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. X.

Of the last maine duty of the daily exercise, which is Prayer.

§. Sect. 1 That we must pray daily and continually.

THe last daily duty to be performed of vs, is, effectuall and fer∣uent prayer, from which not any day, nor any part of the day is to be exempted; for we must, as the Apostle speaketh, pray without ceasing, alwaies watching thereunto with all perseue∣rance. To which end tendeth the parable of the vnrighteous Iudge, propounded by our Sauiour Christ. In which regard, that may be said of prayer, which the Apostle requireth in preaching, namely, that it must be done in season and out of season; if at least any time may bee said vnseasonable for this holy duty; whereby we are not to vnderstand with those ancient Heretikes, that we must spend our whole time in pray∣er and doe nothing else; for the Apostle Paul himselfe spent much of his time in preaching, writing, disputing, and in other duties of his cal∣ling, and yet as hee exhorted others, so hee often professeth, that it was his owne practice to pray continually and without ceasing. And our Sauiour Christ also, who requireth this at our hands, and propoun∣ded himselfe as a patterne of his owne precept, spent much of his time in other exercizes, as preaching, conferring, doing miracles, and

such like: But that wee alwaies bee ready, and haue a disposition to prayer at all times; that we thinke no time exempted, when any fit and good occasion is offered, whether it bee night or day, or any part of either of them, nor any place excluded, if there bee cause and opportunity: for we must pray euery where, lifting vp holy hands without wrath or doubting, at home and abroade, in our businesses and vacancie from labour. And thus hee expoundeth himselfe, interpre∣ting these words, without ceasing and alwayes, of euery opportunity and seasonable time, when God either ordinarily or extraordinarily giueth vnto vs any fit occasion.

§. Sect. 2 Of ordinary prayers at set times, and how often to bee performed.

Concerning our ordinary prayers, they are for the most part limited to set and ordinary times, although we are not to be so strictly tied to our howres, but that they may be changed from one to another vpon necessa∣ry occasions. And they ought to be performed in a solemne manner, with due preparation, conioyning together the parts of prayer, confession, pe∣tition and thankesgiuing, with due respect both of place and time. Neither are these prayers to be continued throughout the whole day, but in the seuerall parts thereof, as shall best fit with our occasions, and also with our zeale and deuotion. Notwithstanding we are to pray euen after this manner, not once onely, but often; according to the examples of the Saints in former times. So Dauid professeth, that he praied vnto God in the morning, at noone and in the euening; and Daniel so stinteth himselfe to solemne prayer vpon his knees three times a day, that he would not neg∣lect it vpon any occasion. And howsoeuer no man can stint these set times of praier vnto a certaine number, but it must be left to be measured out according to seuerall occasions, leisure, opportunity and the proportion of euery ones gift of grace, faith, zeale and deuotion which they haue re∣ceiued; which being so various, diuers and different, it is no more possi∣ble to appoint a certaine measure vnto them, then a size of apparell to fit euery ones body, or a proportion of meate which should satisfy euery ones appetite. Or if we should; what were it, but (like the Tyrant, that would haue one bed to serue for men of all statures) to racke out and tor∣ture the ouer-short deuotion of those that are children in Christ; and to mayme and cut theirs shorter, who are men growne and come to a perfect age? Yet seeing all Scriptures are written for our learning, me thinks these examples should not bee in vaine, but well-befitting, for the most of Gods children to follow and imitate, especially in this light of the Gospell, and when the gifts of the Spirit doe so abound. And therefore I would perswade all good Christians, that besides their prayers and thankesgiuings before and after meales, whereby Gods blessing is obtai∣ned, and the creatures sanctified to their vse; they would at least thrice a day make their solemn and set prayers vnto almighty God; that is, first, be∣times in the morning priuately by themselues, before they go about their ordinary affaires and workes of their calling. And then in the family, some time in the forenoone, when as the houshold may with most conuenien∣cy meet all together, and either before or after Supper, when as we are to goe vnto our rest, or if wee be vnder gouernement, and in such families wherein these duties are neglected, then must we performe them priuate∣ly

by our selues, wherein we are to pray in especiall manner for all those who dwell with vs, and principally for our gouernours; among other bles∣sings, crauing this aboue others, that God will be pleased to giue them hearts to erect the exercises of Religion in their families, to the aduance∣ment of his owne glory, and the saluation of themselues, and those who are committed to their charge. But yet let neither gouernours nor infe∣riours content themselues with these family-duties, which they performe with others; but set some time and place apart for their priuate deuotions, that they may haue secret conference with God, confessing and bewayling their particular sinnes and corruptions, which being knowne onely to him and their owne consciences, they would not haue men to take notice of them by any open acknowledgments; laying open their speciall wants, and desiring earnestly a supply of those gifts and graces wherein they finde themselues most defectiue; and rendring thankes vnto God for those peculiar benefits and blessings, which in a speciall manner he hath conferred vpon them.

§. Sect. 3 Of the extra∣ordinary pray∣ers vpon euery good occasion.

But it is not enough that we vse daily these set, solemne, and ordinary prayers, but we must, as our Sauiour inioyneth vs, Pray alwayes, and as the Apostle speaketh, continually, and without ceasing. That is, we must be rea∣dy to pray, so often as God shall giue vs any occasion, or as the Apostle speaketh, in euery thing; that is, crauing Gods blessing when we vndertake any businesse, and praysing his name for his gracious assistance, whereby we haue beene inabled to atchieue it; crauing his protection at the ap∣proching of any danger, and his helpe and strength for the ouercomming of any difficulty which affronteth vs in our way. In a word, we must pray in season, that is, at our ordinary times, and vpon common occasions; and out of season, that is, extraordinarily, when any speciall and new occasion offereth it selfe vnto vs. Vnto which prayers, there is not required that we should vse our voyce, or gestures of the body, which are vsed in set prayers; or that we should in any continued or long speach of the soule vnto God, expresse our selues in all the parts of prayer: but onely that we vse sudden and short eiaculations, lifting vp our hearts vnto God, and as it were darting vnto the Throne of grace our feruent desires, which we may doe, without being discerned in the middest of a crowd, and without any distraction from our ordinary affaires. And thus Nehemiah prayed vn∣to God in the presence of an heathenish King, for good successe in his suite. Moses in the middest of the Armie for helpe and deliuerance, when as they were pursued by the Egyptians: And our Sauiour Christ him∣selfe, at the graue of Lazarus. And thus are we to pray continually and without ceasing, either in our set and solemne prayers, or these short ex∣pressions of our hearts desires in all companies, vpon all occasions, and at all times; not onely in the day time, but euen in the night also, either ri∣sing with Dauid to praise God, when our hearts are rauished with the ioy∣full apprehension of some extraordinary benefits; according to that, At midnight will I rise to giue thankes vnto thee, because of thy righteous Iudge∣ments; or with the Church in the Lamentations, to craue helpe and deli∣uerance when we lie vnder the waight of some grieuous afflictions. Arise (saith she) cry out in the night, in the beginning of the watches, powre out thine

heart, like water, before the face of the Lord, &c. And this if wee doe, our prayer will be more feruent and effectuall, our senses and soules being se∣questred from worldly affaires, and not incumbred and interrupted in these holy exercises, with any earthly distractions. Or at ordinary times, and vpon vsuall occasions, lifting and raising vp our hearts and minds vnto God, when we wake out of our sleepe, praysing him for all his mercies and goodnesse, and namely, for the rest which he hath giuen vs, and desiring the continuance of his loue and fauour, with all the signes and testimo∣nies of it. But heere our chiefe care must bee, that by this continuall cu∣stome and daily practice, we doe not grow to a lesse esteeme of this high and holy duty, that our hearts be not negligent and carelesse in the per∣formance of it, and so our prayers become cold and formall, and perfor∣med more for custome then for conscience, but that wee pray with our whole hearts, in zeale and feruency of Spirit, accounting it the highest priuiledge in the world, that we haue daily and continually such sweete entercourse and communion with God, and such free accesse vnto the Throne of grace, at all times, and vpon all occasions, to make our suites and requests knowne vnto our Soueraigne King and gracious Father, with assurance to haue them heard and granted. The which must inflame our deuotion and zeale, and cause vs to powre forth our hearts vnto God; without which, the prayer of the lips, wanting the fire of zeale and deuo∣tion, will become (as the Wise man speaketh) the sacrifice of fooles. And therefore we must with Dauid, powre out our soules vnto God; and with the afflicted Church, lift vp our hearts with our hands vnto the Lord of heauen; or else we can haue no assurance to be heard, seeing these onely who thus doe haue the promise; according to that of the Psalmist; The Lord is nigh vnto all them that call vpon him, to all that call vpon him in truth. And if we would haue the sacrifice of our prayers accepted of God, we must not only offer vnto him our outward members and parts, but wash also our inwards, our hearts and affections, and so offer our selues as a whole burnt offering vnto God. And whilst we stretch out our hands, our hearts also must be inlar∣ged with thirsting desires, after the liuing waters and springs of Gods gifts and graces, like vnto the thirsty land.

§. Sect. 4 Diuers mo∣tiues vnto the daily exercise of prayer.

Vnto which daily and continuall prayers, with this zeale and feruency of Spirit, we may be moued; first, if we consider, that we stand in such neede of Gods continuall helpe and assistance, that wee cannot subsist without it the least minute, for in him we liue, and mooue, and haue our being. Secondly, that we stand daily and continually in want of some gift and grace of God, and of all of them in some measure and degree; and also of some one or other of Gods temporall benefits, or at least, of the right and holy vse of them. And therefore seeing our wants are continuall, and God hath appointed prayer as the hand of the soule, to be thrust into his rich Treasury of all grace and goodnesse for a continuall supply, without which we can haue no assurance, that wee shall receiue any thing at the hands of God; heereby it manifestly appeareth that our prayers also ought to be daily and continuall. Thirdly, we are daily and continually subiect to innumerable dangers, in respect of the euils that may befall vs in our soules, bodies, and estates, and it is God onely watching ouer vs with his

prouidence, that can both preserue vs from them, and deliuer vs out of them: the which, we cannot expect, vnlesse we serue his prouidence, by vsing this meanes of prayer, whereby onely his gracious helpe and assist∣ance is obtained; and therefore our continuall dangers, needing conti∣nuall preseruation from them, commendeth vnto vs the necessary vse of our daily and continuall prayers. Finally, the many and mighty enemies of our saluation doe continually assault vs with their tentations, that ouer∣comming, they may bring vs to destruction. And prayer is the chiefe meanes, both of buckling vnto vs the whole Armour of God, whereby we are inabled to stand in the euill day; and of obtaining the helpe and assistance of his holy Spirit, whereby alone we are inabled to ouercome. And therfore as we are continually tempted to one sinne or other, so must we continually pray for grace to withstand the tentation; and as the A∣postle speaketh, Pray alwayes, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, watching thereunto with all perseuerance, &c.

Notes

• 1. Thes. 5. 17. Ephe. 6. 18. Luke 18. 1. & 21. 36. 2. Tim. 4. 2.
• Rom. 1. 9. Col. 1. 3. Eph. 1. 16.
• 1. Tim. 2. 8.
• Ephes. 6. 18.
• Psal. 55. 17. Dan. 6. 10.
• 1. Tim. 4. 4, 5.
• Luk. 18. 1. 1. Thes. 5. 17. Ʋers. 18.
• Nehem. 2. 4.
• Exod. 14. 15.
• John 11. 38, 41.
• Psal. 119. 62.
• Lam. 2. 19.
• Eccl. 5. 1.
• Psal. 42. 4.
• Lam. 3. 41.
• Psal. 145. 18. Esa. 29. 13.
• Leuit. 1. 13.
• Psal. 143. 6.
• Act. 17. 28.
• Mat. 7. 7.
• Ephes▪ 6. 18.