The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…

When the sin of the petitioner is before Gods eyes, his petitions cannot enter into Gods ears. ⟨p. 160⟩The wide mouth of sin out-crieth the voice of his prayers; as the Fish called the Remora, though it be but little, will stop a great Ship in its full career, truly so the smallest sin loved and liked will hinder the course of prayer, though it be never so instant and vehement. The Lords ear is not heavy that it cannot hear, but your iniquities separate between you and your God, Isa. 59.1, 2. Men by falls sometimes lose their speeches, men by fin lose their prayers.

When the sin of the petitioner is before Gods eyes, his petitions cannot enter into Gods ears. ⟨p. 160⟩The wide mouth of sin out-cryeth the voice of his prayers; as the Fish called the Remora, though it be but little, will stop a great Ship in its full career, truely so the sinallest sin loved and liked will hinder the course of prayer, though it be never so instant and vehement. The Lords ear is not heavy that it cannot hear, but your iniquities separate between you and your God, Isa. 59.1, 2. Men by falls somtimes lose their speeches, men by fin lose their prayers.

When the Ninevites prayed and turned from their evil ways, then God granted their requests, Jonah 3. The Israelites cried to God but in vain (he bid them go to the Gods whom they had served) till they put away the strange Gods from among them, then his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel, Judges 10.10, to 17. Reformation is a good usher to go before supplication. When the Duke of Saxony prepared War against the Bishop of Magdeburg, the Bishop hearing of it, falls to praying and reforming, saying, At ego curabo ecclesiam meam & Deus pugnabit pro me, I will take care to reform my Church, and God will take care to fight for me. When the Duke heard this, he Disbanded his forces with this speech, I am too weak for him that can engage God on his side.