The chief heads of matter for Petition are summarily comprehended in the Lords Prayer, as hath been shewed before. (Chap. 5)
All Petition is either for Our selves. Deprecation. Comprecation. Others. Intercession.
In petitioning for our selves, the first thing to be explained, is Deprecation, which concerns the prevention, or removal or lessening of evill.
1The first evill to be prayed against, is that of sin, and therein we should deprecate both the Guilt. Power.
- The guilt of sin is that imputation whereby we are obliged to the wrath of God,2 and all the curses of the Law, and therefore we have great need to pray that he would forgive us our debts; (Isa. 44.22)That he would blot out our Transgressions as a cloud; That he would open unto us the fountain for sin, and for uncleannesse; (Zach. 13.1) That he would have compassion upon us, subduing our iniquities, and casting our sins into the depths of the sea; (Mic. 7.19) That we may be justified freely by his grace, (Rom. 3.24) through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ; That he would cleanse us from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit; (2 Cor. 7.1) That he would blot out the hand-writing that is against us, and take it out of the way, (Col. 2.14) nailing it to the Crosse of Christ.
Of this kinde we have sundry Deprecations in Scripture; So David, Remember, O· Lord, (Ps. 25.6, 7) thy tender mercies, and thy loving kindnesses, for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: for thy names sake, O Lord,3 pardon mine iniquity, for it is great.
Lord, be merciful unto me, heal my soul, (Psal 41.4) for I have sinned against thee.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindnesse, (Ps. 51.1, 2) according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions; wash me throughly from mine iniquities, and cleanse me from my sin. Purge me with Hysope, and I shall be clean, wash me, and I shall be whiter then Snow. (Vers. 7) Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. (Vers. 9)
O remember not against us our former iniquities, (Ps. 79.8, 9) help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name. Deliver us, and purge away our sins for thy names sake.
Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, (Psal. 119.132) as thou usest to do unto those that love thy Name.
Take away all our iniquities, and receive us graciously. (Hos. 14.2)
Heal our back-slidings, and love us freely.
(Vers. 4)Now because this is one of the chief wants, against which we should petition; therefore we should endeavour to back our requests in this kinde, with such Arguments as may serve to stir up our fervency, and strengthen our faith in this desire.
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From the mercy of God, who desires not the death of a sinner, but at what time soever he shall truly repent, hath promised to forgive him. He hath commanded us to ask daily pardon, (Ezek. 18.21, 22) as well as daily bread, shewing thereby that as the best man shall continually need pardon, so he is more ready to give it, then we are to ask it. He has intreated us to be reconciled unto him. He does invite, and call us, when we are impenitent, and therefore he will be much more ready to embrace and accept of us, when we desire with repentance to return unto him. He would not have us send our neighbour away empty, when that which he would borrow is with us; (Prov 3.8) How much more then shall he who is the Father of Mercies, in respect of whom all the compassion in man is not so much as a drop to the Ocean? How much more shall he accept and grant the desires of his children? for with the Lord there is mercy, (Psal. 130.7) and with him there is plenteous redemption. He hath enjoyned us to help our enemies Oxe or Asse, (Exod. 23.5) when they are in danger. And doth God take care for Oxen? hath he not a farre greater esteem of his own Image in man? (1 Cor. 9.9) Will he not much rather extend his bounty and goodnesse unto such as are oppressed under the burthen of their sins? Though no sin be little in it self, yet the greatest sinne is but little in comparision to his mercy. The more our offences have been, the more may he glorifie himselfe in the pardon of them.
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From the merits of Christ, (1 Joh. 2.2) who is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. He came to save that which was lost: (Mat. 18.11) To quicken those that were dead in trespases and sins. To this end was he borne, and for this and came he into the world, (Eph. 2.1) that he might save sinners. He was wounded for our transgressions, (Joh. 18.37) he was bruised for our iniquities, (Isa. 53.5) the chastisement of our peace was upon him, that with his stripes we might be healed. He hath satisfied for us as our surety, and hath suffered the punishments that were due unto our sins; and it cannot stand with the justide of God, to require a debt twice over, to punish them again in us, when he hath already punished them in Christ.
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From our own frailties; (Job 15.14) What is man that he should be clean and he that is borne of woman that he should be religious? God will pitty those that feare him, because he knows their frame, (Ps. 103.14) he considers that they are but dust. He remembers that they are but flesh, and no flesh can be righteous in his sight. (Ps. 78.39) Before him no man living can be justified. The greatnesse and the sense of our unworthinesse does make us the fitter objects for his mercy. (Ps. 143.2) (Mat. 9.12) The whole have no need of the Phisician, but the sick.