The Return of Prayers

1 By some circumstance: ⟨p. 77⟩as for example, sometimes by ordering it so, that that man that prayed most for a thing of concernement, should have the first news of it when it comes to be accomplished: which God doth, as knowing it will be most welcome news to him. God doth herein, as we do with a friend, who we know is cordial in, and wisheth well to a business; he sends him the first word of it, who was most hearty in it, & prayed most about it. Good old Simeon, had surely been earnest in seeking the Lord, as well as the rest in Jerusalem, to send the Messiah into the world, ⟨p. 78⟩to restore and raise up the ruins of Israel, for God did reveal to him, that he should see him before he died: and therefore to evidence to him his respect to his prayers, God carried the good old man into the Temple, just at the time when the Child was brought into the Temple, for to be presented to the Lord, Luk. 2. 27, 28. And in like manner good Anna, who had served God with fasting and prayer, night and day: God ordereth it so, that she must also come in at the same instant, Luke 2. 38. By some such like peculiar circumstance or other, doth God often use to witness to a mans ⟨p. 79⟩heart, that he hath heard him in businesses, prayed for in common with others.

1 By some circumstance: ⟨p. 77⟩as for example, sometimes by ordering it so, that that man that prayed most for a thing of concernement, should have the first newes of it when it comes to bee accomplisht: which God doth, as knowing it will bee most welcome newes to him. God doth herein, as wee doe with a friend, who we know is cordiall in, and wisheth well to a businesse; hee sends him the first word of it, who was most hearty in it, & prayed most about it. Good old Simeon, had surely been earnest in seeking the Lord, as wel as the rest in Ierusalem, to send the Messiah into the world, ⟨p. 78⟩