and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have
softened either by word or rod, therefore the Lord will thus do to us; and seeing he will do thus, we may prepare to meet the Lord coming in a way of more severe judgment against us. Sad it is already; many families are in a deplorable condition, and yet nothing bettered by the stroke; and what a sad face will this land have, if it be continued? Spare, O Lord, your inheritance, your covenanted people, and make us rather fall on such methods as may procure the removal of the stroke. These, and many other things, O my soul, may indeed make you grieved for the hardness of this generation.
Fifthly y Christ was much in prayer; and that, 1. Before he preached, as Luke 9: 18. Follow him in this, O my soul. You have much need to pray before you preach. Be busy with God in prayer, when you are thinking on dealing with the souls of men. Let your sermons be sermons of many prayers. Well doth prayer become every Christian, but much more a preacher of the gospel. Three things, said Luther, make a divine, testings, meditations, and prayer. Be stirred up, O my soul, to this necessary work; and for this end consider,
1. That you cannot otherwise say of your preaching, Thus says the Lord. How will you get a word from God, if you do not seek it; and how can you seek it but by earnest prayer? If otherwise, you may get something that is the product of your empty head to mumble over before the people, and spend a little time with them in the church. But O it is a miserable preaching where the preacher can say, Thus say I to you but no more; and cannot say, Thus saith the Lord.
2. Consider your own insufficiency and weakness, together with the weight of the work, Who is sufficient for these things? which if you do, you will not dare study without prayer, nor yet pray without study, when God allows you time for both. It is a weighty work to bring sinners in to Christ, to pluck the brands out of the fire. Have you not great need then to be serious with God before you preach?
3. Consider that word, Jer. 23:22. "But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have
turned them from their evil way." There is no doubt but preachers not standing in God's counsel this day, and not making men to hear God's words, is one great reason of the unsuccessfulness of the gospel. Now this way, to wit, prayer in faith, is the most proper expedient for acquaintance with the counsel of God. Neglect it not then. O my soul, but be much in the duty.
Lastly, Remember, that you have found much good of such a practice, and have found much of the Lord's help both in studying and preaching, by so doing. For which cause you allot the Sabbath morning entirely to that exercise, and meditation, if you can get it done. Wherefore let this be your work. And there are these things which you would specially mind to pray for with respect to this.
(1.) That you may have a word from the Lord to deliver unto them; that you may not preach to them the product of your own wisdom, and what merely flows from your reason; for this is poor heartless preaching.
(2.) That your soul may be affected with the case of the people to whom you preach. If that be wanting, it will be tongue preaching, but not heart-preaching.
(3.) That your heart may be inflamed with zeal for the glory of your Master; that out of love to God, and love to souls your preaching may flow.
(4.) That the Lord may preach it into your own heart, both when you study and deliver it. For if this be not, you shall be like one who feeds others, but starves himself for hunger; or like a way-mark, that shows the way to men, but never moves a foot itself.
(5.) That you may be helped to deliver it; and that (1.) With a suitable frame, your heart being affected with what you speak; (2.) Faithfully, keeping up nothing that the Lord gives thee; and (3.) Without confusion of mind, or fear of man.