Quest. But some will ask, How shall we come to make our prayers fervent?
Ans. I answer, consider of our wants, and our necessity of supply, oj our misery in our want, of our hope to prevail by jirayer ; and these will edge our aflfections in prayer. Consider also how these times, and the estate of
* Qu. 'affections'? — En. X That is, ' reiDetitiou.' — G.
t That is, ' choose.' — G.
AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXS.
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tlie churcli do sj'mpathy with thy particular depths. The church abroad is in great depths ; and if we will have proof that we are fellow-members, that we are children of that mother, let us labour for a fellow-feeling of their miseries, and make them our own ; and to that end in our prayers allege the depths and pray, ' Help thou, Lord, for vain is man's help,' Ps. Ix. 11. For extremity itself is a good argument to a father to help his children. Allege also the insolency of the enemies. ' Why should the heathen say. Where is our God ?' Ps. Ixxix. 10. There is no church but useth more helps of humiliation than we do, which foretells a great judg- ment ; for God cannot endure this lukewarmness. Therefore call upon God with fervency, else will he cast us into such extremities as shall force fire into us. He that is poor doth naturally speak supplications.
Direct. 2. Secondly, Look that we always be in such an estate as God may hear its. If we be not within the covenant with God, our prayers shall turn to sin.
Direct, o. Thirdly, Take heed of ivilfid neglect of God's word. He that turneth his ears from hearing the law, his prayer shall be abominable, Prov. xxviii. 9. Some cry down preaching and cry up prayer, making opposi- tion between duties where none is. Dost thou think God will hear thee, and thou wilt not hear him ? Prov. i. 28.
Direct. 4. Fourthly, Take heed of double dealiny with God. This is hateful to God, and therefore David, till he dealt plainly with himself by condemning himself, his prayers were but roaring as a beast taken in a snare and [that] cannot get out, roars for pain and despite, Ps. xxxii. 3.
Direct. 5. Take heed, in the next place, of allowance of any sin, though never so little ; and though it be only entertained in heart, the Lord will not hear our prayers, Ps. Ixvi. 18. For shall we think that God cares for our prayers when we make covenant with his enemies ?
Direct. G. Take heed also of unmerciful ncss and cruelty. God would not hear the Israelites. Their hands were full of blood, Isa. i. 15. God will rather have no sacrifice than no charity. Let us take heed of these things, and let us come boldly to the throne of grace while he holds out his sceptre to us.
But against this a man may object and say, that he is a wicked wretch, and his praj'ers shall but increase sin.
To such I answer, let them ofier their prayers in obedience to God's commandments, who commands them to pray, and he will respect the very ' groans' of his Spirit within. Elias was a man subject to'the like infirmi- ties ; yet God heard his pra3'er, James v. 17. Where God's Spirit stirreth up, man's spirit is stirred up ; and where Christ joins to offer the prayers to his Father as in his own name, why should we vilify that which God highly esteemeth ? Let God have his sacrifice. He knows how to accept of that which is good, and to pardon that which is amiss. He will second his beginnings, and will enlarge the heart more and more. Though in the beginning, prayer may be dull and untoward, it shall end in fulness, and therefore let these spiritual depths be so far off from hindering us from prayer, as that rather it should encourage us to pray. For it may be one end why the Lord suffers us to fall into depths, to the end that we may be stirred up to come to him ; that thus we may glorify him, and he glorify his mercy in hearing our prayers and granting our requests. For sure it is, he that hath not a heart to pray when he is in depths, shall never come out of them ; and let such as do come to him know, that however God is not present to sense, but rather seemeth to hide himself, yet he is most
103 THE s.vint's comforts:
near to such as, with Mary, cannot see him for their tears and griefs, if wiih her in humility they seek after him.
Ver. 3. ' If thou, Lord, should mark iniquities, 0 Lord, who shall stand ? '
Those words are a removal of hindrances of prayer, following God with an humhle confession of that which is evil, which is ever better than a proud boasting of that wliich is good; and thus preventing* a secret objection, which God and a guilty conscience may make, that he was a guilty wretch. To which he answers by way of confession, ' Truth, Lord ! yet if thou shouldst mark iniquities, none could abide it. Wheuce in general we may observe,