Three tractates by Jos. Hall, D.D. and B.N.

SECT. XIX.

VPon this subacted dispositi∣on of heart wil follow a fa∣miliar (yet awfull) compellation of God; and an emptying of our soules before him in all our ne∣cessities. For that God, who is infinitly mercifull, yet will not have his favours otherwise con∣veighed to us then by our suppli∣cations: the style of his dear ones is, His people that prayeth, and his own style is, The God that heareth prayers: To him therfore doth the devout heart pour out all his requests with all true hu∣mility, with all fervour of spirit, as knowing, that God will hear neither proud prayers, nor heart∣lesse: wherein his holy desires are regulated by a just method; First, suing for spirituall favours, as most worthy; then for tempo∣rall, as the appendences of bet∣ter; and in both, ayming at the

glory of our good God, more then our own advantage: And in the order of spirituall things, first and most for those that are most necessary, and essentiall for our souls health, then for se∣condary graces, that concern the prosperity and comfort of our spirituall life: Absolutely cra∣ving those graces that accompa∣ny salvation, all others, conditi∣onally, and with reference to the good pleasure of the munificent Giver; Wherein, heed must be taken, that our thoughts be not so much taken up with our ex∣pressions, as with our desires; and that we doe not suffer our selves to languish into an unfeeling length, and repetition of our suits: Even the hands of a Moses, may in time grow heavy; so therefore must we husband our spirituall strength, that our de∣votion may not flagge with over∣tyring, but may be most vigorous at the last. And as we must enter

into our prayers, not without preparatory elevations, so must we be carefull to take a meet leave of God, at their shutting up: following our supplicati∣ons, with the pause of a faith∣full, and most lowly adoration; and as it were sending up our hearts into heaven, to see how our prayers are taken; and rai∣sing them to a joyfull expectati∣on of a gracious and successefull answer frō the father of mercies.