A01902:96
The Return of Prayers
The return of prayers A treatise wherein this case how to discern Gods answers to our prayers is briefly resolved, with other observations upon Psal. 85.8. concerning Gods speaking peace, &c. By Tho: Goodwin. B.D.The returne of prayers A treatise wherein this case how to discerne Gods answers to our prayers is briefly resolved, with other observations vpon Psal. 85.8. concerning Gods speaking peace, &c. By Tho: Goodvvin. B.D.
London: printed by M. Flesher for R. Dawlman, 1636
THE RETURN OF PRAYERS. › Chapter 5THE RETVRNE OF PRAYERS. › Chapter 5
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
13 When God stirs up in the heart a particular faith in a business: as sometimes He doth, and upholds the heart to wait for it, maugre all discouragements. So he did in David, Psal. 27. 3. David was then in great hazards by reason of Saul or Absalom, and those such and so often, as that to sense and outward probabilities he was like never to live quietly again at Jerusalem ⟨p. 108⟩and enjoy Gods Ordinances there in peace; but for this David had prayed, and had made it as the grand request of his whole life (as every man hath some one great request of all other, even as He hath some special grace above all other, or gift, &c. so request to God next to His salvation, as haply for his Ministry, or the like, therefore says David, verse 4. This one thing have I desired) and accordingly God gave him a special faith in this thing above all other, because it was his great request, In this will I be confident▪ verse 3. And though an host of men should again ⟨p. 109⟩and again encompass me, says he, yet in this I will be confident, that I shall still escape, and see Jerusalem again, and enjoy the Ordinances and live in peace; and though his faith failed him often (as in the persecution of Saul it did) for he said he should one day perish by the hand of Saul: 2yet at other times his faith was marvellously upheld, and he was confident in this. He used not to be so, in other requests thus absolutely particularly and distinctly, and therefore he says, In this, &c. As there is a witness of the Holy Ghost immediate to the heart, sealing up adoption to a ⟨p. 110⟩mans person, so in some cases, there is the like testimony for the obtaining of some eminent thing we have asked. Which particular special faith, doth in a kind of similitude answer to the faith of miracles of old, whereby a man had a particular confidence, that God would do such a miracle by him: so in & by means of prayer, in some things there may be a particular strengthening & assuring the heart, that God will do such a thing for a man: which I confess is rare and extraordinary, as also that immediate testimony concerning our persons is, which many want that go to heaven.