5. That mercy that is given as a return of prayer, is enjoyed with more inward quiet, and contentment of mind, then when it is given in by general providence. When Eli told Hannah that she should have a son, and that her prayer was heard, she had so much inward joy and contentment of mind, that is said, Hannah went away rejoicing; and her countenance was no more sad: The consideration of that made her very much to rejoice. The reason is, because mercies that are given in as returns of prayer, they are given in with a blessing, and inward quietness and contentment of mind. The mercies that God gives his own people, he gives them with joy and comfort, Prov 10. 122. The blessing of the Lord maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow to it. You read, 1 Chron. 4. 10. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, 2saying, O that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coasts, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil that it may not grieve me. Jabez knew that it was the manner of God, when he gave blessings as returns of prayer, not to add ⟨p. 89⟩grief to it. Isaac he prayed for his wife, and God gave her to him to be a great comfort to him. It may be wicked men have wives and no content with them, but sorrow added to them, because they did not pray for them as Isaac did; they have children, but sorrow with them; and abundance of riches, and sorrow added to that; and all because they have not the mercies as returns of prayer. The mercies that are given in a way of general providence, usually are accompanied with vexatiousness and discontent, snares and sorrows mingled with the mercies. So it was, Psal. 106. 15. He gave them their requests, but he sent leanness into their souls. God 3gives wicked men indeed their requests; but how is it, with a blessing and with content? No, no such matter, they have a curse with it. You know Saul gave Michal to David to be a snare to him, a cross and discontentment. So doth God many times, in just judgement, give his blessings to wicked men, to be snares, and curses and crosses to them.
5. That mercy that is given as a return of prayer, is enjoyed with more inward quiet, and contentment of minde, then when it is given in by general providence. When Eli told Hannah that she should have a son, and that her prayer was heard, she had so much inward joy and contentment of minde, that is said, Hannah went away rejoycing; and her countenance was no more sad: The consideration of that made her very much to rejoyce. The reason is, because mercies that are given in as returns of prayer, they are given in with a blessing, and inward quiteness and contentment of minde. The mercies that God gives his own people, he gives them with joy and comfort, Prov 10. 122. The blessing of the Lord maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow to it. You read, 1 Chron. 4. 10. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, 2saying, O that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coasts, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil that it may not grieve me. Jabez knew that it was the manner of God, when he gave blessings as returns of prayer, not to add ⟨p. 89⟩grief to it. Isaac he prayed for his wife, and God gave her to him to be a great comfort to him. It may be wicked men have wives and no content with them, but sorrow added to them, because they did not pray for them as Isaac did; they have children, but sorrow with them; and abundance of riches, and sorrow added to that; and all because they have not the mercies as returns of prayer. The mercies that are given in a way of general providence, usually are accompanied with vexatiousnesse and discontent, snares and sorrowes mingled with the mercies. So it was, Psal. 106. 15. He gave them their requests, but he sent leanness into their souls. God 3gives wicked men indeed their requests; but how is it, with a blessing and with content? No, no such matter, they have a curse with it. You know Saul gave Michal to David to be a snare to him, a crosse and discontentment. So doth God many times, in just judgement, give his blessings to wicked men, to be snares, and curses and crosses to them.
- 1Prov. 10. 22.
- 21 Chron. •. ••.
- 3Psal. 106. 15.
