A01902:139
The Return of Prayers
The return of prayers A treatise wherein this case how to discern Gods answers to our prayers is briefly resolved, with other observations upon Psal. 85.8. concerning Gods speaking peace, &c. By Tho: Goodwin. B.D.The returne of prayers A treatise wherein this case how to discerne Gods answers to our prayers is briefly resolved, with other observations vpon Psal. 85.8. concerning Gods speaking peace, &c. By Tho: Goodvvin. B.D.
London: printed by M. Flesher for R. Dawlman, 1636
THE RETURN OF PRAYERS. › Chapter 8THE RETVRNE OF PRAYERS. › Chapter 8
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
14 When God having heard thy prayers upon solemn vows made by thee, thy heart is made careful to pay those vows, which thou didst make in the time of thy suing to GOD for that mercy, this may be an argument to thee, the thing being granted, that thy prayer was heard. For first, it argueth, that thy ⟨p. 171⟩heart it self doth secretly make such an account, that upon them God did grant the thing, and thou dost therefore make conscience to return all again to God in service, as the condition of thy Indentures made with him; and as an homage due, and an acknowledgement for ever, that such a mercy was won by prayer; and by this preservest the memory of the receipt of that mercy: vows being of the nature of homage: and secondly, in this also it is an evidence, that the thing was obtained by prayer, in that God calls for those vows from thee, by his Spirit in thy heart, ⟨p. 172⟩and stirs thee up to perform them; it argues that in relation to thy prayers answered, He takes them as dues from thee, that having dispatched thy suite, He now calls for what was agreed to be given him when it should be performed. And thirdly, in that also he doth accept the payment of these thy vows of thee, he acknowledgeth that those vows and prayers were heard: for as Manoah said in another case, If he meant to have destroyed us, 2he would not have accepted a sacrifice: so in this case it may be said, if God had not heard thy prayers, he would not have accepted ⟨p. 173⟩thy vows after thy praying. Thus David, Psal. 66. 13, 14. I will pay thee my vows, which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in my trouble; the reason follows, v. 17, 19. because that Verily God hath heard me, when I cried to him: and so Eliphaz in Job doth connect and hang these two together, Job 22. 27. Thou shalt make thy prayer to him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows: This which he speaks of paying his vows, was not only as it was to be his duty, but also as a consequent that would follow the other, that when his prayers should be heard,