A01902:166
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 10THE RETVRNE OF PRAYERS. › Chapter 10
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.
11 Because your assurance that your persons are accepted, is weak, therefore your confidence that your prayers are heard, is weak also: For as God doth first accept the person, and then our prayers: so the belief, ⟨p. 217⟩that God doth accept our person is that which also upholds our hearts in confidence that our prayers shall be granted: this you may find in 1 John 5. 13, 14, 15. in the 13. vers. he says. These things have I written to you, that ye may know you have eternal life: and upon that assurance this will follow, Vers. 14, 15. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us, &c. And if we know he hears us, we know we have the petitions we desired of him. Mark how he links these three together, as effects and consequences each of other. 1. These ⟨p. 218⟩things I write unto you, that you may be assured, that life and heaven is yours, as in 12. and 13. verses. And upon that 2. this confidence will follow in your hearts, That God hears you, that is, that you have his ears open to you, and his heart enlarged towards you: and then 3. if you be assured that God hears you, then from this will follow an assurance, that You shall have any thing granted you desire; yea, and he makes this one of the main and immediate effects of Assurance of justification; therefore he says, this is the confidence that we have in him; that is, this effect there is of this confidence, ⟨p. 219⟩for whereas they might say, what benefit will accrue to us by this assurance? why this says he, which is one of the great and main privileges of a Christian, even assurance that God will hear him; and not only so, but grant him all his prayers. For when a man is assured God hath given him his Son, he will then easily be induced to believe and expect, How shall he not with him give me all things? Rom. 8. 32. If once he looks upon God as a Father, he will then easily conceive that which Christ says, If Fathers that are evil can give good things to their Children, how much more ⟨p. 220⟩