The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carryed on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...

Inference 1.

Did Christ pour out his soul to God,* 1.1 so ardently in the garden, when the hour of his trouble was at hand? Hence we infer, that prayer is a singular preparative for, and relief under the greatest troubles.

'Tis sweet, when troubles find us in the way of our duty. The best posture we can wrestle with afflictions in, is to engage them upon our knees. The naturalist tells us, if a Lyon find a man prostrate, he will do him no harm. Christ hastned to the garden to pray, when Iudas and the Souldiers were hastning thither to apprehend him. O when we are nigh to danger, it's good for us to draw nigh to our God. Then should we be urging that seasonable request to God, Psal. 22.11. Be not far from me for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Wo be to him, whom death or troubles finds a far off from God. And as prayer is the best pre∣parative for troubles; so the choisest relief under them. Griefs are eased by groans. The heart is cooled and disburdened, by spiritual evaporations. You know it is some relief if a man can

pour out his complaint into the bosom of a faithful friend, though•• he can but pity him: how much more to pour out our complaints into the bosom of a faithful God, who can both pity and help us! Luther was wont to call prayers the Leaches of his cares and sorrows: they suck out the bad blood. It's the title of Psa. 102. A prayer for the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed; and poureth out his complaint before the Lord. It's no small ease to open our hearts to God. When we are as full of grief as Elihu was of matter, let us say as he did, Job. 32.19, behold, Lord, my heart is as wine which hath no vent, it is ready to burst as new bottles. I will speak that I may be refreshed.

To go to God when thou art full of sorrow, when thy heart is ready to burst within thee, as it was with Christ in this day of his trouble; and say, Father, thus, and thus the case stands with thy poor child. And so, and so it is with me. I will not go up and down whining from one creature to another, it's to no purpose to do so; nor yet will I leave my complaint upon my self: but I will tell thee Father, how the case stands with me. For to whom should children make their moan, but to their Father? Lord I am oppres∣sed, undertake for me. What thinkest thou Reader of this? Is it relieving to a sad soul? Yes, yes, if thou be a Christian, that hast had any experience this way; thou wilt say there is nothing like it. Thou wilt bless God for appointing such an Ordinance as prayer, and say, blessed be God for prayer. I know not what I should have done, nor how in all the world I should have waded through the troubles I have past, if it had not been for the help of prayer.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Infer. 1.