Media: the middle things, in reference to the first and last things: or, The means, duties, ordinances, both secret, private and publike, for continuance and increase of a godly life, once begun, till we come to Heaven. Wherein are discovered many blessed medium's or duties, in their right method, manner and proceedings; that so a Christian (the spirit of Christ assisting) may walk on in the holy path, which leads from his new birth to everlasting life. / Drawn, for the most part, out of the most eminently pious, and learned writings of our native practical divines: with additionals of his own, by Isaac Ambrose, minister of the Gospel at Preston in Amoundernes.

SECT. 6. The first Case: Suppose I have prayed, how may I assured∣ly know that God hears, and will answer in his own time?

VVE may resolve this case, by some observations before prayer, in prayer, and after prayer.

1. Before prayer: When God prepares the heart to pray, when he pours upon a man a Spirit of Grace and Supplication, a praying disposition; when he puts in motives, suggests argu∣ments and pleas unto God, as materials for prayer; all which

you shall finde to come in readily, and of themselves; and that likewise with a quickning heat, and inlargement of affections, with a lingring, and longing, and restlesness of spirit, to pour out the soul unto God: This is a sign that God lends his ear, and will return answers: Thou wilt prepare their heart; thou wilt cause thine ear to hear; q. d. Thou fashionest the heart, and com∣posest it into a praying frame, and that is a sign, Lord, that thou meanest to hear.

2. In prayer: As 1. when God draws nigh, and reveals him∣self to thy soul, in and upon such or such a particular petition, when God smiles upon thee, welcoms thee, falls about thy neck and kisseth thee; when no sooner thou comes into his pre∣sence to inquire of him, but he says, Here I am, as the promise is, Isa. 58.9. this thou art to observe as a sign that he hears thy prayer, and accepts both thee and it: Hear me speedily (saith David) and that I may know thou hearest me, draw nigh unto my soul, Psal. 69.17. 2. When God doth put a restless importuni∣ty into the heart, maugre all discouragements, for this or that mercy; and when this importunity is joyned with a subjection to Gods will, and runs along with it, then hath God stirred it up, and then look for something to come: You know the pa∣rable, how the unjust Judge heard the widow, for her impor∣tunities sake: So when God puts this importunity into the heart, it is a sign God means then to hear and answer.

3. After prayer: This will appear in several particulars; as—

1. When God quiets and calms the heart after prayer, by speaking something to the heart, though what is spoken be not always discerned; as when you see an earnest or importunate suitor going in to a great man, exceeding anxious, but coming out very chearful, contented, and quiet in spirit, you would conceive that certainly something hath been said to him, which gave him incouragement: So when thou goest to God, and hast been importunate in a business, and thy desires were exceedingly up for it, and then thou risest up with thy minde, calmed and sa∣tisfied, and thou feelst the anxiousness, the solicitude of thy heart, about the thing taken off and dispelled; this is a good sign that God hath heard, and will return answer to the full: When Hanna out of much bitterness, and with strong desires,

had poured her soul out unto the Lord, it is said, That she looked no more sad; And then God gave her a son, a son of her de∣sires.

2. When God gives an obedient, dependent heart, in walk∣ing before him, when that consideration still comes in as a curb unto sin: If I regard iniquity in my heart, God will not hear me: When God doth still after praying, keep the soul in a more obe∣dient frame of spirit; when he keeps thee from using ill means, &c. it is a sign that God hath heard thy prayers, and thou shalt have returns: David praying for his life, Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications; in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness:—Presently after he prays for ho∣liness, knowing that sin would enervate and spoil all his prayers; Cause me to know thy way, wherein I should walk:—Teach me to do thy will.

3. When God after prayer, strengtheneth the heart to wait and expect for the mercy desired; when a man after prayer, be∣gins to wait rather then pray (though he prays still) because he looks now God should perform; in this case, and at this time he may look for some good answer from God: David having prayed, says to his soul, Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he will strengthen the heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Notes

• Psal. 10.17.
• Isa. 58.9.
• Psa. 69.17, 18.
• Luke 18.5.
• 1 Sam. 1.18.
• Psal. 66.18.
• Psal. 143.1.
• 8.
• 10.
• Psal. 27.14.