11 If the thing thou prayedst for doth come to pass, then what needst thou doubt of an answer, and whether God heard thee or no? For thou beholdest it with thine eyes: and so often it falls out, that God doth grant according to the desires of a mans heart; and not only so, but also fulfils his counsel therein, as it is, Psal. 20. 4. that is, fulfils not only his desire, and aim of his prayer, but in that ⟨p. 127⟩very way, by that very means, which his judgement and counsel pitched upon in his own thoughts. The desire of the heart may be satisfied, when God gives some other thing, but the counsel of the heart is then fulfilled, when a man is answered in that particular, which his own judgment pitched upon as best for him. For counsel is an act of the understanding, deliberating about means to an end, & directing to choose a particular means tending to an end: so that as Eliphaz says to Job, 22. 27, 28. Thou shalt make thy prayer to God, and he shall hear thee: & decree a thing, ⟨p. 128⟩and it shall be established to thee, that is, a man is guided to decree and pitch upon such mercies in his prayers, as God makes good in particular: he says what he would have, and God performs it: and this privilege thou shalt have (says Eliphaz there) if thou wilt turn to him, and be acquainted with him, and receive the Law from his mouth: thou shalt not err in praying; but what thou settest upon to pray for, shall be accordingly granted to thee▪ such a man shall have the priviledge, Fingere sibi fortunam in a right sense, to be his own chooser, and carver of his own ⟨p. 129⟩mercies; and as Christ said, Be it according to thy faith, so God says sometimes, Be it according to thy prayers; and Eliphaz speaks of it as of a special favour, that whereas other mens prayers are answered obliquely, thine says he shall be answered directly, which is more comfortable; as direct beams are, and have more heat in them then collateral and oblique. Thus if a man will hear God and obey him, God will hear him: for if a man be subject to Christ; Kingly Office, his Prophetical Office shall guide him, and cause him not to err in his Petitions; but by an unerring ⟨p. 130⟩providence & pre-instinct infused by his spirit, God will so guide him, as to ask even that very thing which GOD intends to give; whereas of himself he knows not what, nor how to ask.
11 If the thing thou prayedst for doth come to passe, then what needst thou doubt of an answer, and whether God heard thee or no? For thou beholdest it with thine eies: and so often it falls out, that God doth grant according to the desires of a mans heart; and not only so, but also fulfils his counsell therein, as it is, Psal. 20. 4. that is, fulfils not onely his desire, and aime of his prayer, but in that ⟨p. 127⟩very way, by that very meanes, which his judgement and counsell pitcht upō in his own thoughts. The desire of the heart may be satisfied, when God gives some other thing, but the counsell of the heart is then fulfilled, when a man is answered in that particular, which his own judgment pitcht upon as best for him. For counsell is an act of the understanding, deliberating about meanes to an end, & directing to choose a particular meanes tending to an end: so that as Eliphaz sayes to Iob, 22. 27, 28. Thou shalt make thy prayer to God, and hee shall hear thee: & decree a thing, ⟨p. 128⟩and it shall be established to thee, that is, a man is guided to decree and pitch upon such mercies in his prayers, as God makes good in particular: hee saies what he would have, and God performs it: and this priviledge thou shalt have (sayes Eliphaz there) if thou wilt turne to him, and be acquainted with him, and receive the Law from his mouth: thou shalt not erre in praying; but what thou settest upon to pray for, shall be accordingly granted to thee▪ such a man shall have the priviledge, Fingere sibi fortunam in a right sense, to be his owne chooser, and carver of his owne ⟨p. 129⟩mercies; and as Christ said, Be it according to thy faith, so God sayes sometimes, Be it according to thy prayers; and Eliphaz speaks of it as of a speciall favour, that whereas other mens prayers are answered obliquely, thine sayes hee shall be answered directly, which is more comfortable; as direct beames are, and have more heate in them then collaterall and oblique. Thus if a man will heare God and obey him, God will heare him: for if a man be subject to Christ; Kingly Office, his Propheticall Office shall guide him, and cause him not to erre in his Petitions; but by an unerring ⟨p. 130⟩providence & preinstinct infused by his spirit, God will so guide him, as to ask evē that very thing which GOD intends to give; whereas of himselfe hee knowes not what, nor how to aske.
- 1§. 1. God sometimes answers the prayer fully in the way and manner desired.
