The new covenantThe nevv covenant

You will say, Is this such a matter? every man can pray. Beloved, it is another thing then the world imagines it to be▪ he that hath this spirit, is mighty in prayer, he is able to wrestle with God, as Jacob did, by the spirit of Adoption, he had power with God, as it is said there, and he is able to prevail with the Lord, and why? because he can speak to him, as to a Father, he can continue in prayer, and watch there eunt• with all perseverance; he can speak to him, as one that he is well acquainted with; he can not only speak remissly, but he can cry Abba Father, that shows fervency in his prayer; there is no man in the world that is able to do it besides. We see a description of other men, Isaiah 33. 14. when they are troubled, they are not able to pray indeed, they may have forms of prayer, that they may use in times of peace, but, beloved let any great trouble come upon them, let them be put to it, and then you shall find they are not able to do it, but they run away from God as fast as they can, at that time, they are not able to come and say, Thou art my Father, I beseech thee hear me, I beseech thee pity me, and forgive me: no, but they tremble at Gods presence, as the Thief doth at the presence of the Judge; ⟨p. 158⟩the sinners in Zion are afraid in that day when God comes, at the day of visitation, the sinners in Zion are afraid, &c. for who shall dwell with devouring fire? That is, they tremble at such a day, when the day of death comes, when God begins to show himself to them, in the fierceness of his wrath, when he begins to come near them in the day of visitation, then they fly from him, as one would fly from devouring fire, they fly not to him, as one would fly to a merciful Father, that is ready to hear them, and help them, but they fly from him as fast as they can, as one would fly from everlasting burning. The like place you have,¹ Job 27. 8, 9, 10. For what hope hath the Hypocrite when he hath heaped up riches, when God shall come and pull away his soul? Will God hear his prayer when he cries, &c.? Will he call upon God at all times?

You will say, Is this such a matter? euery man can pray. Beloued, it is another thing then the world iagines it to be he that hath this spirit, is mighty in prayer, he is able to wrestle with God, as Iacob did, by the spirit of Adoption, hee had power with God, as it is said there, and he is able to preuaile with the Lord, and why? because he can speake to him, as to a Father, he can continue in prayer, and watch ther eunt with all perseuerance; he can speake to him, as one that he is well acquainted with; he can not only speake remissly, but he can cry Abba Father, that shewes feruency in his prayer; there is no man in the world that is able to doe it besides. We see a description of other men, Esay 33. 14. when they are troubled, they are not able to pray indeed, they may haue formes of prayer, that they may vse in times of peace, but, beloued let any great trouble come vpon them, let them be put to it, and then you shall finde they are not able to doe it, but they runne away from God as fast as they can, at that time, they are not able to come and say, Thou art my Father, I beseech thee heare me, I beseech thee pitty me, and forgiue me: no, but they tremble at Gods presence, as the Thiefe doth at the presence of the Iudge;