I have certainly observed a fault among Christians; and that is, when they observe a mercy coming, they begin to withdraw ⟨p. 47⟩prayer, and cool in their fervency and importunity. I wish from my soul, this may not be the fruit of the Victories which God hath lately given us in Cheshire, in the North, in the West, &c. whereas Christians should then double their importunity, and with their Saviour, pray yet more fervently. The behaviour of the Saints in this Kind is very observable, towards the end of the 70. years Captivity in Babylon, when one would have thought that the strength of the Spirit of prophecy that began then to stir in those times would have delivered the Jews alone out of those throws and pangs, without the help of prayer, yet even then doth Daniel give himself up to fasting and prayer: And about that time, Interpreters do conceive, 1either Daniel himself, or some other of the Prophets, did in the behalf of the Church pen the 102. Psalm, as a model upon which the people of God in captivity should form their prayers, that God would arise and have mercy upon Zion; The whole Psalm is nothing else but a Bedroll of Arguments wherewith those children of Jacob should wrestle with God for the accomplishment of that great expiring promise; and so the Spouse in the Revelations, the nearer her Bridegroom was, 2the more pathetically she importunes his coming, I come quickly says the Bridegroom; yea and to put it out of doubt, he sets his seal to it, surely I come quickly: Yet not content with this, the Spouse echo's this promise back again with the voice of an holy restless impatience of any delay, 3Even so come Lord Jesus. And it is no more then is commanded all believers; Looking for, and hastening to the coming of the day of God, 4the Greek reads it, hastening the coming, &c. Let us learn this holy impatience & importunity, in hastening the coming of this day of God, for Englands full, and perfect Deliverance and Reformation; You that are the Lords remembrances, arise and give the Lord no rest till he establish and make this our Jerusalem a praise in the midst of the earth.
I have certainly observed a fault among Christians; and that is, when they observe a mercy comming, they begin to withdraw ⟨p. 47⟩prayer, and cool in their fervencie and importunity. I wish from my soul, this may not be the fruit of the Victories which God hath lately given us in Cheshire, in the North, in the West, &c. whereas Christians should then double their importunity, and with their Saviour, pray yet more fervently. The behaviour of the Saints in this Kinde is very observeable, towards the end of the 70. yeeres Captivity in Babylon, when one would have thought that the strength of the Spirit of prophesie that began then to stir in those times would have delivered the Jewes alone out of those throwes and panges, without the help of prayer, yet even then doth Daniel give himself up to fasting and prayer: And about that time, Interpreters do conceive, 1either Daniel himself, or some other of the Prophets, did in the behalf of the Church pen the 102. Psalme, as a modell upon which the people of God in captivity should forme their prayers, that God would arise and have mercy upon Sion; The whole Psalme is nothing else but a Bedroll of Arguments wherewith those children of Jacob should wrestle with God for the accomplishment of that great expiring promise; and so the Spouse in the Revelations, the neerer her Bridegroome was, 2the more pathetically she importunes his coming, I come quickly sayes the Bridegroome; yea and to put it out of doubt, he sets his seal to it, surely I come quickly: Yet not content with this, the Spouse ecchoe's this promise back again with the voice of an holy restlesse impatience of any delay, 3Even so come Lord Jesus. And it is no more then is commanded all beleevers; Looking for, and hastening to the coming of the day of God, 4the Greeke reads it, hastening the coming, &c. Let us learn this holy impatience & importunity, in hastning the coming of this day of God, for Englands full, and perfect Deliverance and Reformation; You that are the Lords remembrances, arise and give the Lord no rest till he establish and make this our Jerusalem a praise in the midst of the earth.
- 1Dan. 9.1, 2.
- 2Revel. 22.20.
- 3Vers. 21.
- 42 Pet. 3.12. [Greek or Hebrew], &c. properantes adventum. Isa 62.8, 9.2 Pet. 3.12. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, &c. properantes adventum. Isa 62.8, 9.
