A01902:157
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.
15. Observe, if in the thing which thou hast prayed much about, though it be denied thee, yet if God doth not endeavour to give thee (as I may so speak) all satisfaction that may be, even as if he were tender of denying thee, and therefore doth much in it for thy prayers sake, though the conclusion proves otherwise, as being against some other purpose of his, for some other ends: As when he denied Moses to go into the Land of Canaan, he did it with ⟨p. 204⟩much respect (as I may so speak with reverence) to Moses: he yielded as far as might be, for he let him lead them, till he should come to the very borders; and he let him see that good Land, carrying him up to an hill, and (as it is thought) by a miracle enabled his sight to view the whole Land; and the man he chose to perform this work, was his servant, which was a great honour to Moses; that one brought up by him should succeed him. So when Abraham prayed for Ishmael, Oh let Ismael live in thy sight, Gen. 17. 18. God went as far in granting his request as might ⟨p. 205⟩be; for, says he, ver. 20. I have heard thee, and I have blessed him, and I will make him fruitful, and multiply him exceedingly, and he shall beget twelve Princes; but my covenant I will establish with Isaac. So likewise, when in casting that thing, thou didst seek at his hands, he shows an extraordinary hand in turning it; it is a sign he had a respect to thee, that he would vouchsafe to discover his hand so much in it; let the thing fall which way it will, if Gods hand appear much in it, thou mayest comfortably conclude, that there is some great thing in it, and that prayer wrought that miracle ⟨p. 206⟩in it, to dispose it so; and that there is some great reason why he denies thee, and a great respect had to thy prayers, in that he is pleased to discover so extraordinary a providence about it.
15. Observe, if in the thing which thou hast prayed much about, though it be denyed thee, yet if God doth not endeavour to give thee (as I may so speake) all satisfaction that may be, even as if hee were tender of denying thee, and therefore doth much in it for thy prayers sake, though the conclusion proves otherwise, as being against some other purpose of his, for some other ends: As when hee denied Moses to goe into the Land of Canaan, hee did it with