N01545:33
Two discourses showing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of…Two discourses shewing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of…
Two discourses showing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of the righteous. II. The dignity & duty of aged servants of the Lord. : Also, a preface in which the Congregational discipline of the churches in New-England is vindicated, with the authors dying testimony there-unto. / By I. Mather, D.D. ; [Four lines of quotations]Two discourses shewing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of the righteous. II. The dignity & duty of aged servants of the Lord. : Also, a preface in which the Congregational discipline of the churches in New-England is vindicated, with the authors dying testimony there-unto. / By I. Mather, D.D. ; [Four lines of quotations]
printed by B. Green for Daniel Henchman, 1716
Title page typeset from the transcription.
The Ears of the LORD are open to the Prayers of the Righteous.
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.
Quest. 2. Whence is it that the Lords Ears are open to the Prayers of the Righteous?
Answ. 1. It is from the gracious Nature of the blessed God. Exod. 20.27. I will hear for I am gracious. Gracious is His Name and Nature. When God did in a most wonderful manner make known His Name to Moses, He passed by before him, and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God Merciful & Gracious, abundant in Goodness, Exod. 34.6. It is an Infinitely gracious Condescension in Him to look upon such Poor beggars as we are. He humbleth himself to behold the things in Heaven. How much ⟨p. 11⟩more to behold such dust and ashes on the Earth! Besides, we are not only mean considered as Creatures, but we are Sinners. Peter fell down at Christs feet and said, Depart from me for I am a sinful man, O Lord, Luk. 5.8. God might say to the best of us, Depart out of my presence, for you are Sinful Men, and shall not come near me. And as our Persons are Sinful, so are our Prayers also. There is iniquity in our holy things. Isai 64.6. We are all as an unclean thing, & all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Our Righteousnesses, in the Plural number, not some of them, but all of them: They are but rags, nay filthy rags. If then God shall accept of us, or of any of our Services, it is wonderful and astonishing Grace.
2. The Reason why the Ears of the Lord are open to the Prayers of the Righteous, is, because they Pray to Him in the Name of Christ. The ⟨p. 12⟩Lords People Israel were taught this, when they were directed to Pray towards the Temple. They were to spread forth their hands, that's a Praying posture, towards that house,