The Return of Prayers

For it is in this,¹ as it is •n the use of other means and ordinances for the good of others; God making such like kind of promises to our prayers herein, as he hath made to our endeavours to convert when we preach to men: that look as we preach to many, and yet but few believe,² for, Who hath believed our report? even as many as are ordained to eternal life; we become all to all, and win but ⟨p. 48⟩some: So we pray for many, not knowing who are ordained to eternal life, which whilst we know not, we are yet to pray for them, 1. Tim. 2, 3, 4. Only as where God hath set his Ordinance of Preaching, it is more then a probable sign he hath some to convert, and usually the word takes among some, though often but a few: So when he hath stirred up our hearts to pray for others, it is a sign God will hear us for some of those we pray for: yet so as we may be denied. For God doth require it as a duty on our parts, because it is an outward means ordained by ⟨p. 49⟩God, by which sometimes He useth to bring things to pass: but yet not as such a certain, and infallible means, as he hath tied himself universally unto, to bring the thing to pass on his part.

For it is in this,¹ as it is •n the use of other means and ordinances for the good of others; God making such like kinde of promises to our prayers herein, as hee hath made to our endeavours to convert when wee preach to men: that looke as wee preach to many, and yet but few beleeve,² for, Who hath beleeved our report? even as many as are ordained to eternall life; wee become all to all, and winne but ⟨p. 48⟩