Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

Or will ye reply, That you do pray indeed, That God would visit the heathen World with the Gospel of Salvation: But ye cannot think, that your Prayers will contribute much toward so great, and good a work. Suffer me to debate this also, a little, with you. Why will you reproach the Spirit, and Grace of Prayer, ⟨p. 305⟩in saying, it can avail little, or nothing, when God himself, saith, Jam. 5.16. The effectual, fervent Prayer of a Righteous man availeth much? Those Prayers, which can mount as high as Heaven, are able also, to reach the ends of the Earth. Why will ye, by your disobedience, (as much as in you lies) make void the Commandments of Christ? Doth not He expressly charge you, To pray to the Lord of the Harvest, that he would send forth Labourers into his Harvest? And, to pray, That his Kingdom may come? And, will ye say, That the Lord Christ, doth enjoin his Servants to do that, which is insignificant, and impertinent? Why will you, by your unbelief, go about to make the Promises of God of none effect? When as, he himself hath assured us, That, He will fulfil the (regular) desires of them that fear him, Psal. cxlv. 18, 19. And that, whatsoever we ask, according to his will, he heareth us, 1 Joh. v. 14. For ever then, beware of entertaining that Temptation, which is formed and cherished in the hearts of the ungodly; Who say unto God — What profit should we have, if we pray unto him? Job xxi. 14, 15. I shall close this, when I have added, That were the Prayers of private, godly, Christians more frequent, intense, and importunate, for the spreading of the Gospel, it would be an hopeful indication, that the Gospel is about, through the blessing of God, to find better entertainment in the World, than it hath done, of later years.

Or will ye reply, That you do pray indeed, That God would visit the heathen World with the Gospel of Salvation: But ye cannot think, that your Prayers will contribute much toward so great, and good a work. Suffer me to debate this also, a little, with you. Why will you reproach the Spirit, and Grace of Prayer, ⟨p. 305⟩