1A third sinful discouragement is returning to sins after prayers, when a man hath prayed for some mercy, and riseth full of much confidence that his prayers are heard, and so a while he walks, yet falling into a sin, that sin doth dash all his hopes, undoes his prayers, (as he ⟨p. 241⟩thinks) and calls them back again, meets as it were with the answer, which is Gods messenger, and causeth it to return to heaven again. How often when God had even granted a petition, and the decree was a coming forth, and the grant newly written, and the seal a setting to it, but an act of treason coming between, stops it in the seal, and defers it, blots and blurreth all, both prayer and grant when newly written, and leaves a guilt in the mind, which quells our hopes, and then we look no more after our prayers; and this especially if when we ⟨p. 242⟩were a sinning, such a thought came in, (as often it doth to restrain us) are you not in dependence upon God for such a mercy, and have prayed for it, and are fair for it, how then dare you do this, and sin against him? when in this case the heart goes on, this blots all the prayer, and discourageth a man; for saith the conscience, will God hear sinners? (as he said.) And thus far it is true that sinning thus between, interrupts and hinders the obtaining our petitions, that answerably as we do thus dash and betray and undo our prayers, 2so in a proportion, we find ⟨p. 243⟩in the way to our obtaining the thing we prayed for, so many rubs and difficulties do arise; for as we lay blocks in Gods way coming towards us to do us good, so he in ours: therefore often when a business goes prosperously on, and we think we shall carry it, comes some accident between the cup and the lip, that casts all behind hand again, because answerably we dealt with God. For when we had prayed, and were encouraged and in good hopes, then by some sin or other we spoiled all, and bereaved our selves of our expectation. But yet this ⟨p. 244⟩you are to consider, that as in the end praying useth to overcome sin in Gods Children, so also God in the end overcomes difficulties, and brings the matter to pass: and know it is not sins past so much that hinder the prayers of Gods people, as the present unfitness and indisposition of their hearts for mercy.
1A third sinfull discouragement is returning to sinnes after prayers, when a man hath prayed for some mercy, and riseth full of much confidence that his prayers are heard, and so a while he walkes, yet falling into a sin, that sin doth dash al his hopes, undoes his prayers, (as he ⟨p. 241⟩thinkes) and calls them backe againe, meetes as it were with the answer, which is Gods messenger, and causeth it to returne to heaven againe. How often when God had even granted a petition, and the decree was a comming forth, and the grant newly written, and the seale a setting to it, but an act of treason comming betweene, stops it in the seale, and deferres it, blots and blurreth all, both prayer and grant when newly written, and leaves a guilt in the mind, which quells our hopes, and then wee looke no more after our prayers; and this especially if when we ⟨p. 242⟩were a sinning, such a thought came in, (as often it doth to restrain us) are you not in dependāce upon God for such a mercy, and have prayed for it, and are faire for it, how then dare you doe this, and sin against him? when in this case the heart goes on, this blots all the prayer, and discourageth a man; for saith the conscience, will God hear sinners? (as he said.) And thus farre it is true that sinning thus between, interrupts and hinders the obtaining our petitions, that answerably as wee doe thus dash and betray and undoe our prayers, 2so in a proportion, we finde ⟨p. 243⟩in the way to our obtaining the thing wee prayed for, so many rubbes and difficulties doe arise; for as wee lay blocks in Gods way comming towards us to doe us good, so hee in ours: therefore often when a businesse goes prosperously on, and wee think wee shall carry it, comes some accident betweene the cup and the lip, that casts all behinde hand againe, because answerably wee dealt with God. For when wee had prayed, and were encouraged and in good hopes, then by some sinne or other wee spoyld all, and bereaved our selves of our expectation. But yet this ⟨p. 244⟩you are to consider, that as in the end praying useth to overcome sin in Gods Children, so also God in the end overcomes difficulties, and brings the matter to passe: and know it is not sins past so much that hinder the prayers of Gods people, as the present unfitnesse and indisposition of their hearts for mercy.
- 13 Discouragement; falling into sins again after praying.3 Discouragement; falling into sins againe after praying.
- 2The answer to it.
