A Trial of Faith, Sermons · Sermon 8
Matth. 15. 23.
But he anſwered her not a word.
SERMON VIII.
I Come now to ſpeak of the trial of this womans faith; and here is the firſt tryal of her faith, he anſwered her not a word. A very great trial, a ſore trial, that this poor woman ſhould in her great ſtrait, and under ſuch a burden and preſſure of ſpirit, come to Jeſus Chriſt, and cry ſo earneſtly unto him, and believe ſo ſtedfaſtly upon him, and yet Jeſus Chriſt give her not one word of anſwer to her prayer, this was a ſore trial; for this carriage of Chriſt, it ſeems to be contrary to what ſhe had heard of Chriſt, and to what ſhe believed was in Jeſus Chriſt; for Chriſt ſeemed now either to be without compaſſion to her, he ſeems to take no notice, not to be affected; ſhe complained and cried out of her great burden, and Chriſt ſpeaks not a word; the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſeems either not to be affected with her miſery, or not to regard her miſery, not to take notice of ſuch a poor creature as ſhe was; now both theſe were contrary to what ſhe had heard of Chriſt, and to that ſhe had believed was in Jeſus Chriſt, without doubt ſhe had heard out of the Prophet Iſaiah, that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt when he came, ſhould bind up the broken-hearted, and preach deliverance to the captives; now when ſhe applyes her ſelf to Chriſt, Chriſt ſeems not to be that compaſſionate Saviour; certainly ſhe had heard that Sions King was meek and lowly, and that he would not break the bruiſed reed, nor quench th… ſmoaking flax; but Chriſt ſeems to diſdain her, and take no notice of her, nor look after ſuch avile worm as ſhe was; nay, ſhe had believed, that Chriſt was low and meek, as appeareth by that expreſſion of hers in ver. 22. Thou Son of David have mercy on me; now David was a merciful Prince, and was very pitiful and compaſſionate and very meek, and lowly, and humble, therefore ſhe believed that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt was much more compaſſionate; and ſhe did believe that he would not diſdain her though ſhe was a poor Gentile; but Chriſt ſeems to be quite contrary, and anſwered her not a word; this was a ſore trial
The Doctrine then is this. That it is a very ſore and great tryal unto the Lords people,Doctrine. when the Lord is ſilent to their prayers, and gives no anſwer to their cries.
In the opening of the point I ſhall ſhew you; that God hath dealt thus with his own people; and that it hath been a very ſore tryal unto
And then ſhall ſhew you wherefore the Lord is pleaſed thus to try his people; which will make way for the Appplication.
Firſt, God hath dealt thus with his people. I ſhall point you to ſome places of Scripture: David often maketh this complaint, Pſalm 28. 1. Ʋnto thee will I cry O Lord, my rock, be not ſilent to me, leſt if thou be ſilent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. How earneſtly doth David beſeech the Lord that he would not be ſilent to his prayer? Lord, Do not turn away thy ear from my prayer, and do not ſhut thy mouth, be not ſilent. If thou doſt not ſpeak ſomething to me in anſwer to my prayer, I am not able to hold out, but ſhall be like them that go down to the pit. And Pſalm 69. 3. he maketh a ſore complaint, I am weary of my crying, my throat is dried: mine eyes fail, while I wait for my God. The trial was ſo great to his ſpirit, that it had an influence upon his Body; when David cryed to the Lord, he anſwered not a word; his throat was dried and parcht up, and his eyes began to fail. And ſo the Prophet Jeremiah, Lam. 3. 44. he expreſſeth it in the name of the Church. Thou haſt covered thy ſelf with a cloud, that our prayer ſhould not paſs thorow. God ſeems to hide himſelf, and cover himſelf with a cloud, and did ſo hide himſelf as prayer could not find him; he gave him not a word. And the Prophet Habakkuk he complains of it, chap. 1. ver. 2. O Lord how long ſhall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? even cry unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not ſave? Nay, that it was a ſore trial, you ſhall ſee it in thoſe expreſſions of the Prophet David, ſpoken of in the perſon of Chriſt, Pſalm. 22. 2. O my God I cry in the daytime, but thou heareſt not; and in the night-ſeaſon, and am not ſilent. It was a ſore affliction to Chriſt himſelf. O my God, I cry in the day-time, and in the night-ſeaſon; that is, I cry continually, night and day, never ſilent: But thou art continually ſilent to me, this was a ſore affliction and burden to Chriſt himſelf.
Now that this is a ſore affliction and trial, for God to be ſilent to the prayers of his people, it appears,
Firſt, if you conſider that relation the Lord ſtands in to his people, and they to him; he ſtands in relation of a Father, they his children; he ſtands in relation of an Husband, they his Spouſe; he ſtands in relation of a friend, they his friend; Abraham, he was the friend of God, and ſo is every believer; God a friend to him, and he a friend to God; now it is a ſore trial, when one friend ſhall cry to another, or a wife to an Huſband, or a child to a father, and theſe relations not give one word of Anſwer, if a poor child in great extremity ſhould cry to his father▪ father help me, and the father not to give one word, this is a ſore tryal; if a man cry to a ſtranger, and meet not with one word, it is no great diſappointment, but when a child cries to a father, or a wife to an Husband, or a friend to a friend, and they not to ſpeak a word, it is a great trial.
Secondly, it will appear to be a great trial, becauſe there is nothing in all the world, that a gracious ſoul longs more after then this, that the Lord would be giving a return of prayer, that there may be a converſe betwixt God and the ſoul, to ſpeak to God, and to hear God ſpeaking back again to it; nothing that a gracious foul more longs after; oh it longs to hear a word from God, it knows that the return of prayer, is the way to make a ſoul rich towards God, and to make it rich in experience, in faith, in thankfulneſs, in obedience. Oh how doth a Merchant-venturer long for the return of his commodity from a far Country? truly there is no merchant in the world, can long more for the return of his commodity from a far Country, then a gracious ſoul longs for the return of prayer; oh ſaith the ſoul, when wilt thou come unto me? Now if it be that which a gracious ſoul doth more long after then any thing in the world, it is a great trial, when God doth not give a return of prayer.
Thirdly, A gracious heart when it puts up a prayer to God, it looketh for a return, for an anſwer; Pſalm 85. 8. I will hear what God the Lord will ſpeak: And ſo the Prophet Habakkuk after he had prayed, I will get me upon the watchtower, and I will watch to ſee what he will ſay unto me. I will wait to ſee what God will ſpeak by his ſpirit, or by his providences; one way or other God will ſpeak. Now to have this expectation diſappointed, to wait upon the Lord for an anſwer, and the Lord not to ſpeak one word, this is a ſore trial.
Fourthly, it muſt needs be a great trial, when God gives never a word of anſwer; for a believing ſoul knows aſſuredly, that if God do not anſwer, none elſe can hear prayers, and give a return to prayer; it is Gods name, oh thou that heareſt prayers, unto thee ſhall all fleſh come. God only can hear prayer, and God only can give an anſwer; it is God only that can reach out mercy to the ſoul, and ſpeak a word of comfort and counſel; God only can ſpeak a word of ſtrength, a word of peace, the creature cannot: No, it is God only, I create the fruit of the lips pea…y, peace. Now when a ſoul looks up to the Lord, and meets with nothing from him, and knows that there is no anſwer to be expected from the creature, this muſt needs be a great and a ſore trial.
Fifthly, it will appear to be a great trial, if we conſider that the fleſh and Devil are exceeding ready to make a great advantage of this providence of God and diſpenſation towards his people; for they will improve this to the diſhonour of God and diſcomfort of the ſoul, and therefore a great trial.
In two or three Particulars, I ſhall ſhew you how ready the Fleſh and Devil is to improve this to Gods diſhonour, and the ſouls diſcomfort.
Firſt, the Fleſh and Devil will raiſe up many doubts, and jealouſies, and miſ-giving thought… both concerning God, and concerning a man▪ own condition, and concerning the duties and ſervices which are offered up to the Lord. They will make the ſoul to doubt of the goodneſs of God, to doubt of the free-grace of God, to doubt of the faithfulneſs of God, of the truth of God; Surely ſaith unbelief, the Lord is not ſo gracious as thou haſt taken him to be; thou haſt reſted upon the Arm of his mercy, and thou haſt believed his grace to be ſufficient for thee in every condition; thou haſt looked toward him as toward an infinite compaſſionate God; but where are the compaſſions of the Lord now? not to ſpeak one word to relieve and comfort thee: Thus will the Devil and the unbelieving heart object, when the Lord doth not give out a preſent anſwer; yea unbelief will be accuſing the faithfulneſs of God: Oh! where is his Word and his Promiſe? He hath ſaid, that they that call upon the Name of the Lord ſhall be ſaved. He hath ſaid, Call upon me in the time of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou ſhalt glorifie me: …h! where is the faithfulneſs of God? God is unmindful of his promiſe. Aſaph was under this temptation, Pſalm 77. 7, 8. Will the Lord caſt off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promiſe fail for evermore? And thus he goeth on making many Queries concerning the goodneſs and faithfulneſs of God.
Secondly, as the Devil and the Fleſh doth raiſe many doubts and jealouſies concerning the faithfulneſs of God, ſo there are many doubts caſt into the ſoul concerning the eternal eſtate and condition of the ſoul, and that upon this ground; when as the ſoul hath ſought the Lord, and the Lord not anſwer, preſently the ſoul begins to doubt; oh, ſurely I am no child of God, no ſponſe, no friend; God could not deal ſo with children, not to give one word of comfort, not one word of anſwer: Oh, ſurely I am an Hypocrite, for the prayer of the upright is his delight, and if there were any truth of heart in me, the Lord would give out an anſwer; and thus the Devil and the Fleſh-raiſe many jealouſies and fears about the ſouls eternal ſtate. Or
Thirdly, if the Devil and the Fleſh prevail not ſo far as to cauſe the ſoul to queſtion the goodneſs of God, and the Truth of God, or to queſtion its own Sonſhip, yet they will prevail ſo far as to make the ſoul queſtion his ſervices and his duties which it hath performed to God: Oh! ſurely I have not ſpoken to the Lord as I ought, ſurely I have not been fervent in Spirit, ſerving the Lord, my prayer hath been but words of my own, not the teachings of his Spirit, if it had been his own Spirit, the Lord would have heard his own Spirit; but my prayer hath been accompanied with ſo many infirmities as it hath not reached up to heaven. And thus you ſee how many a poor ſoul is led into temptation upon this ground, the Lords being ſilent to the prayers of his people.
But you will ſay, wherefore doth the Lord thus try his people?
I anſwer, ſometimes indeed the fault is in our ſelves that we have no anſwer to our prayers; for it is poſſible that a man or woman that hath faith in Jeſus Chriſt, may be remiſs in their walkings▪ they may neglect ſome known duty, or they may connive and wink at ſome evil way, and if ſo, no wonder though the Lord be ſilent at their prayers. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear my prayer: If David regard iniquity, if there be any way of ſin that his heart cloſeth with, the Lord will be ſilent to his prayers; if any iniquity be regarded, no wonder though the Lord do not hear.
Yea, ſometimes Gods own people are found remiſs in their duty, and though they pray, they pray remiſly and coldly; their prayer is accompanied with ſo much deadneſs and diſtraction, there is ſo little life and ſo little ſpirit, the Spirit ſpeaks ſo low that the Lord cannot hear, and he will not hear; and when it is ſo that we pray coldly and lazily, we make but a light matter of it, and are not found crying to the Lord with our hearts, no wonder though the Lord be ſilent to our prayers.
Yea, ſometimes Gods own people may miſs of an anſwer, becauſe they do not look after an anſwer, and then the fault is their own; when as we ſhall put up our petition, and ſhall not be looking after our prayer, ſhall not be found looking up, as David ſpeaketh, Pſalm. 5. 3. In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. I will wait for an anſwer, and hear what God the Lord will ſpeak, Pſalm 85. 8. But when we do not regard our prayer, then no wonder there is no anſwer: I ſay therefore the Lord is ſometimes ſilent to the prayers of his own people, and the fault is in themſelves.
But the Lord is not alwayes ſilent upon theſe grounds: A gracious heart may walk cloſe with God, and may regard no iniquity, and deſire not to connive at any ſin, and it may wait upon the Lord for an anſwer; and yet the Lord may be ſilent, and give no preſent anſwer to the prayers of his people.
Why ſo? why, will the Lord deal ſo with any of his people?
I anſwer,Gracious ends why the Lord defers an anſwer to the prayers of his people. for gracious ends; as
Firſt, that they may exerciſe the ſpirit of prayer which is given out, the Lord he loves to hear the cry of his people, he loves to hear the voice of the children when they ſpeak in prayer; there is nothing on eath that, God delights more in: … let me ſee thy face, and let me hear thy voice (ſaith Chriſt to his Spouſe) for thy voice is ſweet. No… becauſe the voice of faith in prayer … ſweet to the Lord, the Lord he ſeemeth … to hear or not to take notice for the preſent, th… ſo they may pray the more: As a man that delights in muſick, if the Muſicians play, he … take no notice, but lets them play on, becauſe he delighteth in it; and ſo the Lord he takes delight in the prayers of his ſervants, The prayer… the upright is his delight, and he will give no preſent anſwer, that ſo they may go on praying … crying.
Secondly, the Lord may ſeem to be ſilent … the prayers of his people, that ſo he may exer… the faith and patience of his ſervants. It is great trial of the faith and patience of the Sai… when as the Lord ſeems to take no notice, … give no anſwer to their prayers; it was for … end, that our Lord Jeſus Chriſt gave not a … of anſwer to this woman of Canaan, it was that might try her faith, and her patience, and that might exerciſe it, and that by the exerci… faith, faith might be increaſed, and her faith … ariſe to a great faith by this exerciſe, for at … Chriſt commends her for her faith; Oh … great is thy faith, be it unto thee even as … wait.
Again, the Lord is ſilent many times at the prayers of his people, to try whether they will continue in prayer, though the Lord doth give them no preſent anſwer; oh here is the trial of perſeverance; God hath heard my prayer (ſaith David) therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. Ah but that is no great matter for a man to ſay, God hath heard my prayer and therefore I will call upon him ſtill: But for a ſoul to ſay, I have been crying and calling, and I will ſtill wait upon him, as long as I live, I will wait upon God; Oh here is perſeverance in prayer, in which Chriſt doth delight.
Fourthly, the Lord is ſilent many times upon this ground; he gives no preſent anſwer, that ſo he may prepare an anſwer for them, and that he may prepare them for an anſwer; God gives no preſent anſwer, that ſo he may prepare mercy, and ripen mercy, and make mercy fit for his people, and that he may ripen them, and fit them and their hearts for the mercy; ſo that it is in abundance of grace, and mercy, and love that the Lord is pleaſed many times not to give out a preſent anſwer to his people, for all the time the Lord is ſilent, he is preparing of mercy and goodneſs for them, he is making of the mercy fit for his people, the mercy ſhall be ripe, and the mercy ſhall be ſweet and wholſome, and do them good at the heart: When the Lord hath thus prepared mercy for them, and fitted them for the mercy, they ſhall have the mercy; ſee what is ſaid in Iſa. 80. 18. And therefore will the Lord wait that he way be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted; for the Lord is a God of judgement, bleſſed are all they that wait for him. He waits that he may be gracious, he waits for the beſt ſeaſon, the fitteſt opportunity, he will ſtay till the ſoul hath need of help, in the fitteſt time the Lord will come in mercy, when he may be moſt exalted for mercy, when his people may ſee moſt of the hand of God, when they moſt prize their mercies, and glorifie God for mercy; God waits for ſuch a time. And therefore you ſee it is for gracious ends that God many times ſeems to be ſilent for a ſeaſon, and gives not one word in anſwer to prayer, as Chriſt here to this woman of Canaan.
For the Application of the Point.Application.
Firſt, it ſpeaks ſadly of them that never regard whether the Lord give an anſwer or no, to their prayer, that pray and pray, and look not after an anſwer: How far are ſuch men and women from the diſpoſition of Gods children? a gracious heart cannot but be affected, when it ſpeaks to the Father, and the Father gives no anſwer: And therefore ſurely when men and women make many prayers, and look not up for an anſwer, that regard not whether the Lord anſwer, or not, either they are none of his children, or elſe under a ſore temptation; for let me ſay unto you, that though it is not for your prayers that God doth regard prayer, yet if you do not look up for an anſwer, if you do not regard your prayers, neither will God regard your prayers. And let me ſay further, that this is a great diſhonour to God: Oh what a … is it? it is a loſs to God, and it is a loſs alſo to the ſoul: for a man to loſe all his prayers, it is a loſs indeed. When as a ſoul doth not regard whether God anſwer or no, God loſeth, he loſes that glory which would redound to him in the anſwer of prayer: Call upon me (ſaith God) in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou ſhalt glorifie me. Now if the ſoul call upon God, and doth not obſerve whether God hears or no, it cannot glorifie God for the return of prayer, but God loſes that honour, that thankfulneſs, and that love and obedience, and that dependance, which an anſwer of prayer might engage the ſoul to.
And as God loſeth, ſo the ſoul loſeth; oh they that look not after the return of prayer, they loſe that which would make their ſouls rich. For a Merchant to loſe all his return, it will make him a poor Tradeſman in concluſion; that ſoul that doth not look after the return of prayer, loſeth a great deal of faith, and dependance, and experience; for God by giving out an anſwer to the prayers of his people, he doth encourage them, and engage them to truſt in him at all times ſo long as they live; they that loſe the return of prayer, loſe the ſtrengthening of faith, and the engaging of their heart to God.
But ſecondly, let me ſpeak to ſuch poor ſouls as are in the ſame condition with this woman of Canaan, that have prayed, and have not met with one word of anſwer: Poor ſouls! is this the condition of any of you? I know that it hath been, and may ſtill be the condition of the Lords deareſt ſervants, they may pray, and the Lord may ſeem to give no anſwer: Remember it was ſo with David, Jeremiah, and Habakkuk, and with Chriſt himſelf.
And let me ſay this unto thee, that if thou regardeſt any iniquity in thy heart, any known ſin that thou regardeſt or conniveſt at, or if there be ſlightneſs in the performance of thy duty, or contenteſt thy ſelf with a ſlothful performance of thy duty, or thou doſt not regard thy prayer when thou haſt put it up to the Lord; for this we have cauſe to be humbled, and no wonder the Lord do not anſwer our prayers.
But now, if thy own ſpirit and the Spirit of the Lord can teſtifie that thou deſireſt to regard no iniquity in thy heart, but to walk up to thy duty, and deſire to be conformable to Chriſt, and deſire to cry in faith, and to wait upon the Lord for an anſwer, be of good comfort, though thou doſt not meet with one word of anſwer from the Lord, though thou haſt cryed nights and dayes, weekes, months and years, and haſt not met with with one word of anſwer, yet be comforted, this may be the condition of Gods own people.
And let me ſay further by way of encouragement, that the Lord he extends much good to thee in this deferring and delaying to give out an anſwer; it is for gracious and merciful ends to thy ſoul that the Lord do not give thee the preſent mercy thou prayeſt for; he will exerciſe the ſpirit of prayer, he will exerciſe thy faith and patience, and he will fit thee for mercy, and mercy for thee, and thou ſhalt have it ſo at laſt as thou ſhalt bleſs God for it.
Yea let me ſay further, though an anſwer be not given out, thy prayer is heard, and thy perſon … accepted: Thy prayer is heard with the Lord; oh that that might be a ſtay to poor ſouls that are in this condition as the woman of Canaan was, that cry, and have cryed long: I ſay thy prayer is heard. Oh ſayes the ſoul that I knew my prayer were heard, if I did but know that the Lord hath heard my prayer, I would be content to wait all my dayes for an anſwer, I have been crying for the light of his countenance, and for the aſſurance of his love, I have been crying night and day, and if the Lord hath heard my prayer, I ſhould be content to wait for an anſwer.
But how ſhall I know that the Lord hath heard my prayer?How to know when God hath heard our prayer.
I anſwer thus; Firſt of all, by that ſecret ſupport, by thoſe ſecret hints which the Lord is pleaſed at one time or other to bring to thy ſpirit, ſome hint of life, ſome hint of comfort. Surely if thou haſt obſerved while thou haſt waited upon the Lord, there hath been ſome ſecrets hints of comfort that after thou haſt been before the Lord, thou haſt been at eaſe; and thy trouble is not ſo great as it was. Hannah when ſhe poured out her ſoul before the Lord, ſhe was in great diſtreſs, but before ſhe went away, the Lord heard her prayer; and this was the ſign there was ſome eaſe in her ſpirit, her burden was taken off, a great deal refreſhed in her ſpirit and ſo though the Lord hath given thee but the leaſt hint of comfort, the Lord hath heard thy prayer, and in due time he will give a full anſwer▪
Secondly, thou mayſt know that the Lord hath heard thy prayer by that ſtrength he hath given thee to go thorow: Thou art under ſore afflictions and temptations, ſuch as are ready to break thy very ſpirit, to make thy ſoul fade and faint, and yet thou art ſupported; thou haſt cryed to the Lord, and thou ſaiſt thou haſt no anſwer; why, doth nor the Lord ſupport thee? if the Lord doth ſupport thee, and bear thee up under thy burden, he doth in ſome meaſure anſwer thee, or elſe how comes it to paſs thou haſt not ſunk under thy burden? when Paul beſought the Lord under his temptation, he prayed thrice, that is, often, that God would take off the Meſſenger of Satan; the temptation was not taken off, ah but Paul was heard in his prayer, in that the Lord did bear him up under his temptation, My grace is ſufficient for thee; though I do not think good to remove the temptation, I have heard thy prayer, my grace is ſufficient for thee. So then remember poor ſoul that if the Lord hath ſupported thee, the Lord hath heard thy prayer.
Thirdly, doth the Lord carry on thy ſoul to continue in thy prayer? that although thou haſt prayed, and met with no anſwer, yet thou art reſolved ſtill to go on, and ſayſt, though the Lord hath not ſpoken one word to me, I will not give over ſpeaking to him, but my ſoul ſhall ſtill cry after God. That was the reſolution David took up, Pſal. 27. 4. One thing have I deſired of the Lord, that I will ſeek after; I have deſired it, and though I have not attained it, I will ſeek after it as long as I live; Is it ſo that the Lord doth carry up thy ſpirit ſtill to wait upon him, and ſtill thou art crying and breathing after the Lord in prayer? that very thing is a certain ſign that the Lord hath heard thy prayer.
Fourthly, doth the Lord enable thee and make thee willing to wait upon him? thou haſt not a preſent anſwer, yet thou wilt wait as David when he had been at prayer, he waited for the mercy, Pſalm 27. 14. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he ſhall ſtrengthen thine heart: Wait I ſay, on the Lord. Oh my heart, wait I ſay, wait on the Lord: Haſt thou through grace ſo ſpoken to thine own heart? I have no anſwer, but I deſire to wait, and I check mine own heart that I can wait no more quietly, I ſpeak to mine own heart to wait, I ſay wait on the Lord; if it be ſo, the Lord hath heard thy prayer.
Fifthly, obſerve how thy ſpirit, and how thy carriage is towards God in that time of Gods delay: Is thy heart kept up towards God, and thy converſation in a way of obedience? that thou art deſirous ſtill to walk with God, and thou durſt not go out from God, though God give thee no anſwer, but thy heart is made more humble, and thou art more meek, and more obedient, and more watchful and obſervant of thy heart, and watchful over thy wayes; is it ſo? the Lord hath heard thy prayer, though he gives thee no anſwer.
And therefore I ſay,The duty of ſuch ſouls to whoſe prayers God is ſilent and gives no anſwer. Firſt to mind their duty. take no care for an anſwer: I ſpeak to ſuch poor ſouls as have prayed, and cryed, and have not met with one word of anſwer from the Lord, take no care for an anſwer, only mind that which is thy duty, and let the Lord alone; he is preparing an anſwer, he is waiting to be gracious, he waits for a fit ſeaſon, for ſuch a ſeaſon as his grace and mercy may be moſt exalted; be not thou ſo ſolicitous about an anſwer, but mind what is thy work and thy duty.
And do thou hold on thy duty in praying to pray, in crying to cry, yea do thou cry louder then even, and the more Chriſt ſeems to ſtop his ears, and ſhut his mouth, and give no anſwer, the louder do thou cry, as this poor woman did, ver. 25. Lord help me.
Secondly,Secondly, to juſtifie God. this is thy duty while the Lord thus deals with thee, to juſtifie God, and condemn thy ſelf, clear the Lord, & lay the blame upon thy ſelf; ſay the Lord is righteous, and the Lord is holy, and though he make wait me longer and longer, yea many years for this mercy, yet the Lord is righteous, and there is no iniquity in him; the Lord cried, and I did not hear, and the Lord is righteous, though he makes me wait long; the Lord is gracious, that he ſpeaks at all to ſuch a poor creature, that there is any promiſe that he will give out an anſwer. Oh juſtifie God, and ſay the Lord is holy; thus did the Pſalmiſt, Pſalm 22. 3. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabiteſt the praiſes of Iſrael; though thou dealeſt thus with me, thou art holy, thou art juſt, and thou art righteous, and thou art good and faithful, though ſilent for the preſent to my prayer; And ſo let us ſay, if the Lord be ſilent to any of our prayers, yet Lord thou art holy, thou art righteous.
Thirdly,Thirdly, to maintain good thoughts of God. this is thy duty labour to maintain good thoughts of God: it is not enough to juſtifie, not to charge God, but to maintain good thoughts of God at that time that God is ſilent to our prayers, and do thou believe that God is contriving good at that time, now is the Lord waiting to be gracious and preparing an anſwer. Oh this is a bleſſed frame of heart, and how pleaſing would it be to God, to believe that he is good, and that he is gracious, and this very thing it is for good, for the good of my ſoul, that he may exerciſe faith and patience, and try my perſeverance, and that he may fit me for mercy, and mercy for me? Oh that we could entertain good thoughts of a gracious God when he defers an anſwer.
Fourthly,Fourthly, be looking to God thorow the Mediator. be looking to God through the Mediator, cloſe more with him through the Son, look to the great God through the ſon of David, look to him through that merciful and compaſſionate High-Prieſt; look more to God through Chriſt, and there reſt.
Fifthly and laſtly,Fifthly, wait patiently. wait patiently for him; oh take up a reſolution to wait upon the Lord; charge thy own heart to do it as David did, and though he ſpeaks not to day nor to morrow, though he ſpeaks not this month, this year, not in this opportunity, yet ſay I will wait for the Lord, I will wait in every ſeaſon, and get upon the watch-tower, and wait patiently, and ſee which way Chriſt will come to thy ſoul; know it is thy duty to wait, take hold of his promiſe, he is a God of judgement, and waiteth to be gracious, he waiteth for an opportunity, and therefore it is good thou ſhouldſt wait; it is good that a man ſhould hope and quietly wait for the ſalvation of the Lord.