An offer of farther help to suffering saints, or, The best work in the worst times wherein the necessity, excellency, and means of preparation for sufferings are clearly evinced, and prescribed : in which, as in a glass, the people of God may see how to dress themselves for death, or any other suffering to which the Lord shall call : added as an appendix to the Sufferers mirrour.

CHAP. X. Sheweth that a choice part of our preparation and rea∣diness for sufferings, consists in the improvement of our praying abilities, and keeping close with God in that heavenly and excellent duty in dayes of suffer∣ing; wherein also of the nature and means of its im∣provement.

PRayer is said to be amongst Duties, as Faith is amongst the Graces. Doubtless it is of special use and service at all times to a Christian; but yet in suffering dayes it is of more then ordinary use and necessity, Heb. 4.16. Jam. 5.13. and therefore is reckoned among those choice pieces of Armour which suffering Saints are to put on, Ephes. 6.18. I will here briefly discover the necessity of it, and then shew you that a Christian may improve him∣self to an excellent degree in it; and lastly pre∣scribe some means for such an improvement.

The necessity of it to a suffering Saint will de∣monstratively appear if you consider;

1. That this duty is the out-let of troubles, and the best way the poor Christian hath to ease his heart when surcharged with sorrow. Griefs are eased by Groans. Such evaporations disburthen and cool the heart, as the opening of a Vein in some cases doth. Oh the sensible ease that comes in this way! When grief in the mind, like vapours in the Air, are condensed into black Clouds, that overspread the Soul, and darken that beautifull Light that once shone there, then Prayer like the Sun dispells and scatters them, 1 Sam. 1.18. Many a Saint by Prayer hath sucked the breast of a Promise, and then fell

asleep by Divine contentment, in the bosome of God. A time may come, when thy heart shall be ready to break with trouble, and not a friend to whom thou canst open and ease it: and then bles∣sed be God for Prayer, Micah 7.5, 6, 7. That which sinks others is, That when troubles fill and over∣whelm their hearts, they try what Reason, merry Company, or outward Comforts can do: but alas! this is to palliate a cure, it returns again with the more violence: but this gives sensible relief, Psal. 102. title, Psal. 62.8. For first, this opens and gives a vent to troubles, Jer. 20.12. (2) It gives our troubles a diversion, and so a cure, Psal. 5.1. and last vers. compared. Yea (3) by praying over them, they are not onely diverted but sanctified, and so cease to be distracting.

2. As it gives a vent to our troubles, so an in-let to unspeakable comforts and consolations. See a pregnant instance of this, Act. 16.25. For (1) here∣by they obtain gracious answers from the Lord con∣cerning their troubles, 2 Cor. 12.9. In this also they meet the gracious smiles of God which swal∣low up their troubles, Psal. 85.8. And lastly, here∣by they engage the temper of God to open a season∣able and effectual door out of all their troubles, Psal. 34.4, 6.

3. Prayer begets and maintains holy courage, and magnanimity in evill times, when all things about you tend to discouragement. It is your being with Jesus that makes you bold, Acts 4.13. He that uses to be before a great God, will not be afraid to look such little things as men are in the face. The wo∣man clothed with the Sun, had the Moon under her feet. And what need you have of courage in evil times, hath been already shewed.

4. This is a duty you may perform at any time,

or in any condition: No Adversary can cut you off from it. It cannot be said so of many other du∣ties. None can hinder the intercourse betwixt Heaven and your Souls. You may perform it in a Prison, Acts 16.25. in a banished condition, Psal. 61.2. and so is fitted for a suffering condition.

Lastly, you must strive to excell in this, forasmuch as no Grace within, or Service without can thrive without it. God hath ordained the whole work of Grace to grow up to perfection this way, Jude 19.20. He will have all mercies fetched out this way, Ezek. 36.37. Jer. 29.11, 12, 13. All that comes from God to you, or to you from God, must come in this Channell. Be convinced then, of the need you have to improve your selves herein, as ever you hope to stand in the evil day.

But how are these praying abilities capable of improvement in the people of God? [Quest.]

Praying abilities are either externall and com∣mon, or else internal and speciall: [Sol.] The external and common ability, is nothing else but that dexte∣rity and skill men get, to express themselves to God in Prayer, which men have by nature or industry. Thus many can put their meaning into apt and de∣cent expressions, to which the Spirit sometimes adds his common touches upon the affections. And this Hypocrites rest and glory in. Or else they are spe∣cial and internal, whereby men are enabled to pour out their souls to God in a saving manner. And this may be considered either in the Habit or Act. The Habit is given by the Spirit, when the princi∣ples of Grace are first infused into the soul, Zech. 12.10. Acts 9.11. By being sanctified we are made near, and by acting those principles in Prayer we are said to draw near, Psal. 10.17. Now in our actual drawing near to God, the Spirit hath the

chief and principal hand: and his assistance therein is threefold.

1. He excites the heart to the duty; 'tis he that whispers to the Soul to draw nigh to God, Psal. 27.8.

2. He suggests the matter of our Prayers, and furnisheth us with the Materials, Rom. 8.26. guid∣ing us as to the matter, not onely to what is lawful, but also to what is expedient for us.

3. He stirreth up suitable Affections in Prayer, Rom. 8.26. and hence those groans and tears, those gaspings and vehement anhelations. But notwith∣standing all our Abilities, both habitual and actual, be from the Spirit, and not from our selves, yet are they capable of improvement by us: For though in respect of acquirement, there be a great difference betwixt natural and supernatural Habits, yet their improvement is in the same way and manner; and this improvement may be made divers wayes. For,

First, Though you have the Spirit, and can pray, yet you may learn to pray more humbly then be∣fore: Though you rise no higher as to words, yet you may learn to lay your selves lower before the Lord, as Abraham and Ezra did, Gen. 18.27. Ezra 9.6.

Secondly, You may learn to pray with more sincerity then formerly: Ah! there is much Hy∣pocrisie and Formality in our Prayers, much of Cu∣stom, &c. Now, you may learn to pour out more Cordial Prayers. See Psal. 17.1. Psal. 119.10.

Thirdly, You may learn to pray with more zeal and earnestness then before: Some Saints have ex∣celled, and been remarkable for this, Dan. 9.19. Hos. 12.4. James 5.16.

Fourthly, With more assiduity and readiness at

all times for it, Ephes. 6.18. Praying alwayes, with all Prayer. Hence Christ gives that commendation to the Church, Cant. 4.11. Thy Lips, O my Spouse, drop as the Honey Comb: The Honey Comb often drops, but always hangs full of Drops ready to fall.

Fifthly, You may learn to pray with more Faith: Oh the Qualms of Unbelief, that go over our Hearts in a Duty! Faith is the Soul of Prayer, and according to the Faith God finds in them, he ac∣cepts and values them. Now in all these things, you may improve your selves abundantly.

1. By being more frequent in the Duty, Job 22.21. acquaint thy self with the Almighty; in the Hebrew it is, accustom thy self: Those that have been excellent, have also been abundant in it, Psal. 55.17.

2. By taking heed that you grieve not the Spirit, on whose influences and assistances, you so intirely depend: Even as much as a Ship doth upon the Gales of Wind for its motion.

3. By honouring the Spirit which enables you to pray, and that especially two ways; (1) By de∣pendance on him; go not forth in your own strength to the Duty, trust not upon your own promptness, or preparations. (2) By returning, and with thankfulness ascribing the praise of all to him: Be humble under all Enlargements: Say, Not I, but Grace.

4. By searching your own Hearts, and examining your Necessities and Wants, when you draw nigh to God; this will be a Fountain of Matter, and give you a deep Resentment of the worth of Mercies pray'd for.

5. Lastly, By looking more at the exercise of Graces, and less at the discovery of Parts; by la∣bouring for Impressions more, and pumping for

Expressions less. And thus I have briefly shewed you, how to furnish yourselves with this needfull Qualification also.