9. Rule. Dwell upon the consideration of those choice encourage^ ments God hath laid up in the world for such a time. As, (1.) Though he give Satan leave to tempt you, yet you are still in his hand to preserve you, Deut. xxxiii. S. John x. 28. (2.) That whilst Sa- tan is sifting and trying you on earth, Christ is interceding for you in heaven, Luke xxii. 31, 32. (3.) That an eternal reward is laid up for those that overcome, Luke xxii. 28, 29. Rev. xxi. 7, 8. And now is this reward to be won or lost.
Lastly., Be content till God open a door out of your temptations, 1 Cor. X. 13. The time of the promise will come. Acts vii. 17. Wait for it, though it tarry, and seem to be deferred ; in the end it will speak, and not lie, Hab. ii. 3. There was a secret door in the ark, though it could not be seen whilst the waters prevailed : And so there is in all your temptations, though at present it be not discernible by you.
And thus have I brought you one step nearer to PauPs blessed frame. O give diligence to make yourselves ready for sufferings.
SheKcth that a choice part of our preparation and readiness Jbr siif-
firings consists in the improvement of our praying abilities^ and
keeping close with God in that heavenly and excellent duty in days
of suffering ; wherein also is opened the )tature and means of its
X^RAYER is said to be amongst duties, as faith is amongst the graces. Doubtless it is of special use and service at all times to a Christian : But yet in suffering days it is of more than ordinary use and necessity, Heb. iv. 16. James v. 13. And therefore it is rec- koned among those choice pieces of armour which suffering saints are to put on, Eph. vi. 18. I will here briefly discover the necessity of it, and then shew you that a Christian may improve himself to an excellent degree in it ; and, lastly, prescribe some means for an improvement.
The necessity of it to a suffering saint will demonstratively appear, if you consider,
1. That this duty is the outlet of troubles, and the best wa}^ the poor Cliristian liath to ease his heart when surcharged with sorrow. Griefs are eased by groans. Such evaporations disburden and cool the heart, as the opening of a vein in some cases doth. Oh the sensible ease that comes in this v^ay ! When grief in the mind, hke vapours in the air, are condensed into black clouds that overspread the soul, and darken that beautiful light that once shone there, then prayer, like the sun dispels and scatters them, 1 Sam. i. 18. Many a saint, by prayer, hath sucked the breast of ajn'omisc, and then fell asleep by
THE BEST WORK IN THE WORST TIMES. 65
Divine contentment in the bosom of God. A time may come when thy heart is ready to break with trouble, and not a friend to whom thou canst open and ease it, and then blessed be God for prayer, Micali vii. 5, 6, 7. That which sinks others is, that when troubles iill and overwhelm their hearts, they try what reason, merry company, or outward comforts can do: But, alas! this is to palliate a cure, it returns again with the more violence : But prayer gives sensible re- lief, Psal. cii. title, Psal. Ixii. 8. For, (1.) This opens and give's a vent to troubles, Jer. xx. 12. (2.) It gives our troubles a diversion, and so a cure, Psal. v. 1. and the last verse compared. Yea^ (3.) By praying over them they are not only diverted, but sanctified, and so cease to be distracting, or destroying troubles.
2. As it gives a vent to our troubles, so an in-let to unspeakable comforts and consolations. See a pregnant instance of this. Acts xvi. 25. For, (1.) Hereby they obtain gracious answers from the Lord concerning their troubles, 2 Cor. xii. 9. In this also they meet the gracious smiles of God, which swallow up their troubles, Psal. Ixxxv. 8. And, lastly, hereby they prevail with God to open a seasonable and effectual door out of all their troubles, Psal. xxxiv. 4, 6.
3. Prayer begets and maintains holy courage and magnanimity in evil times. When all things about you tend to discouragement, it is your being with Jesus that makes you bold. Acts iv. 13. He that uses to be before a great God, will not be afraid to look such little things as men are in the face. The woman clothed with the sun, had the moon under her feet. And what need you have of courage in evil times, hath been already shewed.
4. This is a duty you may perform at any time, or in any condi- tion : No adversary can cut you off from it. It cannot be said so of many other duties. None can hinder the intercourse betwixt hea- ven and your souls: You may perform it in a prison. Acts xvi. 25. in a banished condition, Psal. Ixi. 2. And so is fitted for a suffering condition.
Lastly, You must strive to excel in this, forasmuch as no grace within, or service without, can thrive without it. God hath ordained the whole work of grace to grow up to perfection this way, Judg. xix. 20. He will have all mercies fetched out this way, Ezek. xxxvi. 37. Jer. xxix. 11, 12, 13. All that comes from Goi to you, or to you from God, must come in this channel. Be convinced then of the need you have to improve yourselves herein, as ever you hope to stand in the evil day.
But how are these praying abilities capable of improvement in the people of God ?
Prayingabilities areeither external and common, or else internal and special. The external and common ability is nothing else but that dexterity and skill men get to express themselves to God in prayer. Thus many can put their meaning into apt and decent expressions.
66 PHEPARATtOXS FOR Stl'FEKIXGS ; OK,
to which the Spirit sometimes adds his common touches upon the affections. And this hypocrites rest on, and glory in. Or else they are special and internal, whereby men are enabled to pour out their souls to God in a gracious manner. And this may be considered either in the habit or the act. The habit is given by the Spirit, when the principles of grace are first infused into the soul, Zech. xii. 10. Acts ix. 11. By being sanctified we are made near, and by acting those principles in prayer we are said to draw near, Psal. x. 17. Now in our actual drawing near to God^ the Spirit hath the chief and prin- cipal hand : And his assistance therein is threefold.
1. He excites the heart to the duty ; it is he that whispers to the soul to draw nigh to God, Psalm xxvii. 8.
S. He suggests the matter of our prayers, and furnishes us with the materials, Rom. viii. 26. guiding us as to the matter, not only to what is lawful, but also to what is expedient for us.