PETER'S ENLARGEMENT UPON THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH. BY Master HARRIS. Psal. 34.17. The Righteous cry and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles. LONDON. Printed by I. D. for john Bartlett, and are to be sold at the golden Cup in the Goldsmith's Row in Cheapside. 1624. ❧ To the Reader. THis Sermon (thus made up with mine own and others notes) I now submit to Authority and Censure, for substance, I yield here is no more than what was delivered, whether no less I have not now to say, for circumstance (I yield to the allegation) I acknowledge it seasonable. The times shall ever be cleared by prayer whensoever they look sadly upon us. Our Brethren abroad cry still in the Church's words. jer. 8.20. The harvest is past, and the Summer is ended, and we are not helped, and we (methinks) should add with jeremy verse 21. I am sore vexed for the hurt of the daughter of my people, I am heavy, astonishment hath taken me; Is there no balm at Gilead &c, At home, howsoever the Lord hath been gracious to us in the scarcity, yet we may in most places, Hag. 2.20. take up the Prophet's words in another sense, Is the seed yet in the Barn? as yet the Trees have not been delivered of their burden? Look into the 65 Psalm, Psal. 65.9. 10.11. and thou shalt find that it is the Lord that finds both ground and seed, that gives both growth and ripening to the Corn, and therefore we should wait upon him with our presents of praise & prayer, this were enough to make us pray, but this is the least of many motives, for Reader thou seest the times, the World is now all ear and tongue, the most given with the Athenians to little else then to hear and tell news, (uncertain news, Demonol. l. 3 c. 1. ad finem. the Author of all lies as his Majesty hath told us) the rest are willing also to hear, and to hear God's Truth, not Fables, and therein they do but as S. james would have them, so as they would add doing to hearing as he commands. But alas, whilst we only profess and discourse of Religion, we drive the practice of Religion out of the world, as one too justly complains. Sir W. Ral. preface It is lamentable to consider the little use that is made of God's Ordinances in most places; Preachers too often (I tremble to speak it) be used like post horses, spurred on till they be spent, and then a fresh is called for, in the mean the world sits still and thinks to be saved for hearing. Reader, Mourn for this, weep for this, for this bodes a judgement, the Lord will reckon for the blood of his Prophets spent as well as shed. To these reasons, it will not be hard for thee to add more, look within thee, and round about thee, and so stir up thyself to this exercise of Prayer, an exercise (I can assure thee) of unspeakable strength and comfort, an exercise without which thou canst not live, and by which thou mayest live in the mouth of death. Believe it, wert thou in an estate, more desperate than death, in a place worse than hell, yet if there thou couldst pray truly, thou shouldst find comfort and strength beyond hope, for Prayer is better than our hopes, and yet God is better to us then our prayer. First, for that which is public, follow him who was no , make no small account of public prayers. Secondly, for private, pause before thou speak, remember who spoke it, if a man would not deliver an Oration to a Prince extempore and so dainely, it will not become us to open our mouths rashly before our maker, secondly, keep touch with God: first, for extraordinary and incidental occasions, be sure to keep thyself in such a state and condition of soul, as that ever thou canst recollect thyself, and call in all the powers of soul for this business upon a short warning: secondly, for ordinary times, so near as may be, fail not of thine hour, when the Clock strikes the Scholar runs to his book, thou must to God leaving all, there tender thyself, though not always alike fit, and so be in the way and place of preferment, if words will not come, sigh, God hears the sighing of his prisoners, if thou canst not sigh, breath, God hath an ear for that, Lam 3.56. However, there be, there stand, and the child that stands before his father and appears in his place at supper time with his trencher in his hand, speaks with his countenance, and speeds accordingly: he was wise who said, M. Gr. they pray not altogether of fashion, who see their infirmity in praying and are grieved for it, the worst prayers that we make (to our own sense I mean) speed ever best, and then we pray most happily, when we arise most humbled. Thirdly, when thou hast prayed, do not as children, who never look after their arrow; but as Daniel cap. 9.1. take notice of thine enlargements in prayer and of thy success after, writ down time and place as the Prophet doth, and so help thyself in future times by former experiments, I see this Porch grows wide, and therefore I will conclude, if thou be acquainted with prayer, thou knowest there is more in it then can be expressed, if thou be not acquainted, grow acquainted, and thou shalt find me true, if thou wantest furthest motives and directions, I commend (in this haste) to thee who art but a poor English private man. First, for the promises (whereof the heart must chew before prayer) the Treatise of faith. secondly, for motives, the Epistle to the key Heaven. thirdly, for cases of Conscience and directions after prayer, 2. Treatises on Ephe 6. viz. the spiritual Armour, and now after directions and exhortations, what remains but practice, in stead of others prailing and enter dealing in State-busines, do thou pray, pray for thy Sovereign, for his seed, for the Churches, for thyself, for thy charge, and use no more words against men's sins, than thou wilt make prayers for their souls in secret, if thou wilt have comfort in thy words: Thus much of this, Now Reader to thee, if these plain notes pass the Press, know that I neither did intend their publishing before I preached them, nor can intent notwithstanding their refining since; if the world may be bettered by them, or by any thing I can do, I have enough, only I desire mercy and equity from my friends, those notes of mine which they have, I will myself (after my public Ministry) now shortly revise, let no man do so ill an office as to thrust out other men's notes without their privity, especially his, who can do nothing worthy this Age. RO: HARRIS. PETER'S ENLARGEMENT. Acts 12.6.7. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and the Keepers before the door, kept the prison. And behold the Angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying; Arise up quickly, And his chains fell off from his hands, etc. HERE is a story of Peter's, 1. Imprisonment. 2. Enlargement: With the cause of the one, and means of the other. Herod having vexed some, slain a second, now commits the third; and all this to gratify the jews. Peter thus committed, is bailed by the Church, or rather remooved and freed by petition; they pray hearty for him, in the 5. verse, and they speed as happily, whilst they are praying, God gives in the prisoner amongst them. The manner of his delivery is here reported, and that was very strange, beyond Herod's purpose, the prisoners expectation, the Keeper's meaning, all men's hopes: Herod held his purpose he had begun, and the next morning he meant an end of him, Peter had made his conclusion to morrow (thinks he) (for messages passed between him and the Church, which spent this night in Prayer for him, and therefore knew the danger) I must be put to it, therefore I will strengthen myself to night: The Keepers stood upon their guard, and resolved that no Peter should pass them: yet is Peter delivered, and how I pray you? God removes all impediments, for nothing was in readiness. First, for man, entrance was there none, therefore God sends an Angel, and there was no stop against him. Next, in the dark, it was hard to find which was which; God directs an Angel to him, and he comes upon him, and misses not the man, though bound to the same chain with two others, as in strict imprisonments they used to do. Thirdly, they were in the dark, and that was ill for noise; The Angel brings his dark lantern with him, and shines to Peter and none else. Fourthly, the prisoner can do little for himself, he is asleep, the Angel wakes him; he is laid, the Angel raises him; he is amazed, the Angel directs him; he is bound, the Angel unties him; he knows not where he is, the Angel guides him; he is to pass through sundry difficulties, the Angel conducts him through them all, and so dismisses him. We will use no more words about a plain Story, but acquaint you with our meditations: they contain the success of the Church's prayers; they prayed for Peter, the Angel thereupon is sent to Peter: where see; 1. How the Angel finds him: 2. How the Angel delivers him. For the first, he finds him sleeping, in the midst of fears and foes: From whence was this sleep, was it worldly sorrow that caused it, or was it carnal security? Answ. In doubtful things charity supposes the best; so should we, worldly sorrow causes sleep, but how? when it is not extreme, and that sleep is joined with starting: carnal security will cause sleep, but why should we charge Peter with that at this time; his sleep came from a better cause, he was at peace with God, he had the Church's prayers for him, the cause for him, his conscience for him, God and his Angels for him; he could die but once, and for one death he was prepared: hence his boldness before, Chapters 4. and 5. hence his confidence, here he resolved with David, I will lay me down and sleep, and withal, God gave rest to his beloved, as it is in the Psalms, rest more than ordinary to his mind, to his body: hence the Angel can hardly awake him, and being awaked, he is not terrified, as a guilty person would have been in this case: do then but consider, 1. The man. 2. His behaviour in like cases. 3. The time and circumstances. 4. The exercises of the Church for him. 5. The messenger, and message sent to him. 6. The manner of his behaviour when he is awaked, and you will see that his sleep grew not from distemper, but from strength of faith and comfort. Now to the Points. Where first from the order, Doct. 1 see the power of joint prayers, they bear down all before them, and prevail in heaven and earth, as the Word that comes from heaven, prospers in the thing whereunto it is sent; Esay 55. so the word that goes to heaven, the prayers of the Church sirike up to God, there they lie at his gates, and never will away without their errand, and when they are answered, than they come down with authority, and reign over all impediments below, witness this Story: Peter is committed, the persecuters are resolute, the foes many, the friends few, means none but God, to God the Church goes; the enemy's plot, the Church prays; they shut the prison doors, the Church opens heavens doors; so there's old tugging for the prisoner, but the Church wins him. God, to let them see what prayers be, sends him to them while they are praying; there, saith God (if you will rake no denial) there he is; thereby pointing us to the means of his deliverance: we need not many words for proof of this, james saith, The prayer of one righteous man prevails much; james 5. if of one, what of twenty! what of an hundred! and he instances in Elijah, He alone could open and shut heaven, than well may many open and shut prisons on earth: nay add further, the joint prayers of unbelievers and hypocrites have done much: when heathenish Niniveh fasted and prayed, God heard; Jonah 3. when false Rehoboam humbled himself and his people, 2 Chron. 12. God was entreated; how much more shall the faithful prayers of the Church prevail, prevail (I say) both for the preventing and removing evils, and obtaining and keeping of good things: What shall we instance the life of Asa, jehosaphat, Hezekiah, when was it otherwise, when did the Church of God ever join in a common petition to God but they sped? no instance to the contrary. No marvel, Reas. 1 this exercise is well grounded and warranted, it hath the warrant of a Precept: james 5. 1. Pray for one another; call upon me. 2. The warrant of a promise, Psal. 50. I will deliver thee. 3. The warrant of experience, never any yet used it but they prevailed. Prayers are presents very welcome to God, Reas. 2 he prefers them to all sacrifices, being immediate worships of his Majesty; Let me hear thy voice it is pleasant: No father love's the voice of his children, like as God love's the voice of his Church; Cant. 2.14. 'tis his music and perfume. Rev. 5.8. 3. The parties are very dear who tender them, Reas. 3 God love's his Church above all creatures, he gave his Son for her, and therefore her suits shall have acceptance: Let me see thy face, its comely; Cant. 2.14. Esther never pleased Ahasuerosh so well, as the Church pleaseth Christ. 4. The parties from and through whom they are presented, Reas. 4 please: They are indicted and abbetted by the holy Ghost, Rom. 8. Rom. 8. tendered by Christ jesus, and shall these be denied? add to this: 5. The party to whom they are directed, to God, who is all truth, mercy, grace, wisdom, power, and shall not these prevail? Prayers set God on work, and all in God, his wisdom, his power, his Angels, and what then can hinder? Look backward, Use 1 and call to mind your sin this day, see, many a Peter hath been in prison, and prayers were not made by the Church; many a member sick, and prayers were not made by the Elders; yea many a Church distressed, Bohemia afflicted, the Palatinate and Valtoline distressed, yet we did not pray; the enemy could curse, but we did not pray, and therefore how justly might God distress and leave us destitute of his help, and the Church's prayers? 2. Look forward, and preserve and improve this your interest in God, let no Peter, no Preacher, no Christian, no neighbour lie in the chains by you (whether in the chains of sickness, or poverty, or debt, or pain, or sin, or temptation) but do you reprieve him: you have a key that will open any lock, a medicine that will heal any wound, a weapon that will prevail in any place; draw this weapon, use this medicine: if men be sick, pray them whole, if poor, pray them rich; if sad, pray them merry. But is this so easily done? yes verily by the whole Church; as it is for the outward estate when one is very poor, it is hard for two or three to set him up again, but nothing for a thousand; and when one is in a pit, it is much for one, but not for many to pull him out: see here, it is long of us that men lie so long under their burdens, would we jointly commend them to God, our prayers would take, men's chains would off, Ob. true spiritual chains: Why if so, were it not worth the while? Ans. what, may we ease our brethren of temptations, of passions, of lusts, and will we not? But for outward crosses, saith not Saint james, let the prayers of the Church heal the sick; saith not the story, the prayers of the Church procured Peter's liberty? But say they be not always delivered? Ob. yet it is good to get the crosses mitigated, sanctified, Ans. sweetened, and something will be done if we pray; do this then or nothing: perhaps you will excuse other negligences, you would visit your sick neighbour, but you question, his disease, your welcome; you would relieve your poor neighbours, but you have it not; why there is no Christian man but he hath an interest in God, a spirit of prayer; lift up a prayer for thy brethren, if thou canst do nothing else, and this will do thee and him good, prayer in this case for others, is a clearer evidence of grace, then for ourselves. Hear is comfort and encouragement, comfort for ourselves, if members of the Church, if we bleed with her, if we pray for her, if we say, If I forget thee, O jerusalem, then let my right hand forget her cunning: the comfort is great, we have that which Saint Paul thirsted for, the prayers of the Church; and this is a privilege worth ten worlds, and a comfort beyond all apprehension, when a man looks round about him and can say, there is a town, I have some prayers there, there is another, I have stock going there, nay in every shire, every nation, some that be enlarged when I am barren, some quickened when I am dull, and I am an adventurer in the Church's ship, I have a stock in her treasure, and an interest in her prayers; this keeps the head above water, and preserves from sinking. 4. For encouragement, to pray for the Church, would God's people enter into a holy league, and tie themselves in their several closerts, to spend so much time weekly, or daily in prayer, for some particular person, or place, Church, or Nation; I wonder how they should miss; tell me where ever the Churches joint prayers did ever miscarry, or prove abortive? in what place, in what case, for what people? prayers have been made for men out of the Church, and have sped, witness Niniveh; for men in the Church (good men, bad men) and have sped; prayers have been made by Land, and have prevailed; on the Seas by janah, and have sped, they have prevailed under the earth, in dens, and dungeons, and caves; prayers have been made for sick men and have holp them, for dying men, for poor men, for captives, for prisoners, and have helped; for men against persecution, against temptation, against sorrow, against beasts, against men, against devils: prayers have been omnipotent heretofore, why not now? Ob. Why now, Ob. if we were as others, God's hand (we know) is not shortened, his ear not heavy; but our sins, our crying ripe sins, hinder good things from us? Ans. Why therefore set against those sins by prayer, cast out your own, cry down other men's, Ans. outcry them. Ob. Oh but they cry loud. Ob. Ans. Yet prayer hath the stronger voice, Ans. the blood of Christ speaks better things then bloody sins, etc. Let Sodom yield ten holy men, Gen. 18. james 5. Amos 7.1.2. and she shall be spared, let one Elijah stand up for stiffnecked Israel, and one Amos plead for rebellious judah, and God will show mercy. Ob. True indeed, if we had such as they, Ob. but our prayers are weak and faint. Ans. 1. They were men subject to like passions. Ans. 2. The prayer of the righteous is prevailing. jam. 5.16.17. 3. These here mentioned were new converts, yet prevailed with God for Peter. Ob. Oh but here the whole Church joined: Ob. if all Israel might meet from Dan to Beersheba, there might be some hope. Ans. We may, and do more than these might; Ans. 1. we may meet in public assemblies every Sabbath: 2. these were but few that lived in the dark, and met in the night, and in hester's time in their several families, and the whole State was then against the truth, and against the Scriptures, and all religion was disgraced; yet than they prevailed, much more we now. Ob. But now it is too late, Ob. many Churches abroad be quite scattered, many men at home have their backs and hearts quite broken, with wants, temptations, discouragements. Ans. Whilst God calls in his word, Ans. it is not too late, God is used to see men sinking before he sets in, their extremity is his opportunity; when Peter is within one night of the sword, then is his time. Ob. Ob. But I have waited, and see no success? Answ. Ans. So did the Church, they pray for Peter this week, the next, and the next, the doors be still shut, the chains be still on; well now they have but one night more to wait, Gen. 22. they wait that, but ere morning all is won: If then we have but one day, one night, one hour to spend; hope, pray, wait, that day, that night, that hour, God will be seen in the mount: deliverance shall come if prayer go on the errand; it ever was so, ever shall be so, dispute not but believe; there is who prays and speaks not, & there is too that speaks, who prays not; if thou wilt pray, thou must open thy needs to God, as thy Father, through Christ, God-man as thy Mediator, from God the holy Ghost, as the inditer of thy prayers: if thou wilt pray, thy heart must be 1. Psal. 66.18. emptied of purposes of sin: 2. broken: 3. purged from guile by faith; which faith must then work, before thou beginnest; Psal. 86.7. And the 56.9. say with David, I will call, and God will answer me; and when thou hast done, conclude, I have spoken, and shall in due time and manner be answered; thus do, and be sure that thou neither begin nor end a lawful petition (of such only we speak) before thou art ware, let faith enter thy suit, and end, and subscribe it, and thou prevailest. Now to particulars. How finds the Angel Peter? Sure he cannot sleep this night, being upon his life to morrow, and in all likelihood knowing of it by the Church, howsoever, not sure of life one day to an end, but like enough to be sent for at an hour's warning, as john Baptists head was. Notwithstanding all this, Peter sleeps as sound as ever in his life, and wakes without terror; whence was this, from corruption? no; from natural courage? no, when Peter was younger, and therefore naturally bolder, he was a distard: whence then? consider the reasons before, and it will be found, that it was from special comfort and confidence in God, which comfort most attends prisons and persecutions: here see the strength of spiritual peace and comfort. The Lord hath comforts for his children, Doct. 2 that will quiet and support them in any fears & straits, his consolations will make a man sleep without a bed; live almost without a soul: They will make one bold in danger, quiet in trouble, live in the jaws of death: The joy of the Lord is strong, Nehe. 8. saith Nehemiah, strong indeed that will carry a man over all: Peter had a strong heart, that can thus sleep, thus wake, that can look upon Chains, upon Prisons, upon Tyrants, upon Torments, upon Angels; (good and bad) and never break his sleep for the matter. Paul's joys were strong, Act. 15 that made him sing in the stocks: david's saith strong, that made him say, I will lie down and sleep, Psal. 3. I will not fear though ten thousand rise up against me: those were strong and strange joys that supported David in all his fears, and made him say, In the multitude of my thoughts, Psal. 94. 1●. thy comforts glad my soul: Those strong that triumphed over, rackings, mockings, scourge, etc. as in the eleventh to the Hebrews. Quest. But whence comes their strength? 1. Q Whence these comforts. Because they be God's joys, the joys of the Spirit, derived immediately from the fountain; Reas. 1 and things be purest and strongest there. 2. Because spiritual, for as spirits are more actine and powerful than bodies, so spiritual things then bodily and natural. 3. These joys are most certain and durable, these overcome and outlive all crosses, and all other comforts. 4. They are all-sufficient, and borrow no help from creatures: Nature and Art work with instruments, and by means, they cannot support without meat, strengthen without sleep, give sleep without warmth, nor warmth without a bed, etc. But God can beyond means, without means, work comfort, make one see in the dark, live in death. Quest. But what be these comforts of God? 2. Q. What. Ans. Precious promises applied by God in due season, Answ. 1 and brought home to the heart, which revive the spirits more than any balm; and these promises come thick upon Peter now: He thinketh, hath not God said; that the sighing of prisoners comes to him, that he bottles up all our tears, that we should cast our care upon him, and he will care for us, that in six and seven troubles, they shall not come near me, that in fire and water he will he with me, & did not I hear my Saviour say, Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness sake; read not I how David said, I will lie down and steep, and therefore I will do so too. 2. Strengthening graces, God pours the spirit of faith, patience, power, courage, into his, in due time; and they raise the heart, as wine the fainting spirits; every saving grace is healing, is strengthening. 3. Hourly experience of God's care and providence; dence; and a child never sees the love of his mother so much as when he is sick, so God's children, etc. Now that makes them pluck up their feet with jacob, and say with Paul, I know whom I have trusted; and with the Church, Thou wilt guide us to death; and after (as David adds) receive to glory. 4. Special peace of conscience, and joy of the holy Ghost, by new expressions of God's favour, and ravishments of heaven: then God opens heaven, and they see their life and crown, and so are carried over all. Quest. When doth God thus comfort his? 3. Q. When Ans. When they most need it, as then the mother brings out her preserves, when the child is sick: first, when they be most humbled and empty of themselves; therefore after greatest humiliations come greatest consolations, as David, Abraham, and others ever found. 2. But specially in the day of trial and persecution, the more the Devil bestirs him, the more God bestirs him: thus the sweetest nights that ever jacob spent were in the field, and so for Peter; Gen 28. and 32. chap. Psal. 219. and when had David those large affections to rise at midnight, when was the Word so swcete, but when his troubles were bitter? The Use is double, Use. 1. get these comforts, we get aqua vitae ready against qualms; Bezoar-stone, and cordials against fits: but the cordials that help all, is the holy Ghost, the Comforter; Art is blind, and often posed; Nature weak, and often foiled; (like a bow that must not be drawn beyond compass) only grace and spiritual comfort is invincible: get this, and you may sleep in a dungeon, live in the dark, want all, and yet have all; want these, and a flea may break your sleep; Dan. 5. and a hand-writing dash your mirth in the midst of all friends. 2. Let such as have spiritual hearts thus affected, stay themselves here; fear not poverty, there be comforts beyond the pain of famine; fear not sickness, there be comforts beyond all fits of sickness: fear not death, fear not chains, fear not any thing that you can or shall suffer: Not any thing? Rev. 2.10. Why, a man is subject to racking, to burning, etc. yet fear not, and why? the Lord hath comfort in all, and above all tribulations: when he calls a Saul to a crown, 1 Cor. 1. he makes him another man: so when he calls a man to a chain, Peter is not the man in prison he was out of prison; at the first he was fearful of a wench's word, after he was willing, yet flesh hung back, john the last Chapter, vers. Act. 5.29.4.13. 18. But when put upon it, hear his voice, see his face, he can be as quiet, as comfortable, as well in prison as ever. Ob. Oh but I find myself afraid of words? Ob. Ans. So was Peter at first. Ans. Ob. Oh but, Ob. saith our Saviour, beware of men. Ans. No man so malicious as God is merciful, Ans. so perilous as God is pitiful. Oh but say we lived where we should lie in cold irons, in the dark, be half pined, starved; who can bear these? Peter can, any can, when God calls them to it. O but say we were put to the fiery trial, flames are intolerable and merciless. O but flames are in God's hands, Daniel 3. Chapter: again, Martyrs have had more comfort there, then in all their lives before. Oh but some of them have cried out of pains: And do not men so who die in their beds too? but God hath borne them through these, and made them amends. O get then inward strength, and that will overcome all fears, all torments; conclude we with that good Martyr, if God call ever any of his to any such sufferings, he will either weaken the flame or strengthen their faith; he hath promised (that, which let us live and die in; to wit) that he will not tempt beyond strength: And he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can speak or think. 2 Cor. 10. Assure yourselves, the scare of persecution is more than persecution it self; therefore I speak to your fears, for there is none (through God's mercy) with us I am sure to be felt (I think) to be feared. The same night, etc. Doct. 3 That the Lord doth often hold his people long in suspense, for those things which he means to give them; he is to our seeming slow, but sure; sure, but slow; thus he was as good as his word to Abraham, he gave him a son, but he held him off to the last hour; he kept touch with his posterity, brought them out of Egypt, but he deferred it till the last day; his bond was almost forfeited, yet he paid it before the Sunset, Exod. 12.17.41. Thus joseph was long in prison, yet at the appointed time brought forth; Nal. 105.19. and Israel long in captivity, prayers were made, and yet Daniel could hear no answer till night was upon him; Dan. 9 jacob wrestles till day, etc. so also the woman of Canaan, Matt. 15, and the Church here: in all which places we see, that God is mindful of his day. 2. That he defers sometime till the last hour be running. The reason of this delay is manifold. 1. God would turn our eyes backward, Reas. and make us say; O it is just God should defer me, I have deferred him; he called and I would not hear; prayed me again, again, and again, and I would not answer; therefore it is equal I should call and cry, and not be heard. 2. God hereby would sharpen our prayers for the present, therefore he seems deaf, because we should speak out; therefore slow, because we should be earnest; thus Daniel interprets it: God defers him, this is (saith he) but to try me, therefore he spits upon his hands, and takes better hold; O Lord forgive, saith he, O Lord hear, O Lord open, and pours so many petitions, and arguments upon God, that there is no resistance; thus jacob, he sees the day coming upon him, and he had made nothing of it all night, and therefore now he sets to it, Go, saith he, I will not let thee go without a blessing. 3. Hereby he prepares us for the future receiving of his comforts; thus he humbles us, thus he enlargeth us, thus fits us for thankfulness, the more blessings cost us, the better we will prize them, and praise God for them: add to this, that these repulses drive us to further searches, Ios. 7. judg. 20. as the Israelites at Ai, and Gibeah. Doth the Lord thus long defer sometime his intended comforts and answers? Use 1 Let's know the courses of his providence, and wait upon him: behold the husbandman waits; when he hath sown his seed, he doth not look to reap and sow all in a day, his Corn is first buried, yea it dies, yea it grows downward, before it comes upward, and when it is up, receives many a snib and check, yet he waits? And why? because he hath experience: so must we, when we have sown our seed; say we bury our prayers, say to our seeming they die, say they grow downward, backward, say all things seem to be worse after prayer with us then before, yet wait; why, we have experience of our own and other men's success, never did men sow this seed, but they had a crop, though a late harvest, yet a harvest. Ob. Oh but I have prayed exceeding long. Ob. Ans. How long? Ans. Isaac prayed twenty years for a child, before he sped, Abraham thirty; before he sped; Abraham's posterity were four hundred years in captivity, before they were delivered; the Church thirsted for Christ, one thousand, two thousand, three thousand years, before they had him: How many thousands, hundreds, scores of years, hast thou waited? Ob. O but I have tried all my friends, Ob. used all means, prayed myself, and got others to speak too, and yet no help? Ans. And might not Peter say as much? Ans. not a Christian in jerusalem, but had spoken, and spoken often, and yet he sticks. Ob. O but matters with me are worse and worse, Ob. the more I pray against poverty, the poorer I am; the more I pray for patience, the worse I am; the more I pray for faith, the less I have; the more I pray against passions and temptations, the more they fly in my face. Ans. Is not this as we said, Ans. that the corn must go backward, before it come forward; was it not so with Abraham and Sarah, the longer they prayed the elder they waxed, and so unfitter for issue. Ob. O but my sins grow stronger by prayer. Ob. Ans. Not so, Ans. thou feelest it more than before; it is not because sin is stronger, but thou sounder; again, these motions of sin, be not motions of life, but symptoms of death; as the fowl struggles, and sprunts most when the head is off: the pangs of death be now upon thy lusts, take comfort. Ob. O but now your comforts come too late, Ob. the date is out for me. Ans. Why? Ans. hath God said pray no more, as to jeremy, hath he stopped thy mouth? so long as God saith, pray; so long as the spirit within thee saith, pray; so long as God's people have hearts to pray; never say it is too late to pray: if Peter be out by midnight, or by daybreak, it is as well as if he had been out a month before. Ob. O but delays breaks the heart. Ob. Ans. But note the end of delays, Ans. they are never to deny or frustrate, but to fit, and to quicken: make these uses of delays, and then if thy suit be not honest, never begin it; if it be, never leave it: learn of husband men, when they pull down a tree, or list at some block, if they cannot stir it, they call in help, if it come not at the first pull, they pull again, if not then, ha', again; if not then, ha', once more; at last they feel it coming, and then it comes amain: learn of Elijah, 1 Kin. 18.43. he prayed for rain, having prayed looks about him, nothing comes; he prayed again, nothing comes; he prayed again, nothing comes; at length, O Master (saith his servant) I see a cloud, but it is but little; Is it a cloud? then once more to it, and by and by the heavens were masked with clouds: learn of these men, Peter sticks in the dungeon, one lifts, he cannot stir him; try you (saith he) to a second, to a third, try a fourth, a fist; at length heaven stirs, the chains stir, and Peter comes in amongst them: learn of Christ himself; the widow dealt with a judge, not a Father; Luke 18. a bad judge, she was alone, a simple Orator, yet she prevails: learn of beggars, they have no command, no promise, no acquaintance, no Art; and yet will stand it out; the master chides, the beggar stands it out; the dame chides, he stands still; the servants come, and say they dare not serve him; the children say we must not, and yet he will not away. O Lord, help our faith, how weak be we, if having precept, promise, kindred, God's servants, God's Son on our sides, we will be put off with a delay: well (as I said) so long as a night, an hour, a minute, is left, pray; one night may compass that which an hundred before could not. It followeth, An Angel, etc. The Lord hath ever means at hand for his servants, Doct. 4 comfort and deliverance, if set on work; well might Peter say, 2 Pet. 2. The Lord knoweth how to deliver his, etc. He is never at a stand, if they know how to pray, he knoweth how to comfort. In himself he is all-sufficient, Reas. 1 infinite in wisdom, to invent means; in power, to act them; and if need be, Esa. 4.5. to create more. 2. He is the Lord of Hosts, the Lord of every creature; if our work lie in the Seas, he is Lord of the Seas; if on the Land, he is Lord there, if in Prison he beareth the keys of every Gaol; if heavens can help us, he commands them; if winds, if beafts, if friends, if strangers, if foes, if Angels; the Lord hath the command of all persons, things, and places. For comfort, Use 1 roll thyself upon God, cast thy care upon him, he will bring it to pass; is thy burden, poverty? Psal. 37. cast it upon him, and he will help it; is it sin, fear, sorrow, whatsoever it be, he can bear it, and discharge thee? Oh but I see no means, This Sermon was made in the depth of the dearth. I own so much; so many in my family, and no means. This is as if they should have said, If we had a friend in the Court, to move Herod; if a friend in the Watch, to bribe him; if in the prison, to see him; then something might be done, but now all means fail us. No, no: God hath means beyond our sight, if men cannot do it, Angels can and shall: and if no man will pay the Widow's debt, God will: if no body else will feed Eliah, 2 King 4. the Ravens shall: what do we talk of means? all means are shut up in God. Ob. O but my case is desperate, Ob. it is not possible to help me. Ans. Now we shall have a tale of impossibilities: Ans. And why not possible; shall any thing be impossible to God? Ob. O but there be an hundred blocks in my way. Ob. Ans. But what is in his way, Ans. that makes his way through the seas, stones, wood, iron, & c? Esa. 43.16. go to the prison, there is a block, a guard; pass that guard, there is a block, a door; pass the door, there is another, a chain; pass the chain, there is another, a iron gate. O but what of this, if they can break through all hindrances of unbelief, discouragements to prayer: God will break thorough these and a thousand more, to their comfort. O but God works no wonders now. Mark our Saviour's callection from Manna to bread. Mat. 4. Deut. 8.3. Esa. 9.6. No? his Name is wonderful still; his power as great as ever, his wisdom as deep as ever, his promises as good, his love as much to his as ever, our need as much, our interest as good, our Saviour as good; all things stand as before: if we can use former means, we shall find former success, and God will do abundantly above all that we can speak or think: we have the Lords promise for this, Ephesians 3.20. and Esay 42.16. I will make dark light, and crookedness strait: we have had our own experience, let any man that hath had any acquaintance with God and this holy duty, tell me when prayers were not successful; when didst thou ever speak to thy heavenly Father, but he did answer thee with some ease, some comfort? When didst thou ever pray, but thy heart was thereby somewhat lightened? and if thou canst not but say with David, Psal. 139.3. in the same day I asked, I was thus far answered, That my heart was strengthened, Ps. 139.3. do not fail to conclude with David, Though I walk in the midst of troubles, yet (upon prayer) I shall be revived, 7. and God will perfect his mercies in me for ever, 8. Thus we have dispatched some meditations: more we have, but they must be only named; as 1. Herod would, but could not bring forth Peter, to trial and execution: men be but men, and must do as they may; for what they would do against the Church, nor they, nor all the Devils in hell can do. 2. The Lord can give sleep and peace in any place, at any time, in any company. 3. God's best servants and messengers, are sometimes yoked with vilest offenders, etc. 4. God's best creatures are the Church's servants: Angels. 5. Lastly, the Lord can quickly shake his out of their chains, rags, fears, fetters, etc. But what do I mean thus to exceed: Brethren I would fain have you more thirsty of your time, do you not waste it (as others do) in idle impertinencies, much less in surveying States and Kingdoms; It is not for us to sit upon Crowns and thrones, and to turn Statesmen; it is for us to be thankful where God blesses, and to be prayerful when the Church labours; to this end I have said thus much; to persuade you to the practice of what you know, now your turn follows, let's see what will be done, and how well you will improve time, in speaking to God; rather then to, or of men. (⸪) FINIS.