Prayers to be made only to God
their trouble. Now crying supposes want and sense of misery and ardency. Thus were Christ's cries called 'strong cries;' and indeed weak afflictions many times makes men rather pettish and froward, as Jonah, than ardent in feeling relief; and therefore,
Two Uses of It Use 1. Let us interpret God's dealings with a sanctified judgment. He is a wise physician, and knows when strong or gentle physic is most requisite. Sometimes God by great afflictions doth manifest great graces, but so as notwithstanding they may be mingled with a deal of corruption; and it is God's use that hereby his graces may be increased, and the corruption allayed, to bring down the greatest cedars, and to eclipse the greatest lights.
Use 2. Secondly, Let us oppose desperations by all means, by prayer, by crying; and if we cannot speak, by sighing; if not so, yet by gesture, especially at the time of death, for God knows the heart. For then it stands upon eternal comfort. And therefore let us do anything to shew our faith fails not. We must know that every one shall meet with these enemies, that would cause us to despair if they could, for this life is a warring and striving life. We shall have enemies without and within us that will fight against us.
Prayers to be made only to God Doct 4. In the next place, observe by the example of this holy man, that prayers are to be made only to God, who knows our wants, supports us and binds us up; and it is only Christ that doth this.
None can love us more than he that gave himself for us. He is our eye whereby we see, our mouth whereby we speak, our arms whereby we