SECTION XI.

ON ANSWERS TO PRAYER.

THE too general neglect of looking for answers to prayer, shows how little men are in earnest in their petitions. "None ask in earnest," says Trail, “but they will try how they speed. There is no surer and plainer mark of trifling in prayer, than when men are careless what they get by prayer."-A husbandman is not content without the harvest; a marksman will observe whether the ball hits the target; a physician watches the effect of the medicine which he gives; one who writes or applies to another for any temporal good eagerly expects the answer; and shall the Christian be careless about the effect of his labor?

Every prayer of the Christian, made in faith, according to the will of God, for that which God hath promised, offered up in the name of Jesus Christ, and under the influence of his Spirit, is, or will be fully answered. God always answers the general design and intention of his people's prayers, in doing that which, all things considered, is most for his own glory, and their spiritual and eternal welfare.

In asking for spiritual blessings, for repentance, faith, humility, holiness, love, &c. we are sure of having the particular request, for this is the will of God, even your sanctification.

Perhaps you ask, How may I know whether my prayers have been answered or not? Sometimes the case is so obvious that it cannot be mis

taken-Jehoshaphat prays, and he is delivered from his enemies; Hezekiah prays, and he is delivered from sickness; Jonah prays, and he is delivered from the belly of the whale: the Church prays, and Peter is delivered from Herod.

At other times prayers are answered, rather in the increase of grace to bear the affliction, than in its removal, as in the case of Paul's thorn in the flesh." There are four ways of God's answering prayers. 1. By giving the things prayed for presently. 2. By suspending the answer for a time, and giving it afterwards. 3. By withholding that mercy which you ask from you, and giving you a much better mercy in the room of it; or lastly, by giving you patience to bear the loss or want of it."

The increase of any Christian grace, poverty of spirit, mourning for sin, meekness, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, quietness of mind, perseverance in prayer, is, to the real Christian, of itself, a most delightful answer to prayer. Whatever other things may have been denied, if these are given the corresponding promises are secured to you, and the greatest blessings have been granted. If we can say with David, "In the day when I cried, thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul," we may see the prayer answered in the strengthening of the soul, though the particular request be denied.

It is said that our Lord "was heard in that he feared;" but this was not by the removal of his sufferings, but by his having strength suited to his stupendous woe.

The due use of means must be attended to, if we wish for answers to our prayers. In the Bible you may constantly mark how those who earnestly prayed, used the most likely means to effect their desires. Though Jacob passes the night in prayer, he still in the morning takes the best means to pacify his brother Esau. Asa sets the battle in array as well as cries to God, "we rest on thee." Bishop Hall says of Moses, when Israel was about to contend with Amalek, "I do not hear Moses say to Joshua, Amalek is come up against us, it natters not whether thou go against him, or not; or, if thou go, whether alone or in company; or if accompanied, whether in many or few, strong or weak: or, if strong men, whether they fight or no; I will pray on the hill: but he says choose us out men, and go fight.' Then only can we hope when we have used our best efforts; and though means cannot effect that which we desire, yet God will have us use the most appropriate means on our part to effect it. Prayer, without the use of means, is a mockery of God."

But suppose after having waited long, our prayers are still denied, what are we then to conclude?

Goodwin observes, "often the very denial breaks the hard heart, and brings a man nearer to God, and puts him on searching into his ways, and estate, and to see what should be amiss in his prayer; which alone is a great mercy, and better than the thing; seeing that by the loss of that one thing, he learns to pray better, and so to obtain a hundred better things afterwards."

Gee thus enumerates the ends for which God

may for a season hide himself from the prayers of his people.

"In reference to themselves-to increase their assiduity and ardency in prayer-to fit them for the mercy prayed for-to exercise and try their faith, patience, love, sincerity, sanctification, and obedience-to manifest himself to them more fully, either in or after the delay—to make the benefit prayed for more precious and welcome, and useful when it comes to remove the impediments of their receiving or enjoying the mercy sought for-and to raise up their thoughts, their faith, hope, love, and longings, to the second appearing of Christ. In reference to others—to make up and bring in the number of those for whom the mercy is proposed-to complete the account of the church's sufferers and sufferings to give others an example of patient and confident waiting upon God-and for the greater dismay and confusion of the adversary.

When your prayers are not answered, let it lead you to self-examination. Perhaps the prayer may have been answered in a way you have not thought of. Perhaps you were desiring something that would only foster ambition or pride, or were merely considering ease or comfort, without regard to spiritual edification. Or look for the cause of it in your neglect of Christ's intercession or your ingratitude for former answers: question your own faith, the fervency of your desires, the purity of your end, the propriety of the manner in which you have offered up your petitions: yes, any thing rather than God's faithfulness: "Let God be true and every man a liar." Again, God

will not be enquired of by those who have an idol in their hearts. If you are living in any habitual sin, you cannot expect that your prayers should be heard.

When your prayers are answered, let it assure you of God's faithfulness and love; let it encourage you to renew your prayers, to abound therein, to seek God more constantly, to depend more simply on his strength, to lay yourself out more entirely for him, and never to fear undertaking any thing in his cause.

SECTION XII.

AN EXHORTATION TO CONSTANT PRAYER.

PRAYER being at the root of every other good, marking the commencement of the Christian life, being the pulse by which its strength and vigor may be known, or the hands by which its daily nourishment is obtained and ministered, the reader will bear with me while I attempt still farther to press this duty on the conscience.

There are two things which will ever bring the Christian to the throne of grace:-A sense of his own wants; and a desire to enjoy the presence of God.

his

God having promised to supply all his wants, prayers are the importunate wrestling of the soul with God for blessings of infinite moment. And God being the portion of his soul, he finds in his presence the sweet and unspeakable repose of the soul on God, his exceeding great reward. 'Prayer," says Bishop Taylor, "is the effect

66