5. That it is much better to obey the law of God than our own affections, the lusts of the flesh, or the law of sin — 'Not my will, but thine be done,' so our Lord said, Luke xxii. 42. By retaining any branch of our own wills unrenounced, or not resigned up into God's hands, we give Satan a hold of us, and he will never let go the hold till we cut off the member that offendeth ; it is as an halter about an horse's neck, and we are as a bird that is caught by one claw, and as an ambassador pursuing but part of his instructions. Indispositions are so far from excusing, that they call for the more duty ; though we cannot command the wind, yet we are to fit the sails.
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THE LIFE OF FAITH IN PKAYER.
But let him ash in faith, nothing loavering ; for he that ivavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven loith the wind and tossed. — Jas. i. 6.
I SHALL from this text further treat of the life of faith. Haviug spoken of the influence and use of faith upon obedience, or the duties of holi- ness in general, I shall now speak of the use of faith in ]3rayer.
In the contest there is an exhortation to prayer, and in the text an instruction how we should pray.
1. There is an exhortation to prayer in the fifth verse — * If any man lack wisdom, let him ask it of God.' He presseth us to make an advantage of our wants, and to look upon them as so many occasions of recourse to God at the throne of grace ; and he encourage th them, partly by the consideration of God's nature — ' Who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not.' We need not make scruples of con- sulting with God upon every occasion ; he is not backward to bestow grace, nor is he wont to reproach those to whom he giveth anything ; though prayer putteth God to it never so often and never so much, yet he upbraideth none. And then he encourageth them partly by a pro- mise— ' Let him ask, and it shall be given him.' It is said of Augustus that he never sent away any from him sad ; it is true of the Lord, he doth not send away his worshippers sad — ' Ask, and it shall be given you ; ' prayer will not be a fruitless labour.
2. In the text there is an instruction how we should pray, which is laid down and enforced.
[1.] It is laid down to prevent mistakes — ' Let him ask in faith.'
[2] It is enforced by a reason ah incommodo, from the inconveniency of not asking in faith' — ' For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed/ Wavering and doubting keep men in a perpetual tempest and agitation of mind, roving to and fro from one dependence to another, as the waves of the sea are carried hither and thither.
Doct. That none pray aright, but those that pray in faith.
Faith is all in all in prayer — ' The prayer of faith shall save the sick,' James v. 15. It is not prayer simply, but the faith in prayer that prevaileth with God for a gracious answer ; so Mat. xxi. 21, 22, * If ye have faith, and doubt not, ... all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.' The grant and answer is suspended upon that condition, for God will not exercise his power till w^e rest upon it. In short, faith and prayer are inseparable companions, like Hippocrates' twins, they live and die together ; they are begotten together, and grow up together, and die together.
1. They are begotten together, for faith beginneth its life in crying unto God. The first grace that is acted is faith, and the first duty when grace is infused is prayer : Zech. xii. 10, ' I will pour upon them the spirit of grace and supplication ; and Paul after his conversion, the first news we hear of him is, 'Behold, he prayeth,' Acts ix. 11. As
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the new-born babe falls a-crying ; so, as soon as we are born again, the first work that is set upon is prayer.
2, They grow up together, mutually strengthening and increasing, and setting one another a-work ; Ps. Ixii. 8, * Trust in the Lord at all times, pour out your hearts before him.' Trust vents itself in prayer, and prayer increaseth trust, for in prayer the principles of confidence are solemnly drawn into the view of conscience.
3. Because they end together. When we come to die, faith is resolved into sight, and prayer into an uninterrupted praise.
Now for the clearing of this point —
First, I shall show you what is that faith that is requisite in prayer. Divers thoughts and opinions there are about it : I will not perplex you with them, but conceive it thus : it is a confidence that our prayers shall be heard ; that is the faith that is required in prayer : 1 John V. 14, ' And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, lie hearetli us.'