The Return of Prayers - Monergism

TheReturnofPrayers:

HowtoDiscernGod'sAnswerstoPrayers

byThomasGoodwin

TableofContents

TOTHEMUCH-HONOUREDKNIGHTSIRNATHANIELRICH

Introduction

CHAPTER I:Themainobservation:ThatGod'speople arediligently toobservetheanswersoftheirprayers

CHAPTERII:ThreeCasesPropounded

CHAPTERIII:TheSecondCase

CHAPTERIV:TheThirdCase

CHAPTERV:Commondirectionshelpfulinallcasesandprayers

CHAPTERVI:Observationsmadeuponthedispositionoftheheartafterprayer


CHAPTERVIII:SevenObservationsMore

CHAPTERIX:Considerationstoquiettheheart

CHAPTERX:Application:Areproofofthosethatpray

TOTHEMUCH-HONOUREDKNIGHTSIRNATHANIELRICH

SIR,

GOD,whofromalleternityhathhadaninfinitemassofgraceandglorylyingbyhim to bestowuponhis church, anddid accordingly provide atreasuryandmagazinesufficientwhereintostoreupall,thebosomofhisSon;inwhomarehidrichessounsearchable,Eph.3:8,ascannotbetoldover,muchlessspenttoalleternity.

Hehathasrichly(πλουσίως,Tit.3:6)shedhisHolySpiritonus;thatwe,whocouldneverhaveknownofanythingbequeathedus,norwhattoprayforasweought,mightbothfullyfromhimknowallthatGodhathgivenus, and throughhim lay claim thereto,whomaketh intercession forus,and so doth furnish us with a privy key to all that treasury, whichotherwiseisfastshutuptoalltheworld.

Through which spirit of prayer and supplications thus poured forth,believerscometobeatonceanointedtothefellowshipandexecutionofthose three glorious offices ofChrist their head.Not only of priests, byofferinguptheirprayersasspiritualsacrifices,acceptabletoGodthroughJesus Christ, but of kings, to rule with God, Hos. 11:12; being herebymade of privy council to the King of kings, so as their counsels anddesiresexpressedintheirpetitionsaresaidtobefulfilled,Ps.20:4,5,andtheirdecreesintheirprayersmade,ratified,andestablished,Job22:27,28. Nay, further by virtue of this privilege, advanced to such height offavour, as, by their strength in prayer alone, to have power with Godhimself,Hos. 12:3,4;andnotonlywithhim,butalsooverhim,and intheirwrestlingstoprevail.Yea, tocommand:himselfhathsaid it, 'ThussaiththeLord,theHolyOneofIsrael,andhisMaker,Askofmeofthingsto come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my handscommandyeme,'Isa.45:11;whichsotranscendentprivilegeofpoweris,bytheexpresswordsof thisgreatcharter,universallyextendeduntoalltransactions of this lower part of his dominions,whether ecclesiastical,whichdoconcernhissons,—that is,hischurch,—orwhateverother, themore ordinaryworks of his hands, that belong to commonprovidence,

Matt.6:10.

Andforasmuchasthesegrandaffairsofthishiskingdom,asfutureandto come, are commended to their prayers as theirmost proper subjectabout which they are to treat,—'Ask of me of things to come,'—in thisrespecttheydobecomeastrulyprophetsalso,thoughnotinsofullandcomplete,yetinsomekindoftrueresemblance;notbyforetelling,yetbyforespeaking in theirprayers, things thatcometopass.God,whomadeand upholds this world, and all things in it, by theword of his power,dothlikewiseruleandgovernitbytheprecedentsandprescriptrulesofthewordofhiswill,Ps.25:10,exactlydispensinguntomenbothrewardsandpunishments,accordingtothetenorofsomeorotherofhispromisesandthreatenings,andformer likeproceedings thereinrecorded; thoughwith such various liberty, in respect of the particulars, that his waysremain'unsearchableandpastfindingout:'thatlook,asheappointedintheheavensthoseordinancesofthesun,moon,andstars,bytheirlight,heat, and motion, 'to rule the day and night,' to divide and cause theseveral seasons of the year, and all the changes and alterations that dopassovertheanimalandnaturalworld;inlikemannerhathhestretchedoutthatsoexceedingbroadexpanseofhiswordandlaw,Ps.119:96—towhich the Psalmist doth assimilate it, Ps. 19:1, 2, comparedwithRom.10:18—over this rational world of angels andmen, and therein set hisstatutes and his judgments, that by the light of precepts, and theirinfluences in rewards and punishments, they might order and directthesehiscreaturesreasonable,andalltheiractions;alsodisposeandsetout all the issues of them. And seeing his saints they are 'a people inwhoseheartsishislaw,'andtheirdelightisto'meditatethereinbothdayand night;' they daily calculating and observing the various aspects,conjunctions, and mixed influences of those innumerable precepts,promises,andthreateningswhichthemselvesandothers,nationsormen,standunder;andbyajudgmentthenceresulting,Jer.8:7,sofarastheyhave attained, endeavouring to frame their supplications and petitionsaccordingtoGod'swill:hencetheirprayersoftfullhappilysucceed,andbeforehanddoaccordtothoseissuesandeventsthatafterwardsfallout.Thatlikeastheearthcomestobejustunderthesunandmooninsomeoftheirconjunctions,sotheirdesiresandprayerssometimesinadirectlinefall under, and subordinately concur with, God's secret purposes, and

some revealed promise met in conjunction, to produce such and sucheffects. 'The Spirit' also herein 'helping their infirmities,' sometimes soguidinganddirectingthembyagraciouspreinstinct,thoughunbeknownto them, topitch their requestsuponsuchparticularsasGodhath fullypurposed to bring to pass; becoming thereby, as it were, the spirit ofprophecyuntothem,respectivelyinsomemeasureanddegree.

Thus doth that great King employ his nearest servants as his under-officersandsheriffs,toservehiswritsandexecutionsuponhisenemies,to execute, the judgment written in his threatenings, Ps. 149:9, and toaccomplishhismercieswrittenalso,bysuingoutallthepromises;tobeasman-midwives,(asHezekiah'sallusion,whenhesenta-visitingtotheprophetIsaiahforhisvoiceandsuffrage,seemethtoimport,Isa.37:2–4,)tohelpandassisthispromisesanddecreesintheirtravailwithmerciesanddeliverance,Zeph.2:2,whenthese theirchildrendocomeunto thebirth,andthereisnostrengthtobringthemforth.

In all which they shall therefore have the honour to be accounted co-workers togetherwithGod inhis greatestworks ofwonder.And at thelatterday,whenthatgreatand lastedition,bothofallGod'sworksandlikewise ours, then complete and finished, shall be published to all theworld,theyshallfindtheirnamesputtothem,togetherwithhisown;andthe samebyhimacknowledged to be as truly theworks of their heartsandprayersasthattheyarethesoleworkofhishandsandpower.Suchhonourhaveallhissaints.

And if all the works of God are so exceeding great, Ps. 92:5, and histhoughts therein so verydeep that every iota of themdothdeserve ourdeepeststudiesandintentions,andthereuntorequireaproperskillandwisdom, to read his hand, peculiar unto the saints, ver. 6; whereuntothere must be adjoined the most diligent search and attentiveobservation, to find out his meaning in them, Ps. 77:6; and withal aspecial inclination anddelight tobe conversant therein, 'Thyworks areverygreat,soughtoutofthemthathavepleasureinthem,'Ps.111:2;andif,ofalltherest,thosechoicerpieces,hisworksofmercy,maychallengeourbest regard, inwhichhisheartanddelightsaremost,onwhichhiswisdom hath laid on the richest workmanship, in the most curiouscontrivementsofhis love,Mic.7:18:thensurelythatselectedvolumeof

morespecialmercies,hisepistles,vouchsafedinanswertoourprayers,isabove all other most exactly to be studied, and most diligently to beperused by us; wherein God doth unbosom himself, and lay open hisheartmoresweetly,morefamiliarlyuntous,whicharedirected,andinamannerdedicatedmoreparticularlyuntoourselvesalone:manyofthemwrittenwithhisownhand,inamoreimmediatemannerdiscoveredandappearing in them; and all of them come sealed with the impress ofeverlastinglove,anddown-ladenwiththeenclosureofthemostprecioustokensofhisspecialfavour.Whosoiswisewillobservethesethings,andtheyshallunderstandtheloving-kindnessoftheLord,Ps.107:43.

Neitherhave such favoursonlymoreofmercy in the things themselvesbestowed,butarefurtherendearedtousbybeingmadeourownmercies,by a more peculiar title to them; by which the kindness in them isrendered double. For therein we have that royal liberty to become ourown choosers, and contrivers of our own condition, having all thepromises throwndown to us,with blanks for us towrite our names inwhichofthemweplease,whichisthegreatestliberty.Andwehavewithalhis Spirit secretly directing and fixing the needle of our desires to thesame point, wherein his great intentions towards us domeet with ourbestgood;whichis indeedthetruest liberty.Andtobemadeourselves,whomwelovesowell,andthereforedelighttodogoodunto,thechiefestinstrumentsunderhimofourowngreatesthappiness,isaprivilegethanwhich thecreature isnotmadecapableofamore transcendent royalty.Andwhen the greatest love, thus rectified, which possiblywe can bearourselves, hath opened its mouth widest, and stretched our desires inprayingtotheutmostcompass,thenwillGod'sinfinitevastlovenotonlyfit them, but do for us above all thatwe are able to ask, yea, to think;exceeding abundantly above all; as far above as his thoughts are aboveout thoughts, which is far more than the heavens are higher than theearth.

Allwhich,whenputtogether,ifwellconsidered,howwoulditprovokeusto call in all that precious stock of our time, thoughts, and intentionswhichwecastawayontrifles, to layoutthechoicestportionoftheminthisthrivingtradeofintercoursewithGod;thereturnswhereofarebetterthanthemerchandiseofsilver,andthegainthereofthanfinegold.It is

the praying Christian that alone employs the riches of the promises,whichweusuallyletliebyus,likedeadstock,unimproved:whilsthe,likeawiseanddiligentmerchant, looksabroaduponall theaffairsofJesusChrist that are afloat here in thisworld, and adventures in themall; iswatchful to spy out all advantages, and with a holy πράγμοσυνγintermeddlethineverybusinessthatmaybringingloryuntoGod,goodunto thechurch,graceandcomfort tohisownsoul.Andhow infinitelyrichmustthatmanneedsbecomethatputsevenGod'srichesouttouse,withtheincreaseoftentalentsforone,yea,ahundred-fold!

The due estimate whereof would no less quicken us to as diligent aninquiry, what becomes of all those goodly adventures, the prayers wemake;tolistenwhathaventheyarriveat,—how,andwhen,andwithwhatfraughttheydoreturn.

Inwhichgreatduty,andmostnecessarypropertyofall truemerchants,manyofthebestandgreatestdealers,thatarediligentenoughinpraying,are yet found failing and deficient; that omit no gainful opportunity ofadventure,butarecarelessandunobservantoftheirreturns.

Some, through ignorance, itmaybe, that this is at all aduty,orof anysuch importance, are careful only how to lade in prayers enough, notexpectingtofindanyofthisbreadcastuponthewaters,untilthatgreatandgeneralreturnofthemselvesandalltheworldwithjoybringingtheirsheaveswiththem.Others,thoughatpresentmanyoftheirprayerscomehomeafterafewdays,andrichlyladen,yetthroughwantofskilltoreadthosebillsofexchangewhichGodoftenwritesinanobscurercharacter,theylieunregardedbythem.Many,whenvoyagesprovelong,thoughtotheir greater advantagewhenonce theydo return, yet in themeantimethroughdiscouragement, theygiveall for lost,aswedoshipsat seawecannot hear of. The most are commonly complaining that theiradventures still miscarry, and that little or nothing comes of all theirprayers.Andallarenegligentofkeepingtheirbooksofaccounts,tocastuptheircomingsinandgoingsouttheonewiththeother.BywhichtheylosethechiefestportionofthatcomfortwhichforthepresentGodhathhereallotted tous to liveupon, the revenuesof theirprayers.AndGodalso isnotonly robbedof thatcustomofhisglorywhichshould thenceaccrue,butwrongedalsobystandingstillasdebtor intheiraccountsto

manyprayers,inthereturnofwhichhehathbeencreditorlongago.

I have endeavoured in this small treatise to convince believers of thegrand importance of this duty,which is so full of gain; to discover likewise the causes of the neglect herein, and remove the temptations anddiscouragements which do occasion it; and have briefly resolved suchcases as domore usually occur in the practice of it. But principallymydesirewastogiveinsomefewexperimentsandobservationswhichmayhelptoteachtheweakersort,thoughnotperfectlytoread,yethereandtheretospell,andespeciallyoutoftheimpressionsintheirownhearts,God's meaning towards them in his answers. I have cast in somescatteredcalculationsofbrokenprayerscastup,whichthoughtheywillnotamount tomakegeneralandperfect tablesoutof,yetmayserveasinstances and examples for young beginners, to direct them in theexercise of this most useful skill and wisdom, how to compute andbalance their accounts by comparing their prayers and their returnstogether.

ThissmallandimperfectembryonIhavepresumedtosendforthintotheworld;anddirecteditfirstofalltopresentitsserviceuntoyou,andmakeanhonourableandthankfulmentionofyourname.Yourworthdeservesamorecostly,large,andlastingmonumentforthisinscription.Yourownabilities of learning, eloquence, and depth ofwisdom in human affairs,wouldyoubepersuadedtolaythemoutasyouareable,woulderectsucharemembranceandsumptuousmemorialofyouwhenyouaregatheredtoyourfathers,aswouldbearsomeproportiontoyourgreatworth.Butthat which emboldenedme was the near affinity whichmeditations ofthisnaturedoholdwiththoseotheryourmoreretiredthoughtsyouthinktononebutGodandyourownsoul.Youhavebeenlongafrequentandconstant dealer in this blessed way of intercourse with God in private.Those that know you, know your strict observance of those exchangehours you have devoted tomeet with God and enjoy communion withhim.But,aboveall, itwas thatpersonalobligationunderwhichagreatandspecialfavourfromyoulongsincebroughtme,uponwhichIdevoted(withmyself)thefirstofmylaboursuntoyourservice.Anditbecameonegreat relief unto my thoughts, weighing the many inconveniences ofappearingthusinpublic,thatitgavesofulloccasiontopaymyvowsthus

openlybeforealltheworld;whichhavingnowdone,God,thatisrichinmercytoallthatcalluponhim,fillyouwithallgrace,andfulfilallyourpetitions!—Soprays,

Yourworship'sobligedtoloveandserveyou,

THOMASGOODWIN.

Introduction

THERETURNOFPRAYERS

IwillhearwhatGodtheLordwillspeak:forhewillspeakpeaceuntohispeople, and tohis saints: but let themnot turn again to folly.—PSALM85:8.

Thecoherenceofthewords.

THISpsalmwas penned in thename and for the comfort of thewholechurchoftheJews,bothasaprophecyof,andaprayerfor,theirreturnoutof theBabylonishcaptivity,andthe flowing inagainof thatancientglory,peace,administrationofjustice,libertyofGod'sordinances,plentyandincrease,whichformerlytheyenjoyed,buthadnowsufferedanebbof seventyyears' continuance.And firsthebeginnethwithprayer, fromthefirstversetothiswehaveinhand,puttingtheLordinmindof,andurginghimwithhis graciousdealings in former timesuntohis church.Thisisnotthefirsttime,saithhe,thatthechurchhathbeenincaptivity,and that thouhast returned it, (as out ofEgypt,&c.,) and thereforewehope that thou wilt do so again: 'Thou hast been favourable unto thyland,'&c.Hisprayerbeingfinished,andhehavingspoke,henowstandsand listens, as you use to do when you expect an echo, what echo heshould have,what answerwould be returned fromheaven,whither his

prayer had already come: 'I will hear what the Lord will speak;' or, assomereadit,'IhearwhattheLorddothspeak:'forsometimesthereisapresent echo, a speedy answer returned to aman's heart, even ere theprayer ishalf finished;asuntoDaniel, chap.9:20,21.And inbrief it isthis, 'The Lord will speak peace unto his people:' this answer he findswrittenatthebottomofthepetition,butwiththisclauseofadmonitionfortimetocomeadded, 'Butletthemnotreturnagaintofolly;'—agoodusetobemadeofsograciousananswer.

CHAPTERI:ThatGod'speoplearediligentlytoobservetheanswersoftheirprayers

Themainobservationandsubjectofthisdiscoursethencededuced:ThatGod'speoplearediligentlytoobservetheanswerstotheirprayers.—Thereasonsofit.

THESE words being especially spoken in relation to God's returninganswertohisprayermade,thereforeinthatrelationImeanprincipallytohandlethem.

Theobservationisthis:ThatwhenamanhathputupprayerstoGod,heistorestassuredthatGodwillinmercyanswerhisprayers;andtolistendiligently,andobservehowhisprayersareanswered:bothareheretobeobserved. 'I will hear what God will speak;' that is, how he willaccomplishthem:andwithalheconfidentlyexpressethanassurancethat'Godwillspeakpeace.'Thusdoththechurch,Mic.7:7,'IwilllooktotheLord; Iwill wait;myGodwill hearme:' shewas both sure of graciousaudience with him,—'my God will hear me,'—and she will wait till heanswersher; andobservehowhedoth it, 'Iwill look to theLord;' and,

ver.9, 'IwillbeartheindignationoftheLordtillhepleadmycause.'SoHabakkuk, he having made a prayer against the tyranny ofNebuchadnezzar, in the first chapter, having ended it, he begins thesecondchapterthus,'Iwillstanduponmywatchtower,andseewhathewillanswerme:'andintheendananswercomes,ver.2;andashethuswaited for a vision, for sometimes their prophecies were in answer totheirprayers,soshouldweforanansweruntoours.

Reason 1.—Because otherwise you take an ordinance of God in vain inyourhearts,which is to takeGod'sname,withwhom in thatordinanceyoudeal, in vain; for it is a signyou thinkyourprayernot aneffectualmeanstoattainthatenditisordainedfor,andsaysecretlyinyourhearts,asthey,Job21:15,'Whatprofithaveweifwepraytohim?'Forifweuseanymeans,andexpectnottheend,itisasignwethinkthemeansvaintoaccomplishthatend.WhereaseveryfaithfulprayerisordainedofGodtobeameans toobtainwhatwedesireandpray for,and isnotputup invain,butshallhaveanswer:1John5:14,15, 'This istheconfidencethatwehaveinhim,thatifweaskanythingaccordingtohiswill,hehearethus.' It is true God heareth an enemy, but to hear with favour is thehearingtheremeant;andissousedinourordinaryspeech,aswesayofafavouritethathehaththeking'sear;andifamanbeobstinatetoaman'scounsel,wesayhewouldnothear,thoughhegivethehearing:sohere,tohearisawordofgraciousinclinationtodothethingrequired;andthusGod's ears are said to be open to their prayers; and so it follows there,that 'if he heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have thepetitionsthatwedesiredofhim.'Assoonaswehaveprayed,wearesaidto have our petitions,—that is, they are then granted,—and wemay beconfidenttheyareassenteduntobyGod;althoughinregardtooutwarddispensation, the command for accomplishment is not yet come forth:evenasapetitionerissaidtohavehissuitwhenthewordofthekingisgoneforththatitshallbedone,thoughitpassethnottheseal,orbenotsigned a good while after. And like as when a wickedman sinneth, assoonas theact is committed, so soondoth sentence fromGodgo forthagainstthesinner,buttheexecutionovertakeshimnot,itmaybe,agoodwhileafter,accordingtothatofSolomon,Eccles.8:11, 'sentenceagainstan evil-doer is not presently executed:' it is presently sentenced, as thewords imply, but not executed; so in likemanner falleth it outwhen a

godlymanprays,thatassoonastheprayerarrivesinheaven,whichisinan instant, so soon is the petition granted,—so Dan. 9:23, 'At thebeginningofhisprayerthecommandcameforth,'thoughtheangel,whobrought the answer, arrived not at him till towards the end in theevening,ver.21,—buttherealaccomplishmentofitmaybedeferred.Soasnoprayerinrespectofananswertoitisinvain;butwhereGodhathgivenahearttospeak,hehathaneartohear:whichnottoregard,istotakeanordinanceinvain,whichisGod'sname.

Reason 2.—And, secondly, not simply God's name, as in an ordinancemadeknown,butalsohisname,thatis,hisattributes,aretakeninvain.For it isa signyou thinkof thatGodyoupray to, thateither 'hisear isheavy,thathecannothear,orhishandshortened,thathecannotsave,'orhisheartstraitened,andhisbowelsrestrained,thathewillnot;andthusyourobhim,anddespoilhimofoneofhismostroyaltitles,wherebyhestyleshimself,Ps.65:2,'aGodthathearethprayers;'whoissoregardfulofthem,that,in1Kings8:59,theyaresaidtobe'nightheLorddayandnight;' they are all before him, and he sets them in his view, aswe dolettersoffriends,whichwestickinourwindows,thatwemayremembertoanswerthem,orlaythemnotoutofourbosoms,thatwemightbesurenottoforgetthem:sothepetitionsofhispeoplepassnotoutofhissight,tillhesendsananswer,whichiscalled'speaking'here;Godspeakingaswellinhisworksasinhisword.Butyou,byyourneglectherein,makeanidolgodofhim,suchaswerethevanitiesoftheheathen,asifhe'hadearsand heard not, eyes and saw not' your need, &c. Such a god as Eliasmocked; 'Youmust speak aloud,' says he, 'hemay be in a journey,'&c.EvensuchagoddoyoumaketheGodofheavenandearthtobe,whilstyouputnomoreconfidenceinhim,ormakenomorereckoningofyourprayers to him than the heathens did of their sacrifices to their gods.Petitioners do not only put up their requests, but use to wait at greatmen'sdoors,andinquire,andlistenwhatanswerisgivenuntothem;anditispartofanhonourtogreatmenthatwedoso:andforthesameendarewealsotowaitonGod,toshewhisgreatness,andourdistancefromhim,anddependenceuponhim. 'Astheeyesof theservants looktothehand of their masters, so do we,' saith David, 'on thee, till thou hastmercyonus,'Ps.123:2.And,Ps.130,afterhehadprayed,ver.2,hesayshe 'waitedmore than they that watch for themorning:' like those that

havingsomegreatbusiness todoon themorrow, long for thedaylight,andlookoftenouttospytheday;soheforaglimmeringanddawningofananswer.ThelikewehavePsalm5:3, 'InthemorningwillIdirectmyprayertothee,andlook,'thatis,forananswer.

Reason3.—Again,ifGoddothgiveyouananswer,ifyouminditnot,youletGodspeaktoyouinvain,whenyoudonotlistentowhatheanswers.Iftwomenwalktogether,andtheone,whenhimselfhathsaidandspokewhathewould,listensnot,butisregardlessofwhattheotheranswers,heexceedinglyslightstheman.As,nonrespondereproconvitioest,nottoansweragain is contempt; so,nonattendere,not toattend towhatonesays. Now our speaking to God by prayers, and his speaking to us byanswers thereunto, is one great part of our walking with God; and tostudyouthisdealingswithus, tocompareourprayersandhisanswerstogether, which are as dialogues between us and him. It is said ofSamuel'sprophecy,thatnotawordof it fell totheground,1Sam.3:19:and so it may be said of our prayers; and so it ought to be of God'sanswers,notawordof themshould fall to theground;as theredoth, ifyou by your observation and listening thereunto catch them not, (asBenhadad's servants are said to do Ahab's words,) apprehend andobserve themnot. And by the same reason that you are to observe thefulfilling ofGod's promises, you are of your prayers also.Now, 1Kings8:56, it is said, 'not one word failed of all he promised.' Solomon hadobservedthisbyaparticularsurveyandregistermadeofallthatGodhadspokenanddone for them,and foundnotapromiseunperformed.Andthereisthelikereasonbothofanswerstoprayersandforourobservingof them, for prayers are but putting promises into suit; and thereforeSolomon brings those words in there to this very purpose, to confirmtheirfaithinthis,thatnoprayersmadewouldfail,beinggroundedonapromise; thereby to encourage others and his own heart to diligenceherein,asalsoasamotiveuntoGodtohearhim; for,ver.59,he infersupon it, 'Let my words be nigh thee,' &c., seeing thou always thusperformestthygoodworduntothypeople.

Reason4.—Yea, youwill provoke theLordnot to answer at all; hewillforbeartoanswer,becauseheseesitwillbethusinvain.Whenamanistalkingtoonethat listensnottohim,hewillceasetoanswer,andleave

offspeaking;andsowillGod.SoasthatwhichtheApostlesaysoffaith,Heb.10:36,thatitisnotenoughtobelieve,but'whenyouhavedonethewill of God, you have need of patience' to eke out faith, 'that youmayinheritthepromises,'maybealsosaid,andisaliketrue,ofpraying.Itisnotenoughtopray,butafteryouhaveprayed,youhaveneedtolistenforan answer, that youmay receive your prayers;Godwill not fulfil themelse. As he said, the sermon was not done when yet the preacher haddone, because it is not done till practised; so our prayers are not donewhen yet made, but you must further wait for and attend theaccomplishment.

Reason5.—Ifyouobservenothisanswers,howshallyoublessGodandreturnthankstohimforhearingyourprayers?Ps.116:1,'IlovetheLord,becausehehathheardmyvoiceandmysupplication;'and thereforehegoesontothankhimthroughoutthewholepsalm.Youareto'watchuntoprayerwiththanksgiving,'Col.4:2;andtherefore,astowatch,toobserve,and recollect your ownwants,which you are to pray for, that youmayhavematterof requests toputup, soalso toobserveGod'sanswers formatter of thanksgiving; and many fill that commonplace head full ofmatter to furnish them for petitioning, but as for this other ofthanksgiving,theywatchnotuntoitagainsttheycometopray,norstudymatterforthatheadalso.Andifanystudywillfurnishyouthisway,itisthestudyingoutofGod'sanswerstoyourprayers.Thereasonyoupraysomuch, and give thanks so little is, that you observe notGod's answers;youdonot study them.Whenwehaveput up a faithful prayer,God ismadeourdebtorbypromise,andweare to takenoticeofhispayment,andgivehimanacknowledgmentofthereceiptofit;helosethofhisgloryelse.

Reason 6.—AsGod loseth, so yourselves also the experiencewhich youmightgetthereby.(1.)BothexperienceofGodandhisfaithfulness,whichwill cause in you hope and confidence in God another time, when youhavefoundhimagainandagainansweringyourprayers.Itwasaspeechof one eminent in holiness, upon occasion of the accomplishment of agreatrequestmadetoGodbyhim,thatGodhavingneverdeniedhimanyrequest, 'I have tried God often, now,' says he, 'henceforth I will trusthim.'IfthehearingtheprayersofanotherwillencourageustogotoGod,

—as Ps. 32:6, 'For this cause shall every one that is godly pray untothee,'—muchmorewhenweobserve andhave experience that our ownareheard;therefore,saysDavid,Ps.116:2,'TheLordhathheardme,andIwillcalluponhimaslongasIlive;'asifhehadsaid,NowthatGodhathheardme, I knowwhither to go: this experiment, if I had nomore, isenoughtoencouragemeforevertoprayuntoGod;IhavelearnedbyittocalluponhimaslongasIlive.Andalso,(2.)byobservingGod'sanswersto your prayers, you will gainmuch insight into your own hearts, andways,andprayers,andmaytherebylearnhowtojudgeofthem.So,Ps.66:18, 19,David'sassurance thathedidnot regard iniquity inhisheartwasstrengthenedbyGod'shavingheardhisprayers;forthushereasons,'If I regard iniquity in my heart, God will not hear me; but God hathheardme.'For,[1.]ifGoddothnotgrantyourpetitions,itwillputyoutostudy a reason of that his dealing; and so youwill come to search intoyourprayersandthecarriageofyourhearts,thereintoseewhetheryoudidnotprayamiss:accordingtothat,'Yelustandhavenot,…becauseyeaskamiss,'James4:3.Asifyousendtoafriend,whoispunctualinthatpointof friendshipof returninganswers, andusethnot to fail, andyoureceivenoanswerfromhim,youwillbegintothinkthereissomethinginit. And so also here, when a petition is denied, you will be jealous ofyourselves, and inquisitive what should be the matter; and so by thatsearchcometoseethatinyourprayerswhichyouwilllearntomendthenext time.Or, [2.] if theybeanswered,yetbecause that thereinusuallyGod deals in a proportion with you to your prayers,—as you mightperceive ifyouwouldobservehisdealingswithyou,—youwouldbythismeanscometohavemuchinsightintoGod'sacceptationandopinionofyourways:foryoushouldseehisdealingswithyou,andyourswithhim,to be exceeding parallel and correspondent, and hold proportion eachwithother.So,Ps.18:6, 'InmydistressIcalledupontheLord;'andso,ver.7,8,&c.,hegoesontodescribehisdeliverance,whichwasthefruitof those prayers, and then, at ver. 20, 21, &c., he adds his observationuponboth, 'According to the cleanness ofmyhandshathhedealtwithme,'&c.'Forwiththepurethoushaltshowthyselfpure.'

Reason7.—Youwill losemuchof your comfort.There isno greater joythantoseeprayersanswered,ortoseesoulsconvertedbyus:John16:24,'Ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.' The receiving

answersmakesjoytoaboundandoverflow.Yea,evenwhenweprayforothers,ifourprayersbeansweredforthem,ourjoysareexceedinggreat;muchmorewhen in our own behalf. And therein, even in the smallestthingswhichaChristiandothenjoy,dothhis comfortexceedanother's,thathehath thembyvirtueofprayersandpromises.heknowshowhecamebythem.If'stolenwatersbesweet,andbreadeateninsecret,'&c.,(asSolomonsays,Prov.9:17,)towickedmen,beggedmeatismuchmoresweettogodlymen;yea,intheveryprayingforoutwardmercies,thereismore sweetness than theyhave in enjoying them.As it is joy to a goodhearttoseeanyoneconverted,butmuchmoretohimthatisthemeansofit,—'Ihavenogreaterjoy,'saysStJohn,'thanthatmychildrenwalkintruth,'3Epist.4,—sotoseeGoddogoodtohischurch,andhearothers'prayers, is a comfort, butmuchmore to see him do it at aman's ownprayers.Therefore,whenGodrestorescomforttoadroopingsoul,he issaid,Isa.57:18,to'restorecomfortalsotohismourners,'thatis,tothosethatprayedandmournedforhim,aswellasuntothatsoulitself;itbeingacomforttothemtoseetheirprayersanswered.Comfortitismanyways:(1.)TohearfromGod,astohearfromafriend,thoughitbebuttwoorthreewords,andthataboutasmallmatter;iftherebeatthebottomthissubscription, 'your loving father,' or, 'your assured friend,' it satisfiesabundantly;soalso, (2.) toknowthatGod ismindfulofus,acceptsourworks,fulfilshispromises.(3.)Howdothitrejoiceonetofindanotherofhismind inacontroversy;but thatGodandweshouldbeofonemind,andconcur in thedesireof the same things,—not two in theearthonlyagree, Matt. 18:19, but God who is in heaven and we to agree,—thisrejoiceththeheartexceedingly.Andthusit iswhenamanperceiveshisprayer answered.Therefore you losemuchof your comfort inblessingswhenyoudonotobserveanswerstoyourprayers.

CHAPTERII:ThreeCasesPropounded

Threecasespropounded:thefirstconcerningprayersforthechurch,andfortheaccomplishmentofsuchpromisesasmayfalloutinagestocome.

NOWas for rules and helps to find outGod'smeaning towards you inyourprayers,andtospyoutanswers,andhowtoknowwhenGoddothanythinginanswertoyourprayers,thisisthenextthingtobehandled:wherein,first,Iwillanswersomecasesandquerieswhichmayfalloutinseveralsortsofprayers,abouttheansweringofthem.

1. As, first, concerning prayers put up for the church, for theaccomplishmentofsuchthingsasfalloutinagestocome.

2.Concerningprayersmadeforothers,ofyourfriends,kindred,&c.

3. Concerning those prayers,whether for yourselves or others,whereinothersjoinwithyou.

1.Forthefirst:—

(1.) There may be some prayers which you must be content neveryourselvestoseeansweredinthisworld,theaccomplishmentofthemnotfallingoutinyourtime:suchasarethoseyouhaplymakeforthecallingof the Jews, the utter downfall ofGod's enemies, the flourishing of thegospel, the full purity and liberty of God's ordinances, the particularflourishingandgoodof thesocietyandplaceyou live in.Allyouwhosehearts are right do treasure up many such prayers as these, and sowmuch of such precious seed, which you must be content to have thechurch,itmaybe,inafteragestoreap;allwhichprayersarenotyetlost,but will have answers: for as God is an eternal God, and Christ'srighteousness an 'everlasting righteousness,' and therefore of eternalefficacy,Dan.9:24,'beingofferedupbytheeternalSpirit,'Heb.9:14,soareprayersalso,whicharetheworkoftheeternalSpiritofChrist,madetothatGodinhisname,andinhimareeternallyaccepted,andofeternalforce, and thereforemay take place in after ages. So the prayer that StStephenmadeforhispersecutorstookplaceinSaulwhenStStephenwasdead.SoDavid'sprayeragainstJudas,Ps. 109:8,9, tookeffect aboveathousandyearsafter,asappears,Acts1:20.Sotheprayersofthechurch,forthreehundredyears,intheprimitivetimes,thatkingsmightcometo

theknowledgeofthetruth,andthey'leadpeaceableandquietlives,inallgodlinessandhonesty,' (whichStPaul, inNero's time,exhortedunto, 1Tim.2:2,)werenot answeredandaccomplished tillConstantine's time,whenthechurchbrought forthaman-child,Rev.12:5.So,Isa.58,afterhehadexhortedto,andgivendirectionsforfastingandprayerinarightmanner,headjoineththispromise, 'Thoushaltraiseupthefoundationsofmany generations; thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach;'namely, for this, because his fasting and prayers might have influenceintomanyagesyet tocome, in theaccomplishmentofwhatwasprayedfor. And that which Christ says of the apostles' reaping the fruit of StJohntheBaptist'sministry,andtheseedhehadsown,isinlikemannerhereinverified,John4:37,'Onesowethandanotherreapeth.'Andinthissense,thatwhichthePapistssayistrue,thatthereisacommontreasuryofthechurch,notoftheirmerits,fontoftheirprayers.Therearebottlesof tears a-filling, vials a-filling to be poured out for the destruction ofGod'senemies.Whatacollectionofprayershaththerebeenthesemanyagestowardsit!AndthatmaybeonereasonwhyGodwilldosuchgreatthings towards the end of the world, even because there hath been sogreat a stock of prayers going for so many ages, which is now to bereturned.Andhereinitfallsouttousinourprayersasintheirpropheciesto the prophets of old: 1 Pet. 1:11, 'The Spirit in them did signify thesufferingsofChrist,andtheglorythatshouldfollow.Untowhomitwasrevealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister thethingsthatarenowrevealed.'Andthusisitinthespiritofprayer,whichis insteadofthespiritofprophecy;forwepraythroughtheguidanceofthe Spirit, 'who teachethuswhat to ask,' formany things that come topassinafterages.

(2.)Onlyatpresentinprayeritmaybethatthouhastrevealeduntothee,byasecretimpressionmadeonthyspirit,thatthesethingsshallcometopass, and so hast thy faith confirmed in them, andwithal an evidence,thatevenforthyprayers,amongothers,Godwillperformthem;andthatthecontributionofthyprayersdothhelptomakeupthesum.AnduponsuchprayersGodusuallyforthepresentalsotestifiestheacceptationofaman'sperson,andrevealshimselfmosttohimthatheishis,ashedidtoMoses:henever revealedhis love toMosesmore thanwhenheprayedmost for God's people. And haply thou hast that as one of thy best

evidences of the uprightness of thy heart, that thou canst pray for thechurch'sgood,thoughforalongtimetocome,whichthoumayestneverbeholdwiththineeyes,evenasDavidalsodid,andrejoicedinit.

(3.) Andwhen they are accomplished, and thou in heaven, thy joywillsurelybethemorefullforthesethyprayers:asattheconversionofthosethouhastprayed for, soat theruinof thechurch'senemies,&c.,whomthoudidstprayagainst;foriftherebejoyinheavenattheconversionofasinner,asatthebirthofanewprinceandheirofheaven,thenhaplyinaproportionheshallrejoicemostwhoseprayershadmosthandinit,andaspecialinteresttherein.Andsoasthyotherworks,sothyprayersfollowthee, and 'the fruit of them,' as Jeremiah speaks, chap. 17:10; and,however,yetatthedayofjudgmentthoushaltrejoice,aswellastheythatenjoyedthefruitofthyprayersintheirtimes,thouhavingsowntheseedoftheirhappiness:'Bothhethatsowsandhethatreapsshallthenrejoicetogether,'asChristsays,John4:36.

CHAPTERIII:TheSecondCase

Thesecondcase,concerningprayersmadefarothers,ofourfriends,&c.—Howtheyareanswered.

2.THEsecondcase isconcerninganswerstoourprayersforothers, forparticular men, as friends and kindred, &c., and likewise for temporalblessings.

Prayforothersyouknowwemust;sotheeldersofthechurchforthosethataresick,James5:15,16:'Prayoneforanother,'saysStJames.Asincaseamanistroubledwithalust,tellsomeprivatefriendofit:'Confessyoursinsonetoanother,'thatwhenaman'sownprayersarenotstrongenough to cast it out, it may be done by the help of another's prayers

joinedwithhis.Soitfollows, 'thatyemaybehealed,'ver.16,forinthatsenseIunderstandhealinginver.16.Soalso,1John5:16, 'Ifamanseehis brother sin a sinwhich is not unto death,'—that is, not against theHolyGhost,—'he shall ask life forhim,andGod shall givehim life thatsinsnotuntodeath.'

Concerning this case, I give these considerations, how suchprayers areanswered:—

First consideration.—SuchprayersGod often heareth;why else are anysuchpromisesmade?As,'thattheyshallbehealedintheirbodies,'James5:15, 'healedof their lusts,' ver. 16; 'converted to life,' 1 John5:16.Godhathmadethesetoencourageustopray,andtotestifyhisabundantlovetous;thatitsooverflowsandrunsover,thathewillhearus,notonlyforourselves, but for others also; which is a sign we are in extraordinaryfavour.SoGodintimatesconcerningAbrahamtoAbimelech,Gen.20:7,'Heisaprophet,andheshallprayforthee,andthoushaltlive.'Andashewasaprophet, sowearepriests, as forourselves, so forothers also, toGodourFather;anditisaprerogativewehavethroughthefellowshipwehave,andcommunionofChrist'spriestlyoffice,'whohathmadeuskingsandpriests,'Rev. 1:6, to prevail and intercede for others, and a specialtokenandpledgeofextraordinarylove;forifGodhearsaman'sprayersfor others, much more for himself in his own behalf. So when Christhealedthemansickofthepalsy, itwas,asit issaid,forthefaithofthestanders-by,Matt.9:2:'He,seeingtheirfaith,said,Thysinsareforgiventhee.'Themeaningisnotas if fortheirfaith'ssakeheforgavethatmanhis sins, for, Hab. 2:4, 'the just doth live by' his own 'faith;' but toencouragethemwhooutoffaithbroughtthatsickmantohim,andusallinlikemannertobringothersandtheirplaintsbyprayerbeforehim,hethereforethentookoccasiontodeclareandpronounceforgivenesstothatpoorman;hethereforethensaid,'Thysinsareforgiventhee.'

Second consideration—Yet, secondly, prayers for othersmay often alsonotobtain theparticular thingprayed for them.SoSamuel'sprayer forSaul,1Sam.15:35;soDavidforhisenemies,Ps.35:13.

Forit is inthisasit is intheuseofothermeansandordinancesforthegood of others; Godmaking such like kind of promises to our prayers

hereinashehathmadetoourendeavourstoconvertwhenwepreachtomen:thatlook,aswepreachtomany,andyetbutfewbelieve,—for'whohathbelievedourreport?'Rom.10:16,even 'asmanyasareordainedtoeternal life;' we 'become all to all, and win but some,'—so we pray formany, not knowing who are ordained to eternal life, which whilst weknownot,weareyettoprayforthem,1Tim.2:3,4.OnlyaswhereGodhath set his ordinance of preaching, it ismore than a probable signhehath some to convert, andusually theword takes among some, thoughoftenbutafew;sowhenhehathstirredupourheartstoprayforothers,it isasignGodwillhearus forsomeof thosewepray for,yetsoaswemaybedenied.ForGoddothrequireitasadutyonourparts,becauseitisanoutwardmeansordainedbyGod,bywhichsometimesheusethtobringthingstopass;butyetnotassuchacertainandinfalliblemeans,ashe hath tied himself universally unto, to bring the thing to pass on hispart.

Andthoughindeedhispromisetohearandaccepttheprayerisgeneralanduniversal,yetthepromisetohearit,bygrantingtheverythingitselfprayedfor,isbutanindefinitepromise,suchashemakestoothermeansof doing men good; as to our admonitions and reproofs, and to ourpreaching,&c.Hemakessuchpromisesbecausesometimeshedothhearandconvertbythem.For instance, thatpromise,James5:15,ofhealingthe sick, cannot beuniversal; for itmight thenbe supposed, as a truthimpliedinit,thatsickmenmightneverdie,whereas'itisappointedforallmenoncetodie,'Heb.9:27,seeingitmaybesupposedthattheeldersmayatallsuchtimesofdangerofdeathstillcomeandpraywiththem.But the meaning is, that it is an ordinance which God hath made agracious promise unto, because he often cloth restore the sick at theirprayers:andthereforeuponeverysuchparticularoccasion,wearetorelyuponGodfortheperformanceofitbyanactofrecumbency,thoughwithan act of full assurance that we shall obtain it we cannot; the promisebeingnotuniversal,butindefinite.

Ofthelikenatureareallotherpromisesofthingstemporalandoutward,of which we herein speak, as when God promiseth to give long life tothem that honour their parents, riches and honours to them that fearhim; the tenor and purport of which promises is not, as if absolutely,

infallibly, and universallyGod doth always perform these to those thatareyettrulyqualifiedwiththeconditionsspecifiedinthosepromises;thecontrary both Scripture instances and common experience shews: theyare therefore indefinitely meant, and so to be understood by us. For,becausewheneverGoddothdispenseanysuchmerciestoanyofhis,hewould do it by promise; all his ways to his being truth, that is, thefulfilling of some truthpromised; and alsoGodhavingpurposed inhisoutwarddispensationof thingshere in thisworld, tobestowrichesandhonours upon some that fear him, though not upon all, for how thenshould'allthingsfallaliketoall,'Eccles.9:2,povertyandcontemptuponthem that fear God, even as well as those that fear him not? He haththerefore indefinitely expressed his gracious dispensation herein:requiringanswerablyanactoffaith—whichprincipleinusissuitedtoapromise,asafacultyistoitsproperobject—suitabletothathismeaningin the promise; that as he intended not in such promises an absolute,infallible,universalobligationofhimself to theperformanceof them toallthatfearhim,sotheactoffaithwhichamanistoputforthtowardthispromise,intheapplicationofitforhisownparticular,isnotrequiredtobeanabsolute,infalliblepersuasionandassurancethatGodwillbestowtheseoutward thingsuponhim,having thesequalifications inhim;butonlyanindefiniteact,asImaysocallit,ofrecumbencyandsubmission,castingandadventuringourselvesuponhimfortheperformanceofittous,notknowingbuthemayinhisoutwarddispensationsmakeitgoodtous,yetwith,submissiontohisgoodpleasure,ifotherwisehedisposethit.

Itistrue,indeed,thatthatactofgeneralassentwhichfaithistogivetothispromise,inthegeneralabstracttruthofit,istobeanassuredcertainpersuasion and belief that God hath made this promise, and that hecertainly will and doth perform it unto some according to his purposeexpressed therein;which act of general assent is that believingwithoutwavering,—namely, of the truth of the promise in general,—which StJamescallsforinprayer,chap.1:6.Butyetthatspecialactofapplication,asdivinescall it,requiredinthisfaith,wherebyIamtorestuponit formyownparticular,isnotrequiredtobesuchanundoubtedpersuasionastothinkthatIshallcertainlyhavethisparticularpromiseinkindfulfilledtome;forthetruth,purpose,andintentofthepromiseisnotuniversal,but indefinite.Soas it isbutan itmaybe‚asGodelsewhereexpresseth

such promises, as Zeph. 2:3, that it shall be performed tome; and yetbecause itmaybeGodwillperform ituntome, thereforemyduty is tocast myself upon God, and put in for it, with submission to his goodpleasurefortheperformanceof ittome.Sothatsofarasthetruthandintentofitisrevealedtobeinfallibleandcertain,sofaramanisboundtohave an answerable act of faith, of certain and infallible persuasiontowards it, as to believe without wavering that God hathmade such apromise,andwillperformitaccordingtohisintentinmakingit,whichisuntosome.Butyetwithal,becausethetenorofitisbutindefinite,andinthat respect whether it shall be performed to me or no is not thereincertainlyrevealed;thereforeGodrequiresnotofme,intheapplicationofsuchapromise,anabsolutefullpersuasionthathewillperformittomein such or such a manner, &c.; but only an act of dependence andadherence, with referring it to his wise and righteous good pleasuretowardsme.

Andyetagain,ifGodshouldatanytimegiveamansuchaspecialfaithconcerninganysuchparticulartemporalblessingforhimselforanother,thenheisboundtobelieveitthusinparticular:aswhenhegavepowertoanytoworkmiracles,astohisapostleshedid,withacommissiontoworkthem, then they were bound to believe that such and such a miracleshouldinfalliblybewroughtbythem,asthatthedevilsshouldbecastoutby them,&c.And therefore in this caseChrist rebukeshis disciples fornotbelievingthusuponsuchparticularoccasions,Matt.17:20.

And then it is also true that if God give such a faith, he will infalliblyperformit;andthus thosehiswordsare tobeunderstood,Matt.21:22,'Whatsoeveryeaskinfaith,believing,yeshallreceive:'hespeaksitofthefaithofmiracles;for,ver.21,hehadsaid,'Ifyebelieveanddoubtnot,yeshallsaytothismountain,Removeintothesea,anditshallberemoved.'So that when God works such a faith, and we are called to it, we areboundtobelievewithacertainpersuasionthatsuchathingwillbedone,and it shall be done; but unto such a kind of special faith in temporalpromises for ourselves or others, God doth not now always call us. Ifindeedatanytimewedidbelieveanddoubtednot,byreasonofaspecialfaithwroughtbyGod,thatGodwouldremoveamountainintothesea,orbestowanyoutwardmercy,itshouldbedone;forhethatstirredupsuch

afaithwouldaccomplishthething.ButitisnotthatwhichGodrequiresof believers, that they shouldwithout doubting thus believe concerningoutwardthings; thepromisesthereofbeingnotuniversalbut indefinite;and thereforeanswerablyaman isnotabsolutelybound tobelieve thatGod will certainly bestow such a temporal blessing on him, no, notthoughheshouldhavethequalificationwhichthepromiseismadeunto,thepromisebeingnotuniversal,madetoallsoqualified,butindefinite,tosomeofsuchsoqualified.Thecaseisthesameofbelievingpromisesmadetoourprayingforothers,whichisthethinginhand.

Thirdconsideration.—WhentheprayersarethusmadeoutofconscienceofourdutyforsuchwhomyetGoddothnotintendthatmercyunto,thentheyarereturnedagainintoourownbosoms,toouradvantage;evenasSt Paul saith, that his rejoicing that others preached, though they losttheirlabour,shouldturntohissalvation,Phil.1:19.Soprayersforothers,though to the parties themselveswe prayed for they prove in vain, yetthey turn to our good. So, Ps. 35:12, 13, when his enemies were sick,Davidprayedandhumbledhimself; 'andmyprayers,'sayshe, 'returnedintomy bosom.' David did by this his prayer in secret for his enemiestestifythesincerityofhishearttoGod,andhistrueforgivenessofthem,—foritistheusualdispositionofGod'schildrentoprayforthemthatarethegreatest enemies to them,—and thisprayer, though itdidnotprofitthem,yetitturnedtoDavid'sowngood;itcameback,andhomeagaintohim,withblessings tohimself;Goddelighting in and rewarding suchadisposition in his child, as much as any other, because therein weresembleChristsotruly,andshewthatGodisourFather,andourselvestohavehisbowelsinus.AndGodstirrethupthisprayingdispositioninhischildrenfortheirenemies,notalwaysthathemeanstohearthemforthem, but becausehemeans to draw forth, and sohave an occasion toreward,thoseholydispositionswhicharethenoblestpartsofhis imagein them, and wherewith he is somuch delighted; and so their prayersreturn into their own bosom, and it is taken as if they had prayed forthemselves all that while. Thus in likemanner, whenMoses prayed soearnestlyforthepeopleofIsrael,Godofferedtoreturnhisprayerintohisownbosom, anddoasmuch forhimalone ashehaddesired thatGodwoulddoforthem.'Iwillmaketheeagreatnation,'saysGodtohim,forwhomIwilldoasmuchforthysakeasthouhastprayedIshoulddofor

these.Asinpreachingthegospel,Christtoldthedisciples,thatifinanyhouse they came topreachpeace, therewerenot a 'sonofpeace,'Luke10:6,onwhomthemessagemighttakeplace,andtheirpeacerest,'yourpeace,'sayshe,'shallreturnuntoyouagain.'Soisitifyourprayerstakenotplace.

Fourth consideration.—If we have prayed long for those whom Godintendsnotmercyunto,hewill in theendcast themoutofourprayersandhearts,andtakeourheartsofffromprayingforthem.Thatwhichhedid by a revelation fromheaven to someprophets of old, as to SamuelandJeremiah,thesamehedothbyamoreundiscernedwork;thatis,bywithdrawing assistance to pray for such by withdrawing the spirit ofsupplication from aman, for somemen, and in some businesses.NowthushedidwithSamuel:'WhydostthoumournforSaul?'1Sam.16:1.Sowith Jeremiah, chap. 7:16, 'Pray not for this people.' And this he dothbecauseheisloathwhenhispeopledopraybuttohearthem,andwouldnotthatsuchpreciousbreathasthatofprayerisshouldbewithoutitsfullanddirectsuccess,orbeinvain;thereforewhenhemeansnottohear,helaysthekeyofprayeroutoftheway,sodesirousishetogiveanswerstoeveryprayer.Itfallsoutinthiscaseofprayingforanotherasinreprovinganother.OnewhomGodintendsnotgoodunto,Godwilllockupaman'shearttowardssuchaman,thatheshallnotbeabletoreprovehim;whentowards another God doth enlarge it asmuch, where he intends good.Thusitissometimesinprayingforanother;soasinprayingamanshallnotbeable topray for, asnot to reprove suchaman, thoughhisheartwas to do both: but it fareth with him as God threateneth concerningEzekieltowardsthatpeople,thathe'makeshistonguecleavetotheroofofhismouth,'Ezek.3:26.

Fifth consideration.—Godwill hear thoseprayers for, and answer themin,someothers,inwhomweshallhaveasmuchcomfortasinthoseweprayedfor;andsoitoftenprovesandfallsout.God,toshew'helooksnotasmanlooks,'norchoosethashechooseth,letsourheartsbesetonworktopray for theconversionorgoodofonehe intendsnotmercy to;andthenanswerstheminsomeother,whomhemakesasdearuntous.WhenGod had cast off Saul, still Samuel's heart lingered after him, and hemourned for him; but God, at the same time, when he bids him cease

mourning for Saul, 1 Sam. 16, to shew that yet he accepted that hismourningasitcamefromhim,'Go,'sayshe,'andanointoneofthesonsof Jesse,' 1 Sam. 16:1. Samuel desired to see a good successor in thatgovernment, and he having been their ruler it was his special care; hehavinganointedSaul,itexceedinglygrievedhimthatheshouldprovesowicked: and God saw and answered the ground of his desires; andthereforeimmediatelyuponhisprayers,senthimtoanointthebestkingthateverwasuponthatthrone,whowastheissueandman-childofthosehisprayers.Andagain,whenSamuelcametoanointoneof thesonsofJesse,whenhesawEliab,ver.6,'Surely,'sayshe,'theLord'sanointedisbeforeme.'IfSamuelhadbeentochoose,hewouldhavechosenhim,andwouldhaveprayedforanddesiredhim;but'Godseethnotasmanseeth,'ver. 7, and choosethnot asman chooseth; but inDavidwashis prayerfullyheardandanswered,andthatbetter.SoAbraham,hehadprayedforIshmael, and 'O let Ishmael live in thy sight!'Gen. 17:18;butGodgavehim Isaac instead of him. So perhaps thou prayest for one childmorethanforanother,outofthynaturalaffection,lookingonhiscountenanceandstature,asSamueldidonEliab's;butyetthyprayersbeingsincereinthe ground of them, in that thou desirest a child of promise, Godthereforeanswersthee,thoughinanother,forwhomyethaplythyheartwasnotsomuchstirred;whoyet,whenheisconverted,provestotheeasgreatacomfort:anditisasmuchasifthatotherthoudidstmostprayforhadbeenwroughtupon.

CHAPTERIV:TheThirdCase

The third case, about such prayers wherein others join with us.—Howthereintodiscerntheinfluenceofourownprayers.

3.THEthirdcase tobeconsidered is,whenamanprays forsomethingwithothers,orwhichothers likewisepray forwithhim, soashe isnotalone in it; how then should he know that his prayers have a hand inobtaining it, aswell as theirs? For in such cases Satan is apt to object,Though the thing isgranted indeed, yetnot for thyprayers,but for theprayersofthoseothersjoinedinitwiththee.

(1.) If thy heart did sympathise and accord in the same holy affectionswith thoseothers inpraying, then it is certain thy voicehathhelped tocarry it: 'If two agree on earth,' says Christ, Matt. 18:19, the word isσυμφωνήσωσιν;thatis,iftheyharmoniallyagreetoplaythesametune;forprayersaremusic inGod'sears,andsocalled 'melodytoGod,'Eph.5:19. It is not simply their agreeing in the thing prayed for, but in theaffections; for it is theaffectionsthatmaketheconcertandthemelody.NowifthesameholyaffectionsweretouchedandstruckbyGod'sSpiritinthyheartthatintheirs,thenthoudoesthelptomakeuptheconcert,and without thee it would have been imperfect; yea, without thee thethingmightnothavebeendone,forGodstandssometimesuponsuchanumberofvoices,andonevoicecastsit;aswhenhenamedtenrighteouspersons to save Sodom. When therefore the same holy motives andaffectionsaffectedtheeinthyprayerwhichdidthemintheirs,itwastheworkofthesameSpiritbothinthemandthee,andGodhathheardthee.

EspeciallyifGoddidstirupthesamesecretinstinctintheetosympathisewithanother inpraying for sucha thingunbeknownone toanother,assometimesitfallsout;thensurelythyprayersareinitaswellashis.Youshall observe sometimes a general instinct of the Spirit put into God'speople's hearts, generally to pray for or against a thing, without eachother's stirring up one another; even as Ezekiel by the river Chebarprophesied the same things Jeremiah did at home at Jerusalem. Thusagainst the time thatChrist theMessiah came in the flesh, therewas agreatexpectationraisedupintheheartsofthegodlypeopletolookandprayforhim,Luke2:27,38.

(2.) God doth usually and often evidence to a man, that his prayerscontributedandwentamongtheresttowardstheobtainingofit;as—

[1.]Bysomecircumstance:as,forexample,sometimesbyorderingitso

thatthatmanthatprayedmostforathingofconcernment,shouldhavethefirstnewsofitwhenitcomestobeaccomplished;whichGoddoth,asknowingitwillbemostwelcomenewstohim.Goddothhereinaswedowithafriend,whoweknowiscordialin,andwishethwelltoabusiness;hesendshimthe firstwordof itwhowasmosthearty in it,andprayedmostabout it.GoodoldSimeonhad surelybeenearnest in seeking theLord,aswellastherestinJerusalem,tosendtheMessiahintotheworld,torestoreandraiseuptheruinsofIsrael;forGoddidrevealtohimthathe should seehimbeforehedied: and therefore to evidence tohimhisrespecttohisprayers,Godcarriedthegoodoldmanintothetemplejustat the time when the child was brought into the temple, for to 'bepresented to the Lord,' Luke 2:27, 28. And in likemanner good Anna,'who had served God with fasting and prayer, night and day,' Godorderethitsothatshemustalsocomeinatthesameinstant,Luke2:38.BysomesuchlikepeculiarcircumstanceorotherdothGodoftenusetowitnesstoaman'sheartthathehathheardhiminbusinessesprayedforincommonwithothers.

[2.]By filling theheartwithmuch joy in theaccomplishmentofwhatamanprayedfor:whichisanevidentargumentthathisprayersdidmovetheLordtoeffectit,aswellastheprayersofothers.ThusthatgoodoldSimeon, seeing his prayers now answered, he was even willing to diethroughjoy;andthoughthecouldnotdieinabettertime:'Lord,nowletthy servantdepart inpeace'Forwhen thedesireshave vented and laidoutmuchofthemselves,thenwhenthereturncomeshome,theyhaveananswerablepartandshareinthecomfortofit:andasdesiresaboundedinpraying,sowilljoyandcomfortalsointheaccomplishment.Aswhenashipcomeshome,notonlythechiefowners,buteveryonethatventuredshallhaveashareoutofthereturn,inaproportiontotheadventure;sohere,thoughsomeonewhomitmainlyconcernshathespecialinterestinthemercyobtained,yetthoushalthavethyprayersoutinjoyfromGodthat the thing isgranted.StPaulhadplantedachurchatThessalonica,buthecouldnotstaytowateritwithhisownpreaching,yetwhenabsenthewaters thoseplantswhichhehadset,withprayers,nightandday: 1Thess.3:10,'Nightanddayprayingexceedinglyforyou,'sayshe.Andashis prayers were exceeding abundant for them, so was his joy asabundantinthem,whenhehadheardthattheystoodsteadfast,andfell

not back again: 'Nowwe live, if ye stand fast in the Lord,' ver. 8. 'Andwhat thanks canwe render toGod for all the joywherewithwe joy foryoursakesbeforetheLord?'ver.9.

[3.]IfGodgiveyouaheartthankfulforablessingvouchsafedtoanother,prayedforbyyouwithothers,itisanothersignyourprayershavesomehandinit.StPaulknewnotwhatthankstogivefortheansweringofhisprayers,asinthatforementionedplace.OldElihadputupbutoneshortejaculatorypetition,thatwereadof,forHannah;andthatwas,'TheLordgrant thy petition!' 1 Sam. 1:17; and for the return of that one prayer,when Hannah related how God had answered her, ver. 26, 27, hereturnedsolemnthanks:'andheworshippedtheLordthere,'ver.28.

(3.)And,lastly,incasethethingconcernedthyself,whichwasprayedforbyothershelpingtheetherein,whatcausehastthoubuttothinkthatitwas granted for thy own prayers, and not for theirs only? seeing Godstirreduptheirheartstoprayforthee,andgavetheeahearttoprayforthyself, and besides gave thee the thing which thou desiredst. Whichargues thouartbelovedaswellas they,andacceptedaswellas they. 'Iknowthisshallturntomysalvationthroughyourprayers,'saithStPaul,Phil.1:19.Thoughtheirprayerswenttothebusiness,yethadnotStPaulbeenacceptedhimself,theprayersofallthemenintheworldwouldhavedone him but little good. God may hear the prayers of the godly forwickedmen,whentheydonotpraythemselves,intemporalthings:sohedidhearMoses forPharaoh,Abraham forAbimelech:andhemayheargodlymenthesoonerforothers'prayers;soheheardAaronandMiriamthesoonerforMoses'ssake,Num.12:13.ButifGodstirsupthyhearttoprayforthyself,aswellasothersforthee,thenGodthatgavetheeahearttoprayhathheardthyprayersalso,andhathhadarespecttothemmoreinitthantotheirs,becauseitconcernedthyself,asamorespecialmercyuntothee.

CHAPTERV:Commondirectionshelpfulinallcasesandprayers

Common directions helpful in all cases and prayers.—First, from suchobservationsasmaybetakenfrombefore,andinpraying.

HAVINGpremisedthesecases,IcomenowtomoregeneralandcommondirectionstohelpyouindiscerningandobservingthemindofGod,andhisanswerstoyouinyourprayers.Allwhichdirectionsaresuchasmaybe helpful in all the forementioned cases, and in all sorts of prayerswhatever.And they are taken fromobservations to bemadeupon yourprayers,&c.,bothbefore,in,andafterpraying.

First,beforepraying;whenGodbespeaksaprayer,asImaysospeak,—thatis,whenGodsecretlyspeakstothehearttopraymuchaboutathing.IexpressitthusaccordingtothatphraseofDavid,Ps.27:8,'Thousaidst,Seek my face, and I said, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.' Now God thenspeakstothehearttopraywhennotonlyheputsuponthedutybysayingtotheconscience,Thisthououghtesttodo;butGod'sspeakingtoprayissuchashisspeechat firstwas,whenhemade theworld,whenhesaid,'Lettherebelight,andtherewaslight:'sohesays,Lettherebeaprayer,andthereisaprayer;thatis,hepoursuponamanaspiritofgraceandsupplication, a praying disposition; he puts in motives, suggestsargumentsandpleastoGod;allwhichyoushallfindcomeinreadily,andofthemselves,andthatlikewisewithaquickeningheatandenlargementofaffections,andwithalingering,andlonging,andrestlessnessofspiritto be alone, to pour out the soul to God, and to vent and form thosemotions and suggestions into aprayer, till youhave laid them togetherand made a prayer of them. And this is a speaking to the heart. Andobserve such timeswhenGoddoth thus, andneglect themnot, then tostrike whilst the iron is hot; thou hast then his ear; it is a specialopportunityforthatbusiness,suchaoneasthoumayestneverhavethelike. Suitors at court observe mollissima fandi tempora, their times ofbeggingwhentheyhavekingsinagoodmood,whichtheywillbesureto

take the advantage of; but especially if they should find that the kinghimselfshouldbeginofhimselftospeakofthebusinesswhichtheywouldhaveofhim:andthusthatphraseofPs.10:17isunderstoodbysome,thatGodpreparestheheart,andcauseththeeartohear;thatis,hefashionsit,andcomposethitintoaprayingframe.AndsureitisagreatsignthatGodmeanstohearuswhenhimselfshallthusinditethepetition.

And by the way let me give this note of difference between thesespeakingstotheheartandthosewherebySatanputsusuponsuchdutiesatunseasonablehoursandtimes;aswhenweareotherwisenecessarilytobe employed in our callings, to eat, or to sleep, &c.; then to put uponpraying is a device of his he useth to tire out new converts with. Thedifference will appear in this: the devil comes in a violent imperiousmannerupontheconscience,butenlargethnottheheartawhituntotheduty;butwhensoeverGodatsuchextraordinaryby-timesdothcalluponus,hefitsandpreparestheheart,andfillsthesoulwithholysuggestions,as materials for the duty; for whatsoever he calls to, he gives abilitieswithaltothethinghecallsfor.

Andthususually,whenhewillhaveanygreatmattersdoneandeffected,hesetsmen'sheartsa-worktopraybyakindofgraciouspreinstinct;hestirs themupand toucheth the stringsof theirheartsbyhisSpirit sentdownupon them.Thusagainst the returnof the captivityhe stirredupDaniel's heart, chap. 9:1; he knowing by books the time to be nearexpiring,was stirred up to seekGod. And so he thatmade this psalm,'salvationbeingthennigh,'Ps.85:9,10;thenGodstirredhimuptopray,andpenthisprayerfortheirreturn;whichGodhadforetoldhewoulddo,Jer. 29:10–12. For having promised, ver. 10, Iwill cause you to returnafterseventyyears;'then,'sayshe,ver.12,'shallyecalluponme,andyeshallgoandprayuntome,andIwillhearkenuntoyou.'Hespeaksitnotonly by way of command, what it was they ought to do, but asprophesyingalsowhattheyshoulddo;forthenhemeanttostiruptheirhearts, as then he did, as appears by those forementioned instances.ThereforeobservewhatthingsGodthus,byaninstinct,dothenlargethyheart to pray for at times, and sometimes at extraordinary by-times,whenhaplythoudidstnotthinktoprayaboutanysuchthing;yethethenstirred thee upmost, itmay be, as thouwertwalking, &c., and having

spare time, he draws thee into his presence, and moves thee in thatmannerspecified.

Now, secondly, as God thus speaks to the heart to pray, so also inpraying; and his speaking to the heart in prayer may be discerned bytheseparticulars:—

1.WhenGodquiets,andcalms,andcontentstheheartinprayer,whichisdonebyspeakingsomethingtotheheart, thoughwhat isspokenbenotalways discerned. If you should see one who was an earnest andimportunate suitor, and exceeding anxiouswhen hewent in to a greatman,butbeheldhimaftercomingoutfromhimcontented,andquieted,and cheerful in his spirit, youwould conceive that certainly somethinghadbeen said tohimwhich gavehimencouragement, satisfaction, andcontentment in his suit. Thus when thou goest to God, and hast beenimportunate inabusiness,—as suppose forChrist:OgivemeChrist,orelseIdie!—andthydesireswereexceedinglyupforit;butthourisestupwith thy mind calmed and satisfied, and feelest the anxiousness, thesolicitudeof thyheart about the thing takenoff anddispelled: this is agoodsignthatGodhathheardthyprayer,andhathspokensomethingtothy heart whichmakes it thus composed.WhenHannah, out of muchbitternessandwithstrongdesires,whichbyalongdelayhadbeenmademore violent, so as her heart was much disquieted,—for, Prov. 13:12,'hope,' and by the same reason desire also, 'deferred makes the soulsick,'—whenout of the abundanceofher grief shehadpouredher souloutbeforetheLord,1Sam.1:16,Eli thepriest joininginprayeralsoforher,'TheLordgrantthypetition;'afterthatprayershefoundherheartsoquieted, that 'she lookednomoresad,' as the text says there, shearosequietedandcalmed,anditwasthatprayerthatdidbothfillEli'smouthwith that word of prophecy and her heart with quietness, and a secretword from God accompanying it that did still those waves: andaccordinglyGodgaveherason,asonofherdesires.

AndthelikeGoddothnow,byspeaking,asIsaid,somethingtotheheart:as by dropping in some promise or other into the heart, or some likeconsideration;saying,asitwere,totheheart,evenasElifromGoddidtoher, 'TheLord grants thy petition.' As to St Paul,whenhewas earnestwith God about removing his buffetings by Satan, which whether they

were the stirring up a lust, or temptations of blasphemy, I do not nowdispute; 'IbesoughtGodthrice,'thatis,earnestly,sayshe, 'thatitmightdepart;'andto thishehadananswer in themeantimegivenhim, till itshouldbe taken away, enough to still andquiet him: so 2Cor. 12:8, 9.'Andhe said,'—that is, in prayer the Lord did put in this considerationand promise into his thoughts,—'And he said unto me, My grace issufficient for thee, and my power is made perfect in weakness.' Thisanswer thus coming in, this promise thus seasonably suggested, stayedandquietedPaul'sheart.Inlikemanner,thouhast,itmaybe,beenlongprayingagainstpovertyor the likedistress,andGod lets fall thisor thelikepromiseintothyheart,'Iwillneverleavetheenorforsakethee,'Heb.13:5,whichquietsandcontentsthymind.Thisisananswer;andobservesuchanswers,fortheyareprecious.

2. If whilst thou art a-praying God doth draw nigh to thy soul, andrevealethhimselftoitinanduponsuchorsuchaparticularpetition:asin case thoudidstmainly intend,when thoudidst begin to pray, to setthyself tobegsometemporalmercyathishands,somegreatmatter forthegoodandprosperityofthechurch,—asDaniel,chap.9,didsethimselftoseekGodforthereturnofthecaptivity,—andevenbeforethoucomestto ask it, or in asking it, God smiles upon thee, welcomes thee, fallethabout thy neck and kisseth thee; this thou art to observe as a sign hehears thyprayer, and acceptethboth thee and it.When there is such astrong sense ofGod's favour and presencewhilst thou art upon such asuitandrequest,more thanatother timesor than inotherpassagesofthe same prayer, this is a tokenGod hears thee in that particular, andthouarttoobservethishisspeakingtothyheart;whenthusthoushaltnosoonercomeintohispresencetoinquireofhim,buthesays,'HereIam,'asthepromiseis,Isa.58:9.Therefore,Ps.69:17,18, 'Hearmespeedily,'saysDavid; 'and,' that Imayknow thouhearestme, 'drawnigh tome.'ThereforewhenGoddrawsnightothee,itisasignhehearsthee.Danielhavingfastedandprayedforthreeweekstogether,chap.10:2,3,thenanangel came, andoneof the threePersons cameand toldhimhewas 'amangreatlybeloved,'ver.11,19.When,inlikemanner,GodbyhisSpiritcomesdown,andmeetsthee,andtellsthyheartinsecretthatthouarthisbeloved and he is thine, then thy prayers are certainly heard; for if heaccepts thyperson,muchmore thyprayers, 1 John5:13, 14.Men, false

men,—false upon the balance, as David speaks, when they come to betried and weighed,—they will, out of cunning, use suitors most kindlythenwhentheymeantoputthemoff,anddenythemtheirrequests;butGod,whoistruthandfaithfulnessitself,dothnotusesotodeal,butwhenhemeanstoanswertheprayer,hewithalsometimesrevealshisfreegracemost,totheendtheymayseeandacknowledgethefountainofalltobehis everlasting love, and so take the thing granted as a fruit of it, andtherebycometobethemoreabundantlythankful.

Onlyletmeaddthiscaution,whichmaybeofgreatusetoyou:ThatitisnotalwaysinfalliblytruethatwhenGoddrawsnightoyouinaparticularrequest, that that request in particular shall be granted in thatmanneryoudesired;butitisacertainevidencethatthyprayerisheard,andthatthethingthonaskestisagreeabletohiswill,andthatheapprovesoftheeandthyrequestexceedingly,andthinkeththebetteroftheeforit,andhewill give thee it, or something that is better. Theremay be herein, andsometimesis,amistakeofGod'smeaning,tothinkthatalwaysthenthething shall be granted when God draws nigh to a man: experiencesometimesshewsthecontrary.

Quest.—Butyouwillsay,WhydothGoddrawsonighifhemeansnottograntit?

Ans.1.—Heshewstherebyhisapprovingwillofthethingprayedfor.NowGodapprovesmanythingshedecreesnot.Thereishisapprovingwillandhis decreeing will. Godmay shew his approving will of the thing thouaskest,—assupposeitbeinviewamatterwhichisofgreatconsequencetothechurch,—whichhedothfor thyencouragement;butyet it followsnotthathisdecreeingwillisfortheaccomplishmentofthatverythinginparticular.

Ans. 2.—Godmay accept the person and the prayer when he doth notgrant the thing prayed for; and by that drawing nigh witness hisacceptationofthypersonandthyprayer.Yea—

Ans. 3.—That revealing of himself is oftentimes all the answer heintendedtosuchaprayer;and it isanswerenough, too, toenjoy in thesteadofaparticularmercytheassuranceofGod'slove.Assupposethou

didst pray against some evil coming upon his church, which he yetintends to bring, which he did set thy heart a-work to pray against,thereby tomanifest the sincerity thereof, and thenhe, seeing thee thussincere,drawsnightothee,andtellsthee,however,itshallgowellwiththee,andthatthouartgreatlybelovedofhim:thouartsometimestotakethisforalltheanswerhemeanstogive.Andthishedothsometimesalsoto content the heart, and prepare it for a denial in the thing; whereasotherwise the denial of what a Christian hath been earnest in mightoccasion,asinmanyitdoth,aquestioninganddoubtingofGod'slove.

3. When God stirs up in the heart a particular faith in a business, assometimes he doth, and upholds the heart to wait for it, maugre alldiscouragements.Sohedid inDavid,Ps.27:3.Davidwas then ingreathazardsby reasonofSaul,orAbsalom,and thosesuchandsooften,asthat tosenseandoutwardprobabilitieshewas likenever to livequietlyagain at Jerusalem, and enjoyGod's ordinances there in peace; but forthisDavidhadprayed,andhadmadeitasthegrandrequestofhiswholelife,—aseverymanhathsomeonegreat requestofallother,evenashehath some special grace aboveall other, or gift,&c., so request toGod,nexttohissalvation,ashaplyforhisministry,orthelike,thereforesaysDavid,ver.4,'ThisonethinghaveIdesired,'—andaccordinglyGodgavehimaspecialfaithinthisthingaboveallother,becauseitwashisgreatrequest; 'In this will I be confident,' ver. 3. And though a host ofmenshould again and again encompass me, says he, yet in this I will beconfident,thatIshallstillescape,andseeJerusalemagain,andenjoytheordinancesandliveinpeace.Andthoughhisfaithfailedhimoften,asinthepersecutionofSaulitdid,forhesaidheshould'onedayperishbythehandofSaul,' 1Sam.27:1,yetatother timeshis faithwasmarvellouslyupheld, and he was confident in this. He used not to be so in otherrequests thus absolutely, particularly, and distinctly; and therefore hesays, 'In this,'&c.As there isawitnessof theHolyGhost immediate totheheart,sealingupadoptiontoaman'sperson,soinsomecasesthereistheliketestimonyfortheobtainingofsomeeminentthingwehaveasked.Whichparticularspecialfaithdothinakindofsimilitudeanswertothefaithofmiraclesofold,wherebyamanhadaparticularconfidencethatGodwoulddosuchamiraclebyhim.So inandbymeansofprayer, insome things there may be a particular strengthening and assuring the

heart,thatGodwilldosuchathingforaman:whichIconfessisrareandextraordinary,asalsothatimmediatetestimonyconcerningourpersonsis,whichmanywantthatgotoheaven.Andhaplythisother,concerningthe accomplishment of specialmercies, ismuchmore rare, and but insomebusinesses,andisathingwhichsomemenarenotacquaintedwith,butyetmaybeinsomecasesexistenttosomemen'sspirits,asitwastoDavid'sinthethingmentioned.

Andconcerning thisalso Iwillalsoaddacaution,asabout the former:Thatitdothnotalwaysfalloutuponallsuchkindofevidencesmadetoaman's spirit, and that by God, that the thing prayed for doth come topass.FortheseverypersuasionsstirredupbyGod,maybeandareoftenbutconditional,thoughthusimmediatelymadetoaman'sspirit,andareso to be understood, and not peremptory and absolute. It cannot beimagined that all these should always be of greater absoluteness andperemptorinessthanweremanyofthoserevelationsmadebyGodtotheprophets, wherein he manifested his gracious purpose towards such amanorpeople, either to vouchsafe themsuchamercy,orbring suchajudgment;which forewarning, though theywereparticularandexpress,yetlimitedandintendedwithacondition,accordingtotheperformanceor not performance of which it fell out, either the judgment expresslythreatened was diverted, or that good thing which was as directly andfully promised was not bestowed: as it was in the case of JonahthreateningthedestructionofNineveh;andsointhepromiseconcerningEli'shouse,1Sam.2:30, 'Isaidindeedthatthyhouse,andthehouseofthyfather,shouldwalkbeforemeforever:'butnowtheLordsaysitshallnotbeso,fortheyhadbrokentheconditionwhichwasimpliedinit,theyhaddespisedtheLord;'andthemthatdespiseme,'saysGodthere,'Iwilldespise.'

In like manner is God's meaning expressed towards us in such likepersuasions wrought in us by prayer, to be understood: as that suchmercieswillsurelycometopass,butstillunderaconditionofobedience,and performing of those vows which a man joined with those hispetitions,tomovetheLordtograntthethings;whichifamanfailin,orceasethtogoontobelieve,itmayanddothoftencometopassthatthingsfall out contrary to that persuasion; and then we are apt to question

whetheritwasfromGodorno;whichitmightbe,andtrulywroughtbyhisSpirit,andyetnotalwaysabsolutelymeant,—thatwasyourmistakesototakeit,—butconditionallyonly.ForinsuchgreatrequestsofthesouluntoGod,thereusetopassmutualcovenantsbetweenGodandus,andindenturesaredrawnandsealeduntobyus—that is,we inprayerofferandpromisetodothusandthus,ifGodwillvouchsafeussuchamercy,andpleadittoGodtomovehimtobestowit;andGod,hethereupon,itmaybe,sealsacovenantonhisparttograntthething,andworkssuchanundoubted persuasion; but if we, in that interim of waiting for thatmercy, do deal falsely in that covenant which we havemade, and thisevenwhilstweareyetindependenceuponGodforit,wherebyitappearsthatwewouldhavedonesomuchmoreafterweshouldhavereceiveditonce,—in this case God denies the thing, and yet notwithstanding thatpersuasion and evidence was fromGod that heard the prayer. He saidindeedhewoulddo thus and thus for thee,—ashe toldDavid, 'Iwouldhavegiventheemuchmore,'—becausethousaidst tohim, thouwouldstwalk thusand thus,ordidstvowthisor that tohim: thou failest in thyword, uponwhichGodutteredhis; and thereupon, saysGod, as toEli,'Nowitshallnotbeso,'andyetGodhadspokenitafore,andnotSatan,northineownheartonly.

4.WhenGoddothputa restless importunity into theheart,maugrealldiscouragements.SointhatPsalm27:4,'OnethingIhavedesired,andIwillseekafterit,'—thatis,asIhavesoughtit,soIwillnotleaveseekingtoGodforit.WhenGodmaintainsthisintheheart,itisasignhehearsandwillanswer;foryouknowtheparable,thattheunjustjudgeheardherforherimportunity:thereforewhenGodputsanimportunityintotheheart,hemeanstohear.

Only this likewise is tobe added in this, there is adouble importunity:oneoutof suchan inordinatedesire to a thing, as theheart knowsnothow to be without such a mercy, and so continues to ask, but 'askethamiss,andsoreceivesnot,'James4:3.Butthereisanimportunityjoinedwith a subjection toGod'swill,which,when it runs alongwith it, thenGodhathstirred itup;and then look forsomething tocome:otherwiseyoumaybeimportunate,as'theyseekmedaily,'whenyetGodheardnot,Isa.58:2.


Furtherobservationstobemadeonthedispositionsandcarriageofourheartsafterprayer,untiltheissueofthethingprayedfor.

NEXT:afterthouhastprayed,observewhatGoddothtowardsthee.

As, first, how he doth guide thy feet and heart after praying; there ismuchinthat.Thatwhichwasthespiritofsupplicationinamanwhenheprayed,restsuponhimasthespiritofobedienceinhiscourse;soasthatdependence he hath upon God for themercy he seeks for, is a specialmotiveandmeanstokeephimfearfulofoffending,anddiligentinduty;to looktohispaths,towalkandbehavehimselfasbecomesasuitor,aswell as to come and pray as a suitor. Thus David, he walked by thisprinciple,Ps. 66:18, 'If I regard iniquity inmyheart,Godwillnothearme;'thatconsiderationstillcameinasacurbuntosin;andwithoutthisaman provokes God, and so casts himself behindhand again, and bysinning losethwhatgroundhehadgotbypraying.ThereforeDavid,Ps.143:8–10, when he was to pray, even as for his life, as then he did, itbeingadeliverancefromhisenemieshesought,hespeciallypraysGodtodirecthimandkeephim,thathemightnotsinagainsthim;forheknewbysinningheshouldenervateandspoilallhisprayers:notonly'hearmespeedily,' sayshe,butalso 'causemetoknowthewaywhereinIshouldwalk;teachmetodothywill.'Thisheespeciallypraysfor,andmorethanfor deliverance, for else he knew God would not hear him. Thereforewhenthouart in treatywithGodforanymercy,observe,dothGodstillafterprayingkeeptheeinamoreobedientframeofspirit?Itisasignheintendstoanswerthee;asinlikemanner,whenhekeepstheefromusingillmeans,&c.Whenhemeant to giveDavid the kingdom,hekepthiminnocent,andhishearttender,thatitsmotehimbutfor 'cuttingoffthe

lap of Saul's garment:' hewasnot so tender after. Therefore, inPs. 18,whenhewasdeliveredfromallhisenemies,hesays,'Goddealtwithhimaccording to his uprightness; for I keptmyself frommine iniquity.' Soalso,Ps.27:11.

Secondly,WhenGodafterprayerstrengtheneththehearttowaitforthemercy;so,Ps.27:14,Davidhavingprayed,saystohissoul, 'WaitontheLord;beofgoodcourage,andhewillstrengthenthyheart.'Honestmen,when they nourish hopes in one that is in dependence on them, whowaiteth and is obsequiousupon thehopeshehath of a suit, usenot todenyhim:itweredishonestyinthemtokeepamanunderhand,andthenfrustrate his expectations; therefore, when God keeps thy soul afterpraying in such a dependent frame, look for some good answer. Andindeedwhenamanhathprayed long, in theendhebeginstowait,asImaysosay,ratherthanpray,thoughhepraystill,becausenowhelooksGodshouldperform.Before,andat first,hetoldtheLordhedesiredit,but now he can with some boldness tell him that he waits for it andexpectsit.Thehopeofagodlymanandhisexpectationshouldmakehimashamed if it were not answered, therefore in this case answers use tocome.

Boththesetwolastwehavetogetherjoined,Ps.37:34,'WaitontheLord,ANDKEEPHISWAYS,andheshallexaltthee.'

CHAPTERVII:Observationsmadeafterprayerupontheissue

Observationstobemadeafterprayer,upontheissueofwhatwasprayedfor;and,first, ifaccomplished,whetherasthefruitofprayers,oroutofcommonprovidence.—Helpsherein.

WHENamanhaththuswaited,andkepthisway, then lethimobservethe issue and conclusion ofwhat he sought for, how things are cast byGod. Now of necessity, one of these two must fall out, that either thethingdesiredisaccomplished,ornotaccomplished;andineitherofthesehe may come to spy out answers to his prayers, for prayer may beansweredthoughthethingbenotdone.

Imeantoinsistseverallyonthese:—

I.Ifthethingthouprayestfordothcometopass,thenwhatneedestthoudoubt of an answer, and whether God heard thee or no? for thoubeholdestitwiththineeyes.Andsooftenitfallsout,thatGoddothgrantaccordingtothedesiresofaman'sheart;andnotonlyso,butalsofulfilshiscounseltherein,asitisPs.20:4;thatis,fulfilsnotonlyhisdesireandaim of his prayer, but in that very way, by that verymeans, which hisjudgmentandcounselpitchuponinhisownthoughts.ThedesireoftheheartmaybesatisfiedwhenGodgivessomeotherthing,butthecounselof theheart is then fulfilledwhen aman is answered in that particularwhichhisownjudgmentpitcheduponasbestforhim.Forcounselisanact of the understanding, deliberating about means to an end, anddirecting to choose a particular means tending to an end: so that, asEliphazsaystoJob,chap.22:27,28,'ThoushaltmakethyprayertoGod,andheshallhearthee:anddecreeathing,anditshallbeestablishedtothee;' that is,amanisguidedtodecreeandpitchuponsuchmercies inhisprayersasGodmakesgoodinparticular:hesayswhathewouldhave,and God performs it; and this privilege thou shalt have, says Eliphazthere, if thouwilt turntohim,andbeacquaintedwithhim,andreceivethe law from hismouth. Thou shalt not err in praying; but what thousettestupontoprayfor,shallbeaccordinglygrantedtothee.Suchamanshallhave theprivilege fingere sibi fortunam in a right sense, tobehisown chooser, and carver of his ownmercies; and as Christ said, 'Be itaccording to thy faith,' so God says sometimes, 'Be it according to thyprayers.' And Eliphaz speaks of it as of a special favour, that whereasotherprayers are answeredobliquely, thine, sayshe, shall be answereddirectly,whichismorecomfortable,asdirectbeamsare,andhavemoreheatinthemthancollateralandoblique.ThusifamanwillhearGodandobey him,Godwill hear him: for if aman be subject toChrist's kingly

office,hispropheticalofficeshallguidehim,andcausehimnottoerrinhis petitions; but by anunerringprovidence andpreinstinct infusedbyhisSpirit,GodwillsoguidehimastoaskeventhatverythingwhichGodintendstogive;whereasofhimselfheknowsnotwhatnorhowtoask.

SoDavidaskedlonglife,andGodgaveithim,Ps.21:2–4.Godnotonlygavehimhisheart'sdesire, but 'the request ofhis lips,' ver. 2.Hannahasked a son, andGod answered her in the very thing she desired, andthereforeshecalledhimSamuel,1Sam.1:20,'Because,'saysshe,'IaskedhimoftheLord;'andver.27, 'ForthischildIprayed,andtheLord'didnot give another thing instead of it, but 'hath given me my petition Iaskedofhim.'So,1Chron.4:10,'JabezcalledonGod,'itissaid,'andGodgrantedhimthe thingherequested.'And thusGodoftendealswithhischildren.AndtothisendhathGodgivenushisSpirit;andmadeChristwisdomuntous,whoknowswhatisgoodforus,thoughwedonot;andhath,therefore,alsocommandedustospyoutmerciesforourselves,andthen come tohim for them: and to this endhathmade suchparticularpromisesofparticularmercies,whichhewouldhaveushaveaneyeuntoin our prayers; allwhich is because often bemeans to bestow the verythingsweask.

Andyetbecausealthoughwehavetheverythingswedidaskanddesire,suchisthejealousyandinfidelityofourhearts,thatweoftendiscernnotnor acknowledge that itwasourprayers that obtained them fromGod;but we are apt, when once we have them, either to look but to thingsbelowandthesecondcausesofthem,thoughbeforewedidearnestlyseekthemofGod,orelsestilldistrustfullytoquestionwhetherornoitwasatour prayers that he granted them, or out of commonprovidence. ThusJob, inhisdistemper, chap.9:16, 'As thoughIhadcalled,andGodhadansweredme;yet,'sayshe,'Iwouldnotbelievethathehadhearkenedtomyvoice,'—thatis,notthathediditinrespecttomyprayerandrequest,becausehenowdeals so severelywithme,—'forhebreakethmewith atempest,'ver.17.Andthusdoourdistrustfulhearts,whichareapttobeunsatisfied with all the clearest pledges of God's favour, and still tomisconstrue andpervert them; althoughGoddoth answerus uponourcallinguponhim,yetwewillnotbelievethathehearkenedtoourprayerinit.Thereforethatyoumaybefurtherenabledtodiscernhowandwhen

things you have prayed for come in by prayer, I give you these furtherdirections:—

Direct.1.—WhenGoddothathinginanswertoprayers,heoftendothitinsuchamannerthathishandmaybeinamorethanordinarymannerseeninit.Therearefewprayers,whereinamanhathsoughtGodmuch,butintheanswersofthemGoddiscovershimselfmuch,andturnsmanygreatwheels in the accomplishment of them, and 'manifests,' asDaviddesires,Ps.17:7, 'hismarvellousloving-kindness;'andindeedwhenGodhearsprayersthathavebeenalongwhileamaking,heshewsusuallyhalfamiracleonewayorother.

NowGoddiscovershis immediatehandintheanswersofprayersmanyways:—

(1.)Whenhecarriesathingthroughmanydifficulties;whentherewereagreatmanycrosswardsinabusinessprayedfor,theleastwhereofwouldhavekeptthekeyfromturning,whenGodshallmake,asitwere,akeyonpurposetounlockit;whenGodplotsandcontrivesallthepassagesinabusinessthoudidstprayfor,andsoaccomplishethit;thisisasignitisafruitofprayer,andthatprayerhadbeena-makingthatkeyallthatwhile.SoinbringingDavidtothekingdom;Josephoutofprison;Mordecaitohonour; and likewise St Peter out of prison, which was done at theprayersof thechurch,Acts12.Hewassleepingbetweentwosoldiers, iftheyhadwakedhehadbeendiscovered;andhewasinchains,buttheyfall off, ver.6, 7; and thekeepers stoodbefore thedoor,but theymindhimnot,ver.6;andwhenonewatchispassed,hepassethquietlythroughanother,ver.10;andwhenboththesewerepassed,anirongatefliesopenof its own accord, ver. 10. Now such difficulties are there in manybusinesses,whichyetintheendareaccomplishedbyprayer;ironchainsfall off, iron gates, enemies' hearts fly open of their own accord; andthoughnotinthatmiraculousmanner,bythemeansofanangel,yetnolesswonderfully.

(2.)Or,secondly,whenGodfacilitatesallmeanstoaccomplishthethingwhichwasprayedfor,soasallmeansdoinviewconspireandcombineinit;thatthouhastwindandtide,andafairday,andallthewaypaved,or,asDavidsays,hastthy'waymadeplainbeforethee;'andtherefallsouta

greatconjunctionandmeetingofmanycircumstancestogethertoeffectit, which had influence into it, whereof if any one had been wanting,haply the thing had not been done: when the thing prayed for is thusgranted,prayerthenhathdoneit.Thus,whenhedeliveredthepeopleofIsraeloutofEgypt,whichwastheaccomplishmentof their longdesiresand prayers,—'their cry came up,' the text says,—how were all thingsfacilitated! They that detained them do themselves come and entreatthemtogoout;yea,'areurgent,'saysthetext,andthatatmidnight;nay,hirethemtogooutwiththeirear-rings,Exod.12:31,33,35;andPharaohhimself then parts lovingly and fairly with them, and desires theirprayers,'Blessmealso,'ver.32.Yea,toshewtherewasnoresistance,thetext says, 'a dog did notmove his tongue:' the brute creatures did notdisturb them, thoughatmidnight,when thosecreaturesuse tobemostobstreperousthroughnoises.

(3.)When he doth it suddenly, and accomplisheth the thing thou hastlongprayedfor,erethouartawareofit;asthereturnofthecaptivityofBabylon,whichwastheconclusionofmanyprayers,wasdoneinatrice,'theywereasmeninadream,'Ps.126:1,theycouldscarcebelieveitwassowhenitwasdone:itwasbecausetheyhadsownmanyprayers,whichcameuponthesudden,ver.5,6.SoPeter,hewasfastasleep,anddidnotsomuchasdreamofdeliverance.SoJoseph'sdeliveryoutofprison,andadvancementtobethegreatestmaninthekingdom,thesuddennessofitsheweditwasGod'srememberingofhim,andhearinghisprayers.

(4.)WhenGodgrantsthethingwithanoverplusabovewhatwedidask,and casteth many other mercies in, together with that which we longprayed for; this alsomay be a signGod did hear our prayers in it; forwhen he doth hear indeed, he useth 'to do above what we did ask orthink,'therebythemoretoovercometheheart.SoDavidasked'longlife,'andhegavehimmorethanheasked,Ps.21:2–5.SoSolomon,heaskedbutwisdom,andhegavehimmorethanheasked;'peace,riches,honour,'andall,withit,1Kings3:12,13.Hannah,sheaskedbut'onemalechild,'1Sam. 1:11,butGodgaveher three sonsmore, and twodaughters, chap.2:21.Whenprayersareanswered,usuallymerciescomethick,theycometumbling in; the thingweprayed forcomesnotalone:aswhensinsarepunished,thenmiseriesalsotheycomelikearmiesintroopsuponus.As

temptations likewise come together, and we fall into many of them atonce,asStJamesspeaks,chap.1:2,thusdomerciesalso.

(5.)Whenthethingisgrantedbyprayers,thereisoftensomeparticularcircumstanceofprovidenceconcurrentwithit,whichisatokenforgood,andsealethtousthat it is fromGod;suchoftenasamanhimselftakesnotice of, and which others take notice of also. 'Shew me a token forgood,'saysDavid,Ps.86:17,'thatothersmayseeitandbeashamed.'AndsuchtokensdothGodoftenmakesmallcircumstancestobe.Thingssmallin themselves may be magna indicia, great signs and tokens. Forexample,MosesandAaronand the Israeliteshad long cried toGod forthedeliveranceofhispeople,andlaidupmanyprayers; 'theircrycameup,' as was said; and when God doth deliver them, what tokens werethereofgood,andofGod'shandinit,andofhisanswertotheirprayers?Thetextnotes,aswasobservedbefore, that 'adogdidnotbarkat theirgoing out,' Exod. 11:7, which was a small circumstance, but it wasmagnum indicium, and so intended byGod; for the text adds, 'that yemay know that God puts a difference between the Israelites and theEgyptians.' This was a token of God's hand, to overrule the tongues ofrude brute creatures, that use to stir at such unusual noises and attravellers, especially in thenight. Sowhen Isaac andAbraham, andhisservant also, had prayed for a wife for Isaac, sec bywhat a tokenGodshewedhehadheardtheirprayers:Rebekahwasthefirstthatcameoutto the servant sent to bring a wife for him; and if she be the womanappointed for Isaac, says the servant, Gen. 24:13, 14, 'let her offer medrink,andmycamelsalso.'Thiswasasmall thing inappearance,butagreatindiciumofGod'shandinit;andthereforetheservantbowedatit,andworshipped.Andthesigninitselfwassuchasarguedagoodnatureinher,andakind,courteousdisposition,whichtherefore, itmaybe,hesingledoutasatokenofameetwife,asathingespeciallytobelookedatinthemarriagechoice.

Direct. 2.—Again, the consideration of the time wherein the things wehave asked are granted,maymuch help us to discernwhether it be inanswer to our prayers; for God, who doth all things in weight andmeasure,shewshiswisdomandloveasmuchintheseasonasingivingthethingitself.Godconsiderethalltimesofthylife,andstillchooseththe

best and fittest to answer thy prayers in: 'In an acceptable time have Iheard thee,' so Isa. 49:8. As David likewise says 'he prayed in anacceptable time,'Ps.69:13.SoaccordinglyGodanswers in thebestandmostacceptabletimetous;for'hewaitstobegracious,forheisaGodofjudgment,' Isa. 30:18; that is, he is a wise God, that knows the fittesttimes and seasons wherein to shew kindnesses, and to deal forth hisfavoursin.

As, first, it may be that at that very time when thou hast been mostinstant and earnest, yea, even whilst thou art a-praying, or presentlyafter,thethingisdoneandaccomplished.TothispurposeisthatofIsa.65:24, thatassometimes 'hehearsbeforetheycall,'whicharguesmuchlove to give mercies unsought, so also 'whilst they are speaking I willhear,'andgrantthething,whicharguesnolesslove;andhecullsoutthattime on purpose that theymight rest assured that it was in. answer totheirprayer.ThustoassureHezekiahhisprayerwasheard,Godsenttheprophetinuntohimwhilsthewasa-prayingandweeping,withhidheadturnedtowardsthewallSoIsaac,goingouttoprayinthefield,meetshisRebekah then a-coming, that blessing of a good wife being surely thegreatrequesttemporalhewasthenintreatywithGodfor:thisRebekahwasthefruitofmanyprayers.SowhenStPeterwasinprison,thechurchbeinggathered together topray forhim,StPeter comesandknocks 'atthe same hour,' Acts 12:12–17. So as it often falls out herein, as to theruler in the gospel, John4:52,who inquiringdiligently, found that 'thesamehourthatChristhadsaidtohim,Thysonliveth,hissonrecovered;and so he believed, and his whole household:' so also here, thatsometimesthe thing isdone,or thenewsof itcomesthesamehour,orsoonafter,whereinamanwasprayingaboutit,andhaplythenwhentheheartwasmoststirredaboutit,morethanatanytimeelse.Thisisasignitwasananswerofprayers,andmayhelptoconfirmaman'sfaithinit,asthatalsodidhis.

Or,secondly,whenitisthemostacceptableandeverywaythefittesttimetohavethethinggranted:atthattimewhenthouhadstmostneed,andwhen thyheartwasmost fit for it:For inansweringprayers,Godaimsespeciallyattwothings:toshewhismercy,thatamanmightmagnifyandexalt that; and to have the heart satisfied and filled with joy and

contentment in his answer, and the thing made sweet, and a mercyindeedtohim:inbrief,thathisgoodnessmightbedelightedin,andhismercyexalted.Andforthesetwopurposeshecullsoutsuchtimeswhenwehavemostneed,andalsowhenourheartsaremostsubduedandourlustsmortified.Forthenweare fittest torelishhisgoodnessalone,andnottobedrawnawaywiththecarnalsweetnessthatisinthething.Theoneyouhaveexpressed,Isa.30:18, 'Hewaitstobegracious,tohavehismercyexalted.'Thesecondintimated,James4, 'Yeask,andreceivenot,becauseyeaskamiss,toconsumeuponyourlusts.'Suchprayers,whilstthe heart is in this temper, the Lord denies, or defers inmercy till theheartbeweaned.

For the firstof these:As, suppose thoudidstpray long forassuranceofsalvation,andjoyintheHolyGhost;andwhenthouhadstmostneedofit, eitherwhen 'thy spiritwouldhave failed'without it, as Isa.57:16,oragainstsomegreatafflictionapproaching,orsomegreatencounterwiththeworld for thenameofChrist, thenGod filled thyheartwith it,&c.,thatwasthefittesttime:nowhathGodheardthyprayer.AsStPeter,hewasinprison,andhadbeensoformanydays;asappearsbythe4thand5th verses, Acts 12. God could have delivered him all that while thechurchprayed forhim,ver.5.ButGodkepthim inonpurpose till thatverynight,wheninthenextmorningHerodmeanttobringhimforthtoexecution,andthenGoddeliveredhimattheprayersofthechurch;thenwasthemostfittime:asthePsalmistsays,'thefulltimetohavemercyonhimwascome,'Ps.102:13.Andthentoreceiveananswer isasignGoddid itoutofspecial love,which lovehe 'wouldhaveexaltedby thee,'asIsa.30:18.

If, secondly,when thyheartwasmost fit for themercy, itwasgranted,thenartthoualsoheardinanacceptabletime:forGoddothnotwithholdmerciesfromthosethatarehisoutofwantoflove;neithersomuchforwhat ispast, as for thepresentevildispositionof theirhearts,wherebythey are unfit to receive them: and in this sense likewise may that beunderstood, that God prepareth the heart and heareth the prayer, Ps.10:17.

Aswhenthyheartismostweanedfromthattemporalmercy,supposingitsuch, granted thee upon seeking of it. So David, when had he the

kingdominpossessiongivenhim?Thenwhenhewasasaweanedchild,andhadhishighthoughts,whichhaplyatthefirstnewsofithadriseninhismind, purged out, Ps. 131:2, 'I have no high thoughts,' &c., says hethen. Thuswhen thy heart had let all carnal ends go, and had betakenitselfalonetoGod, for thyportiontobehadaloneoutofhim, thenthethingprayedforcomestopass;thiswasthefittestseason.

Obj.—But you will be ready to say, To have a thing when ray heart istakenofffromit,andevencontentednottohaveit,makesittobeasnomercy;forwherethereisnodesirethereisnorejoicing.

Ans.—Ifthydesirebetakenoffthething,thenthouwiltrejoicethemorein God now; and though the thing of itself should now give thee lesssatisfaction,yetGodbythethingwillgivetheemore,andhewillmakeitup:forthouwiltrelishhis loveandsweetness in itnow,whichisbetterthanlife,andthereforemuchbetterthanthatthingenjoyed;andindeedtheviolenceof thedesirebeforewouldhavemade it less sweet, for thethingalonewouldnothavefilledandcontentedthatdesirewhenitwasaninordinatelust,andsothouwouldesthavebeenvexedwithit,ratherthansatisfied,andfoundagreatervanityinit:butnowwhenitisbecomea subordinate desire unto God, that the desire is down, and the heartquietedandcontentedwithGodinthething,theheartsays,asshesaid,'Ihave enough.' So likewise thoumayest have an affliction thou prayedstlongagainsttakenoffthenwhenthyheartwasmostwillingtoacceptthypunishment,Lev.26:41,asMoses'sphraseis,andtosubmittoGodinit.

Direct. 3.—A third thing you are to observe concerning theaccomplishment of the thing prayed for, whereby yon may discernwhether granted in answer to prayers, is, when thou seest God in hisdealingswiththee,andansweringofthee,todealinakindofproportionwiththymannerofprayingandseekingofhim,andofwalkingwithhimwhilstthouwertdependentonhim,forsuchorsuchamercy.Andasyoumay see a proportion between sins and punishments, which are therewardsofthem,thatyoucansay,Suchasinbroughtforththisaffliction,itissolikethefather;soyoumightseethelikeproportionbetweenyourprayers and yourwalkingwithGod, andGod's answers to you, andhisdealingswithyou.SodidDavid,Ps.18:24,'Accordingtothecleannessofmy hands hath he recompensed me,' &c. His speech notes some

similitudeorlikeness;as,forexample,themoreby-endsorcarnaldesiresyouhad in praying, and themore youmingled of thesewith your holydesires, and the more want of zeal, fervency, &c., were found in yourprayers,themoreyoushall,itmaybe,findofbitternessmingledwiththemercy,whenitisgranted,andsomuchimperfectionandwantofcomfortin it.SosaysDavid in thesamepsalm,ver.25,26, 'With thepure thouwilt shew thyself pure.' Pure prayers have pure blessings; et è contra,'With the froward thouwilt shew thyself froward.'Andagain, as you inpraying sometimes slackened and grew cold, so you might see thebusiness in like manner to cool, and cast backward: as 'whenMoses'shandsweredown,Amalekprevailed;'butwhentheywere'liftedup,Israelhadthebetter,'Exod.17:12.Godlethimseeaproportion,whicharguedhisprayerwas themeansofprevailing.Aman finds inpraying thathissuitsometimessticks,andgoesnotonasheexpected;thisisbecausehegivesnotsogoodafeeashewaswont,anddothnotplyGodandsolicithim;but,on thecontrary,whenhewas stirredup topray, thenstillhefound things to go well. By this amanmay clearly see that it was theprayer which God did hear and regarded. Thus, likewise, when amanseeshills anddales inabusiness, fairhopesoften, and thenalldashedagain,andthething intheendbroughttopass, lethimlookbackuponhisprayers.DidstnotthouinlikemannerjustthusdealwithGod?Whenthouhadstprayedearnestly,andthoughtthouhadstevencarriedit,thendashallagainbyinterposingsomesin,andthusagainandagain?HereinGodwouldhaveyouobserveaproportion;anditmayhelpyoutodiscernhowandwhen theyareansweredandobtainedbyprayer,becauseGoddealsthuswithyouthereininsuchaproportiontoyourprayers.

CHAPTERVIII:SevenObservationsMore

Sevenobservationsmore,fromtheeffectswhichtheaccomplishmentofthemercyhathupontheheart,&c.

Direct,4.—FOURTHLY,Thoumayestdiscernwhethertheybeinanswertothyprayersbytheeffectsuponthyheart.As—

(1.)Ifthethingthatisgranteduponthyprayersdrawthyheartmorenearunto God, it is then certain that it was granted as an answer to thyprayers.Thingsgrantedoutofordinaryprovidenceonlydoincreaseourlusts,andaresnarestous,asSaulgaveDavidhisdaughterMichaltobeasnaretohim;sotheirfulltablesaremadesnares,Ps.69:22;soGodgavetheIsraelitestheirwill,thethingstheydesired,butwithalgavethemuptotheir lusts,Ps.106:15:hegavethemtheirrequests,butsent leannessintotheirsouls.Thequailsmightfatsomeoftheirbodiesthatsurvived,yet their soulsgrew lean; therewasacurseupon their spirits; thisnewdelicatefoodmadetheirbodiesmorelustful,theydideatanddrink,androseuptoplay,Exod.32:6.Butthingsobtainedbyprayeraresanctifiedtous,foreverythingissanctifiedbyprayer,1Tim.4:5,soasitshallnotensnarenorentangleourhearts.Athingobtainedbyprayer,as itcamefrom God, so a man will return it to God, and use it for his glory: soHannahhavingobtainedSamuelbyprayer,shereturnshimuntoGod,1Sam.1:27,28,'ForthischildIprayed;andGodgavememypetition:andthereforealsoIhavelenthimtotheLordaslongasheliveth.'Ifthereforethou findest thishisdealingwith thee in answering thee tobe akindlymotivetocausetheetomournforsin,andtobeasarestraintagainstsin,itisasignitwasthefruitofprayer.ThusitwroughtwithDavid,Ps.6:8,'Away fromme, ye thatwork iniquity;Godhath heard the voice ofmyweeping?

Also, if thou rejoicest in God more than in the thing obtained;—soHannahbeginshersongwhensheblessethGodforherchild, 'MyheartrejoicethintheLord,'&c.,1Sam.2:1;sherejoicethnotsomuchinthegiftasinthegiverandhisfavour;moreinthis,thatherprayerwasanswered,than in the thingobtained;—this isasignofhavingobtained themercythroughprayers,whenitisthussanctifieduntoaman'sspirit.

(2.)Prayersansweredwillenlargethyheartwiththankfulness,andthususually they do. Self-lovemakes usmore forward to pray than to give

thanks,fornatureisallofthecravingandtakinghand:butwheregraceis,therewillbenoeminentmercygottenwithmuchstrugglingbuttherewill be a continued particular thankful remembrance of it a longwhileafter, with much enlargement; and as prayers abounded, so willthanksgivingaboundalso.Hannahshemakesa song, 1Sam.2:1.Greatblessings that are wonwith prayer are wornwith thankfulness: such aman will not ask new, but he will withal give thanks for old.Thankfulness, of all duties, proceeds from pure grace; therefore, if theSpiritstirstheeuntoit,itisasignhemadetheprayer.'WhatthanksshallIrendertoGodforthejoyIhaveinyou?'saithStPaul,1Thess.3:9,10.Soinallhisotherepistles,allthosehewritesto,ashepraysforthem,sohetellsthemhegivesthanksforthem,andfortheirgraceswhichhehadprayed for. And if answering prayers for others makes St Paul sothankful,whatwhen forhimself?Prayerand thanksare like thedoublemotionofthelungs;theairthatissuckedinbyprayerisbreathedforthagainby thanks. Is thyheartafreshenlarged,as tomourn forpast sinslongsincecommitted,soin likemannerforpastmercieswonwithlongprayers,andthisforalongwhileafter?itisasignthattheywereobtainedbyprayer.

(3.)IfthemercyobtaineddothencouragetheetogotoGodanothertime,toprayagainthemoreconfidentlyandfervently,itisasignthouhastgottheformerthatway;fortheHolyGhosthavingonceshewedtheethiswayof procuring mercy, hence it is thou art thus ready to take the samecourseanothertime.Ps.116:2,'TheLordhathheardme,andIwillcallonhimaslongasIlive.'Iknow,sayshe,nowwhatcoursetotake,ifIbeinanywant,eventocalluponhim;andhecallsuponotherstodosotoo.

(4.)When, God having heard thy prayers upon solemn vows made bythee,thyheartismadecarefultopaythosevowswhichthoudidstmakeinthetimeofthysuingtoGodforthatmercy;thismaybeanargumenttothee,thethingbeinggranted,thatthyprayerwasheard.For—

First,Itargueththatthyheartitselfdothsecretlymakesuchanaccount,thatuponthemGoddidgrantthething,andthoudoestthereforemakeconscience to returnall again toGod in service, as the conditionof thyindentures made with him, and as a homage due, and anacknowledgment forever that suchamercywaswonbyprayer;andby

thispreservestthememoryofthereceiptofthatmercy,vowsbeingofthenatureofhomage.And—

Secondly, In this also it is an evidence that the thing was obtained byprayer: in thatGod calls for those vows from thee, by his Spirit in thyheart,andstirstheeuptoperformthem,itarguesthat,inrelationtothyprayers answered, he takes them as dues from thee; that havingdespatched thy suit, he now calls forwhatwas agreed to be given himwhenitshouldbeperformed.And—

Thirdly,Inthatalsohedothacceptthepaymentofthesethyvowsofthee,he acknowledgeth that those vows and prayers were heard; for asManoah* said in another case, Judges 13:23, 'If he meant to havedestroyed us, hewould not have accepted a sacrifice,' so in this case itmay be said, if God had not heard thy prayers, he would not haveacceptedthyvowsafterthypraying.ThusDavid,Psalm66:13,14, 'Iwillpay thee my vows, which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hathspoken, when I was in my trouble.' The reason follows, ver. 17, 19,because that 'verily God hath heard me when I cried to him.' And soEliphaz in Job doth connect andhang these two together, chap. 22:27,'Thoushaltmakethyprayertohim,andheshallhearthee,andthoushaltpaythyvows.'Thiswhichhespeaksofpayinghisvowswasnotonlyasitwastobehisduty,butalsoasaconsequentthatwouldfollowtheother,—thatwhenhisprayersshouldbeheard,hethereuponwouldperformhisvows;forhisscopeistomoveJobtoturntoGod,shewingwhatbenefitwould accrue to him by it, and amongst ethers this, the hearing hisprayersandperforminghisvows.

(5.)When thou art enabled by faith to see clearly God's hand shewedforth in theeffectingof thatmercyoverandabove thepowerofsecondcauses, and to acknowledge it to his glory; for the truth is, one maincavilingreasoninourblindhearts,wherebyweareusuallyhinderedandputbyfromapprehendingourprayerstobeansweredwhenyetthethingisdone,weshallfindtobe,thatoureyesareterminatedandboundedinsecondcauses,andnotraisedtoseeGod'shand inthething: therefore,on the contrary,whenGodenableth thee to see thathehathdone theethiskindness,soasthymindisclearinit,thisisafruitofhishearingthyprayers;andthisyouwillusuallyfindtobetrue,thatsomuchfaithand

dependenceasyouhaduponGodinprayerfortheobtainingofamercy,somuchfaithandacknowledgmentyouwillhaveintheaccomplishmentofit.Parallelwiththisruleisthatother,whichinanothercaseisusuallygiven: that inperformanceofduties, somuchas the souldid goout ofitself to God for strength to perform them, so much, when they areperformed,willtheheartacknowledgeGod'sassistanceandbehumbled.Andthisisasignofprayerbeinghearduponthisground,becauseGod'sendofhearingprayers isthatwe 'mightglorifyhim.'So,Ps.50:15, 'Calluponmeinthedayoftrouble:Iwilldeliverthee,andthoushaltglorifyme.' Therefore, when the heart hath prayed much for a mercy, withdependencebefore theobtainingof it, and then isenabled toexaltGodwhenitisobtained,itisasignthatGoddiditinrelationtothoseprayers.Forthereisthatconnexionmadebetweentheseasbetweenthecauseandtheeffect:'Iwillhearthee,andthoushaltglorifyme.'David,whenhewasdeliveredoutofallhistroubles,aswhenhemadethat18thPsalmhewas,asappearsbythetitleof it, thenat the6thverseherelateshowhehadprayed, and how he was heard: and see thereupon how his heart wasenlarged toacknowledgeGodalone tohavedoneall, in the restof thatpsalm, so from, the 27th and also from the 31st verses. When we seeangelsfromGod,beyondthepowerofsecondcauses,descending,itisasign that prayers, as angels, first ascended, and obtained that mercy.Thus also the church, Isa. 26, having obtained those deliverances byprayer, ver. 17, (for which there she makes that song by way ofthankfulness,)sheascribesalluntoGod:ver.12, 'Thouhastwroughtallour works for us;' and, ver. 18, 'Verily we have not wrought anydeliveranceintheearth.'

(6.)WhenwiththemercytherecomeththeassuranceofGod'slove,andanevidenceofhis favour;whenGodsendsnotabare tokenonly,butaletteralsowithit,tobearwitnessofhislove,inwhichthetokeniswrapt.Ineednotmakethatasign,forwhenthiscomeswithamercy,itcarriesits own evidence; youwill then knowwell enough that it is the fruit ofprayer.

(7.)Lastly,itwillbeevidentbytheevent.Thingsobtainedbyprayerhavefew thorns in them, the curse is taken out; but what comes but byordinaryprovidencecomesasitwereupofitselfalone,and,liketheearth

untilled, is fullofthornsandbriars,andmanyvexations.Thereasonis,for what comes in by prayer comes as a blessing, and so no sorrow isaddedtoit;andalsobecauseprayerkilleththoseinordinatelustswhicharethecauseofthatvanityandvexationwhichareinthethingsenjoyed.Butwhen'theblessingofGodmakethrich,headdethnosorrowwithit,'Prov.10:22.Thingslongdeferred,atlastobtainedbyprayer,provemostcomfortable, and in a settled manner such; they prove standing andstableblessings:andwhattroubletheheartwasputtointhedeferring,itisrecompensedbythemoresettled,constant,unmixedsweetnessintheenjoying; prayer having long perfumed it, and the thing being steepedtherein, it proves exceeding pleasant. So, Prov. 13:12, 'Hope deferredmakestheheartsick;'butwhenthedesirecomes,itisatreeoflife,andhealsthatsickness,andabundantlycomfortstheheart.ThusIsaacfoundRebekah a great blessing, and a comfortable wife to him, Gen. 24:67.SuchacomfortalsowasIsaactoAbraham,Gen.17:18,19,'asonindeed,'asonoflaughter,'ashisnamesignifies.AndsuchwasSamueltoHannah;shehadnotonlyasonofhim,butagoodson,ablessedson,aprophet,andthejudgeofthepeopleofGod.WhereasJacobgettingtheblessing,butwithoutprayer,howembitteredwas it tohim, thoughablessing tohimintheevent,bytwentyyears'banishmentfromhismother'shouse!WhenIsraelthemselvessetupaking,'butnotbyme,'asGodsays,whatapunishmentwasheto them! 'Given inwrath,andtakenaway inanger,'Hos.13:11.

CHAPTERIX:Considerationstoquiettheheart

Considerationstoquiettheheart,andtohelpittodiscernananswerto,andacceptationof,theprayerwhenthethingisnotaccomplished.

II.BUTnowthenextandmoredifficultquestionis,whenthethingisnot

granted, how shall we then discern and know that God dothnotwithstandingheartheprayer?

ConcerningwhichImustpremisethis,thatitistruethatalwaystheverything itself desired is not granted,when yet the prayer is heard. Christprayed 'thecupmightpass fromhim,'which thoughsome interpret thewordpassingfortheshortcontinuanceofthebrunt,andthatthereforeinthat respecthewashearddirectly inwhathe asked; yet if so,whywasthat clause, 'if itbepossible,' added?Thatargueshispetitionwas foratotalremoval,yetwithsubjectiontoGod'swill,forheknewtherewasnogreatimpossibilityinashortremovalofit;nay,itwasimpossiblebutthatitshouldpass,Acts2:24.But,howsoever,it isplaininMoses,abouthisgoingintoCanaan,Deut.3:26:'IbesoughttheLord,'sayshe,ver.23,'andhewasangrywithme,andwouldnothearme,' ver.26.Likewise,ere Icometoresolvethecase,anobjectionisalsotoberemoved;whichis—

Obj.—ThatiftheSpiritofGoddothmakeeveryfaithfulprayerinus,—as,Rom. 8:26, it is said he doth, 'We know not what to pray for, but theSpirithelpethour infirmities,'&c.;andhe 'searcheth thedeep thingsofGod,'as it issaid,1Cor.2:10,—that thereforeheknowingthatGodwillnotgrantsuchathing,youmaythinkthatheshouldnotstiruptheheartto pray for that which Godmeans to deny, but always guide the heartaright, and not let us err ormiss in the thingswe pray for. To this, inbrief,bywayofanswer:—

Ans. 1.—The Spirit makes not prayers in us always according to whatGod'ssecretwillandforeknowledgeis,butaccordingtohisrevealedwillto us, both in his word and in his providence, as things therein arepresentedtous,anddoliebeforeourview,andsonotalwaysaccordingtowhathemeanstodo,butaccordingtowhatitisourdutytopraymostfor.Forheconcurstoassistustopray,ashedothinpreachingorusingother such likemeans and ordinances,wherein though the Spirit knowwhomGodmeanstoconvert,whomnot,yetheassistsusministersinourspiritsoftentimesasmuchtopreachtothosehemeansnottoconvert,asto those hemeans to convert; he dealing with us therein according towhatisourduty,notaccordingtowhatishisdecree.

Ans. 2.—Again, secondly, that phrase helps to answer this, when he is

saidto'helpourinfirmities;'andthereforenotaccordingtohisownvastknowledgedothheframeourprayers,butsoasheapplieshisassistancetoourinfirm,weak,andnarrowapprehensions,andstirsupdesiresinustosuchthingsasaccordingtoourknowledgeweareindutytoconceive,and which by all we can see, by what is before us revealed in hisprovidence, we think to be most for our good and his glory; and Godaccepts such, desires as from us, but yet doth for us according to thelargenessofhisownlove.

Andsonowtocometo thecasepropounded,and thereinuntohelps topacifyanddirecttheheartaboutthoseprayersatwhichthethingsarenotgranted.

1. And, first, how didst thou frame thy prayer for that thing which isdeniedthee?Didstthouprayforitabsolutelyandperemptorily,assimplybestforthee?Thoumustnotthenthinkmuchifsuchaprayerbedenied,for therein thouwentestbeyond thycommission.But if thoudidstprayfor it conditionally, and with an if, as Christ did,—'if it be possible,'(whichinstanceisastronggroundforsuchKindofprayers,)and'notmywill,butthywillbedone,'—soasthoudidstreferitunto,andtrustGod'sjudgmentinthething,andnotthineown,onlydidstputhiminmind,asthydutywas,ofwhatwasrepresentedtotheeasbestfortheeinview,andsoleftittohimtocast,anddidstreferittohiswillandwisdom;thenthyprayermaybemostfullyansweredandheard,andyetthethingdenied,and thouart to interpretand takeGod'smeaningandmindrevealed intheeventinthebestsense,whichwaysoeveritfalls;forotherwiseChristhadnotbeenheard,whenyetthetextsays'hewasheardinallhefeared,'Heb.5:7.

2.Observeiftherewerenotareservationinthatdenial,forsomegreaterandfurthermercy,whereofthatdenialwasthefoundation.Thus—

(1.) Oftentimes some great cross is prevented by the denial of a thingwhichwewere urgent for. If we had hadmany of our desires, we hadbeenundone.SoitwasamercytoDavidthathischildwastakenaway,forwhose life hewas yet so earnest,whowouldhave beenbut a livingmonumentofhisshame.ItwasalsoamercytoDavidthatAbsalomwastakenaway,—whomsurelyheprayedmuchfor,forhelovedhimmuch,—

who,ifhehadlived,mighthavebeentheruinofhimandhishouse.Asawickedman'sdeliveranceandthegrantinghisrequestlaysafoundation,andisareservationofhimtoaworsejudgment;sothedenialofagodlyman's prayer is for his greater good, and is laid as a foundation of agreatermercy.Andagain—

(2.) Oftentimes the very denial breaks a man's heart, and brings himnearertoGod,putshimuponsearchingintohiswaysandestate,andinhisprayers to seewhat shouldbe amiss therein;whichalone is a greatmercy,andbetterthanthething,seeingbythelossofthatonethinghelearns how to pray better, and so to obtain a hundred better thingsafterward.Christdesiredthecupmightpass;itdidnot,andthatwasthefoundation of our salvation, and theway to his glory, he being to passthrough that suffering into his glory. The woman that had the bloodyissue, thoughsheusedmanymeans,andhaplyprayersamong therest,andall invain,yetnone tookeffect; that in theendshemight come toChrist,andhavebothbodyandsoulhealedatonce.

3.Observeiftherebenotatransmutationandatranslationorturningofthethingdesired intosomeothergreaterblessingof thesamekind; forGod, all whose ways aremercy and truth to his people, doth improve,husband, and lay out the precious stocks of their prayers to the bestadvantage,inthingswherebythegreatestreturnsandgainsmayaccrue.AsoldJacoblaidnothishandsofblessingasJosephwouldhaveguidedthem,butlaidtherighthandupontheyoungerson,whomJosephdidsetathisleft;soOftendothGodtakeoffhishandofblessingfromthethingweprayed for, and lays anddiscovers it in anothermore for our good.AndasGodgiving Isaac thepowerandprivilege toblessa son, thoughIsaac intended it forEsau,yetGodunbeknowntohimtransmitted it toJacob, yet so as the blessingwas not lost. Thus is it in our prayers forblessingsbothuponourselvesandothers.Thereisoftenatransmutation,neverafrustrationofthem;whichmayastrulyanddirectlybecalledananswertotheprayer,asifafactorbeyondsea,whentheownersendsforsuch and such commodities, supposing thorn more vendible andadvantageous,butthefactorknowingthestateof thingsandtheprices,sends him over, instead of them, such as shall sell better and bring inmoreprofit,maybesaidtoanswerhisletters,andthatbetterthanifhe

hadsentthoseverycommoditieshewritfor.ThusAbraham'sprayersforIshmaelwereturnedforIsaac;David'sforthechildtoSolomon.

4.Observe if in theendGoddothnotanswertheestillaccordingto thegroundofthyprayer;thatis,seeifthatholyend,intention,andaffectionwhichthouhadstinprayerbenotintheendfullysatisfied,thoughnotinthe thing thou didst desire; for God answers secundum cardinem.accordingtothehingewhichtheprayerturnsupon.Aswhenageneralissentoutwithinarmybyakingorastate,whogivehimmanyparticulardirections how to order and dispose andmanage the war, although inmanyparticulars that fallout,whereintheycouldnot foreseetogivesopunctualandparticulardirections,heswervesfromthedirections,yetifhe keeps to the intent of their commission, and doth what is mostadvantageous for their ends, hemaybe said to keep tohis commission.Forastheysayofthelaw,menslegisestlex,—themindofthelawisthelaw,not thebarewords it isprinted in,—sothemeaningof theSpirit isthe prayer, Rom. 8:27, and not simply the things desired, wherein weexpressthoseourdesires.Andstillthemeaning,theintent,thegroundofourprayersshallbeanswered.

Toopenthis:themainendsandmeaningsofourheartsinourrequestsareGod'sglory, the church'sgood,andourownparticular comfortandhappiness.Wecandesirebutcomfort;andamanlookethoutandspiethoutsuchaparticularmercy,whichhethinkethtendsmuchtoGod'sgloryandhishappiness,andyetthatthingisdenied;yetnotwithstandingGodwillanswerhimaccordingtothemeaningofhisprayers:hisgloryshallcertainlybeadvanced, even for thatprayerofhis, someotherway,andhis comfortmadeup,which is the commondesire of allmankind.Andthoucansthavebutcomfort,letthethingbewhatitwillthatconveysittothee. And God will take order that that comfort thy soul desired thoushalthavecomeinonewayorother,which,whenitdoth,thoucanstnotbutsaythyprayersareheard.ForasGodfulfilshispromises,sohehearsprayers; there is thesamereasonofboth.NowGodhathpromised, 'Hethatleavesfatherandmothershallhaveahundred-fold.'Notinspecie,aswesay: inkind thiscannotalwaysbe fulfilled, forahundred fathershecannothave.Godfulfils itnotthereforealways inthesamekind,but insomeotherthings,whichshallbemorethanahundredfatherswouldbe.

Moses prays hemight go into Canaan: God answers the ground of hisprayer, though not in thematter in it expressed and desired, and thatboth forMoses's comfort and his own glory; for he takes him up intoheaven, the true Canaan, whereof that Canaan was but a type; and heappointsJoshua,afreshandayoungman,*comingonintheworld,andonewhomMoseshimselfhadtutoredandbroughtup,andwashispupil,servant,andattendant,Num.11:28.And thiswasmore forGod'sglory,for Joshua was therein to be the type of Christ leading us to heaven,whichthelaw,ofwhichMoseswasthetype,couldnotbringusunto,byreasonoftheweaknessofit;andhebeingyoungdiditbetter;anditwasnotsomuchalsoforGod'sglorythatonemanshoulddoallandwhereasMosesdesiredtohavethehonourofit,inthathisservantthatattendedhim,andhadbeenbroughtupbyhim,andhadallfromhim,thathewasthemanshoulddoit,waswell-highasgreatanhonourtoMosesasifhehadbeentheleaderhimself.AndsoDavid,whenhedesiredtobuildthetemple and a house toGod, for the like reasonsGoddenied it, but yethonouredhimtopreparethematerials,andtodrawthepattern,asalsointhathissondidit,whowasthereinalsotheliketypeofChrist,beingaprince of peace, but David aman of blood and war; and likewise GodacceptedthisofDavid,asifhehadbuilt it,andwillrecompensehimasmuch.

5.Observeifinthethingwhichthouhastprayedmuchabout,thoughitbedeniedthee,yet ifGoddothnotendeavour togive thee(asImaysospeak)allsatisfactionthatmaybe,evenas ifheweretenderofdenyingthee, and therefore doth much in it for thy prayers' sake, though theconclusionprovesotherwise,asbeingagainstsomeotherpurposeofhisfor some other ends: as when he deniedMoses to go into the land ofCanaan,hediditwithmuchrespect(asImaysospeakwithreverence)toMoses. He yielded as far asmight be, for he let him lead them till heshould come to the very borders; and he let him see that good land,carryinghimuptoahill,and,as it is thought,byamiracleenabledhissighttoviewthewholeland.Andthemanhechosetoperformthisworkwashisservant,whichwasagreathonourtoMoses,thatonebroughtupbyhimshouldsucceedhim.SowhenAbrahamprayedforIshmael,'OletIshmael live in thy sight!' Gen. 17:18, God went as far in granting hisrequestasmightbe;for,sayshe,ver.20, 'Ihaveheardthee;andIhave

blessedhim,andIwillmakehimfruitful,andmultiplyhimexceedingly,andheshallbeget twelveprinces:butmycovenantIwillestablishwithIsaac.' So likewise, when in casting that thing thou didst seek at hishands,heshewsanextraordinaryhandinturningit,itisasignhehadarespecttothee,thathewouldvouchsafetodiscoverhishandsomuchinit.Let the thing fallwhichway itwill, ifGod'shandappearmuch in it,thoumayest comfortably conclude that there is some great thing in it,andthatprayerwroughtthatmiracleinittodisposeitso;andthatthereissomegreatreasonwhyhedeniesthee,andagreatrespecthadtothyprayers, in thathe is pleased todiscover so extraordinary a providenceaboutit.

6.Lastly,lookintotheeffectofthatdenialuponthineownheart;as—

(1.)IfthyheartbeenlargedtoacknowledgeGodtobeholyandrighteousin his dealingswith thee, and thine ownunworthiness the cause of hisdenyingthee.Thusweoftenfindthesaintsexpressingthemselvesintheirprayers.ThatPs.22,thoughtypicallymadeofChrist,yetasitwaspennedbyDavid,andasitmayconcernhisperson,itmayserveforaninstanceforthis:'Icryinthedaytime,butthouhearestnot;'thismighthavemadehimjealousofGod,butsayshe,'Thouartholy,'&c.,anddealestnowwithmeinaholymanner,andartjustinit.Others'havecalledonthee,'andhavebeenheard,thoughInowformyunworthinessamdenied;'butIamaworm.' Itmight have put amanoffwhenhe should think others areheard,butnotI;butitputsnothimoff,buthumbleshim:'Iamaworm,'&c.,and'Thouartholy.'

(2.)IfGodfillthyheartwithaholycontentmentinthedenial;ifhespeaktothyheart,ashedidtoMoseswhenhedeniedhim,Deut.3:28, 'Letitsufficethee;'ifastoStPaul,whenhewassoearnestaboutremovingthatbuffeting,ifthougettestbutsuchananswerasthattohim,'Mygraceissufficient,'or thatsomesuch likeconsideration isdropped in thatstaysthee. It was the effect of David's seven days' fasting that he did socontentedlybearthelossofthechild,whichhisservantsthoughtwouldhave overwhelmed him, 2 Sam. 12:19–21. But a consideration wasdroppedin,whichwasthefruitofhisprayer, 'thatheshouldgotohim,nothereturnhither;'andhismindwascomfortedthereby,insomuch,asitissaid,ver.24,that'hecomfortedBathshebaalso.'

(3.)IfthoucanstbethankfultoGodoutoffaith,thatGodhathcastandorderedall for thebest, thoughhehathdeniedthee;andalthoughthouseest no reason but that the thing prayed for would have been for thebest, yetart thankfulupon thedenialof it,outof faith resting inGod'sjudgmentinit,asDavidinallthoseforementionedplaceswas:'Thouartholy that inhabitest the praises of Israel;' he praises God for all this.David,beforehedideat,afterhissevendays'fastingforthechild,arose,'andwent first into the temple, andworshipped,' 2 Sam. 12:20; and ofwhat kind of worship it was appears by his anointing himself andchanginghisraiment,whichwasintokenofrejoicingandthanksgivingsandit fellout tohimaccordingtohis faith, forpresentlyafterSolomonwasbegotten,ver.24.

(4.) If thoucanstpray still, andgivestnotover, although thoustandestformercieswhichthoumissest; ifwhenthouhastmerciesgrantedthoufearestmost,andwhendeniedlovestmost,andartnotdiscouraged,thyprayersareheard.Ps.80:4,thoughGodseemedangrywiththeirprayers,yettheypray,andexpostulatewithhim,andgivenotover,fortheymadethat psalm as a prayer, 'And how long wilt thou be angry against theprayerofthypeople?'So,Ps.44:17,'Thoughwearecastamongdragons,yetwehavenotbeenfalseinthycovenant.'Sosaythou,Iwillpraystill,thoughIneverhaveananswerinthislife.Itmovesingenuousnaturestoseementakerepulsesanddenialswell,whichproudpersonswillnotdo:andsoitmovesGod.

CHAPTERX:Application:Areproofofthosethatpray

Application:areproofofthosethatpray,butlooknotafterthereturnoftheirprayers.—Thecausesofthisneglect.

THEuseofallistoreprovethosewhoputupprayers,andareearnestinbegging,but looknotafter themwhen theyhavedone,nomore than iftheyhadnotprayed;whostillventure,andhaveagreatstockofprayersgoing, but look not after the returns that are made, cast not up theircomingsinandgainingsbyprayers;andwhentheyhaveprayed,sitdowndiscouraged,asnotmakingaccountinearnestthatevertheyshallhearoftheirprayersagain,evenasiftheyhadbeenbutaswordscastaway, 'asbeatingtheair,'as'breadcastuponthewaters,'whichtheythinksinksoris carried away, and they shall find it nomore. But herein you despiseGod's ordinance, and err, not knowing the power of prayers; and yecontemntheLord.Butyouwillsayastheyintheprophetsaid,'Whereindowecontemnhim?'Ifyouaskedamanaquestion,andwhenyouhaddonedid turn your backuponhim, as scoffingPilate asked in scorn ofChrist, 'What is truth?' but would not stay for an answer, did you notcontemn him? As not to answer when a question is asked you iscontempt,sonottoregardtheanswermade,whenyouhavebeenearnestinbegging, isno lesscontemptalso. Ifyouhadwritten letters toaveryfriendabout importantbusiness,andhadearnestly solicitedhim forananswer,andhewerecarefulinduetimetosendone,ifyoushouldmakeaccount to hear of him no more, should you not wrong him in yourthoughts?Orifhedidwrite,ifyoushouldnotvouchsafetoreadoverhisanswer,wereitnotacontemptofhim?Soisithere,whenyouhavebeenearnestwithGodforblessings,andregardnottheanswer.Andbecauseverily this isa faultamongus, Iwill thereforeendeavour todiscover toyou the causes and discouragements, which, though they keep you notfrompraying,yetfromthisearnestexpectation,andrealandtruemakingaccounttohearofanswersofyourprayers.OnlymyscopeisnottoshewyousomuchthereasonswhyGoddeniesyoumanyrequests,aswhyeveninyourownheartsyouarediscouragedafteryouhaveprayed,asiftheywould not be answered, although God doth answer them. Thesediscouragements are partly temptations, partly sinful impediments,whereinwearemorefaulty.

1. Because your assurance that your persons are accepted is weak,thereforeyourconfidencethatyourprayersareheardisweakalso.ForasGoddothfirstaccepttheperson,andthenourprayers;sothebeliefthatGod doth accept our persons is that which also upholds our hearts in

confidencethatourprayersshallbegranted.Thisyoumayfindin1John5:13–15: in the 13th verse he says, 'These things have Iwritten to you,thatyemayknowyouhaveeternallife;'anduponthatassurancethiswillfollow,ver.14,15,'Andthisistheconfidencethatwehaveinhim,that,ifweaskanythingaccordingtohiswill,hehearsus,'&c.;'andifweknowhehearsus,weknowwehavethepetitionswedesiredofhim.'Markhowhelinksthesethreetogether,aseffectsandconsequenceseachofother.(1.)'These things I write unto you, that you may be assured that life andheavenisyours,'asinthe12thand13thverses.Anduponthat,(2.)thisconfidencewill followinyourhearts, 'thatGodhearsyou,'—that is, thatyouhavehisearsopentoyou,andhisheartenlargedtowardsyou.Andthen,(3.)ifyoubeassuredthatGodhearsyou,thenfromthiswillfollowanassurancethatyoushallhaveanythinggrantedyoudesire.Yea,andhemakes this one of the main and immediate effects of assurance ofjustification; therefore he says, 'this is the confidence that we have inhim,'—that is, this effect there is of this confidence. For whereas theymight say,What benefit will accrue to us by this assurance?Why this,sayshe,whichisoneofthegreatandmainprivilegesofaChristian,evenassurancethatGodwillhearhim;andnotonlyso,butgranthimallhisprayers.ForwhenamanisassuredGodhathgivenhimhisSon,hewilltheneasilybeinducedtobelieveandexpect,'Howshallhenotwithhimgivemeallthings?'Rom.8:32.IfoncehelooksuponGodasafather,hewill then easily conceive thatwhichChrist says, 'If fathers that are evilcan give good things to their children, howmuchmore shall not yourFathergivehisSpiritandallgoodthingstothemthataskthem?'AndifhegavehisSonwhenwedidnotpraytohim,howmuchmoreshallhenotwithhimgiveusallthingsweprayfor?Ifamancomestosuetoanymanwhosemindhe knewnot,whetherhe lovedhimornot, hewouldhave small hope or expectation of having his suit granted, though hecame again and again; but if he be assured he is in favour with him,accordingtothatdegreeoffavourhesupposethhimselftostandinwithhim,heisassuredandconfidentofobtaininghisrequest.

2.Discouragementistheweaknessoftheirprayers.Thoughamanthinkshis person is accepted; yet, Alas! says he, my prayers are so poor andweak,assurelyGodwillneverregardthem.

(1.)Toremovewhich,letmefirstasktheethisquestion,Dostthoupraywithallthymight?Thenthoughthatthymightbeweakinitself,andinthineownapprehensionsuch,yetbecauseit isallthemightwhichthouhast,andwhichgracehathinthee,itshallbeaccepted.'ForGodacceptsaccordingtowhatamanhath,andnotaccordingtothathehathnot,'2Cor.8:12.

(2.) Thou art to consider that God doth not hear thee for thy prayers'sake, thoughnotwithout them,but 'forhisname's sake,' andhis 'Son'ssake,'andbecausethouarthischild;asthemotherwhenherchildcries,suppose it be aweak child, doth not neglect to hear and relieve it, buttenders it, not because it doth crymore loud, but because it cries, andpitiesitthemoretheweakeritis.

(3.)Again,thoughtheperformanceinitselfbeweak,yetconsideredasaprayer,itmaybestrong,becauseaweakprayermaysetthestrongGoda-work. As faith for the act of it, as produced by us, may be weak, yetbecause its object is Christ, therefore it justifies: so is it in prayer; itprevails,notbecauseoftheperformanceitself,butbecauseofthenamewhichit isputupin,evenChrist'sname.Andtherefore,asaweakfaithjustifies,soaweakprayerprevailsaswellasastronger;andbothforthelikereasoninboth,forfaithattributesalltoGod,andsodothprayer:foras faith is merely a receiving grace, so prayer a begging grace. Andthereforedostthouthinkthyprayersareacceptedatall,notwithstandingtheirweakness?Ifthattheyareaccepted,thentheymustbeacceptedasprayers.Nowiftheybeacceptedasprayers,thenaseffectualmotivestoprevailwithGod togrant the thingyouask; for ifhe shouldnotacceptthem to that end for which they were ordained, it is as if he acceptedthemnotatall.As,therefore,whenheapprovesofanyman'sfaithastrueandsincere,heapprovesandacceptsofittothatpurposeforwhichitwasordained,whichistosaveandjustify,andtothisenddothasfullyaccepttheweakestactoffaithasthestrongest;soisitwiththeirprayers,whichbeingordainedasameanstoobtainmerciesfromhim,ifheacceptsthemat all, it iswith relation to the accomplishment of them,which is theirend.

(4.)Menaremistakeninjudgingoftheweaknessoftheirprayers.Theyjudgeof theweaknessof theirprayersby theirexpressions,andgifts in

performing them,orby the stirringandoverflowof affections;whereasthestrengthandvigourofprayershouldbeestimatedfromthefaith,thesincerity, the obedience, the desires expressed in it. As it is not theloudnessofapreacher'svoice,buttheweightandholinessofthematter,andspiritofthepreacher,thatmoveawiseandanintelligenthearer;sonotgifts,butgracesinprayersaretheythatmovetheLord.Thestrengthofprayerliesnotinwords,butinthatitisfittedtoprevailwithGod.Oneprayerisnotmorestrongthananother,furtherthanitissoframedasithathpowerwithGodmoreorless;asofJacobit issaid, 'HehadpowerwithGod,'Hos. 12.NowprayersmoveGod,notasanoratormoveshishearers,butasachildmoveshisfather.Twowordsofachildhumbled,and crying at his father's feet, will prevailmore than penned orations,Rom.8:itisthemeaningofthespiritthatGodlooksunto,morethantheexpression; for the groans there are said to be unutterable. Hezekiah'sexpressionsweresorudeandbroken,thathesays,Isa.38:14,thathedidbut'chatter,'hebeingthensick,'evenasacrane;'yetGodheardthem.

3.Athirddiscouragementisfailingsofanswers:Ihaveprayedoftenandlong, and Ihavebeen seldomornever answered, and therefore Imakelittleaccountofmyprayersthattheyareheard;othershavetherevenuesoftheirprayerscomingin,butIdomisswhatsoeveralmostIstandfor.Thereforesaytheyasthose, 'Whyhavewefastedandthouregardedstitnot?'Isa.58:3.

Toremovethis,consider—

(1.) That thou hast the more reason to wait, for thou hast the moreanswerstocome;foraswickedmentreasureupwrath,sodogodlymenmercy, and especially by their prayers: and therefore mercies andanswersdooftencomethicktogether,evenasafflictionsalsodo.

(2.)Supposethoushouldesthavefewanswersconcerningthethingsthouseekestforhere,eitherinprayingforthyselforothers,yetthyrewardiswith the Lord. It is in praying as in preaching, a man may preachfaithfullymanyayear,andyetnotconvertasoul,andyetamanisnottogiveoverwaiting,but toobserveaftereverysermonwhatgood isdone,andwhether'Godwillgivemenrepentance,'asitis,2Tim.2:25.Andifnone be converted, yet, as Isa. 49:4, 'aman's reward iswith the Lord.'

'Everymanshallreceivehisownrewardaccordingtohisownlabour,'1Cor.3:8;andnotaccording to thesuccessofhis labouronly.So it is inpraying:thoughthoumissestagainandagain,andnothingsucceedsthouprayestfor,yetbenotdiscouraged,forthyrewardiswiththeLord,whichwillcomeinoneday.

(3.)Goddothit,notthathehearstheenot,buttotrythee.ForamantosayasDavidsays,Ps.116:1,2,'Godhathheardmyprayer,thereforeIwillcalluponhimaslongasI live;'thatisnothingsomuchastobeabletosay,Well,Ihaveprayedthuslong,andforthesemanythings,andneversped,andyetIwillcalluponhimwhilstIlive,thoughIfindnoanswerinthis life.To findcomings in ina trade,andyet toholdout tradingstill,arguesnotsomuchfaithfulness inaman'scalling,aswhenamanhathlosses,andcastingsbehindhand,andyettofollowit.

(4.)Godusually stays so long thatwehave done expecting: Luke 18:8,'Theelectcrydayandnight,'butGodstayssolong,ver.7,thatwhenhecomes he finds not faith, they have done expecting, have forgot theirprayers,andthenhedoththingstheylookednotfor,Isa.64:3.

Otherdiscouragements therearewhereinweourselvesaremore faulty,andwhichareoursinsmorethanourtemptations,whichyetweakentheexpectationofhavingourprayersanswered:as—

1.Slothfulnessinprayer,whenwedonotputtoallourmightinpraying;andthennowonderwedonotonlynotobtain,butthatourownheartsmisgiveus, thatwe look for littlesuccessand issueofsuchprayers:quifrigiderogat,docetnegare,—hethatshewshimselfcoldinasuit,teacheshimhesuestodenyhim.Ifweseeoneseekingtousfaintlyandslightly,wearenotthensolicitoustodenyhim,butthinkhewillbeeasilyputoff,andnot thinkmuch; so accordinglywhenwe shall observe somuchbyourselves, and see ourselves slothful in praying, and praying as if weprayed not, no wonder if by reason of that consciousness we look notafterthesuccessofsuchprayers,whichintheperformanceweslighted,whenwe pray as if wewerewilling to be denied, we knowing that theScripturesaysthattheferventprayeronlyprevails,thatprayerwhichisἐνεργουμένη,thatsetsallthefacultiesonwork,James5:16.HowshouldwethenexpectthatGodshouldgrantanygoodthingtous?Forthough

Godsellsnothingtousforourprayers,butgivesfreely,yethewouldhavehisgiftsaccepted;nowwithoutlargedesiresandlongingstheywouldnotbeaccepted.Andwhatisferventprayerbuttheexpressionofsuchferventdesires? Jacob wrestled when he obtained. 'Many seek to enter,' saysChrist,'butyoumuststrive.'

Nowwhenweknowthesethingsandyetareslothful,howcanweexpectany answers at all? Will not the consciousness of it quell all ourexpectations? And hence it comes to pass that God, proportioning hisdealingswithus toourprayers,becausewe seem topray, andyetpraynottopurpose;thereforeGodsometimesseemslikeoneasleep,andthensometimestowake,andmakefairofferstohelp,andyetfallsasitwereasleepagain,becausewewerethusdrowsyinourprayers.ThoseprayersthatawakenGodmustawakenus;thoseprayersthatstirGodmust 'stirus to layholdonGod,'asIsaiahspeaks.Asobediencestrengthens faithandassurance,sofervencyinprayerbegetsconfidenceofbeingheard.Inall other things slothfulness doth discourage and weaken expectation.Dothanymanexpectthatrichesshouldcomeuponhimwhenhedothhisbusinessnegligently?For 'it isthediligenthandthatmakethrich.'Dothanymanexpectacropandaharvest ifhetakenotpainstoploughandsow his corn? No more, if yon do not take pains with your hearts inprayer,canyouexpectananswer,orindeedwillyou.

2.Asecondcause,orsinfuldiscouragementherein, is lookingatprayeronlyasadutytobeperformed,andsoperformingitasatask,andnotsomuchoutofdesiresstirredupafterthethingstobeobtained,noroutoffaith thatwe shallobtain them;which isas if aphysicianhavinga sickservant,towhomheprescribeth,andcommandethtotakesomephysictocure him, and hisman should take it indeed because it is commandedandprescribedbyhismaster,lookingatitasanactofduty,asheobeyshiminotherbusinesses,butnotaslookingatitasamedicineormeansthat will have any work upon him to cure him, and therefore ordershimselfasifhehadtakennosuchthing.ThusdomostintheworldpraytoGod;takeprayerasaprescriptiononly,butnotasameans.Theycometo God daily, but as to amaster only in this performance, not as to afather;andthusdoing,nowonderiftheylookforlittleeffectofprayers,forourexpectationneverexceedsnorreaches further thanourendand

intentionwhichwehadinanybusiness.IfIperformanyordinancebutasaduty,thenIrestthereinandexpectnofurther;asifamanpreachethforfilthy lucre only, be performs his duty and then looks for his hire, butlooksnotafteranyothereffectofhissermons:sonorwillmendoaftertheir prayers for answers to them, when they perform them as dutiesonly.Now, tohelp you in this, you are to look to two things inprayer:first,toacommandfromGod;secondly,tothepromiseofGod;andsotoconsider it in a double relation, first, as a duty, in respect to thecommand;secondly,asameans toobtainorprocureblessingsatGod'shand, in relation to his promises. Therefore, in prayer, first an act ofobedience, secondly an act of faith, is to be exercised: 'Ask in faith,nothingwavering,'James1.Nowthemostintheworldperformitasanact of obedience only, and so rest in the present performance andacceptationofit;butifamanprayinfaith,hewillpraywithaneyetothepromises,andlookonprayerasameans,fortimetocome,toobtainsuchorsuchamercyatGod'shands:andifso,thenheisnotsatisfiedtillhehathananswerofhisprayer,andtill thenwillwait,asthechurchsays,'shewouldwaittillhedidariseandpleadhercause.'

3.Athirdsinfuldiscouragementisreturningtosinsafterprayers.Whenamanhathprayedforsomemercy,andrisethfullofmuchconfidencethathisprayersareheard,andsoawhilehewalks,yetfallingintoasin,thatsin doth dash all his hopes, undoes his prayers, as he thinks, and callsthem back again—meets, as it were, with the answer, which is God'smessenger, and causeth it to return to heaven again. How often whenGodhadevengrantedapetition,andthedecreewasa-comingforth,andthegrantnewlywritten,andtheseala-settingtoit,butanactoftreasoncomingbetween,stopsitinthesealanddefersit,blotsandblurrethall,bothprayerandgrant,whennewlywritten,andleavesaguiltinthemindwhichquellsourhopes,andthenwelooknomoreafterourprayers.Andthis especially if,whenwewere a-sinning, such a thought came in, (asoften it doth to restrain us,) Are you not in dependence upon God forsuchamercy,andhaveprayedfor it,andare fair for it?howthendareyoudothis,andsinagainsthim?Wheninthiscasetheheartgoeson,thisblots all the prayer, and discourageth aman; for, saith the conscience,willGodhearsinners?ashesaid.

Andthus far it is truethatsinningthusbetween interruptsandhindersthe obtaining our petitions: that answerably as we do thus dash andbetrayandundoourprayers,soinaproportionwefind,inthewaytoourobtainingthethingweprayedfor,somanyrubsanddifficultiesdoarise;foraswelayblocksinGod'swaycomingtowardsustodousgood,soheinours; therefore, oftenwhenabusinessgoesprosperouslyon, andwethinkweshallcarryit,comessomeaccidentbetweenthecupandthelip,thatcastsallbehindhandagain,becauseanswerablywedealtwithGod.Forwhenwehadprayed,andwereencouragedandingoodhopes,thenby some sin or other we spoiled all, and bereaved ourselves of ourexpectation.Butyet thisyouare toconsider, thatas in theendprayinguseth to overcome sin in God's children, so also God in the endovercomesdifficulties,andbringsthemattertopass.AndknowitisnotsinspastsomuchthathindertheprayersofGod'speople,asthepresentunfitnessandindispositionoftheirheartsformercy.

The Return of Prayers - Monergism

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