1The word notes the pouring out of many prayers, or of a multitude of words in prayer, yet not of bare w•rds, but of words clothed with power, strong prayers as well as many prayers. For as the Gospel comes from God to us, not in word only, but in power and in the holy Ghost, and in much assurance, (1 Thes. 1.5.) so prayer should go from us to God, not in word only, but in power, and in the holy Ghost, &c. Thus, saith Eliphaz, Thou shalt make many, and mighty prayers, strong prayers, prevailing, conquering prayers; so the word is used (Gen. 25.21.) T•en Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife because she was barren; that is, he ⟨p. 263⟩made many prayers to God, he made a business of praying that he might have a son, though there was a sure promise made to Abraham that he should have a son, and that in him, and from him should come the promised seed; yet Isaac was long without a son, and he leaves it not carelessly in the decree of God, resolving Idly, God hath said I shall have a son at least, if not many sons, why should I trouble my self in the thing. No, Isaac had not so learned the mind of God, he was better skilled in Divinity then so, to separate the means from the end, or to conclude that we need not pray for that which God hath purposed and promised. He I say, was better instructed then so, and therefore though he (doubtless) did fully believe that God would fulfil the promise made to Abraham in giving him a son, yet he entreated the Lord for his wife because she was barren: and he entreated the Lord earnestly, he made plenty, abundance of prayers; for it cannot be supposed but that he had prayed for that mercy long before (for it was near twenty years since his marriage to Rebekah, as appears plainly by comparing the 20 verse of that Chapter with the 26•h, the former telling us, that he was forty years old when he married Rebekah, and the latter that he was threescore when Rebekah bare Jacob and Esau. So that I say, we cannot suppose but so holy a man as Isaac had been suing out the good of the promise before) but when he perceived it sticking so long in the birth, then his soul fell in travel about it, then he was very fervent in prayer, and would give the Lord no rest; Then he entreated the Lord &c. The same is said of Manoah (Judges 13.8.)
1The word notes the powring out of many prayers, or of a multitude of words in prayer, yet not of bare w•rds, but of words cloathed with power, strong prayers as well as many prayers. For as the Gospel comes from God to us, not in word onely, but in power and in the holy Ghost, and in much assurance, (1 Thes. 1.5.) so prayer should goe from us to God, not in word onely, but in power, and in the holy Ghost, &c. Thus, saith Eliphaz, Thou shalt make many, and mighty prayers, strong prayers, prevailing, conquering prayers; so the word is used (Gen. 25.21.) T•en Isack intreated the Lord for his wife because she was barren; that is, he ⟨p. 263⟩made many prayers to God, he made a businesse of praying that he might have a sonne, though there was a sure promise made to Abraham that he should have a sonne, and that in him, and from him should come the promised seed; yet Isack was long without a sonne, and he leaves it not carelesly in the decree of God, resolving Idly, God hath said I shall have a sonne at least, if not many sonnes, why should I trouble my selfe in the thing. No, Isack had not so learned the minde of God, he was better skill'd in Divinity then so, to separate the meanes from the end, or to conclude that wee need not pray for that which God hath purposed and promised. He I say, was better instructed then so, and therefore though he (doubtlesse) did fully beleeve that God would fullfill the promise made to Abraham in giving him a sonne, yet he entreated the Lord for his wife because she was barren: and he intreated the Lord earnestly, he made plenty, abundance of prayers; for it cannot be supposed but that he had prayed for that mercy long before (for it was neere twenty yeares since his marriage to Rebeccah, as appeares plainely by comparing the 20 verse of that Chapter with the 26•h, the former telling us, that he was forty yeares old when he marryed Rebeccah, and the latter that he was threescore when Rebeccah bare Jacob and Esau. So that I say, we cannot suppose but so holy a man as Isack had been suing out the good of the promise before) but when he perceived it sticking so long in the birth, then his soule fell in travel about it, then he was very fervent in prayer, and would give the Lord no rest; Then he entreated the Lord &c. The same is sayd of Manoah (Judges 13.8.)