3. Prayer must be fired with zeal and fervency: Jam. 5.16. Effectual fervent Prayer prevails much. Cold Prayers like cold Suitors never speed. Prayer without fervency, is like a Sacrifice without Fire. Prayer is called a pouring out of the Soul, 1 Sam. 1.15. to signify vehemency. Formality starves prayer. Prayer is compared to Incense; Psal. 141.2. Let my prayer be set forth as incense. Hot Coals were to be put to the Incense to make it odoriferous and fragrant; fervency of Affection is like Coals put to the Incense, it makes prayer ascend as a sweet perfume. Christ prayed with strong cries; Heb. 5.7. Clamour iste penetrat nubes. Luther. Fervent prayer, like a petard set against Heaven gates, makes them fly open. To cause holy fervour and ardency of Soul in prayer, consider; 1. Prayer without fervency is no prayer; it is speaking not praying. Lifeless prayer is no more prayer, than the picture of a Man is a Man. One may say as Pharaoh, Gen. 41. I have dreamed a dream: It is dreaming not praying. Affectus operi nomen imponit. Ambr. Life and fervency baptizeth a Duty, and gives it a name. 2. Consider in what need we stand of those things which we ask in prayer. We come to ask the favour of God, and if we have not his love all we enjoy is cursed to us. We pray that our Souls may be washed in Christs Blood, and if he wash us not we have no part in him, John 13.8. When will we be earnest if not when we are praying for the life of our Souls. 3. It is only fervent prayer hath the promise of Mercy affixed to it; Jer. 29.14. Then shall ye find me when ye search for me with all your heart. 'Tis dead praying without a promise; and the promise is made only to ardency. The Aediles among the Romans had their doors always standing open, that all who had petitions might have free access to them. Gods heart is ever open to fervent prayer.
3. Prayer must be fired with zeal and fervency: Iam. 5.16. Effectual fervent Prayer prevails much. Cold Prayers like cold Suitors never speed. Prayer without fervency, is like a Sacrifice without Fire. Prayer is called a pouring out of the Soul, 1 Sam. 1.15. to signifie vehemency. Formality starves prayer. Prayer is compared to Incense; Psal. 141.2. Let my prayer be set forth as incense. Hot Coals were to be put to the Incense to make it odoriferous and fragrant; fervency of Affection is like Coals put to the Incense, it makes prayer ascend as a sweet perfume. Christ prayed with strong cryes; Heb. 5.7. Clamor iste penetrat nubes. Luther. Fervent prayer, like a petard set against Heaven gates, makes them fly open. To cause holy fervour and ardency of Soul in prayer, consider; 1. Prayer without fervency is no prayer; it is speaking not praying. Lifeless prayer is no more prayer, than the picture of a Man is a Man. One may say as Pharaoh, Gen. 41. I have dreamed a dream: It is dreaming not praying. Affectus operi nomen imponit. Ambr. Life and fervency baptizeth a Duty, and gives it a name. 2. Consider in what need we stand of those things which we ask in prayer. We come to ask the favour of God, and if we have not his love all we enjoy is cursed to us. We pray that our Souls may be washed in Christs Blood, and if he wash us not we have no part in him, Iohn 13.8. When will we be earnest if not when we are praying for the life of our Souls. 3. It is only fervent prayer hath the promise of Mercy affixed to it; Ier. 29.14. Then shall ye find me when ye search for me with all your heart. 'Tis dead praying without a promise; and the promise is made only to ardency. The Aediles among the Romans had their doors always standing open, that all who had petitions might have free access to them. Gods heart is ever open to fervent prayer.
