Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness

2. He that would have his prayers acceptable, must look to his walking. He must be careful to walk closely with God; and take heed of offending him by giving way to sin, left the Lord turn a deaf ear upon all his prayers. After that Saul had sinned, and departed from God, his enquiries after the Lord were not regarded, 1 Sam. 28.6. When Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not. And not only a Saul, but one that is as to his state a godly man, may by his loose and careless walking, provoke the Lord to frown upon his prayers. Hence the Church complains, that as a just fruit of their transgressing against the Lord, He had covered himself with a cloud that their prayer should not pass through, Lam. 3.42,44. God clouds his face from his own Children, that they see no answer to their prayers, and many times some Sin o• other which they have been guilty of, is the cause of it. Wherefore, if at any time through temptation, a godly man shall fall into sin, so as to break his peace with God, let him be sure to renew his repentance ⟨p. 36⟩and let not inquiry be found with him; so will the Lord hear his prayer. It enquiry be in thine hand out it far […] dwell in thy Tabernacle. If thou […] any sin thy self, or if there be an […] thy Family, repent of it; and […] is a n••s, then will God healthy prayer. Joh. 1 13, 14. If thou shalt repent of former backsh••ings and endeavour to walk in all well pleasing before the Lord for the time to come, Then shalt then call and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, here I am, at hand ready to help thee, Isai. 58. 9.

2. He that would have his prayers acceptable, must look to his walking. He must be careful to walk closely with God; and take heed of offending him by giving way to sin, left the Lord turn a deaf ear upon all his prayers. After that Saul had sinned, and departed from God, his enquiries after the Lord were not regarded,