The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

I Answer, God doth not thus because he is not willing, but because we are not fit for Mercies, for God waits to be gracious: The tender Mother had rather give her child Cordials than bitter Pills, but her child is sick: By our Prayers we make not God more willing, but we become more prepared for Mercies, for our Prayers exercise, and so strengthen grace, and strong grace weakens and mortifies corruption, and then we are fit ⟨p. 342⟩for mercies. God only stays while he may bless us indeed, as Jabez phraseth it. One that is in a Boat and pulls a Rope whose other end is tied to a Rock, pulls not the Rock to the Boat but the Boat to the Rock; so our Importunities move not God but us.

I Answer, God doth not thus because he is not willing, but because we are not fit for Mercies, for God waits to be gracious: The tender Mother had rather give her child Cordials than bitter Pils, but her child is sick: By our Prayers we make not God more willing, but we become more prepared for Mercies, for our Prayers exercise, and so strengthen grace, and strong grace weakens and mortifies corruption, and then we are fit ⟨p. 342⟩for mercies. God only stayes while he may blesse us indeed, as Jabez phraseth it. One that is in a Boat and pulls a Rope whose other end is tied to a Rock, pulls not the Rock to the Boat but the Boat to the Rock; so our Importunities move not God but us.

But you will say, when we pray for others this reason holds not, for their graces are not increased by our praying for their deliverances from misery or danger, or the Church from persecution.

But you will say, when we pray for others this reason holds not, for their graces are not encreased by our praying for their deliverances from misery or danger, or the Church from persecution.