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

Thirdly: If the Lords not hearing, granting, and answering your Prayers presently, be sometimes matter of great encouragement; then it is not always a matter of discouragement. Now the Lords not hearing, and granting your prayer presently, is sometimes matter of great encouragement. You have divers children at your Table, some younger, and some elder; some Babes, and little ones, some grown: wh•n you come to carve out your meat unto them, you carve first to the little ones, and you do no• carve first to the greater, for say you, these little ones will cry, and they have not Patience to stay, and therefore they sh••l be first •erved; but those greater have more wi•, and more patience, and they will stay. Beloved! thus now it is between God and us; The Lord hath two sorts of Children that come to him in Prayer, and h• intends to serve them both; but he looks upon those that are weak, and serves them first; as for th••• that are strong••, and have more ⟨p. 104⟩faith and patience, saith the Lord, you are able to stay, I see your faith and patience, and therefore I will serve the little ones first; but as for you, I will serve you last. Thus it was with Abraham, after the Lord had made Abraham a Promise of a Seed, he made him stay a great while, Why? Because he saw he had faith to stay: So now, thou hast not presently a return or answer to thy prayer, Why? Because the Lord it may be sees thou hast strength, faith, and patience to stay. And is not this rather matter of encouragement, than discouragement?

Thirdly: If the Lords not hearing, granting, and answering your Prayers presently, be •omtimes matter of great encouragement; then it is not alwaies a matter of discouragement. Now the Lords not hearing, and granting your prayer pre•e•tly, is somtimes matter of great encouragement. You have divers hildren at your Table, some yonger, and some elder; some Babes, and little ones, some grown: whn you come to carve out your meat unto them, you carve first to the little ones, and you do no carve first to the greater, for say you, these little ones will cry, and they have not Patience to stay, and thereore they shl be first erved; but those greater have more wi, and more patience, and they will stay. Beloved! thus now it is between God and us; The Lord hath two sorts of Children that come to him in Prayer, and h intends to serve them both; but he looks upon those that are weak, and serves them first; as for th that are strong, and have more