A helpe to true happinesse. Or A briefe and learned exposition of the maine and fundamentall points of Christian religion. By Mr. Paul Bayne

QVEST. VIII.

8 Q. WHAT is Prayer?

A. A crauing of those things at Gods hand which we want, and a thanking of him for those we haue, Math. 6.9 and Luk. 17.15.16.17.

Prayer is a large word, comprehending all that speech, which the faithfull soule hath with God, in way of Petition or thanksgiuing; for to these 2. branches, the Confession of sinne, which we make in Prayer may bee reduced; the end whereof is, that sometime by laying open our misery, wee may moue God to mercy, that a∣gaine otherwhile we may by

this amplifie his kindnesse to vs, so vndeseruing in re∣gard of the benefits bestow∣ed on vs.

Wee are to marke in this description 4. things:

1. That it is said to bee a crauing, this is a fitter word then asking. Wee may aske that is due debt to vs, but the things wee craue, wee re∣nounce all other titles, and flie wholly to his bountie and kindnesse, at whose hands, wee begge and in∣treate.

2. Marke, that it is a beg∣ging of God.

3. That it is a begging of things behoofull.

4. A crauing joyned with thanksgiuing.

When Superiours will haue Inferiours doe any

thing, they may lay their commaund on them, and so binde them to it, by rea∣son of that obedience, which is owing to them from their Inferiours: but when Infe∣riours would haue this or that from Superiours, whom they cannot by any meanes bind to them (for the Inferi∣our hath no authoritie or power ouer his Superiour) then they fall to intreaty, not mouing them other••••se then from hence, because it is fit their bounty and rich estate should supply their in∣digencie, when they are humbly intreated. Thus Da∣niel and all holy ones haue come to God,a 1.1 not for our sakes, to vs shame and confusi∣on belongeth, but for thy name sake, thy mercy sake, do thus

and ••hus. For indeed in that we begge any thing, we con∣fesse wee haue no title in ju∣stice to it, and that it is most free for him we intreate, to giue it or not to giue it, if he please. Wherefore let vs come to God, without con∣ceit of merit, whereby wee may in iustice claime any thing from him. For if I thinke a thing due to me, and my owne by right, I cannot begge it vnfainedly, as I would doe a thing which is not mine, further then the bountie of him I intreate, shall bestow it on me. Wee must come like the poore Publican, not likeb 1.2 the Pha∣risie in Prayer; and the lear∣nedst in the popish Schoole doe acknowledge, that it is best in prayer, to lay aside all

thought of our owne merit, and onely to fly to mercy in Christ.

Secondly, Prayer is a beg∣ging of God. Looke as na∣ture teacheth our children, to come to their Parents for euery thing, not to seruants in house with them: so grace teacheth Gods childrenc 1.3 to cry Abba Father, and resort to him in all necessitie; All other Persons are Persons rather praying to God, then Persons to bee praied to, as God.d 1.4 Call on ••ee in trou∣ble. And looke as the calling of creatures to witnesse any thing, is not a lawfull oath, but only the calling of God, as who is infinite in know∣ledge and truth it selfe, who cannot deceiue or be deceiu∣ed: so asking creatures to

doe any thing, is not a reli∣gious Prayer; But comming to God onely, as who is the all-sufficient God,e 1.5 the Fa∣ther of light, from whom e∣uery good gift descendeth, the Almighty GOD who can irresistibly effect what∣soeuer is good for vs.

Againe, when Praier doth not simply aske things, but aske them as meanes making for Gods glory and our sal∣uation, and when no power but God can make Inferi∣our things conduce to the glory of his name and the increase of grace in vs: hence it is manifest, we cannot aske any thing religiously, but of God onely; Euen as a natu∣rall man cannot desire any thing according to nature which doth not pertaine, to

the continuing and well be∣ing of nature: so a spirituall man cannot out of grace de∣sire any thing religiously, which doth not someway profit to the conseruation and perfection of that grace which is in him.

Wherefore let vs come onely to God, [Vse] not fly to creatures. Parents like it not in children, to see them strange towards them: it is counterfeit humilitie to de∣cline obedience to any thing commaunded of God.

Thirdly, That the things wee aske must be behoofull for vs: for looke as if wee call God to witnesse any thing not true, we make him a Liar so much as in vs is: so if we aske God to giue vs any thing not good, wee

make him an Author of e∣uill things. True it is as chil∣dren long sometimes for kniues and other things harmefull, so doe wee: but this is a sinnefull weakenesse, and our heauenly Father will not heare vs in such re∣quests. Christ layeth downe in that form of Prayer which wee call the Lords Prayer, the things wee are to aske, whether they be good things spirituall or corporall, or de∣liuerance from euills already vpon vs, or from such euills into which we may possibly fall, if he should not preserue vs.

[Vse.] Wherefore, let vs incline our hearts, to seeke the best things. If Parents who are euill, wil giue good things to their children, how much

more will God?f 1.6 how did Salomons request please God, and how was it an∣swered?

Lastly obserue, that wee must as well remember to be thankefull for that wee haue, as to begge that we haue not. Wee would not that eaten bread should be forgotten; that men should not keepe in minde the good turnes we haue done them: it is the end God aimes at,g 1.7 I will deliuer thee, and thou shalt praise my name. Looke as waters come from the sea, and go into it againe: so all good things come from God to vs, and should go backe to him, by thankesgiuing from vs. Looke as the seede the earth hath commeth from vs, and returneth to vs

in the fruite which it bring∣eth: so all Gods blessings are seede sowne, in the soile of our hearts, which returne to God againe in the fruite of thanksgiuing. It is not e∣nough to be thankfull, but we must giue thanks; which requireth speech to the party himselfe; yea we must study how to answere the Lord,a 1.8 What shall I doe for all his benefits to mee?

Fourthly and lastly, with∣out Faith God cannot do vs good; for looke as things promised by one man to an other, cannot be of force and take effect, till the person to whom they are promised, come to them, accepting and resting on them: so Gods promises which hee hath made of all good things wee

seeke for, they cannot take effect, till by faith we accept and rest on them. It is against the nature of things promis∣ed, to be put on vs further, then wee trust to them, and accept of them.

Let vs not then bee likeb 1.9 those Lepers, [Vse] forgetting to returne and giue thankes to Christ; Let vs not feede like Swine on the mast, and neuer looke to the Bestower. A dog we see how he skips and fawnes on his Master, in his English, thanking him for that hee receiueth from him.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Dan. 9.8.9.19.
• b 1.2

  Luk. 18.11.14.
• c 1.3

  Rom. 8 15. Gal 4 6.
• d 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••.••5.
• e 1.5

  Iam. 1.17.
• f 1.6

  1 King. 3.10.13.
• g 1.7

  Ps 50.15.
• a 1.8

  Psa. 116.12.
• b 1.9

  Luk. 17.17.18.