An exposition with practical observations continued upon the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters…

God leaves his people in that dead condition for a time; the first Obs. 2 day they may look for help, and it may not come; and the second day he may let them lie when help is looked for, and this may be after their seeking of God: This people they said, Come, let us return unto the Lord, yet what do they say? after two days he will revive us; it must be some time first: God is a great God, and his creature must wait, there is much grace exercised in an afflicted condition, when the soul quietly submits to God and patiently waits upon his pleasure, let his dealing be never so hard towards them; God sometimes answers his peoples prayers presently when they seek him, so that it may not only be said, in the evening, but in the morning hast thou heard me; not only this day, but the next also: see that place in 1 King. 18.38, and 44. Elijah prays, and the Lord heard him presently, but he prays again, and then the Lord defers: in the 38. verse he prays for fire to come down to consume the sacrifice, and it did so; but in the 44. verse of the same chapter he prays again for rain, and see in what a posture he prays in and obtained his petition with much difficulty, sent his fervent Seven times, and at the seventh time it was but a little cloud; at first God heard him presently, but he prays again, and then mercy comes difficultly, yet God was not angry with Elijah. So Daniel, he prays and was heard presently; but the people they pray, and pray earnestly, yet they were not answered.

God leaves his people in that dead condition for a time; the first Obs. 2 day they may look for help, and it may not come; and the second day he may let them lie when help is look'd for, and this may be after their seeking of God: This people they said, Come, let us return unto the Lord, yet what do they say? after two daies he will revive us; it must be some time first: God is a great God, and his creature must wait, there is much grace exercised in an afflicted condition, when the soul quietly submits to God and patiently waits upon his pleasure, let his dealing be never so hard towards them; God sometimes answers his peoples prayers presently when they seek him, so that it may not only be said, in the evening, but in the morning hast thou heard me; not only this day, but the next also: see that place in 1 King. 18.38, and 44. Elijah praies, and the Lord heard him presently, but he praies again, and then the Lord defers: in the 38. verse he praies for fire to come down to consume the sacrifice, and it did so; but in the 44. verse of the same chapter he praies again for rain, and see in what a posture he praies in and obtained his petition with much difficulty, sent his servent Seven times, and at the seventh time it was but a little cloud; at first God heard him presently, but he praies again, and then mercy comes difficultly, yet God was not angry with Elijah. So Daniel, he prayes and was heard presently; but the people they pray, and pray earnestly, yet they were not answered.