Chapter VI
Further observations to be made on the dispositions and carriage of our hearts
after prayer, until the issue of the thing prayed for.
NEXT : after thou hast prayed, observe what God doth towards thee.
As, first, how he doth guide thy feet and heart after praying ; there is much in that. That which was the spirit of supplication in a man when he
prayed, rests upon him as the spirit of obedience in his course ; so as that
dependence he hath upon God for the mercy he seeks for, is a special motive and means to keep him fearful of offending, and diligent in duty ; to look to
his paths, to walk and behave himself as becomes a suitor, as well as to come and pray as a suitor. Thus David, he walked by this principle, Ps.
Ixvi. 18, If I regard iniquity in my heart, God will not hear me ; that con
sideration still came in as a curb unto sin; and without this a man provokes God, and so casts himself behindhand again, and by sinning loseth what
ground he had got by praying. Therefore David, Ps. cxliii. 8-10, when he was to pray, even as for his life, as then he did, it being a deliverance from
his enemies he sought, he specially prays God to direct him and keep him, that he might not sin against him ; for he knew by sinning he should ener
: not only hear me speedily, says he, but also
vate and spoil all his prayers
cause mo to know the way wherein I should walk ; teach me to do thy
will. This he especially prays for, and more than for deliverance, for else he knew God would not hear him. Therefore when thou art in treaty with God for any mercy, observe, doth God still after praying keep thee in a more
obedient frame of spirit ? It is a sign he intends to answer thee ; as in like
manner, when he keeps thee from using ill means, &c. When he meant to
give David the kingdom, he kept him innocent, and his heart tender, that it
: he was not so tender
smote him but for
* cutting off the lap of Saul s garment
after. Therefore, in Ps. xviii., when he was delivered from all his enemies, he says, God dealt with him according to his uprightness j for I kept my
self from mine iniquity. So also, Ps. xxvii. 11.
Secondly, When God after prayer strengtheneth the heart to wait for the
mercy ; so, Ps. xxvii. 14, David having prayed, says to his soul, Wait on the Lord ; be of good courage, and he will strengthen thy heart. Honest men, when they nourish hopes in one that is in dependence on them, who waiteth
and is obsequious upon the hopes he hath of a suit, use not to deny him :
it were dishonesty in them to keep a man underhand, and then frustrate his
expectations ; therefore, when God keeps thy soul after praying in such a
dependent frame, look for some good answer. And indeed when a man hath
prayed long, in the end he begins to wait, as I may so say, rather than pray,
though he pray still, because now he looks God should perform. Before,
382 THE KETURN OF PRAYERS. [CHAP. VI.
and at first, he told the Lord he desired it, but now he can with some bold ness tell him that he waits for it and expects it. The hope of a godly man and his expectation should make him ashamed if it were not answered, therefore in this case answers use to come.
Both these two last we have together joined, Ps. xxxvii. 34, Wait on the lord, AND KEEP HIS WAYS, and he shall exalt thee.
CHAP. VII] THE BETURN OF PRAYERS.