A wise and holy prayer, he begins at the head, he ⟨p. 82⟩goes to the spring of all good. Prayer is the messenger, or ambassador of the soul; being the ambassador of the soul, it goes to the highest, to the King of Kings first, to the Lord of Lords first; it goes to the highest mover of all:1 and then desires him to move the next immediate subordinate mover,2 that is, the King, that he may move other orbs under him, that things may be carried by a gracious sweet course to a blessed issue. Therefore the observation hence is this. That when we have to do any thing with great men, with Kings, &c. how ever ⟨p. 83⟩begin with the King of Kings, and do all in heaven, before we do it in earth: for heaven makes the laws, that earth is governed by. Let earth conclude what it will, there will be conclusions in heaven that will overthrow all their conclusions. Therefore in our prayers we should begin with God, and desire him with earnest and fervent entreaties, that he would set all a going, that he would set in frame these inferior causes. And when we have gotten what we would in heaven, it is easy to get in earth. Let us win what we desire in heaven at ⟨p. 84⟩Gods hands, and then what an easy thing is it to work with Princes, and other governors in state, when we have gotten God once? hath not he the hearts of Kings in his hand as the rivers of waters: to turn this way or that thē way? As a skilful man derives water by this channel or by that, as he opens a vent for the water. So God opens a way to vent the deliberations, and determinations of Kings and Princes to run this way or that to this good or to that, as he pleaseth Therefore considering that there is an absolute dependence of all inferior ⟨p. 85⟩things from God, when we have to do with Kings or great men, let us always begin with prayer.
A wise and holy prayer, hee begins at the head, he ⟨p. 82⟩goes to the spring of all good. Prayer is the messenger, or ambassador of the soule; beeing the ambassadour of the soule, it goes to the highest, to the King of Kings first, to the Lord of Lords first; it goes to the highest moover of all:1 and then desires him to moove the next immediate subordinate moover,2 that is, the King, that hee may moove other orbes under him, that things may bee carried by a gracious sweet course to a blessed issue. Therefore the observation hence is this. That when we have to do any thing with great men, with Kings, &c. how ever ⟨p. 83⟩beginne with the King of Kings, and doe all in heaven, before wee doe it in earth: for heaven makes the lawes, that earth is governed by. Let earth conclude what it will, there will be conclusions in heaven that will overthrow al their conclusions. Therfore in our prayers wee should beginne with God, and desire him with earnest and fervent intreaties, that hee would set al a going, that hee would set in frame these inferiour causes. And when wee have gotten what wee would in heaven, it is easie to get in earth. Let us win what wee desire in heaven at ⟨p. 84⟩Gods hands, and then what an easie thing is it to worke with Princes, and other governours in state, when we have gotten God once? hath not hee the hearts of Kings in his hand as the rivers of waters: to turne this way or that thē way? As a skilfull man derives water by this chanell or by that, as he opens a vent for the water. So God opens a way to vent the deliberations, and determinations of Kings and Princes to runne this way or that to this good or to that, as hee pleaseth Therfore considering that there is an absolute dependance of all inferiour ⟨p. 85⟩things from God, when we have to do with Kings or great men, let us alwaies beginne with prayer.
- 1Observ.
- 2In business with great men look first to God.In busines with great men looke first to God.
