A29371:582
I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…
I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet. I. 19 : II. Christ in travel ... in three sermons on Isai. 53. 11 : III. A lifting up for the down-cast ... delivered in thirteen sermons on Psal. 42, 11 : four several sermons ... / preached by William Bridge ...
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1656
SAINTS Should not be DISCOURAGED, Whatever their Condition be.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answ. 5 A praying man can never be very miserable whatever his condition be, for he hath the Ear of God; the Spirit within to indite, a friend in Heaven to present, and God himself to receive his desires as a Father; 'tis a mercy to pray, though I never have the mercy prayed for; thereby God doth come down to us, and we go up to God. It is the souls Converse with God on Earth, and a great ease to a burdened, troubled Spirit; for thereby he may go and empty all his heart into the bosom of his best friend. Now every godly, gracious man, is a praying man, more or less he prayeth; It's spoken as an Argument of Pauls conversion, Behold he prayeth; as Speech is common unto all men, so Prayer unto all Christians; God hath none of his Children born dumb; as soon as one of your children is born, it cries, and it sucks, and it •l•eps: So with every man that is born of God, as soo• •s •e is both, he cries unto God in Prayer, he sucks the breast of •he Promi e, and he sleeps in the bosom of God by Divine Contentment, being dead unto all the world; it may be he cannot pray as […] would, but though he cannot pray as he would, not hear as h• ••uld, nor perform any duty as he would, yet he prayeth, it may be said of him, behold he prayeth; turn him where you will, and behold he prayeth; sick, yet behold he prayeth; temp•ed, yet behold he prayeth; at home, or abroad, yet behold he prayeth: and can he be miserable while he prayeth? Surely no: why then should he be discouraged whatever his condition be?
Answ. 5 A praying man can never be very miserable whatever his condition be, for he hath the Ear of God; the Spirit within to indite, a friend in Heaven to present, and God himself to receive his desires as a Father; 'tis a mercy to pray, though I never have the mercy prayed for; thereby God doth come down to us, and we go up to God. It is the souls Converse with God on Earth, and a great ease to a burdened, troubled Spirit; for thereby he may go and empty all his heart into the bosom of his best friend. Now every godly, gracious man, is a praying man, more or less he prayeth; It's spoken as an Argument of Pauls onverion, Behold he prayeth; as Speech is common unto all men, so Prayer unto all Christians; God hath none of his Children born dumb; as soon as one of your children is born, it cries, and it sucks, and it leps: So with every man that is born of God, as soo s e is both, he cries unto God in Prayer, he sucks the breast of he Promi e, and he sleeps in the bosom of God by Divine Contentment, beig dead unto all the world; it may be he cannot pray as would, but though he cannot pray as he would, not hear as h uld, nor perform any duty as he would, yet he prayeth, it may be said of him, behold he prayeth; turn him where you will, and behold he prayeth; sick, yet behold he prayeth; temped, yet behold he prayeth; at home, or abroad, yet behold he prayet: and can he be miserable while he prayeth? Surely no: why then should he be discouraged whatever his condition be?