The Return of Prayers, Table of contents
THE TABLE.
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
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 alwayes in the very thing prayed for. 46
Such promiſes but indefinite. 49
As all temporall promiſes are 51
Our faith towards them not required to be aſſurance. 53
Vnleſſe God give a ſpeciall faith 58
3 § Such prayers returned into our owne boſomes. 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 owne prayers, when others pray alſo for the ſame thing with us, may bee diſcerned. 72
1 § If our hearts are affected with the ſame holy affection 73
Vnbeknowne each to other. 75
2 § By ſome ſpeciall endeavor: as,
1 Some notable circumſtance. 76
2 By joy in the accompliſhment. 79
3 By thankfulneſſe for the accompliſhment. 81
3 §. This leſſe to be doubted when the thing prayed for by us doth concerne our owne particular. p. 82
CHAP. 5 Common directions helpfull 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 Satans 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 quietnes by praier about the thing prayed for. ibid
3 § 2 By revealing his love, in and upon ſuch petitions. 99
A caution herein. 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 reſtleſſe importunity to pray for a particular mercy. 117
CHAP. 6 Obſervations made upon the diſpoſition of the heart AFTER prayer: Vntill the ISSVE of the thing prayed for p. 119
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 VponUpon the ISSVE: firſt If Accompliſht: whether as the fruit of prayer, or of common providence. 125
1 § God ſometimes anſwers the prayer in the very thing and maner deſired. 126
2 § Directions to diſcerne that things thus obtained are in anſwer to prayers. 134
1 From the maner of Gods performance. A more then ordinary hand diſcovered in things accompliſht by prayer, inſtanced in 5. particulars. ibid
1 By bringing it to paſſe through difficulties. 135
2 By facilitating all meanes. 137
3 Effecting it ſuddenly. 139
4 With addition of other mercies above what was deſired. 141
5 By ſome ſpeciall circumſtance as a token of his hand in it. 142
3 § 2 From the Time, wherein it is accompliſht. 146
As firſt when we were moſt inſtant in prayer. 147
2 In the fitteſt time for us. Then, 150
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 bee 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 thankfulneſſe. 166
3 § And encourageth the heart the more to pray, for other things. 169
4 § If it makes more carefull to performe the vowes made to obtaine 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 helpe to diſcerne an acceptation of the prayer, when the thing is Not Accompliſht. 183
1 § The thing not alwayes granted, when yet the prayer is heard. ibid.
An objection anſwered. 186
2 § Some bleſſings not abſolutely promiſed, nor abſolutely to be prayed for. 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
1 Temptations: 1 From want of aſſurance that our perſons are accepted, 216
2 From the weaknes of our prayers: three anſwers to it. 221
3 From not obtaining what wee formerly prayed for, anſwered by 4. things. 227
2 More ſinfull diſcouragements as, 231
1 From ſlothfulneſſe in praying. 232
2 Looking at prayer as a duty only, and not as a meanes to obtaine. 236
3 Falling into ſinne after prayers. 240
Sixe Obſervations more out of the Text.
1 Obſerv. That God doth ſometimes not ſpeake peace to his owne 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 returne no more to folly. 283
The ſin and folly of relapſing ſhewne by 7. reaſons. 29…
Temptations from relapſe into the ſame ſinne after peace ſpoken, anſwered
By Scriptures. 32…
By 3 Examples. 33…
By 4 Reaſons. 34…
5 Cautions. 36…
FINIS.