N01545:53
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.
3. A Christian may judge something whether his Prayers shall be heard, by the frame of his heart before duty, and in the duty, and after it. If before he poureth out his Soul ⟨p. 36⟩to the Lord, God prepares him by putting his heart into a suitable humble praying frame, that's a sign that his Prayer shall be heard: Psal. 10.17. Thou hast heard the desire of the humble, thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine Ear to hear. And if in the duty there is an holy fervency wrought in the heart by the Spirit of God, its a sign that the Prayer will be prevalent. Jam 5.16. The effectual fervent Prayer of a righteous man availeth much. When a Man Prayeth like an holy Energonmen, like a man possessed and acted by the holy Spirit which is the Spirit of Prayer, such Prayers do not use to fall to the ground; no, they pierce the Heavens. As 'tis said of a Prayer once made by the Priests & Levites, Their voice was heard, and their Prayer came up to his holy dwelling Place, even unto heaven, 2 Chron. 30.27. We read concerning Cain and Abel that Abel's offering found acceptance with God, ⟨p. 37⟩but Cains did not, at which he was very angry. But how was this known? No doubt but there was some visible sign of it. The Hebrew Doctors say that fire came from Heaven and consumed Abel's Oblations, but not Cains. It is very probable that it was so. For this was an usual sign of Divine acceptance. When Solomon made an end of Praying at the Dedication of the Temple, fire came down from Heaven and consumed the Sacrifices. So it was at Elijahs Prayer on Mount Carmel, 1 King. 18.38. Thus when God by His holy Spirit does fire our Spiritual Sacrifices, it is a sign of His being pleased with them. And if after Prayer the troubled Spirit is composed and easy having left the matter with God, waiting quietly for a gracious answer in Gods good time. Thus the Prophet Habakkuk, having Prayed he said, I will stand upon my watch, I will watch to see what he will say to me, ⟨p. 38⟩