A94156:429
The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature…
The Christian-man's calling: or, A treatise of making religion ones business. Wherein the nature and necessity of it is discovered. : As also the Christian directed how he may perform it in [brace] religious duties, natural actions, his particular vocation, his family directions, and his own recreations. / By George Swinnock ...
London: printed for T.P., 1662
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
When Daniel had been fervent all day at prayer, an Angel is sent to him at night with an answer. Importunity prevaileth with an unjust Judge, much more with a righteous and gracious God: Though God be Almighty, yet a fervent prayer (through his grace) hath held his hands: Let me alone, Exod. 32. Who holdeth the Lord? saith Austin. Moses earnest cry was the cord, which I may speak with reverence, fastened Gods hands.
When Daniel had been fervent all day at prayer, an Angel is sent to him at night with an answer. Importunity prevaileth with an unjust Judge, much more with a righteous and gracious God: Though God be Almighty, yet a fervent prayer (through his grace) hath held his hands: Let me alone, Exod. 32. Who holdeth the Lord? saith Austin. Moses earnest cry was the cord, which I may speak with reverence, fastned Gods hands.
Prayer is a sword to wound both sin and Satan, but fervency is the edge of it, doing the execution, Zeph. 18.2 Cor. 12. For this I besought the Lord thrice, When a man strikes his Enemies with his full strength, then the wounds are made.
The lack of this fervency, is the loss of many prayers. The lazy petition tires, before it comes half way to Heaven: indeed it is eaten up (as the cold honey of Wasps and Flies) of wandering thoughts; when fervent prayers, like honey boiling over the fire, is free from such ill guests. An idle prayer, like a lazy beggar, wandereth and gaddeth up and down, and as a rolling stone, gathereth no moss. The working of the affections in ⟨p. 176⟩