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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.

About this Item

Title
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.
Author
Townsend, Sampson.
Publication
London :: Printed by E.M. for George Calvert, at the signe of the Half-Moon in St. Pauls Church-yard,
[1659]
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Subject terms
Prayer
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A94771.0001.001
Cite this Item
"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A94771.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 3, 2024.

Pages

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A TABLE OF THE Contents.

DOct. It is the duty of the people of God to pray. pag. 3
  • 1. What prayer is. It is
    • 1. A work of Gods Spirit. pag. 4
    • 2. It floweth out of the spirit and heart of man: or, it is a talking of the heart and soul with God. pag. 5
  • 2. The several kinds of prayer

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    • Are
      • 1. Mental. pag. 6
      • 2. Vocal.
      • Publick, Private.
  • 3. The preparations to prayer,
    • Are
      • 1. Prayer.
      • 2. Meditation. pag. 8
        • Meditate upon
          • 1. Gods infinite greatnesse.
          • 2. The promises.
          • 3. Thine own wants and vileness. pag. 9
  • 4. The duties or graces requisite in prayer: are,
    • 1. Knowledge. pag. 9
    • 2. Faith.
    • 3. Humility. pag. 10
    • 4. Purity of heart.
    • 5. Love to our brethren.
    • 6. Zeal and fervency. pag. 11
    • 7. Unwearied constancy.
    • 8. We must pray in the Holy Ghost. pag. 12
    • 9. In the name and mediation of Jesus Christ. pag. 13
    • 10. For things agreeable to Gods will.
    • 11. We must use a due order in prayer. pag. 14
    • 12. Take heed of loving long prayers. pag. 15
    • Lastly, hate the sin you pray against, and love

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    • the grace you pray for. pag. 16
  • 5. The gestures in prayer are,
    • 1. Kneeling. pag. 18
    • 2. Lifting and spreading forth the hands. pag. 20.
    • 3. Lifting up of the eyes. pag. 22
    • 4. For men to be uncovered. pag. 23
      • In what case gestures may be omitted. pag. 25
        • Reprehension for these that neglect the fore∣mentioned, or use contrary gestures. pag. 29
        • Exhortation, to use more reverence in prayer. pag. 31
  • Six several motives to the duty of prayer.
    • The First sort of motives are taken from the necessity of the duty.
      • 1. God commands it. pag. 33
      • 2. The creature is sanctifyed by it.
      • 3. There is no comfort in the Ordinances with∣out it. pag. 34
      • 4. We lie under Gods curse if we neglect it.
    • A second sort of motives, are taken from the benefits that come by prayer.
      • 1. It shall not be in vain. pag. 35
      • 2. It is a signe of true Conversion.
      • 3. It is alwayes accompanied with salvation.

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      • 4. It is sweet and pleasant in Gods ears. pag. 36
      • 5. It will give ease to the grieved heart.
      • 6. It is the only means to get the heart filled with spiritual graces.
      • 7. By prayer we approach into Gods presence. pag. 37
    • A third sort of motives, are taken from the power and goodnesse of God.
      • 1. God hath stiled himself a God hearing prayer.
      • 2. He is able to help his people. pag. 38
      • 3. He is willing to help them.
      • 4. He hath made many promises to help them. pag. 39
  • Seventhly: the times of prayer, in general, con∣tinually. pag. 40
    • That is
      • 1. Upon all opportunites.
      • 2. Without fainting. pag. 41
      • 3. Daily, all their life long.
    • The special times of prayer: are,
      • The Lords dayes, fasting dayes, thanksgiving dayes, and upon private occasions. pag. 42
      • But more particularly,
        • 1. Every day. pag. 43

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        • 2. Twice every day: morning and evening. pag. 44
    • Reasons why we must be thus constant and fre∣quent in prayer, are because,
      • 1. We continually need blessings. pag. 45
      • 2. Without prayer our calling prospers not. pag. 46
      • 3. Without it, our graces will decay.
      • 4. The Devils temptations will prevail. pag. 47
      • 5. Our sins will multiply, and, pag. 48
      • 6. We have need to beg daily pardon of sin. pag. 49
  • Eightly and lastly: several objections against prayer, are answered, as,
    • 1. Object. It is to no purpose to pray.
      • 1. Because God knoweth our wants
      • 2. He hath decreed what shall befall every man.
      • 3. He is ready to give what is fit for us.
      • This is answered. pag. 50
    • 2. Object. It is needlesse because the good suc∣cesse of things depend upons second causes, and natural means.
      • This is answered. pag. 54
    • 3. Object. They that never pray, do as well as they that pray most: what need then is there of this constant praying?

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      • This is answered. pag. 56
    • 4. Object. I am unable to pray, I would pray, but I want faith, and the spirit of prayer.
      • This is answered. pag. 59
    • 5. Object. I would fain pray, but I am so sin∣ful and unworthy a wretch I dare not: I know God heareth not sinners, John 9.31. Yet such a one am I, and therefore I dare not pray
      • This is answered. pag. 16
    • 6. Object. I have prayed, but I can find no an∣swer.
      • This is answered pag. 66
    • 7. Object. I can finde no good by praying, but I finde I am rather the worse.
      • This is answered. pag. 71

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The use of all: is,
  • 1. For Instruction.
  • 2. For Reprehension.
  • 3. For Consolation.
  • Lastly, for Exhortation.
1 Use.
  • 1. It instructs us in the right manner of pray∣er: where, pag. 75
    • 1. We see, dead, dull, formal, heartlesse prayers are not pleasing to God.
    • 2. That wicked men that have not the Spirit of God, cannot please God in their praying. pag. 76
  • 2. It instructs us concerning the power of pray∣er: of which many examples in Scripture are instanced. pag. 77
2. Use.
Reprehension, divers are reproved.
  • 1. Those that pray not at all pag. 81
  • 2. Those that are lasie and sluggish in prayer. pag. 82
  • 3. Those that have evil ends in praying. pag. 83
  • 4. Those that pray for light and slight things.
  • 5. Those that are formal and hypocritical in their prayers.
  • 6. Those that pray without judgment or under∣standing. pag. 84

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  • 7. Those that pray, but resolve to go on in their sinnes. pag. 88
  • Lastly, Those that pray without faith and fer∣vency. pag. 90
3. Use.
Consolation: for all those that are faithful, frequent, constant and fervent in this duty of prayer.
  • 1. God usually blesseth those families where prayers are daily used. pag. 91
  • 2. God will answer secret prayers.
  • 3. If thou canst pray in faith, it is a certain signe thou hast the truth of grace; thou art a childe of God, and shall be saved. pag. 92
  • 4. If thy heart be sincere in prayer, God will accept of thee, although thou hast many fai∣lings. pag. 93
  • 5. When words fail, tears, sighs, and groanes, are a signe thou hast the spirit of prayer. pag. 94

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  • 6. Sincere seeking of God, will give comfort in all afflictions and trials. pag. 95
  • 7. A constant course of praying, is a certain signe, the sinne or judgement thou prayest against shall be removed, or the mercy thou prayest for, shall be granted. pag. 96
  • 8. That God that calleth thee to pray, he is able, ready and willing to help thee. pag. 98
  • Lastly, all the prayers of Gods faithful servants on earth, shall undoubtedly be heard, and answered in heaven. If,
    • 1. They be Righteous persons, and, pag. 99
    • 2. Ask in the Name of Christ. pag. 100
    • 3. According to the will of God.
The fourth and last use is,
Exhortation: to the performance of the duty of prayer: where, first you have

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    divers Directions in the duty: as,
    • 1. Labour to be reconciled to Christ. pag. 102
    • 2. Ask nothing but what God hath promi∣sed to give. pag. 103
    • 3. Seek God with a contrite and broken heart. pag. 104
    • 4. Take heed of wandering thoughts in prayer.
    • 5. Beare in thy minde all the sinnes thou art to pray against, and the graces thou art to pray for: mind also the mer∣cies thou hast received, to be thankful for them. pag. 105
    • 6. In thy prayers have a high esteem of God. pag. 106
    • 7. Be as ready to be thankful for what you have received, as to seek God for what you want.
    • 8. When your prayers be ended, take heed you rest not in the duty. pag. 107
    • 9. Let Gods glory be your utmost aime in all your prayers. pag. 108

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    • Lastly, Take heede of a selfish spirit prayer: Pray for all men. pag. 109
    Two questions concerning prayer answered.
    • 1. Question. I cannot tell how to pray, I want utterance: whether or no, is not my reading a forme of pray∣er acceptable with God in this case?
      • This is answered. pag. 110.
    • 2. Question. I cannot read, and I know not how to pray: what shall I do in this case?
      • This is answered. pag. 113
    Lastly, four encouragementts to the duty of prayer.
    • 1. God is so well pleased with it, That he hath heard the prayers of men for temporal things, that had no grace. pag. 117
    • 2. Whosoever sets upon the duty with a sincere

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    • heart, shall find God carrying of him on in it beyond expectation. pag. 118
    • 3. God is more ready to answer his people than they are to ask. pag. 120
    • Lastly, God is so well pleased with pray∣er, as that he makes his readinesse to hear a ground of encouragement to quicken them to the duty. pag. 121
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