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

3. God will have us pray because Prayer is an appointed means by him as well as Faith and Repentance; Now Gods purposes and promises they must never be opposed to, or separated from the means, so that as God promiseth pardon of sin and salvation, but it is if we repent and believe, so likewise it is, if we earnestly pray and seek to him, and this is the very reason why Divines say that though God hath absolutely decreed and promised such mercies, yet Prayer is not useless and unnecessary, because God hath decreed and promised prayer as well as other things, so that it's a profane cavil to say, What need I pray, I cannot alter Gods purposes what he hath purposed, shall be, whether I pray or no; This is false reasoning; For as God hath appointed such mercies, so also such means whereof Prayer is the chief, without which they cannot be had, as Austin said, If Steven had not prayed for his Persecutors, the Church had never had such a glorious Doctor as Paul was.

3. God will have us pray because Praier is an appointed means by him as well as Faith and Repentance; Now Gods purposes and promises they must never be opposed to, or seperated from the means, so that as God promiseth pardon of sinne and salvation, but it is if we repent and beleeve, so likewise it is, if we earnestly pray and seek to him, and this is the very reason why Divines say that though God hath absolutely decreed and promised such mercies, yet Praier is not uselesse and unnecessary, because God hath decreed and promised praier as well as other things, so that it's a prophane cavil to say, What need I pray, I cannot alter Gods purposes what he hath purposed, shall be, whether I pray or no; This is false reasoning; For as God hath appointed such mercies, so also such means whereof Praier is the chief, without which they cannot be had, as Austin said, If Steven had not praied for his Persecutors, the Church had never had such a glorious Doctor as Paul was.

4. God hath appointed Prayer not only for our honour but also for our spiritual advantage and profit; By praying fervently the heart is raised up, made more heavenly, and lifted up even into the third Heavens; If there were no other end of Prayer but this, it were precious, that hereby the soul is put into a glorious transfiguration; That as it was with Christ while he was praying, his countenance was changed, and there was great glory fell upon him; So it might be with us, did we in a right manner draw nigh to God; as it was with Moses, we see upon his talking with God his face did shine, and Saul when he came among the Prophets, the Spirit of Prophecy fell upon him, so when we come into Gods presence and pray effectually, a divine Spirit, an heavenly frame of heart may come upon us, we shall go from Prayer ravished