Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

Thirdly, He experiments it in the returns of Prayer; the Promises, by which God binds his own bowels above, are let down here below in the Gospel. And as the Believer takes hold of them by Prayer, so God is touched with a compassionate feeling thereof. Whilst Ephraim was bemoaning himself in his Supplication, Gods bowels are troubled and fall a-sounding at it, Jer. 31.18, 20. Coelum tundimus & misericordiam extorquemus, saith Tertullian; We knock at Heaven, and fetch down mercy from God. Prayer hath done Wonders in the world. At Abraham's Prayer. God stoops to such low terms, that he would have saved Sodom for ten righteous persons: Jacob by Prayer wrestles, and becomes a Prince with God; which is more than to have all the Monarchies of the World. Moses by it binds as it were the Almighty, and will not let him alone to consume Israel: Joshua stopped the Chariot of the Sun, and so made a long day for the improvement of his Victory: Elijah locked up Heaven, and till he turned the Key of Prayer the contrary way there was no rain upon the Earth. In the time of Marcus Antoninus the Philosopher, the Christian Legion by their Prayers, procured Water for the ⟨p. 373⟩Roman Army, and a scattering Tempest against their Enemies; and were therefore called Legio fulminatrix, The thundering Legion. Prayer hath a kind of Omnipotence in it, and can do every thing. Sometimes the Prayer is returned in Specie, in the very thing desired, as Hannah's was in a Son; whom therefore she called Samuel; that is, Asked of God. In this case the Believer hath a double Blessing in one; over and above the common Providence he hath a pregnant proof of his Prayer in it. A Blessing, which is a mere Providence, comes up, as the Corn doth, with the husk or chaff of one vanity or other, as a Memento of that blast which Sin brought upon the World: But that, which is a Fruit of Prayer, is as Manna from Heaven, pure and unmixed; a Blessing and no sorrow added to it; as being the Birth of the Promise and Covenant. The Blessings of the former sort are gathered up by Men as Acorns are by Swine without looking up to that Grace, which as a Tree of Life bears all the good Fruit: But the latter raises up the Heart in the admirations and high-praises of the great Donor, as we see in Hannah, who returned back her Son, as soon as received, unto God in Praise and Dedication.

Thirdly, He experiments it in the returns of Prayer; the Promises, by which God binds his own bowels above, are let down here below in the Gospel. And as the Believer takes hold of them by Prayer, so God is touched with a compassionate feeling thereof. Whilst Ephraim was bemoaning himself in his Supplication, Gods bowels are troubled and fall a-sounding at it,