door, Psa. xl. 1 : ' I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined nnto me, and heard my cry ;' in the Hebrew, 'in waiting I waited :' that is, I staid wait- ing long, ancl at last he came. But David was a favourite ; may others expect to succeed as well as he did ? see ver. 3 : ' Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.' Answer of prayers is a covenant privilege : it is not a monopoty given to one or two, but a charter granted to the whole corporation of saints to the end of the world, Psa. cii. 17 : ' He will regard the pi-ayer of the desti- tute, and not despise their prayer.' Now mark what follows, — ' This shall be written for the generation to come,' ver. 18. Secondly, Thy persevering in prayer will help to evidence thy state to be gracious. The hypocrite is often exposed here : ' AVill he always call upon God?' Job xxvii. 10. An unsound heart will be meddling with this duty now and then, but grows weary of the work at last, especially if he be made to wait long for an answer. Saul ])rays to God, and because he hears not from him, goes at last to seek the devil. Observe what eft'ect God's frowns and seeming denials produce in thy heart, and thon mayest know the temper of thy spirit thereby. Do they wear off thy edge for prayer, or sharpen it ? Do they make thee fall off, and send thee away from God with clamours in thy mouth, and discontent in thy heart, resolved to beg no more there, or do they make thee fall on with more courage, and enkindle thy affections to God and this duty more ardently ? Truly, if thou findcst the latter, thou mayest conclude, if this instant con- stancy in prayer be for spiritual blessings, that divine virtue hath gone fi'om Christ into thy soul: — 'O woman, great is thy faith!' Thirdly, Con- sider the great folly of fainting in prayer. Perhaps thou art in a deserted condition ; thou prayest for comfort, but none comes ; for victory over such a temptation without, or corruption within, but art foiled in both ; therefore thou first faintest in the duty, and then givest it over : what egregious folly ! Because mercy comes not in haste to thee, therefore thou wilt run from it, which thou dost in ceasing to pray. When the fisherman misseth his draught, he doth not give over his trade, but mendeth his net. O cease not to pray, but mend thy praying; double thy diligence, and all shall be well at last. Whatever tlie mercy is thon wouldst have, must it not come from God's hands? Now, will God give the mercy to thee, who rcjectest his counsel for the obtaining of it? Is not prayer, with all perseverance, the way he directs all his people to take ? God, for reasons best known to himself, stays some while before he comes to his tempted, distressed servants, for their deliverance ; but leaves orders when any of them ail anything (so the word KaKoiraQti, Jam. v. 13, signifies,) that they should pray, apply themselves to the use of this duty, yea, continue the spiritual, constant use of it till he comes ; and withal assures us he will come soon enough to save us. Now, what folly is it to cast off this means so strictly prescribed! Surely, though there were nothing else, this is enough to turn God back, when on his way of mercy to do us good. Fourthly, Consider it as sinful as it is foolish to give over this duty. ' Thou castest off fear, and resti'ainest prayer before God,' Job xv. 4. It is a high crime for one trusted with a castle to deliver it cowardly into his enemies' hands, especially if he hath wherewithal to defend it. Hath not God provided sufficiently to enable the Christian to maintain this duty against all the armies of men and devils, afflictions and temptations, that can oppose it? Princes are most careful to enforce and supply frontier castles above others for defence, because they are most assaulted. Prayer is a duty that is as much opposed by Satan as any, and hath many other difficulties that render it no easy matter for the Christian to be instant and constant at it. God hath considered this, and accordingly hath provided succour. He gives his Spirit to help the Christian (because of his many in- firmities) what and how to pray ; who, if he be used kindly, will not be wanting to assist him in the work ; and while the Spirit is ready to pray in him, Christ is as ready in heaven to pray for him, who also sends the precious promises of the gospel to assure the soul that relief is coming, be the aflliction or temp- tation ever so great that besets it. Now, to faint in the work, and by giving over the duty to open the gates of his soul for Satan to enter and triumpli over God with his insulting blasphemies, what gracious sovd that doth not tremble at the thought ! We cannot cast off prayer, but we cast some dishonourable reflection upon God ; for every real defect in the creatui-e proceeds from an
•^-Yi' WITH ALL PERSEVERANCE.