Joy in Tribulation, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. Comforts arising from Prayer.
A Third Ordinance of God in which hee yeeldeth us much consolation, is Prayer: wherein whether we consider the privilege which wee enjoy, namely, that we dust and sinfull ashes may speake unto the glorious Lord of heaven, and upon all occasions, at any time of need, boldly, through Christ,Eph… 3.12. approach unto his presence, and make all our wants knowne unto him: or the power and efficacie of Prayer, that we never speake in vaine, but prosper in all our suits; what can bee a greater consolation to an afflicted Spirit? What? Hath God opened an eutrance for us unto his grace, through the meditation which is in Christ? Hath he set out the Sonne of his love to be our Intercessour? Clothed him with our infirmities,Heb. 2.17. that he might be an high Priest for us, mercifull, sensible, and tender of our weaknesse? Hath he appointed this Angell of the Covenant, Rev… 8.3.to incence and perfume our praiers with his most fragrant mediation, & so to bring them into his presence? Hath hee exempted no time, but made every howre, every minute a season for this holy Ordinance so that the oftner wee come, the more welcome; and the more importunate our suit, the more sweete and pleasing? Hath hee not permitted, but commanded,Psal… 50. Call upon mee in the day of trouble; and instantly promised, and I will deliver thee? Hath he not bid,Mat. 7. Aske … and assured us, you shal receive? Doth hee wish us, Be carefull for nothing, but in all thiugs let your requests be shewne to God in prayer? And because we know not how to pray as we ought, Rom. 8.26.hath hee given us his Spirit to helpe our infirmities, and to make intercession for u…, with grones which cannot be uttered? And can any man want comfort, who enjoyeth this privilege of Gods children, and of the favourits of the King of heaven?
But some, perhaps, will reply here, Doe not wee see many Saints complaine, and have not I found by experience, that God doth not alwayes grant what wee aske?
Ans. The Rules here of that Ancient Father, are good:Aug. de ser. Dom. ser. 53. Sometimes God giveth in wrath what is asked of him: sometimes denieth in love. And againe,Epist. 34. The Lord is gracious, who often giveth not what we aske, that hee may give what wee should aske. And yet againe, God alwaies heareth us, not alwaies our wils, but alwaies our profit. God giveth the Israelites flesh in wrath, and with store of flesh,Ps. 106. 15 leanenesse of Spirit. Hos. 13.11He giveth a King in anger, when they aske him,2 Cor. …2. but hee denyed Paul in love, that hee might keepe downe his heart from rising in pride, and stablish it with sufficiency of grace. Sometimes our Children aske of us things which are no way good, and sometimes they aske things that are good, but out of due time; wee give them neither: Thus often doe we, and therefore receive not. But fully to answer this objection, we must by no means forget, that in all petitions there is both a generall intention and purpose of asking good, and a desire of some particular, which we suppose to be good; but through our dulnesse in understanding, and want of a discerning Spirit, may bee good, or evill. Againe, wee must remember, that in God there is an infinite wisedome which clearely and perfectly discerneth what either in it selfe, or to us is evill, or good.
Now then, if the Lord should satisfie us in our mistake, granting the particular which we cōceive to be good and he knoweth evill) and so should deny us the good which he knoweth we intend and purpose; this (under a seeming grant) were a plaine denyall; whereas the contrary seeming a deniall, yet is, (and wil hereafter plainly appeare to be) an evident grant, though not of that which wee ignorantly aske, yet of that which in truth we desire. Certaine is it, that by reason of our great ignorance in asking, every faithfull Christian prayeth with al subjection to Gods will and wisdome (so we are taught as well by precept, Thy will be done, Mat. 6.as by practice, Not my will, but thy will be done;Luk. 22…42) and as certaine, that what wee so aske, we shall without faile receive. For hee that gave Christ, unasked, to us, when we were enemies, will not deny any grace (when hee is entreated) to them who are reconciled in Christ, and aske in his name. This then is sufficient for a Christian, that he first knoweth, that God hath willed and decreed to give him Christ, and with him all good things, & secondly, that whatsoever he asketh according to that will, he shall without all faile receive, 1 Ioh. 5.14.