The Glory of Christ Set Forth in Sermons on John 3:34-36, Sermon 7
SERMON VII.
Hebrews XI. 6.
But without Faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe him.
Doct. THis is the truth and propoſition before us That it is impoſſible for any Soul to pleaſe God without Faith.
The laſt time we came to enter upon ſome directions how we might ſo exerciſe Faith in the performance of Duties, and in the enjoyment of Ordinances, that ſo what we do might pleaſe God; ſome general Directions were laid down that may ſerve for all Duties; I ſhall now go on through the Lords aſſiſtance, and give you ſome more particular directions, how we may perform particular duties in Faith, that ſo they may be pleaſing unto God.
1. And in the firſt place, we ſhall begin with the duty of Prayer, and ſhew you how we may ſo pray in Faith, as we may pleaſe God, for that is the Prayer that God doth accept; That is, a prayer of Faith: Therefore it is ſaid; in James 5.15. That the prayer of faith ſhall ſave the ſick; That is, there muſt be Faith exerciſed in our prayers, or elſe our prayers are not true prayers, ſuch as God accepts. Suppoſe a man be a Believer, and have a habit of Faith, he prays, yet if he do not exerciſe Faith in his prayer, he prays not the prayer of Faith, and it will not avail. James 1.6, If any man lack wiſdom, let him ask it of God. He muſt pray to God for it; but ſays he, Let him pray in faith, for elſe if he do not pray in faith, his prayer will not avail. And he ſpeaks to thoſe that are faithful, for he writes to the Twelve Tribes, amongſt whom were many faithful and believers; If any of you lack wiſdom, let him ask it of God; but let him ask it in faith, nothing wavering; for elſe his prayer is not pleaſing to God; as the Apoſtle ſays in another caſe, 1 Cor. 14.19, I had rather ſpeak five words with my underſtanding, than ten thouſand words in an unknown tongue. So I may ſay in this Caſe, a man had better put up five prayers in Faith, than Ten thouſand prayers without Faith; and though we ſpeak but a few Words in prayer, if it be mixed with Faith, it is more available than if we ſpeak never ſo many words never ſo largely without Faith.
Queſt. Well, you will ſay, How ſhall we ſo act faith in prayer, that our prayers may be pleaſing unto God?
Anſw. For Anſwer, Beſides what was preſuppoſed before, that the perſon muſt be a Believer, and alſo paſſing by thoſe general Rules of direction laid down before, I ſhall give you four or five particular directions, how we ſhould ſo pray in Faith, that our prayers may be pleaſing unto God. Namely,
Firſt, We ſhould be ſure of this, that whatſoever we do pray for, be according to the Will of God, be ſure of that, be perſwaded of that; you muſt not doubt nor queſtion that, for if you do you cannot pray in Faith: And tho' the thing you pray for be according to the Will of God, yet if you do not know and be perſwaded that it is according to the Will of God, you cannot pray in Faith; therefore we muſt be ſure of that, that the thing we pray for be according to the Will of God, as the Apoſtle ſaith concerning eating, in Rom. 14. v. laſt, He that doubteth is damned if he eateth; That is, he committeth a damnable ſin becauſe he believeth not; for whatſoever is not of Faith is ſin. So he that prays doubtingly, whether the thing he prays for be according to the Will of God or no, he ſins in prayer, whatever he pray for, if it be not in Faith, with a perſwaſion that what he prays for is according to the Will of God, this man cannot pray in Faith. Suppoſe now a man or woman pray for this or that, that he cannot certainly conclude is according to the Will of God, as now for example, ſuppoſe a man have an earneſt deſire to encreaſe his eſtate in the World, that he may live bravely at his eaſe and pleaſure, and to that end he deſires to be diligent in his buſineſs, and to that end alſo he begs of the Lord in prayer, that the Lord would bleſs his labours and endeavours, that he might gain a great eſtate in the world, and do what he liſt, and live at his eaſe and pleaſure; now, this man cannot pray with a certain aſſurance and perſwaſio… that this thing is according to the Will of …; Ye ask and have not, ſays the Apoſtle James, becauſe ye ask amiſs, to ſpend upon your luſts, James 4.3. It is not according to the Will of God, and therefore you cannot pray in Faith. Or ſuppoſe now that a man or woman intend to take a Journey upon pleaſure, to have a Ramble abroad, he would be glad to be preſerved, and poſſibly he prays that the Lord would keep him in his way; now if a perſon in this caſe do queſtion whether his Journey be according to the Will of God, he cannot pray in Faith, and ſo his prayer is not pleaſing to the Lord: Or ſuppoſe a man be gaming for money, and he would be glad to win, poſſibly he prays that the Lord would bleſs him in his undertaking, that he might win, he cannot be perſwaded this is according to the Will of God, and if ſo, he cannot pray in Faith, and ſo his prayer is not pleaſing unto God: So that, I ſay, this is the particular direction in this caſe, That whatſoever we pray for, we muſt be ſure of that, that it is according to the Will of God; and this is a good help to pray in Faith; ſays the Apoſtle John, in 1 John 5.14, This is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us. You muſt be ſure of that, that it is according to the Will of God, and then we may believe that he will hear us. Now, I pray conſider this, a thing may be agreeable to the revealed Will of God, and yet not according to his ſecret Will and Purpoſe; and though the purpoſe of God be againſt what we pray for, yet if it be according to the revealed Will of God, we may lawfully pray in Faith for it. As now, ſuppoſe a man or woman pray for the life of ſuch a Relation, a Husband, or a Wife, or a Child, or a Friend, he prays earneſtly for their life; well, God in his ſecret purpoſe hath determined otherwiſe, the ſecret Will of God is contrary, yet this being lawful according to the revealed Will of God, to pray for the wellfare of the ſick, he may pray in Faith, though it be contrary to the ſecret Purpoſe and Counſel of God. You know this was David's caſe, he prayed earneſtly for his ſick Child, the Lord had a ſecret purpoſe that the Child ſhould dye, yet he prayed earneſtly for the life of the Child, and he did not ſin in praying, becauſe it was according to the revealed Will of God; and though it was contrary to the ſecret Will of God, yet notwithſtanding, he might pray in Faith for the life of the Child, though God had intended otherwiſe. You know it was the caſe of Chriſt himſelf, he prayed that the Cup might paſs from him; it was the determinate Purpoſe and Counſel of God that the Cup ſhould not paſs from him, but he ſhould drink it. Now, did Chriſt ſin in praying for that which was contrary to the ſecret Will and Purpoſe of God? No. Becauſe now this is certain, that it is a thing that is lawful, and according to the Will of God, for a Man or Woman to pray againſt that which is dangerous and hurtful to his nature; he may pray lawfully to be delivered from evil. Now Chriſt prayed to be delivered from evil, from drinking the Cup of Gods Wrath, though it was the ſecret Counſel of God he ſhould drink it, yet notwithſtanding he did not ſin, becauſe he prayed for that which he knew was according to the revealed Will of God. Well, this is the firſt Direction, and I pray mind it, That if you would pray in Faith for any mercy, let us be ſure of that, that what we pray for be according to the Will of God.
Secondly, The ſecond Direction, To pray in Faith, ſo as that we may pleaſe God, is to pray in obedience to the Will of God; do it in obedience to the Will and Command of God as our Duty. Brethren, it is the Will and Command of God, and our Duty, that we ſhould pray always, in Pſalm 105.4. Seek the Lord and his ſtrength, ſeek his face evermore. So, you know, in Luke 18.1. he propounded a Parable to his Diſciples, to the end, that Men ſhould always pray and not faint. It is the Will of God that we ſhould pray always; now to help us to pray in Faith, it is good to be Eying our Duty and the Lords Command; it is the Lords Command that we ſhould pray, notwithſtanding we may meet with diſcouragements, objections, and temptations from the Fleſh and from Satan, to take us off from the Duty; as now, the Fleſh and Satan will be ready to ſuggeſt and diſcourage, thus, why, What benefit have you by all the Prayers that ever you have made? What have you found in a way of anſwer to your Prayer? and again, do you not ſee that others that do not pray at all, fare even as well as you, for all your praying? and again, can we change the Mind and Will of God by all our Prayers? It is ſaid in Job, that God is of one mind, and who can turn him? Can all the prayers of all the Saints and Angels in Heaven and Earth change the Mind and Will of God? But now, Faith will help a Soul to go over all theſe Objections; it is my Duty, and I will do it in Obedience to the Will of God, notwithſtanding this, or that, or the other Temptation, God hath commanded me to pray evermore, and Pray without ceaſing; and that I ſhould pray and not faint; poſſibly Satan will come with his Temptations and Objections, Do you not ſee that God ſeems to be angry, and offended with your Prayers? God ſeems to anſwer you contrary to your Prayers? then to what end is it for you to pray? Yet Faith will help a Soul to anſwer all, with this, It is my Duty, it is Gods command, and therefore I will do it. For Faith does carry a Soul beyond Difficulties and Objections; As you ſee it was with Abraham, his Faith carried him beyond all his carnal reaſonings and objections: As when God called him to go out of his Native Country into a place that he knew not, and it may be ſcarce ever heard of in all his Life, Fleſh and Blood now, and the Devil, would be ready to make Objections, What! ſhall a Man venture to go he knows not whither? But now Faith helped him to go on, therefore it is ſaid in Hebrews 11.8. By Faith, Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he ſhould afterward receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and went out, not knowing whither he went. He went, becauſe of the Command of God, in obedience to the call of God. So when Abraham was called to a hard piece of Service, to offer up Iſaac, here might have been a Temptation, What, ſhall I go and cut the Throat of him in whom all the promiſes are to be performed? From Iſaac Chriſt was to come; and God had told Abraham, that in him all the Families of the Earth ſhould be bleſſed; yet go, ſaies God, and ſacrifice your Son. Here was the command, Abraham goes, notwithſtanding all the Cavils and objections of carnal reaſon, Abraham goes about it in obedience to the command of God. Brethren, take this as another direction to help us to pray in Faith, notwithſtanding the objections and Temptations that may take us off; it is our duty, here is the Command of God for it, and out of obedience to Gods Command I will do it, whatever come of it. You read in the 5th of Luke, the beginning, that Peter had been Fiſhing all Night, and had Caught nothing; in the Morning Chriſt ſtood upon the ſhore and called to him; ſaies he, Caſt your Net on the Right ſide of the Ship: Sir, ſaies he, we have been labouring and toyling all Night, and have caught nothing, it is but a vain thing: But yet he did recollect himſelf, nevertheleſs at thy Command we will do it; and thereupon caſting out the Net upon Chriſt's command, they had a very great Draught, in ſo much that they were Amazed. Well, this is the ſecond direction to help us to pray in Faith, to pray in Obedience to the Lords Will.
Thirdly, The third Direction is this; namely, to be eying of the Lords Promiſe, and to pray by vertue of ſome promiſe or other, and this will mightily ſtrengthen and help Faith in Prayer: If a Soul have but a promiſe to encourage him in Prayer, by this means the Soul will come to ſee, as through a Crevice, the Willingneſs of God to hear him, and anſwer him.
The Soul may, poſſibly, ſcruple and Queſtion, But if I pray, will the Lord hear me? But if the Soul comes in the vertue of a promiſe, he comes with a great encouragement and perſwaſion that God will hear him. Now, Brethren, for your help in this thing, in praying by vertue of ſome promiſe, underſtand and know, that there are two ſorts of promiſes, there are ſome more general promiſes concerning Gods hearing Prayer, and then there are ſome more particular promiſes concerning ſome particular Mercy or Bleſſing that we pray for. Now, as for the general promiſes, the Scripture is full of them, that God is a God hearing prayer, in Pſalm 65.2. O thou that heareſt Prayer, unto thee ſhall all Fleſh come. God is a God hearing Prayer, for the encouragement of all Fleſh to come unto him. So in Pſalm 86.4, 5. Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my Soul, for thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and Plenteous in Mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Here is a general promiſe; ſo in Pſalm 102.17. He will regard the Prayer of the Deſtitute, and not deſpiſe their Prayer. And in Pſalm 145.8. The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him, that call upon him in Truth; He is nigh them to hear their Prayer. So in the New-Teſtament, ſaies Chriſt, in Matt. 7.7, 8. Ask, and it ſhall be given you, ſeek and ye ſhall find, knock and it ſhall be opened unto you; for every one that asketh receiveth, &c. And ſo you have ſuch expreſſions frequently up and down in the Scripture, that are general promiſes to encourage the Soul in Prayer; as the Apoſtle ſaith, in Rom. 10.12. The ſame Lord over all, is Rich unto all that call upon him. Such general promiſes you have frequently in the Scripture; and then there are ſome more particular promiſes about Gods hearing Prayer, as now, for ſome particular Mercy or Bleſſing that a Man or Woman may ſtand in need of, there are ſome particular promiſes that ſuits them more particularly. As you know, Jacob he makes uſe of that, Lord, ſaies he, Thou haſt ſaid that thou would'ſt do me good. When he was in danger by his Brother Eſau, in Gen. 32.9, 10, 11. Lord, ſaies he, Thou haſt ſaid that thou would'ſt do me good. God had promiſed to bleſs him, and he makes uſe of that promiſe, and ſtrengthens his Faith in his Prayer by that Argument. And ſo David, in 2 Sam. 7. there you may read how the Lord made a gracious promiſe to David and his Houſe, to eſtabliſh the Throne to him and his poſterity, that his Poſterity ſhould ſucceed him in his Throne; David would have built God a Houſe, Well, ſaies God, wilt thou build me a Houſe; I will build thy Houſe for thee. There was a Gracious promiſe; well, David makes uſe of this promiſe in the latter end of the Chapter, verſe, 27 For thou, Oh Lord of Hoſts, God of Iſrael, haſt revealed unto thy Servant, ſaying, I will build thee an Houſe, therefore hath thy Servant found in his Heart to pray this Prayer unto thee, &c. So Jehoſhaphat, in 2 Chron. 20. having his Land invaded by a Foreign Enemy, he goes to God in Prayer; but mark how he eyes a promiſe in his Prayer, verſ. 8, 9. And have built thee a Sanctuary therein for thy name, ſaying, If when evil cometh upon us, as the Sword, Judgement, or Peſtilence, or Famine, we ſtand before this Houſe, and in thy preſence (for thy Name is in this Houſe) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help, &c. He takes hold of the promiſe of God, and pleads that in his Prayer, and ſo prevails. So I might inſtance in others, ſometimes God caſts in a promiſe, gives ſome ſecret hint of a promiſe in Prayer: As Paul, he had that promiſe, when he was afflicted with the Thorn in the Fleſh, and a Meſſenger of Satan to buffet him, God told him, that his Grace ſhould be ſufficient for him, 2 Cor. 12.9. And he makes uſe of that, and gathers ſtrength from it. But Suppoſe, now, a man or woman have no particular promiſe to ſtrengthen his Faith in Prayer, then let him eye ſome general promiſe or other, and this will be a mighty encouragement and ſtrengthning, and help to Faith in prayer, to encline the Heart to be perſwaded that God is willing, becauſe of ſuch general promiſes: Or ſuppoſe that any Man or Woman have no promiſe to lay hold upon, or to act Faith in Prayer upon, then,
Fourthly, In the Fourth place, take a fourth direction, and that is, to eye the Name of God; the Attributes of God they are called the Name of God, thereby God doth diſcover himſelf and his nature to us, and plead by vertue of ſome attribute of God, the Name of God; for ſometimes a Believer may be in the dark, and may not have the light of ſo much as any one promiſe to make uſe of. Now, you know what the Holy-Ghoſt ſaith in Iſaiah 5.10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his Servant, that walketh in Darkneſs, and ſees no light, not the light of any Promiſe, let him truſt in the Name of the Lord, and ſtay upon h…s God; let him make uſe of the Name of God to ſtrengthen his Faith. The Saints and People of God have been wont to plead for the Name of God, and the Glory of Gods Name; that you find frequently in the Scripture, in Jeremiah 14.7. O Lord, though our iniquities teſtify againſt us, do thou it for thy Names-ſake. So in the Pſalms frequently, in Pſalm 25.11. For thy Name-ſake, Oh Lord, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great. But more particularly, eye ſome Attribute of God, ſome particular Name of God, as I may ſo call it, for God is made known and diſcovered to us by his attributes, and the properties of his Name; now let us eye ſome Attribute of God that may be helpful to us in Prayer, as now the Power of God, it is very uſeful to eye the Power of God in Prayer; and ſo you will find the Saints have made uſe of the power of God, that was put forth in the Creation of the World; I remember Jeremiah Chapter 32. when the Children of Iſrael were to go into Captivity for ſeventy years, the Lord bad Jeremiah to buy the Field of his Uncle, for an evidence that God would bring his people back again. Jeremiah, when he had done, he would fall to Prayer, and he makes uſe of the power of God at the 17th verſe, Ah Lord God, behold, thou haſt made the Heavens and Earth by thy great Power, and ſtretched out Arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee. It is a hard thing for Fleſh and Blood to believe that I and my poſterity ſhall have this Land again; but there is nothing too hard for thee, God can eaſily bring them back again from their long Captivity: ſo you may ſee how Moſes did eye the Power of God, in Numbers 14.17, 18. And now, I beſeech thee, let the Power of my Lord be great according as thou haſt ſpoken, &c. He urges the greatneſs of Gods Power; and ſo Jehoſhaphat, in that Prayer of his, 2 Chron. 20.6. Oh Lord, ſaies he, art not thou God in Heaven, and ruleſt not thou over all the Kingdoms of the Heathen, and in thine Hand is there not power and might, ſo that none is able to withſtand thee? And ſo Aſa, when he alſo was in the like diſtreſs, when his Land was invaded, 2 Chron. 14.11. he cried to the Lord, and mark how he eyed the Power of God; And he ſaid, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with a many, or with them that have no power; help us, O Lord, our God, for we reſt on thee, and in thy Name we go againſt this Multitude. And ſo, if you obſerve, when Chriſt gives us directions to pray, in that which is called the Lords Prayer, ſtill in our prayer we are to eye the Power of God, For thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory. Still eye the Glory of Gods Power, and this is more helpful to Faith than we are aware of; you know, when many came to Chriſt in their diſtreſſes, when he was here upon Earth, for help, the poor Leper, when he came to Chriſt, he came with this, Lord if thou wilt, thou canſt make me clean, Mat. 8.2. And ſaies Chriſt to the Father of the Child that was poſſeſt, when he came to him to caſt out the Devil, Canſt thou believe, ſaies Chriſt, that I am able to do this? becauſe he queſtioned the Power of Chriſt, Mark 9.22. Lord if thou canſt do any thing, have compaſſion on us and help us, (ſaies Chriſt) if thou canſt believe, all things are poſſible to him that believeth, Verſe 23. He would have him to eye his Power, and the eying of the Power of God doth wonderfully ſtrengthen Faith, and enable us to pray in Faith. And ſo again, eye the mercy, and goodneſs, and kindneſs, and grace, and compaſſion of God in Prayer, and that will help us in our prayers, ſtrengthen Faith in the Mercy of God. You read of it frequently in the Pſalms, how David made uſe of that in his Prayer, For thy mercy ſake deliver me, and have mercy upon me, according to the multitude of thy tender Mercies, Pſal. 51.1. So Moſes in Numb. 14.17, 18. He argues the Cauſe with God in his Prayer, upon the account of his Mercy, Let the Power of my Lord be great, according as thou haſt ſpoken, ſaying, the Lord is long ſuffering, and of great Mercy, forgiving iniquity, &c. Verſe 19. Pardon, I beſeech thee, the iniquity of this People, according to the greatneſs of thy Mercy. This is now the fourth direction to help us to pray in Faith, namely, to eye the Name of God, the Glory of his Name, ſome of his Glorious Attributes, and plead the vertue of them. To name but one more:
Fifthly, To pray in Faith, is to pray with a hope and expectation of an audience of our prayers; there is much lies in this, many pray, and pray, and never look after their Prayers; they pray without any hope or expectation of Gods hearing and anſwering their Prayers. Now, I ſay, we ſhould pray with hope and expectation, waiting for an anſwer of our Prayers from the Lord one way or other, in the Lords own way; for ſometimes the Lord may anſwer us in a way that we could not expect, not in that particular thing that we pray for: As David ſaies, in Pſal. 35.13. But as for me, when they were ſick, my cloathing was Sackcloth, I humbled my Soul with faſting, and my Prayer returned into mine own Boſom. There was an anſwer, but not a particular anſwer to what he Prayed for; yet he had an anſwer: ſo God may anſwer our Prayer, and we ſhould pray, hoping and waiting, and expecting an anſwer; for Faith doth help us ſo to act, to look up and wait. In Pſalm 5.3. ſaies David, My voice ſhalt thou hear, in the morning, Oh Lord, in the Morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. I will look after it, ſays he, and wait for ſome anſwer or other; There are many that commonly put up their Prayers Morning and Evening, and turn their Backs, and never mind what anſwer God will give them; this is not to pray in Faith; Faith doth help a Soul to look up, and wait for an anſwer one way or other, at one time or another. In Habakkuk 2.1. He had been making his Prayer unto God in the former Chapter, and now ſaies he, I will ſtand upon my watch, and ſet me upon the Tower, and will watch to ſee what he will ſay unto me, and what I ſhall anſwer when I be reproved; and then verſe 3 For the viſion is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it ſhall ſpeak and not lye, though it tarry: wait for it. Ah! Brethren, there is more in this than we are aware of, namely, to wait in hope and expectation of an anſwer of our Prayers one way or other in the Lords time, this we may expect. God having revealed and made known himſelf to be a God hearing Prayer, and he hath not ſaid to the ſeed of Jacob, ſeek ye me in vain. Now, the Soul may draw near to God in Prayer, with hopes and expectations that God being a God hearing prayer, will one way or other hear and anſwer my Prayers; look for it and expect it.
And, Brethren, this waiting and expecting an Audience and anſwer of our Prayers from God, doth, as it were, lay an ingagement upon God to anſwer our Prayers. As now, if a man knows that another truſts in him for a thing, it does lay an ingagement upon him to be the more careful to do it; So now, when a Soul doth truſt in the Lord, and rely upon him, expecting Audience, becauſe he hath declared himſelf to be a God hearing Prayer, now God is ingaged as it were to anſwer thee; ſaies David, in Pſalm 9, 10. Thou Lord, haſt not forſaken them that ſeek thee. The Lord will not forſake them that ſeek; we may forſake our Prayers when we have made them, but the Lord will not forſake them that ſeek him; as he ſaies again, in Pſalm 34. the laſt Verſe, None of them that truſt in him ſhall be deſolate. God is a God hearing Prayer, therefore none that truſt in him ſhall be deſolate; thus we are to wait for, and expect an anſwer of our Prayers, and God will hear us. And thus now you have had ſome few Directions given and laid down to help us to pray in Faith; and Brethren, by thus Praying in Faith we ſhall avail much, this is the prevailing Prayer, and without Faith we cannot expect to prevail.
Queſt. But you will ſay to me, The Truth is, I hope I have Prayed in Faith, I have been perſwaded that what I have Prayed for hath been according to the Will of God, and I have Prayed out of Obedience to the Command of God, and I have had an eye to the promiſe, &c. And yet I do not find any anſwer of my Prayer, and therefore I have cauſe to queſtion whether ever I have Prayed in Faith or no: How ſhall I know whether my Prayer have been a Prayer of Faith or no? This queſtion is of very great concernment; I ſhall briefly ſpeak ſomething to it:
Firſt, Negatively, To pray in Faith, is not for a Soul to be perſwaded and aſſured that the particular thing that I pray for I ſhall have, though many do miſ-apprehend it, and think this is to pray in Faith, to pray with an aſſurance that I ſhall have the particular thing I pray for; no, there may be a great deluſion in this: as I knew a profeſſor once, a Woman, and I hope a godly Woman, ſhe was carried away with this deluſion and conceit, I know, ſaies ſhe, that I ſhall have this thing, and the other thing; I know I ſhall have my Father and Mother come to me from another Country; why, ſaid the Party to her? why, ſaid ſhe, the promiſe is, that whatſoever I ask in Prayer, believing, I ſhall receive, and, ſays ſhe, I have Prayed for it, and I do believe I ſhall have it. They perſwaded her it was but a deceit; no, no, ſaies ſhe, I am confident of it. But a ſhort time after ſhe fell into a frenzy and madneſs; but yet ſhe recovered again afterward, and I hope ſhe was a godly woman, poſſibly yet living; but I ſpeak of it for this, to ſhew you that this is not to pray in Faith, to be aſſured that what I pray for ſhall be given me; a Man or Woman poſſibly may not have the thing they pray for, or may not have a perſwaſion of the thing to be granted, and yet may pray in Faith. I pray did not our Lord Chriſt himſelf pray that the Cup might paſs from him? And did not he pray in Faith? and was not he heard? Father I thank thee, ſaies he, that thou heareſt me always, John 11.46. He prayed that the Cup might paſs from him, he had not the particular thing that he Prayed for, and yet he was heard, and did pray in Faith for all that; ſo that, I ſay, people may delude themſelves, and think this is to pray in Faith, when we are perſwaded that we ſhall have the paritcular thing granted we pray for; no, this is not to pray in Faith; a man may pray in Faith, though the thing be not granted at preſent; nay, though it never be granted. You will ſay then, How ſhall I know whether I pray in Faith or no, though the thing be never granted that I pray for? I ſhall briefly ſpeak three or four things to this, and ſo wind up all.
Firſt of all, Obſerve I pray, when the Heart is brought to be ſubject to the Will of God, and to ſubmit to his diſpoſe; when the Heart is brought after Prayer, or upon Prayer, to ſubmit to the Will of God, poſſibly the Soul hath met with ſome great Croſs and affliction, or ſome great loſs, poſſibly of a near and dear Relation, the Soul it may be is mightily troubled about it, and now goes to God in Prayer, and commits its ſelf and its caſe to God by Prayer, and poſſibly now the Soul is made to ſubmit to the Will of God, the Soul comes to argue and reaſon thus: The Lord is wiſer than I, and the Lord hath an abſolute power over me, and he may do every thing, and it is fit that his Will ſhould be done, and hereby the Heart comes to be quiet and made ſubmiſſive to the Will of God; this argues now, that the Soul hath been praying in Faith, and God hath heard his Prayer, though he give him not the particular thing he prays for; yet he is made to ſubmit to the Will of God. This was juſt the caſe of Chriſt, Chriſt prayed that the Cup might paſs from him, the Cup did not paſs from him, yet in his Prayer he was brought to ſubmit to the Will of God, Nevertheleſs, not my will, but thy will be done. So poſſibly the Soul could not be ſatisfied with the diſpenſation of God, he comes and commends himſelf and his caſe to the Lord, and upon Prayer the Soul is brought to ſubmit to the Will of God, and to ſay, not my will, but thy will be done. This is the firſt.
Secondly, When the Soul is brought into a compoſed frame upon Prayer, poſſibly the Soul was all in a hurry and royl, before it met with ſomething that was matter of affliction and perplexity, and it was like the raging Sea, the Soul could not reſt night nor day; well, when this Soul comes and commits its ſelf, and caſe, and condition to the Lord in Prayer, and now there is a great calm and quiet in the heart, and all is allayed on a ſudden; here is now the Power of Faith, the ſpirit of Faith hath prevailed, and God hath come in and anſwered that Prayer, tho' not in the ſame kind and way that the Soul deſired; yet it is a ſign it is a Prayer of Faith, and God hath anſwered it, becauſe now the heart is quieted and compoſed after ſuch a ſtorm. This was the caſe of Hannah, Hannah was in a royle at firſt, when ſhe was upbraided for barrenneſs; ſhe goes and commends her Caſe to the Lord; before ſhe told Ely, ſhe was a woman of a troubled ſpirit, 1 Sam. 1.15, I have drunk neither wine nor ſtrong drink, but have poured out my ſoul before the Lord. And when ſhe had gone before the Ark, and commended her ſelf and caſe to the Lord by Prayer, it is ſaid, at Verſe 18. That ſhe went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more ſad. And ſo likewiſe this was David …s caſe, David was exceedingly troubled, and perplexed, and diſquieted, becauſe of the ſickneſs of his Child, 2 Sam. 12. He faſted and prayed earneſtly a long time; and though the Child died, yet David's ſpirit was calm and compoſed; and when he heard the Child was dead, then he anointed himſelf, verſ. 20. and went into the Houſe of the Lord and worſhipped, and he went alſo into his own Houſe, and did eat and drink as he uſed to do, to the wonderment of his Servants about him; God had compoſed his heart, and though he had not the thing he prayed for, yet he had his Prayer anſwered, and his Prayer was a prayer of Faith.
Object. But you will ſay, May not another that hath no faith at all, pray and find his ſpirit quiet? how is this then the work of faith? one that never had any faith at all, poſſibly he may pray and have his ſpirit quiet, and is never troubled at all; wherein lies the difference?
Anſw. Mark, I pray, ſuch a one that is not at all troubled about his condition, he is after Prayer juſt as he was before.
Now, I ſay, this is an evidence that Faith hath been at work upon the heart, namely, when the ſpirit was all in a royle and commotion like the raging Sea, and then upon Prayer it is calmed and quieted, this is an argument that this Prayer is a prayer of Faith.
Thirdly, It is an argument that a Soul prays in Faith, when as the Soul is made to perſevere in Prayer, notwithſtanding the diſcouragements and difficulties it meets withal: for this is the proper work and effect of Faith, to go on againſt diſcouragements; and not to be taken off by difficulties. As now, the woman that had the bloody Iſſue, ſhe would fain have come to Chriſt, but ſhe met with impediments, there was a great throng about him that ſhe could not tell how to get near him; but her Faith did carry her on againſt all the diſcouragements and impediments that ſhe met withal; ſhe would preſs into the throng, and if ſhe could but touch the Garment of Chriſt, ſhe would be ſatisfied; the throng ſhould not keep her from Chriſt, Mark 5.28. And ſo the blind man, in Mark 10.46, &c. that ſate by the way-ſide begging, he heard that Jeſus was paſſing by, and he cryed out, Jeſus, thou ſon of David, have mercy on me; and he made ſuch a noiſe that the people were offended at him, and charged him to hold his peace; and it is ſaid, verſ. 18. That he cried out a great deal more, and Chriſt took notice of his Prayer, and called him to him, and ſaid, What wilt thou, that I ſhould do to thee? verſe 51. Lord, ſaid he, that I might receive my ſight. Go thy way, ſays Chriſt, thy faith hath made thee whole. It was a prayer of Faith, and Chriſt did hear it, and he was kept on praying againſt diſcouragements and impediments that he met with. And ſo the woman of Cannaan came to Chriſt for her Daughter, Matt. 15. ſhe intreats Chriſt to have Mercy upon her, Chriſt turns a deaf ear to her, and and anſwers her never a word; ſhe goes on ſtill, and Chriſt denies her, I am not ſent, ſays he, but to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael. Here was diſcouragement upon diſcouragement; ſhe goes on ſtill, and ſays Chriſt, It is not meet to take the Childrens bread and caſt it to dogs. Yet ſhe would not be diſcouraged, but went on till ſhe had obtained the Mercy. So, I ſay, when a Soul is drawn out to go on in Prayer, notwithſtanding diſcouragements, and objections, and temptations to the contrary, it is an argument that it is a Prayer of Faith, and God will hear it, and anſwer it in his own time.
4. I might have added a fourth, which is this, namely, when a Soul is made to wait upon God ſtill, for an anſwer and return of his Prayer, though the Soul have not yet an anſwer, and doth not meet with a return, yet notwithſtanding, the Soul is made to wait and to go on in waiting, to wait and to perſevere in waiting, truly this is an argument that that Prayer is a prayer of Faith; when the Soul is made willing to wait the Lords time, and the Lords way for an anſwer of that he prays for and expects, this is an argument of the exerciſe of Faith. Says David, when the Lord had promiſed him to give him the Kingdom; Saul was then alive, and he ſought David's life; David ſometimes had Saul at an advantage, as in 1 Sam. 26. and one of his Worthies that was with him, ſaid to him, at ver. 8. God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day; now, therefore, let me ſmite him, I pray thee with the ſpear, even to the earth at once, &c. No, ſays David, ſtay the Lords time, verſ. 9.10, 11. Deſtroy him not. As the Lord liveth the Lord ſhall ſmite him, or his day ſhall come to dye; or he ſhall deſcend into battel and periſh. The Lord forbid that I ſhould ſtretch forth mine hand againſt the Lords annointed. And ſo for a deliverance out of danger, Faith doth help a Soul to go on, to perſevere in waiting for it till the Lords time. Says David, in Pſal. 40.1, 2. I waited patiently for the Lord, and he enclined unto me, and heard my cry; he brought me up alſo out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and ſet my feet upon a rock. Here was a prayer of Faith, he was willing to wait the Lords time, and the Lord did hear him: And thus now you ſee here are ſome ſymptoms whereby we may diſcern whether we pray in Faith or no. Now, Brethren, you have heard this particular thing ſpoken to, namely, how we ſhould ſo pray in Faith, that our prayers may be pleaſing unto God. What ſhall we think then of thoſe that do not pray at all? Nay, what may they think of themſelves? if thoſe that pray and do not exerciſe Faith do not pleaſe God, what do thoſe do then that neglect prayer, that caſt off prayer, and reſtrain prayer? or elſe do it by fits and ſtarts, when they have nothing elſe to do? They reſtrain Family-Prayer, and Cloſet-Prayer, what ſhall we think of them? do theſe pleaſe God? or do they not go on in a way of diſpleaſing God from day to day, provoking the Lord to pour out his wrath upon them? If there be any ſuch here, let them not go on any longer thus to provoke the Lord. But, Brethren and beloved, now that we have heard theſe directions about praying in Faith, let none of us ſatisfie our ſelves with the hearing of theſe things, but let us now endeavour to walk according to the Directions preſented before us. Do you not deſire to pleaſe God in your praying, or elſe what do you pray for? Well, would you not have your Prayers diſpleaſing unto God day by day? then be careful to pray in Faith; and to that end, remember theſe Directions that I have now laid before you: And thus now I have done with this particular concerning praying in Faith.
It remains that we give you ſome Directions about exerciſing Faith in hearing of the Word, and then to ſhew you how to partake of the Lords-Supper in Faith, and then I may ſpeak ſomething by way of direction, how we may exerciſe Faith in the buſineſſes and concernments of this life, in the matters of our particular calling; for every thing muſt be done in Faith: For without faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God.
But thus much ſhall ſuffice for this time.