A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first Epistle generall of John by ... John Cotton ...

Doct. There is not a more effectual means to the obtaining our petitions, then by growing up in practice of these two commandements, in believing on the Name of Christ, and love to our Brethren.

Mark 11.22. to 26. There you have both joyned together; Jam. 1.8 Let a man pray in faith, and waver not. When a Christian is tossed with doubtings and distractions, he shall rather drown his prayers, then bring them to the bo∣some of Christ Jesus. Job's friends were godly men; but because they dealt not in love with Job, God professeth he would not hear them. Want of love to our Brethren, it damps our prayers before God. So that though our persons be ac∣cepted, yet our prayers shall not.

Why is faith so necessary?

1. Faith makes our persons acceptable to God. God heares the young ra∣vens and lyons when they call upon him, he rather hears their misery, then their prayer, but faith makes the person acceptable. Thus, By faith Abel, &c. Heb. 11.

2. Faith purifies the heart, Acts 15.9. If I regard wickednesse in my heart, God will not hear my prayers, Psal. 66.18.

3 Faith furnisheth the heart with graces, that make our prayers amiable. There are four graces requisite in prayer, and all are wrought by faith.

1 Reverence to God. A man without faith considers not before whose presence he stands, he considers not that God is near to hear his petitions, but faith is the evidence of things not seen, it makes us come before God with reve∣rence and godly fear, Heb. 11.27.

2 Faith breeds in us humility, whereby we come before God with a sense of our unworthinesse, and of the least of Gods mercies, and an unable∣nesse to ask any thing according to his will.

3 Faith works fervency and earnestnesse of spirit, that we will give God no rest, 2 Sam. 15.16. Effectual fervent prayer is called a prayer of faith, For,

• 1 Faith puts life into every duty, Gal. 3.
• 2 Faith layes hold of the promises of God in Christ, and we urge and presse God upon his word.
• 3 Faith makes us very sensible of our wants, and therefore we cry very hard for help.
• 4 Faith works in us an holy canfidence, that what we ask, God will un∣doubtedly grant; and it's meant of faith in the Name of the Lord Jesus.

There are three things in the Name of the Lord Jesus, which Faith layes hold on.

1 Faith lays hold on the offices of his mediation. There had been no hope of acceptance, unlesse there had been a Mediator to reconcile God and us, 1 John 2.1, 2. Heb. 4.14, 15, 16. Though we should finde many weak∣nesses in our selves, yet with confidence may we draw neer to God, seeing we have such an High Priest which is touched with our infirmities; he is that great Master of requests, that is in such favour with God, that he never presents up a

prayer to God, but he returns such an answer, that we need not go away with sad hearts, John 16.••3, 24.

2 Faith lookes at Christ as him in whom all the promises are yea and amen, 2 Cor. 5.20.

3 Faith layes hold on all the attributes of God, set on work by Christ for our good: So that if we look for wisdome, grace or power, they are all set on work for the good of his Church. The name of the Lord is a strong tower, that is, the attributes of God, the righteous flye to it.. How? By faith.

Q. How is the love of our Brethren such an effectual means for the obtaining of our prayers?

Ans. 1. Love enlargeth us to forgive injuries done unto us, and that moves God to forgive us our trespasses. To forgive us a work of love.

2 Love is ready to give, Acts 10.4. God was ready to give ear to the pray∣er of Cornelius, because he was ready to give alms.

3 There be to whom we can give little, but yet there is a good opinion and esteem to be had of them. Now this is a fruit of love to esteem well of our Brethren, and to judge charitably, and this prevails with God to have a good conceit of our prayers. If we be estranged and alienated from our Brother in ill conceits, we shall finde God to be estranged to us. This was the fault of Job's friends, they had an hard conceit of him, which was for want of love, and this provoked God against them. Mat. 5.23, 24. God will accept of no prayer as long as he sees in us a harsh conceit of our Brother.

Ʋse 1. To exhort us in the Lord, when we go about any such duty as prayer is, to present it up unto God, in the spirit of faith and love. They are such special graces, as without them no prayer can be accepted. Let us but la∣bour to grow up in these two, faith towards God, and love to our Brethren, and then whatsoever we ask being darted up by these two, shall find acceptance with God.

Ʋse 2. Of consolation to every soul that comes in any measure with faith and love before God, we shall not put up any petition, but we shall finde God ready to answer it.