all kinde of wickednesse for what should restraine them when the feare of God is wanting By a Prosopopeia the Prophet Dauid bringeth in the transgressions of the wicked speaking thus Psal 36.1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart that there is no feare of God before their eyes The open prophanenesse of wicked men seemed to proclaime this openly in the eares of the Prophet that such bade defiance to al godlinesse and wanting the feare of God we may see the further behauiour of such in the latter part of that Psalme So Paul hauing reckoned vp a bedroll of many horrible sinnes he addeth this as the cause of all The feare of God is not before their eyes Rom. 3.18 Gen. 20.11 Abraham knew this full well when he caused Sarah to say she was his sister that the men of Gerar would not care to commit any sinne Why Because the feare of God was not in that place And what may bee the reason that at this day men breake out Hos 4.2 as the Prophet speaketh into lying killing whoring c. The reason is plaine the feare of God is wanting On the contrary where the true feare of God is it will sence a man from sinne Ioseph confirmed the timorous hearts of his brethren that they should feare no euill at his hands why Gen. 42.18 I feare God saith hee Gen. 39.10 this was it that fenced the heart of Ioseph against the allurements of his adulterous Mistresse This kept the Midwiues of Egypt from laying hands vpon the Infants of the Hebrewes the Text saith The Midwiues feared God Exod. 1.17 And The feare of God saith Solomon is to depart from euill This maketh a man to liue alwayes in Gods presence to be the same before God that he is before men and to be the same before all men that he is before some to be the same in the darknesse that he is in the light and to be the same in the night that he is in the day And hence is it that the Lord himselfe doth so earnestly wish for this thing in his people O that there were such an heart in them Deut. 5.29 that they would feare mee alwayes c. as the onely thing that keepeth the heart vpright with him and fenceth the same against all sinne Whereas when this feare of God is wanting such a one is fit for any sinne lyes open to euery assault of Sathan and cannot escape euill Reas And the reason hereof is taken from the nature of Gods feare it is the most excellent Antidote against sinne and causeth Gods children to be loath to offend not so much for feare of punishment as for loue they beare vnto God Quest 1 But what manner of feare is this that is so vsefull in the life of a Christian to keepe the heart vpright with God There is I confesse Ans a twofold feare the filiall and sonne-like feare which is found onely in the godly and the seruile and slauish feare to feare God onely for his iudgements and this is most vsually seene in the wicked It is that sonne-like feare that we here speake of whereby Gods children feare God as a louing and dutifull childe his father not so much for feare of the rodde and punishmēt if he offend as of loue as being fearfull to offend so good and so louing a father Whereas that seruile and slauish feare that is in wicked men lookes onely to the punishment as the gally-slaue to the whip and that many times doth terrifie him as for sinne it selfe it doth no whit trouble him nay as Solomon saith It is a pastime to the foole to do wickedly Quest 2 But may not Gods children abstaine from sinne for feare of Gods wrath and for punishment sake Answ I answer the spirit of bondage and of feare hath its worke in the hearts of all the godly especially at the first when they begin to conuert and to turne vnto God And this is compared to a needle that maketh way for the threed to follow And thus haue the godly at first feared God euen for his iudgements sake as Paul testifieth when he saith Rom. 8.15 Ye haue not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare againe Wherein is implyed that there is a time wherein the children of God feare God for his iudgements but now saith he Ye haue receiued the spirit of Adoption whereby ye cry Abba Father and that is the spirit of freedome and of boldnesse So that the child of God is not alwayes held vnder that slauish feare but commeth at last to feare God out of loue to him and abstaineth from sinne not so much for punishment sake as for the detestation hee beareth to it and because it offendeth so good and so gratious a God Yea though there were no hell at all to punish sinne yet would hee not willingly commit sin out of that awfull respect hee beareth to so good a God and louing Father in Iesus Christ Now because this loue is not perfect in the childe of God neither any other grace whilest wee liue here there will be still a remnant of seruile feare remaining euen in the best as Iob saith Punishment was fearefull vnto him Iob 31.23 Neither are they exempted from all feare of Gods iudgements in as much as the remembrance hereof is an excellent preseruatiue against sinne Psal 119.120 So Dauid My flesh trembleth for feare of thee and I am afraid of thy iudgements Dauid had in him a sonne-like feare of God fearing him out of loue yet in the second place he stood in awe of his iudgements Vse 1 This serues then first of al to discouer vnto vs in what a wretched and miserable estate and condition such men are in that haue not the feare of God before their eies behold we the state of such in this impenitent Thiefe such men must needs runne headlong into all manner of abhominations for alas what should restraine them when the feare of God is wanting Marke the Apostle Rom. 3.12 13 14 15. Their throat is an open sepulchre with their tongues they haue vsed deceit the poyson of Aspes is vnder their lips whose mouth is full of cursing and bitternesse their feet are swift to shed bloud destruction and misery is in their wayes and the way of peace they haue not knowne But what might bee the reason of all these vile and filthy abhominations the Apostle subioynes There is no feare of God before their eyes Abraham knew this when hee caused Sarah his wife to dissemble and to say shee was his Sister and therefore wofull and miserable is the estate and condition of such whom the Lord hath thus giuen ouer to themselues and to their owne hearts lust and want this holy feare to preserue them Secondly this may serue to admonish Vse 2 vs euery one that as wee desire to be free from those grosse and grieuous inormities of the times that wee
where pride groweth it is like a noysome weede in a garden true grace doth there wither and the best plants can neuer prosper Secondly it is discerned by the conscionable vse of the meanes by the which grace is daily more and more nourished and increased in vs. Such as are the hearing of the Word the conscionable vse of the Sacraments prayer with the conscionable performance of these and the like holy duties both publike and priuate with a delight therein this being thy case thou needest no more question the state of thy soule all this while then the state of that body that hath a good appetite to meate and withall a good digestion Thirdly it may bee discerned in vs by the taste and relish wee haue in heauenly things with the delight in Gods people for the body of Christ increaseth in the edification of it self through loue and as this loue increaseth or decayeth so doth grace VERSE 42. And he said vnto Iesus Text. Lord remember me c. THe penitent Thiefe hauing giuen good testimony of his repentance for sinne is now qualified to pray for now is he humbled made meeke and gentle his heart is fitted and prepared for this duty Note hence that None can pray aright but the Penitent None can make an effectuall prayer but the penitent Iam. 5.18 Psal 32.6 such as are truly and throughly humbled for sinne these are qualified for this dutie The prayer of a righteous man auaileth much saith Saint Iames. Therefore shall euery one that is godly make his prayer vnto thee It was the Church that made prayer vnto God for Peter Act. 12. When the children of Israel had humbled themselues from morning vntill euening and wept before the Lord then were they qualified to aske counsell of the Lord. Iudg. 20.23.26 Gen. 4.4 The Lord had respect to Abel and his offering but vnto Cain and his offering had he not respect Abels person was first accepted in Christ before his sacrifice could be This is that the Lord requireth of his people Isa 1.16 Wash you make you cleane put away your euils out of my sight c. And then what followeth Vers 1â— Come let vs now reason together saith the Lord though your sinnes were as scarlet they shal be made as white as snow c. As for the prayers of the wicked Pro. 15.8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abhomination vnto the Lord. But the prayer of the righteous is his delight Though they cry vnto me I will not heare them Hos 7.14 What might be the reason see it in the verse going before Ier. 11.11 They turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers which refused to heare my words The blinde man acknowledged this truth Ioh. 9.30 God heareth not sinners Whereas on the contrary Psal 51.17 A broken and contrite heart God will not despise The prayers of the righteous are his delight Prou. 15.8 And it must bee the supplication of Iob Iob 42.8 that God will accept of in the behalfe of his friends And there is reason for it Reas 1 First that of our Sauiour A good tree saith he bringeth forth good fruit Mat. 7.17 but an euill tree bringeth forth euill fruit He must be a good man that maketh a good prayer a bad man cannot make a good prayer For such as the root is such is the fruit Reas 2 Secondly Gods fauour and countenance is onely and alwaies manifested there where his Image appeareth Now it is onely in his children who haue dedicated themselues onely to him and his seruice Reas 3 Thirdly it is the godly man that can speake the language of heauen hee hath the spirit of adoption giuen vnto him enabling him to cry Abba Father Now they must bee the breathings of Gods Spirit Rom. 8.15 which God will acknowledge That is the languages the which God doth vnderstanâ—en Now wicked men wanting this spirit what reckoning account can God make of the prayers of such a one Fourthly Whatsoeuer is not of Reas 4 faith is sinne And againe Heb. 11.6 Without faith it is impossible to please God Faith is the salt of the Sanctuarie that must season all our sacrifices and giues vs a comfortable assurance that they shall finde acceptation with God That ye may beleeue in the name of the Sonne of God 1. Ioh. 5.13.14 And this is the assurance that if we aske any thing according to his will he heareth vs. Faith is all in all to make our prayers accepted How many came to our Sauiour in the dayes of his flesh to bee cured some of one disease and some of another And what is Christs answer but this According to thy faith so be 〈◊〉 vnto thee 2. Thes 3.2 Now All men haue not faith saith the Apostle It is called the Faith of the elect because none are betrusted therewith but the elect of God and so it must needs bee they and they alone that can pray effectually Reas 5 And last of all they cannot be the prayers of wicked men that God can heare and accept of because they haue refused to heare God God will therefore refuse to heare them Because I haue called saith the Lord and ye haue refused Pro. 1.24 ye shall cry and call and I will not answer And this stands with the distributiue Iustice of Almightie God that God should deale with them as they haue dealt with him Vse 1 This serues then to set out vnto vs the misery of euery wicked and vngodly man of euery impenitent sinner that liues and lyes in sinne without repentance God is prouoked by him daily his verie prayers themselues are turned into sinne Pro. 28.9 He that turneth away his eare from hearing the law euen his very prayers are abhominable The Lord doth ranke this mans prayers amongst the bed roll of his sinnes Thou that art a drunkard a swearer a beastly liuer thou that liuest and lyest in thy sinne without repentance thou diddest neuer all the dayes of thy life make an effectuall prayer vnto God the Lord neuer heard thee in mercy in any petition thou diddest euer put vp vnto him But thy very praiers were euer turned into sin and became abominable vnto him thou wantest the Spirit of God to enable thee to this duty For it is the breathing of that Spirit that God will acknowledge O the misery of an impenitent sinner that whether hee do those things that are forbidden or those things that are commanded is still posting to hell and hastening his owne destruction Obiect If an impenitent sinner sinne thus euen in praying vnto God it seemes then that it were better for a wicked man not to pray at all Answ I say not so albeit a wicked man sinne praying because his person is not accepted with God in Christ hath not repentance for sinne nor faith in Christ which must make his prayers auailable Yet he must pray
his conuersion he was vnprofitable yet now saith Paul is profitable to thee and me No Vsurer is more forward to put out his money as it commeth into his hand for an increase as is the childe of God to improue the grace receiued for the good of others And it must needs be so First in regard of the nature and propertie of grace it selfe which is of a generatiue nature producing grace this Talent cannot bee hid or kept close in the heart without profit or increase Indeed the common gifts of the spirit such as are giuen many times to the wicked themselues these are not so profitable because they are but common gifts but where the sanctified graces of Gods spirit are They are saith the Apostle giuen to edifie withall and these are neuer idle nor vnprofitable in the heart of a true beleeuer As none are more desirous of wealth then the rich so they that haue grace are euer seeking for a further increase thereof Secondly the godly know right well that the gifts and graces of the spirit are giuen to the same end viz. that the body of Christ might be edified hence is it that the Lord Iesus doth so straightly inioyne Peter When thou art conuerted Luk. 22.32 1 Pet. 4.10 strengthen thy brethren and againe Let euery one as he hath receiued a gift minister the same one vnto another as good disposers of the graces of God And indeed God doth neuer giue to any of his seruants any spirituall grace for his owne priuate benefit alone but that hee might be a good Steward and Disposer of the grace of God for the good of others And hence is it that the Apostle concludeth of the grace bestowed vpon him 2 Cor. 1.4 that God had comforted him that hee might comfort others with the same comfort Thirdly there is no seruice that a Christian can doe in the Church that hath the like promise of recompence or reward as that which extendeth to the soules of men Let him know that he that hath conuerted his brother Iam. 5.20 hath saued a soule from death and shall hide a multitude of sins and againe Dan. 12.3 They that turne many to righteousnesse shall shine as the starres for euer and euer The mercies that men shall shew here vnto the bodies of the Saints shall bring with them a sure reward Luke 10. He that shall giue but a cup of cold water vnto a Disciple in the name of a Disciple shal not lose his reward How much more shall the feeding and refreshing of hunger-starued soules with the bread of life that are ready to perish be plentifully rewarded with him Vse 1 Seeing then that where there is the worke of grace and true conuersion such labour by all meanes possible to bring others into that happy condition with themselues This may serue for matter of tryall and examination of the work of grace in our selues Would we haue the comfort of our owne conuersion and repentance doe but question thy owne heart how thou standest affected towards those thousands in Israel that yet are held in miserable bondage vnder Sathan power of darkenesse wallowing in the bloud of their owne soules Canst thou mourne for these as Samuel did for Saul dost thou pittie them in their spirituall miseries and doe thy bowels earne within thee towards such And dost thou labour to the vtmost of thy power and according to thy calling to bring home those that goe astray to the knowledge of the truth dost thou take all opportunities that are offered vnto thee by admonition instruction and reprehension to set forward the Lords worke herein Surely there cannot be a more certaine note of the truth of grace in thy heart and of thy owne conuersion then this When thou art conuerted saith our Sauiour to Peter Strengthen thy brethren No man can truely desire and indeuer the spirituall good of another that hath not tasted of the work first in himselfe But if on the contrary part vpon this examination thou findest that there is in thee no touch at all of griefe for the sins of other men thou layest not their miseries to heart the horrible sinnes of the times such as are whordome pride drunkennesse swearing prophanation of the Sabbath c. These things doe no whit affect thee nor trouble thee surely thou hast cause to mourne in secret and to be humbled for the hardnesse of thy owne heart for as yet the worke of grace is not wrought in thee for if it were it would manifest in this to labour the spirituall good of others Doe but consider the truth of this poynt in the example of this Penitent Theefe that had the least time that euer we read of or heard of to manifest the fruits of his repentance in and we shall see that howsoeuer his time was short and he was now to minde the euerlasting welfare of his soule yet hee is not vnmindfull of the spirituall misery of the soule of his Brother by rebuking him for his blasphemy by putting him in minde of his sinne and the equitie of that his deserued punishment that was now inflicted vpon him and all to this end if it were possible that his heart might bee touched with some remorse for sinne and hee be brought to repentance for the same There is no grace in that heart that doth not indeuer this in some measure of life Secondly if their case be miserable that doe not compassionate others in their spirituall miseries what shall wee say of those that with Simeon and Leui are brethren in iniquitie that prouoke one another come let vs cast in our lots together that are Sathans spokesmen and solicitors to draw men into sinne And those againe that are so farre from labouring the spirituall good of others as Ismael-like by reproches and disgraces lay stumbling blocks in the way of others to hinder them in their Christian courses like the Scribes and Pharisies against whom our Sauiour pronounceth a woe because they entred not into the kingdome of God themselues nor suffered those that would And last of all this may prouoke all vnto this duty and to labour to approue the truth of their owne conuersion by labouring to be instruments of the spirituall good of others And this duty rests vpon all for we are all a kingdome of Priests Reu. 1.6 and haue receiued a holy accomptment of the Father So especially the Ministers of the Word whose sacred calling cals for this duty they are in a speciall manner to looke vnto it 2 Tim. 4.2 they are to preach the Word in season and out of season Sow thy seede saith Salomon in the morning and let not thy hand rest in the euening for thou knowest not which shall prosper God calleth not all at the same houre but some at one time and some at another neither doth hee make the Word effectuall at all times at the first hearing Luke 11. for the strong man armed will
beleeued in him Ioh. 1.12 to them gaue he this power to be made the sonnes of God euen to them that beleeue on his name And againe We are saued by faith No man can haue the spirit of adoption that wants faith to beleeue Now for the obtayning of this grace of sauing faith the ordinary meanes is the preaching of the Word Rom. 10.17 faith commeth by hearing and the Gospell is called the word of faith vpon that then wee are to attend with all care and diligence as we looke to get faith and so consequently the saluation of our owne soules Vse 2 Secondly the Apostle giues this note how to know our adoption and so consequently whether wee be in the state of saluation or not Rom. 8.16 His spirit beareth witnesse to our spirit that we are the sonnes of God Now concerning this testimony of Gods spirit I will not make my selfe so skilfull to define what it is it is better felt then exprest The Prophet cals it The hearing of a voyce behinde vs Esa 38.21 whereby the heart comes to be perswaded of it reconciliation with God But how shall I know that my perswasion is not presumption Quest There be two speciall markes whereby we may distinguish betwixt them Ans First that vndoubtedly is the voyce of Gods spirit when comfort and assurance is felt in the heart after such time as the heart hath first beene humbled and cast downe in the sight and sence of sinne Psal My heart saith Dauid is as waxe it is molten in the middest of my body for in the time of a mans securitie when hee hath little or no apprehension of sinne then for a man to hope well and to conclude of his owne saluation is no strange thing nothing is more vsuall in the world amongst meer naturall men that neuer felt the smart of sinne then to bragge and boast of this assurance of saluation but alas they raise vp this building but vpon a sandy foundation which will neuer stand in the time of tryall for it is Gods manner of dealing vsually in this work of mans saluation to lay full low whom hee intendeth to aduance full high by sorrow to bring them vnto ioy by death to bring them vnto life and by their humiliation for sinne to bring them to glory so that when a man hath once truely felt the smart of sinne when a man hath once combated with Gods wrath and the terrors of hell haue possessed his soule here is a good foundation to build the hope of heauen vpon for humiliation is the ground of exaltation and after this to stay a mans selfe vpon the promise of God in Christ is vndoubtedly the voyce of Gods spirit a token of true comfort and a note of true ioy Secondly when comfort ariseth Vse 2 from the comfortable vse of the meanes God himselfe hath appointed such as are the preaching of the Word the reuerent vse of the Sacrament prayer reading of the Scripture meditation c. for the Lord is euer a maintainer of that course which hee himselfe hath sanctified and set apart to the same end so then try thy assurance thus hath it beene layd in godly sorrow for sinne hast thou attended the poasts of the Lords Sanctuary c. This is vndoubtedly the voyce of Gods spirit and not of presumption But if on the contrary part thou neuer yet feltest such griefe of heart for sinne thy conscience did neuer yet torment thee in the sight and sence of sinne neither hast thou euer had any delight in the Lords Sabbaoths nor the duties of holinesse c. O deceiue not thy own soule thy hope of heauen of eternall life and saluation is meere presumption and no true assurance Text. Thou shalt be with me 2 To whom The next thing wee are to obserue is the person to whom the promise is madâ— and that is the Penitent that had confessed a good confession and hâ—d giuen so good testimony of his faith in Christ acknowledging his deitie at this time when all the world despised him and resting on him alone for life and saluation to him is the promise made Thou shalt be with me Whence we may note first of Doct. 1 all The prayers of the godly very effectuall with God The wonderfull force of the prayers of the godly how powerfull and effectuall the same are with God Such as lay a good foundation in humiliation for sin and haue laboured by true repentance their reconciliation with the Almightie these are they that preuaile most of all with God in prayer See we this in the example of this poore Penitent who hauing giuen good testimonie of his true repentance and conuersion vnto God how powerfull is he in prayer what a gratious answer doth the Lord giue vnto him Verily thou shalt bee with me The best way to haue our wills satisfied and our requests granted is to be godly for to such is the promise made Psal 145.18.19 God is neare to all that call vpon him yea to all that call vpon him in truth Hee will fulfill the desires of those that feare him he also will heare their cry and will helpe them We may see this in the Lords mercifull dealing with the people of Israel who being sore oppressed by the Canaanites who tooke of them prisoners they humbled themselues and besought the Lord and the Text saith The Lord heard the voyce of Israel Num. 21.3 Yea the Lord to testifie that his readie disposition to hâ—are and to grant the prayers of his seruants declareth by his Prophet saying Before they call I will answer Isa 65.24 and whilest they speake I will heare Thus Dauid Psal 120.1 I called vpon the Lord in trouble and he heard me The faithfull being suters vnto God are alwayes sure of good successe yea many times aboue that they aske or thinke as wee shall see hereafter in this Penitent that the Angell telleth Cornelius a godly man Act. 10.4 that his praiers were heard Yea the more Gods people can get their hearts to be broken and humbled in the sence of their sinnes the more powerfull and effectuall are their prayers with God A broken and contrite heart Psal 51.17 O God thou wilt not despise This Dauid found by comfortable experience in himselfe that when in the pride of his heart hee had numbred the people for whose sinne the Lord sent that grieuous plague vpon them When hee humbled himselfe before the Lord confessed his sinne 1. Chron. 21.17.27 It is I that haue sinned But what haue these sheepe done How suddenly vpon this did the Lord command the Angell to put vp his sword When Israel was in great affliction and distresse still They cried vnto the Lord in their troubles and the Text saith Psal 107.10 He deliuered them out of their distresse How powerfull were the prayers of Moses against the Amalekites Exod. 17. that Israel preuailed all the while
the hands of Moses were held vp and he besought the Lord in the behalfe of the people Yea Ioash doth acknowledge that the prayers of Elisha 2. King 13.14 an holy Prophet of God stood his kingdome in more stead then all the chariots and horsemen of Israel could do Neither is this to be wondred at that the prayers of the faithfull are of this force with God to preuaile with him For Reas 1 First God giueth vnto his chosen ones the Spirit of supplication and prayer Zach. 12. Which doth so enable the faithfull vnto this duty that they will haue no nay or receiue no repulse at Gods hand according to that of the Apostle 1. Ioh. 5.14.15 This is the assurance we haue in God that if we aske any thing according to his will he heareth vs. And if we know that he heareth vs whatsoeuer we aske we know that we shall haue the petitions we desire of him Secondly to comfort the Reas 2 hearts of his seruants and to minister vnto them a comfortable expectation to be heard in praier he is pleased to passe his promise out of his owne mouth and to assure vs by his owne word that we shall obtaine our desires saying Aske and ye shall haue seeke Mat. 7.7 and ye shall finde knocke and it shall be opened vnto you For euery one that asketh receiueth c. This is indeed the very ground-worke and foundation of the Christian prayer namely Gods promise which is as true and vnchangeable as himselfe is without which wee could neuer so confidently come vnto him Obiect But many of the godly haue praied much and often vnto God and yet the Lord seemeth not to heare nor to answer Answ God doth not forget his seruants though for a time he defer to answer God made Abraham a promise of a sonne by Sarah this Abraham expected ten twentie yea almost thirtie yeares who would haue thought all this while that God had forgot his promise but yet we know at last in a seasonable time God remembred the couenant and promise that he made with Abraham and Sarah had a sonne The Lord promised the posteritie of Abraham the Land of Canaan yet in what a miserable bondage were they in in Egypt vnder Pharaoh and that for the space of foure hundred and thirtie yeares who would not haue thought that surely God had not remembred his promise to Abraham yet at last the Lord brought them out with a mightie hand and stretched out arme But what might be the reason of the Lords dealing with his people after this manner Quest Doubtlesse God delayeth to answer the requests of his seruants till a more seasonable time Ans like a skilfull Physitian whom when his Patient being sicke of a burning Feauer shall aske wine will not giue it him knowing indeed that that is no time to drink wine The Lord in whose hands are times and seasons chuseth euer a fit time to answer the requests of his seruants Secondly the Lord will haue many times the case of his seruants desperate and they themselues past all hope of deliuerie in respect of any humane helpe to the end his owne power loue goodnesse and mercy should bee acknowledged in sending vnto them vnexpected deliuerance How could the Iews but acknowledge Gods goodnesse towards them in the time of Hester when they were all appointed vnto death when besides all hope the Lord sent them deliuerance How could Israel but acknowledge his mightie power and stretched out arme when they came out of the land of Egypt when the Sea was before them the Egyptians behinde them the mountaines on each hand of them and they left voide of all humane helpe and meanes to escape Exod. 15. Now was it a seasonable time for the Lord to steppe in that his owne power and stretched-out arme might be seene At what a low ebbe did the Lord bring Daniel Dan. 3. and those three worthies when one in the Lyons den the other in the fierie fornace when all hope of deliuerance was past and humane help failed then was his power most seene and then was deliuerance most seasonable Thirdly in Gods delayes then is there a seasonable time for the exercise of all those graces that hee hath betrusted his seruants withall such as are patience faith hope c. For it is the storme that proues the Mariner and the battell the Souldier whose experience and valour till then cannot be knowne Vse 1 If the prayers of Gods seruants be thus powerfull and effectuall with him This may be a notable incouragement for all Gods people to be frequent in this dutie and to be incessant in their prayers and not to giue him ouer though wee be not answered at first No doubt Hanna and Zachary had often prayed for children yet obtained not Notwithstanding they prayed still and at last the Lord heard them So Daniel he was in heauinesse three weekes of dayes Dan. 10.12 and to his thinking God heard him not yet the Lord heard him indeed from the first day as hee said to Daniel From the first day that he had set his heart to vnderstand Paul when the pricke of the flesh was giuen vnto him the messenger of Sathan was sent to buffet him hee therefore besought the Lord that it might depart from him But he receiued this answer My grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12.7.8.9 my power is made perfect in thy weaknesse Paul was heard though not at the first and therefore when wee shall pray for some blessing of the Lord which we stand in need of or when we shall craue power of the Lord ouer some vnruly affection of ours though we haue not answer by and by yet wee are not to leaue off This Christ teacheth vs when he saith Shall not God auenge the elect that cry day and night vnto him Luk. 18. Marke there Christs sweet application of that vnrighteous Iudge to teach vs to continue our suites and to hold out and then we shall not misse in the end Secondly this shewes the happie Vse 2 priuiledge of Gods Church and people that no man should say Mal. 3.14 It is in vaine to serue the Lord and what profit is it that we haue kept the commandements and haue walked humbly before him It is sure to go well with them they are in great credit esteeme in the Court of heauen they are all Fauourites to the great King of heauen and earth and he hath commanded such at all times to haue free accesse vnto him and to inlarge their desires with a promise of a gracious answer Ioh. 16.24 Aske saith our Sauiour and ye shall receiue that your ioy may bee full What though for a time they lie vnder troubles and sorrowes miseries and afflictions Rom. 8.37 Are they not herein more then conquerours through him that hath loued them The present miseries of the faithfull cannot hinder their happinesse but through the Lords