A companion for prayer, or, Directions for improvement in grace and practical Godliness in time of extraordinary danger by Richard Alleine, author of Vinditiae Pietatis.

A companion for prayer, or, Directions for improvement in grace and practical Godliness in time of extraordinary danger by Richard Alleine, author of Vinditiae Pietatis.

Table of contents

Title page

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A COMPANION FOR PRAYER: OR, Directions for Improvement in Grace and Practical Godlineſs, &c.

1. General Directions.

2. Particular Directions.

Books Printed and Sold by Tho. Cockerill, at the Three-Legs over againſt rhe Stocks-Market.

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A COMPANION FOR PRAYER: OR, Directions for Improvement in Grace and Practical Godlineſs in times of extraordinary Danger.

[...]yRich. Alleine, Author ofVinditiae Pietatis.

LONDON: [...]rinted for Thomas Cockerill at the Three Legs in the Poultrey, 1680.

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Reverend Sir,

THE motion made in yours concerning Prayer, hath much affected me, and hath occaſioned ſome workings of my thoughts, which though (in a conſcience of mine own weakneſs I more than once laid aſide, yet they ſtill return'd upon me; and I do now here offer the reſult of them to your Conſideration.

We all know and teach, that they are only returning and reforming Prayers that will prevail with God; and 'tis to be doubted, that in this dead and decayed age there are too many profeſſors who will joyn in the deſign of Prayer, whom this muſt ſerve inſtead of Reformation; 'tis to ſuch eſpecially that the Directions in the incloſed Paper are intended. I ſend them to you, deſiring you to read them, and then to do what you pleaſe [Page] with them; beſeeching you, and tru [...] ing upon your friendly faithfulne [...] herein, that you will take your f [...] freedom, either to keep them in ſilen [...] to your ſelf, or elſe to communic [...] and make them publick I ſhould thankfully accept af any expungings, alterations or additions that you ſhall thi [...] needful The Lord pardon the failings and accept the ſincere aims of my ſo [...] herein. To his Grace I commend yo [...] and in him I reſt,

Dear Sir,

Your unworthy Friend and Servant, RICHARD ALLEINE

A COMPANION FOR PRAYER: OR, Directions for Improvement in Grace and Practical Godlineſs, &c.

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TO make way for, and to preſs to the diligent obſerving the following Directions, let theſe things be premiſed.

1. That the Power of Religion is much fallen, at leaſt is at a ſtand, [Page] amongſt multitudes of Profeſſors England. Sure this needs no proo [...] when we have ſo many ſad ocul [...] Demonſtrations hereof before us.

2. That for this, the Lord ha [...] a controverſie with us at this day Rev. 2. 4. Whatever controverſie t [...] Lord hath with the Belials among [...] us, whoſe horrible wickedneſs ha [...] even ripened them for vengean [...] his ſpecial quarrel ſeems to be wi [...] his own people. We may gueſs againſt whom the ſpecial anger is, b [...] obſerving at whoſe faces chiefly h [...] arrows are levelled. Againſt who [...] do our enemies (the rod of his a [...] ger) make a wide mouth, and dra [...] forth the tongue, and lift up the [...] fierceſt hands?

3. No Prayers will avail, no [...] have the leaſt help in them, but th [...] Prayers of ſuch, with whom th [...] Lords controverſie is taken up an [...] compoſed; thoſe with whom h [...] hath a particular quarrel, are lik [...] to be unhappy Mediators for others [Page] We chuſe the favourites of Princes to be our Interceſſors with them.

4. There can be no taking up Gods controverſie, unleſs the matter of it be removed by repentance and reformation, Rev. 2. 5. Iſa. 1. 15, 16, 18. When ye make many prayers, I will not hear, your hands are full of blood; waſh ye, make you clean, &c. Come now, and let us reaſon together. Joſh. 7. 10. Get thee up; wherefore lieſt thou thus upon thy face? Iſrael hath ſinned—they have taken the accurſed thing; and v. 12. I will not be with you any more, except the accurſed thing be deſtroyed from amongſt you. Is there no accurſed thing amongſt, even the profeſſors of Religion? Behold! the wedg of gold, and the Babyloniſh garment, their pride and their covetouſneſs, hid in their hearts for a tent. Go ſearch out theſe, and every other accurſed thing within you, let them be deſtroyed if ye would have the Lord to be at peace.

[Page] 5. If there may be ſuch a ſpirit of Prayer ſtir'd up amongſt us, as may have its fruit unto Holineſs, and real reformation of the evils of our ways; this would comfort us, and give us great hopes in the hardeſt caſes.

6. Therefore, in all our crying to God for his help, in caſe of publick fears, dangers or diſtreſſes, our eye ſhould be firſtly upon, and we ſhould wreſtle with the Lord for the pardoning, purging, and ſanctification of our own hearts and lives; wherein if we prevail not, we ſhall be as a rotten tooth, or a bone out of joynt, for any help there is in us, or in any thing we do; unleſs we can pray up a ſpirit of Holineſs in our ſelves, a ſpirit of Love, and of Power, and of a ſound mind, we are not like to do any thing to purpoſe, in praying down Mercy for the people; the Devil will give us leave to viſit the Throne of Grace, ſo we will but [Page] carry our hard and uncircumciſed hearts with us; if we cannot get to be of the Lords holy Ones, though we make many Prayers, he will not hear; here the intereſt and the hopes of the people of God lye, in the ſhedding abroad of the ſanctifying and quickning ſpirit upon them; for this therefore ſhould we firſtly pray.

7. 'Tis not praying alone that will do: to the bringing on our Reformation, there muſt be alſo a conſtant and ſedulous uſe of all Gods other means, in our whole courſe of life.

8. Some of theſe means are preſented in the following Directions.

1. General Directions.

Direct. 1. Take up a deep and ſerious deſign of making an advance in ſerious Religion. Sit not down by, take not up with what you have already attained, but reſolve for [Page] reaching forward, and following after, towards that which you have not attained; content not your ſelves to drive gently on, as your fleſh will bear, but ſtir up your ſelves to follow hard after the Lord; and let this be the deliberate decree and intent of you hearts. Say to thine heart, How is it with me? Doth my ſoul proſper? Are my ways ſuch as pleaſe the Lord? What is mine expectation and mine hope? What is the aim and buſineſs of my life? Is it that Chriſt may be magnified by me, and that I may be made partaker of his Holineſs, and ſhew forth his Vertues in my generation? Can I ſay with the Apoſtle, To me to live is Chriſt? Ah wretch that I am! how deeply hath this ſelf and this world gone ſhares with my Lord! O! how little of my time, my parts, my ſtrength, yea and of my very heart alſo have been incloſed and conſecrated as Holineſs to the Lord! how much of me hath been [Page] left out in common for the world? Well, but what meaneſt thou for the future? wilt thou henceforth change the purpoſe and intent of thine heat? Come man, wilt take up a deſign for, and henceforth determine, and ſet thine heart upon a more watchful, fruitful and heavenly life? If thou wilt not be brought to decree, and reſolve upon a better life, much leſs wilt thou be perſwaded actually to it. What's begun well, is half done; and an holy deſign deeply laid, is a good beginning.

Direct 2. Let Gods Calls to extraordinary prayer, and a ſenſe of the neceſſity of your recovery and reformation, to your prevailing in prayer, quicken you on in the vigorous purſuance of your holy deſign. Now is a time, wherein you have your hearts at the advantage, having ſuch weighty arguments before you, and the opportunity [...] [Page] doing two ſuch great things more, as the ſaving of your ſelves, and alſo of the people, both from iniquity and calamity.

Direct. 3. Do all you do, in purſuance hereof, in the Name of the Lord Jeſus. Be not diſcouraged at any proſpect of difficulty, truſt in him for his help. Encourage your hearts with the words of the Apoſtle, Phil. 4. 13. I ſhall be able to do all things through Chriſt that ſtrengthens me.

Direct. 4. Keep your eye and your heart much upon God and the other world; Be able to ſay with the Apoſtle, Phil. 3. 20. Our Converſation is in heaven; that is, there the buſineſs of our life lies; and that not only above ſpiritual and heavenly things, but with God himſelf. Live at the fountain and ſpringhead; thence all your light, and [...] and holineſs, and ſtrength muſt [Page] flow down. Be much in looking upwards; and beholding in a glaſs the glory of the Lord, you will be changed from glory to glory, into the ſame Image, 2 Cor. 3. 18. Look much and often upon the things that are not ſeen, if ye would be delivered from the power and malign influence of the things that are ſeen; let your eye be upon the Sun, and you will ſee a dimneſs and darkneſs upon the earth; get you cloathed with the Sun, and you will get the Moon under you feet.

Direct. 5. See that there be no allowed ſin in your heart or practice, Pſal. 66. 18. If I regard iniquity in mine heart, God will not hear my prayer, nor help me. An allowed ſin is as the d [...] fleſh in the wound; whatever methods or medicines be taken, there will be no healing till the dead fleſh be eaten off; you may profeſs, and pray, and hear all your life long, and yet will never [Page] proſper whileſt you are privy to any one indulged ſin.

Direct. 6. Be conſtant and inſtant in dayly, ſecret and family Prayer. Let not extraordinary Prayer excuſe your ordinary; and let not your neglect of ordinary Prayer unfit you for extraordinary: Let not your way to your Cloſet be untrod. He that holds his acquaintance in Heaven by being often with God, will be the moſt like to prevail with God in the moſt preſſing and difficult caſes; thoſe that are much in Prayer, thoſe are the men that uſe to be mighty in Prayer.

Direct. 7. In all your praying, both ordinrry and extraordinary, let your eye be (I ſay not chiefly, but) firſtly upon the caſe of your own Souls: What improvement you obtain here will be of this double advantage; 1. There will be the more hope of your [Page] [...]ing heard for the publick. 2. If [...]e Lord be not prevail'd with for [...]blick mercies and deliverances, [...]t you will be the better prepar'd [...]r ſufferings. If God ſhould ſhew [...]ercy as to the publick, ſhould ſcat [...]r our clouds, and blow over our [...]orms, ſhould cauſe our light to [...]reak forth as the morning, and our [...]ghteouſneſs alſo as the noon-day; [...] what would all this be to thee, [...]ho art unrighteous? What would [...] be to thee, if in all the Land of [...]oſhen there ſhould be light, and [...]ou in the midſt thereof ſhouldeſt [...] covered over with the darkneſs [...] Egypt? if there ſhould be dew [...] all the graſs of the field, and thy [...]ece only ſhould be dry? if thou [...]ouldeſt live to ſee thy people a fa [...]d people and an holy and fruitful [...]ation, and thou ſhould'ſt ſtand as a [...]ithered and dry Tree amongſt all [...]e flouriſhing Cedars? Get up [...]ine own heart into good proof, [...] whatever ſpiritual plenty thou [Page] maiſt ſee in Iſrael, yet thou wilt [...] eat thereof. Talk no more of thi [...] hopes of ſeeing good days, how [...] tle would that be to thee, unl [...] thou get thee a better heart?

Direct. 8. Let your Prayers followed with a conſtant care of y [...] wayes. Let not your pray [...] ſerve you inſtead of repenting a [...] reforming, but let it quicken you [...] your whole duty; let your entri [...] into your Cloſet be your aſcendi [...] heavenwards; and let not your [...] turns thence be the falling down [...] your Souls from Heaven to Ear [...] Let your duties and ways be all o [...] piece; live like praying Chriſtia [...] Let not the ſpirituality of yo [...] mornings and evenings, countena [...] or encourage you in your all-d [...] carnality. Be in the fear of the Lo [...] all the day long, Prov. 23. 17.

Direct. 9. Whatever incomes [...] receeive from God into your own Sou [...][Page] [...]e free in diſperſing to others: I mean in a way of holy diſcourſe and conference. Diſperſing and communica [...]ing is the beſt way to thriving, Pro. 11. 24. There is that ſcattereth, and [...]et increaſeth; there is that withholdeth, and it tendeth to poverty. 'Tis true with reſpect to ſpirituals as well as to temporals. There are none that grow more rich towards God, than thoſe, who by bringing forth what they have received, labour to make others rich alſo. Give the holy fire within you a vent, and it will burn the clearer. Keep not [...]our Religion to your ſelves; let your full cup run over, let your lips drop as the honey-comb, let your mouth be a well of life, and your [...]ips feed many, Prov. 10. 11. Build up one another in the moſt Holy Faith; provoke one another to love and to good works, let your Fami [...]ies, your Wives and Children, your Neighbours and Acquaintance, have [...]ight from your Candle, and be [Page] warmed by your Fire. Doubtle [...] its one ſpecial part of Gods quarr [...] with Chriſtians, That they are, [...] very many of them, of ſuch carn [...] and unſavoury converſes. Is it [thy caſe? haſt thou this to charge upo [...] thy ſelf? O! amend, amend, an [...] ſee that thou continue not ſuch [...] barren Soul; as low as 'tis with th [...] in grace, think not to riſe high, unleſs thou wilt make better uſe [...] what thou haſt.

2. Particular Directions.

Direct. 1. Conſider what it is wher to you have already attained, and b [...] thankful; and thence be encourage [...] to preſs on and hope for more. Ha [...] thou obtained Grace from the Lord and hath he cauſed his Grace to abound towards thee and in thee [...] and haſt thou a witneſs within the [...] that thou haſt not received th [...] Grace of God in vain? But do [...] thou ſtudy to walk worthy of tha [...] [Page] Grace wherein thou ſtandeſt? O rejoyce in the Lord, and let all within thee bleſs his Holy Name; and take what thou haſt thus received as an earneſt of more. Set thy foot upon the neck of every mortified luſt, take the more heart to thee to go on in the fight, and rejoyce in hope of a total and final victory. The Soldier, when one Wing of his Enemies Army is routed, or they do but give ground, and begin to fall, this raiſes his courage, and he falls more ſmartly on. Go thou and do likewiſe; and let thy beginning, much more thy growth in Grace, and thy experiences hereof, be the [...]oiling of thy wheels, for thy more [...]igorous following on after yet a greater increaſe.

Direct. 2. Conſider what your ſpecial corruptions, infirmities, wants, neglects, temptations, or your moſt ordinary falls are. 1. What your ſpecial corruptions are, how far forth [Page] you have conquered them, and where you ſtick. In ſome profeſſors, Pride, in others Covetouſneſs, in others Senſuality, in others Slothfulneſs, in others Peeviſhneſs or Frowardneſs, or the like, may have gotten ſuch head in them, that theſe weeds overtop, and even choke up all their flowers, 2. What your ſpecial wants or weakneſſes are in point of Grace; what graces they are, whether Faith, or Love, or Peacefulneſs, or Meekneſs, or Humility, or Patience, &c. wherein you are moſt deficient or weak. 3. What Du [...]ies they are, as either Prayer, Meditation, Communing with your own hearts, &c. which you are moſt apt to neglect, or find moſt difficult to go comfortably through. 4. What Temptations they are, by which you are moſt commonly aſſaulted or foiled. 5. What your moſt ordinary Falls are in point of practice. And here let Profeſſors of Religion be warned [Page] to conſider, if they be not overtaken (beſides many others) by ſome of theſe three evils. 1. An over-eager and greedy following after the World: The zeal of ſome mens ſpirits after riches, hath eaten up all their zeal of God. O! into what poverty hath thy Soul fallen, whilſt thou haſt been ſo buſie in the world, and haſt felt the proſperities thereof come crouding in upon thee! Some rich Profeſſors may remember the days of old, and be troubled. This thought, When I was but a little one in this world, then was it better with me than now; this thought may be an Arrow in their hearts, and kill the joy, and let out the juice and ſweetneſs of their greateſt abundance. I remember the kindneſs of my youth, and the love of mine eſpouſals; but O where am I now! my very riſing hath given me the fall. 2. A liberty for carnal jollity, a jovial and vainly merry [Page] life; ſuch there are, who have left off to walk mournfully before the Lord of Hoſts, and have given themſelves to live merrily with the world; who have given over to weep with them that weep, and are fallen in to laugh with them that laugh; to jeſt and ſport and be vain with the vain ones, yea and it may be to drink and to ſit by it with thoſe that drink. It's now grown too creditable to frequent drinking Houſes: Tradeſmen that are Profeſſors, eſpecially in Cities or great Towns, how ordinarily do they, upon pretence of diſpatch of buſineſs, ſit many hours over a diſh of Coffee, or a cup of Ale, or a glaſs of Sack; and carry it ſo, that they can hardly be diſtinguiſhed from the good Fellows of the world, but perhaps by this only, That they are not down right drunken into Beaſts. If there be a liberty of ſuch Houſes, and meetings in them [Page] [...]metimes neceſſary (as perhaps it [...]y) yet let not this liberty be [...]d as an occaſion to the fleſh. [...] Gaudineſs or over-coſtlineſs in [...]pparel, wherein ſome of them [...]itter and ſhine amongſt the great [...] Gallants of the earth. Some [...]ongſt profeſſors do not only ſhun [...]t diſdain and deſpiſe the old ſelf [...]yal that was wont to be among [...]riſtians in theſe and the like par [...]ulars. as if they were ſet at liberby the Goſpel from the Laws of [...]riſt, as well as from the Law of [...]ſes. To theſe three let me add [...] evil more: 4. A neglect of [...] Families; of the Inſtructing, [...]chiſing, and due diſciplining [...]; the conſequents of which [...]lect are very ſadly to be ſeen in [...]ignorance, errors, rudeneſs and [...]rderlineſs abounding amongſt [...]y of them: there are not a few [...] take ſome care of themſelves, [...] leave the bridle on the necks of [...]irs, and reap many heart-breaking [Page] crops in them, as the fruits [...] their own negligence. O let ho [...] Joſhua's reſolution be yours: [...] for me and mine houſe, we will ſer [...] the Lord, Joſh. 24. 15.

Now diligently ſearch and conſi [...]der thy ſelf in all theſe things; a [...] when thou haſt faithfully ſtudi [...] thy ſelf and thy ways, and h [...] found what it is that thou art m [...] peccant or wanting in, and m [...] prejudiced and hindred by; th [...] conclude, here my great difficu [...] lyes, and therefore here my gr [...] [...] work lies, if ever I would proſpe [...] to get this or that corruption to [...] mortified, this or that gr [...] ſtrengthened, ſuch and ſuch tem [...] [...]tations to be ſhunned or provid [...] againſt, and ſuch and ſuch faults be amended; now I have fou [...] what hinders me; and that wh [...] doth hinder will hinder, till it [...] taken out of the way.

[Page] Direct. 3. Bend the main force of [...] your Religion upon thoſe very [...] wherein you are moſt failing or [...]lty. The Devil will allow us to [...] buſie in other matters of Religi [...], ſo he can but keep us off from [...]oſe things where our great ſtreſſes [...]: And the deceitful heart will [...] up with that which is moſt eaſie [...] pleaſant, that there by it may [...] better ſhift it ſelf of that which [...] more hard, and would go to the [...]ck with it. We never purge or [...] to purpoſe, till we hit upon [...] right humour, and ſtrike the [...] vein.

This is to act rationally and in [...]gment; to bend our great [...]gth there, where our great [...]culty or weakneſs lies. When [...] have by ſearching found out [...] you moſtly ſtick at, let it be [...] firſt grand errand in every [...]ver, whether ordinary or ex [...] [...]ordinary, to beg ſpecial help in [...] particular caſe: your weakneſs [Page] in any particular grace or duty, th [...] power of any particular luſt, co [...] ruption or temptation, your m [...] ordinary and common falls in poi [...] of converſation; let theſe have [...] ſpecial place in every prayer yo [...] make: And alſo let them be mo [...] heedfully watched and laboured [...] againſt in your lives. Turn in [...] ſtrength of prayer and watchfuln [...] upon the ſtrength of ſin; let yo [...] main batteries be againſt the ſtron [...] holds; and where your walls [...] weakned, there ſet the ſtrong [...] guard and watch.

Direct. 4. Meaſure your prof [...] ency in Religion, by the power [...] get in thoſe particulars, wherein [...] have been moſt deficient or faul [...] Judge not your ſelves by th [...] things which are moſt eaſie in Re [...] gion, but by your coming off [...] your moſt difficult caſe.

Some profeſſors may at ti [...] eem to be full of good affectio [...] [Page] [...]rangely elevated and enlarged in [...]eir prayers, yea, and to live in ſo [...]eat peace, as to take themſelves [...] have attained to the riches of full [...]ſſurance, and yet for all this may [...] but very poor Chriſtians all the [...]hile. Let them be asked, How [...]it with your Soul? O! I bleſs the [...]ord I find it very comfortable: I [...]ve ſweet communion with God in [...]rayer, and I live in the ſweet and [...]freſhing light of his countenance; [...] waſheth my ſteps with Butter, [...]d his Sun ſhineth upon my paths▪ [...] thank the Lord I go comfortably [...]. But ſtay man, How is it with [...]hine old corruptions? Thou wer't [...]ce intollerably proud, or fro [...]ard, or earthly, or a jolly and [...]ainly merry ſoul; what ground [...]aſt thou gotten of thoſe very cor [...]uptions under which thou moſt [...]groanedſt? How is it with thee with [...]eſpect to temptation? Doſt thou [...]ear and fly from temptation, and [...]o what thou canſt to keep thy ſelf [Page] out of harms way? and when th [...] falleſt into temptation, when th [...] art actually tempted to Pride [...] Covetouſneſs, when thou art pr [...] voked to paſſion or impatience, ho [...] goes it with thee then? how ſtan [...] eſt thou in the day of temptation [...] How is it with thee in regard [...] thy wonted evils in thy conver [...] tion? Haſt thou ſounded a retrea [...] from thy eager chaſe after the grea [...] things of the world? Thou ha [...] been a zealot for increaſing thin [...] eart [...]ly Subſtance, art thou now become more moderate? Thou wert [...] once a ſlothful, lazy ſoul in the matters of God, art thou now more diligent and induſtrious? art thou [...] ſervent in ſpirit ſerving the Lord [...] Thou once livedſt a jolly, frothy and merry life, doſt thou now carry it with more ſeriouſneſs? Haſt thou left thy lying and deceitful dealing? Thou haſt been a ſelf-ſeeker and a fleſh pleaſer, but canſt ſay, through the Grace of God, I have now betaken [Page] my ſelf to a ſelf-denying life; [...]d doeſt thou deny thy ſelf in thoſe [...]ry things wherein thou wert us'd [...]ſt to ſeek thy ſelf? Put thy ſelf [...]on a cloſe and ſevere trial here, [...]d know that if the ſtrong hold [...] not battered and broken, if thine [...] luſts do ſtill hold their power in [...]ee, if the old ſore be ſtill iſſuing [...], the old ſtream be ſtill running [...] courſe; if thou canſt not ſay, I [...]ave kept me from [mine] iniquity, [...] at leaſt am fighting more reſol [...]edly againſt it; if thou ſtill ſtickeſt where thou wert wont to ſtick; (whatſoever fluſh thou ſeemeſt to have of good affections, whatſoever confidence thou haſt of thy good condition) 'tis a ſure ſign it is not ſo well with thee. Look to what degree of ſucceſs thou haſt attained in thoſe things wherein thy great difficulty lay; to ſuch a degree of ſoul-proſperity thou haſt attained, and no more.

[Page] Direct 5. Meaſure your hopes of the anſwer of your Prayers for the publick, by your experience of their ſpeeding in your own particular caſes. If thy ſin can ſtand before all thy prayers, thine enemies, and fears, and dangers are not like to fall ever the ſooner for ſuch praying; what God may do upon the prayers of others, thou knoweſt not; but nothing is like to go the better for thee. If thou haſt run with the foot-men (within thee) and theſe have been too hard for thee, how wilt thou contend with them that ride upon horſes? If thon canſt not ſtop the muddy ſtreams of thine own ciſtern, how wilt thou ſtand before the ſwelling of Jordan? If thy prayers prevail ſo little to the ſetting thine own heart, or thine own houſe in order, how canſt think they will do any thing againſt the hoſts of the uncircumciſed? God heareth not ſinners; not only ſuch ſinners as are in a ſtate of ſin, [Page] and totally alienated from the life of God, but even ſuch alſo, who though for the main, they have been once waſhed in the blood of Chriſt, are again fallen into, and wallowing in the mud and mire of any one allowed ſin; they are all like to be but miſerable comforters in the day of diſtreſs. Remember that Scripture mentioned before, Pſal. 66. 18. If I regard iniquity iu my heart, God will not hear my prayer.

But on the other ſide, if thou doſt obtain, if thou doſt prevail in thine own perſonal caſe, this hath good hope in it. 'Tis an argument that thy prayers are accepted with God; and if the Lord accept thee when thou prayeſt for thy ſelf, or for thine houſe, thence the greater hope will ſpring that he will accept thee when thou prayeſt for his own houſe and people. And if he doth accept thee for them, he will either deliver them out of their diſtreſs, [Page] and thou ſhalt have the honour to be one of thoſe for whoſe ſake deliverance comes; or if he ſhould not grant thy requeſt as to the publick, yet he will not fail to give thee thine own ſoul for a prey, though he do not give thee the lives of them that ſail with thee in the Ship.

And now you ſee the beſt way that is open to you, to help at a pinch, to ſave the poor diſtreſſed Churches of God in this time of their need, ſuch praying as may have its fruit unto holineſs in your ſelves; by this you may do much to promote the holineſs and happineſs of the people; if any thing, this will do it.

Wherefore gird up your loyns, and ſet in in good earneſt upon this ſeaſonable and mighty duty. Go into your cloſets, lift up your hearts, draw forth your ſouls, pour out your tears, weep in your prayer, weep over you own and [Page] the peoples ſins and fears, and bow your ſelves with your might before the Lord; this once try what you can do, try the ſtrength of prayer. Pray all to rights within you and at home, and then ſeek and cry, and wreſtle, and truſt, and wait for the Salvation of God to be revealed in due time upon his people.

Let us at length hear the concluſion of the whole matter, what ſhall be the fruit of all this: what will you now do? If I ſhould only ask, Who among you will join in and pray, pray for the peace of Jeruſalem, the Church of the living God? every one would readily anſwer, I will be for one, I for another, God forbid I ſhould hold my peace, I will pray for the peace of Jeruſalem, Let them proſper that love thee: Peace be within thy walls, and proſperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions ſake I will pray, Peace be within [Page]thee, becauſe of the Houſe of the Lord our God, I will ſeek thy good.

If it be asked further, and who will pray for the deſtruction of Babylon? O, every one of us that have an heart for the peace of Jeruſalem. Down with it, down with it even to the ground, Remember, O Lord, the Children of Edom, in the day of Jeruſalem, who ſaid, Raze it, raze it even to the very foundation. O Daughter of Babylon that art to be deſtroyed, happy let him be that rewardeth thee as thou haſt ſerved us.

But would you that your prayers ſhould be heard? Then ariſe out of your places, and fall every man upon a perſonal Reformation. Down with your ſin, and out with the world; liſt up Chriſt in your own hearts, iſ you would have Antichriſt [...]all in the earth; let Chriſt have a name within you above [Page] every name, and let every one that nameth the name of Chriſt depart from iniquity, from his own iniquity; feek not for corn, and for wine, or for freedom to ſit down every man under his own Vine, and under his own fig-tree, where none ſhall make them afraid; but ſeek the Lord, that the Lord God may dwell among you, may delight in you and be exalted by you, that you may indeed become the people of his Holineſs, and the people of his Prayer; ſeek to be made partakers of his holineſs, and follow after holineſs, and ſo follow after that ye may obtain. Let there be ſuch a heart in you, and ſuch an holy deſign heartily taken up, and zealouſly purſued by you, and the Lord will certainly accept you▪ and anſwer your prayers; and your profane enemies will then learn to take heed how they again mock or boaſt themſelves againſt the prayers of the Saints. It was reported of a [Page] great Church-man, that when ſeveral Miniſters were turn'd out of their places for non-conformity, he ſaid in diſdain, Wee'l turn them out, and let them ſee if they can pray them in again. Once lift up [holy] hands to the Lord, and God will give ſuch Anſwer, that they will take heed of boaſting again againſt prayer. And if yet they ſhould take unto them the hardineſs, to ſay where is your God? Doubt not but in a little time you ſhall have this ſong put into your mouths, Lo this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will ſave us, this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoyce in his ſalvation.

But if it muſt ſuffice you to pray and you will ſtill go on to traverſe your old ways, ſuffering your ſins and the world to hold the head of you, let not ſuch men think they ſhall receive any thing of the Lord.

[Page] Wherefore once again be exhorted to come to a point in this matter, and determine what ye will do; If yet will not heartily come in, in this neceſſary deſign of advancing in holineſs, you may even ſtand aſide, and ſit out from that of Prayer, for any good we can expect from you: But if you are reſolved on the former, and that with all imaginable ſeriouſneſs, you will the more proſper in the latter; let both go together in one, and thenceforth look for good ſpeed in either.

Well, ſhall this Decree immediately go forth? Say the word once, but let it be with an unalterable reſolution; at leaſt, be adviſed to this (which I pray forget not) from the day of your next ſolemn appearing before God in this duty of Prayer for the publick, let your Decree be dated; and if need be, let the very day be written down, and ſo go, and let it be heedfully proſecuted; and upon each return [Page] of this ſolemn ſervice, let it be actually and expreſly renewed. O Lord God of Abraham, Iſaac and Iſrael, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee.

FINIS.

Books Printed and Sold by Tho. Cockerill, at the Three-Legs over againſt rhe Stocks-Market.

[Page]

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Speculum Theologie in Chriſto: [...] a View of ſome Divine Truths, [...]hich are either practically ex [...]plified in Jeſus Chriſt, ſet forth [...] the Goſpel, or may be reaſonably [Page] deduced from thence; [...] Edward Polhil of Burwaſh in Suſſe [...] Eſq; 4to.

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Chriſtus in Corde: Or the Myſ [...] cal Union between Chriſt and Bel [...] vers conſidered, in its Reſemblance [...] Bonds, Seals, Privildges and Marks by Edward Polhil, Eſq 8vo.

The Faithfulneſs of God co [...] dered and cleared, in the gr [...] events of its works: or, a ſeco [...] part of fulfilling the Scripture; [...] the ſame Author, in 8vo.

De Cauſa Dei: Or, a Vindi [...] tion of the Common Doctrine [...] the Proteſtant Divines, concer [...] ing Predetermination (i. e. [...] Intereſt of God as the firſt Cau [...] in all Actions, as ſuch, of all [...] tional Creatures) from the In [...] dious conſequences with which [...] burthen'd by Mr. John Ho [...] in a late Letter of Poſtcr [...] [Page] Gods Preſcience, in 8vo.

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The Spiritual Remembrancer [...] a brief Diſcourſe of thoſe who [...]tend upon Preaching the Goſpel, [...] Samuel Wells, in 8vo.

God, a Chriſtians Choice, com [...]ated by particular Covenanting [...]th God, wherein the Lawful [...]ſs and Expediency is clared; [...] Samuel Winney, in 12s.

The Court of the Gentiles, in [...] parts; by Theophilus Gale, 4to.

Poeſe [...]s Grecae Medulla; in qua [...]tinenter Inſigniores Poetarum [...]aecorum gnome, verſus Proverbi [...]s, & Epigrammata quaedam ſe [...]a, & in memoriae ſubſidium Al [...]beticae diſpoſita; cum reiſione latina[Page]in uſum Scholarum; per Johannem Langſton,8vo.

Poems in two parts; firſt an Interlocutory Diſcourſe concerning the Creation, Fall and Recovery of Man. Secondly, A Dialogue between Faith and a Doubting Soul; by Samuel Slater, in 8vo.

Mr. Weſt's Legacy, being a Diſcourſe of the Perfect Man, in 12s.

☜ Geography Rectified: or, a Deſcription of the World, in all its Kingdoms, Provinces, Cities Towns, Seas, Rivers, Bays, Capes, Ports; Their Ancient and Preſent Names, Inhabitants, Scituations, Hiſtories, Cuſtoms, Governments, &c. As alſo their Commodities, Coins, Weights and Meaſures, compared with thoſe of London: Illuſtrated with above Sixty new Maps. The whole work performed according to the more accurate diſcoveries of modern Authors in 4to.

[Page] A Renuncitation of ſeveral Popiſh Doctrines, becauſe Contrary to the Doctrine of faith of the Church of England, by R. R. B. D. in 8vo.

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Information about this book

Title statement

A companion for prayer, or, Directions for improvement in grace and practical Godliness in time of extraordinary danger by Richard Alleine, author of Vinditiae Pietatis.

R. A. (Richard Alleine), 1611-1681.

Edition statement

1680

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A76058

ID [STC]

Wing A984A

ID [STC]

ESTC R228577

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

43077458

ID [OCLC]

ocm 43077458

ID [VID]

151515

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A76058)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 151515)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English Books, 1641-1700 ; 2262:2)

Source

— A companion for prayer, or, Directions for improvement in grace and practical Godliness in time of extraordinary danger by Richard Alleine, author of Vinditiae Pietatis., R. A. (Richard Alleine), 1611-1681..

Extent

[2], 34, [5] p.

Printed for Thomas Cockerill at the Three Legs in the Poultrey,. London :: 1680.. (Cover title.) (Publisher's advertisements on [5] p. at end.) (Reproduction of original in: William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, University of California, Los Angeles, California.)

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