The Return of Prayers

Reas. 1 1 Reason: Because it will be a greater aggravation in sinning; It is made the aggravation of Solomons sin, 1 Kings 11. 9. That God had appeared to him twice: they were especial appearances and manifestations of mercy; and though such do now cease, yet we read of such as are analogical to them, as John 14. 21. Christ promiseth to manifest himself, which is by shedding abroad his love, and his Fathers love ⟨p. 291⟩into the heart, which is evident by the former words, he shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and after he saith, we will come to him, and make our abode with him, ver. 23. and 27. My peace I will give unto you. Now such appearances will be set upon the score of every sin, many years after, as they were upon Solomons. And the reason is, because nothing wounds an ingenuous loving Nature more, then matter of unkindness: if it had been my enemy says David, I could have borne it, Psal. 55. 12, 14. but it was thou oh man, mine acquaintance, we took sweet counsel together, a bosom ⟨p. 292⟩friend to whom I had committed my secrets, opened my heart: Thus when God hath unbosomed himself as it were to a man, and told him what was in his heart towards him, this goes nigh him, if he lifts up the heel against him. And the reason of that further also is, 1 because of all things else, a man cannot endure to have his love abused, you come nigh him when you do so, for his love is himself, and commands all in him, so that abuse his love, and you strike at his heart; it is less to abuse any excellency in a man, to reproach and extenuate his ⟨p. 293⟩parts, learning, &c. though these are dear to him, but his love is his bowels. And therefore, when God hath opened his heart to a man, and set his love upon him, and revealed it to him, and he carries himself unworthily, it pains him at the heart. Besides, 2. it is against the law of Nature and of Nations, to seek out for a peace, and get it concluded, and then secretly to prepare for, and enter into a war; nothing more hateful, or can exasperate two Nations one against another more then this. It was the aggravation of Absaloms sin, that being newly reconciled with his father,