vox,, n. c
18 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON I.
this case the Spirit dictates the words of prayer, or else, in a confusion of thoughts, sums up all in a volley of sighs and unexpressible groans. Thus it is true, that our hearts can neither be lifted up to prayer, nor rightly prepared for it, in any frame fitting, but by God's own Spirit. Nothing is accepted of God toward heaven and happiness, but that Avhich is spiritual : aU saving and sanctifying good comes from above. Therefore God must prepare the heart, stir up holy desires, dictate prayer ; must do all in all, being our ' Alpha and Omega,' Rev. i. 8.
1. Now God hears our prayers. First, Because the materials of these holy desires are good in themselves, and from the person from tvhence they come, his beloved sjjouse, as it is in Cant. ii. 14, where Christ, desiring to hear the voice of his church, saith, ' Let me see thy countenance, and let me hear thy voice ; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.' Thus the voice of the Spouse is sweet, because it is stirred up by his own Spirit, which bm'ns the incense, and whence all comes which is savingly good. This offering up of our prayers in the name of Chi'ist, is that which with his sweet odours perfumes all our sacrifices and prayers ; because, being in the covenant of grace, God respects whatsoever comes from us, as we do the desires of our near friends, Rev. viii. 3.
2. And then, again, God hears our prayers, because he looks upon vs as tve are in election, and choice of God the Father, wJto hath given its to him. Not only as in the near bond of mai'riage, husband and wife, but also as he hath given us to Christ ; which is his plea unto the Father, John xvii. 6, * Thine they were, thou gavest them me,' &c. The desires of the chm"ch please him, because they are stirred up by his Spirit, and proceed from her that is his ; whose voice he delights to hear, and the prayers of others for his church are accepted, because they are for her that is his beloved.
To confirm this further, see Isa. Iviii. 9. ' Thou then shalt cry, and the Lord shall answer ; thou shalt call, and presently he shall say, Here I am,' &c. So as soon as Daniel had ended that excellent prayer, the angel tell- eth him, ' At the beginning of thy supplications the decree came forth,' &c., Dan. ix. 23. So because he knows what to put into our hearts, he knows our desires and thoughts, and therefore accepts of our prayers and hears us, because he loves the voice of his own Spirit in us. So it is said, ' He fulfils the desires of them that fear him ; and he is near to all that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth,' Ps. cxlv. 18. And our Saviour, he saith, ' Ask and ye shall receive,' &c., Mat. vii. 7. So we have it, 1 John v. 14, ' And we know if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.'
Use 1. Let it therefore be a singular comfort to us, that in all wants, so in that of friends, when we have none to go to, yet we have God, to whom we may freely pour out om* hearts. There being no place in the world that can restrain us from his presence, or his Spirit fi'om us, he can hear us and help us in all places. What a blessed estate is this ! None can hinder us from driving this trade with Christ in heaven.
Use 2. And let us make another use of it hkewise, to be a means to stir up oiu" hearts to make use of om- privileges. What a prerogative is it for a favourite to have the fare * of his prince ! him we account happy. Surely he is much more happy that hath God's care, him to be his father in the covenant of grace ; him reconciled, upon all occasions, to pour out his heart before him, who is merciful and faithful, wise and most able to help ns. ' Why are we discouraged, therefore ; and why are we cast down,' Ps. * Qu. ' care ?' or ' fare ?*— Ed.
Cant. V. 1.] • i am come into my garden.' 19
xlii. 11, when we have such a powerful and such a gracious God to go to in all our extremities ? He that can pray can never be much uncom- fortable.
Use 3. So likewise, it should stir us up to keep our peace with God, that so we may always have access unto him, and commimion with him. What a pitiful case is it to lose other comforts, and therewith also to be in such a state, that we cannot go to God wdth any boldness ! It is the greatest loss of all when we have lost the spirit of prayer ; for, if we lose other things, we may recover them by prayer. But when we have lost this boldness to go to God, and are afraid to look him in the face, as malefac- tors the judge, this is a woful state.