The zealous Christian taking heavenThe zealovs Christian taking heaven

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.