Divine considerations treating of those things which are most profitable, most necessary and most perfect in our Christian profession by John Valdesso.

CONSID. LIX.

That in the motions to pray, the Spirit doth certi∣fie a man that he shall obtain that which he demands.

REading in Isaiah, that death being intimated from God unto Hezekiah a pious king, he re∣sented himself, was grieved and lamented, pray∣ing God with tears that he would not take away his life: and reading a little after, that the de∣struction of Jerusalem being intimated from God unto the same king, with the Babylonian captivity, without resenting himself, or being grieved or lamenting, and without praying God that he would revoke the sentence, he was con∣tented,

that the will of God should be executed, accepting it as a benefit of God, that those evils should not come in his time: And considering that God prolonged the time of Hezekiahs life, and that he did execute his sentence upon Jerusalem; I come to certifie my self, that pi∣ous persons being governed by the spirit of God, and chiefly in their prayers, inasmuch as S. Paul saith, The spirit of God prayes by them, and in them, they do never as it were pray to God, but for that which it is Gods will to grant them, of which the holy Spirit which inspires them to pray, is certain. According to the judge∣ment of humane reason, it had been more just and more convenient, that Hezekiah should have resented himself, and lamented, and been moved to pray God for the revocation of the sentence given against Jerusalem, then for the revocation of that sentence which was given a∣gainst his own proper life: but Hezekias a pi∣ous king, moved by the holy Spirit prayed for his own life; and for that which touched Jeru∣salem, he conformed himself with Gods will: whereby I understand, that it behoves pious per∣sons to keep good account with their motions; I would say, they ought to be wel advertised be∣ing moved to pray to God for any thing, whe∣ther that motion be of humane spirit, or of the holy spirit. And I understand likewise, that the proper countersigne whereby they may be

able to judge between these motions, is the in∣ward certainty, or uncertainty with which they shall find themselves in prayer. Finding them∣selves uncertain that they should obtain of God that which they demand, they shall judge that the motion is of humane spirit; and finding themselves certain to obtain it, they shall judge that the motion is of the holy Spirit: forasmuch as the motion of the holy Spirit draws alwayes with it the certification; a man judging in this manner, if the Spirit of God which hath moved me to pray, did not know that it is the will of God to grant me that which I demand, it would not have moved me. This certification I cer∣tainly hold was in Hezekiah, at that time when he demanded his life to be prolonged. And be∣cause he did not feel in himself this certification, I do certainly hold, that the self-same Hezeki∣ah did not demand that the sentence against Je∣rusalem should be revoked. With this assurance I see that Christ prayed, raising up Lazarus, and praying for the conservation of his disciples. And with doubtfulnesse, it seemeth to me, he prayed in the Garden; & because he felt whence this motion did arise in praying, he remitted himself unto the will of God. And if the Son of God himself felt these two motions, and in one of them he found himself certain, and in the o∣ther, as it seemeth to me, he found himself doubtfull; every one may think whether it be

not necessary to be watchfull over himself in them; albeit they onely shall know them, that shall be true members of the same Sonne of God Jesus Christ our Lord.