Ioy in tribulation. Or, Consolations for the afflicted spirits. By Phinees Fletcher, B.D. and minister of Gods Word at Hilgay in Norfolke

CHAP. XIV. An Answer to some further objections.

BUt some weake dejected Christian will bee ready to reply; All things indeed are possible to him that be∣leeveth, but, alas, I have no faith to pray. True it is, that prayer is but the speech of faith, And how can they call upon him in whom they beleeve not. Faith (saith that excellent Father) gives life to prayer, and praier gets strength for faith.

For answer, let an humble soule well consider how a man, with griefe, should sen∣sibly feele want of faith, if

he had not some faith to give him sense and feeling? How should spiritual sense be with∣out life, or spirituall life with∣out faith. As he in the Gospel first found his sight in the de∣fect of it, (that hee saw men like trees,) So might weake Chri∣stians easily discerne some measure of true faith, even in this griefe, and complaints for want of faith.

Againe, we shall easily per∣ceive, in these Complainers, much detestation of sinne, not onely in others, but especial∣ly in themselves, and passionat desires to glorifie God in all faithfull service. And from what root can these fruits a∣rise, but from that faith which purifieth the heart.

Some others complaine, I

know well that fervent prayer prevaileth much; but I have no heat, no life, no fervour of prayer; but in such duties find a wonderfull coldnesse, d••l∣nesse, and even deadnesse of spirit. But let such know, and continually remember, that these feelings are very com∣mon to Gods dearest Saints on earth: I am afflicted verie much, (saith David,) quicken mee, oh Lord, according to thy Word. Nine severall times doth that holy Prophet call for quickning grace in that onely Psalme; which evident∣ly argueth much sense of spi∣rituall dulnesse and deadnesse.

At such times therefore (be∣cause the Word quickneth us) let us shake ou•• this heavinesse by some meditations on those

grounds of prayer which we finde in the Word.

Now these grounds are either such as are within, or without us: Those within are first some feeling of a grie∣vous defect and want; second∣ly, some apprehension of good in the things desired. The outward are, first, the ability, secondly, the bounty of those whom wee aske. Now as where in much want there is no feeling of any defect, or if there bee sense, yet no de∣sire of supply, there no man will seeke out for helpe: So, when all these concurre, yet will wee not aske, where ei∣ther there is wrll, but no pow∣er, or much power but no wil to succour us. But when a man findes at home nothing

but want and beggery (as wel want of all necessaries, as want of strength in himselfe to procure them) and this want stirreth up hunger, hee will soone leave his owne bare walls, to get reliefe of some rich and bountifull person.

And according to the mea∣sure of these grounds will be his diligence in using meanes, and seeking help: where there is much sense of much want, strong desires of supply, cer∣taine knowledge of great abi∣lity and bounty in some neere neighbour, there also the put∣ting forth of meanes to pro∣cure relief wil be answerable.

Now then let a Chri∣stian, wh•• desireth to shar∣pen his voyce in prayer, whe••

his heart with serious medi∣tations: 1. Of his desperate wants; want of all necessary grace, want of all power to supply it of himselfe. Consi∣der that thou art poore, wretch∣ed, miserable, blind and naked: no sufficiencie in thee to thinke one good thought. 2. When thou hast taken a good view of thy many and grievous wants, ponder well the necessity of the grace which thou wan∣test: Remember the profit, the sweetnesse, the excellency of it; that All things are dung and losse in comparison of the ex∣cellen•• knowledge of Christ, the v••rtue of his resurrection, and comformitie to his death. By this meanes thou wilt finde thy desires to bee kin••led within thee. Then ••et before thine

eyes that Father of Lights, from whom (as beames from the Sunne) flow out infinite streames of grace and good∣nesse toward his creatures: weigh diligently that hee is rich, infinitely rich to all that call upon him: gracious, infinitely gracious to those who seeke him in Christ. Men grow poore by much giving: but hee, the more hee gives, the more he may. No end of his store, no end or beginning of his goodnesse: insomuch, that where hee once giveth, there he ever giveth; one grace e∣ver making way for another•• and the more thou desirest and askest, the more welcome; and the more excellent the things which thou beggest, the more sure thou a•••• to re∣ceive

them. If Salomon aske wisedome, hee shall have it with advantage of other bles∣sings which he asked not: how much more when thou askest holinesse? Oh if thou aske, Give mee thy selfe to be my Father; give me thy Sonne to be my Head and Saviour; give me thy holy Spirit to bee my life and quickner; give me o∣bedience to all; How shouldst thou misse? Thou which art a parent, how willingly canst thou (being thy selfe evill) give good things to thy child, though the more thou givest the lesse thou hast; but if hee aske wisely, things that are truly good, not toyes, and tri∣fles, how art thou delighted in his petitions? how gladly dost thou give him with increase,

whatsoever hee intreateth? How much more shall your hea∣venly Father give the holy Spi∣rit to those that aske him? Re∣member the example of blind Bartimeu••. Hee feeling the great misse of his eyes, and the discomfort of perpetuall darkenesse, and knowing well that as in himselfe there was no helpe, so in Christ (as being the light of the world) there was both infinit power, and grace, (as denying none that came unto him laden & oppressed) never ceased crying, Iesus thou sonne of David have mercy on me. They discourage and re∣buke him that he should hold his peace: what then? Did he sit downe and cease? No, but whetted with the remem∣brance of his own misery, and

Christ his mercy, Cried out so much the more a great deale, Ie∣sus thou sonne of David have mercy upon mee. Remember how earnestly, and unces∣santly he sued; remember how he prospered in his suit. Now goe thou, and doe likewise. Sharpen thy desires with se∣rious meditatiō on thy wants: set before thine eies this pow∣er and bounty of the Lord, and then intreat, beg, sue, impor∣tune his favour, and never give him over, till hee give thee in thy request. Nor let thy spi∣rit faint, but know thou shalt obtaine as sure as God is true. Thou canst not faile, because he cannot be unfaithfull.

Notes

• Aug. de verb. com•• ser. 36.
• Ps. 119.1••7
• Psa. 119.50
• Rev. 3. 17.
• 2 〈…〉〈…〉
• Phil. 3.8. 10.
• Rom. 10••12
• Mat. 13.1••
• Luk. 11.13
• Mar. 10.46 &c.
• Luk. 18.1.