A companion for prayer in times of extraordinary danger. By Richard Alleine, author of Vinditiae pietatis. ; Re-printed at the desire of the late Rev. Mr. Webb. ; To which is added, by way of appendix, from Dr. Increase Mather's Discourse on the prevalency of prayer; sundry remarkable instances of a gracious answer of prayer in N.E. and elsewhere.

APPENDIX from Dr. Increase Mather's Discourse on the Preva∣lency of Prayer arrow_forward .

IT was a great Word which Luther spoke, when he said, 'There is a Kind of Omnipotency in Preyer.— Where do we find in all the Book of God a more wonderful Expression, than that of the Lord to praying Meses, Now let me alone?— arrow_back Prayer arrow_forward is stronger than Iron Gates. At the Prayers of the Church the iron Gates fly open, and the Apostles Fetters fall off. Sometimes the Prayers of one Man that hath an eminent Inte∣rest in God, are a Means to preserve a whole Town, yea a whole Land from De∣struction.—

The Emperor Ma••cus Aurelius going to War against his Enemies, who were nine Hundred seventy five thousand Mer. The Emperor's Army were so cooped up by their numerous Enemies, in strait, dry and hot Places, and being destitute of Water for five Days together, were all like to have perished for thirst. In this Extremity a Number of Christian Soldi∣ers being in the Army, withdrew from

the rest & ••illing prostrate on the Earth, by a••••ent Prayers prevailed with God, that he immediately sent a most plenti∣sul Ram, whereby the Army that other∣w•••••• had perished, was refreshed, and dread u•• hightnings flashed in the Faces of their Enemies, so as that they were ••iscomfitted and put to flight.

—At one time five Hundred praying Saints overthrew two Thousand and five Hundred of their Enemies.—

—What a black Appearance of Death and Ruin was upon the poor People at Quabrog in this Province, when they were all cooped up in one unfortified House, and surrounded by a barbarous Multitude of cruel Indians, who thirsted after their Blood? But God by a strange Providence, sent Major Willard, who with a small Party of Soldiers, came a few Hours or Minutes before it was too late, by which the remaining Inhabitants of that Place had their Lives given them for Prey. After that, the western Plan∣tations, Nerth Hampton, Had••••y, Hatfield &c. were in the most eminent Danger, by Reason of the Enemy taking up their Rendezvous in those Parts, but God preserved and delivered them, in Answer to arrow_back Prayer arrow_forward .

—An Englishman mortally wounded by an Indian, the Indian upbra••ded him with his Prayers, saving to him, You were wont to prey to J••••••us Christ, new pray to him, he connet h•••••••• you: — immediately upon which, a Bullet took him in the Head, and ea••h••d out his Brains.

I have heard a worthy Divine in Dub∣lin, speak of a Man, that being under bodily Possession by an evil Spirit, a Com∣pany of praying Christians met together to seek the Lord on his Behalf; amongst them there was a precious holy Woman, who kneeled behind the Door in the Room where they were praying toge∣ther, and there were strong Actings of Faith in her Soul; at last the Devil was forced to depark; only as he was going out of the possessed Party, he cried out, O the Woman, the Woman behind the Dear!

That Moses of his Time, Dr. Dod (concerning whom Mr. Burroughs gives this Testimony, that he was the meekest Man upon the Face of the Earth) had a godly Sen, whom it pleased the most High to leave unto sorel) straction to his Mind, where upon M••. D••d called some of his p••••dly praying Friends together, who set a Day a-part solemnly to seek the Lord about that Matter, and wh••st

they were yet speaking in arrow_back Prayer arrow_forward , God heard them, so as that the distracted Person was not only restored to his right Mind again, but did himself conclude that Day of arrow_back Prayer arrow_forward with solemn Thanks∣giving unto God. This Information I received from Reverend Minister, who was present in Mr. Dea's House, when that Day of Fasting and Prayers was there observed, upon the Occasion mentioned.

Mr. Simp••••••'s Wife (a gracious Wo∣man) falling sick, was sorely assaulted by Satan, who told her, that she should be given over into his Hand; The Temp∣tation and Affrightment preva••ed so ••ar as to resolve in a visible Distraction, that the good Woman, most unlike her for∣mer Wa••, whilst she was her self, would break forth sometimes with dreadful and ••••rid Ex••••essions; Th••s was and could not be otherwise ••a m••st bitter Affliction to her precious Husband, who told those about her, that he was assured, that Satan's Malice should at last receive a shameful F••i••••; wherefore he retired himself into his G••r••en, and shutting the Door, betook himself to Fasting and arrow_back Prayer arrow_forward . O••e He•••••• Ga••••er (a godly Woman) being ••ollicitous for Mr. Si••••∣son as fearing that his Labours, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 &

Fasting, might be too hard 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him, used some Means to get over into the 〈…〉〈…〉, where Mr. Simpson was alone w••ching with God.—After going forward, she found Mr. Simpson lying on the Ground, nor would he reveal to her what he had met with, until Promise was made, not to speak of it whilst he was alive in this World. Upon this he said, O wh•••••••• I being Dust and A••••es, that the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••ni∣string Spirits should be••s••nt by the Lord to deliver a Missage to not, and shewed, that Angele from. Heaven had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to ••••••••lible Voice given him Answer conceiting that which he had been pr••••••ing about. [This was a Thing extraordinary, and in••••o wise to be expected by Christians ••••••••∣rily•••••• And returning into his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, he but those that were in the R••om with his Wife, be of good Comfort; not be was assured that within ten Hours she should be delivered from m•••••• Distraction. After this he went to Pro••et by the Bed••si••e: and as he was in arrow_back Prayer arrow_forward , mentioning Jacob's wresting with God, his W••••e sat upon the Bed, and casting aside the Curt••••••, said, Thou art this Day Jacob, thou hast wre••led, and hast privailed, and n••w God hath made good his Word which he spoke to you this Morning, for I am

plucked out of the Hands of Satan, and he shall have no more Par••er ever me. This Interruption made him ste••tior while, but after in great Meltings of Heart be procceeded in arrow_back Prayer arrow_forward , magnifying the Riches of divine Grace and Love, and from that H••••ar his Wise co•••••• 〈…〉〈…〉 discease christian's and comfo••t••bly, even to her ••dving Hour.

I have read of one who having ano∣ther that treat his T••••ne in Hanking, Drinking and other p••••p••••r••e Van••••••es; upon a 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••••••∣ther 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 he set that very Day ••part 〈…〉〈…〉 and P••••••e. to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••••∣ther might be con••••••ted. And the Lord answer'd his Prayers wonderfuls; for within a Week after, his Brother was stranged engaged, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 himself (in∣stead of spending his Time in Hawking and Drinking observe man. Days of se∣cret Humilitition between the Lord and his own Sou••, on the Account of the Sins he had been guilty of is the Days o•• his Vanity, and made a very godly End at last.

That precious and famous Minister of Christ, Mr. Welid, being in a Jour∣ney, his Entertainement came to more

than he expected, so that the next Morn∣ing he had not wherewith to pay for his Horse Meat: The Holster swore and raild exceedingly for his Money: Mr. We••th shut his Chamber Door and went to arrow_back Prayer arrow_forward , and the Holster standing at the Door over-heard him, and was con∣verted by that arrow_back Prayer arrow_forward ; ever after that Time, highly respecting Mr. W••••th, and refusing to accept of any Thing for his Entertainment, either then or at any o∣ther Times afterwards, when Occasion was offered.

I knew one, the Son of an holy, and eminently faithful Minister, who in some of the Days of his Youth, had been wild and vain, but was (through the Grace of Christ) converted in his young Years, and after his Father's Death, perusing his private Papers, he perceived, that not many Days before he was in the Pangs of the new Birth, his Father had been by secret Fasting and arrow_back Prayer arrow_forward seeking un∣to the Lord that converting sanctifying Grace might be bestowed upon that Son of his.

That notable Israel i. e, Mr. Hugh Ken∣nedy. Provest of Mr in Scotland, one Day being long alone ••n arrow_back Prayer, while some of his intimate Friends stayed a great

while to ••••••••k with him, upon their enquity into the Reason why he made them wait so long; he told them it was no Wonder, for (said he) I have this Day obtained Mercy for me and all mine. And so indeed it came to pass; for not so much as one of his Children, but evi∣dent Signs of Conversion and true God∣liness were observed in them. This was that Kennedy, who when he was a dying could say, If the Walls of this House could speak, they could tell here many sweet Days I have had in secret Fellowship with God, and how familiar he hath been with my Soul. This is he, concerning whom Mr. Welch once said, Happy is that City, yea happy is that Nation that hath an Hugh Kennedy in it.

The D••••in the Conclusion says thus, I shall finish this Discourse with the so∣lemn Expressions of my blessed Brother and Predecessor in this Place. I had ra∣ther (saith he) be invirened with Armies of armed Men, and compassed round with drawn Swords & Instruments of Death, than that the hast praying Saint should head the edge of his Prayers against me; for there is not st••naing before the Prayers of Saints especially it they unite their Force and join together in the same Requests.

FINIS.