5. His heart was ready on the sudden to be raised to God. For when the King gave him occasion ⟨p. 18⟩to make his mind known to him,1 he instantly prayed to the God of Heaven: Not by turning aside and uttering any words to God, but by lifting up his heart to God. This is called an ejaculation of the spirit: when the spirit within a man casteth up a sudden desire to God. This sudden desire might be, that God would direct him in ordering his desire to the King, and that God would incline the Kings heart to grant his desire. So much was before thus expressed, Grant me mercy in the sight of this man, meaning the King. This may be as fervent and prevalent, as a solemn prayer uttered with the mouth, witness that ejaculation of Moses spirit, when he was in the middest of the people, and encouraging them against Pharaohs furious host that hotly pursued them: He then uttered no words of prayer, yet of that ejaculation, or inward desire, saith God,2 why criest thou unto me? which phrase implieth great fervency. This frequently and heartily used argueth an heavenly mind, and holy familiarity with God. This is one way whereby we may pray alway, continually, even by the readiness of the heart to pray at all times, in all places, on all occasions, when we are alone, or in company, in conference, reading, studying, working, or doing any other lawful thing. Thus may I now in preaching, pray: thus may you even now in hearing, pray. Assuredly, if we were well disposed hereunto, we might have much better success in many things we do, then we have. What good success had this Patriot hereupon? God moved the King to grant whatsoever he desired.3 In sending, ⟨p. 19⟩in delivering Petitions to the King on earth, Pray to the GOD of Heaven, as Nehemiah did.
5. His heart was ready on the sudden to be raised to God. For when the King gave him occasion ⟨p. 18⟩to make his mind knowne to him,1 he instantly prayed to the God of Heaven: Not by turning aside and uttering any words to God, but by lifting up his heart to God. This is called an ejaculation of the spirit: when the spirit within a man casteth up a sudden desire to God. This sudden desire might be, that God would direct him in ordering his desire to the King, and that God would encline the Kings heart to grant his desire. So much was before thus expressed, Grant me mercy in the sight of this man, meaning the King. This may be as fervent and prevalent, as a solemne prayer uttered with the mouth, witnesse that ejaculation of Moses spirit, when he was in the middest of the people, and encouraging them against Pharaohs furious hoste that hotly pursued them: He then uttered no words of prayer, yet of that ejaculation, or inward desire, saith God,2 why criest thou unto me? which phrase implyeth great fervency. This frequently and heartily used argueth an heavenly mind, and holy familiarity with God. This is one way whereby we may pray alway, continually, even by the readinesse of the heart to pray at all times, in all places, on all occasions, when we are alone, or in company, in conference, reading, studying, working, or doing any other lawfull thing. Thus may I now in preaching, pray: thus may you even now in hearing, pray. Assuredly, if we were well disposed hereunto, we might have much better successe in many things we doe, then we have. What good successe had this Patriot hereupon? God mooved the King to grant whatsoever he desired.3 In sending, ⟨p. 19⟩in delivering Petitions to the King on earth, Pray to the GOD of Heaven, as Nehemiah did.
- 1Neh. 2. 4.
- 2Exod. 14. 15.
- 3Neh. 2. 8.
