HERE is a storie of Peters, 1. Imprisonment. 2. En­largement: With the cause of the one, and meanes of the other. He­rod hauing vexed some, slaine a second, now com­mits the third; and all this to gratifie the Iewes. Peter thus committed, is bailed by the Church, or rather remooved and freed by petition; they pray heartily for him, in the 5. verse, and they speed as [Page 2]happily, whilest they are praying, God giues in the prisoner amongst them. The manner of his delivery is here reported, and that was very strange, beyond Herods purpose, the prisoners expectation, the Keepers meaning, all mens 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 (thinkes he) (for messages past betweene 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 my selfe to night: The Keepers stood vpon their guard, and resolved that no Peter should passe them: yet is Peter delivered, and how I pray you? God remoues all impediments, for nothing was in readinesse.

First, for man, entrance was there none, therefore God sends an Angell, and there was no stop against him.

Next, in the darke, it was hard to find which was which; God directs an Angell to him, and hee comes vpon him, and misses not the man, though bound to the same chaine with two others, as in strict imprisonments they vsed to doe.

Thirdly, they were in the darke, and that was ill for noyse; The Angell brings his darke lanthorne with him, and shines to Peter and none else.

Fourthly, the prisoner can doe little for himselfe, he is asleepe, the Angell wakes him; he is laid, the Angell raises him; he is amazed, the Angell directs him; he is bound, the Angell vnties him; hee knowes not where he is, the Angell guides him; hee [Page 3]is to passe through sundry difficulties, the Angell conducts him through them all, and so dismisses him.

Wee will vse no more words about a plaine Sto­rie, but acquaint you with our meditations: they containe the successe of the Churches prayers; they prayed for Peter, the Angell thereupon is sent to Pe­ter: where see; 1. How the Angell findes him: 2. How the Angell delivers him.

For the first, he findes him sleeping, in the midst of feares and foes: From whence was this sleepe, was it worldly sorrow that caused it, or was it car­nall securitie?

Answ. In doubtfull things charitie supposes the best; so should we, worldly sorrow causes sleepe, but how? when it is not extreame, and that sleepe is ioyned with starting: carnall securitie will cause sleepe, but why should we charge Peter with that at this time; his sleepe came from a better cause, he was at peace with God, he had the Churches 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 hee was prepared: hence his boldnes before, Chapters 4. and 5. hence his confidence, here he resolued with Dauid, I will lay me downe and sleepe, and withall, God gaue rest to his beloued, as it is in the Psalmes, rest more then ordinary to his minde, to his body: hence the An­gell can hardly awake him, and being awaked, he is not terrified, as a guiltie person would haue beene in this case: doe then but consider, 1. The man. 2. His behaviour in like cases. 3. The time and [Page 4]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 sleepe 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 ioynt prayers, they beare downe all before them, and prevaile in heaven and earth, as the Word that comes from heaven, prospers in the thing where­vnto it is sent; Esay 55. so the word that goes to heaven, the prayers of the Church sirike vp to God, there they lie at his gates, and never will away without their errand, and when they are answered, then they come downe with authoritie, and raigne over all impediments below, witnesse this Story: Peter is committed, the persecuters are resolute, the foes many, the friends few, meanes none but God, to God the Church goes; the enemies plotte, the Church prayes; they shut the prison doores, the Church opens heavens doores; so ther's old tug­ging for the prisoner, but the Church winnes him. God, to let them see what prayers bee, sends him to them while they are praying; there, saith God (if you will rake no deniall) there he is; thereby pointing vs to the meanes of his deliverance: we need not many words for proofe of this, Iames saith, The prayer of one righteous man prevailes much; Iames 5. if of one, what of twentie! what of an hundred! and he instances in Elijah, Hee alone could open and shut heaven, then well may many open and shut prisons on earth: nay adde further, the ioynt prayers of [Page 5]vnbeleevers and hypocrites haue done much: when heathenish Niniuie fasted and prayed, God heard; Jonah 3. when false Rehoboam humbled himselfe and his people, 2 Chron. 12. God was intreated; how much more shall the faithfull prayers of the Church prevaile, pre­vaile (I say) both for the preventing and removing evils, and obtaining and keeping of good things: What shall we instance the life of Asa, Iehosaphat, Hezekiah, when was it otherwise, when did the Church of God euer ioyne in a common petition to God but they sped? no instance to the contrary.

No marvell, Reas. 1 this exercise is well grounded and warranted, it hath the warrant of a Precept: Iames 5.

• 1. Pray for one another; call vpon me.
• 2. The warrant of a promise,
  Psal. 50.
  I will deliuer thee.
• 3. The warrant of experience, never any yet v­sed it but they prevailed.

Prayers are presents very welcome to God, Reas. 2 he prefers them to all sacrifices, being immediate wor­ships of his Maiestie; Let me heare thy voyce it is pleasant: No father loues the voyce of his children, like as God loues the voyce of his Church; Cant. 2.14. Tis his musicke and perfume. Rev. 5.8.

3. The parties are very deare who tender them, Reas. 3 God loues his Church aboue all creatures, he gaue his Sonne for her, and therefore her sutes shall haue 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 indited and abbet­ted by the holy Ghost, Rom. 8. Rom. 8. tendred by Christ [Page 6]Iesus, and shall these be denyed? adde to this:

5. The party to whom they are directed, to God, who is all truth, mercy, grace, wisedome, power, and shall not these prevaile? Prayers set God on worke, and all in God, his wisedome, his power, his Angels, and what then can hinder?

Looke backward, Vse 1 and call to minde your sinne this day, see, many a Peter hath beene in prison, and prayers were not made by the Church; many a member sicke, 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 wee did not pray, and therefore how iustly might God distresse and leaue vs destitute of his helpe, and the Churches prayers?

2. Looke forward, and preserue and improue this your interest in God, let no Peter, no Preacher, no Christian, no neighbour lie in the chaines by you (whether in the chaines of sicknesse, or pover­tie, or debt, or paine, or sinne, or temptation) but doe you repriue him: you haue a key that will open any locke, a medicine that will heale any wound, a weapon that will prevaile in any place; draw this weapon, vse this medicine: if men be sicke, pray them whole, if poore, 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 poore, it is hard for two or three to set him vp againe, but nothing for a thousand; and when one is in a pit, it is much for one, but not for [Page 7]many to pull him out: see here, it is long of vs that men lie so long vnder their burdens, would wee ioyntly commend them to God, our prayers would take, mens chaines would off, Ob. true spirituall chaines: Why if so, were it not worth the while? Ans. what, may wee ease our brethren of temptations, of passions, of lusts, and will wee not? But for out­ward crosses, saith not Saint Iames, let the prayers of the Church heale the sicke; saith not the story, the prayers of the Church procured Peters liberty? But say they bee not alwayes delivered? Ob. yet it is good to get the crosses mitigated, sanctified, Ans. sweet­ned, and something will be done if wee pray; doe this then or nothing: perhaps you will excuse o­ther negligences, you would visit your sicke neigh­bour, but you question, his disease, your welcome; you would relieue your poore neighbours, but you haue it not; why there is no Christian man but hee hath an interest in God, a spirit of prayer; lift vp a prayer for thy brethren, if thou canst doe nothing else, and this will doe thee and him good, prayer in this case for others, is a cleerer evidence of grace, then for our selues.

Heere is comfort and encouragement, comfort for our selues, if members of the Church, if wee bleede with her, if we pray for her, if wee say, If I forget thee, O Ierusalem, then let my right hand forget her cunning: the comfort is great, wee haue that which Saint Paul thirsted for, the prayers of the Church; and this is a priviledge worth ten worlds, and a comfort beyond all apprehension, when a man lookes round about him and can say, there is [Page 8]a towne, I haue some prayers there, there is ano­ther, I haue stocke going there, nay in every shire, euery nation, some that bee enlarged when I am barren, some quickened when I am dull, and I am an adventurer in the Churches shippe, I haue a stocke in her treasure, and an interest in her prayers; this keepes the head aboue water, and preserues from sinking.

4. For encouragement, to pray for the Church, would Gods people enter into a holy league, and tye themselues in their severall closets, to spend so much time weekely, or dayly in prayer, for some particular person, or place, Church, or Nation; I wonder how they should misse; tell mee where e­ver the Churches ioynt prayers did ever mis-carry, or proue abortiue? in what place, in what case, for what people? prayers haue beene made for men out of the Church, and haue sped, witnesse Ninivie; for men in the Church (good men, bad men) and haue sped; prayers haue beene made by Land, and haue prevailed; on the Seas by Ianah, and haue sped, they haue prevailed vnder the earth, in dens, and dungeons, and caues; prayers haue been made for sicke men and haue holpe them, for dying men, for poore men, for captiues, for prisoners, and haue holpen; for men against persecution, against temptation, against sorrow, against beasts, against men, against divels: prayers haue beene omnipo­tent heretofore, why not now?

Ob. Why now, Ob. if we were as others, Gods hand (wee knowe) is not shortened, his eare not heavie; but our sinnes, our crying ripe sinnes, hinder good things from vs?

Ans. Why therefore set against those sinnes by prayer, cast out your owne, cry downe other mens, Ans. out-cry them.

Ob. Oh but they cry loud. Ob.

Ans. Yet prayer hath the stronger voyce, Ans. the blood of Christ speakes better things then bloody sins, &c. Let Sodome yeeld ten holy men, Gen. 18. Iames 5. Amos 7.1.2. and shee shall bee spared, let one Elijah stand vp for stiffe-nec­ked Israell, and one Amos plead for rebellious Iu­dah, and God will shew mercy.

Ob. True indeed, if we had such as they, Ob. but our prayers are weake and faint.

Ans. 1. They were men subiect to like passions. Ans. 2. The prayer of the righteous is prevailing. Iam. 5.16.17. 3. These here mentioned were new converts, yet pre­vailed with God for Peter.

Ob. Oh but here the whole Church ioyned: Ob. if all Israel might meete from Dan to Beersheba, there might be some hope.

Ans. We may, and doe more then these might; Ans. 1. we may meet in publique assemblies euery Sab­bath: 2. these were but few that lived in the darke, and met in the night, and in Hesters time in their severall families, and the whole State was then a­gainst the truth, and against the Scriptures, and all religion was disgraced; yet then they prevailed, much more we now.

Ob. But now it is too late, Ob. many Churches a­broad be quite scattered, many men at home haue their backs and hearts quite broken, with wants, temptations, discouragements.

Ans. Whilest God cals in his word, Ans. it is not too [Page 10]late, God is vsed to see men sinking before he sets in, their extremitie is his opportunitie; when Peter is within one night of the sword, then is his time.

Ob. Ob. But I haue waited, and see no successe?

Answ. Ans. So did the Church, they pray for Peter this weeke, the next, and the next, the doores be still shut, the chaines be still on; well now they haue but one night more to waite, Gen. 22. they waite that, but ere morning all is wonne: If then we haue but one day, one night, one houre to spend; hope, pray, waite, that day, that night, that houre, God will be seene in the mount: deliverance shall come if prayer goe on the errand; it ever was so, ever shall be so, dispute not but beleeue; there is who prayes and speakes not, & there is too that speakes, who prayes not; if thou wilt pray, thou must open thy needs to God, as thy Father, through Christ, God-man as thy Mediatour, 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 sinne: 2. broken: 3. purged from guile by faith; which faith must then worke, before thou beginnest; Psal. 86.7. And the 56.9. say with David, I will call, and God will answer mee; and when thou hast done, conclude, I haue spoken, and shall in due time and manner be answered; thus doe, and be sure that thou neither begin nor end a lawfull petition (of such onely we speake) before thou art aware, let faith enter thy sute, and end, and subscribe it, and thou prevailest.

Now to particulars.

How findes the Angell Peter? Sure he cannot sleepe this night, being vpon his life to morrow, and in [Page 11]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 houres warning, as Iohn Baptists head was. Notwithstanding all this, Peter sleeps as soundly as ever in his life, and wakes with­out terrour; whence was this, from corruption? no; from naturall 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 speciall com­fort and confidence in God, which comfort most attends prisons and persecutions: here see the strength of spirituall peace and comfort.

The Lord hath comforts for his children, Doct. 2 that will quiet and support them in any feares & straits, his consolations will make a man sleepe without a bed; liue almost without a soule: They will make one bold in danger, quiet in trouble, liue in the iawes of death: The ioy 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 sleepe, thus wake, that can looke vpon Chaines, vpon Pri­sons, vpon Tyrants, vpon Torments, vpon Angels; (good and bad) and never breake his sleepe for the matter. Pauls ioyes were strong, Act. 15 that made him sing in the stockes: Davids saith strong, that made him say, I will lye downe and sleepe, Psal. 3. I will not feare though ten thousand rise vp against me: those were strong and strange ioyes that supported Dauid in all his feares, and made him say, In the multitude of my thoughts, Psal. 94.1 [...]. thy comforts glad my soule: Those strong that trium­phed over, rackings, mockings, scourgings, &c. as [Page 12]in the eleventh to the Hebrewes.

Quest. But whence comes their strength? 1. Q Whence these com­forts.

Because they be Gods ioyes, the ioyes of the Spi­rit, derived immediately from the fountaine; Reas. 1 and things be purest and strongest there.

2. Because spirituall, for as spirits are more ac­tine and powerfull then bodies, so spirituall things then bodily and naturall.

3. These ioyes are most certaine and durable, these overcome and out-liue all crosses, and all o­ther comforts.

4. They are al-sufficient, and borrow no helpe from creatures: Nature and Art worke with instru­ments, and by meanes, they cannot support with­out meate, strengthen without sleepe, giue sleepe without warmth, nor warmth without a bed, &c. But God can beyond meanes, without means, work comfort, make one see in the darke, liue in death.

Quest. But what be these comforts of God? 2. Q. What.

Ans. Precious promises applyed by God in due season, Answ. 1 and brought home to the heart, which re­viue the spirits more then any balme; and these pro­mises come thicke vpon Peter now: He thinketh, hath not God said; that the fighing of prisoners comes to him, that he bottles vp all our teares, that we should cast our care vpon him, and he will care for vs, that in six and seven troubles, they shall not come neare me, that in fire and water he will he with me, & did not I heare my Saviour say, Blessed are they that are per secuted for righteousnesse sake; reade not I how David said, I will lie downe and steepe, and therefore I will doe so too.

2. Strengthening graces, God poures the spirit [Page 13]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. Hourely experience of Gods care and provi­dence; dence; and a childe never sees the loue of his mo­ther so much as when he is sicke, so Gods chil­dren, &c.

Now that makes them plucke vp their feete with Iacob, and say with Paul, I know whom I haue trusted; and with the Church, Thou wilt guide vs to death; and after (as David addes) receiue to glory.

4. Speciall peace of conscience, and ioy of the holy Ghost, by new expressions of Gods fauour, and ravishments of heaven: then God opens heaven, and they see their life and crowne, 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 preserues, when the childe is sicke: first, when they be most humbled and emptie of themselues; therefore after greatest humiliations come greatest consolations, as Dauid, Abraham, and others ever found.

2. But specially in the day of tryall and perse­cution, the more the Devill bestirres him, the more God bestirres him: thus the sweetest nights that e­ver Iacob 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 Vse is double, Vse. 1. get these comforts, we get [Page 14] aqua vitae ready against qualmes; Bezoar-stone, and cordials against fits: but the cordials that helpe all, is the holy Ghost, the Comforter; Art is blind, and often posed; Nature weake, and often foyled; (like a bow that must not be drawne beyond compasse) onely grace and spirituall comfort is invincible: get this, and you may sleepe in a dungeon, liue in the darke, want all, and yet haue all; want these, and a flea may breake your sleepe; Dan. 5. and a hand-wri­ting dash your mirth in the midst of all friends.

2. Let such as haue spirituall hearts thus affec­ted, stay themselues here; feare not povertie, there be comforts beyond the paine of famine; feare not sicknesse, there be comforts beyond all fits of sick­nesse: feare not death, feare not chaines, feare not any thing that you can or shall suffer: Not any thing? Rev. 2.10. Why, a man is subiect to racking, to bur­ning, &c. yet feare not, and why? the Lord hath comfort in all, and aboue all tribulations: when he cals a Saul to a crowne, 1 Cor. 1. he makes him another man: so when he cals a man to a chaine, Peter is not the man in prison he was out of prison; at the first he was fearefull of a wenches word, after he was wil­ling, yet flesh hung backe, Iohn the last Chapter, vers. Act. 5.29.4.13. 18. But when put vpon it, heare his voyce, see his face, he can be as quiet, as comfortable, as well in prison as ever.

Ob. Oh but I finde my selfe 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 mercifull, Ans. so perilous as God is pitifull. Oh but say we liued [Page 15]where we should lie in cold irons, in the darke, bee halfe pined, starved; who can beare these? Peter can, any can, when God cals them to it.

O but say we were put to the fiery tryall, flames are intolerable and mercilesse. O but flames are in Gods hands, Daniel 3. Chapter: againe, Martyrs haue had more comfort there, then in all their liues before. Oh but some of them haue cryed out of paines: And doe 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 feares, all torments; conclude wee with that good Martyr, if God call ever any of his to a­ny such sufferings, hee will either weaken the flame or strengthen their faith; hee hath promised (that, which let vs liue and die in; to wit) that he will not tempt beyond strength: And hee is able to doe exceeding aboundantly aboue all that wee can speake or thinke. 2 Cor. 10.

Assure your selues, the scare of persecution is more then persecution it selse; therefore I speake to your feares, for there is none (through Gods mercie) with vs I am sure to bee felt (I thinke) to bee feared.

The same night, &c. Doct. 3 That the Lord doth often hold his people long in suspence, for those things which hee meanes to giue them; hee is to our see­ming slow, but sure; sure, but slow; thus hee was as good as his word to Abraham, hee gaue him a sonne, but hee held him off to the last houre; hee kept touch with his posterity, brought them out of [Page 16]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 Ioseph was long in pri­son, yet at the appointed time brought forth; Nal. 105.19. and Israel long in captiuity, prayers were made, and yet Daniel could heare no answere till night was vpon him; Dan. 9. Iacob wrestles till day, &c. so also the woman of Canaan, Matt. 15, and the Church heere: in all which places wee see, that God is mindfull of his day. 2. That hee deferres sometime till the last houre be running.

The reason of this delay is manifold. 1. God would turne our eyes backward, Reas. and make vs say; O it is iust God should deferre me, I haue deferred him; hee called and I would not heare; prayed me againe, againe, and againe, and I would not an­swer; therefore it is equall I should call and cry, and not be heard.

2. God hereby would sharpen our prayers for the present, therefore hee seemes deafe, because we should speake out; therfore slow, because we should be earnest; thus Daniel interprets it: God deferres him, this is (saith hee) but to try me, therefore he spits vpon his hands, and takes better hold; O Lord forgiue, saith hee, O Lord heare, O Lord open, and poures so many petitions, and arguments vpon God, that there is no resistance; thus Iacob, he sees the day comming vpon him, and he had made no­thing of it all night, and therefore now he sets to it, Goe, saith hee, I will not let thee goe without a bles­sing.

3. Hereby hee prepares vs for the future recei­uing [Page 17]of his comforts; thus he humbles vs, thus he enlargeth vs, thus fits vs for thankfulnesse, the more blessings cost vs, the better we will prise them, and prayse God for them: adde to this, that these repul­ses driue vs to further searches, Ios. 7. Iudg. 20. as the Israelites at Ai, and Gibeah.

Doth the Lord thus long deferre sometime his intended comforts and answers? Vse 1 Let's know the courses of his providence, and wait vpon him: be­hold the husbandman waits; when he hath sowne his seede, he doth not looke to reape and sow all in a day, his Corne is first buried, yea it dies, yea it growes downeward, before it comes vpward, and when it is vp, receiues many a snib and checke, yet he waites? And why? because he hath experi­ence: so must wee, when we haue sowne our seed; say we bury our prayers, say to our seeming they die, say they grow downeward, backward, say all things seeme to be worse after prayer with vs then before, yet waite; why, we haue experience of our owne and other mens successe, never did men sow this seed, but they had a croppe, though a late harvest, yet a harvest.

Ob. Oh but I haue prayed exceeding long. Ob.

Ans. How long? Ans. Isaack prayed twentie yeares for a childe, before he sped, Abraham thirtie; before he sped; Abrahams posteritie were foure hundred yeares in captivitie, before they were delivered; the Church thirsted for Christ, one thousand, two thou­sand, three thousand yeares, before they had him: How many thousands, hundreds, scores of yeares, hast thou waited?

Ob. O but I haue tryed all my friends, Ob. vsed all meanes, prayed my selfe, and got others to speake too, and yet no helpe?

Ans. And might not Peter say as much? Ans. not a Christian in Ierusalem, but had spoken, and spo­ken often, and yet he stickes.

Ob. O but matters with me are worse and worse, Ob. the more I pray against povertie, the poorer I am; the more I pray for patience, the worse I am; the more I pray for faith, the lesse I haue; the more I pray against passions and temptations, the more they flie in my face.

Ans. Is not this as we sayd, Ans. that the corne must goe backeward, before it come forward; was it not so with Abraham and Sarah, the longer they prayed the elder they waxed, and so vnfitter for issue.

Ob. O but my sinnes grow stronger by prayer. Ob.

Ans. Not so, Ans. thou feelest it more then before; it is not because sinne is stronger, but thou sounder; againe, these motions of sinne, be not motions of life, but symptoms of death; as the fowle struggles, and sprunts most when the head is off: the panges of death be now vpon 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 sayd pray no more, as to Ieremie, hath he stopt thy mouth? so long as God saith, pray; so long as the spirit within thee saith, pray; so long as Gods people haue hearts to pray; never say it is too late to pray: if Peter be out by midnight, or by day-breake, it is as well as if he had beene out a moneth before.

Ob. O but delayes breakes the heart. Ob.

Ans. But note the end of delayes, Ans. they are never to deny or frustrate, but to fit, and to quicken: make these vses of delayes, and then if thy sute be not ho­nest, never begin it; if it be, never leaue it: learne of husband men, when they pull downe a tree, or list at some blocke, if they cannot stirre it, they call in helpe, if it come not at the first pull, they pull againe, if not then, ha, againe; if not then, ha, once more; at last they feele it comming, and then it comes amaine: learne of Elijah, 1 Kin. 18.43. hee prayed for raine, having prayed lookes about him, nothing comes; he prayed againe, nothing comes; hee prayed againe, 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 cloudes: learne of these men, Peter stickes in the dungeon, one lifts, he cannot stirre him; try you (saith he) to a second, to a third, try a fourth, a fist; at length heaven stirres, the chaines stirre, and Peter comes in amongst them: learne of Christ himselfe; the widdow dealt with a Iudge, not a Father; Luke 18. a bad Iudge, shee was alone, a simple Orator, yet she pre­vailes: learne of beggers, they haue no command, no promise, no acquaintance, no Art; and yet will stand it out; the master chides, the begger stands it out; the dame chides, he stands still; the ser­vants come, and say they dare not serue him; the children say we must not, and yet he will not away. O Lord, helpe our faith, how weake be we, if ha­ving precept, promise, kindred, Gods servants, [Page 20]Gods Sonne on our sides, we will be put off with a delay: well (as I said) so long as a night, an houre, a minute, is left, pray; one night may compasse that which an hundred before could not.

It followeth, An Angell, &c.

The Lord hath ever meanes at hand for his ser­vants, Doct. 4 comfort and deliverance, if set on worke; well might Peter say, 2 Pet. 2. The Lord knoweth how to deliuer his, &c. He is never at a stand, if they know how to pray, he knoweth how to comfort.

In himselfe he is al-sufficient, Reas. 1 infinite in wise­dome, to invent meanes; in power, to act them; and if need be, Esa. 4.5. to create more.

2. He is the Lord of Hoasts, the Lord of every creature; if our worke lie in the Seas, he is Lord of the Seas; if on the Land, he is Lord there, if in Prison he beareth the keyes of every Gaole; if heavens can helpe vs, 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, Vse 1 roule thy selfe vpon God, cast thy care vpon him, he will bring it to passe; is thy bur­den, povertie? Psal. 37. cast it vpon him, and he will helpe it; is it sinne, feare, sorrow, whatsoever it be, he can beare it, and discharge thee?

Oh but I see no meanes, This Sermon was made in the depth of the dearth. I owe so much; so ma­ny in my familie, and no meanes.

This is as if they should haue said, If we had a friend in the Court, to moue 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 [Page 21]meanes faile vs. No, no: God hath meanes be­yond our sight, if men cannot doe it, Angels can and shall: and if no man will pay the Widdowes debt, God will: if no body else will feede Eliah, 2 King 4. the Ravens shall: what doe wee talke of meanes? all meanes are shut vp in God.

Ob. O but my case is desperate, Ob. it is not possible to helpe me.

Ans. Now we shall haue a tale of impossibilities: Ans. And why not possible; shall any thing be impossi­ble to God?

Ob. O but there be an hundred blockes 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. goe to the prison, there is a blocke, a guard; passe that guard, there is a blocke, a doore; passe the doore, there is another, a chaine; passe the chaine, there is a­nother, an iron gate. O but what of this, if they can breake through all hinderances of vnbeliefe, discouragements to prayer: God will breake tho­row these and a thousand more, to their com­fort. O but God workes no wonders now. Marke our Saviours cal­lection from Manna to bread. Mat. 4. Deut. 8.3. Esa. 9.6. No? his Name is wonderfull still; his power as great as ever, his wisedome as deepe as ever, his promises as good, his loue as much to his as ever, our need as much, our interest as good, our Saviour as good; all things stand as before: if wee can vse former meanes, we shall finde former successe, and God will doe abundantly aboue all that we can speake or thinke: wee haue the Lords promise for this, Ephesians 3.20. and Esay 42.16. I will make darke [Page 22]light, and crookednesse straight: wee haue had our owne experience, let any man that hath had any acquaintance with God and this holy dutie, tell me when prayers were not succes-full; when didst thou ever speake to thy heavenly Father, but he did an­swere 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. doe not faile to conclude with David, Though I walke in the midst of troubles, yet (vpon prayer) I shall be revived, 7. and God will perfect his mercies in me for ever, 8.

Thus wee haue dispatcht some meditations: more we haue, but they must be onely named; as

• 1. Herod would, but could not bring forth Peter, to tryall and execution: men be but men, and must doe as they may; for what they would doe against the Church, nor they, nor all the Divells in hell can doe.
• 2. The Lord can giue sleepe and peace in any place, at any time, in any company.
• 3. Gods best servants and messengers, are some­times yoaked with vilest offenders, &c.
• 4. Gods best creatures are the Churches ser­vants: Angels.
• 5. Lastly, the Lord can quickly shake his out of their chaines, rags, feares, fetters, &c. But what doe I meane thus to exceede: Brethren I would faine haue you more thirstie of your time, doe you not waste it (as others doe) in idle impertinencies, [Page 23]much lesse in surveying States and Kingdomes; It is not for vs to sit vpon Crownes and thrones, and to turne Statesmen; it is for vs to be thankefull where God blesses, and to be prayerfull when the Church labours; to this end I haue sayd thus much; to perswade you to the practice of what you know, now your turne fol­lows, lets see what will be done, and how well you will im­proue time, in spea­king to God; ra­ther then to, or of men. (⸪)