12. If whilst thou art a praying, God doth draw nigh to thy soul, and revealeth himself to it, in and upon such, or such a particular petition. As in case thou didst mainly intend when thou diddest begin to pray, to set thy self to beg some temporal mercy at his hands, some great matter for the good and prosperity of the Church (as Daniel, Chap. 9. did set himself to seek God for the return of the Captivity:) and even before thou comest ⟨p. 100⟩to ask it, or in asking it, God smiles upon thee, welcomes thee: falleth about thy neck and kisseth thee: This thou art to observe as a sign he hears thy prayer, and accepteth both thee and it; when there is such a strong sense of Gods favour, and presence, whilst thou art upon such a suit and request, more then at other times, or then in other passages of the same prayer, this is a token God hears thee, in that particular, and thou art to observe this his speaking to thy heart: When thus thou shalt no sooner come into his presence to enquire of him, but ⟨p. 101⟩he says, Here I am, as the promise is, Isaiah 58. 9. Therefore, Psal. 69. 17, 18. Hear me speedily says David; and (that I may know thou hearest me) draw nigh to me: therefore when God draws nigh to thee, it is a sign he hears thee. Daniel having fasted and prayed for three weeks together, Dan. 10. 2, 3: Then an Angel came, and one of the three Persons came and told him, he was a man greatly beloved, ver. 11 and 19. when in like manner God by his Spirit comes down, and meets thee, and tells thy heart in secret that thou art His beloved, and He is thine, ⟨p. 102⟩then thy prayers are certainly heard: for if he accepts thy person, much more thy prayers, 1. John 5. 19, 20. Men, false men, (false upon the balance, as David speaks, when they come to be tried and weighed,) they will out of cunning use suitors most kindly then, when they mean to put them off, and deny them their requests: But God who is truth and faithfulness it self, doth not use so to deal, but when he means to answer the prayer, He withal sometimes reveals his free grace most, to the end they may see and acknowledge the fountain of all, to be his everlasting ⟨p. 103⟩love, and so take the thing granted as a fruit of it, and thereby come to be the more abundantly thankful.
12. If whilest thou art a praying, God doth draw nigh to thy soule, and revealeth himselfe to it, in and upon such, or such a particular petition. As in case thou didst mainely intend when thou diddest begin to pray, to set thy selfe to beg some temporall mercie at his hands, some great matter for the good and prosperity of the Church (as Daniel, Chap. 9. did set himselfe to seeke God for the returne of the Captivity:) and even before thou commest ⟨p. 100⟩to aske it, or in asking it, God smiles upon thee, welcomes thee: falleth about thy neck and kisseth thee: This thou art to observe as a signe hee heares thy prayer, and accepteth both thee and it; when there is such a strong sense of Gods favour, and presence, whilest thou art upon such a suit and request, more then at other times, or then in other passages of the same prayer, this is a token God heares thee, in that particular, and thou art to observe this his speaking to thy heart: When thus thou shalt no sooner come into his presence to enquire of him, but ⟨p. 101⟩hee sayes, Here I am, as the promise is, Esay 58. 9. Therefore, Psal. 69. 17, 18. Heare me speedily sayes David; and (that I may know thou hearest mee) draw nigh to mee: therefore when God drawes nigh to thee, it is a signe hee heares thee. Daniel having fasted and prayed for three weekes together, Dan. 10. 2, 3: Then an Angell came, and one of the three Persons came and told him, hee was a man greatly beloved, ver. 11 and 19. when in like maner God by his Spirit comes downe, and meets thee, and tells thy heart in secret that thou art His beloved, and Hee is thine, ⟨p. 102⟩then thy prayers are certainly heard: for if hee accepts thy person, much more thy prayers, 1. Iohn 5. 19, 20. Men, false men, (false upon the ballance, as David speakes, when they come to bee tried and weighed,) they will out of cunning use suitors most kindly then, when they meane to put them off, and deny them their requests: But God who is truth and faithfulnesse it selfe, doth not use so to deale, but when he means to answer the prayer, Hee withall sometimes reveals his free grace most, to the end they may see and acknowledge the fountaine of all, to be his everlasting ⟨p. 103⟩
- 12 When God draws nigh and reveals His love in and upon such a petition.2 When God drawes nigh and reveales His love in and upon such a petition.
