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

2. They must be fervent, zealous prayers; The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much, Jam. 5. He must be righteous, but many a righteous godly mans prayer may have no success, if it be full of dullness, distractions and lukewarmness; Therefore it must be fervent; We must be Jacobs wrestling with God, ere we can be Israels prevailing with God; Prayer is compared to Incense, and it's the fruit of Gods Spirit, which is compared to fire, Rom. 8. They are said to be groans unutterable; It's not then enough to pray, unless it be fervently and zealously, otherwise they are like a Bird without wings, or a Messenger without feet.

2. They must be fervent, zealous praiers; The effectual fervent praier of a righteous man availeth much, Jam. 5. He must be righteous, but many a righteous godly mans praier may have no successe, if it be full of dulnesse, distractions and lukewarmnesse; Therefore it must be fervent; We must be Jacobs wrestling with God, ere we can be Israels prevailing with God; Praier is compared to Incense, and it's the fruit of Gods Spirit, which is compared to fire, Rom. 8. They are said to be groans unutterable; It's not then enough to pray, unlesse it be fervently and zealously, otherwise they are like a Bird without wings, or a Messenger without feet.

5. They must be believing prayers; Let him ask in faith nothing doubting; For he that doubteth is to conclude he shall not receive any thing; in spiritual things that are necessary, our faith is to be absolute, in other things our fiducial faith is to be guided by our doctrinal faith, so far as those things make for our good and Gods glory, our faith is to conclude of them. This is the grace that crowneth our prayers, This grace God highly honoureth, insomuch that Without faith it's said it's impossible to please God,