A01902:153
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 9THE RETVRNE OF PRAYERS. › Chapter 9
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.
12. Observe, if there were not a reservation in that denial, for some greater and further mercy, ⟨p. 191⟩whereof that denial was the foundation. Thus 1 oftentimes some great cross is prevented, by the denial of a thing, which we were urgent for: if we had had many of our desires, we had been undone: So it was a mercy to David, that his child was taken away, for whose life he was yet so earnest, who would have been but a living monument of his shame. It was also a mercy to David, that Absalom was taken away, (whom surely he prayed much for, for he loved him much) who if he had lived, might have been the ruin of him and his house. As a wicked mans deliverance ⟨p. 192⟩and the granting his request lays a foundation, and is a reservation of him to a worse Judgement: So, the denial of a Godly mans prayer is for his greater good, and is laid as a foundation of a greater mercy: 2 and again, oftentimes the very denial breaks a mans heart, and brings him nearer to God, puts him upon searching into his ways, and estate, and in his prayers to see what should be amiss therein, which alone is a great mercy; and better then the thing, seeing by the loss of that one thing he learns how to pray better, and so to obtain a hundred better ⟨p. 193⟩things afterward. Christ desired the Cup might pass, it did not; and that was the foundation of our salvation, & the way to His glory: He being to pass through that suffering into His glory: The woman that had the bloody issue, though she used many means, and haply prayers among the rest, and all in vain, yet none took effect; that in the end she might come to Christ, and have both body and soul healed at once.
12. Observe, if there were not a reservation in that denial, for some greater and further mercy, ⟨p. 191⟩whereof that deniall was the foundation. Thus 1 oftentimes some great crosse is prevented, by the deniall of a thing, which we were urgent for: if we had had many of our desires, we had been undone: So it was a mercy to David, that his childe was taken away, for whose life he was yet so earnest, who would have been but a living monument of his shame. It was also a mercy to David, that Absalom was taken away, (whom surely he prayed much for, for hee loved him much) who if he had lived, might have beene the ruine of him and his house. As a wicked mans deliverance