Use 2. To press us to hearken after the answer of our prayers. God's children do so, and get much comfort thereby, and evidence of his love : Ps. lxvi. 18, 19, 'But verily God hath heard me ; he hath attended to the voice of my cry.' It is no small favour and respect we have from God's love to us ; it is a great owning of our persons ; our mercies are the sweeter. There is a double lustre and beauty put upon them when they come in the way of prayer, out of the hand of God ; not by a common providence, but by covenant ; and by virtue of the covenant put in suit by us, as well as granted by God, which is a pledge of God's respect to us. To this end —
1. Be persuaded that God will hear you, and answer you when you pray according to his will : 1 John v. 14, ' And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.' This is absolutely necessary for all that will pray aright, and mind what they do; for none can come to God aright but those that are persuaded they shall be the better for coming to him : James i. 5, ' Pray in faith, nothing wavering.' There must be a relying upon God, if indeed we pray to him. He that expects little in prayer will neither be much in it nor serious about the answer of it.
2. This answer must be needfully observed. Careless spirits will not easily discern it : Ps. cxxx. 5, 6, L wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord, more than they that watch for the morning ; I say, more than they that watch for the morning ; ' as those that watched in the temple for the dawning of the day. This earnest waiting is a happy token ; when we make much of prayers, they are not lost. Therefore, as they watched for the word, brethren, so must you wait upon God for some discovery of his love by a gracious answer and return unto your prayers.
3. Sometimes God giveth an answer presently ; sometimes it may be after some competent space of time. (1.) Sometimes presently; as Cornelius, in the time of prayer, and while the duty is a-doing. God giveth in some tokens of acceptance ; as an angel was sent to Cornelius at the ninth hour, which was the hour of prayer, to assure him that his prayers were heard, and duties accepted : Acts x. 3, ' Peter and John went up to pray at the ninth hour,' Acts iii. 1. So Daniel: ' Whilst I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin ; yea, whilst I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel was caused to fly swiftly.' The Lord is ready to answer the prayers of his servants in the very instant of their praying. So Acts iv. 3, ' While they prayed, they were filled with the Holy Ghost.' The cases brought are singular
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and extraordinary as to the token and manner of assistance, but as to the substance of the blessing, it is the common practice of God's free grace : Isa. lviii. 10, ' When they call, I will answer ; while they are yet speaking, I will hear ; ' Acts xii. 12, a company was met to- gether in prayer when Peter in prison heard of the time of his deliver- ance. (2.) Sometimes a good while after: the prayers are in God's book, Mai. iii. 16. Now these must be waited for : ' My God will hear me/ Micah vii. 7. We cannot say, As soon as the prayer is made, for he saith, 'I will wait for the God of my salvation.' Paul prayed thrice for the removal of the messenger of Satan, 2 Cor. xii. ; then God said, ' My grace is sufficient for thee.' We must knock again and again. God heareth as soon as the prayer is made, but he taketh his own time to despatch an answer. Abraham prayeth for a child, but many years pass over till he hath him in his arms.
4. When God giveth an answer, own it as an answer. Sometimes we will not take notice of what is before our eyes, out of deep distress of spirit. It is said, Job ix. 16, ' Though I had called and he had answered, yet would I not believe that he had hearkened to my voice.' Thus we misinterpret God's dealings in our troubles, that we will not own God's work as an answer.
5. Consider the several ways how God giveth answer to his people's prayers.
[1.] Extraordinarily, as in ancient time ; so an angel was sent to Cornelius to tell him his prayers were heard ; so to Daniel ; so to Abel, Heb. xi. 4, probably by fire from heaven ; by vision to Abra- ham ; by voice or visible token to Moses, and the high priest in the tabernacle of the congregation from above the mercy-seat. But these returns were proper to those times.