The Return of Prayers

The use of all is,¹ to reprove those, who put up prayers, and are earnest in begging, but look not after them when they have done, no more than if they had not prayed: who still venture, & have a great stock of prayers ⟨p. 213⟩going, but look not after the returns that are made, cast not up their comings in and gainings by prayers; and when they have prayed, sit down discouraged, as not making account in earnest that ever they shall hear of their prayers again, even as if they had been but as words cast away: as beating the air; as bread cast upon the waters, which they think sinks, or is carried away, and they shall find it no more; but herein you despise Gods Ordinance, and err, not knowing the power of prayers; and ye contemn the Lord But you will say as they in the Prophet said, Wherein ⟨p. 214⟩in do we contemn him? if you asked a man a question, and when you had done, did turn your back upon him, as scoffing Pilate asked in scorn of Christ, What is truth? but would not stay for an answer, did you not contemn him? as not to answer when a question is asked you, is contempt, so not to regard the answer made, when you have been earnest in begging, is no less contempt also: if you had writ letters to a very friend about important business, and had earnestly solicited him for an answer, and he were careful in due time to send one, if you should ⟨p. 215⟩make account to hear of him no more, should you not wrong him in your thoughts? Or if he did write, if you should not vouchsafe to read over his answer, were it not a contempt of him? so is it here, when you have been earnest with God for blessings, and regard not the answer: and because verily this is a fault among us, I will therefore endeavour to discover to you the causes and discouragements,² which though they keep you not from praying, yet from this earnest expectation, and real, and true making account to hear of answers of your prayers; only my scope is, not ⟨p. 216⟩to show you so much the reasons, why God denies you many requests, as why even in your own hearts you are discouraged after you have prayed, as if they would not be answered, although God doth answer them. These discouragements are partly temptations, partly sinful impediments wherein we are more faulty.