Then & Now · 16 of 28
13. Private Prayer in Times of Great Straits and Trials
13. Private Prayer in Times of Great Straits and Trials
Thirdly, Conſider, that in times of great ſtraits and trials, in times of great afflictions and perſecutions, private prayer is the Chriſtians meat & drink; ‘tis his cheif city of refuge; ‘tis his ſhelter and hiding place in a ſtormy day. When the Saints have been driven by violent perſecutions, into holes, and38 caves, and dens, and deſarts, and howling wilderneſſes; private prayer hath been their meat and drink, and under Chriſt their only refuge. When Eſau came forth with hoſtil intentions againſt Jacob, ſecret prayer was Jacobs refuge, Gen. 32. 6, 7, 8, 9, 11. And the meſſengers returned to Jacob, ſaying, we came to thy brother Eſau, and alſo he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. All cut-throates. Then p. 92 Jacab was greatly afraid, and diſtreſſed; and he devided the people that was with him, and the flocks and heards, and the camels into two bands. And ſaid, if Eſau come to the one company and ſmite it, then the other company which is left ſhall eſcape. When all is at ſtake ‘tis chriſtian prudence to ſave what we can, though we cannot ſave what we would. And Jacob ſaid, O God of my Father Abraham and God of my Father Iſaac; the Lord which ſaidſt unto me, return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deale well with thee. Promiſes in private muſt be prayed over; God loves to ſued upon his own bond when he and his People are alone. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, front the hand of Eſau: for I fear him, leſt he will come and ſmite me, and the Mother with the children; or, upon the children, meaning; he he will put all to death. Some look upon the words to be a metaphor taken from Fowlers, who kill and take away the young and the Dams together; contrary to p. 93 that old law, Deut. 22. 6. Others ſay ‘tis a Phraſe that doth moſt lively repreſent the tenderneſs of a mother, who ſeeing her children in diſtreſs; ſpares not her own body nor life, to hazard the ſame for her childrens preſervation, by interpoſing39 her ſelf, even to be maſſacred together with and upon them. When Jacob, and all that was near and dear unto him, were in eminent danger of being cut off by Eſau, and thoſe men of blood that were with him, he betakes himſelf to private prayer as his only City of refuge, againſt the rage and malice of the mighty.
‸ Consider‸ that in times of great straits and trials, in times of great afflictions and persecutions, private prayer is the Christian’s meat and drink. It is his chief city of refuge; it is his shelter and hiding place in a stormy day. When the saints have been driven by violent persecutions‸ into holes, and caves, and dens, and deserts, and howling wildernesses, private prayer hath been their meat and drink, and under Christ their only refuge. When Esau came forth with hostile intentions against Jacob, secret prayer was Jacob’s refuge‸‸. “‸And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him, all cut-throats. Then Jacob was greatly afraid‸ and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape” (Gen 32:6–8). When all is at stake‸, it is Christian prudence to save what we can, though we cannot save what we would. “‸And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee” (v. 9). Promises in private must be prayed over. God loves to be sued upon His own bond, when He and His people are alone. “‸Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children” (v. 11)—‸or “‸upon the children,” meaning‸ he will put all to death. Some look upon the words to be a metaphor taken from fowlers who kill and take away the young and the dams together‸ contrary to that old law (‸Deut‸ 22:‸6). Others say it is a phrase that doth most lively represent the tenderness of a mother, who, seeing her children in distress, spares not her own body nor life‸ to hazard the same for her children’s preservation, by interposing herself, even to be massacred together with and upon them (Hos 10:14). When Jacob‸ and all that was near and dear unto him was in imminent danger of being cut off by Esau‸ and those men of blood that were with him, he betakes himself to private prayer as his only city of refuge‸ against the rage and malice of the mighty.
And ſo when Jeremiah was in a ſolitary and loathſome Dungeon, Private prayer was his meat and drink, it was his only City of refuge, Jer. 33. 1, 2, 3. Moreover, the word of Lord came unto Jeremiah the ſecond time (while he was yet ſhut up in the Court of the priſon) ſaying, Thus ſaith the Lord the Maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to eſtabliſh it, the Lord is his Name: Call unto me, and I will anſwer p. 94 thee, & I will ſhew thee great and mighty (or hidden) things, which thou knoweſt not. When Jeremiah was in a loneſome loathſome. Priſon, God encourages him by private prayer, to ſeek for further diſcoveries and revelations of thoſe choice and ſingular favours, which in future times he purpoſed to confer upon his people.
And so, when Jeremiah was in a solitary and loathsome dungeon, private prayer was his meat and drink; it was his only city of refuge‸‸. “‸Moreover, the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time‸, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying, Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; The LORD is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty‸,” or hidden “‸things, which thou knowest not” (Jer 33:1–3). When Jeremiah was in a lonesome, loathsome prison, God encourages him by private prayer‸ to seek for further discoveries and revelations of those choice and singular favors which in future times He purposed to confer upon His people.
So 2 Chron. 33. 11, 12, 13. Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the Captains of the Hoſt of the King of Aſſyria, which took Manaſſeh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters (or chains) and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he beſought the Lord his God, and humbled himſelf greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed unto him, and he was intreated of him, and heard his ſupplication, and brought him again to Jeruſalem into his Kingdome. Then Manaſſeh knew that the Lord he was God. When Manaſſeh was in fetters, in his enemies country, when he was ſtript of all his Princely glory, and led captive into Babylon, he betakes himſelf to Private prayer, p. 95 as his only City of refuge; and by this means he prevailes with God for his reſtauration to his Crown and Kingdome.
‸ ‸ ‸“‸Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters‸,” or chains, “‸and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God” (2 Chr 33:11–13). When Manasseh was in fetters‸ in his enemy’s country, when he was stripped of all his princely glory‸ and led captive into Babylon, he betakes himself to private prayer‸ as his only city of refuge; and by this means he prevails with God for his restoration to his crown and kingdom.
Private prayer is a City of refuge that no power nor Policy, no craft nor cruelty, no violence nor force is ever able to ſurprize. Though the joynt prayers of the People of God together were often obſtructed and hindered in the times of the ten Perſecutions, yet they were never able to obſtruct or hinder ſecret prayer, Private prayer. When men and Devils have done their worſt, every Chriſtian will be able to maintain his Private trade with Heaven. Private prayer will ſhelter a chriſtian againſt all the National, Domeſtical, and Perſonal ſtormes and tempeſts, that may threaten him. When a man is lying upon a ſick bed alone, or when a man is in priſon alone, or when a man is with Job left upon the Dunghil alone, or when a man is with John baniſhed for the Teſtimony of Jeſus into this or that Iſland alone, O then p. 96 private prayer will be his meat and drink, his ſhelter, his hiding place, his Heaven. When all other Trades faile, this Trade of private Prayer will hold good. But.
Private prayer is a city of refuge that no power nor policy, no craft nor cruelty, no violence nor force, is ever able to surprise. Though the joint prayers of the people of God together were often obstructed and hindered in the times of the ten persecutions, yet they were never able to obstruct or hinder secret prayer, private prayer. When men and devils have done their worst, every Christian will be able to maintain his private trade with heaven. Private prayer will shelter a Christian against all the national, domestical, and personal storms and tempests‸ that may threaten him. When a man is lying upon a sick-‸bed alone, or when a man is in prison alone, or when a man is with Job left upon the dunghill alone, or when a man is with John banished for the testimony of Jesus into this or that island alone, oh, then private prayer will be his meat and drink, his shelter, his hiding-‸place, his heaven. When all other trades fail, this trade of private prayer will hold good. ‸