A Christian library, or, A pleasant and plentiful paradise of practical divinity in 37 treatises of sundry and select subjects ... / by R. Younge ...

Section 11.

Object. But I have no evidence of divine assistance, nor can I pray for it to purpose.

Answ. Wee have the presence of Gods Spirit, and grace many times, and feel it not; yea, when we complain for want of i••, (as Pilate asked Christ what was tru••h, when the truth stood before him). The stomach findes the best digestion, even in sleep, when wee least perceive it; and whiles wee are most awake, this power worketh in us, either to further strength, or disease, without our knowledge of what is done within; and on the o∣ther side, that man is most dangerously sick, in whom nature decays without his feeling, without his complaint. To know our selvs happy is good; but woe were to us Christians, if wee could not bee happy, and know it not. As touching Praier, every one is not so happy as S••even was, to bee most fervent when they are most in pain; yea, many in time of sickness (by reason of the extremity of pain) can hardly pray at all: whence Saint Iames wisheth us in affliction, to pray our selvs; but in case of sickness, to send for the Elders: that they may, as those in the Gospell, offer up the sick person to God in their praiers, beeing unable to present their own cas••, Iam. 5.13.14.15. Yea, it were miserable for the best Christian, if all his former Praiers and Meditations did not serve to aid him in his last straights, and meet together in the Center of his extremity; yielding, though not sensible relief, yet secret benefit to the soul: whereas the worldly man in this case, having not layed up for this hour, hath no comfort from God, or from others, or from himself.

Besides, thou art happy in this, there is not the poorest and meanest of Gods Children, but as hee hath the benefit of Christs intercession in heaven, Rom. 8.34. Ioh. 16.26. so hath hee also the benefit of the Praiers of all the Saints on Earth: wee have the graces and gifts, each of other in common.

Yet, because thine own Praier is most proper; and seeing it is the mindes Embassadour t•• God, and never faileth of success, if it bee fervent▪ (as if our prayers want success, they want heart, their blessing is according to their vigor) pray that thou mayest pray better: If thy Leg ••••e be••••••∣m••d, go upon it a little, and it will come to it self again. To which if thou join fasting, thou shalt do well; for prayers are made ••at with fasting, as Tertullian speaks: Yea, pray oft, though thy prayers bee the shorter; weak 〈…〉〈…〉 which cannot digest large 〈◊〉〈◊〉, feed 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and l••••tle. O! (saith

holy Bernard most sweetly), How oft hast thou (meaning praier) found mee lamenting, and despairing; and lest mee rejoycing, and triumphing!

And what though thou canst not powr out thy soul in a flood of words: The Woman diseased with an issue of blood, said but within her self, shee did not speak to bee heard of others, and yet Christ heard her, and answer∣ed her request, Matth: 9.21.22.

The Lord esteemeth the will for the deed, and the affection for the action; Man sees the countenance, God the heart; man the deeds, but God the meaning. Hast thou but thoughts and desires, and canst thou onely ex∣press them with sighs and groans? these speechless words, or rather no words, but a few poor thoughts, conceived aright, pass all the flowing eloquence of Demosthenes and Tully, yea, Tertullus, and all the Orators that ever were in the world; for this matter is not expressed with words, but with groanings; and these groanings are from the blessed Spirit. A Father delights more in the stammering of his little Child, than in the eloquence of the best Orator.

Neither is hearty prayer in our own power, but it is the gift of God, which at somtimes in plentifull measure hee bestoweth upon his children, and at other times again hee pulleth back his liberall hand: that by the want thereof, wee may leern to ascribe the glory and praise of this grace to the giver, who worketh in us the will and the deed: which praise other∣wise, in pride of heart, wee would arrogate unto our selvs, as beeing in our own power. Also that wee may more highly esteem it, and with more joy and diligence use it, when we have it bestowed on us.

If it bee asked why God reckons so highly of a few sighs, and groans? and why the prayers of the faithfull are so powerfull? it is, because they bee not ours, but the intercession of Gods own Spirit in us, powred out in the name of Christ, his own Son, in whom hee is ever well 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for, as for us, wee know not what to pray as wee ought, but the Spirit it self maketh request for us, with sighs which cannot bee expressed, Rom. 8.26. It is the Spirit whereby wee cry Abba Father, ver. 15. Gal. 4.6.

Now if thou wouldest have the Spirits assistance, and bee heard of God, when thou makest supplication to him; do not (as too many do) fall in∣to prayer without preparation, and utter a number of words without devo∣tion or affection: for no marvell, if we ask and miss, when we thus ask amiss, I••••. 4.3.

Neither do as Children, which never look after their Arrow; but like Daniel, Dan. 9. take notice of thine inlargements in prayer, and of thy success after.

Nor onely pray, and no more, for to pray, and to do nothing else, is in effect to do nothing less. But let your Prayers be ushered in, by Meditation, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by zealous devotion, and then beleeving that you shall receive whatsoever you ask in Christs name▪ and according to his will, 1 John 5. •••• John ••6.23. God will bee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to give you that you desire, 1 John 5.14.15. Mark 11.23.24. or that which is better for you▪ 〈…〉〈…〉

And suppose thou art not presently heard: yet continue asking stil, as Peter continued knocking till the door was opened: for af••er an ill harvest wee must sow, and after denials wee must woo God. Yea, if it bee possible with the Woman of Canaan, let delays, and seeming denialls encrease the strength of thy cries. And commonly they bee earnest suits which issue from a troubled soul, like strong streams in narrow straights, which bear down all that stands in their way. Nothing so strong as the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah, for it overcame the roaring Lyon; yet the Praier of Faith, from the knees of humility, and a broken heart, will conquer even that Con∣querour, Matth. 15.28.

And thus you see that nothing can befall us without the sorciall appoint∣ment of our good God, who not only takes notice of our sufferings, but sweet∣neth them with his presence, takes our part, stints our enemies, and so ordereth the whole, that our grief is either short or tolerable; and that though hee is oftentimes harsh, in the beginning, and progress, and late in coming; yet hee coms on the sudden, and is always comfortable, in the conclusion. And lastly, that if hee defer his help, it is on purpose that our trialls may bee perfect, our deliverance welcome; our recompence glorious. And may not this comfort thee?