A29709:302
A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse…
A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse about the favourable, signal and eminent presence of the Lord with his people in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers : with the resolution of several questions, concerning the divine presence, as also the reasons and improvements of this great and glorious truth ... / by Thomas Brooks ...A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse about the favorable, signal and eminent presence of the Lord with his people in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers : with the resolution of several questions, concerning the divine presence, as also the reasons and improvements of this great and glorious truth ... / by Thomas Brooks ...
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1675
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.
Fifthly, Lift up a mighty cry to Heaven: Thus the Saints of old have done: consult these Scriptures, Psal. 51. 6. to 13. Lam. 3. 56, 57. Psal. 4. 6, 7. Psal. 27. 9. Psal. 38. 21, 22. Psal. 138. 3. Psal. 119. 8. O forsake me 1not utterly; Christ was forsaken for a few hours, David for a few months, and Job for a few years, for the trial and exercise of his faith and patience; but then they all sent up a mighty cry to Heaven: Leave them, God did to their thinking, but forsake them he did in regard of vision, but not in regard of union. The promise is, that God will draw near to us if we draw near to him, Jam. 4. 8. Draw nigh to God in duty, and he will draw nigh to you in mercy; Sanctify him, and he will satisfy you. Prayer is the only means to supply all defects, it gets all, and makes up the loss of all, as a gracious poor women said in her distress, I have no Friend, but I have prayer, ⟨p. 221⟩that will get favour with my God, so long as I can find a praying heart, God will (I am sure of that) find a pitying heart, and a helping hand. It is not the length, but the strength of prayer; it is not the labour of the lip, 2but the travel of the heart that prevails with God; it is not the Arithmetic of our prayers, how many they are, nor the Rhetoric of our prayers, how eloquent they be; nor the Geometry of our prayers, how long they be; nor the Music of our prayers, how sweet they be; nor the Logic of our prayers, how methodical they be, that will carry the day with God, it is only fervency, importunity in prayer, that will make a man prevalent with God. Fervent prayer hits the mark, carries the day, and pierceth the walls of Heaven, though like those of Gaza