The zealous Christian taking heavenThe zealovs Christian taking heaven

6. Mercies that come as returns of prayer, may be known by this, If they are given in the time, when God doth draw out thine heart to seek him in holy duties. An instance of this you have, Act. 12. While the Church was met to pray for Peters enlargement, ¹the prison-doors were opened; ⟨p. 90⟩and he came and knocked at the door of the house, where they were assembled. This was an evident sign, that God gave in Peter to them as a return of prayer. So Acts 4. 31. When they had prayed, the place was ²shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,—You read, Joh. 4. 52, 53. That the Noble man ³enquired diligently, concerning the time wherein the child began to recover; and when he understood that, he knew it was a return of his prayer, and a fruit of Christs love. God tells his people, Isa. 65. 24. Before ⁴they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear. Thus we read in the Book of Martyrs, That the people of God did make it a sign of Gods answering our prayers, when God was pleased to give in mercies to them, at the time wherein they prayed. Thus we read of Luther; That there was a young man that had made a Covenant, and sealed a Bond with his own blood, to give himself, soul and body to the Devil; only to live in pleasure, and to do and have whatsoever he did desire. And when the time of the Bond was almost out, he being much troubled in his mind, came to Luther and told him what he had done, and what was like to befall him upon it. Whereupon, Luther called the Church together, and kept a solemn Fast in the behalf of the young man: And whilst that Luther ⟨p. 91⟩