The Return of Prayers

Reas. 3 Thirdly, peace especially of conscience, is a thing must be created, for our hearts of themselves are full of nothing but turmoil; ⟨p. 261⟩as the raging sea, which cannot rest. I create the fruit of the lips, peace. Isaiah 57. 19. men may speak it, but I must create it; A word of power, such as went forth when light was created, must go forth from God, or else there is no peace; for otherwise our hearts are as the sea, that rests not.

Reas. 3 Thirdly, peace especially of conscience, is a thing must be created, for our hearts of themselves are full of nothing but turmoile; ⟨p. 261⟩as the raging sea, which cannot rest. I create the fruit of the lips, peace. Isaiah 57. 19. men may speake it, but I must create it; A word of power, such as went forth when light was created, must goe forth from God, or else there is no peace; for otherwise our hearts are as the sea, that rests not.

Reas. 4 Fourthly, the wounds of conscience which are in Gods people, are of that quality, that none but God can cure them; for, the chief thing that wounds them, is the loss of Gods favour, not simply his wrath: for it is the glory of God, and his favour, ⟨p. 262⟩not self-love only that makes them seek him; therefore nothing gives peace, but the restoring of his favour, and the light of his countenance; the same dart that wounded, must heal again; Isay 57. I smote him, and I will heal him: And as one that is sick with love, when love is the disease, no physic, no persuasion of friends can cure it, nothing but only the love of the party beloved; so when a soul is wounded for the loss of Gods love, not all the things in the world can cure the heart, but one word from him, one good look, one promise from him that we