The Spirit of Bondage and Adoption, Treatise 2 · Chapter 49
CHAP. XLIX. Saints are informed what deadens them in prayer. Where alſo, a caſe, what to be done when a Saint cannot call God Father, and in caſe ſome ſinne ſtreighten him. As alſo how to maintain boldneſſe and fervency in prayer.
NOw to apply this uſefull point.
1. In the firſt place, this lets many poor ſouls, under darkneſſe, know whence that deadneſſe and flatneſſe of ſpirit which they are ever complaing of in prayer, doth proceed. They do what they can, to darken their evidences, and take delight in finding matter of charge againſt themſelves, to the ſhaking of them, and yet take it ill, that they cannot have that freedome, and liberty, and livelyneſſe in prayer, which they deſire. This is as if they ſhould cut off their own legs, and then complain that they cannot go. They clip the very wings upon which prayer ſhould raiſe it ſelf heaven-ward, and then they complain they cannot fly ſo high in duty as they would.
Qu. But what ſhall I do if by reaſon of this darkneſſe I cannot call God Father, with confidence?
Anſw. 1. Acknowledge, with ſenſe and feeling, that unworthineſſe of thine which diſcourageth thee. Say, Lord, I confeſſe, I am unworthy to be called thy ſonne (as the Prodigal doth) and endeavour (as much as thou canſt) to fill thy face with ſhame and confuſion in the ſenſe hereof.
2. Acquaint him with thy particular ſtraightneſſe of ſpirit, and the cauſe of it; tell him what tyes thy tongue, that thou wouldſt pray, but thou dareſt not own any relation to him; deſire him, for his own glory, to diſcover that relation to thee, that may embolden thee to his ſervice.
3. Maintain (notwithſtanding this) thy claim to God, as thy Father, upon thoſe promiſes upon which at firſt thou didſt believe. God warrants every ſoul to call him Father, that is brought to a deſire to become his child. None ever call'd God Father, out of a ſincere deſire to that relation, and the duties of it, from whom God refuſed to accept of the title. We never find God quarrell with any, upon this account, for calling him Father, except they were ſuch as denyed him filial duty, and reverence. Suppoſing then that thou canſt not call God Father, upon evidence of particular faith, yet do it upon grounds of relyance, ſuch as his offers, invitations, promiſes: plead that promiſe of Relation, 2 Corinth. 6. 18.
4 Ask ſpiritual good things of him under the obligation of that relation. And urge him with his Fatherly bowels in Jeſus Chriſt, to all poor ſouls that come unto God through him. Call him Father at adventure, upon Chriſts ſcore, and ſee whether he can diſclaim the name. The advantage of this will be the hearing and granting of thy petitions; and the Anſwer of prayer, will be an evidence of thine Intereſt. No greater foundation of Aſſurance, then the Anſwer of our Prayers, Pſal 66. 19. See what a kind of Argument the holy man drawes Aſſurance from in that place, If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear my prayer. But verily God hath heard me: That is, the Minor Propoſition; the Concluſion is natural; therefore, I do not regard iniquity in my heart So in this Caſe, the Argument will be undenyable.
God heareth none but ſons.
But God heareth me:
Therefore, I am a Son.
Queſt. But ſuppoſe ſome Sin of a deeper dye then ordinary, ſtraighten me, and weaken my confidence in approaching to God.
Anſw. (1) Then ſenſibly confeſſe and bewaile that ſin before God. Acknowledge that thou doſt not only deſerve the darkning of thine own faith, but alſo the darkning of his face, and that not only here, but hereafter for ever. That thou canſt not tell with what face to call him Father, having ſo miſ-behaved thy ſelf towards him.
(2) Apply thy ſelf to his Throne of Grace, for renewed pardon, and that the ſenſe of that pardon may open thy mouth again, Pſal. 51 12, 13, 15.
(3) Conſider, thy acceptance depends not on thine own worthineſſe, but on his meer mercy and goodneſſe in Jeſus Chriſt, who is an Advocate for ſinners, and a Propitiation for ſins, 1 Joh 2. 1, 2.
(4) Put a bold face upon it, (as wee ſay) and adventure (as before) upon the claim of that relation, and uſe it in order to the obtaining of all neceſſary grace from God; reſolving in caſe thou ever ſee his face again in love, (yea, though thou ſhouldſt never ſee it again) to watch againſt thy corruptions for time to come, and walk more carefully under the Obligation of that relation then ever before. Follow on this courſe though againſt the grain of thy own jealous heart, and thou wilt find thy heart grow warm, and thy pulſe more quick by a ſenſible recovery of loſt ſpirits and life to thy prayers.
II. This lets us know how we may maintain, when we have; and recover when we have loſt, the heat of our affections, and confidence of our hearts in Prayer; to wit, by maintaining our Aſſurance of Gods love, 1 John 5. 14, 15. The Apoſtle writes to them whom he endeavours by ſeveral tokens to aſſure that they are the children of God, and then drawes up the advantage of that Aſſurance. And this is the confidence that we have in, (or concerning) him▪ that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us, &c.
The way then to keep preſent, and renew loſt boldneſſe, is to keep and renew aſſurance of Gods love by the Spirit: How you may do that, I have ſhewne before at large, and ſo ſhall ſpare repetition here.