A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.

CAP. XIII.

Of Prayer in the Morning, how profitable it is and necessary, and of our preparation vnto it.

§. Sect. 1 Of the fruit and profit of prayer.

ANd so much concerning the dutie of meditation, wherein we are to be exercised euery morning. The next religious duty which is in the morning to bee performed of vs, is, that we powre out our soules vnto God by feruent & effectuall pray∣er, which is a duty aboue all others to bee daily put in pra∣ctice. For it is a principall part of Gods seruice, whereby hee will be ho∣noured of vs, whereof it is, that in the Scriptures it is put for the whole worship of God. It is required of vs by speciall a commandement in ma∣ny places; vnto which God hath incouraged vs to yeeld obedience by ma∣ny sweete b and gracious promises, whereby he hath assured vs, that he will heare vs, and grant our requests. It is the badge of true Religion,

and the neglect thereof, of an vtter Atheist. And therefore the Psalmist describing such an one, setteth him forth by these two properties, that he hath said in his heart, There is no God; and hee hath not called vpon the Lord. It is a duty most excellent, seeing thereby wee glorifie God, and hee also glorifieth vs, vouchsafing vnto vs, who are but dust and ashes, yea wretch∣ed sinners, this high and honourable priuiledge to haue free accesse vnto him, and to haue the eare of our great King and Soueraigne, that we may make all our suites knowne vnto him, with vndoubted hope to haue them heard and granted. It is most profitable also vnto vs, as being the chiefe meanes whereby wee attaine at the hands of God, all the good things which we need, and are freed from all the euils which wee feare; and the key whereby we open the treasury of all Gods graces and rich gifts, and out of it furnish our selues with all blessings which are needfull for vs. It is most effectuall to preuaile with God for the obtaining of all the good things which we desire, as we see in innumerable places and examples of holy Scriptures. It is a notable meanes for the strengthening of our faith and affiance in God, when as we haue experience that he heareth vs, and granteth our requests; and for the inflaming of our hearts with most feruent loue, when we taste of his bounty and goodnesse, in giuing vnto vs the good things which wee desire. It increaseth our communion and fellowship with God, and bringeth vs into familiar acquaintance with him. It maketh our minds to soare aloft in heauenly meditations; and be∣ing on earth, it causeth vs to haue our conuersation in heauen. It assureth vs that we are the children of God, and heires of the heauenly inheritance, seeing the same Spirit, which is the spirit of supplication, sealeth also vnto vs our Adoption. Finally, let vs consider that it is a duty most necessary, if either we will auoyd Gods curse, or will, with Iacob, so wrastle with him, as we meane to preuaile and obtaine the blessing; that if we neglect it, it is a strong euidence vnto vs, that we haue cast off all feare of God, as Eliphaz reasoneth against Iob; and that we are vtterly destitute of all sauing grace, seeing the same Spirit is the spirit of grace and supplication.

§. Sect. 2 Their obiecti∣on answered, who pretend want of leisure to pray.

Neither let any man pretend his small leisure, by reason of his waighty businesse and manifold imployments, as an excuse to warrant him for the neglect of a duty so high and holy, so excellent, profitable and necessary: vnlesse he will say, that he hath no leisure to be saued, to glorifie God, or inrich himselfe with his graces and blessings, or to get the euidences of e∣uerlasting glory and happinesse into his owne keeping: and that hee is so taken vp with worldly imployments, that hee hath no leisure to seeke any acquaintance with God, to auoyd his curse, or obtaine his blessing; to goe to heauen, or escape hell. For shame therefore let vs cast away these no lesse prophane then friuolous excuses: and to this end further consider, that the greater and more important our businesse is, the more need wee haue to implore by hearty prayer, the blessing of God vpon our labours and indeuours, before we vndertake them, without which, all our policy, labour and indeuour, will be spent in vaine, either because wee shall not atchieue the thing which we attempt; or if we do, yet in Gods iust iudge∣ment it shall become vnto vs a curse, rather then a blessing. Consider fur∣ther, how much time thou daily spendest in doing nothing, or that which

is ill, and worse then nothing: How much time in needlesse curiosity a∣bout thy body, in dressing and feeding it, and in vaine discourses a∣bout things that profit not, yea corrupt rather then edifie thee: How much in vnlawfull or superfluous sports and recreations: in carding, di∣cing, masking, reuelling, hunting, hawking, beholding vaine sights and wanton enterludes: and blush for shame, that thou canst find time enough, in thy greatest imployments, for the satisfying of thy fleshly lusts, and on∣ly wantest leisure to serue thy God, and saue thine owne soule. Finally, let vs consider the vnwearied watchfulnesse of all the Saints of God in all ages, in attending vpon this duty, that they might frequently and feruent∣ly performe it day and night; and set before vs the example of our Saui∣our Christ himselfe, who spent mornings and euenings, yea whole nights in praying for vs. Which if we neglect to doe for our selues, what doe we but disclaime that holy communion, and shew plainely that we are not in that number? what doe we else but debarre our selues of the bene∣fit of his intercession, when as we take no care by our prayers to haue it applied vnto vs? Neither let any say that his purpose is not to neglect this dutie altogether, but though he hath no leisure to pray euery day, yet he will finde some time for it, though not euery morning, yet in the euening before he goe to bed. For though this something be better then nothing, yet consider that the morning sacrifice was no lesse required of God then the euening; that the seruants of God haue risen betimes to call vpon him; that we cannot looke to prosper in any of our labours, if we haue not first craued Gods blessing vpon them; that we are daily sub∣iect to many dangers, to fall into many snares of the diuell, to bee ouer∣come of his tentations, to bee attached with Gods Iudgements, and to be plunged into many perils which are daily incident vnto the life of man: yea, that before night wee may be strucken with sudden death, as many others haue been whom we haue knowne and heard of, and so be arrested and called to the barre of Gods Iudgement, to plead guilty or not guil∣ty, before wee haue presented our selues at the Throne of grace, to sue forth our pardon: and then how fearfull is our condition, if we are thus taken away in our sinnes? From all which dangers we shall be secured, if wee conscionably performe this daily duty of morning prayer, and neuer goe about our worldly businesse, till wee haue gotten our pardon to carry with vs.

§. Sect. 3 That before we pray, we must vse pre∣paration, and what is requi∣red vnto it.

Now being by these reasons perswaded to the daily practice of this duty; let vs in the next place consider how we may so performe it, as that it may be acceptable vnto God, and profitable for our owne saluation. And vnto this many things are required, before, in, and after our prayers. Before, is required preparation: for as Dauid speaketh of praising God, so may we of prayer in all kindes, our hearts must bee prepared, and so must our tongues, before wee can pray. And as they that meane to make any good musicke, doe first set their instruments in tune; so must wee, before we can make any sweet melody in Gods hearing, tune our hearts, that they may be fit for this action. And if we will not speake vnto our Prince rash∣ly and vnaduisedly, but prepare our selues by due meditation, both in re∣spect of the matter, and manner of our speech; how much more should

we auoyd rashnesse of mouth, and hastinesse of speech, when as we speake to the soueraigne King of heauen and earth? Now in this preparation wee must examine our sinnes, that wee may afterwards humbly confesse them and craue pardon; especially we are to search out those, whereby we haue most displeased God, and wounded our owne consciences, and wher∣unto our corrupt nature is most inclined; and also labour to finde out our speciall wants, and those gifts and graces in which we are most defe∣ctiue, or of which, in respect of our present occasion, wee most stand in need; that accordingly wee may frame out suits, and presse them vnto God with more efficacie and feruency of desire. Secondly, we must looke to our feet, that is, to our affections, as the Wise-man exhorteth, and exa∣mine with what disposition we come vnto prayer, whether as earnest sui∣ters that will haue no deniall, or after a cold, carelesse, and formall man∣ner, for custome, rather then conscience sake: especially wee must bee carefull to banish out of our minds and hearts, all worldly and wandring thoughts, carnall lusts, wrath, doubting, maliciousnesse, &c: and that wee be heauenly-minded, and haue our hearts fraughted with holy desires, hungring and thirsting after the gifts and graces which we intend to beg at Gods hands. Finally, we must take heed, that wee doe not present our selues before God in our impenitency; but if wee be guilty of any sinne, we must bewaile it, and promise amendment. For our sinnes vnrepented of, stand as a wall of separation betweene God and vs, hindring his bles∣sings from descending, and our prayers from ascending; especially wee must bewaile our want of charity, and purposes of reuenge: for as wee for∣giue men their trespasses, so will God forgiue vs. And because wee are so dull and auerse to this holy duty, that by all our meditations we cannot, as we ought, prepare our selues vnto it: therefore let vs intreat the Lord, before we make any other suit vnto him, that hee will prepare our mindes and hearts aright, and so assist vs with his grace and holy Spirit, that wee may performe this high & holy duty, in some such maner as may be acceptable in his sight. In our prayers diuers things are required: As first, in respect of the obiect, that we pray onely to God our Father in heauen, as our Sa∣uiour hath taught vs. Secondly, in the alone mediation of Iesus Christ: For as there is but one God, so there is but one Mediator betweene God and man, the man Christ Iesus. Thirdly, seeing through our ignorance and cor∣ruption we cannot pray as wee ought; therefore wee must craue the assi∣stance of God the holy Ghost, which helpeth our infirmities, and maketh in∣tercession for vs, with sighes and grones which cannot be expressed. In respect of the subiect or party that prayeth, diuers things are required, first, in re∣spect of his person: secondly, in respect of his action. In respect of his per∣son, 1. that he be a faithfull and righteous man. For they that draw neere vnto God, must be holy, as he is holy; not in the perfect holinesse and righ∣teousnesse which the Law, but which the Gospell requireth: that is, in re∣spect of sincerity and integrity, desire, resolution and indeuour. For the prayer of the righteous man onely is effectuall; and the Lord satisfieth their desires alone that feare him. Neither can our suites be acceptable vnto God, before our persons are accepted: according to that of Salomon, The sacri∣fice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the righteous

is acceptable vnto him. And so Dauid saith, that the eyes of the Lord are vpon the righteous, and his eares are open to their cry: But the face of the Lord is a∣gainst them that doe euill, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. And therfore our care must be, if we would pray with hope to be heard, to lift vp pure hearts and hands vnto God, not in their owne naturall purity, but as they are washed with the blood of Christ. Besides which washing of Iustification, we must labour after the spirituall washing of Regenera∣tion, that we may be cleansed by the water of the Spirit, applying vnto vs the vertue of Christs death and Resurrection, and the washing of repen∣tance, bathing our selues in the teares of hearty sorrow and contrition, because by our sinnes we haue displeased our gracious God. And if wee prepare our hearts, and stretch out our hands towards him; If iniquity be in our hand, we must put it away, and not let wickednesse dwell in our tabernacles. For if we doe not wash and make vs cleane, and put away the euill of our doings, but come before him defiled in our sins; then though wee spread forth our hands, God will hide his eyes from vs, and when we make many prayers, he wil not heare.

Notes

• a

  Hos. 14. 2. Psal. 50. 14, 15. Matth. 7. 7. 1. Thes. 5. 17.
• b

  Ioh. 16. 23. Psal. 145. 18. Esa 65. 24.
• Psal. 14. 1, 4. and 53. 4. Psal. 50. 23.
• 1. Job. 5. 14.
• Jam. 5. 16, 17, 18. Exod. 32. 10. Iosh. 10. 15.
• Rom 8. 15, 26.
• Ier. 10. 25. Gen. 32. 25, 26. Hos. 12. 4.
• Zach. 12. 10.
• Psal. 108. 1.
• Eccles. 5. 1, 2.
• Eccles. 5. 1.
• 1. Tim. 2. 8.
• Prou. 28. 9. Psal 66. 18. Esa. 59. 1, 2.
• Math. 5. 23. and 6. 14.
• 1. Tim. 2. 5.
• Rom. 8. 26, 27. Zach. 12. 10.
• Leuit. 19. 2. and 10. 2, 3.
• Iam. 5. 16. Psal. 145. 19. Prou. 15. 9, 29.
• Ps. 34. 15, 16, 17
• Iob 11. 13, 14.
• Esa. 1. 15, 16.