The righteous mans death lamented. A sermon preached at St. Austins, London, Aug.23. 1662…

Ninthly, Another Jewel that did beautify and adorn this Reverend Minister, was his excellent gift in Prayer; and herein he was very eminent, and did exceed many, nay I may say most of his Brethren: As Apollos was mighty in the scriptures, so was he (as you all know) mighty in Prayer; he was a Jacob, very skilful in wrestling with God, like Moses he often stood in the gap, and at most Fasts in the time of his health, he was the Minister that was chosen to conclude with Prayer; and this heightens the loss ⟨p. 21⟩that we sustain by the death of this godly Minister, because we have lost the benefit of his Prayers, which is an invaluable loss; for though I doubt not but he prays in Heaven for the Church in general, yet I believe he prays not for any in particular, as not knowing what our condition is; For Abraham knows us not; for the Saints in Heaven know not what is done upon earth. The loss therefore is the greater, because we have lost not only a preaching, but a praying Minister: And give me leave to add, that this excellency in this Minister, is sufficient to prove, 1. That there is a gift of prayer, which some against all reason do deny. 2. That conceived prayers when uttered by one that hath the gift of prayer, are not in vain Tautologies, or empty repetitions, and a rate of nonsense as some unjustly charge men with; but they are the breathings of God's Spirit, that pierce not only into the ears and hearts of the hearers, but into the ears and heart of God himself.

Ninthly, Another Jewel that did beautifie and adorn this Reverend Minister, was his excellent gift in Prayer; and herein he was very eminent, and did exceed many, nay I may say most of his Brethren: As Apollos was mighty in the scriptures, so was he (as you all know) mighty in Prayer; he was a Iacob, very skilful in wrestling with God, like Moses he often stood in the gap, and at most Fasts in the time of his health, he was the Minister that was chosen to conclude with Prayer; and this heightens the loss ⟨p. 21⟩that we sustain by the death of this godly Minister, because we have lost the benefit of his Prayers, which is an invaluable loss; for though I doubt not but he prays in Heaven for the Church in general, yet I believe he prays not for any in particular, as not knowing what our condition is; For Abraham knows us not; for the Saints in Heaven know not what is done upon earth. The losse therefore is the greater, because we have lost not onely a preaching, but a praying Minister: And give me leave to add, that this excellency in this Minister, is sufficient to prove, 1. That there is a gift of prayer, which some against al reason do deny. 2. That conceived prayers when uttered by one that hath the gift of prayer, are not in vain Tautologies, or empty repetitions, and a rate of nonsence assome unjustly charge men with; but they are the breathings of God's Spirit, that pierce not onely into the ears and hearts of the hearers, but into the ears and heart of God himself.