Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

5. As Faith is thus earnest in suing to God for Grace, so it is no less vigilant and watchful in observing what Answer comes from the Lord; even as the Prisoner at the Bar, not only cries for Mercy, but he marks every Word which falls from the Judges Mouth, if any thing may give him Hope; or as Benhadad's Servants lay at catch with the King of Israel, to see if they could take occasion by any thing which fell from him, to plead for the Life of Benhadad: So the poor Soul that is now pleading for Life and Grace, it watcheth narrowly, to see if any thing may come from God, any Intimation of Favour, any Word of Comfort, that may tend to Peace. O let me hear Joy and Gladness.—I will hear what the Lord will say; for He will speak Peace unto His People.

6. As Faith waits for an Answer, so accordingly it demeans it self.

1. Sometimes God answers not, and Faith takes on, and follows God still, and cries after Him with more Strength; as resolving never to give over, till the Lord either save or destroy: Nay, if the Lord will destroy, Faith chooseth to die at God's Feet; as when Joab was bidden to come forth from the Horns of the Altar, and to take his Death in another Place; Nay, (saith Joab) but I will dye here: Or, as when Christ saw no Deliverance come in His Agony, He Prayed more earnestly: So a poor Soul,¹ in the Time of its Agony, when it is striving as for Life and Death, if Help come not at first Call, it prays again, and that more earnestly. Faith is very urgent with God; and the more slack the Lord seems in answering, the more earnest is Faith in plying God with its Prayers: It will wrestle with God, as Jacob with the Angel; it will take no Denial, but will crave still: Bless me, even me also; O send me not away without a Blessing!