To pass over many other causes of the neglect of this intercourse, and dealing with God by prayer, we may well judge, as one of the chief, a self- sufficiency whereby men dwell too much in themselves. He that hath no- thing at home will seek abroad. The poor man (saith Solomon) speaketh supplications. If we were poor in spirit, and saw our own emptiness, it would force us out of ourselves. Alas ! what temptation can we resist, much less overcome, without fresh succour ? What cross can we endure without impatience, if we have not new support ? What success can we look for, yea, in common afiairs, without his blessing ? What good can we do, nay, think of, without new strength ? When we do any good by his power, . do we not need pardon for the blemishes of our best performances ? What good blessing can we enjoy, so as we defile not oui-selves in it, without a further blessing, giving us with the thing the holy use of it ? Yet we see ■ most men content to receive blessings as they come from God's general • providence, without regarding any sanctified use by prayer, whereas holy ' men, knowing that God will be sought unto even for those things of which he hath given a promise, Ezek. xxxvi. 37, in obedience to this his divine order, desire to receive all from him as a fruit of their prayers. Axid God's manner is to keep many blessings fi-om his children until they have begged them, as delighting to hear his children speak. The consideration whereof moveth those that have nearest communion with God to acknowledge him in all their ways, depending on him for direction, strength, success, where- upon he delighteth in shewing himself more familiarly unto them in the sweetest experiences of his love, guiding them by his counsel whilst they abide here, and after, bringing them to glory, Ps. xxxvii. 24. As other graces grow in those that are in the state of grace, so this spirit of prayer receiveth continual increase upon more inward acquaintance with God, and their own estates. Whence they can never be miserable, having God to pour forth their spirits and ease their hearts unto, who cannot but regard the voice of his own Spirit in them. But of ourselves, such is our case, that God who knoweth us better than "we know ourselves, saith, we know not what or how to pray, Rom. viii. 26. This language of Canaan is strange unto us. Which oitr blessed Saviour in mercy considering, stirred up a desire in his disciples to be taught of him the Son, how to speak to the Father. Where thereupon he teacheth them a fonn, which for heavenly fulness of matter, and exactness of order, sheweth that it could come from no other Author.
This holy pattern comprising so much in so little, all things to be desired in six short petitions, it is needful for the guides of God's people to lay open the riches of it to the view of those that are less exercised. An endeavour
MEMOIR OF EICHAKD SIBBES, D.D. Ixxyjx
■which his excellent majesty thought not unbeseeming the greatness of a king. For the use of a set form of prayer, and this in special, I will make no question ; yet in the use of this prayer, we may dwell more in the medita- tion and enforcing such petitions as shall concern our present occasions. For instance, if ever there were time of prajing, ' Let thy kingdom come,' let Chi'ist ai'ise and his enemies be scattered, then certainly now is the time for us to ascend up into heaven by our prayers, and awake Christ, that he would rebuke the winds and waves, and cause a calm ; that he ■would be strong for his church, in maintaining his own cause. It is God's manner, before any great work for his chm'ch, to stir up the spirits of his beloved ones to give him no rest. How earnest was Daniel with the Lord immediately before the delivery out of Babylon, Dan. xi. And undoubtedly, if we join the forces of om* praj'ers together, and set upon God with an holy violence, he would set his power, his wisdom, his goodness on work for the exalting of his church, and ruin of the enemies of it. Now is the time for Moses his hands to be upheld, whilst Amalek goeth down.
The prevailing power of prayer vvdth God in times of danger, appeareth not only in the sacred history of the Bible, but hath been recorded in all ages of the church. In the primitive church, a.d. 175, the army of Chris- tians was called the thundering legion, because, upon then- prayers, God scattered their enemies with thunder, and refreshed themselves with showers in a great drought.
After, in the good Emperor Theodosius his time, a.d. 394, upon an earnest prayer to Clu-ist, the winds fought from heaven for him against his enemies, as they did for us in 1588. And continually since, God never left the force of faithful prayer mthout witness. K we would observe how God answereth prayers, we should see a blessed issue of all the holy desires he kindles in om- hearts ; for he cannot but make good that title whereby he is styled, ' a God hearing prayer,' Ps. Ixv. 2, which should move us to sow more prayers into his bosom, the fruit whereof we should reap in our greatest need. It would be a strong evidence in these troublesome times of the futm'e good success of the chm-ch, if we were earnest in soUciting Christ ■with these words which himself hath taught us, ' Let thy kingdom come.' For put him to it, and ' he -will never fail those that seek him,' Ps. is. 10. He loveth importunity.