CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

3. There are some things so absolutely promised that do not suppose any condition of Prayer on our parts; As the initial workings of grace, The beginning• of our conversion, especially that promise, Zech. 12, that God will pour on us the Spirit of prayer and supplication; The fulfilling of this promise cannot be by way of prayer, for it's a promise to enable us to pray, and so we could not make it self to be a condition for it self; Indeed we may pray for the Spirit of prayer, but that is to be understood in regard of a further measure of this Spirit; As we may exercise Faith in the promise for a further degree of Faith, we may believe that God thereby may increase our faith, and make it more strong: Thus the promise of sending Christ into the world, and giving him to be a Saviour to his people, doth not suppose our prayer, but rather prayer is a gift from this; We therefore pray viz. acceptably, because we are united to Christ, and have his Spirit dwelling in us: Thus God also in the conversion of his people cometh in with his grace upon them, before they desire or seek after him, at least in a right manner, I was found of those that sought me not, said Christ, Isa. 65.1. Therefore this is not to be understood universally of every good thing that God hath promised, but for the most part of those things which do suppose us already godly, and put into a capacity and spiritual ability of prayer, Then God will not do for us, till we seek unto him: As the Mother doth not expect the child that cannot yet speak, should ask for such a thing at her hands.

3. There are some things so absolutely promised that do not suppose any condition of Praier on our parts; As the initiall workings of grace, The beginning• of our conversion, especially that promise, Zech. 12, that God will pour on us the Spirit of praier and supplication; The fullfilling of this promise cannot be by way of praier, for it's a promise to enable us to pray, and so we could not make it self to be a condition for it self; Indeed we may pray for the Spirit of praier, but that is to be understood in regard of a further measure of this Spirit; As we may exercise Faith in the promise for a further degree of Faith, we may beleeve that God thereby may encrease our faith, and make it more strong: Thus the promise of sending Christ into the world, and giving him to be a Saviour to his people, doth not suppose our praier, but rather praier is a gift from this; We therefore pray viz. acceptably, because we are united to Christ, and have his Spirit dwelling in us: Thus God also in the conversion of his people cometh in with his grace upon them, before they desire or seek after him, at least in a right manner, I was found of those that sought me not, said Christ,