Sacred Therapy, Book 3 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Of such as do please themselves in a condition not pleasing God, because they conceive they can pray well under any condition.
SUndry there are, who think their souls to be in a good case and condition, when they can pray much, and that with freedom of spirit, when possibly they do not watch over their hearts, nor wayes as becometh them.
This sicknesse even converts are subject unto sundry times, but it may be most clearly seen in those, who put a sort of worth and merit in effect, upon their religious exercises, as we may see in many Israelits in Isaias time, chap, 58. They did reckon themselves among them that did seek God daily, who delighted in his wayes and did approach unto him, ver. 2. yet because God did not grant their petitions, they fell on chiding him, ver. 3. Wherefore have we fasted (say they) and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our souls and thou takest no knowledge? The history also of Korah, Dathan and Abiram is notour, wherein we see what esteem Korah and his complices had of their own holinesse, and of their accesse to God in their prayers that they durst hazard and lay their lives in pawn, that God should make them as welcom when they came with their cenferes to pray before him, as Aaron and Moses, yea and more welcome then they.
Such a sort of deceit is that whereby some fanaticks, enthusiasts and hereticks do foster themselves in their own folly, and imagine they are no small men in Gods account, because they find a sort of eloquence in their prayers, which they conceive God would not give unto them, except he were well pleased with their persons, prayers and wayes; and that the true convert also is subject to this sicknesse, appeareth by this that Moses in charity judged many who countenanced the conspiracy, to be godly persons otherwayes, and therefore exhorted them to forsake the unhappy society of these wicked men. And sure it is, that sundry of the sons of Korah did repent and flye from the company of the obstinat transgressors, for it is clear that all the sons of Korah did not perish, Numb. 26. 11. and frequent mention is made of the posterity of Korah in the Chronicles and Psalms.
But we need not insist much here, seing experience teacheth, that many go on confidently in maintaining schisme and error, perswading themselves of the goodnesse of their course and condition, because their prayers do flow according to their wish from day to day. And many are, who if they find fredom in prayer, for any particular concerning themselves or others, do assure themselves that it shall come to passe which they pray for: And if their spirits be straitned in praying for sp…itual and promised graces, they fear they shall not be satisfied in the particular they pray for.
For remedy of this self-deceit, men must know, that it is one thing to pray much, and another thing to be heard and their prayers and persons accepted. The Jews are told by the Prophet Isaiah, chap. 1. 15. that albeit they put up many petitions, the Lord will not hear them, because their hands were full of blood. 2. Carnal affection may easily creep in and stir up a fervency of prayer, Iam. 4. 3. you ask and obtain not, because you ask amiss, that you may bestow what you pray for upon your lusts. 3. Saints may pray earnestly for that which God is not minded to grant unto them, as Samuel prayed for Saul, that he might be continued King, 1 Sam, 16. 1. And David may pray for the life of Bathshebas child and not prevail. 4. On the other hand prayers put up from a straitened heart in a sad condition, may prove no lesse pleasing unto God then when the supplicant doth find most inlargement of spirit, and fredom of prayer. How oft did the P…almist cry out of the deeps, when his spirit was overwhelmed within him, when darknesse and the cords of death did straiten him, as Ps. 61. 1. is holden forth? And the Apostle (Rom. 8.) giveth us to understand, that the spirit of the convert may be so straitened by afflictions bodily and spiritual, that they are not able to set their words in order before God, yea, nor have clear notions of their necessities and desires, but in stead of an oration, do sigh and groan unto God. Wherefore if a man shall in the sense of his sins and wants, have his daily recourse unto Christ, and be carefull to bring forth the fruits of the spirit, praying for what is promised, with submission to God what measure and at what time he pleaseth to give, he may be sure his person and prayers are acceptable, as we are taught, 1 Ioh. 5. 14, 15. This is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us; and if we know that he heareth us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.