6. We are commanded to pray earnestly, and fervently, and importunately; So David did, Psal. 55. 17. I will pray and 1cry aloud, and he shall hear my voice. A full place to this purpose is Rom. 15. 30. Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus 2Christs sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me. The word in the Greek is very ⟨p. 45⟩emphatical, it is the same word that is applied to Christ, when he was in an agony, when he sweat drops of blood. He beseecheth them to contend and strive in their prayers; we are to be as it were in an agony, when we are in prayer. Prayer is not a little book labour, it is not a lip labour only, but it is a raising up and putting forth the heart and affections in the work. So Rom. 12. 12. Be continuing 3instant in prayer. It is a metaphor taken from dogs. A dog of all creatures is the best able to endure hunger, he will run from place to place, and never leave till he hath got his prey: so you are to hunger after God, and after mercy, and not to rest satisfied, till God doth grant the mercy you stand in need of, pray, and pray, and pray again, and fight till you overcome, pray till you get an answer. Another place is, Jam. 5. 16. The effectual fervent 4prayer of a righteous man availeth much. The word in the original is significant. Some expound it a working prayer; It may be interpreted a prayer well wrought in the heart, and so a prayer that comes from the heart,—A prayer wrought in us by the Spirit, and carried on by faith. Another place to the same purpose is, Acts 526. 7. Unto which promise our twelve Tribes instantly serving God—The word is rendered by some, continually, daily, constantly, ⟨p. 46⟩but it signifies most properly a serving of God, with the utmost of ones strength, to be as a man upon a rack, to use the very all of their power; or it may be it is borrowed from one that runs a race, wherein men stretch out their limbs to the utmost. The word is the same here that is used Acts 12. 5. Prayer was made 6without ceasing, or (as it is in the margin of your book, and more agreeably to the Original) instant and earnest prayer was made for Peter. The prayers of Gods people were so earnest, that they opened the prison doors for him. So Colos. 4. 12.
6. We are commanded to pray earnestly, and fervently, and importunately; So David did, Psal. 55. 17. I will pray and 1cry aloud, and he shall heare my voyce. A full place to this purpose is Rom. 15. 30. Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus 2Christs sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that yee st•ive together with me in your prayers to God for mee. The word in the Greek is very ⟨p. 45⟩emphaticall, it is the same word that is applyed to Christ, when he was in an agony, when he sweat drops of blood. He beseecheth them to contend and strive in their prayers; we are to be as it were in an agony, when we are in prayer. Prayer is not a little booke labour, it is not a lip labour onely, but it is a raising up and putting forth the heart and affections in the worke. So Rom. 12. 12. Bee continuing 3instant in prayer. It is a metaphor taken from dogs. A dog of all creatures is the best able to endure hunger, he will run from place to place, and never leave till he hath got his prey: so you are to hunger after God, and after mercy, and not to rest satisfied, till God doth grant the mercy you stand in need of, pray, and pray, and pray againe, and fight till you overcome, pray till you get an answer. Another place is, Jam. 5. 16. The effectuall fervent 4prayer of a righteous man availeth much. The word in the originall is significant. Some expound it a working prayer; It may be interpreted a prayer well wrought in the heart, and so a prayer that comes from the heart,—A prayer wrought in us by the Spirit, and carried on by faith. Another place to the same purpose is, Acts 526. 7. Unto which promise our twelve Tribes instantly serving God—The word is rendered by some, continually, daily, constantly,
- 1Psal. 55. 17.
- 2Rom. 15. 30. [Greek or Hebrew]. […]Rom. 15. 30. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. 〈…〉
- 3Rom. 12. 12. [Greek or Hebrew].Rom. 12. 12. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- 4James 5. 16. [Greek or Hebrew].James 5. 16. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- 5Acts 26 7. [Greek or Hebrew]Acts 26 7. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉
- 6Acts 12 5. [Greek or Hebrew].Acts 12 5. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
