A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse…

Tenthly, the Lord doth manifest his favourable, signal, and eminent presence with his People, in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers, by pouring out upon them a greater spirit of prayer and supplication, in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers, than formerly they have had. Isa. 26. 16. Lord in trouble have they visited ¹thee, they poured out a prayer, when thy chastening was upon them. [They poured out their still prayer.] The Hebrew word Lachus, signifieth properly, a soft or low kind of muttering, which can hardly be heard. The Prophet hereby would intimate to us, that in their great troubles, and deepest distresses, they sighed or groaned unto God, and prayed in a still and silent manner. Saints never visit God more with her prayers, than when he visits them most with his rod. Saints never pray with that seriousness, that spiritualness, that heavenliness, that humbleness, that brokenness, that fervency, that frequency, as they do when they are under the mighty ⟨p. 56⟩hand of God; and all this is from that signal presence of God, that is with them, in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, &c. When it was a day of great trouble, of great distress, of great danger to the People of God in Germany, God poured out a very great spirit of prayer upon Luther; at length he comes out of his closet triumphingly, saying to his Fellow-labourers and Friends: Vicimus, vicimus; We have overcome, we have overcome. At which time it is observed, that there came out a proclamation from Charles the Fifth, that none should be further molested for the profession of the Gospel. In days of •roubles and distress Luther was so warm, zealous, and powerful in prayer, that made one of his best Friends say, (Iste vir potuit, quod voluit) That man could have of God what he pleased. Being once very warm in prayer, he let fall this transcendent rapture of a daring faith, Fiat mea voluntas, Let my will be done; (and then falls off sweetly) Mea voluntas, Domine, quia tua, My will, Lord, because thy will. It is reported in the life of Luther, that when he prayed it was tanta reverentia ut si Deo, & tanta fiducia ut si amico, It was with so much reverence as if he were praying to God, and with so much boldness as if he had been speaking to his Friend.