The Return of Prayers

¹5. When the thing is granted by prayers, there is often some particular circumstance of providence concurrent with it, ⟨p. 143⟩which is a token for good, and sealeth to us that it is from God; such often as a man himself takes notice of, and which others take notice of also. Show me a token for good, says David, Psal. 86. 17. that others may see it and be ashamed: and such tokens doth God often make small circumstances to be. Things small in themselves, may be magna indicia, great signs and tokens: for example Moses and Aaron, and the Israelites had long cried to GOD for the deliverance of his people, and laid up many prayers; their cry came up, as was said; and when God doth deliver them, ⟨p. 144⟩what tokens were there of good? and of GODS hand in it, and of his answer to their prayers? The Text notes (as was observed before) that a dog did not bark at their going out, Exod. 11. 7. which was a small circumstance, but it was magnum indicium, and so intended by God; for the Text adds, That ye may know that God puts a difference between the Israelites and the Egyptians. This was a •oken of Gods hand, to over-rule the tongues of rude brute creatures, that use to stir at such unusual noises, and at travellers especially in the night. So when Isaac and Abraham, and ⟨p. 145⟩his servant also, had prayed for a Wife for Isaac, see by what a token God showed he had heard their prayers; Rebekah was the first that came out to the servant sent to bring a wife for him: and if she be the woman appointed for Isaac (says the servant) Let her offer me drink, ²and my Camels also: this was a small thing in appearance, but a great indicium of Gods hand in it, and therefore the servant bowed at it, and worshipped: and the sign in it self was such, as argued a good nature in her, and a kind courteous disposition, which therefore (it may be) he singled out, ⟨p. 146⟩