Lectures Upon Psalm 51, Part 2 · Lecture 14
Lecture XIIII. On Psalme 51.1, 2. Ianuary 3. 1625.
THE third reason they give,Reason. 4 why it is to no purpose to pray, is taken from the nature of the Lord, unto whom we pray. 1. God knoweth well enough what our wants are, and needs not to have them made knowne unto him by us, Matth. 6.8. Your father knoweth what things you have need of, before yee aske him. 2. He hath appointed in his eternall decree, what shall befall every one of us, and what he will do for us, which all the prayers in the world cannot alter, Ephes. 1.11. He worketh all things according to the counsell of his owne will. 3. He is of so gracious a disposition, that he is apt enough of himselfe to give us, what he seeth to be good for us, without asking, or seeking unto. Our Saviour we know (when he was upon earth) healed and helped many that never sought unto him; as you may see, in the man that had the withered hand, Mark. 3.3. and in the impotent man, Iohn 5.6. and in many other places. And the Lord is pleased to compare himselfe for this, to the father of the prodigall, who prevented his sonne, and before ever he made any suite unto him, when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his necke and kissed him as we read, Lu 15.20
Answ.To this I answer, that all these three things they speake of God, are most true; but that which they would inferre upon them, is most weake, and unsound, and hath no coherence with them, the premises or anticedent of their reason is good, but the consequence is starke naught. For, 1. Though God know our wants full well, yet his will is, we should make them knowne, and open them particularly unto him our selves. Phil. 4.6. In every thing by prayer, and supplication, let your requests be made knowne unto God; as when blind Bartimeus had cryed out earnestly, and vehemently unto Christ, Iesus thou sonne of David, have mercy upon me: he would have him speake, and tell him in particular, wherein he would have him to shew mercy on him, Mar. 10.51. What wilt thou that I should doe unto thee?
Secondly, As God hath determined in his owne counsell, what he will doe for any of us; so hath he also in his counsell determined, that prayer shall be the meane whereby we shall obtaine it, Ezek. 36.37. Thus saith the Lord God, I will yet for th… be enquired of (and sought unto) by the house of Israel, to doe it for them. Yea this is made a certaine signe God hath determined to doe us some great good, when he stirreth up our hearts to be earnest with him in prayer, Ier. 31.9. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them, and 29.12, 13. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall goe, and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you, and ye shall seeke me, and find me when ye shall search for me with all your hearts. How earnest was Daniel with God in prayer for this, immediatly before the returne from the captivity? Dan. 9.
Thirdly, this doth nothing derogate from the glory of Gods goodnesse, and graciousnesse, that he will not doe us good till we seeke to him for it by prayer, as may appeare in these three things. 1. It is a sufficient demonstration of his goodnesse, that he will give us all good things upon our asking; when he saith to us, Matth. 7.7. Ask and have, Deut 4 7. What nation is so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? Esa. 30.19. He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry, when he shall heare it, he will answer thee. 2. It is he alone that stirres us up to pray to that end that he may doe us good, Psal. 1….17. Thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine eare to heare. 3. The reason why he will have us pray first before he gives, argues his exceeding love to us. For it is 1. out of the delight he hath to heare this worke of his owne spirit in us, which makes us thus to speake, and cry unto him, Cant. 2.14. Let me heare thy voice, for it is sweet. Even you that are parents, delight much to heare your little ones speake, but nothing so much as God doth to heare his children. 2. Because he knowes his blessings will be sweeter to us, when we have got them by prayer. So we see how David joyed in the deliverances and favours hee had received, because he had obtained them by prayer. Psal. 30.1, 2. I will extell thee ô Lord, for thou hast lifted me up, &c. O Lord my God, I cryed unto thee, and thou hast healed me. and 116.1, 2. I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice, and my supplications, because he hath inclined his eare unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
Reason. 4The fourth, & last reason whereby Satan laboreth to perswade men, that it is to no purpose to pray, is from the experience themselves have had of the fruitlesnesse of their owne prayers. That themselves have long used to pray, and have found no comfort, no benefit by it. This reason hath greatly prevailed with wicked men, they cannot abide to attend long upon God; but though their prayers be indeed nothing worth, yet are they apt to quarrell with God, if they have not a present answer, as Esa. 58.3. Wherefore have we fasted say they, and thou seest it not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soule, and thou takest no knowledge of it? And thereupon they resolve to leave praying. Malac. 3.14. It is in vaine to serve God, and what profite is it unto us? and 2. King. 6.3…. What should I wait on the Lord any longer? Yea, this hath also greatly troubled many of Gods dearest ones, they have oft complained that they got no good by their praying. Iob 30 20. I cry unto thee, but thou dost not heare me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not, Habac.1.1. O Lord how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not heare? Yea, they have thought that they were the worse for praying. Ps. 80.4. O Lord how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people? And thereupon they have even growne weary of praying, and ready to resolve to give it over, as you may perceive, Psal. 69.3. I am weary of my crying
Now for my answer to this reason,Answ. it shall consist of two parts, 1. I will shew you how we are to judge of this case, when we pray, and pray often, and …nd our selves never the better for it, 2. What a Christian is to do in this case.
And for judging aright of this case, two things you must understand.
First. That it is no argument that God neglects us, regards not us, nor our prayers, because we obtaine not presently, nor of a long time, that, that we have begged of him. It may be the Lord may do this out of his love.
First. It may be he seeth it is better for thee to want it, then to have it; we are apt like children, and sick-men, to desire that, that is hurtfull for us. And the promise runs thus, Psal. 34.10. They that seeke the Lord▪ shall not want any good thing. and Matth. 7.11. How much more shall your father which is in heaven give good things to them that aske him?
Secondly. It may be he seeth it is not good for us to have it yet. The Lord hath made every thing beautifull in his time. Eccl. 3.11. He best knoweth which is the fittest time to doe any thing for us. When he may have most honour by that which he doth for us. Zachary had prayed for a child, while he and his wife were young, but God granted not his request till they were both old. Luke 1.7.13. because he might have more glory by it then. Christ would not comfort Martha and Mary, by helping their brother Lazarus, while he was sicke, though he loved them dearely, but delayed to helpe them of purpose, Iohn 11.5, 6. Why? that he might have the more glory by that worke. verse 15. I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent that ye might believe. And verse 4…. Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest beleeve, thou shouldest see the glory of God? He best knoweth also, when that he doth for us, will doe us most good, he watcheth the time, and will not delay us one moment longer, Esa. 30.18. The Lord will waite, that he may be gracious unto you. He seeth it good for us to be delayed a while (and how long, he only best doth know, Acts 1.7. It is not for us to know the times or seasons, the father hath put them in his owne power.) 1. to humble us further. Let patience have her perfect worke, saith the Apostle. Iames 1.4. He meant to heale Miriam at Moses request, but not so soone as he would have had it, she must be better humbled first under the hand of God, Numb. 12.14. And the Lord said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven daies? Let her be shut out from the campe seven daies, and after that, let her be received in againe. As if the Lord had said; it is too soone for her to be healed yet. So he meant to take from Paul that messenger of Satan that buffetted him, but not so soone as he would have had it; he was not yet sufficiently humbled, but in danger to have bin pussed up with the revelations he had received, 2 Cor. 12.7, 8. As if he had said, It is too soone for thee Paul to be rid of that thorne. 2. To make us more fervent, and importunate with him, It troubles great men to have suiters importunate, ever following them with petitions, and crying at their gates, Luke 18.5. The widow troubled the unjust judge with her importunity. But this is a thing that the Lord is highly pleased and delighted with. Christ meant to grant the woman of Canaans suit, but he put her off, and … strangely of purpose, to make her more importunate, and earnest … him, Mat. 15.25, 28. 3. To cause us to esteeme better of the good things we beg of him when we have obtained them. The good things that are easily and readily come by, are usually lightly esteemed. The diseases that are easily cured, men doe not greatly feare, nor are very carefull to preserve themselves from them; as experience teacheth us in that filthy French disease. And surely this is one cause why God hideth his face so long from many of his deare ones, even that they might learne thereby, to prize the sense of his favour the better. When the Spouse had lost her welbeloved long, it is sayd, Canticles 3, 4. when shee found him, whom her soule loved, shee held him, and would not let him goe. 4. To keepe us from conceiting that our prayer, how fervent soever, meriteth ought. Daniel 9.17, 18, 19. Cause thy face to shine upon thy Sanctuary, that is desolate, for the Lords sake; we doe not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies; deferre not for thine owne sake, O my God.
The second thing we must understand, that we may judge rightly of this case, is this. That God doth oft graciously heare the prayers of his servants, and give answer to them also, before they perceive it, Dan. 10.12, 13. From the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to chasten thy selfe before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words; but the Prince of the kingdome of Persia withstood me one and twenty dayes. And though they perceive it not. 1. Sometime their heedlesnesse and negligence, is the cause they perceive it not; they put up their petitions, and never enquire after Gods answer, whereas we should hearken after it, as Benhadads servants comming to sue for mercy did. 1. Kin. 20.33. They did diligently observe whither any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it. Psal. 85.8. I will hearken what the Lord God will say, for he will speak peace to his people. And 2. sometimes anguish and trouble of mind is the cause of it. They pray to God, and he heareth them, and they cannot believe it; as Iob speakes of himselfe in the extreamity of his anguish, Iob 9.16. If I had called, and he had answered me, yet would I not beleeve that he had hearkened to my voice. Davids sin was pardoned so soone as ever he repented, and the Prophet Nathan in the name of God, assured him of so much also. 2. Sam. 12.13. and yet it is evident by his earnest suit he makes in these two first, and diverse other verses of this psalme, that he did not perceive nor feele it to be so. Gods people in Egypt prayed, and cryed to the Lord, and he heard their cry, and sent them a gracious answer by Moses, Exod. 6.5. But it is said, ver. 9. they hearkned not unto Moses (they could not receive Gods answer) for anguish of spirit. So it is certainly wth many of Gods best servants, he heareth them graciously, and answereth their prayers also, and they through anguish of spirit cannot perceive it. Now for the better understanding of this, you must know there be divers wayes whereby God useth to give answer to the prayers of his people.
First. When he granteth them the thing they have begged of him in prayer, As he did to Hannah, she begged a child of God, and he gave her one, 1. Samuel 1.27. For this child I prayed, and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him. And as he did to Abraham, he prayed for Abimelech, and God healed him, Genes. 20.17. Manoah prayed that the man of God might come againe, and God hearkened to the voyce of Manoah, and the Angel of the Lord came againe, Iudges 13.8, 9. Solomon prayed for an understanding heart, and God gave it him, 1. Kin. 3.9, 12. He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him. Psal. 21.4.
Secondly, when he doth not grant them what they have asked, but denyeth them that, and gives them a better thing. Abraham beggeth of God that Ishmael might live before God, Gen. 17 18. he denieth him that, but granteth him a better thing, verse 19. that he should have a sonne by his owne wife with whom he wo…ld establish an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. David prayed that his childe begotten in adultery might live, 2. Sam. 12.22. God denies him that, but granteth him a better thing, he lost not his prayer, for 1 He saved the soule of that child as appeares by Davids words of him, 2 Sam. 12.23. I shal… goe to him. And 2 he gave him another sonne by Bathsheba, and such a one, as of whom he assured him by the Prophet, that he was beloved of the Lord, verse 24, 25.
Thirdly, when though he neither grant us the thing we have begged, nor a better thing in the same kind, yet he supporteth us by his grace, and gives us strength to beare the want of it. Of this answer David speaketh, Psal. 138.3. In the day when I cryed, thou answeredst me; and strengthenedst me with strength in my soule. So of our blessed Saviour it is said, Heb. 5.7. that hee was heard in that prayer which he offred up with strong crying, and teares unto him that was able to save him from death. Yet did not God save him from death but the divine power supported him, and made him able to beare the burden of that cursed death, which otherwise had beene intollerable. So though God did not take of the messenger of Sathan that buffeted Paul according to his request, 2 Cor. 12.8. yet did he answer his prayer graciously for he gave to him strength to beare it, verse 9. My grace is sufficient to thee. So long as God supporteth thee by his grace, and maketh thee able to beare the want of that that thou hast prayed for, though thou hast thought thou art undone if thou have it not (though he set thee feele thine own weaknesse, so farre as thou art even ready to sink, and faint) say not, that thou hast lost thy labour in praying.
Fourthly, when though thou canst not find that thou hast by thy prayer obtained that particular blessing thou didst beg of God, yet thou feelest thy heart after thy prayer cheered much, and thy inward comfort, and assurance of Gods favour increased thereby; this is such an answer as is best of all, and may abundantly countervaile the want of any other blessing that thou hast begged of God. In old time God was wont to answer, and give testimony unto the prayers of his servants, by sending fire from heaven to consume their sacrifices, 2 Chron. 7.1. When Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came downe from heaven, and consumed the burnt offerings. And 1 King. 18.24. The God that answereth by fire l…t him be God. And as God was wont to answer his people, and to testifie his approbation, and liking of their prayers, and service by fire; so doth he now use by his holy spirit (which was typified, and resembled by that fire, Mat. 3.11) to testifie that he is well pleased with the prayers of his people, warming and comforting their hearts thereby, Ioh. 16.24. Aske, and ye shall receive that your … may be full. This is that that David meaneth when he saith, Psal. 35.13 His prayer returned into his owne bosome. This is the meaning of that promise that is made to the prayers of Gods people, Phil. 4.6, 7. In every thing by prayer, and supplication, let your requests be made knowne to God, and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keepe your hearts and mindes. From hence it is that the faithfull have begun their prayers with great heavinesse, yet before they had ended them, have found unspeakable comfort, as Psal. 6.8—1….
Fiftly, when though the Lord do not either grant us the good things we have prayed for, or those inward feelings, and comforts of his spirit, yet he makes us able to continue praying, and crying still unto him, even then when we feele our selves ready to give over, and faint. Certainely so long as we have strength ministred unto us to hold out in prayer, we may be sure God heareth us and regardeth our prayers. For this strength and ability to pray (even then when God seemeth to neglect us) is a speciall worke, and fruit of Gods spirit, Rom. 8.26. It is the spirit, that thus helpeth our infirmities, and maketh intercessions for us. And God cannot but heare, and regard the voice of his owne spirit, verse 27. He that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the minde of the spirit. So long as thou canst pray specially with such striving, and labour is not possible thou shouldst be neglected of God. Psal. 10.17. Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble thou wilt confirme their heart, thou wilt cause thine eare to heare.