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the wicked God saith, What hast thou to declare my statutes, or that* thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth ? seeing thou hatest instruction, and easiest my word behind thee.'
Obj. Here some may object, that even many heathens have been heard in their prayers who were not thus qualified.
Ans. To which I answer, It is not out of the privilege of this great charter here that such are heard ; but out of his common goodness unto all, whereby he would draw even the most rebellious to admiration of his divine abundant mercies, yea, and even teach us, if such prevail thus, much more shall we, being within the covenant.
2. The second is. Our prayers must be made to God alone.
3. Thirdly, They must pass under the seal of the Mediator.
For though all Christians may claim a part in the charter, yet the title must be pleaded in the Mediator's name only ; no Mediator to thee, no hearing.
4. Fourthly, Concerning the things prayed for, they must be lawful in kind also ; not fore-excepted, nor under any general nor particular limita- tions forbidden. Not everything we desire is rightly asked, some of which may cross his nature and will ; some things also are ill for us, by general and special decree forbidden, as exemption from afflictions and sufferings with him. If God hear us not in this, Christ forfeits not his word, but we our prayers.
5. Fifthly, That we have a right end in prayer ; as James iv. 3, the apostle speaks, ' You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts.' If the end be naught, the prayer is confiscate.
6. Sixthly, The time ; there be certain seasons and times wherein the Lord will be found ; as Dan. ix. 2, when he knew the time of the captivity to be near expired, then he prays for the return of the people. If we wait and seek in season, we may obtain ; but otherwise we may have a nap, and the door be knocked against our heads. Since then, ' there is a time that the Lord will be found,' as the prophet speaks, Isa. Iv. 6, I would not have us omit our time, but now when there is a stirring of the Spirit, let us take the opportunity, lest we miss it when we shall have most need of it.
7. Seventhly, There is the manner, under which I comprehend the order of the things asked and desired. If we would speed in temporal things, we must first seek spiritual, saith our Saviour ; ' But seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you,' Mat. vi. 33. If we miss of this, we may knock long ere we have entrance. To come to God and seek oil and wine, and the like things, and in the mean time to neglect the oil of grace, what a disorder is here. If in this case thou be crossed, it is not because he would put thee off without hearing, but because he would teach thee a better way to speed. For as when we eat our meat disorderly we want digestion, and for the most part buy experience at a dear rate, so many times God doth beat his dearest children, and put off' their prayers for a long time, that he may teach them in due order what is first and principally to be desired ; all these the party praying must carefully look unto for speeding in his suit.
Further, we have to observe in prayer,
1. The qualities. 2. The companions. 3. The attendants of prayer.
1. The qualities of prayer.
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(1.) That it be tlie prayer offiith ,• not generally and confusedly of the Godhead only, but distinctly of the persons, and of the redemption pur- chased, and of the hearing of thy petitions, having interest in him, 'Believe and it shall be given thee.'
(2.) Jltdiiiliti/ ; that a man go to God with a knowledge and a sense of his own insulliciency to succour himself. No man may come to God, but upon his knees. I speak not of the bowing of the knee, but of the heart ; it is written, 'God will hear the desires of the humble,' Ps. ix. 12. In misery, attliction, sense of our necessity, and the like, we should assure ourselves to be heard.
(8.) The heat and fervencu of praijcr. Our God, which is a 'consuming fire,' Heb. xii. 29, doth not endure a cold prayer ; the heart must be elevated, as Hannah, her heart spake unto the Lord, 1 Sam. i. 13 ; and Saint James saith, ' the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,' James v. 16. By the contrary, a cold prayer hath but a cold answer ; that man is but a mocker of prayer, that would have God to hear him, when he hears not himself.
2. 2 he co»i])itnions of prayer.
[1.) First, Charity which extends itself toward all men, and a brotherly love toward the saints, joined with graciousness in ourselves ; and it hath two things in it, giving and forgiving. He that would have mercy, must shew mercy ; rich men may do the one, and all men may do the other, but the other is harder, to forgive. He that is able to give, and relieve others as their need shall require, and yet will not, let him not wonder if God deny his suit ; and so he that will not forgive others, let him not look to be forgiven. 'Blessed is he,' saith the Scripture, 'that judgeth wisely of the poor, the Lord shall deliver him in the day of trouble,' Ps. xli. 1. If thou ask, and speed not, in this case marvel not ; thou hast denied him in his own members asking of thee, and therefore it is just with him to deny thee.