Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

Besides, God may do it by another means then we look for. Commonly we pitch upon some means, which we think, if it fail, all is gone, but the Lord may go another way to work. I will instance no more in these things; for this is not the thing that I must stand upon. Only I say that when we make our prayers to God, we must consider what answer we have of them. And this we should do upon this occasion of Thanksgiving^*, when we have sought to the Lord in prayer, and fasting, as we have done, we are now to consider what answer the Lord ⟨p. 405⟩hath given: he hath removed the judgement: we must set it down among the memorandums of his mercy, that he hath heard our prayers and healed our land. But I say, I must not stand upon this.²

Besides, God may do it by another means then we look for. Commonly we pitch upon some means, which we think, if it fail, all is gone, but the Lord may go another way to work. I will instance no more in these things; for this is not the thing that I must stand upon. Onely I say that when we make our prayers to God, we must consider what answer we have of them. And this we should do upon this occasion of Thanksgiving^*, when we have sought to the Lord in prayer, and fasting, as we have done, we are now to consider what answer the Lord ⟨p. 405⟩hath given: he hath removed the judgement: we must set it down among the memorandums of his mercy, that he hath heard our prayers and healed our land. But I say, I must not stand upon this.²

1. *After the great plague. 1625.
2. 2Doct. When we pray to God he is ready to hear.