It must be confessed, that God sometimes defers to hear (that is, to answer) the prayers of those that call upon him in faith, and even their prayers who call upon him humbly and sincerely. Holy prayers are not always presently answered, but holy prayers are never unregarded, never rejected. 'Tis never said in Scripture, God doth not regard the prayers of a godly man. God may let him stay long for the answer of his prayer, to try his faith, and patience; but he will not slight his prayer. As it is the duty of all men to pray, and the desire or delight of a godly man, (when his heart is in a right frame) to pray, so it is the privilege of every godly man, that his prayer is heard and regarded. And as it is the sin of most wicked men that they pray not at all, (Psal. 14.4. Jer. 10.25.) so it is the misery of all wicked men, that their prayers, though they make many and long prayers, are not heard, are not regarded. They are far from the grace and fear of God, who regard not to pray unto him; and they are as far from the ⟨p. 97⟩mercy and favour of God, whose prayers are not regarded. And if a man be upon such bad terms with God, that he is not regarded, when he is at his best work, his praying-wo•k, O how little is such a one regarded when he is at his worst work, his sinning-work! If some men are not regarded, when they are praying to God, what are they when they are swearing, and blaspheming God, when they are causelessly vexing or oppressing their brethren? If some men are not regarded when they are praying, what are they when they are revelling and reviling! The Lords indignation breaketh out to the utmost against wicked men, when he tells them, the best of their duties, their prayer, is vanity, and though they cry much to him, he will not hear nor regard them. The Lord hath not said to the seed of Jacob, seek ye me in vain, (Isa. 45.19.) that is, ye shall not seek me in vain, no, as your prayers are honourable and acceptable unto me, so they shall be profitable and beneficial unto you; you that go forth weeping, bearing, and scattering this precious seed, shall doubtless come again and bring your sheaves with you, your prayers shall be returned with blessings upon your souls, upon your bodies, upon your estates, upon your families, in which you live, as also upon the Nations and upon the Churches among whom you live.
It must be confessed, that God sometimes defers to hear (that is, to answer) the prayers of those that call upon him in faith, and even their prayers who call upon him humbly and sincerely. Holy prayers are not alwayes presently answered, but holy prayers are never unregarded, never rejected. 'Tis never said in Scripture, God doth not regard the prayers of a godly man. God may let him stay long for the answer of his prayer, to try his faith, and patience; but he will not slight his prayer. As it is the duty of all men to pray, and the desire or delight of a godly man, (when his heart is in a right frame) to pray, so it is the priviledge of every godly man, that his prayer is heard and regarded. And as it is the sin of most wicked men that they pray not at all, (Psal. 14.4. Jer. 10.25.) so it is the misery of all wicked men, that their prayers, though they make many and long prayers, are not heard, are not regarded. They are far from the grace and feare of God, who regard not to pray unto him; and they are as far from the ⟨p. 97⟩mercy and favour of God, whose prayers are not regarded. And if a man be upon such bad terms with God, that he is not regarded, when he is at his best work, his praying-wo•k, O how little is such a one regarded when he is at his worst work, his sinning-work! If some men are not regarded, when they are praying to God, what are they when they are swearing, and blaspheming God, when they are causlesly vexing or oppressing their brethren? If some men are not regarded when they are praying, what are they when they are revelling and reviling! The Lords indignation breaketh out to the utmost against wicked men, when he tells them, the best of their duties, their prayer, is vanity, and though they cry much to him, he will not hear nor regard them. The Lord hath not said to the seed of Jacob, seek ye me in vaine, (Isa. 45.19.) that is, ye shall not seek me in vaine, no, as your prayers are honourable and acceptable unto me, so they shall be profitable and beneficial unto you; you that go forth weeping, bearing, and scattering this precious seed, shall doubtless come again and bring your sheaves with you, your prayers shall be returned with blessings upon your souls, upon your bodies, upon your estates, upon your families, in which you live, as also upon the Nations and upon the Churches among whom you live.
