Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulness of sin. The life…Three treatises of the vanity of the creature. The sinfulnesse of sinne. The life…

That which encouraged Daniel to set his face¹ to seek unto God in Prayer for the restitution of liberty out of Babylon was Gods Promise and Truth revealed by Jeremiah the Prophet, that he would accomplish but seventy years in the desolation of Jerusalem. That which encouraged Jehoshaphat to seek unto God against² the multitude of Moabites which came up against him, was his Promise that he would hear and help those that did pray towards his house in their affliction. That which encouraged David to pray unto God for the stability of his house, was the Covenant and Truth of God,³ Thou hast revealed to thy Servant, saying, I will build thee an house, therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this Prayer unto thee. And now, O Lord, thou art That God, that is, the same God in thy fidelity and mercy, as then thou wert, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness to thy servant; therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy Servant, &c. Excellent to this purpose is that which S. Austin observes of his mother, who very often and earnestly prayed unto⁴ God for h•r son when he was an Heretic, Chirographa tua ingerebat tibi, Lord, saith he, she urged thee with thine own hand-writing, she challenged in an humble and fearful confidence the performance of thine own ⟨p. 32⟩obligations. Thirdly and lastly, by this means we hasten the performance of Gods decreed mercies; we retardate, yea quite hinder his almost purposed and decreed Judgements. The Lord had resolved to restore Israel to their wonted peace and honour, yet for all these things ⁵will I be enquired unto by the House of Israel to do it for them, saith He in the Prophet. The Lord had threatened destruction against Israel for their Idolatry, had not Moses ⁶stood before him in the breach to turn away his wrath, as the Psalmist speaks. And we read of the Primitive