The fourth (and last) volume of discourses, or sermons, on several scriptures

Secondly, ¹Though we may pray thus absolutely, and with a holy peremptoriness for Grace and Glory, saying to God as Jacob to the Angel that wrestled with him, I will not let thee go until thou hast blessed me with spiritual Blessings, in heavenly Things in Jesus Christ. Yet, Secondly, For the Degrees of Grace and for the Comforts of the Holy Ghost, we must pray conditionally, if the Lord will; for these Things are not absolutely necessary, neither are they absolutely promised to us by God; neither any degree of Grace or any Consolation of the Spirit is absolutely promised to us: But however our Prayers ought to be, so much the more fervent and importunate for these Things, than for outward, temporal Things, by how much these are of far greater concernment than the other.

1. 12. We must pray for the Degrees of Grace and for the Comforts of the Spirit conditionally.

Thirdly,¹ To pray for outward and worldly Blessings is not contrary to the Will of God, for he hath promised to bestow them: But then as his Promise is conditional, if it may stand with our good, so truly also must our Prayers be conditional, that God would give them to us, if it may stand with his Will and ⟨p. 400⟩with our Good; whatsoever we thus ask we do it according to the Will of God, and we are sure of speeding in our Request, either by the obtaining of our Desires, or by being blessed with a Denial; for, alas, we are blind and ignorant Creatures, and cannot look into the Designs and Drift of Providence, and see how God hath laid in order Good and Evil in his own purpose; oftentimes we mistake Evil for Good, because of the present appearance of Good that it hath; yea, so short-sighted are we, that we can look no farther than outward and present appearance; but God, who sees through the whole Series and Connection of his own Counsels, he knows many times that those Things we account and desire as Good are really evil, and therefore it is our Wisdom to resign up all our Desires to his disposal, and to say, Lord, though such temporal Enjoyments may seem good and desirable to me at present, yet thou art infinitely wise, and thou knowest what the Consequence and Issue of them will be; I beg them if they may stand with thy Will, and if thou seest they will be as really good for me as I suppose them now to be; if they be not so, I beg the Favour of a Denial.