A55752:1244
Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…
Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithful Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithfull Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...
London: printed by J.T., 1658
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
When we pray to the Lord, he is exceeding ready to hear.
As we see he was ready hear to hear Hezekiah. And so David, and Asa, and Jehoshaphat, so he will do to us to the end of the world, when men seek to him. Only, this must be considered, that the Lord hath an ear open to our prayer: but if it be no prayer, if it be but a liplabour, if it want the conditions of prayer, the Lord rejects it. And this is not because he hearkens not to it, but because it is no prayer. Therefore make account when thou goest about to pray, that God doth incline his ear to hear, that is, he doth not only hear the prayers of his servants but also of those that are carnal men, of those that are strangers, and that are without the covenant as yet. As you shall see, 2 Chron. 12. It is said that Rehoboam, and the Princes humbled themselves, and sought to 1to the Lord, and Rehoboam was not upright hearted: yet because he and the Princes did humble themselves, the Lord did not destroy them but sent them deliverance. So did he to Ahab, he heard him. And so it may be the Lord hath done with us in removing this judgement, though it may be our prayers, and our humiliation, and fasting have been but overly, and perfunctory: yet it may be the Lord hath heard us: for he is ready to hear prayers. Although mens hearts be not humbled aright in their prayers, yet when men are humbled in any manner before him to show that he is ready to hear prayers, he hears them.
As we see he was ready hear to hear Hezekiah. And so David, and Asa, and Iehoshaphat, so he will do to us to the end of the world, when men seek to him. Onely, this must be considered, that the Lord hath an ear open to our prayer: but if it be no prayer, if it be but a liplabour, if it want the conditions of prayer, the Lord rejects it. And this is not because he hearkens not to it, but because it is no prayer. Therefore make account when thou goest about to pray, that God doth encline his ear to hear, that is, he doth not onely hear the prayers of his servants but also of those that are carnal men, of those that are strangers, and that are without the covenant as yet. As you shall see,