Quest. But some man may say. How shall I know that I can pray, that I am in a state to help the church of God, and to prevail for it by my prayers ?
1. I answer, tu-st of all, thou shalt know it if thou he na tdUiufi to help otherwise, if thou canst, as u-ell as hj 2)>'at/er. St James speaks in his time of certain men that would feed the poor people of God with good words, James ii. 16. Now good words are good-cheap ; but they will do nothing. They will buy nothing, they will not clothe, nor feed. So St James tells them, that that is but a dead faith.
So there are a company that will only pray for the church when they are able to do other ways, when they have countenance, and estate, and riches, and friends, and place, and many things that they might improve for the good of others, and for the good of the church. Some will be ready to say, I pray for the church, and I will pray. Aye, but art thou not able to do somewhat else ? St Paul when he wishes tlaem to pray for him, he means not only prayer, but that duty implies to do all that they pray for, to help their prayers, or else it is a mocking of God. If thou pray aright for the church, thou art wilhng to relieve them ; if thou pray for thy friend, thou art willing to help him, and succour him ; if thou pray for any, thou art willing to countenance them. That is one trial, which discovers many to be h3'pocrites. If their prayers were worth anything, and the times stood in need of them, it is likely they should not have them, because they only give good words, and nothing else.
2. Again, he that is in a state of prayer, he must be such a one as must relinquish in his purpose all wicked, blasphemous, scandalous, unthrifty courses tvhatsoerer. He that purposeth to please God, and to have his prayer accepted of God, he must leave all. For as the Psalmist saith, ' If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear my prayer.' For a man to come with a petition to God, with a purpose to ofi'end him, is to come to practise treason in the presence-chamber ; to come into the presence of God, and to have a purpose to stab him with his sins. Dost thou purpose to live in thy filthy courses, in thy scandalous evil course of life, to be a
2 CORINTHIANS CHAP. I, VER. 11, 189
blasphemer, a swearer, and yet dost thou think that God will hear and re- gard thy prayer '? ' If I regai'd iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear my prayer,' Ps. Ixvi. 18. That is another thing that thou mayest know it by, whether thou be in such an estate as that thou mayest pray successfully for thyself, and for others.
3. In Prov. xxviii. 9, there is a thii'd discovery, ' He that turns his car from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abominable.' Thou mayest know it by this, if thou be in such an estate as that God will regard thy prayers for thyself or for others, that they may be prevailing prayers ; how standest thou afl'ected to God's truth and word ? how art thou acquainted with the reading of the Scriptures, and with hearing the blessed word of God unfolded and broken open by the blessed ordinance of God ? How doest thou attend upon God ? Wouldst thou have him who is the great God of heaven and earth to hear thee, and to regard thee, when thou wilt not hear and regard him '? Thou wouldst have him to regard thy prayers, and thou regardest not him speaking by the ministry of his word. Thou despisest his ordinance which he hath left with thee. He hath left thee the mysteries of his word, and thou regardest them not, but spendest thy time altogether either about thy calling, or about some trifling studies, and neglectest the main, the soul-saving truth ; will he hear thy prayer ? No, saith the wise man ; ' He that turns his ear from hearing the law, that man's pra3"er shall be abominable.'
Since prayer is so prevaiUng a thing, so pleasing to God, so helpful to the church, and so helpful to ourselves, who would be in such a case that he cannot pray, or if he doth pray, that his prayer should be abominable, that God should turn his prayer into sin ? It is a miserable case that a man lives in, that is in league with sin, that allows himself in any wicked course, in rebellion to God's ordinance. Such men are in such a state that God doth not regard their prayers for themselves or for others. Some do 60 exalt and lift up their pride against God, that they do not regard the very ordinance of God. No, not while they are hearing it, but set themselves to be otherwise disposed at that very time. How can such expect that God will regard them ? This shall be suflicieut to press that point. Saith Saint Paul, ' I shall be delivered by youi- prayers.'