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. 9. The fourth Case: Suppose the thing I desire is an∣swered, how may I assuredly know it was by my prayers, and not out of common providence?

VVE may resolve this case by giving these directions to the soul, whereby it may be inabled to discern when and how things prayed for, come in by prayer; As

1. From the maner of Gods performance: When God gives any thing in answer to prayers, he often discovers a more then ordinary hand of providence i•• it: As

1. By bringing it to pass through many difficulties: Thus Peter was delivered out of prison at the prayers of the Church; and we finde 1. He was sleeping between two Soldiers, if they had wakened, he had been discovered. 2. He was in chains, but they fell off. 3. The Keepers stood before the door, but they minded him not. 4. When one watch is past, he passeth quietly through another. 5. When both those were past, an iron gate flies open of its own accord: Now such difficulties are there in many businesses, which yet in the end are accom∣plished by prayer; iron chains fall off, iron gates, enemies hearts fly open of their own accord, and though not in that miraculous maner, by the means of an Angel, yet no less won∣derful.

2. By facilitating all means, and causing them to conspire to accomplish the thing prayed for; thou hast wind and tide, and a fair day, and all the way paved and plain before thee; there falls out a great conjunction and meeting of many circumstances together to effect it, which had influence into it, wherefore if any one had been wanting, haply the thing had not been done: Thus when Israel went out of Egypt (which was the accom∣plishment of their prayers, their cry came up unto God (saith the Text) how were all things facilitated? the Egyptians that detained them, then came and intreated them to go out, Rise up, and get you forth amongst my people, said Pharaoh; Yea, they were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the

Land; yea, They hired them to go out with their jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and Pharaoh parts himself loving∣ly and fairly with them, and desires their prayers, Bless me also; yea, to shew there was no resistance, the Text saith, A dog did not move his tongue; the bruit creatures did not disturb them, though at midnight, when these creatures use to be most obstre∣perous through noises, especially at Travellers.

3. By bringing it to pass suddenly and unexpectedly; as the return of the captivity of Babylon, which was the conclusion of many prayers, was done in a trice; they were as men in a dream, they could scarce believe it was so, when it was done.

4. By doing above what was desired, with addition of other mercies; so Solomon asked wisdom, and God gave him more then he asked, Peace, Riches and Honor: When prayers are answered, usually mercies come thick; the thing we prayed for, comes not alone.

5. By adding some special circumstance, as a token of Gods special hand in it; such a token as a man himself often takes no∣tice of, yea, and others also often takes notice of it; Shew me a token for good (saith David) that others that hate me may see it, and be ashamed: So when Abraham and Isaac, and Abra∣hams servant, had prayed for a wife for Isaac; see by what a token God shewed that he had heard their prayers; Rebekkah was the first that came out, and if she be the woman appoint∣ed for Isaac (prays the servant) let her offer me drink, and my camels also, and thereby shall I know thou hast shewed kindeness to my Master; and God gave him the token, and therefore the servant bowed at it, and worshipped the Lord: If we take notice of the sign, it was such as argued in her a kinde, cour∣teous disposition, which therefore (it may be) he singled out as a token of a meet wife, especially to be looked at in the marri∣age choice.

2. From the time, wherein the thing prayed for is accom∣plished: God who doth all things in weight and measure, shews his wisdom and love as much in the season, as in giving the thing it self: God considereth all times of thy life, and still chooseth the best and fittest to answer thy prayers in: In an acceptable time have I heard thee (saith God) As—

1. It may be at the very time when thou art most instant and

earnest in prayer: Whiles they are yet speaking (saith God) I will hear; a time cull'd out on purpose, that they might rest assured it was an answer to their prayers.

2. At that time when thou hast most need, and when thy heart is most fitted for mercy (l.) when thy heart is most sub∣dued, and thy lusts mortified, for then thou art fittest to relish his goodness alone, and not to be drawn away with the carnal sweetness that is in the thing; Thou wilt prepare thine heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear, thou wilt prepare thine heart in taking it off from the thing desired, in making it quieted and contented with God in the thing, and then thou wilt hear] this is the fittest time.

3. From the effects upon thy heart that prayest: As —

1. If the thing granted by thy prayers, draw thy heart more near unto God: Things granted out of ordinary providence onely, do increase our lusts, and are snares to us; but if thou findest Gods dealings with thee, to be a kindely motive to cause thee to mourn for sin, and to be a restraint against sin, it is a sign it was a fruit of thy prayer: Away from me ye workers of iniqui∣ty (saith David) God hath heard the voyce of my weeping; or,

2. If thou findest Gods dealings with thee, to be a kindely motive, to cause thee to rejoyce in God, more then in the thing obtained, it is a sign it was a fruit of thy prayer. Hanna blessing God for her childe, My heart rejoyceth in the Lord, saith she: She rejoyceth not so much in the gift, as in the giver, not so much in her childe, as in his favor that answered her prayer.

2. If the mercy obtained by thy prayer, inlarge thy heart with thankfulness: Self-love makes us more forward to pray, then to give thanks, for nature is all of the craving and taking hand; but where Grace is, there will be no eminent mercy got∣ten with much strugling, but there will be a continual, particular thankful remembrance of it a long while after, with much in∣largement: Great blessings won with prayer, are worn with thank∣fulness; such a man will not ask new, but withal, he will give thanks for old: Thankfulness of all duties proceeds from pure Grace, therefore if thy spirit stirs thee to it, it is a sign he made the prayer: See Hanna's song when she had her desire, 1 Sam. 2.1.

3. If the mercy gotten by thy prayer, doth incourage thee to go to God another time, to pray again more confidently and fervently, it is a sign thou hast gotten the former mercy that way: The Lord hath heard me (saith David) and I will call upon him as long as I live.

4. If the thing obtained by thy prayer, doth make thee care∣ful to perform thy vows made in prayer: I will pay thee my vows (saith David) which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in my trouble; and the reason follows, because that verily God hath heard me, when I cryed to him; and so Eliphaz in Job, doth connect and hang these two together, Thou shalt make thy prayer to him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.

5. If the thing granted by thy prayer, prove a real and stable mercy; if the curse be taken out, and it have few thorns and vexations in it: When the blessing of God maketh rich, he addeth no sorrow with it: It may be the heart was put to some trou∣ble in the deferring, but its recompenced by the more setled; constant, immixt sweetness in the injoying.

6. If the mercy obtained brings with it assurance of Gods love, and an evidence of his favor: I need not make that a sign, for when this comes with a mercy, it carries its own evi∣dence; you will then know well enough that it is the fruit of prayer.

Notes

• Acts 12.6, 10.
• Exod. 2.23.
• Exod. 12.13.
• 33.
• 35.32.
• Exod. 11.7.
• Psal. 126.1.
• 1 Kings 3.12, 13.
• Psal. 86.17.
• Gen. 24 14.
• 26.
• Isa 49 8.
• Isa. 65.24.
• Psal. 10.17.
• Psal. 6.8.
• 1 Sam. 2.1.
• Psal. 116.2.
• Psa. 66.13, 14
• Iob 22.27.
• Prov. 10.22.