A12202:88
The spiritual favourite at the throne of grace. By the late learned, and reverend…The spirituall favorite at the throne of grace. By the late learned, and reverend…
The spiritual favourite at the throne of grace. By the late learned, and reverend divine Richard Sibbs Doctor in Divinity. Published by the authors own appointment, subscribed with his hand; to prevent unperfect copiesThe spirituall favorite at the throne of grace. By the late learned, and reverend divine Richard Sibbs Doctor in Divinity. Published by the authors owne appointment, subscribed with his hand; to prevent unperfect copies
London: printed by Thomas Paine for Ralph Mabb, 1640
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
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⟩