Now there are diverse cases wherein the soul is not in a state fit for prayer. As that fii'st, Ps. Ixvi. 18, ' If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not regard my prayer.' If a man hath a naughty heart, that pur- poseth to hve in any sin against God, he takes him for an enemy, and therefore will not regard his prayer. Therefore we must come with a reso- lute purpose to break off all sinful courses, and to give up ourselves to the guidance of God's Spuit. And this wiU be a forcible reason to move us thereunto, because so long as we hve in any known sin unrepented of, God neither regards us nor our prayers. What a fearful estate is this, that when we have such need of God's favour in all estates ; in sickness, the hour of death, and in spiritual temptation, to be in such a condition as that we dare not go to God ! Though our lives be ci^dl,* yet if we have false hearts that feed themselves with evil imaginations, and with a purpose of sinning, though we act it not, the Lord will not regard the prayers of such a one ; they are abominable. The very ' sacrifice of the wicked is abomi- nable,' Prov. XV. 8.
2. Another case is, when we wiU not forgive others. We know it is di- rectly set down in the Lord's prayer, ' Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us,' Mat. vi. 14 ; and there is further added, ver. 15, ' If you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you.' If our hearts teU us we have no disposition to pardon, be at peace and agreement, then we do but take God's name in vain when we ask him to forgive our sins, and we continue in envy and mahce. In this case God will not regard our prayers, as it is said, * I care not for yom: prayers, or for any service you perform to me,' Isa. i. 15. Why ? ' For your hands are full of blood,' Isa. Ixvi. 1. You are unmerciful, of a cruel, fierce disposition, which cannot appear before God rightly, nor humble itself in prayer. If it doth, its own bloody and crael disposition will be objected against the prayers, which are not mingled -n-ith faith and love, but with wrath and bitterness. Shall I look for mercy, that have no merciful heart myself? Can I hope to find that of God, that others cannot find from me ? An unbroken disposition, which counts ' pride an ornament,' Ps. Ixxiii. 6, that is cruel and fierce, it cannot go to God in prayer. For, whosoever would prevail with God in prayer must be humble ; for our sup- plications must come fi"om a loving, peaceable disposition, where there is a resolution against all sin, Ps. Ixxiii. 1. Neither is it sufiicient to avoid grudging and mahce against these, but we must look that others have not cause to gnidge against us, as it is commanded : ' If thou bring thy gifts to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee ; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way ; first bo reconciled to thy brother, and then come and ofier thy gift,' Mat. v. 23. So that if * That is, ' moral.' — G
20 BOWELS OPENED. [SeEMON I.
we do not seek reconciliation with men unto whom we have done wrong, God will not be reconciled to us, nor accept any service from us.
If then we would have our prayers and our persons accepted or respected, let us make conscience of that which hath been said, and not lose such a blessed privilege as this is, that God may regard our prayers. But here may be asked —
Quest. How shall I know whether God regard my prayers or not ?
Ans. 1. First, When he grants the thing prayed for, or enlargeth our hearts to pray still. It is a greater gift than the thing itself we beg, to have a spirit of prayer with a heart enlarged ; for, as long as the heart is enlarged to prayer, it is a sign that God hath a special regard of us, and will grant our petition in the best and fittest time.
2. When he answers us in a better and higher kind, as Paul when he prayed for the taking away of the prick of the flesh, had promises of suffi- cient grace, 2 Cor. xii. 7—9.
3. When, again, he gives us inward peace, though he gives not ths thing, as Phil. iv. 6, ' In nothing be careful, but in all things let your requests be made to God with prayer and thanksgiving.'
Ohj. But sometimes he doth not answer our requests,
Ans. It is true he doth not, but ' the peace of God which passeth all understanding guards our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God,' Philip, iv. 7. So though he answers not our prayers in particular, yet he vouchsafes inward peace unto us, assuring us that it shall go weU with us, though not in that particular we beg. And thus in not hearing their prayers, yet they have their hearts' desire when God's will is made known. Is not this sufficient for a Christian, either to have the thing, or to have inward peace, with assurance that it shall go better with them than if they had it ; with a spirit enlarged to pray, tiU they have the thing prayed for. K any of these be, God respects our prayers.