Miscellanea spiritualia: or, Devout essaies: composed by the Honourable Walter Montagu Esq.

§. II.

What sincerity in prayer is requisite for this ef∣fect, and what kind of peace is to be expe∣cted.

THese promises of the increated verity delivered by his own mouth being premised, together with this conveyed to us by the holy Organ of his Secretary, Saint James, I may confidently give every one this addresse to the effect of my proposal, the asking wisdome of God, by sincere and humble apprecations, for indeed the soul hath no hand wherewith to reach her sustenance from heaven but prayer, and by this hand she offereth her sacrifice of praise, and reacheth to her self the exchange of succour for all her neces∣sities: wherefore in order to this commerce with God, the A∣postle Saint Paul adviseth us to pray every where, lifting up pure hands; Here prayer is assigned the function of the hand to of∣fer up, and to bring down to us all returnes from heaven. But we must remember this binding clause in the promise of Saint James, that our prayer must be without any stammering, or hesitation in our faith.

First we ought to believe steadily Gods providence in all the various contingencies that seem to shake humane reason: Next, our prayer must not waver between the desire of this wisdome, which brings all other good with it, and the affectati∣on principally of some peculiar good we designe for our feli∣city, for this is an hesitation in faith, when we do positively elect any temporall fruition for our happinesse, because there∣in

we tosse and flote between the fear of that privation, and the reference of all our proprieties, to the course of that providence which wheels about all temporalities; Insomuch as this hesita∣tion makes a kind of mentall stammering in our prayer, when there is as it were some knot upon our heart, that doubles it and keepes it from opening it self freely to this desire of spi∣rituall wisdome. And as in this vocall impediment, the eager∣nesse doth rather fasten then untye the tongue, so in this im∣plication of our heart in any worldly affection, our zeal and fervor in the pursuite of that petition, is rather an impediment to the freedome of our mind, then any solution to the difficul∣ties of our peace.

But I desire it may be remembred that the meanes I propose of obtaining happinesse by prayer, is not the fervency of the spirit in such petitions, as the flesh doth commonly indite, namely, an attaining either riches, honour, or the like tempo∣rall commodities; but in that sincere ardor of the soul, to∣wards the impetration of such a fervent love of God, as indu∣ceth a composure and steadinesse of mind, equalling and si∣zing our wils with our conditions, and by that meanes keeping the peace of our mind volubile and concentrick with the moti∣ons of Divine providence; and this is an effect of that wisdome onely which the Apostle Saint James sayes, descends from a∣bove, and is assigned for all those that ask it, without hesitation in faith, or duplicity of mind.

Not that I disswade the negotiants of the world, their pur∣suite of earthly commodities, nor the praying for adeption, and conservation of temporall blessings, but it must not be as they have placed their happinesse on the materiall part of those desires, but as the greatest good of them is, their being grants, and concessions to prayer, which when it is sincere, refers the will of the suppliant to that of the Soveraign Creator of all wills, who doth often as Saint Augustine saies, mercifully de∣ny us, when we know not what we ask; for there may be many events solicicited or deprecated, in relation to Gods service by the dim light of our reason, which do not stand with the

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

order of Gods providence, and so our praying may be accep∣table, when our prayer is not accordable; but this suit of spi∣rituall wisdome, (whereby to adjust our wills to all the events and orders of Divine providence,) is not onely assured of ac∣ceptation, but of concession; on the other side there is no tem∣porall project of ours never so Pious, wherein we may not be mistaken in the specialty of the way, and meanes whereby God hath designed to be glorifyed, whether by his justice upon us, or his mercy to us; wherefore this grace of confor∣mity to all his designations, is the onely petition we can be sure hath this reference made to it by Saint Iohn, viz: That it is made according to the will of God, and consequently is ac∣corded to us by his promise, of Whatsoever we ask according to his will, he heares us.

Neverthelesse, even they who are discharged of any weigh∣ty solicitude in this world, must not expect such a fixure and steadinesse of their minds, as not to feel the motions of our fluent unsteady nature, which heaveth and sets a little, even in our greatest calmes: This is that emotion and unevennesse whereunto Saint Paul saies, even those who have the first fruits of the Spirit are subjected, viz: some swelling and groaning within themselves; and Saint Augustine tells us, that exemp∣tion from combate is properly the Angelicall priviledge, and not to be subdued or mastered in the contention, is the supre∣mest point of fixure, attainable in our mortal nature.

Wherefore they must not conclude this advice defective, who do not attain to such an evennesse of peace by prayer, as they figure to themselves, resting without any breath of dis∣quiet to shake those leaves of passions, which hang upon the stock of our nature, but must conclude, such agitations of the sensitive part of their soules no lesse naturall then wind in the middle region of the ayre, for Saint Paul tells us what we find by familiar experience, that we have our treasure not in earthen vessels; so that to be troubled, but not distressed; to be vexed, and not vitiated, is the best establishment of happynesse, com∣petent with this state of our Peregrination; and this degree

of tranquility of spirit is to be attained by petition to him, whom the sea, and the windes of humane frailtyes obey upon his rebuking them.

Saint Paul (who had learn'd to be equally content in all estates of abundance, and abasement) did not find this science at the feet of Gamaliel, but rather upon his own knees at Da∣mascus, when, Behold he prayes, was alledged for the reason of his relief; and by using his own prescription of Pray continu∣ally, he attained to such a strong habit of mind, as preserved his equanimity in all the inequalities of his conditions. For when in one day, the same hands that would have sacrificed to him as a God, did sacrifice him to their own evill spirits; he tore his clothes with more emotion of spirit when he was vainly to be Deifi'd, then he suffered the tearing of his flesh when he was thus unjustly damnifi'd.

This patern in one part affords us a fair copie of the muta∣bility of humane nature in her own current, and in the other a draught of that constancy may be superinduced upon it, by this intervention of grace, which is attracted naturally by the aspirations of prayer, according to what the Psalmist tells us, I opened my mouth, and I drew in thy Spirit; I may therefore hope to have acquitted my self of such direction as was requi∣site for attaining the possession of that truth wherin I had con∣stituted happinesse, and my way is so accessible, it lies as neer every one as their own wil, which is affirmed by the holy Spirit, saying, Open thy mouth and I will fill it.

This considered, I may expect the perswading some at Court to be suitors to God for Devotion, concurrently with all their other suites; since in all the fortunes they can make they cannot unmake fortune: For the variable temper of hu∣mane felicities, is not to corrected and fixed. Since they cannot then stay what is transitory, let them attend to arrest that which is fixable, which is a good degree of peaceable ac∣quiescence of spirit, in all transitory events; and as no tem∣poralities can conferre this spirit, so no contingencies can sequester it, for it is the spirit of Truth, that stayes our minde;

which partly is composed of the knowledge, and expectance of alternative variations in temporalities; and hence it is, that in all adverse changes, this spirit is rather in action and practice of his owne constant nature, then in suffering or passion, with the fraile nature of temporall mutations.

Let me then intreat all those (who neede not be pressed to muster themselves at Saint Pauls summons of Rejoyce al∣wayes) to remember that this treasure is the pay, and stipend of his discipline, of pray without ceasing, and give thankes in every thing, for this is the will of God: Whereby we may make all the severall conveyances of Gods providences new deeds of joy to us, when our rejoycing is seated upon his will, and thus our happinesse that cannot stand still upon the fixure of our fortunes, may be firme upon the confixure of our wills, to that immoveable one that changes all things, Without any vicissitude or shadow of change in it selfe.

Notes

• Tim. 2.
• Mat. 11. Justificata est sapientia a filijs suis.
• 1 E. Ioh. 5. 14.
• Rom. 8. 23.
• 2 Cor. 4.
• Phil. 4.
• Psal.
• 1 Thes. 5.
• James 1. 17