8. Discourse Vii
DISCOURSE VII
WHAT CAUSES A BELIEVER TO DOUBT
THAT THEIR PRAYERS ARE HEARD, EVEN
AS THEY PERSIST IN PRAYING?
Q UESTION. When our own faith is weakened as to the hearing of our prayers—when we ourselves are hindered within ourselves from believing the answer of our prayers, have no ground to expect we should be heard, or no ground to believe we are heard—what are those things that greatly weaken our faith as to the answer of our prayers; that though we continue to pray, yet our faith is weakened as to the hearing of our prayers?
And what are the grounds that weaken men's faith in such a state?
ANSWER. If our hearts are not duly prepared for the consideration of the great and glorious properties, presence, and holiness of God, and duly affected with them in our preparation for prayer, it is certain we can have no faith for the hearing of our prayers.
It is also of great importance that we consider rightly in what state the things we seek are promised;—whether temporal things, that are left to
God; or spiritual, that lie under a promise, and so we may press God immediately about them. There are two things that certainly weaken our faith regarding God's hearing our prayers:—
First. One is the intermixture of self that is apt to creep into our prayers, especially in public, in the congregation and assemblies. Self-reputation in the exercise of gifts, or whatever it may be, weakens our faith regarding the expectation of God's hearing our prayers.
Secondly. The other is that we pray with earnestness and fervency, with noise and clamor of speech, but do not industriously pursue the things we pray for. Unless we watch and follow after these things, we shall not have grounds for faith in the hearing of our prayers;—as, for instance, when the soul is burdened with a corruption, there is nothing we are more fervent in prayer unto God against; yet, when we have done this, we take no more care to get it mortified. Where is our faith that our prayers may be heard in this matter? We must pursue our prayers, or it will weaken our faith regarding the hearing of them. We all pray; but do we believe that God will hear and answer our prayers?
I shall not speak to the nature of that faith we exercise, or what assurance we may have of God's hearing our prayers; but I will tell you plainly what hinders the answer of our prayers in us:—
1. We are not clear that our persons are accepted. God had respect unto Abel and his offering, and not unto Cain and his offering. We can have no more faith that our prayers are heard than we have faith that our persons are accepted. How many of us are dubious and do not know whether we believe or not! or are the children of God or not! According to our faith regarding the acceptance of our persons, so, ordinarily, our faith will be regarding the hearing of our prayers. I do acknowledge that sometimes, under
extraordinary darkness or temptation, while a person does not at all know nor has any assurance of their own condition,—whether approved or rejected by God,—yet the Holy Spirit of God many times gives assurance of the hearing of that prayer which is poured out in the anguish of the soul.
But let us bring things to a good issue between God and our souls, and not complain that our prayers are not heard when we are negligent to come to the assurance of faith about the acceptance of our persons. We have had many days of prayer and have not seen the return of our prayer that we desired. This evil lies at the bottom,—that we have been dubious about our state of acceptance with God. Let us labor to amend it.
2. Another thing is this,—pray as you will, you will not believe your prayers are answered if you indulge any private lust or do not vigorously endeavor the mortification of it, according to what Scripture and duty require. If any lust arises in the soul and we do not immediately engage to mortify it, as God requires, it will break out and weaken our faith in all our prayers. Therefore, if you will be helped to believe the answer to your prayers, labor to search your hearts. Do not think that no corruption is indulged except such as break out into open sin. It may be you do not know the corruption is indulged; labor, therefore, to find it out, and you will find how your faith is weakened thereby.
3. Again; lack of having treasured up former experiences of the hearing of prayer. We have not provided as we ought in this matter. If we had laid up manifold experiences of God's having heard our prayers, it would strengthen our faith that God does hear them. It may be some have prayed all their days; God has kept their souls alive, that they have not wickedly departed from God, and they have obtained particular mercies;—why, such ought to keep a constant record of God's hearing their prayers. Every
discovery made of Christ that draws our souls more to love him, and engages us to cleave unto him, is our experience of God's hearing our prayers. 4. I might add, when we ourselves are not sensible that we arise unto that fervency of prayer that is required of them that believe. If we pray in the congregation, in our closets, or families, and when we have done, are not sensible that we have risen up unto that fervency that is required, we cannot believe our prayers are answered. It is the duty of all men to pray unto the Lord; but it is incumbent on none more than those who have really and sincerely given up themselves unto God, and yet in truth have no comfortable persuasion concerning their condition. That is a state wherein I am so far from discouraging prayer, that it is your season for prayer in the whole course of your lives. When Paul was first called, before such time as he had evidence of the pardon of his sins, it is said, "Behold, he prays." If they truly attend unto their state and condition, they may be sure to be the persons of whom also it will be said, "Behold, they pray." And even in these prayers they may exercise faith, when they have not faith to believe that their prayers are heard. But while in this condition, it will be hard to believe that their prayers are heard, when they cannot believe that their persons are accepted.