As we see in Luke 18. 1in the Parable of the Widow. God there vouch. safes to compare himself to an unrighteous Judge, that cared neither for God, nor man: yet the importunity of the Widow moved him to regard her. So the poor Church of God, she is like a Widow, with her hair hanging about her. This is Zion, whom none regardeth: yet this Widow, the poor Church ⟨p. 72⟩of God, and every particular member of it, they are importunate with the Judge of heaven, and earth, with God, and will not he more regard the importunity of his children whom he loves, and delights in that, Call upon him day and night? will not he regard their petitions; when an unrighteous Judge shall care for the importunity of a poor Widow? Thus you see the excellent fruit of importunity in our blessed Saviour himself, and here in David, I will seek after it, I will have no nay. Therefore we are exhorted in the Scriptures, ⟨p. 73⟩not to keep silence, to give God no rest, you that are the Lords remembrancers, keep not silence, give him no rest: as Jacob with the Angel, wrestle with him, leave him not till we have a blessing. As the woman of Canaan, let us follow him still, and take no nay. Oh this is a blessed violence (beloved) when we can set upon God, and will have no nay, but renew suite upon suite, and desire on desire, and never leave till our petitions be answered. Can the hypocrite pray alway? Would you know a comfortable note to distinguish an hypocrite ⟨p. 74⟩from a true Christian? take it hence, Will the hypocrite pray alway? Sometimes he will pray; but if God answer him not presently he gives over; but Gods children pray always; if the ground be good, if they see the excellency of the thing, and the necessity, and withal join at the amiableness of it, that it may be gotten. When they see the excellency, and the necessity and usefulness of the thing, and the attainableness of it, and that it is attainable in the use of means, they need no more, they will never give over. That is the ⟨p. 75⟩reason of that in the petitions, Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. But can we do the will of God on earth as it is done in heaven? and doth Gods glorious Kingdom of heaven come while we are here in earth?
As wee see in Luke 18. 1in the Parable of the Widow. God there vouch. safes to compare himselfe to an unrighteous Judge, that cared neither for God, nor man: yet the importunity of the Widow mooved him to regard her. So the poore Church of God, shee is like a Widow, with her hayre hanging about her. This is Sion, whom none regardeth: yet this Widow, the poore Church ⟨p. 72⟩of God, and every particular member of it, they are importunate with the Judge of heaven, and earth, with God, and will not he more regard the importunity of his children whom he loves, and delights in that, Call upon him day and night? will not he regard their petitions; when an unrighteous Judge shall care for the importunity of a poore Widow? Thus you see the excellent fruit of importunity in our blessed Saviour himselfe, and here in David, I will seeke after it, I will have no nay. Therefore wee are exhorted in the Scriptures, ⟨p. 73⟩not to keep silence, to give God no rest, you that are the Lords remembrancers, keepe not silence, give him no rest: as Iacob with the Angell, wrastle with him, leave him not till wee have a blessing. As the woman of Canaan, let us follow him still, and take no nay. Oh this is a blessed violence (beloved) when wee can set upon God, and will have no nay, but renew suite upon suite, and desire on desire, and never leave till our petitions be answered. Can the hypocrite pray alway? Would you know a comfortable note to distinguish an hypocrite ⟨p. 74⟩from a true Christian? take it hence, Will the hypocrite pray alway? Sometimes he will pray; but if God answere him not presently he gives over; but Gods children pray alwayes; if the ground be good, if they see the excellency of the thing, and the necessity, and withall joyne at the amiablenesse of it, that it may be gotten. When they see the excellency, and the necessity and usefulnesse of the thing, and the attainablenesse of it, and that it is attainable in the use of meanes, they need no more, they will never give over. That is the ⟨p. 75⟩reason of that in the petitions, Thy Kingdome come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. But can wee doe the will of God on earth as it is done in heaven? and doth Gods glorious Kingdome of heaven come while wee are here in earth?
- 1Luke 18.
