15 When thou art enabled by faith, to see clearly Gods hand showed forth in the effecting of that mercy over and above the power of second causes, and to acknowledge it to his glory: for the truth is, one main cavilling reason in our blind hearts, whereby we are usually hindered and put by from apprehending our prayers to be answered, when ⟨p. 175⟩yet the thing is done, we shall find to be, that our eyes are terminated and bounded in second causes, and not raised to see Gods hand in the thing: therefore on the contrary, when God enableth thee to see that he hath done thee this kindness, so as thy mind is clear in it, this is a fruit of his hearing thy prayers: And this you will usually find to be true, that so much faith and dependence as you had upon God in prayer for the obtaining of a mercy, so much faith and acknowledgement you will have in the accomplishment of it. Parallel with this rule is that other, which in another ⟨p. 176⟩case is usually given, that in performance of duties, so much as the soul did go out of it self to God, for strength to perform them, so much, when they are performed, will the heart acknowledge Gods assistance and be humbled: And this is a sign of prayer being heard upon this ground, because Gods end of hearing prayers is, that we might glorify him. So Psal. 50. 15. Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Therefore when the heart hath prayed much for a mercy, with dependence before the obtaining of it, and then ⟨p. 177⟩is enabled to exalt God when it is obtained; it is a sign that God did it in relation to those prayers. For there is that connection made between these, as between the cause and the effect, I will hear thee, and thou shalt glorify me. David, when he was delivered out of all his troubles, (as when he made that 18. Psal. he was, as appears by the title of it) then at the 6. verse, he relates how he had prayed, and how he was heard; and see thereupon how his heart was enlarged to acknowledge God alone to have done all, in the rest of that Psalm; so from the 27. and also from the ⟨p. 178⟩31. ver. When we see Angels from God, beyond the power of second causes descending, it is a sign, that prayers, as Angels, first ascended, and obtained that mercy. Thus also the Church Isaiah 26. having obtained those deliverances by prayer, ver. 17.
15 When thou art inabled by faith, to see cleerly Gods hand shewed forth in the effecting of that mercy over and above the power of second causes, and to acknowledge it to his glory: for the truth is, one maine cavilling reason in our blinde hearts, whereby wee are usually hindred and put by from apprehending our prayers to be answered, when ⟨p. 175⟩yet the thing is done, wee shall find to be, that our eyes are terminated and bounded in second causes, and not raised to see Gods hand in the thing: therefore on the contrary, when God inableth thee to see that hee hath done thee this kindnesse, so as thy minde is cleere in it, this is a fruit of his hearing thy prayers: And this you will usually finde to be true, that so much faith and dependance as you had upon God in prayer for the obtaining of a mercy, so much faith and acknowledgement you will have in the accomplishment of it. Parallel with this rule is that other, which in another ⟨p. 176⟩case is usually given, that in performance of duties, so much as the soul did goe out of it selfe to God, for strength to performe them, so much, when they are performed, will the heart acknowledge Gods assistance and be humbled: And this is a signe of prayer being heard upon this ground, because Gods end of hearing prayers is, that wee might glorifie him. So Psal. 50. 15. Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify mee. Therefore when the heart hath prayed much for a mercy, with dependance before the obtaining of it, and then ⟨p. 177⟩is enabled to exalt God when it is obtained; it is a signe that God did it in relation to those prayers. For there is that connexion made betweene these, as between the cause and the effect, I will heare thee, and thou shalt glorifie me. David, when he was delivered out of all his troubles, (as when hee made that 18. Psal. he was, as appeares by the title of it) then at the 6. verse, he relates how he had prayed, and how hee was heard; and see thereupon how his heart was enlarged to acknowledge God alone to have done all, in the rest of that Psalme; so from the 27. and also from the ⟨p. 178⟩31. ver. When wee see Angels from God, beyond the power of second causes descending, it is a signe, that prayers, as Angels, first ascended, and obtained that mercy. Thus also the Church Esay 26. having obtained those deliverances by prayer, ver. 17.
- 15 If a man sees by faith, and acknowledgeth God • sole han• in the accomplishment.
