^ 'Disapproves.' — Ed.
Mat. VI. 6-8.] exposition of the lord's prayer. 29
God's hearing. We wrestle with God, that we may catch a heat our- selves. And therefore words should be only used as they conduce to the strengthening our faith, or continuing our affection to God ; longer than they serve that end in prayer, they are babbling and vain repetitions, and much speaking, which Christ here forbids. Consider, there is not a change in God, but a change in us, wrought by prayer. It is neither to give information to God, that he may know our mean- ing, nor to move him and persuade him to be willing by our much speaking, but only to raise up our own faith and hope towards God.
3. He is such a Father as is not unwilling to relieve us. Your heavenly Father is very ready ,to give you such things as you stand in need of, as Christ expresseth it. Mat. vii. 11, 'If ye, being evil, know how to give good things unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to them that ask him ? ' And, Luke xi. 13, it is, ' How much more shall your heavenly Fatlier give his Holy Spirit ? ' When you come to beg for grace, consider what earthly parents would do for a child. Their affections are limited, they are in part corrupt ; and poor straitened creatures have not such bowels of compassion as God ; and yet, when a child comes to them with a genuine cry, with a sense of his want and confidence of his father, he cannot harden his bowels against his child. This also checks much speaking ; for we do not pray to stir up mercy in him, as if he needed much entreaty, and were severe, and delighted to put the creature to penance. No, he is ready before we ask ; he knows our wants and needs, and is ready to supply us with those things we stand in need of, only will have this comely order observed. Some- times he prevents our prayers before we ask : ' Before they call, I will answer ; and I am found of them that sought me not.' Before we can have a heart to come, the Lord prevents us with his blessing. And sometimes he gives us what we ask. This is the condescension of God, that when you call he will answer ; and when you cry, he doth in his providence say, ' What will you have, poor creatures ? ' And he gives more than we ask ; as Solomon asked wdsdom, and God gave him more than he asked — wisdom, riches, and honour.
Object. But here is an objection. These notions seem not only to exclude long prayer and much speakhig, but all prayer. If God know our wants, and is so read}^ to give, whether we ask or no, what need we open them to him in prayer at all ?
I answer, it is God's prescribed course, and that should be enough to gracious hearts that will be obedient to their Father. Whatever he intends, though he knows our wants and resolves to answer them, yet it is a piece of religious manners to ask what he is about to give: Jer. xxix. 11, 'I know my thoughts towards you, thoughts of peace, yet will I be inquired of jon for these things.' God knows his own thoughts, hath stated his decrees, and will not alter the beautiful course of his providence for our sakes, yet he will be sought unto. So Ezek. xxxvi. : God purposed to bless them, and therefore promisetli, 'I will do thus and thus for you'; yet, verse 37, ' I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them.' I will do it, but you shall milk out the blessing by prayer. This course is also necessary, and that both for his honour, and our profit and comfort.
30 AN INTKODUCTION TO THE [MaT. YI. 6-8.
1. It is necessary for his honour, that God may still he acknow- ledged, that the creature may be kept up in a constant dependence upon God, and may go about nothing, but may ask his leave, counsel, and blessing : Prov. iii. 6, ' In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.' We ask God's leave that we may do such a thing, for he hath the dominion over all events. And if we are doubt- ful, w^e ask his counsel, whether we may stay here or there, or dispose of ourselves and families, and we ask his blessing upon our resolu- tion. Now that we may know God doth all, that he governeth all human affairs, that we may live upon his allowance and take our daily bread from his hands, and that we may see we hold all these things from our great landlord, therefore we pray unto him. We are robbers and thieves if we use the creature without his leave. God is the great owner of the world, who gives us our daily bread, and all our supplies; therefore he will have it asked, that we may acknowledge our dependence.
2. It is most for our profit. Partly, that our faith should be exercised in pleading Gods promise, for there we put the promise in suit. Faith is begotten in the word, but it is exercised in prayer ; therefore it is called the 'prayer of faith.' In the word, we take Christ /ro»i God; in prayer we present Christ to God. That prayer which is effectual, it is an exercise of faith : Kom. x. 14, ' How shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed ?' And as it con- cerns our faith, so also our love, which is both acted and increased in prayer. It is acted, for it is delight in God which makes us so often converse with him. Thus the hypocrite : Job xxvii. 10, ' Will he always call upon the Lord? Will he delight himself in the Almighty ? ' They that love God cannot be long from him, they that delight in God will be often unbosoming themselves to him. It doth also increase our love, for by answers of prayer we have new fuel to keep in this holy fire in our bosoms. We pray, and then he gives direct answers : Ps. cxvi. 1, 'I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplication.' So our hope is exercised in waiting for the blessing prayed for: Ps. v. 3, '0 Lord, in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look uj?.' That looking up is the work of hope, when we are looking and waiting to see what comes in from pleading promises. It is much too for our peace of conscience, for it easeth us of our burthens. It is the vent of the soul, like the opening of a vein in a fever. When om- hearts swell with cares, and we have a burthen upon us, and know not what to do, we may ease ourselves to God : Phil. iv. 6, ' Be careful for nothing ; but in everything, by prayer and su]:)plication, with thanks- giving, let your requests be made known to God ; and the peace of God shall keep your hearts.' Oh, blessed frame, that can be troubled at nothing here in this world, where there are so many businesses, encounters, temptations ! What is the way to get this calmness of heart ? Be much in opening your hearts to God. Let your requests be made known to God. Look, as in an earthquake, when the wind is imprisoned in the bowels of the earth, the earth heaves, and shakes, and quakes, until there be a vent, and tlie wind be got out, then all is quiet ; so we have many tossings and turmoilings in our minds, till