The Return of Prayers

Obser. 1 1. You see that sometimes ⟨p. 249⟩God doth not seek peace to his own children. This was their state for the present, when this Psalm was penned: He will speak peace, therefore at present he did not; yea, it may incline us to think that God at present spake the contrary, for the Prophet speaks this by faith, as contrary to sense, and present experience; he believes God intends to come again to a treaty of peace, though now he seems to have nothing but anger, and blood, and war in his looks, speeches, and actions; and to threaten and proclaim war, and take up Arms against them. And thus God often ⟨p. 250⟩deals with his own Children, whether a people or a particular man: so with a nation, Isaiah 63. 10. They rebelled, and he fought against them: so with a particular man, God frowned upon and rated his Child Ephraim, and spake bitter things against him, (it is the phrase used, Jer. 31. 20.) though yet Ephraim is my pleasant Child says he: David had not a good word from him a long time, Psal. 51. 8. Make me to hear again of joy and gladness. And Psal. 50 7. Hear oh my people, and I will speak, but not against them they might hope, because he owns them for his people: ⟨p. 251⟩Hear oh Israel, and I will testify against thee: and yet it follows, I am the Lord thy God. Job (says, he did not speak only against him, but also wrote bitter things, he wrote as it were books against: him, Job 13. 26. he writing over in his Conscience the sins of his youth in letters of blood and wrath and terrors for them.

Obser. 1 1. You see that sometimes ⟨p. 249⟩God doth not seake peace to his owne children. This was their state for the present, when this Psalme was penned: Hee will speake peace, therefore at present he did not; yea, it may incline us to think that God at present spake the contrary, for the Prophet speaks this by faith, as contrary to sense, and present experience; hee beleeves God intends to come againe to a treaty of peace, though now hee seemes to have nothing but anger, and blood, and war in his looks, speeches, and actions; and to threaten and proclaime warre, and take up Armes against them. And thus God often