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…

God hath many ways to awaken man; and he hath directed man a way to awaken himself. When we are asleep he awakeneth us chiefly two ways: First, by the voice of his word: Secondly, by the voice of his rod. He now awakens us by the loud sounding trumpet, and the alarms of war: when God awakeneth us by judgements, it is time for us to awaken him by prayer. We find two things in Scripture which awaken God. First, the prayers of his own people. And secondly, the rage and blasphemy of his enemies, Psal. 78.65. The Prophet having described the cruelty and rage of the enemy, adds, Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine: David makes this an argument in prayer, (Psal. 7.) Because of the rage of mine enemies awake for me to the judgement which thou hast commanded. As if he had said, Lord, shall mine enemies rage, and wilt thou sleep? Wilt not thou awake for me? Arise, I pray thee. The noise of blasphemy, and the cry of violence from wicked men, stir up God when he seems to lie asleep. The noise of prayer, the cries and calls of faith in his own people, will not let him sleep. A man whose heart is drenched in the world, and drowned in rivers of earthly pleasures, prays himself asleep, and his prayers bring God asleep to: he sleeps when he prays, and God sleeps at his prayers, that is, God regards not his prayer; he is as one that sleepeth, as if he heard not what was said. A worldly man doth not hear what he speaks, he knows not what his own requests are. God sleepeth when men are thus asleep. But when we (as the Apostle directs) watch and pray, then God awakes at our prayers. As in the former verse Job was counselled to awake to pray to God, so now he is promised, That the Lord will awake when he prayeth.

God hath many waies to awaken man; and he hath directed man a way to awaken himself. When we are asleep he awakeneth us chiefly two waies: First, by the voice of his word: Secondly, by the voice of his rod. He now awakens us by the loud sounding trumpet, and the alarms of warre: when God awakeneth us by judgements, it is time for us to awaken him by prayer. We finde two things in Scripture which awaken God. First, the prayers of his own people. And secondly, the rage and blasphemy of his enemies, Psal. 78.65. The Prophet having described the cruelty and rage of the enemy, adds, Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine: David makes this an argument in prayer, (