3. The decree of God must not make us to be remiss in prayer; for God hath decreed not only the end, but also the means; as God hath decreed to give thee mercy, so he hath also decreed that thou shouldest pray for it. And therefore wheresoever the decree or purpose of God is mentioned, it is used as an argument, to stir up the people of God to prayer. For thou oh Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant saying, I will build thee an 1house, therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. And now oh Lord God, thou art God, that God and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant. Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: For thou oh Lord God hast spoken it, and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever. You see here God had purposed, and ⟨p. 27⟩promised to bless the house of David, and to continue it for ever; doth this make David remiss in prayer? doth David argue, what need I pray for this mercy, seeing God is resolved to give it? No, David takes this hint, and useth it to good purpose in his prayer. Another instance you have in Isaac. God had decreed, and promised that the seed of Abraham should be multiplied as the stars of the heaven, Gen. 15. 5. and that this promised should 2be accomplished in Isaac. Did this make Isaac neglect prayer? No, for we read Gen. 25. 21. Isaac entreated the Lord for his 3wife, because she was barren, and the Lord was entreated of him, &c. Though God had promised, that in Isaac all the nations of the earth should be blessed, yet Isaac betakes himself to prayer to God, for the accomplishment of that mercy, that was decreed and promised.
3. The decree of God must not make us to be remisse in prayer; for God hath decreed not onely the end, but also the meanes; as God hath decreed to give thee mercy, so he hath also decreed that thou shouldest pray for it. And therefore wheresoever the decree or purpose of God is mentioned, it is used as an argument, to stirre up the people of God to prayer. For thou oh Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant saying, I will build thee an 1house, therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. And now oh Lord God, thou art God, that God and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodnesse unto thy servant. Therefore now let it please thee to blesse the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: For thou oh Lord God hast spoken it, and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever. You see here God had purposed, and ⟨p. 27⟩promised to blesse the house of David, and to continue it for ever; doth this make David remisse in prayer? doth David argue, what need I pray for this mercy, seeing God is resolved to give it? No, David takes this hint, and useth it to good purpose in his prayer. Another instance you have in Isaac. God had decreed, and promised that the seed of Abraham should be multiplyed as the starres of the heaven, Gen. 15. 5. and that this promised should 2be accomplished in Isaac. Did this make Isaac neglect prayer? No, for we read Gen. 25. 21. Isaac intreated the Lord for his 3wife, because she was barren, and the Lord was intreated of him, &c. Though God had promised, that in Isaac all the nations of the earth should be blessed, yet Isaac betakes himselfe to prayer to God, for the accomplishment of that mercy, that was decreed and promised.
- 12 Sam. 27, 28, 29.
- 2Gen. 15. 5.
- 3Gen. 25. 21.
