A01902:226
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
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.
But 3. If we add to this, that this new man in him having once tasted what sweetness is in God, and How good the Lord is, is then like a man that hath eaten sweet-meats, other things are out of ⟨p. 307⟩taste with him, and therefore also it is folly to return. No man (says Christ, Luke 5 ult.) having drank old wine desireth new, for he saith the old is better; a man used to high fare cannot agree so well with thin diet: so the soul having been used to taste of great pleasures in God, the impression & remembrance of them leaves his soul less satisfied than another mans; a stomach that hath been enlarged to full diet, looks for it, and riseth more hungry from a slender meal: now communion with God enlarges the faculties, and widens them and makes them more capable ⟨p. 308⟩of greater joys, than other men have, and therefore the creature is less able to fill them; still he remembers with much grief, whilst he is eating his husks, what fare he had in his fathers house: and oh, Then it was better with me, than now. Call me not Naomi, but call me Marah, as she said, For I went out full, and am come home empty; so doth he say, when he comes from the act of sinning, he went with his heart full of peace, and meeting with a bargain of sinning, thought to eke out his joy, and make it fuller, but he comes home empty.
But 3. If wee adde to this, that this new man in him having once tasted what sweetnes is in God, and How good the Lord is, is then like a man that hath eaten sweet-meats, other things are out of ⟨p. 307⟩taste with him, and therefore also it is folly to returne. No man (sayes Christ, Luke 5 ult.) having dranke old wine desireth new, for hee saith the old is better; a manused to high fare cannot agree so well with thinne dyet: so the soule having beene used to taste of great pleasures in God, the impression & remembrance of them leaves his soule lesse satisfied than another mans; a stomack that hath beene enlarged to full diet, looks for it, and riseth more hungry from a slender meale: now communion with God inlarges the faculties, and widens them and makes them more capable