A Practical Discourse of Prayer, Discourse · Part 2 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Touching Opportunity of Prayer.
VVE come now to the ſecond thing included in the Modification of this duty of prayer; that it bee without ceaſing. Namely, that we pray opportunely. When Paul ſaith, that without ceaſing, (foreign) he had remembrance of Timothy in his prayers night and day, 2 Tim. 1. 3. He meaneth that upon all occaſions, and as he had any opportunity, hee did remember him in his prayers. Hee taketh all opportunities offered by the Lord to pray, and omitteth them not; he praieth without ceaſing. It is then the duty of all the Lords people to pray opportunely, or to take all holy opportunities to pray unto the Lord. For the better handling of this duty, conſider theſe particulars,
Firſt, that it is ſeldome that any time is unſeaſonable for prayer.
Secondly, that yet there is a time when the Lord will not liſten to prayer, no, not of his owne people.
Thirdly, that in mercy the Lord uſeth to offer unto his people opportunities and ſeaſons of prayer.
Fourthly, that the Lords people are bound to take or improve all ſuch opportunities of prayer.
Touching the firſt very briefly, that it is Prayer is rarely unſeaſonable at any time.very rare that any time is unſeaſonable for prayer, it appeares in this that the Saints are injoyned to pray alwayes; Luke 21. 36: Epheſ. 6. 18. And this, that the title of God, is to be a God hearing prayers. Pſal. 65. 1, 2. O thou that art hearing (foreign) prayers. He is alwayes hearing the prayers of ſome of his people, and ready to hear the reſt.
Touching the ſecond a little more largely, Sometimes prayer is not ſo ſeaſonable.that there is a time when the Lord will not liſten to prayer, no, not of his people; ſo that praying at ſuch times, they pray out of due ſeaſon. It is not then ſo fit a time for them to pray. As
1. When they are under offences unrepented 1 When the perſons praying are under juſt offences.of, Matth. 5. 24. Firſt be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. It is not ſeaſonable for Jobs freinds to come to offer to God, until reconciled to injured Job. Job. 42, 78. If we are out with the favourites of the King of Saints, it is not ſeaſonable to come to the King with petitions. It is not a ſeaſon to ſeek peace with Chriſt the head, when peace with his members is not ſought. If our heavenly Father ſhould not hold off his reſpects to childrens requeſts, who offend their brethren, they would never ſeek to be reconciled.
2. When any of them doe too willingly 2 When under ſome guilt of ſin not actually repented of.and contentedly remaine under the guilt of ſome known ſinne againſt the Lord. Iſai. 1. 15. When you make many prayers I will not heare, your hands are full of blood. ver. 16. waſh you, make you cleane, put away the evil of your doings, &c. ver. 18. Come now, and let us reaſon together, &c. And then onelyonly it is ſeaſonable to pray, when wee lift up our hands and hearts. Pſal. 66. 18. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear my prayers. Joſh. 7. 10, 11. Wherefore lyeſt thou thus upon thy face? Iſrael hath ſinned. Job 11. 13, 14. If thou prepareſt thy heart, and ſtretcheſt out thy hand toward heaven, if iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away, elſe all that is to no purpoſe. God heareth not ſinners, (h. e.) imponitent ones. John 9. 31. It is no fit ſeaſon for us to goe a wooing to Chriſt, if not clear of privy leagues with any of our luſts; not is it ſeaſonable to trade with the Lord in prayer, if we have any kind of traffique with his proclaimed enemies.
3. When wee are under any ſpecial 3 When under ſpecial hurries of luſts.power of paſſions and diſtempers, and (as then not ſeeing the ſinne of them) to lift up wrathfull hands is unacceptable, and ſo unſeaſonable. 1 Tim. 2. 3. Lift up pure hands without wrath. It is not ſeaſonable to offer up our ſacrifice with ſuch common, yea, wild-fire. Such leaven of wrath and malice is apt to ſowre our very Mincah; and maketh it come as out of due ſeaſon. Such was the petition of James and John to Chriſt, Lu. 9. 54, 55. Wilt thou that wee command fire to come down from heaven to conſume them? Such were Jobs petitions, Job 3. from verſe 3. to verſe 11. Such was that of Jonah, chap. 4. 3. Take away my life from me. Look as it is in a ſtrong bluſtring time, knocks at the doore are ſcarce heard▪ if at all; ſo is it here; the noyſe of our diſtempers outſoundeth the voice of our knockings in ſuch like prayers. It were better to pauſe a while till the bluſtering noiſe be abated. And as Revel. 9. 1, 3. Silence was made a while before that the holy incenſe was offered; ſo ſhould it bee here.
4. When our heads and hearts are overfull, 4 When under hurries of occaſions.and even ſore charged with carnal occaſions and inordinate thoughts about them, it is not ſo ſeaſonable to go abruptly from ſuch a crowd and throng into the holy preſence of the Lord without ſome pauſe. It is moſt unſeaſonable to enter upon ſo holy a diſcourſe with God, with ſo many batlers attending us, when there ſhould be but one ſpeaker. Eccleſ. 5, 1, 2, 3. Such raſhneſſe is irregular, and therefore unſeaſonable, ſuch a fooliſh ſeekers prayer will be no better then a dreame ariſing from multitude of buſineſſe ſtuffed with multiplicity of unſeaſonable impertinent, and independent expreſſions.
5. When we come to pray in remedileſs 5 When praying in remedileſs caſes.caſes, or for perſons paſt recovery. Jer. 11. 14 Pray not for this people, for I will not hear them when they cry unto me for their trouble. 1 Sam. 16. 1. How long wilt thou cry for Saul, ſeeing I have rejected him.
6. When wee will be praying at ſuch 6 When praying whilſt other ordinances cal for our attendance.times wherein other ordinances doe call for our attendance. As when we will be praying at home, when we ſhould rather bee in the publick aſſembly, or praying in our cloſets, when religious family-exerciſe requires our preſence.
Now let us conſider of prayer-ſeaſons Moſt ſeaſonable to pray.offered by the Lord, which hee requireth us to take. Theſe opportunities are either generall or ſpecial. The general opportunity 1 When God is near us: more generally by his word.of prayer, is that general Seaſon of grace held forth in the offers of the diſpenſations of the Goſpel. Iſa. 1. 5, 6. Seek him whileſt he may be found. Whilſt God may be found, it is a ſeaſon to ſeek him. Iſai. 21 12. If you will inquire, returne, come. Whilſt the Prophets incourage to come, 'tis a ſeaſon to inquire. Our calling and cry is but the echo of the Lords call. Pſal. 27. 8. When thou ſaidſt, ſeek my face; my heart anſwered, thy face Lord will I ſeek Its the ſeaſon of the echo to wait upon the voice; a demand of grace upon a former offer of it, its very ſeaſonable. This bleſſed day work is moſt ſutable to the day time of the Goſpel and grace of God. But beſides this general opportunity, there are ſome more ſpecial praying ſeaſons, Pſ. 31. 8. For this ſhal every one that is godly pray unto thee in a finding time (as it is in the Hebrew). As bountifull Princes have their, ſo the Lord hath his ſpecial ſeaſons for petitioners to come in with their ſuits, and have each their dayes of audience.
Our bleſſed Father hath his ſet dayes of paying to each child his portion of mercy & bleſſing upon demand and ſuit for it. Now theſe ſpecial ſeaſons of prayer are of three ſorts.
1. When God in ſpecial ſort is near to us. Or ſecondly, we in ſpecial ſort near to him. Or thirdly, in caſe of emergencies or ſpecial neceſſities calling for ſpeedy help.
Firſt when God in ſpecial is near to 1 When more ſpecially God is near us, …Aus, then call upon him while he is near. Iſ. 55. 6. The Lord as our gracious king goeth his holy progreſſe, and now he is nearer this people, and ſuch and ſuch ſubjects; and now againe he is nearer to others: Let each accordingly take and obſerve their particular ſeaſons of holy approaches to him with their ſuits. If the loadſtone be near, the very iron moveth; the approaches of the Lord to us, have, or ſhould have this holy magnetical attractive vertue to draw us near to him in Prayer.
1. Now the Lord is thus in ſpecial 2 By ſome ſpecial act of mercy.ſort near to us, by ſome ſpecial mercy vouchſafed to us, as when anſwering to former prayer or the like. Pſal. 34. 18. The Lord is nigh to them that are of a broken heart. Yea, but wherein, or whereby doth he ſhew that he is nigh to them? It followeth, He ſaveth ſuch as be of a contrite ſpirit. Gods ordering ſome ſpecial favour to his people by his providence is called his viſiting of his people. The Saints repairing to the Lord with earneſt fervent Prayer, is called their viſiting of the Lord. Iſai. 26. 16. Lord in trouble have they viſited thee; how? tbey have powred out a prayer to thee, &c. When God firſt beginneth to give us a gracious viſit, it is ſeaſonable and ſutable for us to give him prayer-viſits. Exod. 33. 17. And the Lord ſaid unto Moſes, I will do this thing alſo which thou hast ſpoken, verſe 18. And Moſes ſayd, I beſeech thee ſhew me thy glory. Moſes made Gods time of giving to bee his opportunity of begging mercy. If ever the Saints hearts are filled with love, it is when they partake of manifeſt tokens of the Lords love to them; and if ever it be a ſeaſon of this friendly talking with God, or praying, 'tis then, when in ſuch a friendly frame. Pſal. 116. 1. I love the Lord becauſe he hath heard my voice. And verſe 2. therefore will I call upon him, or ſpeak lovingly to him. Words ſpoken to God in love, or from love to him, come the moſt ſeaſonably, for they are ever well taken, they are taken in love by the Lord. When the Lord in his providence beſtoweth upon his people ſomething whereon the image of his ſpecial favour is inſtamped, it is a time in ſpecial to acknowledge the Lord by prayer, as praying is called, Prov. 3. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, even by prayer of faith.
Secondly, the Lord is thus near to us by 2 By ſpecial motions of his ſpirit.any ſpecial motions of the ſpirit, eſpecially ſuch as put us upon prayer; when the Lord doth inwardly ſpeak, even to our hearts ſuch like words, as Iſai. 43. 11. Ask of me touching my ſons and daughters, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me, or when Chriſt by his ſpirit ſaith to our hearts, as ſometimes he did to them by word of mouth. Joh. 16. 23, 24. Hitherto yee have asked nothing: Ask that your joy may bee full. Or as hee ſaid to his people, Cant. 2. 14. Let me heare thy voice, for it is ſweet; it is now a time to ſpeak to the Lord, that we ſeeme not to ſlight him. When thou ſaidſt, (namely, by the ſpirit inwardly as well as by the word outwardly) ſeek my Pſal. 27. 8.face; my heart anſwered, thy face Lord will I ſeek. If that holy motion to Solomon, 1 Kings 3. 5, 9. Ask what I ſhall give to thee, &c. made even a ſleeping-time, a ſupplicating-time; much more may holy motions of God this way, make our waking-times, our wreſtling ſeaſons. Such drops of a ſpirit of prayer are handſells and pledges of large powring out of that ſpirit upon us, if thankfully received and improved. Zach. 12. Such ſolliciting directions given us from the Lord, argue that aſſuredly it is both a praying and ſpeeding time. If the Lord prepare the heart, if he fit it, and put it upon prayer, teach it how to pray, He ſurely boweth the eare to heare. Pſal. 10. 17. It is Eſthers time to ask, when King Ahaſuerus himſelfe putteth her upon it; What is thy petition? and it ſhall be granted thee; and thy requeſt? it ſhall be performed. Eſther 7. 2. So is it here. And let none abuſe this to ſtrengthen any fond Grindletonian conceit, that we muſt never pray till wee find the ſpirit firſt moving us to it. It is our opportunity indeed of prayer when the ſpirit moveth thereto, but not the onelyonly ſeaſon of prayer, as wee have in part ſhewed, and muſt further mention other ſeaſons thereof as well as that. Wee muſt ſometimes pray, that we may pray, and when as we are apt to judge our ſelves, that wee are moſt unfit to pray, then to pray that wee may become fit to pray. As by ſpeaking men are fitted to ſpeak, by running to runne, by wreſtling to wreſtle, by labouring to labour.
Thirdly, he is thus near us by ſome ſpecial 2 By ſome ſpecial promiſes made ours.word of his mouth, eſpecially by ſome gracious promiſe ſpoken and manifeſted to us; and that alſo is a ſpecial ſeaſon for prayer. 2 Sam. 7. 27. For thou O Lord God haſt revealed to thy ſervant, ſaying, I will build thee an houſe, therefore hath thy ſervant found in his heart to pray unto thee. Its a ſeaſon of this holy talking with God, when he firſt enters ſpeech with us by ſome ſuch words of his grace. Its ſeaſonable to open our mouths wide, and receive grace and peace when the Lord ſetteth open any ſuch golden pipe of both as is the Promiſe: the Goſpel is in every part of it, the miniſtration of the ſpirit, 2 Cor. 13. 8. and of life, verſe 6. and of faith. Rom. 10 8. and of peace. Eſai. 57. 19. The words of Gods grace pacifie and ſtill the tumults in the ſoul, and inlarge and quicken the heart. Now if ever it bee a ſeaſon to ſpeak to the Lord in praier, it is when unmannerly diſtempers, (which too often ſilence us at beſt) retreat, and are put to ſilence, and when our hearts are ſet at an holy liberty to powre out themſelves before the Lord.
Fourthly, the Lord is near his people 4 By ſome fatherly correction.when he viſits or afflicteth them. What ſhal I anſwer him when he viſits (or afflicts?) Job 31. 14. and Job 7. 18. What is man that thou ſhouldeſt viſit him? The Lord is then near to us to try us, to take an account of our wayes, to correct our miſ-doings to obſerve how we carry it under affliction, to comfort and ſupport us in affliction, to ſanctifie affliction to us, and to ſave and deliver us out of the ſame, and therefore in ſpecial ſort it is ſeaſonable to cry unto him, and to ask a correcting father forgiveneſſe. Jam. 5. 15. If any be afflicted, let him pray. Pſal. 50. 15. Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will heare thee, and thou ſhalt glorifie me. God doth then ſpeak to us by his rods, Micah 69. It is therefore ſeaſonable then to anſwer him in our praiers, If ever a gracious heart bee humble, ſenſible, ſerious and lively, it is then when in affliction, when in the fire. Such a time of pangs is a time of crying out to the Lord; when God viſiteth Saints by affliction, it is ſeaſonable for them to viſit him with prayers: Iſai. 26. 16. Lord in trouble have they viſited thee, they powred out a prayer to thee when thy chaſtning was upon them.
5. The Lord is near to us by ſome ſpecial deliverance out of affliction: this is 5 By ſome ſpecial deliverance.likewiſe the Lords viſiting time when hee cometh to ſee us, Zeph. 2. 7. For the Lord their God ſhall viſit them, and ſave them from their captivity. If God wil thus viſit his vine, the people of God look at themſelves as ingaged to call upon him, Pſal. 80. 14. 18. compared. Behold, viſit this thy vine, quicken us, ſo will we call upon thee. When the winter of the Churches afflictions and captivity is over, Chriſt expecteth to heare his Churches voice in prayer. Cant. 2. 10, 14. Zach. 13. 9. I will bring that third part through fire, and they ſhall call upon me. A perſon newly delivered out of this pit, Job 33. 24, 36. Hee ſhall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him. Little do Chriſtians, ſharing in a time of the Lords clemency and pity, in their deliverance from ſick-bed, and other notable hazards of life and livelyhoods, know, what a fair opportunity they have now in their hands to ſpeak for further mercy, ſo as to ſpeed; and how much they loſe if they grow ſlighty or negligent in improving ſuch an importunity of praier, when if ever, praying diſpoſitions ſtir afreſh in them.
6. God is thus near us when his time 6 By accompliſhing his promiſes actually.of ſpecial promiſes draweth near. Then Gods Faithfulneſſe, Immutability, Almightineſſe begin to come into our very views. And it is a ſeaſon then for us in our prayers to goe out and meet the Lord. Jer. 29. 12. Then ſhall ye call on me, and ye ſhall goe and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you then▪ When? verſe 10. When the ſeventy years ſhall be accompliſhed at Babylon, I will viſit you, and performe my good pleaſure towards you, and then ſhall you call upon me. Dan. 9. 2, 3. I Daniel underſtood by Bookes the number of the years whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the Prophet, that hee would accompliſh ſeventy years in this deſolation of Jeruſalem; and I ſet my face unto the Lord to ſeek by prayer and ſupplication. Such a time is a ſpeeding-time, for ſo verſe 23. At the beginning of thy ſupplications the commandement came forth: and therefore the fitteſt ſeaſon for prayer. A fair day may well be expected to enſue, when the Saints are, ſo early at this work of prayer, even as ſoon as any morning beam of divine righteouſneſſe begins to break forth. And ſurely, ſuch a time is this very preſent time, when if ever, now it is a ſeaſon of frequent and ſervent praying. When the Lord is coming out in view to accompliſh his great deſigns of grace to his churches, and vengeance to Antichriſt and his abettors. When his wondrous workes in our native land, and the neighbour-nations doe declare that his name is near.
A ſecond ſpeciall ſeaſon of prayer is, Secondly, when we are near to God. As.when we are neere to the Lord (There being times when we are far off from God.) True it is, that all the Saints are alwayes neere unto the Lord, in reſpect of their reconciliation wrought by Chriſt, and their Union with Chriſt, God-man, and the like. Yet are there differences of their 1 By ſome ſpeciall ingagement.actuall neerneſſe to the Lord in many other reſpects, as might be ſhewed in ſundry particulars. Let us inſtance only in two or three branches of this holy neerneſſe of ours to God. Which are ſeverall opportunities of prayer.
Wee are neere to God by ſome ſolemne engagement, whether more publickly or ſecretly plighted before the Lord. Thus Iſrael Pſal. 148. 14. was a people neere to the Lord. And what Nation is there ſo great (ſaid Moſes Deut. 4. 7.) unto whom God is ſo neer, as the Lord our God is neer to us in all that wee call unto him for? Jer. 30. 21. I will cauſe him to draw neere, and he ſhall approach to me: for who is this that engagaged his heart to approach unto me ſaith the Lord?
Secondly, wee are neere to God, 2 By ſome choice reforming work.when upon any worke of Reformation of ſpeciall enormities in our ſelves or others, which alienates them or us from the Lord. Zealous-reforming-rulers, whoſe hearts ſtand bent, as much as in them lieth, to reduce the Church to its Primitive purity and perfection, they are ſaid in that reſpect alſo, as well as others, to engage themſelves to approach to the Lord. Jer. 30. 20, 21. compared. So zealous reforming Aſa, and others joyning with him in that work, are ſaid to be with God. 2 Chron. 14. 2, 3, 4, 5. and 15. 2, 7, 8. compared. So thoſe zealous friends of Chriſt that ſet themſelves againſt the Babyloniſh whore, and her abominations, are ſaid to bee with Chriſt. Revel. 17. 14. And ſurely as they are with him, ſo he is that while with them, as he ſaid. 2 Chron. 15. 2. The Lord is with you whilſt you are with him. And there being ſuch neerneſſe 'twixt them and God, then ſurely is it a choice ſeaſon of ſpeaking with God in prayer. For indeed 'tis a choice ſpeeding time, as the Prophet there addeth. And if you ſeek him, he will be found of you. Iſa. 1. 16, 17, 18. Waſh you, make you cleane, &c. Come now and let us reaſon together: it is the fitteſt time to offer up this holy incenſe of prayer in theſe fiery-zealous-times; and to plead with the Lord when make-bate and alienating ſinnes are removed. Thus godly Nehemiah taketh ſuch an opportunity for prayer, Nehem. 13. 14. 22. 29. 31. Remember me ô my God for good. When the graces of the ſpirit have been ſtirring in one good work, they are the fitteſt to be imployed in another. And when we have been doing for God, if we take the advantage of time and of our hearts to ſpeak to him, he will be doing for us; if wee give any thing to him, he will aſſuredly give us ſomething that is better if we ask it.
3. A third ſpecial ſeaſon of prayer is, 3 When in extremities▪ As in caſe ofwhen any ſpecial extremities and urgencies are upon us. Prayer being one of our laſt meanes to bee uſed for attaining ſuccour from God; and our very extremities having their cry in the eares of the Lord, it will be moſt ſeaſonable that wee joyne our lips with theirs, that they make together the lowder and more prevailing out-cry. Its meeteſt for us then to goe a begging to the door of Grace, when in ſuch extreame neceſſities. God accounts the time of our extremities in asking, to bee his opportunities of hearing and helping. Let us inſtance in theſe foure caſes.
Firſt, in caſe of intricacies of providence 1 Intrecacies of providence.which meerly concerns our ſelves or others. Now in ſuch caſes of riddles of providence, Prayer is moſt ſeaſonable, being foreign the uſual Hebrew word for Prayer, a repaire to the Lord for inquiry, or for his ſentence in a caſe of controverſie. Rebekah found by experience that her going thus to God to inquire in that difficulty was very opportune. Gen. 25. 22, 23. The Lord interprets to her the meaning of that unwonted ſtruggling of twinnes in her womb. David when to remove his habitation, and yet not knowing whither, findes this inquiry ſeaſonable, by his anſwer; Go unto Hebron. 2 Sam. 2. 1. when that ſad affliction was on David and his people, and the particular cauſe unknowne, this inquiry came in ſeaſon, and made diſcovery wherefore the famine had been ſo long upon them, 2 Sam. 23. 1. Aſaph doth but goe into the Sanctuary, and then all his hard queſtions about the reaſons of the wickeds proſperity are anſwered, and all that cloud on his mind ſcattered. Pſ. 73. 17. Ʋntil I went into the Sanctuary, and then I underſtood their end, &c.
Secondly, in caſe of ſome maſterly diſtempers gaining upon us, and we know not 2 By maſterly diſtempers.how to redreſſe the ſame, though we ſadly mourne under it. Such a time of need is a time of ſpeeding in ſeeking for anſwerable help at the throne of grace. Heb. 4. 15, 16. compared. When any luſt begins to grow more ſeditious againſt the Lord Jeſus. When it becometh more head-ſtrong againſt his ſacred Majeſty, and will not be curb'd by all our expreſſions of ſhame and ſorrow, and deteſtation, and defiance of it; it is high time to draw a ſolemne petition to our gracious King, to take ſome effectuall order to ſuppreſſe it.
3. In caſe of ſome weighty ſervice of God, 3 Difficult ſervice.which we look at as above our ſtrength. Now muſt young Solomon, that thinks himſelfe but a child for ſuch imployment, ask of God. 1 Kings 3. 5, 6, 7, &c.
4. In caſe of greateſt danger impendings 4 Danger impending.as when, Yet forty dayes and Niniveh ſhall be deſtroyed. Jonah 3. 4. Now (if ever) poor Ninivites muſt call mightily to the Lord: and verſe 10. God ſaw their works, and repented him of the evil. Exod. 32. 10. Gods hand is up againſt Iſrael with his ſlaughtering weapon; Now pray Moſes, or never; and he did ſo, v. 11, 14. God repented of that evill alſo. Touching the laſt particular, that wee are bound to take theſe opportunities of prayer, it is undenyable, we are bound to pray without ceaſing, and therefore to bee taking all opportunities to pray. And wherefore elſe doth the Lord put ſuch a talent of opportunity of Motives.prayer into our hands, but that he expecteth the faithful, and fruitful improvement thereof to be made by us? or elſe he will aſſuredly take his time to expreſſe his diſpleaſure againſt us, for ſo groſſe a neglect of his grace, and of our own ſouls advantage. But that we may be quickned up to pray opportunely, or to take all opportunities of prayer. Conſider,
1. That opportunity is the very cream and This Opportunity is the beſt, and all of Time.flower, and ſpirits, yea, the very All of time. Hence this, Pray continually, (i. e.) opportunely: he that prayes as oft as he hath opportunity, prayeth alwayes.
2. That opportunity of asking offered 2 'Tis an ingagement to the Lord to hear.by the Lord, doth (as I may ſay) ingage the Lord to anſwer. Why ſhould the Lord ſet out ſuch almes-dayes, and audiencedayes, and ſome way ſignifie it to his people, if hee meant not to heare and help them? Friends in ſuch a caſe ſtand upon their credit, if they appoint times to meet, and to entertaine a friendly diſcourſe with their friends, they are not wont to faile them; ſo here opportunity of asking given us by the Lord, it imboldneth us to ask, and to expect a ſeaſonable anſwer.
3. That opportunity of Prayer, it 3 It is the grace and beauty of prayer.doth grace and beautifie our Prayers. As every thing elſe is beautifull in its ſeaſon. Eccleſ. 3. 11. So is Prayer in its ſeaſon; opportunity is a wheele to the chariot of prayer, which ſafely, ſtrongly, and ſwiftly carryeth it in before the Lord. A word ſpoken in ſeaſon to men, is (in the Hebrew phraſe) a word ſpoken upon the wheeles. Prov. 25. 11. So is it in theſe words ſpoken to the Lord in their ſeaſon: yea, opportunity helpeth to carry our praier alſo in an holy ſtate before the Lord, as upon a royall Chariot-wheele. Opportunity of Prayer greatly furthers their acceptance in Chriſt. Theſe fruits of our lips alſo are then beſt, and moſt welcome to the Lord, when brought forth in their ſeaſon.4 It uſeth to ſucceed well.
4. That ſeaſonable prayer is ever ſpeeding prayer. Pſal. 5. 13. My voice ſhalt thou hear in the morning: namely, praying in the ſeaſon of prayer.
5. That opportunity of ſeeking, and 5 It is beg'd for us by Chriſt.getting grace by prayer, and other means, is begged for us by Chriſt. In an acceptable time have I heard thee, as ſaith the bleſſed Father to the Mediatour, Iſai. 49. 8. And thence it is that the members of this head of the Church have any ſuch time of acceptance. 2 Cor. 6. 2. For hee ſaith, in an acceptable time have I heard thee. Now is the acceptable time.
6. That great will bee our diſadvantage, by letting ſuch holy opportunities of Prayer ſlip; for beſides the loſſe of ſuch jewels, and of what wee might have gained by trading with the ſame, our ſpirits will come to bee very much ſtraitned, and hardned, as ſad experience in the Saints themſelves witneſſeth.