To the Reader.

THis Sermon thus
made vp with mine
owne and others
notes I now submit
to Authority and
Censure, for substance,
I yeeld heere is no
more then what was deliuered, whether
no lesse I haue not now to say, for circumstance
I yeeld to the allegation I acknowledge
it seasonable. The times shall
euer be cleared by prayer whensoeuer
they looke sadly vpon vs. Our Brethren
abroad cry stil in the Churches words; The
haruest is past, and the Summer is ended, and we are
not holpen, and wee me thinks should add
with Ieremie verse 2.1. I am sore vexed for the
hurt of the daughter of my people, I am heauy, astonishment
hath taken me; Is there no balme at Gilead &c,
At home, howsoeuer the Lord hath beene
gracious to vs in the scarcitie, yet we may

A 2

in most places, take vp the Prophets words
in another sence, Is the seede yet in the Barne?
as yet the Trees haue not beene deliuered of their burthen?
Looke into the 65 Psalme, and thou
shalt finde that it is the Lord that findes both
ground and seede, that giues both growth
and ripening to the Corne, and therefore
wee should waite vpon him with our presents
of praise & prayer, this were enough
to make vs pray, but this is the least of many
motiues, for Reader thou seest the times,
the World is now all eare and tongue, the
most giuen with the Athenians to little els
then to heare and tell newes, vncertaine
newes, the Authour of all lies as his Maiestie
hath told vs the rest are willing also
to heare, and to heare Gods Truth, not Fables,
and therein they doe but as Saint Iames
would haue them, so as they would add
doing to hearing as hee commaunds. But
alas, whilst wee onely professe and discourse
of Religion, wee driue the practise of Religion
out of the world, as one too iustly
complaines. It is lamentable to consider
the little vse that is made of Gods Ordinances
in most places; Preachers too often I
tremble to speake it bee vsed like post horses,
spurd on till they be spent, and then a
fresh is called for, in the meane the world
sits still and thinks to be saued for hearing.
Reader, Mourne for this, weepe for this, for
this boades a Iudgement, the Lord will reckon
for the bloud of his Prophets spent as
well as shed. To these reasons, it will not
be hard for thee to add more, looke within
thee, and round about thee, and so stirre vp
thy selfe to this exercise of Prayer, an exercise
I can assure thee of vnspeakable
strength and comfort, an exercise without
which thou canst not liue, and by which
thou mayest liue in the mouth of death.
Beleeue it, wert thou in an estate, more desperate
then death, in a place worse then
hell, yet if there thou couldest pray truely,
thou shouldst find comfort and strength
beyond hope, for Prayer is better then our
hopes, and yet God is better to vs then our
prayer. First, for that which is publique,
follow him who was no time-seruer, make
no small account of publique prayers. Secondly,
for priuat, pause before thou speak,
remember who spake it, if a man would

A 3

not deliuer an Oration to a Prince ex tempore
and sodainely, it will not become vs to
open our mouths rashly before our maker,
secondly, keepe touch with God: first, for
extraordinary and incidental occasions, be
sure to keepe thy selfe in such a state and
condition of soule, as that euer thou canst
recollect thy selfe, and call in all the powers
of soule for this businesse vpon a short
warning: secondly, for ordinary times, so
neare as may bee, faile not of thine houre:
when the Clocke strikes the Schollar runs
to his booke, thou must to God leauing al,
there tender thy selfe, though not alwaies
alike fit, and so be in the way and place of
preferment: if words will not come, sigh,
God heares the sighing of his prisoners, if thou canst
not sigh, breath, God hath an eare for that,
Lam. 3.56. Howeuer, there be, there stand,
and the childe that stands before his father
and appeares in his place at supper time
with his trencher in his hand, speakes with
his countenance, and speeds accordingly,
he was wise who said, they pray not altogether
of fashion, who see their infirmitie
in praying and are grieued for it; the worst
prayers that wee make to our owne sence
I meane speede euer best, and then wee
pray most happily, when wee arise most
humbled.
Thirdly, when thou hast prayed, do not
as children, who neuer looke after their arrow;
but as Daniel cap. 9.1. take notice of
thine enlargements in prayer and of thy
successe after, write downe time and place
as the Prophet doth, and so helpe thy selfe
in future times by former experiments, I
see this Porch growes wide, and therefore
I wil conclude, if thou be acquainted with
prayer, thou knowest there is more in it
then can be expressed, if thou bee not acquainted,
grow acquainted, and thou shalt
finde me true, if thou wantest furthest motiues
and directions, I commend in this
hast to thee who art but a poore English
priuate man. First, for the promises whereof
the heart must chew before prayer the
Treatise of faith. Secondly, for motiues, the
Epistle to the key Heauen. thirdly, for cases of
Conscience and directions after prayer, 2.
Treatises on Ephe 6. viz. the spiritual Armour, and
now after directions and exhortations,
what remaines but practise, in stead of others
pratling and enterdealing in State-busines,
do thou pray, pray for thy Soueraign,
for his seede, for the Churches, for thy selfe,
for thy charge, and vse no more words against
mens sinnes, then thou wilt make
praiers for their soules in secret, if thou
wilt haue comfort in thy wordes: Thus
much of this, Now Reader to thee, if these
plaine notes passe the Presse, know that I
neither did ente~d their publishing before I
preached them, nor can intend notwithstanding
their refining since; if the world
may be bettered by them, or by any thing
I can doe, I haue enough, onely I desire
mercy and equity from my friends, those
notes of mine which they haue, I will my
selfe after my publique Ministerie now
shortly reuise, let no man doe so ill an office
as to thrust out other mens notes without
their privitie, especially his, who can
doe nothing worthy this Age.

RO. HARRIS.