You see then why it is a prevailing course, because it is obedience to God, and because it sets God on work. It overcomes him which overcomes all. It overcomes him that is omnipotent. We see the woman of Canaan, she overcame Christ by the strength that she had from Christ. And Moses he overcame God, ' Let me alone,' Exod. xxxii. 10, why dost thou press me ? ' Let me alone.' It ofi"ers violence to God, it prevails with him ; and that which prevails with God, prevails with all things else. The prayer of faith hath the promise. ' The prayer of a righteous man,' in faith, ' it pre- vails much,' saith St James, v. 16. Consider now, if the prayer of one righteous man prevail much, what shall the prayer of many righteous men do ? As St Paul saith here, my prayers and your prayers being joined together must needs prevail.
For instances, the Scripture is full of them, how God hath vouchsafed dehverance by the help of prayer. I will give but a few instances of former times, and some considerations of later time.
For former times : in Exod. xvii., you see when Amalek set upon the people, Moses did more good by prayer than all the army by fighting. As long as Moses' hands were held up by Aaron and Hur, the people of God pre- vailed : a notable instance to shew the power of prayer. In 2 Chron xiv., Asa prayed to God, and presseth God with arguments, and the people of God prevail. In 2 Chron. xx., there you have good king Jehoshaphat. He prays to God, and he brings to God his former experience. He presseth God with his covenant, with his nature, and the like arguments spoken of
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before ; and then he complains of their necessity, ' Lord we know not what to do, oui- eyes are towards thee,' 2 Chron. xx. 12. And God's opportunity is when we are at the worst, and the lowest. Then he is near to help, ' We know not what to do, hut our eyes are towards thee,' saith that blessed king, and then he prevailed.
So the prophet Isaiah and Hezekiah, they both join together in prayer to God, and God heard the prophet, and the prayer of the king. They spread the letter before the Lord, and prayed to God, when Kabshakeh railed against God, and they prevailed mightily, Isa. xxxvii. 14.
Esther was but a woman, and a good woman she was. The church was in extremity in her time. She takes this course. She fasted and prayed, she and her people ; and we see what an excellent issue came of it, the con- fusion of proud Haman, and the deliverance of the church. .In Acts xii., Herod having good success in the beheading of James, being flushed with the blood of James, he would needs set upon Peter too. The church, fear- ing the loss of so worthy a pillar, falls to praying. See the issue of it, God struck him presently. Woe be to the birds of prey, when God's turtle mourns ! When God's tm-tle, the church, mourns, and prays to God, woe be to those birds that violently prey on the poor church ! Woe be to Herod, and all bloody persecuting tyrants ! Woe be to all malignant despisers of the church, when the chm-ch begins to pray ! For though she direct not her prayers against them in particular, yet it is enough that she prays for herself, and herself cannot be delivered without the confusion of her enemies. You see these instances of old.
I wnll name but some of later times. "What hath not prayer done ? Let us not be discouraged. Prayer can scatter the enemies, and move God to command the winds, and the waters, and all against his enemies. What cannot prayer do, when the people of God have their hearts quickened, and raised to pray ? Prayer can open heaven. Prayer can open the womb. Prayer can open the prison, and strike ofi' the fetters. It is a pick-lock. We see in Acts xvi., when St Paul was cast in prison, he prayed to God at midnight, and God shakes the foundations of the prison, and all flies open. Acts xvi. 26. So St Peter w^as in prison, he prays, and the angel delivers him. Acts v. 19. What cannot prayer do ? It is of an omni- potent power, because it prevails with an omnipotent and almighty God.
Oh that we v/ere persuaded of this ! But our hearts are so full of atheism naturally, that we think not of it. We think not that there is such efficacy in prayer ; but we cherish base conceits, God may if he will, &c., and put all upon him, and never serve his providence and command, who commands us to call upon him, and who will do things in his providence, but he will do them in this order. We must pray, first to acknowledge our dependence upon him. If we were thoroughly convinced of the prevailing power of prayer, what good might be done by it, as there hath been in "" former times ! Certainly we would beg of God above all things the spirit of supplication. And if we have the spirit of prayer, we can never be miserable. If a man have the spirit of prayer, whatsoever he want he causeth it from heaven. He can beg it by prayer. And if he want- the thing he can beg contentation,! he can beg patience, he can beg grace, and beg acquaintance with God ; and acquaintance with God it will put a glory upon him.