And I hope that such as are convinced that it is their Duty to comply with and encourage this Design, will remember that we ought not only to go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek this Mercy, but also to go constantly. We should unit• in our Practice those two Things, which our Saviour unites in his Precept, Praying and not Fainting. If we should continue some Years, and nothing remarkable in Providence should appear, as tho' God heard and answered, we should act very unbecoming Believers, if we should therefore begin to be disheartened, and grow dull and slack, in our seeking of God so great a Mercy. 'Tis very apparent from the Word of God, that God is wont often to try the Faith and Patience of his People, when crying to him for some great and important Mercy, by withholding the Mercy sought, for a Season, and not only so, but at first to cause an Increase of dark Appearances; and yet, without fail, at last, to succeed those who continue instant in Prayer with all Perseverance, and will not let God go except he blesses. It is now proposed that this extraordinary united Prayer should continue for seven Years, from November 1746. Perhaps some that appear forward to engage, may begin to think the Time long, before the seven Years are out; and may account it a dull Story, to go on, for so long a Time, praying in this extraordinary Method, while all yet continues dark and dead, without any Dawnings of the wished-for Light, or new promising Appearance in ⟨p. 187⟩Providence of the near Approach of the desired Mercy. But let it be considered, whether it will not be a poor Business, if our Faith and Patience is so short-winded, that we can't be willing to wait upon God one seven Years, in a Way of taking this little Pains, in seeking a Mercy so infinitely vast. For my Part, I sincerely wish and hope, that there may not be an End of extraordinary united Prayer, among God's People, for the Effusions of the blessed Spirit, when the seven Years are ended; but that it will be continued, either in this Method, or some other, by a new Agreement, that will be entered into, with greater Engagedness, and more abundant Alacrity, than this is; and that extraordinary united Prayer for such a Mercy will be further propagated and extended, than it can be expected to be in one seven Years.
And I hope that such as are convinced that it is their Duty to comply with and encourage this Design, will remember that we ought not only to go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek this Mercy, but also to go constantly. We should unit• in our Practice those two Things, which our Saviour unites in his Precept, Praying and not Fainting. If we should continue some Years, and nothing remarkable in Providence should appear, as tho' God heard and answered, we should act very unbecoming Believers, if we should therefore begin to be dishearten'd, and grow dull and slack, in our seeking of God so great a Mercy. 'Tis very apparent from the Word of God, that God is wont often to try the Faith and Patience of his People, when crying to him for some great and important Mercy, by withholding the Mercy sought, for a Season, and not only so, but at first to cause an Increase of dark Appearances; and yet, without fail, at last, to succeed those who continue instant in Prayer with all Perseverance, and will not let God go except he blesses. It is now proposed that this extraordinary united Prayer should continue for seven Years, from November 1746. Perhaps some that appear forward to engage, may begin to think the Time long, before the seven Years are out; and may account it a dull Story, to go on, for so long a Time, praying in this extraordinary Method, while all yet continues dark and dead, without any Dawnings of the wish'd-for Light, or new promising Appearance in ⟨p. 187⟩Providence of the near Approach of the desired Mercy. But let it be consider'd, whether it will not be a poor Business, if our Faith and Patience is so short-winded, that we can't be willing to wait upon God one seven Years, in a Way of taking this little Pains, in seeking a Mercy so infinitely vast. For my Part, I sincerely wish and hope, that there may not be an End of extraordinary united Prayer, among God's People, for the Effusions of the blessed Spirit, when the seven Years are ended; but that it will be continued, either in this Method, or some other, by a new Agreement, that will be entred into, with greater Engagedness, and more abundant Alacrity, than this is; and that extraordinary united Prayer for such a Mercy will be further propagated and extended, than it can be expected to be in one seven Years.
