The Return of Prayers

though the Angel, who brought the answer, arrived not at him till towards the end in the Evening, ver. 21.) but the real accomplishment of it may be deferred. So as no prayer in respect of an answer to it is in vain; but where ⟨p. 12⟩God hath given a heart to speak, He hath an ear to hear, and love to return answer: which not to regard, is to take an Ordinance in vain, which is Gods Name.

though the Angel, who brought the answer, arrived not at him till towards the end in the Evening, ver. 21.) but the reall accomplishment of it may be deferred. So as no prayer in respect of an answer to it is in vaine; but where ⟨p. 12⟩God hath given a heart to speake, Hee hath an eare to heare, and love to returne answer: which not to regard, is to take an Ordinance in vain, which is Gods Name.

And secondly,¹ not simply Gods name, as in an Ordinance made known, but also His name, that is, His Attributes are taken in vain. For it is a sign you think of that God you pray to, that either his ear is heavy, that he cannot hear: or his hand shortened, that he cannot save: or his heart straitened, and his bowels restrained, that he will not: And thus you rob him, and despoil him of one of his most royal ⟨p. 13⟩Titles, whereby he styles himself,² a God that heareth prayers; who is so regardful of them, that in the first of Kings 8. 59. they are said to be nigh the Lord day and night, they are all before him, and he sets them in his view, as we do letters of friends which we stick in our windows, that we may remember to answer them; or lay them not out of our bosoms, that we might be sure not to forget them: so the petitions of his people, pass not out of his sight, till he sends an answer, which is called speaking here; God speaking as well in his works as in his word. But you, by your