The Return of Prayers

Use 1 1 Use, is to those who have had peace spoken to them, let them at such times fear themselves and God most, for then comes in this, as you see here, as the most seasonable admonition that can be given, to return no more to folly. 1. Fear God then most: for of all times else, then sins provoke him most; to come and call him Father, and the guide of your mouth, and yet to fall to sin, this is to do as evil as you can, you cannot do worse. Jer. 3 4, 5. So Ezra 9. After such an escaping, should we again break thy Commandments, wouldest thou not be angry till thou hadst consumed ⟨p. 310⟩us? In times of affliction it is the property of a good child to love GOD most: in times of speaking peace, to fear God most and his goodness, and to fear to offend him for his goodness sake. Did I only say, that God is provoked most then, if you return to folly? Nay, I add further, he is grieved, which is more then to be provoked; and therefore you shall mark that expression and admonition not to grieve Gods Spirit, then comes in, when the Spirit hath sealed us up to the day of redemption, Ephes. 4. 30. Then by sinning we are said more properly to grieve him ⟨p. 311⟩then before, when he hath so far engaged himself to love a man, and expressed himself to him, and set his seal upon him for his. God is angry with wicked mens sins, but he is grieved for yours. To grieve him is more then to anger him. Mere anger is an affection can ease it self by revenge, and by coming even again with the party, and when we can or intend to do so, our minds are not so much aggrieved, but please themselves rather to think of the revenge which we mean to execute: so when wicked men sin whom GOD means to meet with, he ⟨p. 312⟩is said to be angry rather then grieved; and says, I will ease my self of mine adversaries: Isay 1. 24. and avenge my self of mine enemies. But here, as when a mans wife that lies in his bosom, or his child shall wrong him: so is it when one sins, whom God hath set himself to love, and done much for, and made known his everlasting kindness unto, and sealed to the day of redemption: this goes to his heart, grieves him rather then angers him, and such are the truest and deepest griefs. What should he do with you in this case? if afflict you, and by that means go about to