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

Fifthly, If you would be discouraged, in case God should always answer your prayer presently, then you have no reason to be discouraged, because he doth not answer you presently. But now, if the Lord should always answer thy duty and prayer presently, you would be discouraged, why? because you would say thus, I look into the scripture, and there I find, that God doth not always answer his children presently, his children have prayed, and then they have waited, and this hath been the way that God hath taken with his children: now God doth not take this way with me, and therefore, I fear I am none of Gods children, and so you would be discouraged. Now I say, if you would be discouraged, in case the Lord should always answer your prayer presently, then you have no reason to be discouraged, because he doth not hear you presently: but you would be discouraged in case the Lord should always hear you presently, you would say then, God doth go the same way with me, that he goes, and hath gone with his children. Surely therefore, you that are the Saints and people of God, have no reason for your discouragement in this respect.

Fiftly, If you would be discouraged, in case God should alwaies answer your prayer presently, then you have no reason to be discouraged, because he doth not answer you presently. But now, if the Lord should alwaies answer thy duty and prayer presently, you would be discouraged, why? because you would say thus, I look into the scripture, and there I find, that God doth not alwayes answer his children presently, his children have prayed, and then they have waited, and this hath been the way that God hath taken with his children: now God doth not take this way with me, and therefore, I fear I am none of Gods children, and so you would be discouraged. Now I say, if you would be discouraged, in case the Lord should alwaies answer your prayer presently, then you have no reason to be discouraged, because he doth not hear you presently: but you would be discouraged in case the Lord should alwaies hear you presently, you would say then, God doth go the same way with me, that he goes, and hath gone with his children. Surely therefore, you that are the Saints and people of God, have no reason for your discouragement in this respect.