some begging errand) likes the motion, his heart doseth with it, and a grant is there passed ; but he takes his own time to send his despatch, and let his son know it. Princes have their books of remembrance, wherein they write the names of their favourites whom they intend to prefer, haply some years before their gi'acious purpose opens itself to them. Mordecai's name stood in Ahasue- rus's book some while before his honour was conferred. Thus God records the names of his saints and their prayers. ' The Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him, of them that feared the Lord, and thought upon his name,' Mai. iii. 16. But, perhaps, they hear not of God in his providential answer for a long time after. Abraham prays for a child, and is heard, but how many years interpose before he hath him in his arms ! Truly, so many, that he goes in to Hagar, (partly by his wife's counsel, and his own weakness,) to obtain that with a by-blow for which God himself had undertaken. Take heed thou be not led into this temptation, to question whether God hears thee, because thou hearest not from him presently. Be patient, and thou shalt find, the longer a mercy goes before its delivery, the more perfect it will come forth at last. God gave a speedy answer to Abraham for his son Ishmael ; ' Oh that Ishmael might live !' Gen. xvi. 18. ' I have heard thee,' saith God, ' concerning Ishmael,' ver. 20. Indeed, he flourished, and spread into a great nation, almost before Isaac's stem had budded. What a small number was the family of Jacob at their going down into Egypt ! But when the date of God's bond was nearly expiring, and the time of their promise grew nigh, then God paid interest for his stay. None gain more at the throne of grace, than those who trade for time, and can forbear the payment of a mercy longest. Secondly, Consider, when thou findest the deepest silence in God's providence, concerning the thing prayed for, then thou hast a loud answer in the promise. Say not, therefore. Who shall ascend to heaven ? to bring thee intelligence whether thy prayer hath got safe thither, and had favourable audience in God's ear. God himself hath saved thee this labour; the promise will satisfy thee, which assures thee, that if it be duly qualified, it cannot find the heart of God shut against it : ' The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,' James v. 16. So assured have the saints been of this, that they, before any inkling from providence hath been heard, (to bring them the news of a mercy coming,) have taken np joy upon the credit of the naked promise, and feasted themselves with the hopes of what they expected, but had not yet i-eceived, at the cost and charge of God's faith- fulness, with which the promise is sealed: 'In God I will praise his word,' Psa. Ivi. 4. Mark the phrase : he had not as yet the desired mercy, only a word of promise that it should come ; and considering the power and truth of God, the promiser, he is as merry as if he were put in possession of it, and pays his praises before God performs the promise.
Section II. — The second thing which Satan gathers from God's deportment toward the Christian, thereby to bring the hearing of his prayer into question, in his anxious thoughts, is some anger which seems to sit upon his brow against the Christian. It cannot be denied, but sometimes a dear saint of God may go away from duty with an aching heart, by reason of the sad impressions of an angry God left upon his spirit. And when thus it fares with the Christian, Satan's time is come, he thinks, to lead him into this temptation, by persuading him he may read what entertainment his prayer had at God's hands, in the language of his countenance, and his carriage toward him. If God, saith he, had heard thy prayer, would he handle thee thus ? No, sure ; he would rather have taken thee up into his arms, and kissed thee with the kisses of his mouth, than thus trample thee under his feet. Thou shouldst have had darts of love shot from his pitiful eye, to intimate the purposes of his grace, and not arrows headed with his wrath, to stick in thy soul, and thus drink up thy very spirits. Can these be the wounds of a friend? This the deportment of one that means thee well? This was the temptation which ruffled Job's thoughts, and embittered his spirit, chap. ix. 17. He could not believe God answered his prayer, because he broke him with his tempest. As if God's mercy came always in the still voice, and never in the whirlwind. Now, in this case, take this double counsel. First, Inquire whether this tempest comes to find any Jonah in thy ship ; whether it takes thee sinning, or soaking in any past sin unrepented ; or whether thy con-
PRAYING ALWAYS, ETC. (3(35