I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

But Secondly: It is usual with Gods own People, and dearest Children, to say, and think sometimes, that the Lord doth not answer their prayer, when the Lord doth. There is a Two-fold return, or Answer of Prayer: There is a Visible Return of Prayer; and there is an Invisible Return of Prayer. As it is with the Vapours that are drawn upward by the heat of the Sun; some there are, that do fall again in great Rain, and Hail, and ye hear and s•e ⟨p. 103⟩the returns of those vapours in the day; but sometimes the Vapours fall in a dew in the night, and you do not see the return thereof, but you go abroad in the morning, and you find the dew upon the ground, although you did not see when the dew fell. So here, your Prayers are drawn up by the heat of Gods Love in Christ; some return upon you again in the day, visibly; some return in the night, invisibly, when you see them not: there is a visible, and there is an invisible return of Prayer. What more usual with Gods People, than to say, and think, tha• the Lord doth not hear their Prayer, nor make return to them, when indeed he doth, and that visibly unto others also? Luke, 1. you read of Zechariah and Elizabeth, that they were very righteous; verse 6. They were both righteous before God. And Zechariah and Elizabeth, had no Children; but Zechariah prayed for Children, for at verse 13. the Angel said unto him, Fear not, Zechariah, for thy prayer is heard, and thy Wife Elizabeth shall bear a Son, and thou shalt call his name, John. The Lord heard his Prayer, and sent an Angel to tell him his prayer was hea•d, but Zacharias doubted thereof, verse 18. Zechariah said unto the Angel; Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my Wife well stricken in years. Here he doubts, and it was his sin thus to doubt, as you may see by verse 20. Behold thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words. Here plainly now, was a return of prayer, yea, here was a visible return of Prayer; and yet Zechariah (though a Godly, and a Holy man) doub•ed whether the Lord had heard his Prayer or no. So that I say, this is no new thing with Gods own People, and dearest Children, to say, and think, sometimes, That the Lord doth not answer their Payer, when the Lord indeed doth answer, and tha visibly too. But,