An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

In prayer there is a reasoning with God; and the reasonings and pleadings that are in prayer, are the life and strength of prayer. Prayer is not only a bare manifestation of our mind to God, by such a suit or petition; but in prayer there is, or ought to be a holy arguing with God about the matter which we declare, w••ch is a bringing out and urging of reasons and motives, whereby the Lord may be moved to grant what we pray for. The prayers of the Saints recorded in Scripture are full of arguments.

In praier there is a reasoning with God; and the reasonings and pleadings that are in praier, are the life and strength of praier. Praier is not only a bare manifestation of our minde to God, by such a sute or petition; but in praier there is, or ought to be a holy arguing with God about the matter which we declare, w••ch is a bringing out and urging of reasons and motives, whereby the Lord may be moved to grant what we pray for. The praiers of the Saints recorded in Scripture are full of arguments.

I shall show it in one example, as a taste for the rest; Jacob in his distress at the approach of his brother Esau, flees to God in prayer (Gen. 32.) and he doth more then speak in prayer, he argues, yea, he wrestles with God in prayer. The sum of it is set down (vers. 11.) Deliver me, I pray thee; to the undertaking of this deliverance he urgeth the Lord by no fewer then seven arguments. First, From Gods Covenant with his Ancestors, O God of my father Abraham &c. As if he had said, Remember those names with whom thou madest solemn Covenants of protection both to them and their posterity. The second is from Gods particular command for this journey, Thou saidest unto me, Return, I departed not on my own head, but by thy direction; and therefore thou canst not for thy honour, but free me from danger, seeing at thy word I am fallen into it. Thou, O Lord, art even engaged to give me defence, while I yield thee obedience. Thirdly, He puts him in mind of his promises, thou saidst, I will deal well with thee, and that includes all other promises made unto him, these he makes as a Bulwark to defend him, or as his anchor in the storm. This anchor must fail, and this bulwark be broken down before the danger comes to me. If thy promise stand, I cannot fall. The fourth is the confession of his own unworthiness. Faith is always humble, and while we are most confident in Gods word, we are most distrustful of our own desert, I am not worthy of the