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The LORD made a promise to Salomon after his prayer, say∣ing, Mine eyes shall be open and mine eares attentive to the prayer in ••his place, 2 Chron. 7.15.
The LORD is rich unto all that call upon him, Rom. 10.••2
Be carefull for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and suppli∣cation with thankesgiving,* 1.2 let your request bee made knowne unto GOD. And the peace of GOD which passeth all understanding, shall keepe your hearts and mindes through CHRIST JESUS, Philip. 4.6, 7.
The prayers of the upright are his delight, Pro. 15.8. Hee heareth the prayer of the righteous, verse 29.
GOD will not onely heare our prayers in generall, but our voice, Psal. 5.3. our very desires, Psal. 10.17. Pro. 10.24. which are effectuall prayers with GOD. He will not despise our prayers, Psal. 102.17. He will not reproch us, nor upbraid us with what is past, or our present frailties, Iam. 1.5. It is agreeable to his nature and disposition to heare prayers, Psal. 65.12. The thing that hath en∣couraged GODS children, and given them heart in prayer, hath beene this hope and assurance that
they should finde audience and respect with GOD, O thou that hearest prayer, or because thou hearest prayer, all flesh shall resort unto thee, Psal. 65.2.
GOD excepts no man, all shall be heard.
For thou LORD art good and ready to forgive, and plente∣ous in mercy to all them that call upon thee, Ps. 86.5.* 1.3 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth, Psal. 145.18. It shall come to passe, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered, Ioel 2.32. which is repeated, Acts 2.21. and Rom. 10.13. Though our prayers be weake, yet let us re∣member, that the promise is made to all. We may see the proofe of this in a prayer made in much in∣firmity, Psal. 31.22. GOD is more ready to heare, then we to aske, to give, then we to re∣ceive, 1 Pet. 3.12. His eares are open, as a kinde mother or nurse which useth to be so wakefull,
that shee will heare the child so soone as ever it begins to cry, Dan. 10.11. Feare not Daniel, for from the first day, that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thy selfe before GOD, thy words were heard, yea before they call, I will answer, and while they speake, I will heare, Esay 65.24. that is, in our purpose of Prayer. This the faithfull have gloried in, Psal. 4.3.17.6. and 38.15.
GOD hath specially bound himselfe to heare his children in those prayers, that they make unto him in their afflictions; the time of trouble is the very set houre of Audience.* 1.4
The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his eares are open to their cry, Psal. 34.15. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles, verse 17. Which is repeated foure times in the 107. Psalme, 6, 13, 19. and 28. ver∣ses.
The LORD saith, Psal. 50.15. Call upon mee in the day of trou∣ble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorifie mee. Hee will re∣gard the prayer of the destitute, a••d not despise their prayer, Psal. 102.17. to 21. their teares, s••ghes, and groanings are not hid from him, Psal. 39.12. He will heare in the morning, Psal. 5.3. in the very season, the due time, when we are in trouble. Yea so as hee will in our affliction in a speciall manner, let us know, that hee is our GOD, and that he will deliver us, Zach. 13.9. The LORD, heareth the pray∣ers of his people, when they thinke they are cast out of his sight, Psal. 31.22.
GODS people have found comfort in all their afflictions, by powring out their hearts to GOD in prayer, Psal. 109.3, 4.
In the day of my trouble, I will call upon thee, for thou hearest mee, Psal. 86.7.* 1.5
The LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping, the LORD hath heard my supplication, the Lord will receive my prayer, Psal. 6.8, 9.
A Noble man in this King∣dome, had a ring given him by the Queene Elizabeth, with this promise; that if hee sent that ring to her at any time when he was in distresse, shee would re∣member him and deliver him. This was a great priviledge from a Prince, and yet that ring though sent, might not be de∣livered. GOD hath given his children prayer as that ring, and tells them whatsoever di∣stresse they are in, let them but send this up to him, and he will be sure to relieve them, and when they doe send up this, it is sure to be conveyed, wheresoe∣ver they are.
Prayer is profitable to obtaine every thing, as is evident by the promise of CHRIST, Iohn 16.23. Verily,* 1.6 verily I say unto you, what∣soever yee shall aske the Father i••
my name hee will give it you. Note the certainty of the pro∣mise, in CHRISTS vehement asseveration; note the generality of it [whatsoever.] Our Savi∣our oft repeated such pro∣mises in those heavenly and last speeches which he uttered to his Disciples, Iohn 14.13. Ioh. 15.7, 16
See Mar. 11.24. Iohn 9.31. 1 Iohn 3.22. & 5.14, 15.
I may say of prayer, as the Apostle saith of Godlinesse; it hath the promises of this life and that which is to come.
Promises of audience in prayer.
See Psal. 18.3 & 20.6. Ioh 4 10. Iob 22 27. & 33.6. Esay 58 ••. David plea¦deth this promise, Psal. 4.1.
Generall promises to prayer, that God will heare and answer us, Esay 30.19 Iohn 16.23 particular promises; first delive∣rance from any trouble and afflicti¦on, Ps. 50.15. of strength and patience to beare it, Iam. 1.5. Secondly, whatsoever spirituall grace wee stand in need of, Luk. 11.13. Thirdly, in∣ward ioy & peace of conscience, Iob 23.26. Ioh. 16.24.
We are to be familiar¦••y acquain∣ted with these pro∣mises and meditate on some of them when we goe to pray.
Exod 22 23. Psal 9.9. & 22.24.
Psal. 86.6, 7.
Psal. 5.24.