The zealous Christian taking heavenThe zealovs Christian taking heaven

Reas. The first particular is the reason, why God may, and doth sometimes deny to hear the prayers of his friends: And that is this. Because, God hath tied returns of prayer, not only to the qualification of the person, but also to the qualification of the duty; that the duty be performed, not only by a fit person, but also in a right way, in a right manner, to a right end. God doth not say, Let a godly man pray how he will, I will hear his prayers; that were the way to make him to be careless and remiss in the performance of duties. Therefore the Lord expects qualification of the duty, as well as of the person. God requires that duties be done with feeling, fervency, faith, fear and reverence; they must be done in a right manner.

Reas. The first particular is the reason, why God may, and doth sometimes deny to hear the prayers of his friends: And that is this. Because, God hath tied returns of prayer, not onely to the qualification of the person, but also to the qualification of the dutie; that the dutie be performed, not onely by a fit person, but also in a right way, in a right manner, to a right end. God doth not say, Let a godly man pray how he will, I will hear his prayers; that were the way to make him to be carelesse and remiss in the performance of duties. Therefore the Lord expects qualification of the dutie, as well as of the person. God requires that duties be done with feeling, fervencie, faith, fear and reverence; they must be done in a right manner.

There is a fivefold qualification that ⟨p. 16⟩God requires, even of his friends, as a condition of their acceptance.

1. The heart must be prepared,