Quest. 1But how may I know whether I did ask amiss? Ans. 2Thou didst ask amiss: first, if thou didst pray and doubto. Secondly, if thou didst make prayers thy refuge, but not thy recompense, when thou camest to pray thou consideredst what thou didst want for thy self, not what thou shouldest render to God; thou usedst prayer to serve thy turn, but when thou hadst sped, thou didst not return by prayer to render unto God his honourp. Thirdly, if thou didst not make conscience of the use of other ordinances of God; for God will not give all to any one ordinance. Fourthly, if thy prayers were ignorant, proud, hypocritical prayersq. Fifthly, if thou wast not in charity but broughtest thy gift, and diddest not forgive, or seek reconciliation with thy brotherr. Sixthly, if thou didst ask of God for wrong ends, or wrong things, as to spend on thy lustss: or for temporal things only or chieflyt: besides, many times it comes to pass that men speed not, because they are not humble. We should so prize and esteem holy things, as we should exceedingly rejoice, if we could get but the crumbs that fall from the Fathers table. This Humility is ever joined with great Faith and wished success in all suites to God. Again, it is to be noted, that men may be deceived about the success of Prayer: for the decree for our succours may go forth at the very beginning of our supplications, though the knowledge of it be not revealed unto us till afterwards. Further, God heareth prayers diversly; sometimes, he heareth to grant the very thing we desire; sometimes he heareth, and granteth, and giveth, not the very things we desire, but that which he holds to be best for us, and for the distress we are in: so he was said to hear CHRIST, Hebr. 5. Lastly, God doth hear and grant, and yet defer to give, and that for our great good many times: he defers that he may prove us, that our faith may be the more kindled, that his benefits may be more sweet when they do come, and that we may know by the want, that it is his gift, when they are bestowed, and that we may be more careful of the good use of his grace•, gifts and benefits, when we have them. Thus of the Coherence.
Quest. 1But how may I know whether I did aske amisse? Ans. 2Thou didst aske amisse: first, if thou didst pray and doubto. Secondly, if thou didst make prayers thy refuge, but not thy recompence, when thou camest to pray thou consideredst what thou didst want for thy selfe, not what thou shouldest render to God; thou vsedst prayer to serue thy turne, but when thou hadst sped, thou didst not returne by prayer to render vnto God his honourp. Thirdly, if thou didst not make conscience of the vse of other ordinances of God; for God will not giue all to any one ordinance. Fourthly, if thy prayers were ignorant, proud, hypocriticall prayersq. Fiftly, if thou wast not in charitie but broughtest thy gift, and diddest not forgiue, or seeke reconciliation with thy brotherr. Sixtly, if thou didst aske of God for wrong ends, or wrong things, as to spend on thy lustss: or for temporall things onely or cheefelyt: besides, many times it comes to passe that men speede not, because they are not humble. Wee should so prize and esteeme holy things, as wee should exceedingly reioyce, if wee could get but the crummes that fall from the Fathers table. This Humilitie is euer ioyned with great Faith and wished successe in all suites to God. Againe, it is to bee noted, that men may bee deceiued about the successe of Prayer: for the decree for our succours may goe foorth at the very beginning of our supplications, though the knowledge of it bee not reuealed vnto vs till afterwards. Further, God heareth prayers diuersly; sometimes, hee heareth to grant the verie thing we desire; sometimes he heareth, and granteth, and giueth, not the verie things wee desire, but that which hee holds to bee best for vs, and for the distresse wee are in: so hee was sayd to heare CHRIST, Hebr. 5. Lastly, God doth heare and grant, and yet deferre to giue, and that for our great good many times: hee deferres that hee may prooue vs, that our faith may bee the more kindled, that his benefits may bee more sweet when they doe come, and that wee may know by the want, that it is his gift, when they are bestowed, and that wee may bee more carefull of the good vse of his grace, gifts and benefits, when we haue them. Thus of the Coherence.
- 1Quest.
- 2Ans.
- oJames 1.6. Job 21.15.Iames 1.6. Job 21.15.
- pPsal. 116.12.
- qMat. 6.
- rMat. 5.
- sJames 4.3.Iames 4.3.
- tHose 7.14.
