N01545:51
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.
2. An holy importunity in Prayer is many times a sign that the Prayer will be Answered. When the Supplicant at the Throne of Grace will not be discouraged, but resolves to hold on still praying and waiting, and waiting and praying, it is to be hoped that the Mercy will come at last, and the longer it is prayed and waited for, the greater will the Mercy be when it comes. When Elijah Prayed for Rain, he sent his Servant to see if there were any Cloud, or sign of Rain, he brought word that there was none; go again Seven times, says he. Thus when there is a resolution to pray Seven times, will not the Lord incline His Ear and hear? This Christ has confirmed by diverse Parables. One is that of a Man that having Guests come to him, and nothing to entertain them with, goes to his friend at Midnight, ⟨p. 33⟩night, & prays him to lend him three Loaves; his friend said to him trouble me not, I cannot rise & give thee, Luk. 11.7. but then in the 8. verse 'tis said, Though he will not rise & give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise & give him as many as he needs. So says the Lord, Do you be importunate in Prayer, especially for Spiritual blessings, and doubt not but God will give you what you ask for. Another Parable to this purpose is that in the Eighteenth Chapter of Luke, concerning the unjust Judge and the poor Widow, who cried to him for Justice. That he had no mind to, yet said, because this Widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me, verse 5. Now God is a righteous Judge, we may therefore conclude that He will avenge His own Elect that cry to Him day and night, although' He may in their apprehension ⟨p. 34⟩bear long, He will avenge them speedily. When the Believer will take no denial from God, it is a sign that God will Answer his Prayers. This we see in Jacob, when he wrestled with the Angel that appeared unto him in the form of a Man, which Angel was the Lord God of Hosts, the Lord is his Memorial, Hos. 12.5. Therefore he was Christ, Let me go says Christ, Jacob replied, I will not let thee go except thou bless me, Gen. 32.26