THE TABLE.

THE TABLE.

CHAP. 1. The main observation: That Gods people are diligently to observe the answers of their prayers. Pag. 5. The sinfulness of the neglect hereof demonstrated by seven reasons. 7 1▪ reas. An ordinance of God taken in vain ibid. 2. reas. Gods attributes taken in vain. 12 3. reas. God in answering made to speak in vain 16 4. reas. God provoked not to answer. 19 5. reas. We shall not return thanks. 21 6. reas. We shall lose much experience. 23 1. Of Gods faithfulness ibid 2. Of our own ways towards him. 25 7. reas. We shall lose much comfort. 28 CHAP. 2. Three Cases: The first concerning prayers for such promises as may be accomplished in ages to come. 32 1 § Such prayers the Church to come doth reap 33 2 § Yet we at present may have an answer about them. 39 3 § In heaven, and at the last day we shall rejoice for their accomplishment. 40 ⟨image 15⟩CHAP. 3. Second Case: Concerning prayers made for others of our friends, &c. How answered. p. 42 1 § Such prayers oft granted. 44 2 § Yet not always in the very thing prayed for. 46 Such promises but indefinite. 49 As all temporal promises are 51 Our faith towards them not required to be assurance. 53 Unless God give a special faith 58 3 § Such prayers returned into our own bosoms. 61 4 § God in the end casts some out of our prayers 65 5 § Those prayers answered in some others. 68 CHAP. 4. Third Case: How the influence of our own prayers, when others pray also for the same thing with us, may be discerned. 72 1 § If our hearts are affected with the same holy affection 73 Unbeknown each to other. 75 2 § By some special endeavour: as, 1 Some notable circumstance. 76 2 By joy in the accomplishment. 79 3 By thankfulness for the accomplishment. 81 ⟨image 16⟩3 §. This less to be doubted when the thing prayed for by us doth concern our own particular. p. 82 CHAP. 5 Common directions helpful in all cases, and prayers: taken first from observations from Before and In praying. p. 85 1 § BEFORE: when God prepares the heart. 86 Difference between Satan's motions to prayer and Gods. 89 2 § IN prayer: Gods speakings in prayer are evidences of hearing: and discerned by 4 things. 93 1 Giving a quietness by prayer about the thing prayed for. ibid 3 § 2 By revealing his love, in and upon such petitions. 99 A caution herein.

CHAP. 1. The maine observation: That Gods people are diligently to observe the answers of their prayers. Pag. 5. The sinfulnes of the neglect hereof demonstrated by seven reasons. 7 1 reas. An ordinance of God taken in vain ibid. 2. reas. Gods attributes taken in vain. 12 3. reas. God in answering made to speake in vaine 16 4. reas. God provoked not to answer. 19 5. reas. We shall not returne thanks. 21 6. reas. We shall lose much experience. 23 1. Of Gods faithfulnesse ibid 2. Of our own wayes towards him. 25 7. reas. We shall lose much comfort. 28 CHAP. 2. Three Cases: The first concerning prayers for such promises as may bee accomplished in ages to come. 32 1 § Such prayers the Church to come doth reape 33 2 § Yet wee at present may have an answer about them. 39 3 § In heaven, and at the last day wee shall rejoyce for their accomplishment. 40

103 Reasons why God draws nigh when he grants not the thing 104 4 § 3 God sometimes gives a particular assurance. 107 A caution herein. 111 5 § 4 By giving a restless importunity to pray for a particular mercy. 117 CHAP. 6 Observations made upon the disposition of the heart AFTER prayer: Until the ISSUE of the thing prayed for p. 119 ⟨image 16⟩1 § When God gives an obedient dependant heart. pag. 119 2 § when God gives an heart waiting for and expecting it. 123 CHAP. 7 Observations made AFTER prayer Upon the ISSUE: first If Accomplished: whether as the fruit of prayer, or of common providence. 125 1 § God sometimes answers the prayer in the very thing and manner desired. 126 2 § Directions to discern that things thus obtained are in answer to prayers. 134 1 From the manner of Gods performance. A more then ordinary hand discovered in things accomplished by prayer, instanced in 5. particulars. ibid 1 By bringing it to pass through difficulties. 135 2 By facilitating all means. 137 3 Effecting it suddenly. 139 4 With addition of other mercies above what was desired. 141 5 By some special circumstance as a token of his hand in it. 142 3 § 2 From the Time, wherein it is accomplished. 146 As first when we were most instant in prayer. 147 2 In the fittest time for us. Then, 150 ⟨image 17⟩1 When we have most need. 151 2 When the heart was best prepared to receive it. 154 4 § 3 From the proportion which may be observed betwixt Gods dealings in the accomplishment, and our prayers. 158 CHAP. 8. Seven observations more, from the Effects, which the accomplishment of the mercy hath upon the heart. 163 1 § If it draw the heart nearer to God. ibid 2 § Enlargeth the heart with thankfulness. 166 3 § And encourageth the heart the more to pray, for other things. 169 4 § If it makes more careful to perform the vows made to obtain it. 170 5 § If by faith a man sees and acknowledgeth Gods sole hand in the accomplishment. 174 6 § By an assurance which comes sometimes with the mercy. 178 7 § By the event: Things obtained by prayer prove stable mercies. 179 CHAP. 9. Considerations, to quiet us, and to help to discern an acceptation of the prayer, when the thing is Not Accomplished. 183 1 § The thing not always granted, when yet the prayer is heard. ibid. ⟨image 17⟩An objection answered. 186 2 § Some blessings not absolutely promised, nor absolutely to be prayed for.

188 In which a denial is to be interpreted as best for us in Gods judgement. 190 3 § There may be a reservation in the denial, for some greater mercy. ibid 4 § There may be a transmutation into some other blessing of the same kind. 193 5 § God when he denies, yet answereth to the ground of our prayers. 196 6 § And yields far in it, to give satisfaction to his child. 203 7 § We may know that the prayer notwithstanding is accepted, by the effects upon the heart, which are 4. 206 1 If we acknowledge God righteous in the denial. ibid. 2 If God fills the heart with contentment in the denial. 207 3 If the heart be thankful out of faith. 209 4 If not discouraged, but prays still. 210 CHAP. 10. Application: A reproof of them that pray, but look not after the Returns of their prayers: The causes of this neglect: are 212 ⟨image 18⟩1 Temptations: 1 From want of assurance that our persons are accepted, 216 2 From the weakness of our prayers: three answers to it. 221 3 From not obtaining what we formerly prayed for, answered by 4. things. 227 2 More sinful discouragements as, 231 1 From slothfulness in praying. 232 2 Looking at prayer as a duty only, and not as a means to obtain. 236 3 Falling into sin after prayers. 240 Six Observations more out of the Text. 1 Observ. That God doth sometimes not speak peace to his own people. 245 2 Obser. The cause thereof some folly. 251 3 Observ. God only can speak peace. 258 4 Observ. God easily can give peace. 267 5 Observ. God will certainly speak to his people. 278 6 Observ. After peace spoken his people should return no more to folly. 283 The sin and folly of relapsing shown by 7. reasons. 29• Temptations from relapse into the same sin after peace spoken, answered By Scriptures. 32• By 3 Examples. 33• By 4 Reasons. 34• 5 Cautions. 36•

188 In which a deniall is to bee interpreted as best for us in Gods judgement. 190 3 § There may be a reservation in the deniall, for some greater mercy. ibid 4 § There may bee a transmutation into some other blessing of the same kind. 193 5 § God when hee denies, yet answereth to the ground of our prayers. 196 6 § And yeelds farre in it, to give satisfaction to his child. 203 7 § Wee may know that the prayer notwithstanding is accepted, by the effects upon the heart, which are 4. 206 1 If we acknowledge God righteous in the deniall. ibid. 2 If God fills the heart with contentment in the deniall. 207 3 If the heart bee thankfull out of faith. 209 4 If not discouraged, but prayes still. 210 CHAP. 10. Application: A reproofe of them that pray, but looke not after the Returnes of their prayers: The causes of this neglect: are 212

FINIS.