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…

Observe, Fourthly, That how strongly soever a godly man acts faith, for the answer of his prayers, yet he hath no faith that his prayer deserves an answer.

Observe, Fourthly, That how strongly soever a godly man acts faith, for the answer of his praiers, yet he hath no faith that his praier deserves an answer.

I would not believe that he had hearkened to [my] voice. Christ calleth the Spouse to prayer (Can. 2.14.) Let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice, for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance comely. Christ loves prayer. The prayers of the Saints upon earth, are music in heaven. That invitation to the Spouse, Let me hear thy voice, seems to be an allusion to those, who loving music, call upon a friend who hath a good voice, or exquisite skill to play upon an instrument, Come, sing us a song, play us a lesson, let us have a fit of mirth. Thus, I say, Christ speaks to the Church, Come, let me hear thy voice, 'tis sweet, I know thou hast a sweet one. But ⟨p. 275⟩the Saints judge their own voices harsh and unharmonicall, they are apt to think their prayers, jarrings and discords, at the best but a rude noise, not a composed air in the ear of God. Faith makes our prayers melodious, because it carries us out of our selves. A believer lives not in the sound of his own prayers, but of Christs intercession. What are we that we should expect any acceptance upon our own account? or say this We have gained, this We have obtained, thus God hath heard us, or thus we have wrestled it out with God? As when we have performed all our duties, we must say, We are unprofitable servants; so when we have obtained all our suits, we must say, We are unprofitable petitioners; I will not believe that God had hearkened unto My voice. What's mans voice, that God should hear it?

I would not believe that he had hearkned to [my] voice. Christ calleth the Spouse to praier (Can. 2.14.) Let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice, for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance comely. Christ loves praier. The praiers of the Saints upon earth, are musick in heaven. That invitation to the Spouse, Let me hear thy voice, seems to be an allusion to those, vvho loving musick, call upon a friend vvho hath a good voice, or exquisite skill to play upon an instrument, Come, sing us a song, play us a lesson, let us have a fit of mirth. Thus, I say, Christ speaks to the Church, Come, let me hear thy voice, 'tis sweet, I know thou hast a sweet one. But