(2.) It is most for our Profit. Partly, that our Faith should be exercised in pleading God's Promise, for there we put the Promise in Suit. Faith is begotten in the Word, but it is exercised in Prayer; therefore it is called the Prayer of Faith. In the Word, we take Christ from God; in Prayer, we present Christ to God. That Prayer which is effectual, it is an Exercise of Faith. Rom. 10. 14. How shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed? And as it concerns our Faith, so also our Love, which is both acted and increased in Prayer. It is acted; for it is Delight in God, which makes us so often converse with him. Thus the Hypocrite, Job 27. 10. Will he always call upon the Lord? Will he delight himself in the Almighty? They that love God, cannot be long from him; they that delight in God, will be often unbosoming themselves to him. It doth also increase our Love; for by Answers of Prayer, we have new Fuel to keep in this holy Fire in our Bosoms. We pray, and then he gives direct Answers, Psal. 116. 1. I love ⟨p. 57⟩the Lord, because he hath heard my Voice, and my Supplication. So our Hope is exercised, in waiting for the Blessing prayed for: Psal. 5. 3. O Lord, in the Morning will I direct my Prayer unto thee, and will look up. That looking up is the Work of Hope; when we are looking and waiting to see what comes in from pleading Promises. It is much too for our Peace of Conscience; for it easeth us of our Burdens: It is the Vent of the Soul, like the opening of a Vein in a Fever. When our Hearts swell with Cares, and we have a Burden upon us, and know not what to do, we may ease our selves with God. Phil. 4. 6. Be careful for nothing; but in every Thing, by Prayer and Supplication, with Thanksgiving, let your Requests be made known to God: And the Peace of God shall keep your Hearts. O blessed Frame, that can be troubled at nothing here in this World, where there are so many Businesses, Encounters, Temptations! What's the way to get this Calmness of Heart? Be much in opening your Hearts to God; let your Requests be made known to God. Look as in an Earthquake, when the Wind is imprisoned in the Bowels of the Earth, the Earth heaves, and shakes, and quakes, until there be a Vent, and the Wind be got out, then all is quiet: So we have many Tossings and Turmoilings in our Minds, till we open and unbosom our selves to God, and then all is quiet.
(2.) It is most for our Profit. Partly, that our Faith should be exercised in pleading God's Promise, for there we put the Promise in Suit. Faith is begotten in the Word, but it is exercised in Prayer; therefore it is called the Prayer of Faith. In the Word, we take Christ from God; in Prayer, we present Christ to God. That Prayer which is effectual, it is an Exercise of Faith. Rom. 10. 14. How shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed? And as it concerns our Faith, so also our Love, which is both acted and increased in Prayer. It is acted; for it is Delight in God, which makes us so often converse with him. Thus the Hypocrite, Iob 27. 10. Will he always call upon the Lord? Will he delight himself in the Almighty? They that love God, cannot be long from him; they that delight in God, will be often unbosoming themselves to him. It doth also increase our Love; for by Answers of Prayer, we have new Fuel to keep in this holy Fire in our Bosoms. We pray, and then he gives direct Answers, Psal. 116. 1. I love ⟨p. 57⟩the Lord, because he hath heard my Voice, and my Supplication. So our Hope is exercised, in waiting for the Blessing pray'd for: Psal. 5. 3. O Lord, in the Morning will I direct my Prayer unto thee, and will look up. That looking up is the Work of Hope; when we are looking and waiting to see what comes in from pleading Promises. It is much too for our Peace of Conscience; for it easeth us of our Burthens: It is the Vent of the Soul, like the opening of a Vein in a Fever. When our Hearts swell with Cares, and we have a Burthen upon us, and know not what to do, we may ease our selves with God. Phil. 4. 6. Be careful for nothing; but in every Thing, by Prayer and Supplication, with Thanksgiving, let your Requests be made known to God: And the Peace of God shall keep your Hearts. O blessed Frame, that can be troubled at nothing here in this World, where there are so many Businesses, Encounters, Temptations! What's the way to get this Calmness of Heart? Be much in opening your Hearts to God; let your Requests be made known to God. Look as in an Earthquake, when the Wind is imprisoned in the Bowels of the Earth, the Earth heaves, and shakes, and quakes, until there be a Vent, and the Wind be got out, then all is quiet: So we have many Tossings and Turmoilings in our Minds, till we open and unbosom our selves to God, and then all is quiet.
