The Christians dayly practice; or, A practical discourse of prayer.: By Sampson Tounesend, minister of Gods word at Hackford in Whitwell in Norffolke. Imprimatur Edm. Calamy.

THE EPISTLE TO THE READER

Reader,

I Have in the fol∣lowing Treatise presented thee with the epitomy of several Sermons of the duty of Prayer. If thou art one that loves God, thou canst not but love the Duty:

If thou lovest not God, nor the Duty, thy case is sad, and much to be lamented. For if thou dost not call upon God, thou canst not live to the glory of God; but hast a certain brand upon thee of one that doth no good, but is whol∣ly given over to all manner of sinne. And if thou art one that doest but seldom perform the Duty, and takest no de∣light in it; let me tell thee, although thou makest a profes∣sion of Religion, yet thy heart is not right with God, thou art an Hypocrite: For so saith Job of such a one, Will he delight himself in the

Almighty, will he alwayes call upon God? No, he will neither delight in God, nor be constant in calling upon God. Now that thou maist not be prophane, and pray not at all; or Hypocritical, and pray but seldom, and by fits; but that thou maist be quickned up, to the faithful and frequent per∣formance of this so necessary a Duty, I have written this following Treatise. And for a further light in, and Encou∣ragement to the Duty, I shall in this Epistle, shew you,

1. Several definitions of the Duty, given by several Holy men.

2. I shall shew you some Examples of the constant and frequent practice of the Duty.

Lastly, I shall shew you the excellent, and great pri∣viledges that belong to Gods people, that are frequent and constant in this duty of Prayer.

First, for the several De∣finitions of Prayer: I find many, I shall name some. It is a Religious calling upon the name of God, by suite or re∣quest, in which we desire all things necessary. It is a Re∣ligious presenting of our wills before God. It is a lifting up of the mind to God. It is an ardent, and earnest laying

open of our heart before God, whereby from Faith in Christ, we do either request, or entreat for any thing, or do give thanks for benefits received, whereby is gathered, that the Ten Commandements, the An∣gels salutation, and the rehear∣sing of the Creed, are no Pray∣ers, because in those nothing is asked of God, though simple people use those as Prayers. It is an humble discourse of the soul with God. It is a conver∣sing with God, by which Gods love to us, and our love to God is encreased. It is an humble, hearty, and holy request made according to Gods will, and of∣fered

up by Faith to God in the Name of Christ, for things needful for the body or soul. It is a putting up of our requests to God according to his word, from a contrite heart, in the Name of Christ, with assurance to be heard. It is the breath∣ing of the Spirit of God, and a proper action of the sonnes of God. You see what the duty is; It is a work of Gods Spirit: Therefore beg the Spirit that thou maist pray: It is a free Spirit, because it is freely pro∣mised to those that ask it. And it so helpeth us in the duty of Prayer, that it makes us (which before we streightned)

to be free in the work. For where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. And from hence it is that Gods Children are so frequent in the Duty: which is the se∣cond thing I propounded to speak too. Believe it, God hath never a Child but it is ever craving; They pray con∣tinually, because they find con∣tinual need of Gods grace and help, and they find continual supplies thereof as an answer of Prayers. I read, That Constantine the Great made his Court a Church where Prayers were made. Jerom lived four years with Watch∣ings,

Fastings, and Prayers. Bernard prayed day and night till his knees were so weary with fasting and prayer, that they could not uphold his body. Latimer (many times) continued so long in fervent Prayer, that he was not able to get up without help. And I read, that Clemens Alexan∣drinus prayed thrice a day. Luther let no day passe over his head in which he spent not three hours at least in Prayer. Master Robert Bolton pray∣ed constantly six times a day, twice with his Family, twice with his Wife, and twice in secret. Master John Bruen

prayed seven times a day. And why are Gods servants thus frequent in prayer? Surely it is because they find no trade that hath so quick and gainful returnes as this, and therefore they follow it so hard. And this leads me to the third and last thing I propounded to speak to; and that is the excellent and great priviledges that belong to Gods people, that are frequent and constant in this Duty O! praying Christian, how great are thy priviledges? Although thou maiest be slighted, and dis-esteemed by man, yet thou hast free li∣berty

to conferre with the King of Heaven; who not onely delights to hear thy voice, but inviteth thee to come unto him, and promiseth to give thee whatsoever thou askest of him. As long as thou constantly acquaintest thy self with God by prayer, thou shalt be sure to have him thy con∣stant friend, who will never fail, nor forsake thee, but will abundantly supply unto thee, the want of all unfaithful, and unconstant friends that desert thee: where prayer is not wanting, grace and com∣fort cannot be wanting. Thou that art a child of God, and

dost the will of God, let the desires of thy heart to God in Prayer be never so much en∣larged, God will satisfie all thy desires. And it must needs be thus, for that God, that is able to do (for his children, and many times doth for them) exceedingly above all that they ask or think, He will not, (and for his pro∣mise sake) he cannot deny any of those needful things his chil∣dren ask of him. By prayer Gods people, not only obtain all the good things they pray for, but also a sanctified use of all those good things. What∣soever is given by God to

man in a way of mercy, is given him as an answer of his Prayers. Prayer is the key that open all the Trea∣sures of God. It is the great instrument of removing all evils from the soul and the body. It is the Character of the Saints. It is the con∣dition of Gods promises; the forerunner of Gods perfor∣mances. The happy privi∣ledges of the praying Christi∣an are beyond expression. They have a constant Communion with God. They have dayly supplies of grace from God, whereby they are enabled to serve and please God, while

they live here; and they shall be made everlastingly happy with God hereafter. No grea∣ter priviledges can be obtain∣ed then these; yet these are the priviledges of the praying Christian. Would you be hap∣py? pray, pray that your joy may be full: He deserves to be miserable, that might be made happy by praying, and yet will not set upon the Duty. But I shall pray, and hope, that these my labours may be succesful for the ends inten∣ded; in directing in, and ex∣citing to the Duty, those that have not used it: in comforting and encouraging those in the

Duty, that dayly practise it. And in whomsoever either of these ends be promoted, let God have the glory; and for∣get not to pray for him, who is, to his power,

Thine in all Christian services for thy souls good, Sampson Tounesend.

July 1. 1658.

Notes

• Psal. 14.1, 2, 3, 4.
• Iob 27.10
• B. Usher.
• D. Amos.
• Musculus.
• Bucanus common places. Leighs body of Divin. Robinsons Resolves.
• Elton on the Lords prayer.
• Perkins on the Lords prayer.
• Gal. 4.6. Rom. 8.14 28.
• Ps. 51.12. Luk. 11.13
• Rom. 8.26.
• 2 Cor. 3.17.
• 1 Thes. 5.17.
• Cant. 2.14.
• Mat. 7.7.
• Job. 22.21 24.
• Heb. 13.5.
• John 16.23.24.
• Joh. 15.7. Psal. 37.4.
• Eph. 3.20.
• Ps. 81.10.
• 1 Tim. 4.5
• 1 Joh. 5.14, 15.
• 1 Kings 8.33, 35.
• Ezek. 36, 37.
• Jer. 31.9.
• 1 Joh. 1.3
• Heb. 4.16.
• Rom. 10.13.
• John 16.24.