1I answer in general, The word in the original signifies impudence, or want of shame. It is a metaphor taken from beggars, who are impudently importunate, and take no denial; if you deny them once, they will ask you again, and again, and never leave till they get what they desire. It is a gathering together of all the affections of the soul, a stirring them all up in prayer, whereby the soul is so earnestly desirous after the good it wants, that it will not rest, nor leave off the duty, until he do find some return. This is meant Rom. 12. 12. Continuing instant 2in prayer. The Original word is very emphatical; It notes not only to persevere3, but to persevere and continue with utmost strength, to engage all a mans possibility in the work. It notes instancy and importunity; It is a phrase borrowed from dogs, that when they are hunting, will not cease following the game till they have got it: So a godly man will pursue God in duty, and never leave till he find the mercy he begs from him. 4Thus did holy Jacob Gen. 32. 26. God said, […] for the day breaketh: And be said, I ⟨p. 29⟩will not let thee go unless thou bless me. So it is said of Elijah, James 5. 17. He prayed 5earnestly. In the Greek, it is in praying, he prayed; to show that a Christian, when he is praying should yet pray, should pray more earnestly, he should be as it were in agony in prayer; It was said of Austin in his preaching, that he never left preaching, till he found he had done some good upon the hearts of his hearers. So must you pray, and continue praying, and do not give over, till you find some good done upon your hearts, till you find sin weakened, and graces strengthened; This is the holy importunity that is here spoken of. And so much for the second particular.
1I answer in generall, The word in the originall signifies impudence, or want of shame. It is a metaphor taken from beggars, who are impudently importunate, and take no denyall; if you deny them once, they will aske you again, and again, and never leave till they get what they desire. It is a gathering together of all the affections of the soule, a stirring them all up in prayer, whereby the soule is so earnestly desirous after the good it wants, that it will not rest, nor leave off the duty, untill he doe finde some returne. This is ment Rom. 12. 12. Continuing instant 2in prayer. The Originall word is very emphaticall; It notes not oneiy to persevere3, but to persevere and continue with utmost strength, to ingage all a mans possibility in the worke. It notes instancy and importunity; It is a phrase borrowed from dogs, that when they are hunting, will not cease following the game till they have got it: So a godly man will pursue God in duty, and never leave till he finde the mercy he begs from him. 4Thus did holy Jacob Gen. 32. 26. God said, 〈…〉 for the day breaketh: And be said, I ⟨p. 29⟩will not let thee goe unlesse thou blesse me. So it is said of Elias, James 5. 17. He prayed 5earnestly. In the Greeke, it is in praying, he prayed; to shew that a Christian, when he is praying should yet pray, should pray more earnestly, he should be as it were in agony in prayer; It was said of Austin in his preaching, that he never left preaching, till he found he had done some good upon the hearts of his hearers. So must you pray, and continue praying, and doe not give over, till you finde some good done upon your hearts, till you finde sin weakned, and graces strengthned; This is the holy importunitie that is here spoken of. And so much for the second particular.
- 1Answ. [Greek or Hebrew].Answ. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- 21 2.
- 3[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- 4Gen. 32. ••.
- 5James 5. 17. [Greek or Hebrew].James 5. 17. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
