A poore mans rest founded vpon motiues, meditations, and prayers. Expressing to the inward man, true consolation. In all kindes and times of afflication. By Io. Norden.

ATTENTION IN PRAYER.

BEing thus prepared, let vs indeuor to yeelde due and true Attention in our Prayers, that is, to giue heede to what we pray, to whom we pray, for what we pray, and with what zeale we pray: which are the truest tokens, and greatest arguments, that our prayers are liuely, powerfull, effectuall, and of faith; which properties can neuer be in lip-labour: for there cannot be a more apparant discouery of a rancke Hypocrite, then to make outward shewes of Deuotion, with the gesture and lips, and yet the heart to be busied in the cogitation of idle, earthly, and prophane things. And nothing more discouereth an idle heart outwardly, then the wandering of the eye in the time of diuine prayer: for it is proba∣ble, and often found by experience, that the eye withdraweth the heart: and if the eye be inconstant, the prayer hath not, nor can haue the due Attention of

the heart: yet it doth not follow, that although the eye be fixed on any cer∣taine obiect, or be shut, that therefore the heart is rightly set on God, for of∣tentimes the eye followes the heart, the cogitation of the heart making the eye to forget it obiect: as when the heart is wandring in the fields of Corne, view∣ing the heards of Cattell, and flocks of Sheepe, when it is in the Ware-house, in the Shop, in the Chest, minding bands and payments, ouer-come with pride, plotting reuenge, oppressed with feare, besotted with pleasure, intangled with cares, or otherwise peruerted by any prophane and vngodly cogitations. Prayers made with such an extraua∣gant heart, be they in words neuer so holy they are imputed vnto vs as sin: for shall we thinke, that God will heare our prayers, to our profit or comfort, when the thoughts of our harts in the meane time dishonor him? Many pray in their owne familiar language, and

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yet consider no more what they speake (for want of Attention) then if they spake in an vnknown tongue: & yet such men will hold themselues very deuout, & to haue power in themselues to pray when they list: as if true prayer were of that facility and ease, to vtter, as in an idle tale, and as it seemes by Beggars, that tumble out the Lords Prayer, with one breath at a dore, & yet minde nothing but their Almes. Such men are to be pittied, and to be wished better to aduise themselues, before they attempt this seruice of God most holy; for Pray∣er is not an easie worke, it is of a deeper straine then a tale, that is but from the tongue to the teeth, from the teeth to the lips, & so into the ayre. True Pray∣er is cordial, & of that force & efficacy, as it constraineth the heart to sighes, groanes, & teares, with such inward feruency of holy zeale, as tenters the heart with such internall gripes, as may betruly said, the renting of the heart.

And the more we feele our hearts thus inwardly sharply touched: so much the more comfort it yeeldeth to the soule of the faithfull Petitioner, yea such, and so great consolation, as he that feeles it cannot expresse it with his tongue, be he neuer so eloquent; nei∣ther can any conceiue or apprehend the sweetnesse of it, that is not exercised and experienced in the same; for na∣ture apprehendeth it not. No man can say that Iesus is Christ, but by the holy Ghost: and none can desire the Spirit of God, but by the Spirit of God, Flesh & bloud cannot as much as desire spirituall things, spiritually; for spirituall things are to be com∣pared with spirituall things, and spi∣rituall gifts are obtained by spirituall meanes: And therefore are words without the Spirit, as naked and bare Incense without fire: but, being inkin∣dled in the heart, and sanctified by the holy Spirit of God, who is promised to

assist our spirits, they are as a liuely and acceptable sacrifice to God, working so powerfully with him, through Christs mediation, as they neuer returne empty of whatsoeuer blessing we desire. Prayer can neuer be effectuall, vnlesse there be some cer∣tayne spirituall obiect of the minde, to moue the attention of the heart, which obiect is God: and we must consider, that when we pray vnto him, or yeeld him any other worship, that we are not to conceiue him, in the forme of any earthly or heauenly, bodily or spiritual creature whatsoeuer: for in that man∣ner, not to conceiue him, is a de∣gree of conceiuing him aright, ac∣cording to Master Perkins. God must be conceiued of vs in our prayers, as subsisting in the whole three per∣sons, the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost. The Vnity in Trinity, & Trinity in Vnity, is to be worship∣ped, retayning in minde the distinction

and order of all the three persons, without seuering or sundring them: for, as they are conioyned in nature; so are they to be conioyned in worship. And therefore, he that prayeth vnto God the Father, for the forgiuenesse of his sinnes, must aske it of him, for the merits of the Sonne, and by the assu∣rance of the holy Ghost: and he that prayeth for the remission of sinnes to God the Sonne, must pray that he would procure the Father, to grant him pardon, and to assure it by his Spi∣rit. He also that praieth for the same to God the holy Ghost, must pray that he would assure vnto him the remission of his sinnes, from the Father, for, and by the merits of his Sonne. Thus must we apprehend the Trinity in our pray∣ers: so shall we auoide that Idolatrous conceiuing of him, imbraced of some, who cannot pray, vnlesse they haue the figure of a humane Creature, to repre∣sent vnto their bodily eyes, the shape of

God the Father, in likenesse of an old Man and a Crucifix figuring Christ, suffring on the Crosse, and the holy Ghost, by a Doue, whose worship can∣not be reputed spirituall, but carnall; and their prayers, not heauenly, but prophane. Prayer is a spirituall action, proper onely to the children of God, who are Saints by calling, sanctified in Christ: And they, and none other truly cal vpon the name of the Lord IESVS: prophane persons pray not, though they seeme to pray. But most happy is that man, that commeth vnto God, Father, Sonne, & holy Ghost, truly prepared, and duly attentiue; he may boldly aske, and confidently assure himselfe, to receiue grace for grace, and all blessings spirituall, without limitation, and all benefits corporall needfull. If our prayers be made in vs, by him, who hath promised, and hath power to giue what we aske, shall wee think he will faile to performe? The

hope of Hypocrites, indeede, shall perish, & their prayers vanish as the smoke: because they wait vpon lying vanities, and desire carnall pleasures, and worldly profits. But the Lord will surely fulfil the desires of them that feare him, because their prayers t••••d to the setting forth of Gods glo∣ly, to the good of the Church, to the remission of their owne sinnes, and o∣ther mens, to the obtayning of Gods graces, to the increase of the vnder∣standing of heauenly things, that they may walke before God, and be vpright, that they may do the works, & bring forth the fruits of the Spi∣rit. These are the prayrs that are the POORE MAMS REST. These are the prayers that wound the Ser∣pent, and that please God bringing peace to the conscience afflicted. But (which is to be lamented) all men are dull by nature: And the very Elect, sometimes weakly disposed to pray. And

therefore is euery godly man to vse all holy meanes, to inkindle their hearts, to the right performance of this hea∣uenly duty: And nothing more preuai∣leth th•…•… in, then Meditation: where∣unto we are also very vnapt by nature, & know not how, nor vpon what groūd to lay the foundation thereof: yet, if we can truly frame our hearts to a holy Meditation, we shall finde, that it is the very key that openeth our dull hearts, lookt vp vnder griefe, vnder feare, vnder trouble, vnder persecu∣tion & misery: and sendeth forth by little & little, the fire of true zeale, which at length becommeth a great flame of preuailing prayers, which thing they easily finde, that are conuer∣sant in this sacred exercise of Medita∣tion and Prayer: who yet, many times finde themselues most dull, & most vn∣apt to pray, hauing yet an inward de∣sire thereunto which desire they can∣not containe: but labouring a while in

silence, speaking inwardly to God in sighes and groanes, at length they speake effectually with their tongues. Seeing therefore, that all men neede motiues to stir them vp to payer: let eueryman addresse himself to the word of God, or peruse some godly worke of religious men. And although vocally he cannot read, by reason of his naturall dulnes; yet, if his heart can be but con∣uersant, & duly attend the sence, as the eye obserues the letter, his mind by lit∣tle and little shall mount it selfe from earth to heauen, fixed on the Trinity, whence shall arise such spirituall fruits of faith, & feruency of Spirit, as shall fill the soule with more sweet consolati∣on by inkindled prayer, then the tongue can vtter. And to this end (gentle Rea∣der) according to the small measure of mine vnderstanding, I haue prefixed before euery prayer, a Motiue or Me∣ditation, touching the substance and matter of the Prayer following.