Panoplia. Universa arma. Hieron. Or, The Christian compleatly armed

LECT. XXVI. April 3. 1650.

FIrst, Prayer is the way to prevent Tempta∣tions from entring. It doth make the soul, in a manner impenetrable, Matth. 26. 41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into Temptation. Satans hands are tied up by the power of Prayer sometimes, that he cannot shoot an Arrow of Temptation against the Soul. Lead us not into temptation, Mat. 6. 13. It's a hard thing for Satan, with all his wiles, to make his fiery Darts fasten upon the Soul of a praying Christian.

Secondly, Prayer is the way to pull out Satans Darts when they are fastened: For, 1. Prayer sets the blessed Trinity on work for the Souls assistance. It engageth God to take our part in the day of

battel. When Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed: when he let his hands down, Ama∣leck prevailed, Exod. 17. 11. Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, Psal. 50. 15. The Prayer of the Disciples did awake Jesus Christ, and set him awork for them, when the winds and waves did threaten shipwrack, and present ruine, Mat. 8. 24, 25, 26. When the waves and storms of Temptation threaten the ruine of the Soul, Prayer awakes Christ, and sets him on action for the Soules safety. The prayer of Paul, when he was actually engaged with Satan in a very hot Dispute, brought him in, assistance from Heaven. I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me; and he said, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness, &c. 2 Cor. 12. 8, 9. Prayer brings in supply of assisting Grace.

2. Prayer gives strength to all the other pieces of the Christian Armour. It is reserved by the Apostle to the last place, because both is an evidence we have the other, & because it is so helpfull to all the rest. 1. It doth keep the Girdle of Truth upon the Loyns: Holy Prayers are as the Clasps of this Girdle, which tie it toge∣ther, and keep it from falling off. 2. It is that which doth tie together the Breast-plate of Righteousness. 3. It keeps on the Shooes of the preparation of the Gospel upon our feet. Take away the strings of Prayer, and these shooes will soon slip off the feet. 4. It strengthens the Shield of Faith, and keeps it from breaking. I

have prayed for thee, that thy Faith do not fail. If either Christs prayer for us, or our prayer for our selves fail, the Shield of Faith will fail also, Jude 20. 5. It keeps Hope alive; he that is most frequent in prayer, will be most lively in hoping. 6. It puts an edge to the Sword of the Spirit: the Word of God stirres us up to prayer; and then Prayer makes the Word sharp and prevalent.

3. Prayer expels those Corruptions, which wea∣ken and prejudice the Soul, and give advantage to Satan in the day of Temptation. The strength of sinne, in the soul, is the strength of Satan; all his advantage is from our own Corruptions. Now Prayer doth help on the work of Morti∣fication, and Sanctification; it purgeth the Conscience, it purifieth the heart, it fastens grace in the root, and increaseth it in the branch, &c. Every holy Prayer pares off some∣thing from that body of Death, which is Satans Armory, and strong hold in us.

4. Prayer adds boldness and courage.

Information. 1. This lets us see the reason why Satan is such an enemy to Prayer. That he useth all means to take off the servants of God from this Duty, the Scripture tells, and the ex∣periences of all the people of God make it good. What distractions and disturbances doth he ordinarily work in the hearts of men, when they are employed in this service? The Saints of God never find him more busie with them, then at such a time. When Paul was go∣ing

to prayer, a Spirit of Divination meets him, and labours to divert his thoughts, Act. 16. 16. A Child of God can never have an in∣tention to wrastle with God in Prayer, but some messenger of Satan, or other, is ready to wrastle with him to take him off. This Text shews us the reason: He knows well, that the servants of God are never more successfull a∣gainst his Temptations; nor that he is never more defeated in his designs against them, than when they set their faces to seek God. He hath been so often overcome by this Holy Ordi∣nance of God, that he is afraid of it. Hence it is, that he is so diligent, both to take them off from it, and to interrupt them in it. He is most afraid of a Child of God, when he is on his knees. This makes him so strangely attempt to break off the Exercise of it.

2. This shewes us, that Satan must needs pre∣vail very much, where Prayer is neglected. Do not wonder to see the Devils Throne erected so high in those Families, and in those Persons, where Prayer and Invocation is cast aside. There's nothing in such a soul, to hinder ei∣ther his Residence, or Domination. Watch and pray, saith Christ, that ye enter not into Temptati∣on, Mat. 26. 41. Those that disuse Prayer, must necessarily be under the power of black Temp∣tations. They have no defence to keep Satan out; nor have they any way to cast him out, when he is once entred.

3. This lets us see the power of Holy Prayer.

It's a very strong thing: he that considers well what prayer hath wrought, cannot imagine it to be a weak thing. It hath for a time stopt the course of Nature: Sun stand thou still in Gibeon, and thou Moon in the Valley of Ajalon, Josh. 10. 12, 13. It hath divided the waters of the Sea, Exod. 14. 21, 22. It hath quenched the burning flames, Numb. 11. 1, 2. It hath cast Devils out of their possession. The Prayer of Luther, and other servants of God, recovered a man out of the hands of Satan, who had made an Indenture of his soul to him, and sealed it with his own bloud. The Indenture sealed, was cast in, into the place where they were praying. And our Saviour tells, That no Devil hath such deep pos∣session, but by Prayer and Fasting he may be cast out, Matth. 17. 21. In a word, Prayer hath over∣come God himself, Gen. 32. 26. Luther was wont to say, There is a kind of Omnipotency in Prayer. It never yet did, it never shall, through God, meet with any thing too hard for it. No Journey was ever too long for it: no Moun∣tain too high: no Waters too deep: no Bur∣then too heavy: no Temptation too strong. It never was, it never shall be, finally and totally overcome by any Adversary.

4. That a Christians Victory over the Temp∣tations of Satan doth not depend upon himself, but upon God alone. This is gathered from hence: When he hath dressed himself, and got his weapons into his hands, he must then look to his Commander in chief, and conquer by pray∣er.

He doth not overcome by fighting, but by praying. All his preparation, all his graces, all his Armour, all his endeavour, will not carry him through the battel with success, unless God stand by him. When he hath done all he can, Prayer must be his last refuge, that God would vanquish his enemies for him.

5. This is an Apologie for the people of God, who desire to be frequent in Prayer. They have found the benefit of it, and they still know the excellency of it. It's a piece of that Armour which they must use: nay, 'tis upon the mat∣ter, their whole Armour: all the rest doth no good without it; therefore are they so careful to use it. They know the danger of Satans As∣saults, and they know if they be not frequent and fervent in Prayer, they shall be overcome; therefore they willingly neglect no opportu∣nity of performing this service: they know praying Christians, are the safest Christians.

6. That the gift and grace of Prayer, is a mar∣vellous great blessing, That God hath given his Spirit, to be a Spirit of Prayer in us; that God hath given to his people ability to pour out their hearts by prayer, with cries and groanes, that cannot be expressed; that Jesus Christ hath given us a Rule how to pray, a pattern for Prayer: This is a singular mercy, that you are enabled to make use of this Ordinance of Prayer. There are many that know not how to pray after a right manner. If God have taught any of you how to pray, you are to acknow∣ledge

it as a marvellous mercy, and to bless his name.

7. How much you are indebted to them that pray for you. They supply you with Armour.

Exhortation. Be intreated and perswaded in the Lord Jesus Christ to make use of this piece of Armour. Pray alwayes with all Prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watch thereun∣to with all perseverance, and supplication, for all Saints. In this Exhortation, I shall do three things.

• 1. Give you some Motives.
• 2. Help you against the Wiles of Satan, whereby he endeavours to take you off.
• 3. Give you some helps.

I might give you many Motives: I could tell you, that it's the way to have your wants sup∣plyed: It's the Key of the Treasury of Gods blessings: God hath appointed this as the great Channel of conveyance of all blessings, Jam. 1. 5. It's the way to have every thing sanctified to your use: it makes bitter things sweet, and sweet things more sweet: it's that Salt which savours every thing, 1 Tim. 4. 5. It turns all af∣flictions into gold, all poyson into physick, 2 Cor. 12. 8, 9. It's the way to expell inordinate cares and fears, Phil. 4. 6. He that is much in prayer, will be little in Care. It's the Nurse of all graces: it preserves the fear of God in their hearts, Job 15. 4. It preserves the love of God. It nourisheth Humility: it keeps the Con∣science clean and tender; it preserves and

maintains heavenly-mindedness, &c. But I shall onely urge that which is in the Text.

It's the way to have certain victory over all Temptations. Satan may shatter a praying Chri∣stian, but he shall never conquer him: He may, for a time, bring him into his Net; but God will rescue him, and bring him out again. Whensoe∣ver I call upon God, saith David, then shall mine enemies be put to flight, Psal. 56. 9. Prayer, rightly managed, wil carry you through an Host of Temptations. These black Regi∣ments will and must give way to the power of prayer, if you continue instant in it. You can∣not get victory over the least Temptation without prayer; and the greatest Temptation shall be subdued, if you continue in this Duty. Satan is as well able to overcome God, as to overcome prayer, which hath the strength of God in it.

2. To help you against the wiles of Satan: He hath many Devices to take off the Children of God from prayer, viz, these six things.

1. God knows what I want, though I do not pray. I cannot, by prayer, move God to bestow any thing which he hath not intended to be∣stow, &c. Ergo, What need is there of prayer? Against this wile of Satan, consider these three things.

I. The receiving of the good things we want, is not the onely end of Prayer. It is one great end, but there are many other things besides, which should move us to this Duty. We are to pray,

1. In obedience to the Command of God. It is a piece of Divine Worship and Adoration: it is a part of that homage which all the sons of men owe unto God.

II. That thou mayst enjoy Communion and Fellowship with God, by the use of this Ordi∣nance of Prayer.

III. To acknowledge thy submission to God, and thy dependance upon God: Not to pray, is to cast off that Dominion which God hath over thee: it is to deny thy reliance upon God. 'Tis to say, thy dependance is not upon God, but upon thy self.

2. Thou canst have no ground to believe, that any good thing shall be bestowed upon thee without Prayer. Prayer, though it be not the cause, yet it is the condition, or the mean, of obtaining all that good which God hath promised unto his people vid. Ezek. 36. 37. I will yet for all this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them. No man can say, I shall have this mercy, though I do not pray.

3. 'Tis not the bare enjoying of the good we want which should satisfie us. We should also la∣bour to enjoy it in mercy, to enjoy it as a bles∣sing. Now 'tis an everlasting, and most certain Truth, that whatsoever is not obtained by prayer, is not given in mercy, vid. 1 Tim. 4. 5. A man hath not a sanctified right to any thing he possesseth without prayer.

2. Satan sometimes labours to take off men from Prayer, by objecting their infirmities and

weaknesses. Thy heart is thus and thus distem∣pered, &c. Against this, I would give you these two Answers.

1. 'Tis not the infirmities and weaknesses of a Christian which are seen and lamented, that can hinder the efficacy and success of his Prayers. Sin obstinately and avowedly continued in, will indeed cut off the success of Prayers, and make both them, and him that makes them a∣bominable to God, Prov. 28. 9. But infirmities which are continually resisted and bewailed shall never make the prayer to be rejected. I might give you many instances; as that of Jo∣nah, A man full passions, &c. Yet Chap. 2. 10. God heard his Prayer. King Asa, a man full of infirmities, imprisons the Seer, oppresseth the people, 2 Chron. 16. 10. yet God heard his pray∣er, Chap. 14. 11, 12. But I shall give onely that one remarkable instance, which is recorded as a help against this Rock, Jam. 5. 17. Elias was a man of like passions, as we are, &c. Yet was heard very graciously: Heaven was opened, and shut at his prayers. Gods hearing of our prayers, doth not depend upon our Sanctifica∣tion, but upon our Justification. He doth not hear our prayers, because either we, or our prayers, are perfect; but because our persons are accepted. God doth not hear our prayers, for our prayers sake, but for his own names sake, and for his sons sake, &c.

2. This should rather encourage us to the Duty. Discontinuance of prayer, will not remove,

but increase our imperfections: if grace be weak, the omission of prayer will make it wea∣ker: if Corruption be strong, disuse of prayer will make it stronger. The distempers of the heart, whatsoever they are, will not be abated, but augmented, by the omission of this Duty of prayer.

3. Satan will perswade men, perhaps, that they are not in a state of Grace. 'Tis true, if they had but onely infirmities, they might be encou∣raged to pray, &c. but they are unregenerate persons, &c. Against this, I would give these Answers. Besides this, in the general, that it is a good sign there is something of grace, when Satan perswades men to the contrary, &c. Con∣sider,

1. That Prayer is a work fit for such as are not converted, as well as such as are converted. 'Tis the Duty of men to pray, as they are rea∣sonable Creatures, who owe homage to God.

2. Prayer is to be made for Conversion, as well as after Conversion. A man is not to pray onely because he is forgiven; but also, he is to pray that he may be forgiven: see Act. 8. 22. Repent, saith Peter, to Simon Magus, of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if (perhaps) the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee, &c.

4. Those who never pray, they prosper in the world, as well as such who are most carefull of this Duty. This is another of Satans Devices. A∣gainst this, consider these things.

1. Outward prosperity is not the only reason why men should pray. Yea, this, is one of all the meanest ends of prayer.

2. All prosperity, which is not the effect of Pray∣er, is indeed a Curse, and not a blessing. Nothing is sanctified, as I said before, but that which comes in by prayer. If his Children be multi∣plyed, it is for the sword, Job 27. 14. If his Ta∣ble be richly furnished, it is to ensuare him: his Wealth is his Trap, &c. Whatsoever a man en∣joyes, without prayer, is, in Gods Account, no better then Robbery.

3. God hath an eternity of adversity, and mi∣sery, after this life. They have received their Consolations in this life, Luke 6. 24.

5. Satan takes off others, by objecting their Disabilities. Thou wants those gifts and en∣dowments, which others have: Ergo. Against this, I would say these things:

1. God doth not so much look at the gift of Prayer, as at the Spirit of Prayer. Though it be the Duty of every person to labour for fit words of Prayer; yet God doth not hear pray∣er for the elegancy of phrase, but for the hea∣venliness, and spiritualness, and brokennesse of heart of him that prayes. The publicans prayer had not much eloquence in it, God be mercifull to me a sinner; and yet God accepted it. The Spirit of God helps our infirmities, saith the Apostle, with sighs and groans, &c. One sigh and groan from a broken heart, is better pleasing to God, then all humane eloquence, if the heart

be not affected.

2. Pray that thou mayst have better gifts. God hath promised his Holy Spirit to them that ask, Luke 11. 13.

3. Thou dost not pray to God as a critical ob∣server of incongruous expressions; but to God, as a Father; Who is wel pleased with the prayers of his Children, because they are his children.

6. Satan perhaps, will endeavour to take off Prayer, from thy long-waiting for an Answer. Thou hast prayed many a time, but received no answer, &c. Ergo. I would against this Stra∣tagem, give these things, by way of answer.

1. God hath more wayes of answering prayers then one. There are three remarkable instances in Scripture of this, vid. Acts 1. 7. 2 Cor. 12. 8, 9. Heb. 5. 7. The particular thing was not granted, and yet his prayer was heard.

2. Delayes are not denyals. God defers to hear, not because he doth not love us, or de∣light in us, but for other ends. As,

To exercise of Faith, Hab. 2. 3, 4.

To exercise our Patience.

To stir up our zeal and importunity in asking.

To give us what we ask in a fitter season, Rev. 6, 10, 11.

That is a very strange expression which we have in Joh. 11. 5, 6. Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus: and see what followes, v. 6. When he heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two dayes still in the same place

where he was: A very strange effect of love; A plain contradiction, if Reason might be Judge. Deferring to hear prayers, is not alwayes an evidence of hatred, but sometimes an evidence of love, Calv. in locum.

3. Let this rather be a Motive to confirme, then a discouragement to take thee off from prayer. God will hear at last, that's certain: and, do not lose ten or twenty years waiting, for want of a little patience.

4. Though God should never hear, yet it were thy duty to pray.

3. To lay down some helps for prayer: these things will be of very great use to this purpose, to teach us to pray, viz.

1. Be well acquainted with the Doctrine of the Bible, that you may thereby get the per∣fect knowledge of the good which God hath therein promised unto his people.

2. Get a through and perfect sense of your own wants: Sense of want, will make the dumb Child to beg.

3. Observe well the prayers you hear made by them, that have the abilities of prayer.

4. Labour for the Spirit of the Lord, which is not onely a Spirit of Grace, but of Supplication.

5. Get others to desire God to teach you how to pray.

6. Be often practising, according to the abiiities you have. Precando disces precari. Thus much for the Spirituall Armour.

FINIS▪

Notes

• 2. Ʋse.