
           then
           his
           prayer
           shall
           prevaile
           .
           
             Wbatsoever
          
           (
           saith
           Christ
           )
           
             ye
             shall
             aske
             the
             Father
             in
             my
             Name
             ,
             he
             will
             give
             it
             you
             .
          
        
         
           We
           come
           now
           to
           the
           third
           and
           last
           part
           of
           our
           Text
           :
           to
           wit
           ,
           the
           supplies
           they
           had
           against
           danger
           and
           discouragements
           .
           The
           Lord
           upheld
           their
           hearts
           from
           being
           dismayed
           in
           prayer
           ;
           
             thou
             saidst
             feare
             not
             .
          
        
         
           There
           be
           two
           things
           that
           do
           much
           hurt
           in
           prayer
           .
        
         
           
           First
           ,
           
             groundlesse
             incouragements
             .
          
        
         
           
           Secondly
           ,
           
             needlesse
             discouragements
             .
          
        
         
           
           First
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           
             greundlesse
             incouragements
             ;
          
           and
           these
           the
           wicked
           are
           most
           subject
           to
           especially
           ,
           who
           because
           they
           
             pray
             ,
             heare
             the
             Word
             ,
          
           and
           performe
           many
           duties
           of
           religion
           ;
           therefore
           they
           incourage
           themselves
           in
           the
           goodnesse
           of
           their
           estates
           ,
           judgeing
           themselves
           happy
           ,
           though
           notwithstanding
           they
           go
           on
           and
           continue
           in
           the
           hardnesse
           of
           their
           hearts
           and
           rebellions
           against
           God
           .
        
         
         
           We
           have
           abundance
           of
           
             sayings
          
           amongst
           us
           ,
           that
           if
           they
           were
           examined
           would
           prove
           false
           and
           unsound
           ;
           As
           ,
           
             that
          
           the
           vipers
           die
           when
           they
           bring
           forth
           their
           young
           ;
           for
           (
           say
           they
           )
           the
           young
           eate
           out
           the
           old
           ones
           bowels
           ;
           
             that
          
           beares
           shape
           all
           their
           
             young
          
           by
           licking
           of
           them
           ;
           that
           the
           Swanne
           singeth
           sweetest
           at
           her
           death
           ;
           that
           the
           Adamant
           stone
           is
           softned
           by
           Goats
           blood
           ,
           &c.
           
           These
           things
           are
           not
           so
           ,
           as
           may
           be
           shewn
           out
           of
           ancient
           Writers
           .
        
         
           So
           ,
           beloved
           ,
           there
           are
           abundance
           of
           
             sayings
             ,
          
           that
           goe
           up
           and
           down
           amongst
           men
           concerning
           
             Divinity
             ,
          
           which
           if
           they
           were
           examined
           ,
           will
           prove
           to
           be
           rotten
           sayings
           ;
           as
           ,
           he
           that
           made
           them
           ,
           will
           save
           them
           .
           It
           is
           not
           so
           ,
           saith
           the
           Prophet
           ,
           Esai
           .
           27.
           11.
           
           
             He
             that
             made
             them
             ,
             will
             not
             have
             mercy
             on
             them
             ,
             and
             he
             that
             formed
             them
             ,
             will
             not
             pitty
             them
             .
          
           It
           is
           commonly
           beleeved
           ,
           if
           men
           come
           to
           Church
           ,
           heare
           the
           
             Word
             ,
          
           and
           call
           upon
           God
           ,
           that
           then
           presently
           they
           are
           good
           Christians
           .
           Beloved
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           so
           ,
           Matth.
           7.
           21.
           
           
             Not
             every
             one
             that
             saith
             Lord
             ,
             Lord
             ,
             shall
             enter
             into
             the
             Kingdome
             of
             Heaven
             .
          
        
         
           Men
           are
           ready
           when
           they
           can
           but
           call
           
             Lord
             have
             mercy
             on
             me
             ;
             O
             sweet
             Saviour
             ,
             pitty
             me
             ,
             most
             mercifull
             Lord
             Jesus
             ,
             have
             compassion
             on
             me
             :
          
           if
           they
           can
           
             pray
             in
             their
             
             families
             ,
          
           and
           pray
           at
           Church
           ,
           &c.
           to
           think
           ,
           now
           ,
           all
           is
           well
           with
           them
           ,
           and
           Christ
           cannot
           but
           save
           them
           ,
           and
           give
           them
           the
           Kingdome
           of
           Heaven
           :
           but
           our
           Saviour
           puts
           a
           
             not
          
           upon
           it
           ,
           and
           saith
           ,
           
             not
             every
             one
          
           that
           saith
           Lord
           ,
           Lord
           :
           it
           is
           not
           a
           
             Lord
             ,
          
           a
           Lording
           of
           Christ
           with
           the
           tongue
           onely
           :
           it
           is
           not
           a
           taking
           up
           of
           an
           outward
           profession
           of
           Christ
           only
           ,
           that
           is
           sufficient
           for
           a
           man
           that
           shall
           inherit
           the
           Kingdome
           of
           Heaven
           :
           no
           saith
           Christ
           :
           but
           he
           that
           doth
           the
           will
           of
           my
           Father
           which
           is
           in
           Heaven
           .
           But
           ,
           of
           this
           by
           the
           
             by
             .
          
        
         
           
           Secondly
           ,
           there
           are
           
             needlesse
             discouragements
          
           which
           doe
           much
           hurt
           in
           prayer
           .
           Needlesse
           discouragements
           doe
           much
           hurt
           to
           many
           a
           poore
           soule
           ,
           that
           hath
           forcible
           
             wouldings
             ,
          
           and
           wracked
           desires
           after
           grace
           and
           holinesse
           ,
           and
           yet
           is
           held
           by
           discouragements
           :
           yea
           ,
           many
           a
           Christian
           heart
           lieth
           a
           long
           time
           under
           it
           wrastling
           and
           striving
           under
           its
           wants
           ,
           and
           yet
           ,
           kept
           out
           from
           grace
           ,
           and
           from
           growing
           in
           grace
           ,
           because
           of
           discouragements
           :
           yea
           the
           best
           and
           strongest
           of
           Gods
           Saints
           ,
           have
           been
           kept
           off
           ,
           and
           have
           hung
           much
           on
           discouragements
           .
        
         
           
             Feare
             not
             ,
          
           saith
           God
           to
           
             Abraham
             ,
          
           Genes
           .
           15.
           1.
           
           So
           ,
           feare
           not
           
             Joshua
             ,
          
           saith
           God
           to
           
           
             Joshua
             ,
          
           Josh.
           1.
           9.
           
           Intimating
           that
           both
           
             Abraham
          
           and
           
             Joshua
          
           were
           afraid
           of
           discouragements
           :
           they
           were
           afraid
           that
           many
           evils
           would
           befall
           them
           ,
           that
           they
           should
           meet
           with
           many
           rubs
           and
           difficulties
           that
           would
           be
           too
           hard
           for
           them
           :
           therefore
           the
           Lord
           calls
           to
           them
           ,
           
             feare
             not
             ,
          
           be
           not
           dismayed
           nor
           discouraged
           .
           Thou
           saidst
           feare
           not
           .
           Hence
           observe
           ,
        
         
           That
           God
           would
           not
           have
           any
           Christian
           
           soule
           to
           be
           discouraged
           in
           praier
           .
           
             Thou
             saidst
             ,
             feare
             not
             .
          
        
         
           For
           our
           clearer
           proceeding
           herein
           ,
           first
           ,
           let
           me
           shew
           you
           what
           
             discouragement
          
           is
           :
           and
           secondly
           ,
           how
           it
           comes
           to
           be
           dangerous
           and
           hurtfull
           in
           praier
           .
        
         
           What
           is
           discouragement
           ?
           
        
         
           It
           is
           a
           
             base
             dismayment
          
           of
           spirit
           below
           or
           beneath
           the
           strength
           that
           is
           in
           a
           man
           ,
           vnder
           the
           apprehension
           of
           some
           evill
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           were
           too
           hard
           for
           him
           to
           grapple
           with
           it
           .
        
         
           There
           be
           foure
           things
           in
           this
           diffinition
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           I
           say
           it
           is
           a
           
             base
             dismayment
          
           of
           spirit
           ;
           
           and
           so
           I
           call
           it
           to
           distinguish
           it
           :
           for
           there
           is
           an
           humble
           dismayment
           which
           a
           Christian
           is
           commanded
           .
           A
           man
           is
           bound
           to
           be
           dismayed
           for
           his
           sinnes
           .
           
             Isay
             .
             32.
             11.
             
             Tremble
             ye
             carelesse
             women
             that
             are
             at
             ease
             ,
             be
             troubled
             ye
             carelesse
             ones
             :
          
           these
           carelesse
           ones
           
           went
           on
           in
           their
           sinnes
           ,
           and
           feared
           not
           .
           God
           calls
           to
           them
           and
           bids
           them
           to
           be
           dismayed
           .
           But
           the
           dismayment
           and
           the
           discouragement
           I
           speake
           of
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           base
           dismayment
           of
           spirit
           ;
           which
           is
           either
           when
           
             he
          
           is
           dismayed
           
             that
             ought
             not
             :
          
           or
           he
           is
           dismayed
           
             at
             that
             whereat
             he
             ought
             not
             to
             feare
             :
          
           where
           no
           cause
           of
           feare
           is
           .
        
         
           As
           
             Vitello
          
           his
           man
           thought
           his
           Master
           had
           got
           skill
           in
           Optickes
           :
           he
           riding
           along
           upon
           the
           high
           way
           ,
           spying
           a
           mans
           shape
           ,
           thought
           it
           was
           some
           Spirit
           :
           and
           thereupon
           he
           sickened
           and
           died
           .
           So
           many
           a
           poor
           soul
           looking
           in
           the
           perfect
           Law
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           seeing
           his
           owne
           uglinesse
           and
           filthynesse
           ,
           he
           is
           discouraged
           ,
           and
           thinkes
           himselfe
           undone
           ;
           his
           heart
           waxeth
           cold
           within
           him
           ,
           and
           he
           begins
           to
           feare
           that
           he
           is
           but
           a
           dead
           and
           damned
           man
           .
        
         
           
           Secondly
           ,
           
             it
             is
             downe
             beneath
             the
             strength
             that
             is
             in
             a
             man
             :
          
           that
           man
           is
           properly
           said
           to
           be
           discouraged
           :
           not
           that
           he
           hath
           no
           strength
           at
           all
           in
           him
           ,
           nor
           no
           courage
           at
           all
           (
           for
           such
           a
           one
           is
           an
           
             infeebled
          
           man
           ,
           not
           a
           man
           discouraged
           )
           but
           a
           discouraged
           man
           is
           a
           man
           put
           besides
           the
           courage
           that
           is
           in
           him
           ;
           when
           a
           man
           hath
           strength
           enough
           to
           grapple
           with
           the
           evill
           before
           him
           ,
           but
           through
           dismayment
           of
           spirit
           he
           cannot
           put
           it
           forth
           .
        
         
         
           Have
           not
           I
           commanded
           thee
           ?
           saith
           God
           to
           
             Joshua
             ;
             Be
             strong
             and
             of
             a
             good
             courage
             ,
          
           be
           not
           afraid
           ,
           neither
           be
           thou
           dismaied
           ,
           
             Josh.
          
           9.
           
           God
           had
           given
           
             Joshua
          
           strength
           enough
           ,
           whereby
           he
           was
           inabled
           to
           observe
           and
           do
           according
           to
           all
           that
           Law
           which
           
             Moses
          
           the
           servant
           of
           the
           Lord
           commanded
           him
           ;
           God
           had
           now
           doubled
           his
           Spirit
           upon
           him
           :
           yet
           he
           commands
           him
           ,
           
             be
             not
             afraid
             ,
             neither
             dismayed
             :
          
           as
           if
           he
           had
           said
           ,
           
             Joshua
             ,
          
           if
           thou
           beest
           dismayed
           and
           discouraged
           ,
           though
           thou
           hast
           strength
           and
           power
           to
           go
           through
           the
           businesse
           that
           I
           have
           called
           thee
           unto
           ,
           yet
           thou
           wilt
           not
           be
           able
           to
           use
           it
           ,
           nor
           to
           put
           it
           forth
           if
           thou
           beest
           discouraged
           .
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           
             it
             is
             at
             the
             apprehension
             of
             some
          
           
           
             evill
             .
          
           I
           say
           not
           at
           the
           sight
           of
           some
           evill
           :
           for
           a
           man
           may
           be
           dismayed
           at
           the
           apparition
           of
           good
           ,
           as
           
             Mary
          
           when
           she
           saw
           nothing
           but
           a
           good
           Angell
           ,
           
             Luke
          
           1.
           29.
           she
           saw
           nothing
           but
           a
           glorious
           Angel
           :
           neverthelesse
           she
           was
           afraid
           ,
           and
           discouraged
           .
           Why
           ?
           because
           she
           had
           a
           secret
           apprehension
           of
           some
           evill
           ,
           either
           of
           some
           evill
           proceeded
           in
           the
           salutation
           ,
           or
           some
           unworthinesse
           in
           herselfe
           to
           receive
           such
           a
           gracious
           salutation
           :
           it
           cannot
           be
           the
           apprehension
           of
           any
           good
           that
           discourageth
           a
           man
           ,
           but
           the
           apprehension
           of
           some
           evill
           .
        
         
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           
             not
             of
             every
             evill
          
           neither
           ;
           for
           if
           the
           evill
           be
           but
           small
           ,
           courage
           will
           stand
           it
           out
           ;
           but
           
             it
             is
             of
             such
             an
             evill
             as
             he
             feares
             he
             is
             not
             able
             to
             grapple
             withall
             .
          
           If
           the
           evill
           before
           him
           ,
           be
           inferiour
           to
           him
           ,
           he
           scornes
           it
           as
           the
           barking
           of
           a
           toothlesse
           Dog
           .
           If
           it
           be
           but
           an
           evill
           equall
           to
           his
           strength
           ,
           then
           he
           makes
           a
           tush
           at
           it
           ,
           because
           he
           knowes
           or
           thinkes
           himselfe
           able
           to
           encounter
           with
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           it
           be
           an
           evill
           above
           his
           strength
           ,
           then
           his
           spirit
           melts
           and
           droops
           before
           him
           .
           See
           this
           in
           
             Saul
             ,
          
           1
           Sam.
           17.
           11.
           and
           his
           people
           .
           When
           they
           saw
           the
           Champion
           of
           the
           Philistims
           comming
           against
           them
           ,
           when
           they
           saw
           him
           so
           hugely
           and
           mervelously
           armed
           ,
           and
           heard
           him
           speake
           such
           biggs
           words
           ,
           they
           thought
           they
           were
           not
           able
           to
           stand
           and
           to
           encounter
           with
           him
           ;
           and
           therfore
           saith
           the
           Text
           ,
           when
           
             Saul
          
           and
           all
           
             Israel
          
           heard
           these
           words
           of
           the
           Philistim
           ,
           they
           were
           dismayed
           and
           greatly
           afraid
           .
        
         
           Thus
           you
           see
           what
           discouragement
           is
           ;
           such
           discouragements
           the
           Lord
           would
           not
           have
           our
           hearts
           to
           be
           in
           when
           we
           pray
           unto
           him
           .
        
         
           
           For
           first
           ,
           
             God
             cannot
             give
             eare
             to
             that
             man
             that
             is
             out
             of
             heart
             in
             his
             prayers
             .
          
           Thou
           canst
           never
           pray
           if
           thou
           beest
           dismaied
           in
           prayer
           .
           When
           the
           soul
           begins
           to
           feare
           and
           reason
           ,
           
           
             O
             ,
             I
             am
             so
             unworthy
             that
             God
             will
             not
             looke
             at
             me
             ;
             I
             am
             so
             sinfull
             ,
             so
             blockish
             ,
             so
             dead
             ,
             and
             dull
             to
             all
             good
             ,
             that
             God
             will
             never
             regard
             me
             ;
          
           thou
           canst
           never
           pray
           ,
           Rom.
           10.
           14.
           
           
             How
             shall
             they
             call
             on
             him
             in
             whom
             they
             have
             not
             beleeved
             ?
          
           If
           thou
           dost
           not
           believe
           that
           God
           will
           heare
           thee
           ,
           if
           thou
           dost
           not
           beleeve
           that
           thou
           shalt
           prevaile
           ,
           that
           God
           will
           deliver
           thee
           out
           of
           these
           corruptions
           and
           that
           lust
           that
           thou
           praiest
           against
           ;
           that
           God
           will
           give
           thee
           this
           grace
           or
           that
           grace
           :
           if
           thou
           dost
           not
           beleeve
           that
           God
           will
           owne
           thee
           :
           if
           thou
           hast
           these
           doubtfull
           discouragements
           ,
           
             O
             ,
             he
             will
             not
             grant
             me
             ,
             I
             shall
             never
             get
             this
             or
             that
             :
          
           how
           canst
           thou
           call
           on
           him
           ?
           thou
           mayest
           call
           so
           and
           so
           :
           but
           never
           canst
           thou
           call
           to
           any
           purpose
           ,
           if
           thou
           dost
           not
           beleeve
           in
           him
           .
        
         
           A
           begger
           though
           he
           be
           never
           so
           well
           able
           to
           begge
           ,
           yet
           if
           when
           he
           comes
           to
           the
           House-keepers
           dore
           ,
           he
           be
           perswaded
           that
           he
           shall
           not
           speed
           ,
           that
           let
           him
           beg
           as
           long
           as
           he
           will
           ,
           he
           shall
           get
           nothing
           :
           this
           blunts
           his
           begging
           ,
           and
           makes
           him
           give
           over
           his
           suite
           without
           any
           great
           importunity
           :
           So
           ,
           it
           is
           impossible
           that
           ever
           a
           soule
           should
           hold
           out
           and
           pray
           that
           is
           discouraged
           in
           prayer
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           
             thou
             canst
             not
             pray
             unlesse
             thou
             
             use
             all
             thy
             strength
             in
             prayer
             ;
          
           If
           thou
           be
           discouraged
           ,
           thou
           canst
           not
           use
           thy
           strength
           .
        
         
           A
           discouraged
           man
           ,
           his
           strength
           melts
           into
           feare
           ;
           and
           whatsoever
           strength
           he
           hath
           ,
           he
           cannot
           put
           it
           forth
           .
           How
           came
           
             Jacob
          
           to
           prevaile
           and
           to
           have
           power
           with
           God
           ?
           Why
           ,
           he
           used
           all
           his
           strength
           with
           God
           ,
           and
           so
           prevailed
           ,
           
             Hosea
          
           12.
           3.
           
           Thou
           canst
           never
           prevaile
           with
           God
           by
           thy
           prayers
           ,
           unlesse
           thou
           puttest
           forth
           all
           thy
           strength
           in
           praier
           .
        
         
           If
           
             Jacob
          
           had
           reasoned
           
             I
             am
             but
             dust
             and
             ashes
             ;
             how
             can
             I
             strive
             with
             God
             ?
             I
             am
             sinfull
             and
             evill
             ,
             how
             can
             I
             contend
             with
             my
             Maker
             ?
          
           and
           so
           have
           beene
           discouraged
           in
           his
           wrastling
           ,
           he
           could
           not
           have
           used
           all
           his
           strength
           with
           God
           ,
           and
           so
           had
           never
           prevailed
           with
           God
           .
           No
           ,
           
             Jacob
          
           he
           gathers
           all
           the
           arguments
           that
           he
           could
           make
           ;
           he
           gathers
           together
           all
           the
           promises
           he
           could
           finde
           in
           Gods
           Book
           ,
           or
           that
           he
           could
           heare
           off
           ;
           he
           displaies
           all
           the
           wants
           that
           he
           could
           shew
           ;
           he
           petitions
           all
           the
           graces
           that
           he
           could
           name
           ;
           he
           used
           all
           his
           strength
           ,
           and
           by
           his
           strength
           he
           had
           power
           with
           God
           .
        
         
           If
           thy
           confession
           of
           thy
           sins
           be
           strengthlesse
           ;
           if
           thy
           petitions
           ,
           and
           thankesgiving
           for
           grace
           ,
           be
           strengthlesse
           ;
           if
           thou
           use
           not
           
           all
           thy
           strength
           in
           prayer
           ,
           thou
           canst
           never
           prevaile
           ,
           nor
           have
           any
           power
           with
           God
           .
           For
           how
           can
           that
           man
           prevaile
           and
           have
           power
           with
           God
           that
           hath
           no
           power
           with
           himselfe
           ?
        
         
           Thirdly
           ,
           
             thou
             canst
             never
             pray
             ,
             and
             have
             a
          
           
           
             fearefull
             apprehension
             of
             evill
             in
             prayer
             ;
          
           thou
           canst
           not
           .
           It
           is
           good
           to
           have
           a
           deepe
           apprehension
           of
           thy
           sinnes
           :
           apprehend
           them
           to
           be
           as
           many
           hells
           as
           thou
           canst
           ,
           thou
           canst
           never
           apprehend
           them
           deeply
           enough
           :
           but
           if
           thou
           hast
           a
           fearefull
           apprehension
           of
           them
           ,
           thou
           canst
           never
           pray
           .
        
         
           When
           the
           Apostle
           would
           exhort
           the
           
             Philipians
          
           to
           continue
           in
           one
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           in
           one
           minde
           ,
           fighting
           together
           through
           the
           faith
           of
           the
           Gospell
           ,
           he
           exhorts
           them
           
             that
             ,
             in
             nothing
             they
             feare
             ,
          
           Phil.
           1.
           27
           ,
           28.
           
           For
           if
           a
           man
           be
           terrified
           with
           his
           adversary
           ,
           with
           the
           power
           of
           his
           adversary
           ,
           and
           feares
           he
           shall
           never
           be
           able
           to
           withstand
           him
           but
           must
           fall
           before
           him
           through
           his
           subtilty
           ,
           that
           he
           can
           never
           be
           wary
           enough
           for
           him
           :
           Alas
           ,
           he
           can
           never
           strive
           with
           hope
           and
           courage
           against
           him
           .
           So
           ,
           beloved
           ,
           if
           we
           have
           a
           fearefull
           and
           discouraged
           kinde
           of
           apprehension
           of
           evill
           ,
           we
           can
           never
           pray
           so
           as
           to
           prevaile
           .
        
         
           Apprehend
           thy
           sinnes
           to
           be
           as
           hellish
           ,
           
           and
           as
           damnable
           as
           thou
           canst
           :
           Feele
           even
           the
           fire
           of
           hell
           in
           every
           one
           of
           them
           :
           but
           take
           heed
           of
           a
           
             fearefull
          
           apprehension
           of
           them
           ,
           
             so
          
           to
           apprehend
           the
           evill
           of
           them
           ,
           as
           to
           thinke
           with
           thy selfe
           that
           because
           thou
           art
           guilty
           of
           
             these
             and
             these
          
           sinnes
           ,
           that
           thou
           shalt
           never
           get
           in
           with
           God
           again
           ,
           God
           will
           never
           be
           reconciled
           to
           thee
           :
           
             these
          
           will
           eate
           out
           thine
           heart
           in
           prayer
           .
        
         
           
           
             Fourthly
             ,
          
           we
           can
           never
           pray
           if
           we
           have
           any
           secret
           dispaire
           
             that
             there
             is
             any
             difficulty
             too
             hard
             for
             us
             to
             grapple
             withall
             ,
             or
             to
             get
             through
             in
             our
             prayers
             .
             Howsoever
             a
             man
             prayes
             ,
             yet
             if
             he
             have
          
           any
           spice
           
             of
             these
             feares
             in
             him
             ,
             to
             thinke
          
           now
           I
           have
           taken
           a
           great
           deale
           of
           paines
           ,
           but
           am
           never
           the
           better
           ;
           I
           have
           prayed
           and
           prayed
           ,
           but
           have
           got
           no
           good
           :
           I
           may
           goe
           on
           and
           doe
           thus
           and
           thus
           ,
           but
           shall
           never
           prevaile
           or
           speed
           ;
           all
           my
           labours
           ,
           all
           my
           prayers
           and
           indeavours
           will
           be
           lost
           ;
           
             this
             takes
             away
             the
             very
             spirit
             and
             life
             of
             a
             mans
             prayers
             .
          
        
         
           
             Judas
          
           after
           he
           had
           betrayed
           the
           Lord
           Jesus
           ,
           he
           was
           discouraged
           from
           ever
           praying
           for
           mercy
           .
           Why
           ?
           because
           he
           thought
           it
           was
           
             impossible
          
           for
           him
           to
           get
           it
           ;
           
             I
             have
             betrayed
             innocent
             blood
             ,
          
           saith
           he
           .
           
             Matth.
          
           27.
           as
           if
           he
           should
           say
           ,
           
             I
             shall
             never
             out-wrastle
             this
             sinne
             ;
             this
             sinne
             is
             my
             death
             :
             I
             have
             brought
             
             the
             blood
             of
             the
             Sonne
             of
             God
             on
             me
             ,
             I
             shall
             never
             claw
             off
             this
             sinne
             :
          
           now
           
             Judas
          
           thus
           despayring
           ,
           we
           never
           read
           one
           letter
           of
           any
           prayer
           that
           he
           made
           to
           God
           to
           get
           out
           of
           it
           ;
           no
           ,
           he
           thought
           it
           too
           hard
           for
           him
           to
           get
           mercy
           .
           Despaire
           drives
           a
           man
           from
           that
           he
           did
           hope
           for
           ;
           because
           now
           he
           thinkes
           there
           is
           an
           impossibility
           in
           getting
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           Beloved
           ,
           mistake
           me
           not
           ;
           there
           is
           a
           double
           desperation
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           there
           is
           a
           desperation
           of
           
             infidelity
             ;
          
           
           and
           that
           deads
           and
           drawes
           the
           soule
           from
           God
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           there
           is
           a
           desperation
           of
           
             extremity
             ;
          
           
           And
           ,
           if
           ever
           you
           meane
           to
           come
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           to
           get
           any
           grace
           from
           God
           ,
           you
           
             must
          
           come
           with
           desperation
           of
           extremity
           .
           desperation
           puts
           
             life
          
           into
           a
           mans
           prayers
           and
           indeavours
           .
        
         
           As
           ,
           a
           Souldier
           when
           he
           seeth
           nothing
           but
           to
           
             kill
             or
             be
             killed
             ,
          
           that
           he
           sees
           his
           state
           desperate
           ;
           why
           ,
           this
           will
           compell
           a
           very
           coward
           to
           fight
           ;
           this
           will
           make
           a
           coward
           fight
           (
           
             as
             if
             he
             would
             kill
             the
             Devill
             ,
          
           saith
           the
           Proverb
           )
           it
           will
           make
           him
           fight
           like
           a
           spirit
           ;
           he
           will
           be
           afraid
           of
           nothing
           .
           Take
           a
           Souldier
           that
           fights
           desperately
           for
           his
           life
           ,
           with
           a
           
             kill
             or
             be
             killed
             ;
          
           he
           feares
           nothing
           ;
           neither
           Pike
           ,
           nor
           Sword
           ,
           nor
           Gun
           ?
           why
           .
           
           he
           fights
           for
           his
           life
           .
           Therefore
           one
           notes
           that
           sometimes
           it
           is
           the
           nearest
           way
           to
           victory
           to
           be
           desperate
           in
           attempts
           and
           in
           fight
           .
           Therefore
           when
           
             William
             the
             Conquerour
          
           came
           first
           into
           
             England
             ,
          
           at
           
             Hasting
             ,
          
           he
           sent
           back
           his
           Ships
           againe
           ,
           that
           so
           the
           Souldiers
           might
           have
           no
           hope
           of
           saving
           themselves
           by
           flying
           back
           .
           And
           so
           at
           
             Battle
             ,
          
           at
           
             one
          
           encounter
           ,
           a
           
             little
          
           Army
           of
           the
           English
           slew
           a
           
             great
          
           Army
           of
           the
           French
           .
           Why
           ?
           they
           grew
           desperate
           .
        
         
           So
           ,
           could
           men
           pray
           desperately
           ,
           could
           they
           pray
           with
           a
           
             pray
             or
             be
             damned
             :
          
           beg
           with
           a
           
             begge
             or
             be
             damned
             ;
          
           seeke
           to
           God
           for
           grace
           that
           you
           want
           with
           a
           
             speed
             or
             be
             damned
             ;
          
           then
           would
           their
           prayers
           be
           more
           earnest
           and
           powerfull
           to
           get
           grace
           .
           O
           ,
           did
           men
           pray
           thus
           ,
           they
           would
           pray
           otherwise
           then
           they
           doe
           .
        
         
           Men
           pray
           ,
           but
           they
           pray
           deadly
           ,
           coldly
           ,
           and
           lazily
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           had
           no
           need
           of
           prayer
           ,
           or
           as
           if
           they
           had
           no
           need
           of
           the
           grace
           they
           pray
           for
           ;
           they
           pray
           for
           grace
           ,
           but
           get
           it
           not
           ;
           they
           pray
           for
           zeale
           ,
           but
           have
           it
           not
           ;
           for
           repentance
           and
           holinesse
           ,
           but
           obtaine
           it
           not
           .
        
         
           Beloved
           ,
           either
           get
           zeale
           and
           holinesse
           ,
           or
           else
           there
           is
           no
           mercy
           :
           either
           get
           grace
           and
           repentance
           ,
           or
           else
           there
           is
           no
           mercy
           
           for
           thee
           .
           Pray
           then
           when
           thou
           prayest
           for
           grace
           ,
           with
           
             a
             speede
             or
             be
             damned
             :
          
           say
           unto
           thy
           soule
           ,
           
             either
             we
             must
             speede
             and
             get
             grace
          
           Soule
           ,
           
             or
             else
             we
             must
             goe
             to
             hell
             .
          
           If
           men
           would
           pray
           thus
           ,
           with
           
             a
             speede
             or
             be
             damned
             ,
          
           we
           should
           never
           see
           ,
           nor
           God
           should
           never
           heare
           so
           many
           cold
           and
           dead
           praiers
           as
           now
           we
           pray
           .
        
         
           Despaire
           makes
           a
           man
           a
           Munke
           saith
           the
           Papist
           :
           but
           
             this
             despayre
          
           makes
           a
           man
           a
           good
           Christian
           I
           say
           :
           never
           doth
           a
           man
           pray
           indeede
           till
           he
           feels
           himselfe
           in
           extremity
           ,
           hopeles
           and
           desperate
           in
           regard
           of
           himselfe
           ;
           so
           that
           he
           seeth
           no
           remedie
           at
           all
           but
           
             get
             Christ
             :
             get
             grace
             or
             be
             damned
             for
             ever
             .
             Get
             power
             and
             strength
             over
             these
             corruptions
             :
          
           otherwise
           they
           
             will
             destroy
             and
             damne
             thee
             ;
          
           this
           would
           make
           a
           man
           pray
           for
           life
           .
           Men
           pray
           coldly
           and
           faintly
           :
           why
           ?
           because
           though
           they
           see
           they
           have
           no
           grace
           ,
           no
           zeale
           ,
           no
           holines
           ,
           no
           repentance
           ,
           no
           evidence
           of
           Christ
           :
           yet
           they
           hope
           to
           be
           saved
           notwithstanding
           .
           O
           beloved
           ,
           the
           divell
           hath
           blinded
           these
           men
           to
           the
           intent
           they
           may
           be
           damned
           .
        
         
           But
           ,
           if
           men
           would
           pray
           desperate
           praiers
           with
           a
           
             pray
             or
             be
             damned
             ,
             seeke
             with
             a
             finde
             or
             be
             damned
             :
          
           men
           would
           then
           pray
           other
           praiers
           then
           they
           doe
           .
           Such
           praiers
           did
           
             David
          
           
           pray
           
             Psal.
             130.
             1.
             
             Out
             of
             the
             deepe
             places
             have
             I
             called
             unto
             thee
             O
             Lord
             ,
             Lord
             heare
             my
             prayer
             :
          
           as
           if
           he
           should
           say
           ,
           Lord
           ,
           I
           am
           even
           in
           the
           depth
           of
           miserie
           ,
           plunged
           over
           head
           and
           eares
           ,
           so
           that
           now
           I
           sinke
           and
           perish
           if
           thou
           helpe
           not
           :
           Lord
           ,
           hear
           my
           praier
           .
           
             This
             desperation
          
           a
           Christian
           must
           have
           ,
           this
           quickens
           up
           his
           Spirits
           ,
           and
           puts
           life
           into
           him
           :
           but
           ,
           take
           heede
           of
           the
           
             desperation
             of
             Infidelity
             :
          
           Saint
           
             Austen
          
           saith
           it
           is
           the
           murtherer
           of
           the
           soule
           :
           the
           spice
           of
           it
           will
           eate
           out
           the
           heart
           of
           a
           man
           ,
           and
           kill
           the
           strength
           of
           all
           his
           endeavours
           .
        
         
           I
           should
           now
           come
           to
           apply
           this
           doctrine
           ;
           but
           I
           feare
           me
           there
           be
           many
           amongst
           us
           ,
           that
           never
           come
           so
           farre
           towards
           heaven
           ,
           as
           to
           know
           what
           these
           discouragements
           meane
           .
           This
           is
           lamentable
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           true
           ,
           
             discouragements
          
           are
           hideous
           cases
           in
           praier
           ,
           and
           a
           man
           may
           perish
           and
           goe
           to
           hell
           that
           hath
           them
           :
           but
           yet
           ,
           they
           are
           
             some-what
             profitable
             signes
          
           that
           a
           man
           doth
           at
           the
           least
           looke
           a
           little
           towards
           God
           ,
           or
           else
           he
           could
           not
           know
           what
           they
           are
           .
           But
           there
           are
           abundance
           that
           never
           have
           attained
           so
           farre
           in
           religion
           ,
           as
           to
           understand
           what
           they
           meane
           :
           but
           goe
           on
           in
           drinking
           ,
           whoring
           ,
           carding
           and
           dicing
           ,
           hating
           and
           malicing
           ,
           fretting
           and
           chafing
           ,
           mocking
           &
           coveting
           ;
           
           swearing
           and
           blaspheming
           ,
           in
           security
           ,
           in
           hardnes
           of
           heart
           and
           impenitencie
           :
           they
           are
           more
           carefull
           for
           their
           doggs
           ,
           for
           their
           potts
           ,
           and
           for
           their
           tables
           ,
           and
           for
           their
           shops
           ,
           then
           they
           are
           of
           their
           soules
           :
           And
           which
           is
           enough
           to
           astonish
           any
           that
           is
           godly
           ,
           these
           men
           scarce
           finde
           any
           discouragements
           in
           praier
           :
           O
           ,
           they
           have
           a
           good
           courage
           to
           pray
           at
           all
           times
           :
           O
           ,
           say
           they
           ,
           God
           forbid
           that
           any
           man
           should
           be
           discouraged
           in
           praier
           ▪
           I
           thanke
           God
           I
           have
           a
           good
           hope
           in
           God
           ;
           God
           hath
           given
           me
           a
           good
           heart
           of
           grace
           to
           call
           upon
           him
           ,
           and
           I
           make
           no
           question
           but
           that
           God
           heares
           me
           :
           God
           would
           never
           bid
           us
           to
           pray
           if
           he
           did
           not
           meane
           to
           heare
           us
           .
        
         
           Beloved
           ,
           these
           men
           that
           are
           so
           bold
           in
           the
           goodnes
           of
           their
           hearts
           to
           call
           upon
           God
           ,
           they
           never
           as
           yet
           praied
           in
           all
           their
           lives
           :
           all
           the
           praiers
           of
           the
           wicked
           are
           indeede
           no
           praiers
           .
        
         
           
             Daniel
          
           confessing
           the
           sinnes
           of
           wicked
           
             Judah
             ,
          
           saith
           ,
           
             though
             all
             this
             evill
             be
             come
             upon
             us
             ,
             yet
             made
             we
             not
             our
             prayer
             to
             turne
             from
             our
             wicked
             wayes
             .
             Dan.
          
           9.
           13.
           all
           the
           time
           of
           those
           seventy
           yeares
           ,
           
             Daniel
          
           saith
           they
           never
           made
           praier
           to
           God
           ;
           yet
           they
           fasted
           every
           yeare
           ,
           and
           praied
           every
           day
           ,
           twise
           every
           day
           at
           the
           least
           ,
           which
           would
           amount
           
           in
           that
           time
           to
           50000
           and
           100
           prayers
           :
           how
           then
           could
           
             Daniel
          
           say
           they
           never
           made
           
             one
          
           praier
           ?
           I
           answer
           ,
           (
           and
           pray
           marke
           it
           )
           
             because
          
           they
           never
           did
           quite
           turne
           from
           their
           evill
           waies
           .
           Though
           thou
           makest
           never
           so
           many
           praiers
           ,
           though
           thou
           boastest
           of
           the
           goodnesse
           of
           thy
           condition
           ,
           and
           snatchest
           at
           the
           Promises
           of
           God
           :
           yet
           if
           thou
           turnest
           not
           from
           thine
           iniquities
           ,
           thou
           never
           as
           yet
           mad'st
           any
           praier
           by
           the
           Judgement
           of
           God
           himselfe
           .
           
             Paul
          
           made
           many
           thousand
           praiers
           before
           his
           conversion
           ,
           he
           could
           not
           have
           beene
           a
           Pharise
           else
           ;
           but
           they
           were
           never
           accounted
           praiers
           to
           him
           :
           therefore
           as
           soon
           as
           ever
           he
           was
           converted
           ,
           behold
           saith
           God
           
             he
             prayeth
             Acts
          
           9.
           
        
         
           A
           wicked
           man
           ,
           a
           carnall
           Christian
           ,
           though
           he
           have
           the
           righteousnesse
           of
           Saint
           
             Paul
          
           before
           his
           conversion
           ,
           of
           living
           blamlesse
           ,
           unreproveable
           in
           respect
           of
           the
           outward
           righteousnesse
           of
           the
           Law
           :
           yet
           he
           can
           never
           make
           an
           
             acceptable
             prayer
          
           till
           he
           be
           truely
           converted
           ;
           his
           praiers
           are
           no
           better
           then
           howling
           of
           dogs
           ,
           or
           lowing
           of
           Oxen
           ,
           yea
           the
           Lord
           abhorrs
           them
           .
           O
           what
           
             poore
          
           incouragements
           canst
           thou
           have
           ,
           seeing
           the
           Lord
           never
           tallies
           downe
           any
           of
           thy
           prayers
           ?
           wicked
           men
           are
           like
           
             Ulysses
             ,
          
           who
           wept
           more
           for
           the
           death
           of
           his
           dogge
           ,
           then
           of
           
           his
           wife
           ;
           so
           wicked
           men
           weepe
           and
           mourne
           for
           the
           losse
           of
           their
           corne
           and
           their
           cattle
           ,
           hawkes
           and
           houndes
           ,
           cardes
           and
           dice
           :
           but
           never
           for
           the
           losse
           of
           their
           praiers
           .
           So
           long
           as
           thou
           continuest
           in
           thy
           prophanesse
           and
           impenitency
           ,
           thou
           losest
           all
           thy
           praiers
           :
           there
           is
           not
           one
           of
           them
           that
           God
           tallies
           downe
           ,
           or
           reckons
           for
           a
           praier
           .
           Here
           we
           might
           have
           a
           great
           deale
           of
           matter
           ,
           if
           time
           would
           suffer
           me
           .
           But
           it
           will
           not
           ,
           onely
           let
           me
           tell
           you
           ,
           I
           speake
           onely
           to
           those
           whose
           hearts
           God
           hath
           awakened
           out
           of
           their
           sinnes
           ,
           but
           who
           are
           oft
           discouraged
           :
           take
           heede
           of
           these
           discouragements
           .
        
         
           For
           ,
           first
           ,
           
             they
             will
             drive
             thee
             to
             melancholy
             .
          
           
           Beloved
           ,
           there
           are
           a
           great
           many
           melancholy
           men
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           this
           is
           the
           cause
           of
           it
           ;
           men
           are
           contented
           to
           be
           converted
           by
           halves
           :
           because
           they
           are
           discouraged
           in
           the
           worke
           .
           If
           thou
           suffer
           thy selfe
           to
           be
           discouraged
           ,
           it
           will
           care
           up
           thy
           spirit
           and
           thou
           wilt
           be
           like
           a
           
             silly
             dove
             without
             a
             heart
             ,
             Prov.
          
           7.
           11.
           
           A
           dove
           is
           a
           melancholy
           creature
           ,
           that
           hath
           no
           heart
           to
           any
           thing
           ;
           so
           
             Ephraim
          
           hath
           no
           heart
           to
           call
           upon
           God
           ,
           no
           heart
           to
           returne
           unto
           God
           :
           and
           this
           is
           the
           cause
           that
           men
           and
           women
           goe
           whineing
           and
           mourning
           under
           the
           burden
           of
           sin
           ,
           and
           are
           not
           able
           to
           come
           out
           ,
           because
           of
           
           discouragements
           :
           all
           the
           policie
           of
           hell
           is
           lesse
           then
           this
           policy
           of
           the
           divell
           ,
           in
           driving
           men
           to
           despair
           or
           discouragements
           :
           
             this
          
           doth
           more
           hurt
           then
           al
           the
           rest
           of
           hel
           besides
        
         
           
           Secondly
           ,
           if
           you
           doe
           not
           take
           heede
           of
           them
           ,
           they
           will
           bring
           you
           to
           speake
           against
           God
           ,
           
             I
             have
             prayed
             ,
             but
             the
             Lord
             will
             not
             heare
             me
             :
             I
             have
             called
             ,
             and
             the
             Lord
             will
             not
             answer
             ,
             but
             hath
             turned
             away
             his
             eares
             from
             me
             .
          
           Now
           ,
           thou
           speakest
           against
           God
           .
           
             Num.
          
           21.
           4
           ,
           5.
           
           The
           soule
           of
           the
           people
           was
           much
           discouraged
           ,
           and
           the
           people
           spake
           against
           God
           ,
           and
           against
           
             Moses
             ,
          
           saying
           ,
           Wherefore
           have
           you
           brought
           us
           out
           of
           
             Egypt
             ,
          
           to
           die
           in
           the
           wildernesse
           ?
           for
           here
           is
           neither
           bread
           ,
           nor
           water
           ,
           and
           our
           soule
           loatheth
           this
           light
           bread
           .
           So
           ,
           beloved
           ,
           
             if
             we
             suffer
             our
             soules
             to
             be
             discouraged
             ,
             we
             shall
             soone
             come
             to
             murmure
             against
             God
             :
          
           wherefore
           hath
           he
           brought
           me
           up
           to
           this
           strictnes
           ,
           and
           precisensse
           ?
           when
           I
           was
           a
           drunkard
           ,
           a
           worldling
           ,
           when
           I
           followed
           the
           lust
           of
           my
           flesh
           and
           Liberty
           ,
           then
           I
           enjoed
           onnions
           ,
           garlicke
           ,
           and
           the
           flesh-pots
           of
           
             Egypt
             :
          
           pleaures
           and
           delights
           for
           my
           soule
           :
           then
           I
           had
           a
           good
           hope
           in
           God
           ,
           and
           a
           good
           perswasion
           that
           my
           soul
           should
           goe
           to
           heaven
           :
           and
           then
           Preachers
           told
           me
           that
           if
           I
           would
           give
           over
           such
           and
           such
           sinnes
           ,
           and
           looke
           after
           
           Heaven
           a
           little
           more
           ,
           and
           doe
           such
           and
           such
           things
           ,
           O
           
             then
          
           I
           should
           come
           to
           a
           Land
           flowing
           with
           milke
           and
           honey
           ,
           then
           I
           should
           not
           misse
           of
           glory
           and
           salvation
           ;
           But
           alas
           ,
           I
           see
           nothing
           but
           Gyants
           and
           Anakims
           ;
           I
           am
           in
           a
           wildernesse
           ;
           now
           ,
           
             now
          
           I
           see
           a
           man
           have
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           repentance
           ,
           and
           yet
           be
           a
           cast-away
           ;
           A
           man
           may
           have
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           faith
           &
           yet
           be
           but
           a
           reprobate
           ;
           A
           man
           may
           give
           over
           a
           great
           
             many
          
           sins
           ,
           and
           yet
           perish
           in
           hell
           ;
           now
           I
           see
           a
           man
           may
           live
           civilly
           and
           well
           ,
           and
           have
           &
           do
           a
           great
           many
           good
           things
           ,
           and
           yet
           be
           damned
           when
           he
           hath
           done
           all
           :
           A
           man
           may
           even
           goe
           to
           Heaven
           Gates
           ,
           and
           yet
           the
           gates
           be
           shut
           against
           him
           ,
           and
           he
           turned
           into
           hell
           .
           Alas
           !
           my
           poore
           soule
           is
           in
           a
           wildernesse
           ;
           
             now
          
           I
           know
           not
           which
           way
           to
           goe
           ;
           I
           am
           ready
           to
           lose
           my selfe
           ,
           I
           see
           nothing
           here
           
             now
          
           but
           huge
           Gyants
           ,
           the
           sonnes
           of
           
             Anack
             ,
             strong
             corruptions
             ,
          
           inclining
           and
           forcing
           me
           to
           evill
           :
           most
           fearefull
           and
           violent
           suggestions
           and
           temptations
           of
           the
           Devill
           ,
           ready
           to
           thrust
           me
           into
           the
           gulfe
           of
           wickednesse
           and
           despaire
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           ,
           the
           soule
           begins
           to
           thinke
           that
           it
           is
           good
           for
           it
           to
           returne
           again
           into
           Egypt
           ,
           to
           fall
           to
           its
           old
           courses
           againe
           :
           for
           certainly
           God
           lookes
           for
           no
           such
           matter
           ,
           he
           requires
           
           no
           such
           strictnesse
           and
           precisenesse
           :
           And
           so
           it
           falls
           a
           whining
           and
           repining
           at
           the
           Word
           and
           Ministers
           of
           God
           that
           have
           call'd
           men
           to
           it
           ,
           and
           laid
           it
           upon
           them
           :
           and
           hath
           no
           heart
           now
           to
           do
           thus
           and
           thus
           any
           longer
           .
           And
           
             thus
          
           it
           falls
           into
           discouragements
           because
           of
           the
           way
           ,
           and
           into
           a
           thousand
           
             quandaries
          
           whether
           it
           may
           not
           goe
           back
           againe
           or
           no
           .
           And
           all
           these
           murmurings
           and
           repinings
           ,
           are
           because
           men
           suffer
           themselves
           to
           be
           discouraged
           .
        
         
           
           Thirdly
           ,
           
             discouragements
             will
             cause
             thee
             to
             thinke
             that
             God
             hates
             thee
             .
          
           When
           the
           soule
           like
           
             Baals
          
           Priests
           ,
           hath
           been
           crying
           from
           morning
           to
           noone
           ;
           ten
           ,
           twenty
           ,
           thirty
           yeeres
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           and
           yet
           hath
           no
           answer
           :
           
             now
             ,
          
           it
           will
           begin
           to
           thinke
           
             if
             God
             did
             love
             me
             ,
             then
             he
             would
             grant
             me
             my
             petitions
             .
          
           Then
           hereupon
           comes
           into
           a
           mans
           secret
           thoughts
           and
           feares
           
             that
             God
             hardly
             loves
             his
             soule
             .
          
           So
           was
           it
           with
           
             Israel
             ;
          
           when
           they
           were
           discouraged
           ,
           they
           said
           ,
           
             because
             the
             Lord
             hated
             us
             ,
             therefore
             he
             brought
             us
             out
             of
             the
             Land
             of
             Egypt
             ,
          
           Deut.
           1.
           27.
           
           Because
           that
           they
           were
           discouraged
           ,
           and
           because
           that
           their
           Brethren
           that
           went
           for
           spies
           ,
           had
           disheartned
           them
           ;
           therefore
           they
           were
           apt
           to
           say
           the
           Lord
           hated
           them
           .
        
         
           Beloved
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           miserable
           thing
           when
           
           the
           soule
           calls
           the
           love
           of
           God
           into
           question
           .
           Consider
           that
           as
           thou
           canst
           not
           have
           a
           friend
           if
           thou
           beest
           suspitious
           and
           jealous
           of
           his
           love
           to
           thee
           :
           So
           ,
           thou
           canst
           never
           have
           the
           love
           of
           God
           settled
           on
           thy
           heart
           so
           long
           as
           thou
           art
           jealous
           of
           his
           love
           to
           thee
           .
        
         
           Fourthly
           ,
           
             If
             thou
             root
             them
             not
             out
             ,
             it
             is
             
             to
             be
             feared
             that
             they
             will
             bring
             thee
             to
             despaire
             .
          
           Melancholy
           thoughts
           and
           feares
           ,
           and
           discouragements
           ,
           drive
           the
           soule
           to
           despaire
           .
           For
           when
           the
           soule
           sees
           it selfe
           still
           disappointed
           of
           its
           hopes
           ,
           at
           the
           last
           it
           grows
           hopelesse
           :
           If
           it
           have
           waited
           one
           day
           and
           the
           next
           day
           too
           :
           if
           it
           have
           praied
           this
           weeke
           ,
           this
           month
           ,
           this
           yeare
           ,
           and
           yet
           still
           it
           seeth
           it selfe
           held
           off
           and
           disappointed
           :
           it
           will
           at
           last
           grow
           hopelesse
           .
           Take
           heed
           therefore
           ,
           I
           beseech
           you
           ,
           of
           all
           needlesse
           discouragements
           ;
           to
           fear
           be
           ause
           that
           thou
           findest
           not
           that
           that
           thou
           wishedst
           or
           prayedst
           for
           ,
           to
           day
           or
           to
           morrow
           ,
           in
           thine
           own
           time
           ,
           that
           therefore
           thou
           shalt
           
             never
          
           get
           it
           ,
           that
           now
           thou
           shouldest
           for
           ever
           despaire
           of
           the
           grace
           and
           love
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           thinke
           that
           now
           God
           will
           never
           heare
           thee
           ,
           that
           thou
           shalt
           never
           get
           grace
           and
           power
           over
           thy
           corruptions
           .
        
         
           Men
           thinke
           that
           the
           preaching
           of
           the
           
           Word
           of
           God
           brings
           men
           to
           despaire
           ,
           the
           preaching
           of
           such
           
             strict
          
           points
           ,
           and
           the
           urging
           such
           
             precise
          
           doctrines
           makes
           men
           despaire
           :
           men
           are
           loth
           to
           be
           at
           the
           paines
           to
           root
           out
           their
           discouragements
           :
           It
           is
           rather
           a
           cold
           or
           dead
           preaching
           of
           the
           Word
           that
           is
           the
           cause
           of
           this
           :
           for
           when
           the
           soule
           is
           
             instructed
             by
             holinesse
             ,
          
           humbled
           by
           holinesse
           ,
           converted
           by
           holinesse
           ,
           at
           the
           last
           when
           it
           comes
           to
           be
           thorowly
           awakened
           ,
           when
           it
           sees
           that
           
             this
          
           and
           
             this
          
           is
           required
           in
           a
           true
           conversion
           of
           the
           soule
           to
           God
           ,
           that
           
             herein
          
           true
           repentance
           must
           declare
           and
           demonstrate
           it selfe
           by
           
             these
          
           and
           
             these
          
           fruits
           ,
           or
           else
           it
           is
           but
           false
           and
           rotten
           :
           Why
           now
           ,
           the
           soul
           must
           needs
           be
           brought
           to
           despaire
           ,
           because
           it
           seeth
           that
           though
           it
           have
           been
           thus
           and
           thus
           humbled
           ,
           though
           it
           have
           praied
           ,
           fasted
           and
           mourned
           in
           this
           and
           this
           manner
           :
           yet
           it
           sees
           it
           hath
           not
           a
           
             soundnesse
          
           of
           grace
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           such
           a
           grace
           in
           it
           ,
           such
           a
           worke
           and
           such
           a
           fruit
           of
           Gods
           Spirit
           in
           it
           ,
           that
           yet
           he
           could
           never
           finde
           in
           himselfe
           :
           this
           makes
           the
           soule
           to
           despaire
           .
           Indeed
           Preachers
           may
           be
           too
           blame
           if
           they
           speake
           and
           preach
           
             onely
          
           the
           terrours
           and
           condemnations
           of
           the
           Law
           without
           the
           promises
           of
           the
           Gospel
           :
           for
           
             these
          
           should
           be
           so
           tempered
           
           that
           every
           poore
           broken
           soule
           may
           see
           mercy
           and
           redemption
           for
           him
           upon
           his
           sound
           and
           unfeined
           repentance
           and
           humiliation
           .
           But
           if
           men
           doe
           despaire
           ,
           they
           may
           thanke
           themselves
           for
           it
           ,
           their
           owne
           sinnes
           for
           it
           ,
           their
           owne
           discouragements
           for
           it
           ,
           because
           they
           suffer
           these
           to
           continue
           in
           them
           .
        
         
           
             Cain
          
           his
           heart
           grew
           sad
           ,
           his
           countenance
           fell
           ,
           he
           was
           wroth
           and
           disquieted
           in
           his
           minde
           ,
           and
           heavily
           discouraged
           ;
           why
           ?
           
             Gen.
          
           4.
           
           Sin
           lay
           at
           the
           dore
           ,
           (
           what
           dore
           ?
           )
           the
           dore
           of
           his
           conscience
           rapping
           and
           beating
           upon
           his
           heart
           .
        
         
           Beloved
           ,
           when
           the
           soule
           lets
           sinne
           lie
           at
           the
           dore
           :
           drunkenesse
           ,
           pride
           and
           worldlinesse
           ,
           security
           ,
           hardnes
           and
           deadnes
           of
           heart
           lie
           at
           the
           dore
           :
           when
           a
           man
           lets
           his
           negligent
           and
           fruitlesse
           hearing
           of
           the
           word
           lie
           at
           the
           dore
           ,
           when
           a
           man
           lets
           his
           vaine
           and
           dead
           praying
           ,
           his
           temporizing
           and
           fashionary
           serving
           of
           God
           lie
           at
           the
           dore
           of
           conscience
           ,
           to
           tell
           him
           that
           all
           his
           hearing
           of
           the
           word
           of
           God
           profits
           him
           nothing
           ,
           that
           his
           praiers
           are
           dead
           and
           vaine
           ,
           that
           his
           mourning
           ,
           fasting
           ,
           and
           all
           his
           humiliation
           is
           counterfeit
           and
           rotten
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           hath
           no
           soundnesse
           of
           grace
           in
           him
           ,
           but
           that
           for
           all
           this
           he
           may
           fall
           into
           hell
           :
           
             when
             sinne
             lyeth
             thus
             at
             the
             dore
             ,
          
           thus
           rapping
           at
           the
           conscience
           ,
           
           it
           is
           no
           wonder
           if
           the
           soule
           fall
           into
           desperation
           .
        
         
           
             Cain
          
           let
           his
           sinne
           lie
           at
           the
           dore
           ,
           there
           it
           lay
           rapping
           and
           beating
           ,
           and
           told
           him
           that
           his
           carelesenesse
           and
           negligent
           sacrificing
           to
           God
           was
           not
           accepted
           :
           and
           therefore
           no
           marvell
           if
           
             Cain
          
           be
           so
           cast
           down
           in
           his
           countenance
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           fall
           to
           despaire
           .
        
         
           O
           beloved
           ,
           when
           sinne
           lieth
           bouncing
           and
           beating
           at
           the
           dore
           of
           thy
           heart
           ,
           when
           thy
           sinne
           (
           whatsoever
           it
           is
           ,
           search
           thy
           heart
           and
           finde
           it
           out
           )
           lies
           knocking
           and
           rapping
           at
           the
           dore
           of
           thy
           conscience
           
             day
             by
             day
             ,
          
           and
           month
           by
           month
           ,
           and
           thou
           art
           content
           to
           let
           it
           lie
           ,
           and
           art
           unwilling
           to
           use
           meanes
           to
           remove
           it
           ,
           and
           art
           loth
           to
           take
           the
           paines
           to
           get
           the
           bloud
           of
           Christ
           to
           wash
           thy
           soule
           from
           it
           ,
           or
           the
           Spirit
           of
           Christ
           to
           cleanse
           thee
           from
           it
           ;
           then
           thy
           soule
           will
           despaire
           ,
           either
           in
           this
           world
           ,
           or
           in
           the
           world
           to
           come
           .
           But
           let
           us
           take
           heede
           then
           ,
           that
           our
           conscience
           condemne
           us
           not
           in
           any
           thing
           or
           course
           that
           we
           allow
           in
           our selves
           :
           for
           if
           
             that
             doe
             ,
          
           then
           much
           more
           will
           God
           who
           is
           greater
           then
           our
           consciences
           ,
           and
           knowes
           all
           things
           .
        
         
           The
           Apostle
           hath
           an
           excellent
           Phrase
           :
           
             Rom.
             8.
             1.
             
             There
             is
             no
             condemnation
             to
             them
             that
             are
             in
             Christ
             Jesus
             &c.
             
          
           As
           if
           he
           should
           
           say
           ,
           there
           is
           not
           
             one
          
           condemnation
           ;
           there
           is
           none
           in
           
             Heaven
             ,
          
           God
           doth
           not
           condemne
           them
           ;
           there
           is
           none
           in
           
             earth
             ,
          
           their
           owne
           heart
           and
           conscience
           doth
           not
           condemne
           them
           ;
           he
           that
           is
           in
           Christ
           Jesus
           ,
           that
           walks
           not
           after
           the
           flesh
           ,
           but
           after
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           there
           is
           none
           ,
           no
           
             not
             one
          
           condemnation
           to
           him
           ;
           
             none
             ,
          
           neither
           in
           Heaven
           nor
           in
           earth
           :
           no
           word
           ,
           no
           commandement
           ,
           no
           threatning
           condemnes
           him
           .
           But
           if
           thy
           conscience
           condemne
           thee
           ,
           and
           tell
           thee
           thou
           lettest
           sin
           lie
           at
           the
           dore
           ,
           rapping
           at
           thy
           conscience
           day
           after
           day
           ,
           and
           month
           after
           month
           ,
           telling
           thee
           that
           yet
           thou
           art
           
             without
             Christ
             ,
          
           that
           yet
           thou
           never
           hadst
           any
           true
           faith
           in
           the
           Lord
           Jesus
           ,
           that
           yet
           thou
           hast
           not
           
             truely
          
           repented
           ,
           and
           turned
           from
           thy
           sinnes
           :
           this
           will
           at
           last
           drive
           thy
           soule
           into
           
             heavie
          
           discouragements
           ,
           if
           not
           into
           
             finall
          
           despaire
           .
        
         
           O
           beloved
           ,
           religion
           and
           piety
           ,
           and
           the
           power
           of
           godlinesse
           ,
           goe
           downe
           the
           winde
           every where
           .
           What
           is
           the
           reason
           of
           it
           ,
           but
           because
           of
           these
           discouragements
           that
           men
           live
           and
           go
           in
           ?
           Men
           pray
           and
           pray
           ,
           and
           their
           prayers
           profit
           them
           not
           :
           men
           run
           up
           and
           downe
           and
           come
           to
           the
           Church
           and
           heare
           the
           Word
           ,
           and
           receive
           the
           Sacraments
           ,
           and
           use
           the
           meanes
           of
           grace
           ,
           but
           to
           no
           
             end
             :
             they
          
           are
           unprofitable
           to
           them
           :
           they
           
           remaine
           in
           their
           sinnes
           still
           :
           the
           ordinances
           of
           God
           bring
           them
           not
           out
           of
           their
           lusts
           and
           corruptions
           :
           hereby
           they
           disgrace
           and
           discredit
           the
           ordinances
           of
           God
           in
           the
           eyes
           and
           account
           of
           the
           men
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           making
           them
           thinke
           as
           if
           there
           were
           no
           more
           power
           nor
           force
           in
           the
           Ordinances
           of
           God
           then
           these
           men
           manifest
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           no
           life
           in
           many
           Christians
           ,
           mens
           spirits
           are
           discouraged
           ;
           these
           secret
           discouragements
           in
           their
           hearts
           take
           away
           their
           spirits
           in
           the
           use
           of
           the
           meanes
           ,
           that
           though
           they
           use
           the
           meanes
           ,
           yet
           it
           drives
           them
           to
           despaire
           of
           reaping
           good
           or
           profit
           by
           them
           .
        
         
           
           Beloved
           ,
           I
           could
           here
           tell
           you
           enough
           to
           make
           your
           hearts
           ake
           to
           heare
           it
           .
        
         
           First
           ,
           
             all
             your
             complaints
             they
             are
             but
             winde
             ,
          
           Job
           6.
           26.
           doe
           you
           imagine
           to
           reprove
           words
           ,
           and
           the
           speeches
           of
           one
           that
           is
           desperate
           which
           are
           as
           winde
           ?
           
             Jobs
          
           friends
           taking
           
             Job
          
           to
           be
           a
           man
           of
           despaire
           ,
           they
           accounted
           all
           his
           words
           but
           as
           winde
           .
        
         
           Doest
           thou
           nestle
           any
           discouragement
           in
           thy
           heart
           ?
           thou
           maist
           complaine
           of
           sinne
           as
           much
           as
           thou
           canst
           :
           yet
           all
           thy
           complainings
           are
           but
           as
           winde
           :
           thou
           maist
           cry
           out
           against
           thy
           corruptions
           ,
           with
           weeping
           and
           teares
           ,
           and
           pray
           and
           fight
           against
           them
           :
           
           and
           yet
           all
           thy
           weeping
           ,
           mourning
           and
           praying
           is
           but
           as
           the
           winde
           :
           thou
           maiest
           beg
           grace
           ,
           thou
           maist
           seeke
           after
           God
           ,
           thou
           maist
           heare
           the
           Word
           ,
           receive
           the
           Sacraments
           ,
           and
           yet
           all
           will
           be
           to
           thee
           as
           wind
           :
           all
           will
           vanish
           ,
           be
           unprofitable
           ,
           not
           regarded
           .
        
         
           Secondly
           ,
           
             discouragements
             drive
             us
             from
          
           
           
             the
             use
             of
             the
             meanes
             .
          
           If
           ever
           we
           meane
           to
           come
           out
           of
           our
           sinnes
           ,
           if
           ever
           we
           meane
           to
           get
           grace
           and
           faith
           ,
           and
           assurance
           ,
           and
           zeale
           :
           we
           
             must
             constantly
          
           use
           the
           meanes
           ,
           1
           Sam.
           27.
           1.
           
           
             David
          
           saith
           ,
           there
           is
           nothing
           better
           for
           me
           then
           that
           I
           should
           speedily
           escape
           into
           the
           Land
           of
           the
           Philistims
           ,
           and
           
             Saul
          
           shall
           despaire
           of
           me
           to
           seeke
           me
           any
           more
           .
           
             David
          
           thought
           in
           himselfe
           ,
           if
           I
           can
           make
           him
           out
           of
           hope
           of
           finding
           me
           ,
           certainely
           he
           will
           give
           over
           seeking
           of
           me
           .
           So
           when
           the
           soule
           hath
           any
           secret
           despaire
           of
           finding
           the
           Lord
           ,
           that
           soule
           will
           quickly
           be
           drawne
           from
           seeking
           of
           the
           Lord
           in
           the
           use
           of
           the
           meanes
           .
        
         
           What
           ever
           you
           doe
           then
           ,
           O
           be
           not
           discouraged
           ,
           lest
           you
           be
           driven
           from
           the
           use
           of
           the
           meanes
           :
           if
           you
           be
           driven
           from
           the
           use
           of
           the
           
             meanes
             ,
          
           woe
           is
           to
           you
           ,
           you
           will
           never
           finde
           God
           then
           .
           Be
           not
           driven
           from
           praier
           ,
           nor
           driven
           from
           holy
           conference
           ,
           
           nor
           driven
           from
           the
           Word
           ,
           nor
           driven
           from
           the
           Sacrament
           ,
           nor
           from
           meditation
           ,
           nor
           from
           the
           diligent
           and
           strict
           examination
           of
           thy selfe
           ,
           of
           thy
           heart
           and
           of
           all
           thy
           waies
           :
           for
           these
           are
           the
           waies
           of
           finding
           the
           Lord
           .
           If
           you
           nourish
           any
           thoughts
           and
           feares
           of
           despaire
           in
           you
           ,
           if
           you
           be
           discouraged
           ,
           you
           will
           be
           driven
           from
           the
           use
           of
           the
           meanes
           ,
           which
           is
           a
           lamentable
           thing
           ;
           therefore
           be
           not
           discouraged
           .
        
         
           
           Thirdly
           ,
           discouragements
           will
           make
           you
           stand
           poaring
           on
           your
           former
           courses
           ,
           
             thus
             I
             should
             have
             done
             ,
             and
             that
             I
             should
             have
             done
             ,
             woe
             is
             me
             that
             I
             did
             it
             not
             ▪
          
           it
           will
           make
           a
           man
           stand
           poaring
           on
           his
           sinnes
           ,
           but
           never
           able
           to
           get
           out
           of
           them
           .
           So
           it
           was
           like
           to
           be
           with
           them
           in
           the
           Ship
           with
           
             Paul
             ,
             Acts
          
           27.
           20.
           
           In
           the
           tempest
           at
           Sea
           ,
           they
           were
           utterly
           discouraged
           from
           any
           hope
           of
           safety
           :
           now
           indeed
           
             Paul
          
           told
           them
           what
           they
           should
           have
           done
           if
           they
           had
           been
           wise
           :
           Sirs
           ,
           
             you
             should
             have
             hearkned
             to
             me
             ,
             and
             not
             have
             loosed
             ,
          
           ver.
           21.
           as
           if
           he
           had
           said
           ,
           you
           should
           have
           done
           thus
           and
           thus
           :
           but
           
             now
          
           doe
           not
           stand
           poaring
           too
           much
           on
           that
           ,
           you
           should
           have
           hearkned
           to
           me
           ,
           and
           not
           have
           launched
           forth
           ,
           &c.
           but
           that
           cannot
           be
           holpen
           ,
           
             now
             :
          
           therefore
           I
           exhort
           you
           to
           be
           of
           good
           cheare
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
         
           So
           beloved
           ,
           when
           the
           soule
           is
           discouraged
           upon
           these
           thoughts
           ,
           
             I
             should
             have
             prayed
             better
             ,
             I
             should
             have
             heard
             the
             Word
             of
             God
             better
             ,
             and
             with
             more
             profit
             ;
             I
             should
             have
             repented
             better
             ,
             I
             should
             have
             performed
             this
             and
             that
             religious
             and
             good
             dutie
             better
             ;
             but
             ah
             wretch
             that
             I
             am
             ,
             I
             have
             sinned
             thus
             and
             thus
             ;
          
           it
           is
           alwaies
           looking
           on
           this
           sinne
           and
           that
           sinne
           ,
           this
           imperfection
           and
           that
           failing
           :
           when
           now
           I
           say
           the
           soule
           is
           discouraged
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           alwaies
           poaring
           upon
           sinne
           ,
           but
           it
           will
           never
           come
           out
           of
           its
           sinne
           ;
           alwaies
           poaring
           upon
           its
           deadnesse
           ,
           and
           unprofitablenesse
           ,
           but
           never
           able
           to
           come
           out
           of
           it
           .
           O
           beloved
           ,
           be
           of
           good
           cheare
           ,
           and
           be
           not
           discouraged
           ;
           it
           is
           true
           you
           should
           have
           prayed
           better
           ;
           you
           should
           have
           heard
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           better
           heretofore
           ,
           you
           should
           have
           been
           more
           carefull
           and
           circumspect
           of
           your
           wayes
           then
           you
           were
           ;
           but
           now
           you
           cannot
           helpe
           it
           ;
           these
           things
           and
           times
           are
           gone
           and
           cannot
           be
           recalled
           :
           such
           a
           one
           hath
           been
           a
           drunkard
           ,
           a
           swearer
           ,
           a
           worldling
           ,
           &c.
           but
           he
           cannot
           helpe
           it
           now
           .
           True
           ,
           he
           might
           have
           helped
           it
           ,
           and
           because
           he
           did
           not
           ,
           his
           heart
           shall
           bleed
           for
           it
           ,
           if
           he
           belong
           to
           God
           :
           but
           doe
           not
           stand
           poaring
           too
           much
           upon
           it
           ,
           but
           consider
           
             now
          
           what
           you
           have
           to
           doe
           ,
           
             now
          
           you
           are
           to
           humble
           your
           
           selfe
           ,
           now
           you
           are
           to
           strive
           with
           God
           in
           all
           manner
           of
           prayer
           for
           more
           grace
           ,
           and
           more
           power
           of
           obedience
           and
           assurance
           ,
           and
           be
           not
           discouraged
           .
        
         
           
           Fourthly
           ,
           
             if
             the
             soule
             be
             discouraged
             ,
             it
             will
             breed
             nothing
             but
             sorrow
             .
          
           What
           is
           the
           reason
           that
           many
           Christians
           are
           alwaies
           weeping
           ,
           and
           mourning
           ,
           and
           sighing
           ,
           and
           sobbing
           ,
           from
           day
           to
           day
           ,
           all
           their
           life
           time
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           be
           comforted
           ?
           because
           of
           these
           discouragements
           ,
           1
           Thes.
           4.
           13.
           
           
             Sorrow
             not
          
           saith
           the
           Apostle
           )
           
             as
             those
             that
             have
             no
             hope
             ,
          
           as
           if
           he
           had
           said
           ,
           sorrow
           if
           you
           will
           ▪
           but
           do
           not
           sorrow
           as
           they
           that
           have
           no
           hope
           .
        
         
           How
           is
           that
           ?
           it
           is
           a
           sorrow
           with
           nothing
           but
           sorrow
           ,
           from
           which
           they
           have
           no
           hope
           of
           inlargement
           or
           freedome
           .
        
         
           O
           then
           my
           brethren
           ,
           suppose
           you
           have
           dead
           hearts
           ,
           suppose
           you
           want
           zeale
           ,
           you
           want
           assurance
           ;
           suppose
           it
           be
           so
           ,
           yet
           labour
           to
           attaine
           these
           graces
           ;
           sorrow
           and
           spare
           not
           ;
           weepe
           and
           mourne
           ,
           and
           powre
           out
           whole
           buckets
           of
           teares
           for
           your
           sinnes
           ,
           if
           you
           can
           :
           but
           ,
           
             sorrow
             not
             with
             nothing
             but
             sorrow
             :
          
           be
           not
           discouraged
           :
           suppose
           that
           thou
           hast
           a
           dead
           heart
           ,
           that
           thou
           art
           an
           hypocrite
           ,
           that
           thou
           hast
           a
           rotten
           heart
           ;
           it
           is
           a
           heavie
           thing
           ,
           and
           a
           fearefull
           case
           indeed
           ,
           
           for
           which
           thou
           hast
           great
           cause
           of
           humiliation
           and
           sorrow
           ;
           but
           yet
           
             sorrow
             not
             desperately
          
           as
           men
           without
           hope
           :
           be
           not
           wholly
           discouraged
           ,
           but
           as
           you
           sorrow
           for
           your
           sins
           ,
           so
           also
           labour
           with
           incouragement
           to
           get
           out
           and
           be
           rid
           of
           your
           sins
           .
        
         
           Fifthly
           ,
           
             discouragements
             breed
             and
             procure
          
           
           
             a
             totall
             perplexity
             .
          
           They
           leave
           the
           soule
           in
           a
           maze
           ,
           that
           it
           knowes
           not
           whether
           to
           turne
           it selfe
           .
           When
           men
           come
           to
           be
           discouraged
           ,
           
             Oh
             what
             shall
             I
             doe
          
           saith
           one
           ,
           
             I
             am
             utterly
             undone
          
           saith
           another
           :
           
             I
             know
             not
             what
             will
             become
             of
             me
             ,
          
           saith
           a
           third
           :
           
             Oh
             I
             am
             utterly
             lost
             ,
             I
             shall
             perish
             one
             day
             ,
             one
             day
             God
             will
             discover
             me
             ,
             and
             be
             avenged
             on
             me
             for
             this
             and
             that
             sin
             :
             I
             were
             as
             good
             go
             to
             hell
             at
             the
             first
             as
             at
             the
             last
             ,
             for
             that
             will
             be
             the
             end
             of
             me
             :
             I
             have
             gon
             to
             prayer
             ,
             but
             that
             doth
             not
             helpe
             me
             :
             I
             have
             gone
             to
             Sacraments
             ,
             but
             I
             finde
             no
             helpe
             :
             still
             my
             soule
             lies
             under
             the
             power
             of
             sinne
             ,
             still
             my
             sinnes
             are
             as
             strong
             in
             me
             as
             ever
             :
          
           Thus
           the
           soule
           is
           discouraged
           and
           cryes
           out
           ,
           
             Oh
             ,
             what
             shall
             I
             doe
             ?
             I
             know
             not
             what
             to
             doe
             .
             What
             shall
             I
             doe
          
           sayest
           thou
           ?
        
         
           Alas
           ,
           thou
           hast
           things
           enough
           to
           doe
           ,
           if
           thou
           wert
           not
           discouraged
           .
           
             Utterly
             undone
             !
          
           No
           ,
           man
           ,
           thou
           mightest
           see
           that
           thou
           art
           not
           utterly
           undone
           ,
           but
           that
           thou
           art
           discouraged
           .
           Dost
           thou
           not
           know
           what
           will
           become
           
           of
           thee
           ?
           yea
           ,
           poore
           soule
           ,
           there
           is
           mercy
           ,
           grace
           and
           peace
           
             for
             thee
             ,
          
           if
           thou
           wilt
           not
           be
           discouraged
           .
        
         
           
           Sixthly
           ,
           
             discouragements
             whisper
             within
             a
             man
             a
             sentence
             of
             death
             ,
             and
             an
             impossibility
             of
             escaping
             .
          
           As
           far
           as
           the
           discouragement
           of
           life
           goeth
           ,
           so
           farre
           goeth
           the
           sentence
           of
           death
           .
           
             We
             despaired
             of
             life
             ,
             and
             had
             the
             sentence
             of
             death
             in
             our selves
             ,
          
           saith
           the
           Apostle
           ,
           2
           
             Cor.
          
           1.
           8.
           9.
           he
           despaired
           of
           life
           in
           himself
           ,
           and
           therefore
           had
           the
           sentence
           of
           death
           in
           himselfe
           ;
           this
           was
           good
           ,
           but
           he
           did
           not
           despaire
           of
           life
           in
           God
           ;
           for
           
             then
          
           he
           should
           have
           had
           likewise
           the
           sentence
           of
           death
           from
           God
           in
           his
           conscience
           .
        
         
           If
           you
           despaire
           in
           the
           Lord
           ,
           you
           have
           the
           sentence
           of
           death
           and
           damnation
           from
           God
           in
           your
           conscience
           ;
           take
           heed
           of
           this
           my
           beloved
           ;
           be
           not
           discouraged
           in
           God
           :
           do
           not
           despaire
           in
           the
           Lord
           :
           
             that
          
           will
           worke
           a
           
             miserable
          
           effect
           in
           your
           soules
           :
           it
           will
           secretly
           whisper
           a
           sentence
           of
           damnation
           in
           your
           soules
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           strange
           to
           consider
           how
           many
           poore
           soules
           rub
           on
           with
           these
           whispering
           sentences
           in
           their
           bosomes
           ,
           suffering
           their
           consciences
           day
           by
           day
           to
           tell
           them
           that
           they
           are
           rotten
           ,
           to
           tell
           them
           that
           they
           were
           never
           yet
           converted
           ,
           to
           tell
           them
           that
           they
           are
           yet
           in
           
           the
           state
           of
           damnation
           ,
           and
           yet
           they
           will
           not
           root
           out
           these
           discouragements
           .
        
         
           O
           goe
           to
           the
           
             Throne
             of
             grace
             ,
          
           beg
           for
           grace
           and
           for
           mercy
           ,
           and
           for
           power
           against
           sinne
           ,
           and
           be
           not
           discouraged
           .
           What
           ?
           wilt
           thou
           carry
           thy
           owne
           sentence
           of
           death
           in
           thy
           brest
           ?
           if
           thou
           wilt
           not
           rouze
           up
           thy
           soule
           ,
           and
           pray
           with
           more
           affection
           and
           confidence
           ,
           and
           shake
           off
           discouragements
           ,
           take
           heed
           lest
           thou
           carry
           the
           sentence
           of
           thy
           own
           death
           and
           damnation
           in
           thy
           bowels
           .
           O
           therefore
           
             once
             more
          
           let
           me
           beseech
           you
           to
           take
           heed
           of
           these
           discouragements
           ,
           and
           now
           hearken
           to
           the
           voice
           of
           God
           which
           calleth
           upon
           you
           ,
           
             feare
             not
             .
             Thou
             drewest
             nigh
             in
             the
             day
             that
             I
             called
             upon
             thee
             ,
             thou
             saidst
             feare
             not
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A41125e-4060
           
             Object
             .
          
           
             Answ
             .
          
           
             Use
             .
          
           
             Object
             ▪
             
          
           
             Answ
             .
          
           
             Object
             .
          
           
             Answ
             .
          
           
             Object
             .
          
           
             Answ
             .
          
           
             Doct.
             
          
           
             Quest
             .
             Answ
             .