I Answer, Thine asking what God hath decreed not to give, makes not thy Prayer sinful, but thine asking what he hath forbid thee to desire; for the will of Gods Decree is not the rule for us to walk by, but the will of his Command, Deut. 29.29. If what we pray for be such as is lawful and good for us to desire, though God should tell us by a Prophet that he would not grant it, yet we might lawfully pray for it, and be blameless, for so did David, 2 Sam. 12. nay though God should send us word by a Prophet that we should dye and not live, yet we might pray, and not only be blameless but successful, for so was Hezekiah, nay though God should forbid us to pray, yet since he commands us to pray in his Word, we may pray, and be heard; for though God bid Jacob let him go, yet he wrestled on and obtained the blessing: and Moses, though God bid him let him alone, yet Moses did not let him alone and prevailed. So then to ask things according to the will of God, is to ask nothing that is unlawful to ask, as for one to pray that God would prosper us in evil ways, this is to ask what is not according to his will. I say, you are to pray for no•hing that is any way unlawful to be desired. Now it is not enough that the thing it self be lawful to be desired, but the end for which we desire it must be lawful; for if we desire lawful things for unlawful ends, we ask amiss, James 4.3. The end why we desire such a mercy must be such, as God approves of by his Word, as well as the thing it self. To desire gifts of Edification for ostentation, though according to the Will of God as to the thing desired, yet as to the end it is abominable.
I Answer, Thine asking what God hath decreed not to give, makes not thy Prayer sinful, but thine asking what he hath forbid thee to desire; for the will of Gods Decree is not the rule for us to walk by, but the will of his Command, Deut. 29.29. If what we pray for be such as is lawful and good for us to desire, though God should tell us by a Prophet that he would not grant it, yet we might lawfully pray for it, and be blamelesse, for so did David, 2 Sam. 12. nay though God should send us word by a Prophet that we should dye and not live, yet we might pray, and not only be blamelesse but successful, for so was Hezekiah, nay though God should forbid us to pray, yet since he commands us to pray in his Word, we may pray, and be heard; for though God bid Jacob let him go, yet he wrestled on and obtained the blessing: and Moses, though God bid him let him alone, yet Moses did not let him alone and prevailed. So then to ask things according to the will of God, is to ask nothing that is unlawful to ask, as for one to pray that God would prosper us in evil wayes, this is to ask what is not according to his will. I say, you are to pray for no•hing that is any way unlawful to be desired. Now it is not enough that the thing it self be lawful to be desired, but the end for which we desire it must be lawful; for if we desire lawful things for unlawful ends, we ask amisse, James 4.3. The end why we desire such a mercy must be such, as God approves of by his Word, as well as the thing it self. To desire gifts of Edification for ostentation, though according to the Will of God as to the thing desired, yet as to the end it is abhominable.
