The truly blessed man, or, The way to be happy here, and forever being…

1. It is of God to spirit us to prayer: It is one character of a natural man, that he seeks not God, Psal. 14. 4. A spirit of prayer is his gift; and there is a mighty work wrought in bringing the Sinner on his knees, and make him pour out, his Soul to God, in earnest supplication for mercy.

2. When God brings a Sinner thus to pray, it is that he may forgive him. There is ever a gracious design in it. God hath made many gracious promises to such in his Word, which he cannot deny; if it were not his design to bring them within the compass of the promise, he would not work the condition in them; and therefore when he promiseth that they shall pray, he together engageth that he will hear, Jer 29. 12. There is no greater sign of forgiveness then a spirit of prayer for it.

3. Hence he observes when we do pray, and is ready to hear us. He waits to be gracious; he hearkens whether men will address him for it, that so he may take the opportunity to exalt his mercy on them; when he had brought Paul to the ground, ⟨p. 299⟩we find how he remarks on it, Acts 9. 11. Behold he prayeth; q. d. Let him have been never so bitter a Persecutor heretofore, yet I will have mercy on him, for he prayeth for it.

3. Hence he observes when we do pray, and is ready to hear us. He waits to be gracious; he hearkens whether men will address him for it, that so he may take the opportunity to exalt his mercy on them; when he had brought Paul to the ground,