his wayes higher then our wayes and his thoughts then our thoughts Isa 55.8 9. Psal 103.11 and therefore we may well improve it to the utmost 5. He is infinite in mercy as well as in his other Attributes Psal 145.3 147.5 and therefore we may improve it what we can and as far as our finite natures can go this way 6. He delights in mercy Mic. 7.18 and that that he delights in that should we delight to improve to the utmost and he will also delight in our improvement of it as he did all along in Abrahams here Secondly From the Believers themselves 1. They have experience of his mercy to themselves and therefore improve it all they can in behalf of others Abraham found the Lord merciful to himself and therefore improves mercy for others 2. They are of a merciful disposition to others Righteous and Merciful men are coupled together Isa 57.1 Now being of a merciful disposition hence it is that they do improve the the Lords mercy what they can for them 3. Believers have a promise that being merciful they shall obtain mercy Mat. 5.7 and that themselves shall be no losers by it and therefore may well improve the Lords mercy for others 4. They know that it's Gods will that they should love mercy Mic. 6.8 and this way they shew their love of mercy in improving Gods mercy to others 5. They are good stewards of the manifold grace of God and this way shew it by improving the mercy of God in behalf of others as well as for themselves 6. They are like God and he is communicative and so are they in improving his mercy as far as may be for the good of others God is good does good Psal 119.68 and the further a sweet Fountain runs the better it is Thirdly From their Prayers 1. They often prevail for others as well as for Believers themselves Abraham missed not of one of his desires for wicked Sodom 2. Their Prayers if they should miss for others yet will return into their own bosomes Psal 35.13 3. Their Prayers pierce heaven 2 Chro. 30.27 4. They have a kinde of soveraignty with them Isa 45.11 5. They bring the Lord to our beck Isa 58.9 6. They are never in vain Isa 45.19 and is not such mercy worth the improving Vse 1. for Information 1. We see how full of love Believers are to others that are so willing to improve the Lords mercy so farre for their good Abraham desires mercy for Sodom if there were but twenty righteous found amongst them Faith and Love ever go together lodge in the same breast and take up together in the same heart 2. We see that Believers are not all for themselves but very desirous that others should partake of the Lords mercy with them Faith is a communicative grace and does not centre within it self Gal. 5.6 3. We see how precious Believers should be in our eyes for they are such as do all they can to make others partakers of Gods mercy Mal. 3.17 Jewels communicate their beauty to others as well as retain it within themselves 4. We see how Believers resemble God himself he is good and does good Psal 119.68 and so do they 5. We see that they that share in the Lords mercy themselves are not so content but would have others partake in it also and therefore so desire it for them 6. We see what love will be in heaven if Believers have so much here on earth there 's all love there 1 Cor. 13.8 7. We see that the Lords mercy is a rich Myne and Treasure seeing it may be so improved and Believers do so desire to improve it for others 8. We see what improvement we should make of Gods mercy to our selves 9. We see that Believers do well in fulfilling the Royal Law Jam. 2.8 10. We see what longings we should have after heaven for then the Lords mercy will be fully manifested Jude ver 21. Vse 2. for Terrour to those that share not in this mercy Vse 3. for Humiliation that we fall short in our duty this way Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To evidence our Faith this way 2. To improve his mercy for our selves 3. To look for the mercy of Christ unto eternal life Jude ver 21. 4. To honour Believers 5. To Pray Luke 17.5 6. To give the Lord the glory of all his mercy Verse 31. And be said I will not destroy it for twenties sake Doct. XXV THat the Lord doth exceedingly condescend to his believing Suppliants in praying to him and improving his mercy in behalf of others So does the Lord here Abraham desires that if there be but twenty Righteous in Sodom that he would not destroy it and God condescends to him in his request and sayes he will not destroy it for twenties sake Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From his believing Suppliants 3. From their Prayers First From the Lord. 1. He is a God ready to forgive Neh. 9.17 Psal 86.5 and not to inslict punishment especially when sued unto by Believers See Exod. 32 11.-14 Numb 14 13-21 2. He prepares their hearts and then causeth his ear to hear Psal 10.17 He that gives heart-preparation he ever lends a listening ear 3. He provides for the Ravens when his young ones cry unto God Job 38.41 Psal 147.9 and if he come down so low as to hear them then sure he will not disdain to condescend to his believing Suppliants that sue to him in behalf of others 4. He gives the beasts their food ibid. and they make but an harsh sound they some of them roar as the Bear and Lion and some of them bray as the Ass and some of them bellow as the Ox and if he condescend so low as to hear such noises and voices how much more will he come low in hearing his believing Suppliants whoever they pray for 5. He is a God that is merciful and gracious Exod. 34.6 and therefore hears them in behalf of whomsoever they sue for His Mercy and Grace makes him thus to condescend 6. He hears sometimes farre worse then they The Israelites murmured at the Red-sea yet Neh. 9.9 God heard their cry there to save them with a temporal salvation though afterward they were destroyed in the wilderness Jude ver 5. and if he would hear such much more will he condescend to hear his believing Suppliants on whose behalf soever they sue for Secondly From the Believers themselves 1. They have much communion with him as we see in Enoch and Noah Gen. 5.22 6.9 and God will condescend much to those 2. They are accepted in the beloved Eph. 1.6 and what is it that they may not prevail for he will condescend much for their sakes 3. They please him Heb. 11.5 and such as so do may have any thing of him 1 Joh. 3.22 4. They ravish his heart Cant. 4.9 that one eye of their Faith wins his heart he is taken with it as a Lover is with the beauty of
is to sue to him and makes him lay by his Petition so here 4. We are apt to make an insinuation of our modesty that we would not go beyond due bounds in asking and this makes us cease petitioning before the Lord leaves off to grant So did Abraham here he was a modest suiter I will speak sayes he yet but this once So do modest suiters to men that would give more if asked and so do we to the Lord. 5. We are apt to think that we may be too bold in asking and that will cause us to cease our suits They that make over-bold with Princes are not wise and sometimes get a frown for it Thus Abraham though he was bold with the Lord yet he was afraid he might be too bold and therefore gave over suing before the Lord gave over granting 6. We are far short even the best of us of those bowels of mercy and compassion that are in God We are made partakers of the divine Nature according to our measure 2 Pet. 1.4 but fall short and as far short as finite creatures do of the Infinite One in those Perfections that are in him and in particular this of Mercy and therefore though our bowels may work us up to desire much yet it is nothing to what is in the Lord himself ours are mites but his Talents ours are atomes and motes but his like Mountains ours like a candle but his like the Sun ours little rivulets his like the great Sea Now then his bowels being so full and large and ours so scant it is not to be marvelled at if we leave off petitioning before he leave off granting Vse 1. for Information 1. We see how exceedingly we are engaged to the Lord for his mercy in that he stops not our mouthes in praying to him but lets it appear that we leave off petitioning before he leaves off granting he might justly turn away our prayer and his mercy from us but his Name is for ever to be praised for it that he does it not so David sayes Psal 66.20 and so are we to say and count our selves indebted to him that will not deny us in any thing that we sue for but so long as we pray gives us in our desires and lets us leave suing before he leave granting We are never able enough to exalt his Name for it 2. We see what an amiable and bountiful and royall One we have to do with that ceaseth not to grant our desires that we put up to him but we leave off suing before he ceaseth giving It is not thus with men it is not thus with Princes for though they come off royally to those that are in favour with them and sue to them yet they put a period to their grants but our God is more royal then they for he does never cease giving before we cease asking 3. We see what narrow hearts we have and how contracted our desires are that we have sooner done asking then he hath in giving that we leave off petitioning before he leave off granting We are not straitned in him but we are straitned in our own bowels our hearts are not enlarged as God would have them but we give over first we are weary first God would be willing to hear more of us but we are willing to leave off and to speak no more or else God would not be tired out with our requests how many soever they be that we put up to him 4. We see how abundantly he will satisfie us in a state of glory that is so willing to fulfill our desires here that we leave off suing before he leave off granting There will be all satisfaction there if he have more to give here then we ask then surely when he gets us there we shall have our fill of him the desires of our hearts shall be abundantly satisfied if he stream out here beyond our desires what Rivers will flow in upon us there if here he be above our desires and hath more to give then we to ask Oh how will the Sea break in upon us to overflow all the banks and bounds of our desires there will be a spring-tide coming in amain upon us there 's that there that will be good measure pressed down shaken together and running over If God hath more to give then we ask here Oh what Eternall springs and full Seas of satisfaction shall we there swim in and like the Leviathan play and sport in it to all eternity Our desires are strait and narrow here but there as they are enlarged more abundantly so they shall be abundantly filled and every corner of them brim-full Psal 16.11 17.15 and therefore what longings and breathings should we have after Heaven Our hearts are strait and narrow here but there they shall be large and be in a capacity to take in more then ever we could here We ask a little here and cease but there we shall receive in more then ever we asked or thought Eph. 3.20 We petition for a few things and then give over but then when we are in a state of glory our Souls will be capable of taking in more abundantly then ever they could let out in their desires here 5. We see that if we have no more then we have we cannot fasten any blame upon God he is clear The King and his Throne are guiltless the fault is ours that we leave off asking before he leave off granting We might have more if we asked more our desires are short when the Lords hand is long our Petitions are at an end when his grants end not we give over speaking in prayer before he hath done answering even the best of men have sooner done in their suits then the Lord hath in his royal gratuities did we stretch out our desires more we should finde his loving kindness more stretched out to us and further put forth in the extent and latitude of it Vse 2. for Terrour to those that ask not at all what can they look for from the Lord If Believers leave off petitioning before he leave off granting and end their suits before he make an end of giving what will become of those that never beg in their suits to him There are multitudes in the world that never put up a serious request to him and if they never get any thing of him what cause have they to complain Jam. 4.2 Vse 3. for Humiliation that we are so short in our desires and so straitned in our asking we strip our selves of many a fair blessing that we might win and wear we deprive our selves of many a royal grant that we might have sealed and confirmed God would do more for us if we asked more of him he hath a full hand and a large heart but we have narrow hearts and straitned desires in suing to him Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To pray for enlarged hearts in prayer it must come from Heaven as every other good and perfect gift
will make a full supply of all our spiritual wants when we shall enjoy what we desired here and farre more 6. Till we come to the blessed satisfaction that we shall have in glory let us be exhorted to renew our Requests daily and having sped well in some of our suits let us ask more We go to a full Fountain to a rich Treasure that Phil. 4.19 can supply all our wants by Jesus Christ Verse 28. And he said If I finde forty and five there I will not destroy it Doct. XVI THat the Lord is willing to grant the renewed Requests that Believers bring before him and when they ask more they shall have more given in to them Abraham desires here That if there were five and forty Righteous found in Sodom the place might not be destroyed and God gives him a gracious Answer to this new Petition If I finde forty and five there I will not destroy it Gideon renewed his Request about the fleece and that request was granted as well as the former Judg. 6.39 40. He knows how to make new grants as well as other Princes do If Kings Subjects renew their Requests and get renewed Grants then his faithful Subjects much more Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From his believing Suiters and Suppliants 3. From the Grants themselves First From the Lord himself 1. He is Rich unto all that call upon him Rom. 10.12 and having enough by him how can he but renew his grants and give more when we sue and seek unto him for it Rich men give according to their quality and condition so God that is rich in mercy 2. He is a great King Mal. 1.14 and will give according to the state of a King and they as I said that are Kings on earth stick not at renewed Grants and how then should he that is the great King over all the earth Psal 47.2 3. His Mercies are new every morning Lam. 3.23 the Sun is not oftner seen by us then his Mercies they look us in the face every day The Light of the day does no more fail us then his mercies do The Morning is not oftner renewed upon us then his mercies are and therefore what new grant is there greater then the former that we may not have from him if we seek it of him 4. He treads never a step but that that is paved with mercy All the paths of the Lord are mercy to them that fear him and to them that keep his Covenant Psal 25.10 His paths that he comes in towards us in his Ordinances in his Providences they are all beset and bespread with mercies and therefore what new mercy it is that we would have and what more then formerly we have had for our selves or others he is willing to give in to us 5. He hath commanded us not to withhold from others that which is their due when it is in the power of our hand to do it Prov. 3.27 and if so then sure he will not withhold any thing from us if we seek it of him though it be new seeing it is in the power of his hand to do it He would not be out-bidden and out-vied by man he would not fall short in a way of kindness and goodness of any of the sons of men 6. He is a God hearing prayer Psal 65.2 he is alwayes at it Other Princes have their times appointed to hear their Suiters their set times and dayes of audience to hear Ambassadors but God is alwayes hearing his Suiters and be it that our Prayers be the Souls Ambassadors yet he puts them not off but is alwayes hearing and therefore what new Requests we come with we may get a grant from him of them Secondly From his believing Suppliants 1. They are his Loyal Subjects he is King of Saints Rev. 15.3 and Loyal and faithful Subjects may get their Grants renewed much more may his 2. They are his Servants Psal 116.16 and Servants of Princes such as they are that are of the Bed-chamber as they are wise to take their time to renew their suits so they have the Kings ear and a new Grant signed and sealed to them and shall the Servants of God fare worse then the Servants of Princes Surely no. 3. They are in favour with him and accepted of him Eph. 1.6 and what new Grants have not they that are in favour with Princes and shall not we much rather that are in favour with God Brutus with Julius Mecenas with Augustus Sejanus with Tiberius what might they not have had of these great ones and if so what new grants may not the Saints have of him that hath made us accepted in the beloved 4. They are his Friends Jam. 2.23 and any friend will get a new grant and have more for asking what can God deny us then that seek for new favours and new grants from him 5. They are his Followers Eph. 5.1 they imitate him in his Virtues and Excellencies and such may have any thing of him Similitude works us up to the height we love those that resemble us so does God and we may have what we will of him if we be like to him 6. They please him and therefore may have what they will of him Joh. 15.7 1 Joh. 3.22 let them renew their suits as often as they will he will renew his grants as often to them and if they would have more they shall have more Thirdly From the renewed grants themselves 1. They are easily made by him it is as easie with him to give more as less to renew twenty as well as one He can do every thing Job 42.2 2. They are quickly and speedily done they are sometimes granted before they are asked Isa 65.24 Dan. 9.23 3. They are cordially given in with all his heart and with all his soul Jer. 32.40 41. and what should hinder their coming in then to us 4. They tend to his honour he hath the glory of them given to him Lam. 3.23 he hath new songs for his new mercies Psal 40.3 5. They binde us to duty and obedience New Grants made by Princes oblige the Subjects to duty and obedience so these grants from God 6. They are greatly indearing our hearts to God Princes by their liberality endear their Servants to them so does God His love to us begets our love to him 1 Joh. 4.19 It is observed of King James That he bound those he loved unto him by granting them some Request that they made suit for which he thought bound their love to him so does God by his grants endear our hearts to him Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what a full-handed and open-hearted God we have to do with that both can and will give us more for asking and make renewed grants to us We do not come to a poor Prince but to one that is rich and full and hath great things to give and if we renew our Requests he can easily and speedily renew his grants We make supplication
bold with him Isa 64.7 5. He makes account that such cast off fear as restrain prayer and are not bold with him Job 15.4 and Believers are loth to have that imputed to them for faith and fear go together Heb. 11.7 6. He alwayes makes us the more welcome the more bold we are with him when we pray to him Abraham lost nothing by taking upon him to speak unto the Lord and being further bold with him A bold friend findes hearty welcome from men much more from the Lord they that sue oftenest speed the best Secondly From our selves 1. We sue to a God who hath said that we shall not seek his face in vain Isa 45.19 and therefore may be bold with him and make further bold 2. We sue to him who hath given out that great word Isa 45.11 Ask me of things to come concerning my sons and concerning the work of my hands command me which none of us durst have thought of had not he spoken it 3. We sue to him that hath said Psal 81.10 that if we be so bold as to open our mouthes wide and enlarge our desires he will fill and satisfit them 4. We go to him who is the God of all grace 1 Pet. 5.10 and therefore can supply us abundantly What cannot that God of all grace bring in to us All grace is more then Rich grace A man may be Rich and yet not have All but God is not onely Rich in grace but the God of all grace and therefore can make all grace to abound towards us 5. We sue to him who will never send us empty away who turns none away from his doors without relief His suiters shall never go sad away from him He sends the rich empty away that think they need nothing Luke 1.53 but filleth the hungry with good things 6. We go to him that hath said that Every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened Mat. 7.8 and therefore we may be bold and further bold with him We may be bold to think that he will not be harder to us then he is to every one Thirdly From the nature of Believers boldness 1. It draws us nearer unto God and that God delighteth in we get near to the Throne of Grace 2. It makes a man go out of himself more and see what need he hath of supplies from Heaven and that 's a gracious frame of heart 3. It lets us see our own unworthiness Gen. 32.10 11. Luke 15.21 and that God takes pleasure in 4. It holds up our friendship with God and assureth us that we are his friends in that we make so bold with him Jam. 2.23 5. It is the very Suburbs and Gate of Heaven for they in Heaven can be holily bold with the Lord Dan. 4.17 6. It is a blessed fruit of Christs Ascension Heb. 4.14 16. Upon all which grounds Believers may be bold and further bold with him Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what a gracious God we sue to that we may be bold and further bold with in our requests that we put up to him He proclaimed his Name thus of old The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious Exod. 34.6 2. We see that Believers have great interest in him that may be so bold with him as to take upon them to speak again and again thus to him 3. We see that great is the friendship that is between God and Believing Souls Great hath been the friendship that hath been between some men but none like this between God and his believing ones 4. We see that to be bold with God and to be further bold with him in our requests that we put up to him is an argument that God is very near to us and we very near and dear to him 5. We see that surely we shall be near indeed to him in heaven when faith is turned into vision 6. We see that if we make so bold with him here in praying to him Oh what holy boldness shall we have with him when he clasps us in his Everlasting Arms and puts us into his Bosome to all Eternity 7. We see that though Believers are the modestest men that are yet they are the boldest men also for they can take upon them to speak to God and to be further bold with him 8. We see that no men nor Devils shall be able to dash them out of countenance for they can be bold with God himself 9. We see a reason of that in Ephes 6.16 That that makes us bold with God will make us victorious over the wicked one 10. We see how bold we should be in a good cause and for a good conscience as Peter and John Acts 4. Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers they cannot be bold this way though they make too bold with him by sin Vse 3. for Humiliation to those that are not so bold with him as they may Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To be holily bold 2. Believe 3. Fear him 4. Be friends to him 5. Apply Christs Ascension 6. Walk with him 7. Love Christ Verse 31. Peradventure there shall twenty be found there Doct. XXIV THat Believers in making suit to the Lord improve Gods bounty and mercy all that ever they can in behalf of others that they sue for Abraham found God merciful to Sodom that if there had been fifty Righteous within the City he would have spared the whole place for their sakes then afterwards if there had been five and forty then if there had been forty then if there had been thirty and had a grant so far and now having obtained so much mercy he improves it yet further to twenty Peradventure there shall twenty be found there he will try yet further what the Lord will do Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From the Believers themselves 3. From their Prayers First From the Lord. 1. He is Rich in mercy Eph. 2.4 Rom. 10.12 and that Riches of his mercy is inexhaustible we cannot empty the treasure of it nor draw the fountain of it dry it is a Spring that is alwayes full and therefore we may improve it all that ever we can A rich Myne may be digged into and a rich Treasure may be made use of and a full Fountain drawn So here 2. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think Eph. 3.20 and therefore we may improve it to the utmost and ask high of him Our desires are scant our thoughts are narrow to that large bounty and mercy that he can impart to us 3. He is such a full one that the whole earth is full of his mercy Psal 119.64 and that that fills the whole earth we may well improve for those that we pray for We may have enough of that that the whole earth is full of 4. His thoughts and wayes of mercy are not like our thoughts and wayes but as the heavens are higher then the earth so are
that eye that he beholds his heart is inclosed in that eye 5. They are they that are very dear to Christ Mat. 12.49 50. what may not they have of him 6. They are such as this King delighteth to honour and they may have great things done for them Joh. 12.26 See for illustration Esth 6.6 7. Thirdly From their Prayers 1. They are the breathings of his Spirit he endites them Rom. 8.26 will not God condescend to do much for them 2. They are the Requests of the Spirit ibid. and shall not the Spirits requests be heard will not God condescend far to these 3. They are the groanings of the Spirit ibid. when they cannot speak he helps them to groan and he hears groans as well as words Psal 102. 4. They are as Incense Psal 141.2 and the smoke of that went upward 5. They are Odours sweet in the nosthrils of God Rev. 5.8 6. They are perfumed with Christs Intercession Rev. 8.3 and will not God condescend far and do much for these Prayers Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what condescendency we should use to those that are suiters and petitioners to us we should be followers of God herein and come off to them in their desires and condescend all that ever we can to them we cannot have a better pattern to follow Ephes 5.1 2. We see what a gracious God the Lord our God is that does so farre condescend to his believing Suppliants when they sue to him in behalf of others No gracious Prince like him that stoops so low and comes off so largely to them that sue to him 3. We see what encouragement we have to improve Gods mercy in suing to him in behalf of others for he condescends very farre to us when we speak in their behalf he smiles upon our desires and gives the thing we sue for we cannot ask any thing but we have it 4. We see who must have the glory of what he grants in so farre condescending to us in behalf of others it is not from any worthiness of us that sue or of those that are sued for but of his grace and mercy and he must have the glory 5. We see the great humility of the Lord that stoops so low to poor vile dust and ashes it should make us wonder at it Psal 113.5 6. no humility like this of the great God towards such earth and clay as we are 6. We see how precious Believers are in his eyes that thus condescends to them in granting what they ask of him in behalf of others and in coming down so low to their desires for them Surely they are his Jewels as he styles them Mal. 3.17 and very precious to him 7. We see that Believers Prayers are like sweet Odours for else God would never condescend so low as he does to them in hearing them for others as well as for themselves 8. We see how low we should come down to him in every thing that he calls us commands us to perform The very least of his Commandments we should stoop unto and be willing to say Here I am Lord Command what thou wilt and through thy grace and help I will do it 9. We see that we may well stoop to him in a way of suffering what he calls us to if it were to lay our neck to the Block for him if it were to be Whipt and Rack'd for him if it were to be spitefully used and scorned and spat upon and scoffed c. we may well bear it for him that condescends so farre to us Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers he will do nothing in such a way for them Vse 3. for Humiliation That we too much forget others in our Prayers that we might prevail for Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To love the Lord that thus condescends to us 2. To praise him Psal 66.20 3. To long to be with him 4. To do and suffer any thing for him 5. To be humble when we come before him Verse 32. And he said Oh let not the Lord be angry and I will speak yet but this once Peradventure ten shall be found there And he said I will not destroy it for tens sake WE are now come to speak of Abrahams last Address that he makes to the Lord and of the gracious Answer that he receives from him In the former we have 1. His renewed desire that God would not be angry 2. His modest insinuation that he will speak but once more In the latter we have the Lords acceptance of what he desires of him even when he came down so low as to desire mercy for them if there were but ten Righteous found amongst them I will not destroy it for tens sake Doct. XXVI THat believing Suppliants will speak as far as ever they can or dare to the Lord in behalf of those that they make supplication for So does Abraham here he goes as far as ever he could or durst even to sue for mercy for them if there were but ten righteous found amongst them Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From the Believers 3. From their Prayers First From the Lord. 1. He gives them leave to be very bold with him Heb. 4.16 and therefore they go as far as ever they can or dare with him If a man give another leave to be bold with him he will try him so far as may be So God giving us leave to be bold with him hence it is that we may go as far as we dare with him 2. He delights to see his children asking largely of him Fathers love to have their children asking of them as far as they dare and so does the Lord our Father and that makes us so willing to ask so far of him 3. He hath the bowels of all the dearest Relations in him and what is to be found in all of them is infinitely more to be found in him and therefore we may be willing to speak as far as we can to him 4. He puts us on to ask great things of him and would not have us confined to our own narrow desires Jer. 33.3 and Believers are willing to put him to it and try him to the utmost 5. He exceeds our desires gives us more then we ask as he did to Solomon 1 Kings 3.13 and therefore we may speak as far as we can or dare to him 6. He is displeased when we scant our desires to him Look as the Prophet was angry with the King of Israel in sparing to smite on the ground 2 Kings 13.18 19. so the Lord will be angry when we spare to speak we might have more if we would speak more Secondly From the believing Suppliants 1. They finde grace in his sight as it is said of Moses Exod. 33.12 and who may speak freely and largely if not they 2. They have found by experience that God bath come off largely to them and therefore cannot scant their desires to him 3. They have encouragement to enlarge their
honourably of them do honourably by them put them in our hearts lay them in our bosoms give them all the honour that 's fit for men and under God let them have the highest room in our hearts who have this honour from God to draw so near unto God 4. To pray that when we come before him we may indeed as Abraham did draw near to him If we bring our Petitions near him and our hearts be somewhere else we do but mock God and do not draw near to him if our lips go and our hearts gad if our tongues waver and our hearts wander if our mouthes utter and our hearts scatter we do but lose our selves and lose the duty and all the good we might have by it Pray therefore for such an heart as David had Psal 57.7 My heart is fixed O Lord my heart is fixed we have naturally unfixed hearts unstable hearts such hearts as will give us the slip and give God the slip but if we would indeed draw near to God we must desire a fixed heart 5. To long for heaven where we shall be near him indeed We have through his grace some near approaches to him especially when he makes us serious and lively in the duty even in this life but it is but a little yet whatever it is it is his mercy that we may come any whit near him as it is in Psal 148.14 that he shuts us not quite out of his presence but when we come in glory we shall be near indeed Oh! how near are the blessed Angels and blessed Souls in glory they have his ear they have his heart they are in his Presence-Chamber in his bosom lye near his very Soul no nearness like that which they enjoy and we shall in a state of glory and this we are to long and breathe for 6. In the mean time to be as near him as we can and as often with him as we may the oftner the better the more walks we have with him the more of the rayes of his beauty will be seen upon us the more frequent our addresses be to him the more of heavens glory will be put upon us God will be seen in our very faces something of God in our very countenances all that see us will say Doubtless these men have met with God and God hath met with them they have drawn near to him indeed there is such radiancy of the divine beauty upon them See Exod. 34.29 30. Vse 5. for Consolation 1. Against our loss of near Relations Brethren Sisters Fathers houses nearest and dearest Friends we in this Country have left these but if we can get nearer God here he will be in stead of all more then all to us he hath the fulness of all the sweetest Relations bound up in him We may take that out of God that we forsook in Father Mother Brother Sister and Friend that hath been as near and dear as our own Soul 2. Against loss of our own Country which is to be esteemed as a mans self Luke 4.23 and should be very dear to us but if we be put far from that and draw near to God all is well he will bring us to an heavenly Country and to that that 's better then what we left 3. Against loss of Life here which is dear to us and goes near to our hearts but if we get near God and have more frequent recourse to him by Prayer of faith his presence that we have enjoyed here is more then life We must have died where-ever we had been and if it be our lot to die in a strange Land we are not a whit the further off from God by it our Souls are as soon carried to heaven as if we had died elsewhere HAving shewed what Abraham did in drawing near to God in Prayer we come now to what he said and handle the words as they lye in the Text Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked Doct. II. THat even among the most wicked Sinners there may be found some Righteous This Abraham presupposeth and it was not without ground for Lot there was whom he knew to be a righteous man and so the Holy Ghost styles him 2 Pet. 2.7 8. There was Obadiah in wicked Ahabs Court 1 Kings 18.3 4. Prime Saints there were in cruel Nero's Household Phil. 4.22 at Pergamus where Satans Throne was there were righteous ones Rev. 2.13 So in the old World The world of the ungodly as it is called when all flesh had corrupted their wayes 2 Pet. 2.5 Gen. 6.12 there was a Righteous Noah Gen. 6.9 So Enoch in that wicked Age he lived Jude 14 15. a blessed man that constantly walked with God as the Hebrew Verb in the Conjugation Hithpael holds out and so Junius and Tremelius render it indesinenter ambulabat Some good there are among the worst and vilest among men some Corn among the Chaff some Wheat among the Tares some Gold mingled with the Dross some Sheep with the Goats some sweet Flowers and Herbs growing with the Weeds some fruitful Trees among Briars and Brambles Thorns and Thistles some Jewels among the Sands some Pearls among a multitude of Shells some gracious Saints among the Wicked Reasons 1. From God 2. From the righteous themselves 3. From the wicked 1. From God 1. He would leave the wicked hereby without Excuse that have had some good examples before their eyes some paterns of piety to follow and yet they would be vile when they had such eminent gracious ones amongst them This leaves them wholly without excuse they can make no apologie for themselves That Servant that is idle and riotous when his fellow-servants have been diligent in their work must needs have his mouth stopt his Master will take no excuse So our Master that is in Heaven will take no excuse from such as having good examples before them will yet be wicked when they might be better Mat. 25.24 25 26 27. 2. He makes these Righteous ones more eminent in holiness by living among such wicked ones Who so famous as Enoch and Noah were that lived among the wicked in their times who so eminent as Obadiah in Ahabs house who sold himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord 1 Kings 21.25 If we look into 1 Kings 18.3 it is said that Obadiah feared the Lord greatly What rare Jewels were found upon such a dunghill as Nero's Court Phil. 4.22 The most excellent of Saints have been found amongst the most wicked sinners their black makes the godlies white more conspicuous How eminent was Lot in Sodom 2 Pet. 2.7 8. their darkness makes the Saints light shine more brightly their deformity makes the Saints beauty more to be admired they often prove the rarest men that live amongst the worst of men 3. He permits them to be together till the harvest and at the end of the world he will say to the Reapers which are the Angels Gather up the Tares and binde
everlasting destruction 6. Remedilesly there 's no remedy but God must destroy wicked men he knows not how to spare them any longer 2 Chron. 36.16 Prov. 6.15 24.1 When the Disease is so desperate that there 's no healing for it the case is sad such is their case that are destroyed without remedy that no Balm can cure that no Medicine can do any good upon 7. Strangely so were the Sodomites destroyed fire descended contrary to the nature of it they had sinned contrary to nature by their fiery lusts and gone after strange flesh and were in a strange manner destroyed So Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the Lord and were destroyed in a strange manner Lev. 10.1 2. So Obad. ver 5. the Prophet cannot tell how to express Edoms destruction it was so strange he stands as it were amazed at it How art thou cut off See Job 31.3 8. Lamentably so as others shall bewail their destruction Thus the Prophets did lamentably bewail Moabs destruction Isa 16.9 Jer. 48.31 32. So Christ bewailed the destruction of Jerusalem Luk. 19 41-44 Thus Rome shall be destroyed lamentably so as all her Merchants and Traders with her shall bewail her bitterly Rev. 18. weeping and wailing and crying out for her lamentable destruction Quest 3. Why will God thus destroy the wicked Ans 1. From himself 2. From them First From himself 1. He is a just Lord Zeph. 3.3 and from that Justice does execute judgement upon them and destroy them Just Judges on earth will not suffer notorious persons to live how much more the just Lord 2. He is a God of purer eyes then to behold evil viz. without loathing and detestation and cannot look upon iniquity viz. with any approbation and this purity of his Nature puts him upon destroying wicked ones 3. He sees all their wickedness more open or more secret Jer. 7.11 23.24 Job 34.21 22. There is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves and therefore destruction shall be their portion 4. He is a God to whom vengeance belongeth Deut. 32.35 Psal 94.1 and the Lord God of Recompences will surely requite Jer. 51.56 Secondly From the wicked 1. They are devoted to destruction Jer. 12.3 Pluck them out as sheep for the slaughter prepare them for the day of slaughter 2. Their sins are very great and very provoking as the Sodomites sins were and such as God will not pardon 3. They are of so long continuance that he is weary of repenting Jer. 15.6 4. They do some of them sin against the holy Ghost as some of the Pharisees did Mat. 12.31 32. and that sin cannot be repented of Heb. 6.4 5 6. and for such there remains no more sacrifice but a fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries Heb. 10.27 Vse 1. for Information 1. We see the woful estate of wicked men living and dying such God will destroy them They may brave it for a season and flourish and seem to carry all before them and think to do great things against the Lord and his Saints but woe to them the reward of their hands shall be given them and this reward shall be destruction Isa 3.11 The Sodomites carried it highly against the Lord and braved it against just Lot Gen. 19. but within a little time showers of fire and brimstone rained from heaven and destroyed them all Haman braved it against the Jews and thought to have destroyed them all but he procured his own destruction by it An high house falls sometimes with the weight of it so does an high and proud heart 2. We see that we have no cause to fret or be envious at them for they shall soon be destroyed Psal 37.1 2. Godly men are apt to it I was envious at the foolish sayes Asaph Psal 73.3 So Jer. 12.1 2. but there 's no cause if we consider their end Psa 73.17 18. Destruction is their deserved punishment See Psa 37.35 36. the highest Towers have the deepest falls so they that are in highest dignity Princes Favourites are not onvied because when they come down their fall is great so it was with Haman and with other Favourites Sejanus that Tiberius Caesar made such account of but when he came down his ruine was great And this sad Catastrophe have all wicked men though they may spread their Plumes for a little time and therefore there is no cause to fret because of the wicked nor to be envious at the workers of iniquity a sad blow at last kills them 3. We see what reason there is why we should not chuse any of their wayes Prov. 3.31 lest we have a minde to be destroyed with them They that go together in a way of sin ever go together to destruction except mercy step in to save some of them Prov. 13.20 A bundle of Drunkards a bundle of filthy persons as the Sodomites were a bundle of Blasphemers and so of the rest they shall be all bound up in bundles to be burned together They that chuse the same way go to the same sad journeys end 4. We see what a dreadful God we have to do with and what cause we have to fear before him that will thus destroy the wicked How should we fear before him Children fear when Slaves are beaten so should we 5. We see the great mercy of God to any of us that when we went on in a way of wickedness and deserved to be destroyed that yet he would spare us Psal 103.10 As no sinners were like us so no God is like him Mic. 7.18 How easily and justly might he have destroyed us and rendred to us according to our deserts his mercy hath been great that he hath not dealt with us as we have dealt with him and as we have deserved from him 6. We see that we need not be troubled when such men bring their wicked devices to pass and prosper in their way of evil for after all they must be destroyed when they have run their run they will come to ruine Psal 37.7 8 9. 7. We see how much better it is to cut off right hands and right feet and to pluck out right eyes sins as dear as these members rather then to be thus miserably destroyed Mark 9 43-46 Vse 2. for Terrour to all wicked ones how will they bear destruction when it cometh for if they continue and live and dye such there 's nothing else to be expected but destruction and were it onely to be destroyed out of the land of the living here it were something if it were a fruit of Gods displeasure but Oh the misery of those that are and shall be everlastingly destroyed no tongue can express nor heart can conceive what calamity there is in such destruction the wicked Sodomites now feel it Jude ver 7. Vse 3. for Humiliation that we pity them no more for how can we endure to see them so destroyed we would pity a
Requests that we put up to him There 's no friend that is kinde to us in granting our desires but we judge worthy of thanks Oh how thankeful should we then be to God that hears and grants what we seek unto him for Psal 66.20 It is the Lords Tribute that he looks for and if we would not grudge to pay the King his Tribute being a commanded duty Rom. 13.7 then we should chearfully come off with the Lords Tribute and pay it in holy Praises to him The truth is we do but bungle at it here and do it not workman-like but we shall one day do it better when we are joyned in this heavenly melody with that innumerable company of Angels and blessed Souls in glory But in the mean time we must be doing something this way for all his bounties to us and if not so well as we would yet we are to do it as well as we can and long for the time when we shall perform it better 4. We see that though we have but a few friends on earth yet we have One in Heaven that will not fail us There is a friend Solomon sayes that sticketh closer then a brother Prov. 18.24 and such an one is a rare jewel and hardly to be found but though he be not to be found on Earth yet God is such a friend and will hear and grant what we sue unto him for 5. We see the truth of that in Psal 73.28 It is good for me to draw near to God it must needs be so considering what a God he is that we go unto that hears our Prayers grants us all that we ask of him We make account that it 's good to go to a Father or Friend to make our wants known that we may have a supply Oh how good is it then to go to such a Father and Friend as God is 6. We see what cause we have to delight in the Lord that we may have the desires of our hearts granted to us Seeing he is so willing to grant let us take the way that he prescribes for this and that is by delighting in him Psal 37.4 He that delights in his friend may have any thing of him how much more may they that delight themselves in the Almighty 7. We see that we can never come off with love enough to him who is a God hearing prayer granting our requests to us We would think that man worthy of our love that granted our desires in asking but Oh what love should he have that gives us all that we desire of him Our love is but a little Rivulet and Stream but he deserves a full Sea our love is but a little spark but he deserves that it flame forth our love is but a drop but he deserves that it should be a full flowing Fountain that 's never dry 8. We see how unwearied we should be in duty and obedience to him that thus hears and grants How loyal are Subjects to Royal Princes when they come off bountifully to them How dutiful and obedient are Servants to their liberal Masters they are ready at hand to ride run go do any thing for them Oh how loyal should we then be to such a bountiful King and how dutiful to such a liberal Master as God is that gives us what we ask of him 9. We see how we may be followers of God by bearing the cries of poor afflicted ones and granting their desires so does God to us and so should we to them Ephes 5.1 There are those that turn away from the cry of the poor but they shall cry and not be heard But seeing God hears us if we would follow him we must hearken and come off liberally to them Luke 6.38 10. We see that none of our Prayers shall be lost that we put up to him none of them shall miscarry We may go to men with our Suits and be put off and turned away and our Requests may be slighted and made nothing of but God dealeth not so with us when we come before him in Prayer he hears and grants and gives to all liberally and upbraideth not Jam. 1.5 Some Princes have torn in pieces what their Petitioners have brought before them as the Emperour Valens did to one of his noble Captains that had done him great Service as Theodoret relates of him Lib. 5. Hist but our God never does so to his Suppliants but they have a comfortable answer and a liberal grant they go to a Throne of Grace and finde grace to help in time of need their Prayers come loaden with blessings and they return home bringing their sheaves with them Naomi complained that she went out full but returned empty but we go out empty to him and return full Vse 2. for Terrour to those that God will not hear they are none of his they regard iniquity in their heart Psal 66.18 they are sinners that delight in sinful wayes Joh. 9.31 they are loathsome to him blacker then Ravens in his sight for he hears them when they cry to him Vse 3. for Humiliation to the people of God that pray much and get no grant surely there is some great cause either they are not earnest enough cry not loud enough or else slack their pace and are not constant enough or have given God cause to be angry with their prayers Psal 80.4 or have not been so sincere as they ought or have had unfixed hearts and been full of wandring thoughts that have marred the duty or something or other hath stepped between them and mercy and it is good for such to search what is the cause and remove it that God may not go out of his wonted way but may shew himself a God hearing prayer Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To honour God and to give him this noble Title of his when we pray to him and say He is a God hearing prayer He delights to hear himself so spoken of and we that finde the comfort of it should delight to mention it to his praise We honour an earthly King with his Titles how much more then should we do it to this glorious King 2. To bring our Petitions to him he will not throw them away nor tear them in pieces nor cast them at his feet in disdain but will have them in high esteem hang them upon the file in Heaven remember them give a grant to them We may be encouraged to come to him who is a God hearing prayer 3. To be humble for who are we that he should hear our Prayers we deserve that when we cry and shout he should not hear us and that he should cover himself with a cloud that our Prayers should not pass thorow It is nothing in us that moves him to hear and grant it is all of his Free-grace 4. To hear those that sue to us and give them that that they stand in need of if it be in the power of our hand to do it Why should we
to him that can give us what we ask of him and as often as we come with new suits to him He is a rich Prince and so full of royalty that he will give us our asking though we desire more then formerly Kings know how to rise in their grants as suppliants do in their suits so here 1 Pet. 3.12 2. We see what great encouragements we have to renew our suits and to ask more for God is willing to renew his grants as we do our suits and if we would have something more then we desired at first he is very willing to come off to us and to give us more Would any Prince on earth so do his Court would be full of suiters they would press in for audience and fill his doors and be much encouraged to come Oh how full of suiters should the Court of Heaven then be and what encouragement should they take to ask more and to come with new suits that have such a God to go to that will give more according as we ask and renew grants as we do our suits Psal 65.2 Jer. 33.3 3. We see how truly he is styled A God hearing prayer Psal 65.2 that does thus renew grants to his humble suppliants desires his ears are alwayes open to their desires Princes cannot alwayes attend the suits of their Subjects they have somewhat else to do but God though he be working other wayes creating work and providential work yet he hath an hearing ear to all our supplications and is not wearied out with our suits though renewed nor is his bounty spent though we ask more of him 4. We see what new songs of praise we should present him with for such renewed grants given in to us Renewed Mercies call for renewed thanksgivings and when God is willing to come off with more to us we should think it our duty to give more praise They that get much from a bountiful giver are abundant in thanks so should we to God Psal 71.14 15. the Angels and blessed Souls in glory that have received most are fullest of praises Isa 6.3 Rev. 4.8 5. We see what renewed obedience we should chearfully perform to him that renews his grants according to our suits New obedience as it is most acceptable so it is most suitable to come off with for new grants and new favours as it is that that God requires and prefers above sacrifice 1 Sam. 15.22 Jer. 7.22 23. so it is that that is meet to be given to the Lord. New bounties from men call for new service so do God's much more call for new obedience 6. We see what renewed love we should shew forth to him Princes binde their Subjects love to them by being bountiful to them in renewing their grants Oh what love then should we express to him that renews his grants and gives in more of his Royal bounty all is too little that we can do this way but if it were as full as the Sea is of water and the Sun of light and the Stars of influences we should freely give it all to him Mat. 22.37 Love as it makes us like to God who is Love it self 1 Joh. 4.8 so it is our duty to grow up in it more and more What do they in Heaven but praise and love and we should begin that here that is in its perfection there Vse 2. for Terrour to those that ask not and know not how to renew their Requests it is no wonder if these get nothing for how should they when they will not ask Jam. 4.2 Vse 3. for Humiliation to those of the Saints that are too slack in renewing their suits and asking more at the Lords hands they deprive themselves of many a fair blessing and dam up the flowings of their own praises God might have more glory from them and they more sweets from him could they ask more and renew their suits Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To be frequent in renewing our suits and asking still more and more as Abraham here did God is very ready to give more and to renew grants according as we make Requests to him Joh. 16.24 the more we ask in Christs Name the more we shall be sure to receive we may be straitned in asking but he cannot will not in giving 2. To sing new songs for all the renewed grants that he hath made to us If he hath come off liberally to us in granting more to us according to our suits let not us be sparing of his praises Every additional mercy calls on us to adde to our thanksgivings to him Every new mercy bespeaks for praise renewed from us A new Sute of Clothes becomes us and a new Set of Praise becomes us better Praise is comely Psal 147.1 but never more then when God gives in his answers to our Prayers and his new mercies with them 3. To imitate him in renewing grants to his poor ones and if they desire more let them have more Eph. 5.1 2. What pattern like him 4. To be Renewed in the spirit of our mindes and to be new creatures new men and women new favours call for this 2 Cor. 5.17 5. To renew our Covenant with the Lord as he renews his grants to us Nehem. 9.38 6. To long for heaven where we shall praise and love obey our God perfectly willingly chearfully constantly and after a new manner otherwise then we do now in a state of childhood Verse 29. And he spake to him yet again and said Peradventure there shall be forty found there and he said I will not do it for forties sake Doct. XVII THat Believers when God renews his grants to them do not cease asking but yet again follow him with their suits to obtain yet more favour from him Abraham here had his renewed grant That if there were but five and forty Righteous in the City it should not be destroyed for their sakes but he rests not there but still follows on to sue further That if there should be forty found the place might be spared for their sakes Believers like Beggars are not weary of asking but come again and again thither where their desires have been granted and where they have fared well and been kindly dealt with Courtiers that go to a gracious Prince and have their Renewed suits granted fear not to go again and again and to follow such a Prince with their suits for further favour So here Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From Believers 1. From the Lord. 1. He is Abundant in goodness Exod. 34.6 the whole Earth is full of it Psal 119.64 and this Believers know and that makes them incessant in their suing to him and after his renewed grants to follow him with suits again and again 2. He is a Sun Psal 84.11 Now the Sun is that that gives out and communicates of its light and heat and influences that it is full of So does God He is a full one and hath enough to supply us with and therefore we
cannot come too often to him in our suits and this puts us upon it to follow him with our requests and to speak to him in Prayer yet again as Abraham did here 3. He hath not stinted us nor put any bounds to our lawful desires but hath bidden us ask what we will and as often as we will to ask great things and many things Jer. 33.3 Joh. 15.7 and this encourageth Believers not to stint themselves or to say to themselves Hitherto we will go and no further and when we have got this and that and the other we will ask no more 4. He hath promised that we shall have all we ask according to his will 1 Joh. 5.14 15. and therefore we may well go again and again to him and not give over though we have got our renewed suits granted to us Princes promises encourage Subjects Addresses to them as we see in the Promises of Ahasuerus to Esther and Herods to his Dancing Minion how much more then will Gods promises encourage us in our prayers to him 5. He desires to hear us speaking to him Cant. 2.14 Let me see thy countenance let me hear thy voice and if he desire this we may well be encouraged to come again We may well let him have his desire that lets us have ours 6. He takes pleasure in our often coming Cant. 2.14 Sweet is thy voice Our Prayers are musick and melody in his ears Hence also the Prayers of Believers are compared to Incense Psal 141.2 and that had a fragrant sweet smell Such are Believers Prayers they are sweet-scented fragrant savour well in his nosthrils they are delightsome to him and this may well put us upon it to follow him with our suits that are so acceptable to him in Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 Secondly From Believers 1. They are and may be bold with God as I said before and from that holy boldness do go again and again to him Heb. 4.16 They that have leave to be bold with Kings as Favourites have may go as oft as they will to them and though they have got their renewed grants yet they will come again so it is with Believers that are in favour with God 2. Though they have many desires granted and many of their suits hearkned to yet their wants are many still and will be while they are in this world and if some be supplied yet they need more and therefore cannot but come again We are made up of wants and when we have got something we need more when this and that favour hath been brought in to us still we are lacking something further and therefore cannot but go to him again for supplies Phil. 4.19 3. They know they go to a liberal one that gives to all liberally Jam. 1.5 and therefore though they have received this and that and the other benefit from him yet if they speak yet again and ask on he will not deny them and this puts them on to sue for further favour 4. They do not use to deny their friends that sue to them though they come often and therefore cannot but judge that they fall infinitely short of God who is rich in mercy Eph. 2.4 and this puts them upon it to go often to the Throne of Grace and again and again to ask for further favour though they have prevailed in their suits before 5. They have engaged themselves to call upon God as long as they live Psal 116.2 and this obligation of theirs puts them upon it to make frequent addresses to him and though they have got their desires in some things yet they cannot there make a stop but must ask further as Abraham here did 6. They are the more welcome the oftner they come and the more suits they bring Some men will say to their friends That the oftner they come the more welcome they be and some say it feignedly and others in truth and reality but however it is with men it is so with God he is best pleased with us when we are most frequently with him we are most welcome to him when he hears us oftnest with him It 's said of Enoch that walked constantly with God Gen. 5.22 and followed his suits hard that he had this testimony that he pleased God Heb. 11.5 and so it is with them that come again they are welcome and that puts them upon coming Vse 1. for Information 1. We see that Believers are restless in their motions towards the Lord they are like the Heavenly Bodies that cannot stand still Though they have got much at the Lords hands by bringing their suits before him yet they cannot rest there but must try the Lord yet further and get something more their Suits must go on their Prayers must not have bounds set to them but when new grants have been made yet they must pray further and speak yet again as Abraham here did That man that ceaseth Prayer though he hath got much walketh not in the steps of the faith of Abraham or at least keeps not pace with him in a way believing 2. We see that Believers have great interest in God for they make many suits to him yea when they have got much yet cannot stop there but will ask for more and try the Lord for more grace be given in to them Great is their interest in Princes that can do so and such and much more is Believers interest in the Lord God is theirs and therefore they are emboldened to ask so much of him Psal 119.94 118.28 3. We see that they that sit still and quiet themselves in grace received and do not come again as need is but restrain prayer as they cast off fear Job 15.4 so they are not of the faith of Abraham for though he had suit after suit granted yet he sued still and spake yet again 4. We see that a Believers restless motion in praying comes near Angelical work for the Angels cease not night nor day in praising God Rev. 4. and Believers here cease not to call upon God and though they have obtained much yet they rest not there but must have more and who would not be like the Angels who would not follow those Celestial Spirits it is a rare thing to imitate those glorious Heroes and to serve our King like those noble Courtiers that wait continually upon him and alwayes behold his face 5. We see what longing desires we should have to be in Heaven where we shall be alwayes in his Presence and never cease serving of him Rev. 22.3 4. Here we do something like the service of God there in that we cease not our suits to him onely here is the difference that what we do here is imperfect service and we have our clogs and hindrances in what we best do but in Heaven as we shall be more constant so we shall never be interrupted in our service nor have any clog or hindrance at all and therefore we should long for that blessed place
12.4 and Psal 51.17 they prevail 4. They are importunate prayers so were Abrahams here and they are granted to the utmost Luke 11.8 5. They are modest prayers I will yet speak but this once sayes Abraham 6. They are awfull prayers Oh let not the Lord be angry sayes Abraham And such prayers shall be heard to the utmost of our desires Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what great encouragement we have to pray and not to faint Luke 18.1 for God grants their desires to the utmost that are believing Suppliants Abraham had to the utmost of his desires granted to him 2. We see that the Lord is a full Treasury and rich Store-house of all we need and will give us in all our desires that we ask of him 3. We see how dear Believers are to the Lord that have all granted that they ask even in the full latitude of their desires 4. We see how unwearied we should be in granting the desires of those that sue to us God is not weary of our desires and he is our Pattern to follow 5. We see what cause we have to think that we can never be obedient enough to him that comes up to us in the utmost of our desires that we put up to him 6. We see what cause we have to trust him to the utmost in all stresses and straits in all troubles and in sixes and sevens of them when they come thick upon us when they come rolling one in the neck of another like the waves of the Sea now it 's good trusting him to the utmost that grants our desires to the utmost Lam. 3 54-57 7. We see what cause we have to love him to the utmost that fulfils our desires to the utmost no love is sufficient for him Psal 116.1 8. We see what reason we have to stick to him to his Truth and Testimonies Josh 28.8 Psal 119.31 to his Christ and Cause to the utmost for he grants our desires to the utmost 9. We see that we may well suffer to the utmost for him the utmost scorns wrath fury flames rage of enemies persecutors devils against us for he grants the utmost of our desires to us 10. We see that we may well praise him to the utmost we can never do it enough Neh. 9.5 Hence David calls up Angels to this when his Soul and all within him could not reach it Psal 103.20 21. Vse 2. for Terrour to Unbelievers they get nothing Vse 3. for Humiliation that we pray not as Abraham did Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To joy in him 2. To delight in him 3. To long to with him 4. To do all we can for him 5. To prize him Psal 7.10 Verse 32. And he said Oh let not the Lord be angry and I will speak yet but this once c. Doct. XXVIII THat even the best of Believers leave Petitioning before the Lord leave granting So did Abraham here when he came so low as to desire that if there were but ten Righteous in Sodom the place might not be destroyed and had a gracious answer given in to him he then ceased to ask any further and left off suing before God left off giving Had he gone yet lower and desired for five whatever the Jewish Rabbins say for ought either they or I know God might have granted his desire in that also Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From the Believers First From the Lord. 1. He hath not stinted us nor set any bounds to our Prayers that hitherto we shall go and no further and here our desires shall stay though he hath so bounded the Sea Job 38.11 yet he hath not so limited and bounded our Prayers but if we ask in faith and desire any thing according to his will he heareth us Matth. 21.22 1 Joh. 5.14 15. and therefore we must needs leave off suing before he leave off granting 2. As he hath set no bounds to our Prayers so he hath not turned away our prayer nor his mercy from us Psal 66.20 Men sometimes do so to those that ask of them but God never does we may go as often as we will and for what we will if it be lawful that we ask and may receive it and therefore we leave off asking before he leaves off to give 3. He could not else take this noble Title to himself to be A God hearing Prayer Psal 65.2 if he should not be as ready to grant as we are to ask if he should cease to grant before we cease to ask that Title would be blotted out but he will be ever known by that Title it is his Name and though some men have forgotten their own names yet he will never forget his but will have it known all the world over that he is A God hearing Prayer 4. He findes fault with us that we ask no more Isa 43.22 Thou hast not called upon me O Jacob but hast been weary of me O Israel and 64.7 the Prophet complains There is none that calleth upon thy Name that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee and if this displease him so then sure we leave off to sue before he to grant 5. He encourageth us to ask by his Promises that he makes to us Mat. 7.7 8. Joh. 16.23 As Solomon said to Bathsheba Ask on my Mother for I will not say thee nay 1 Kin. 2.20 So the Lord does encourage us to ask on and if so then it is not he but we that fail if we ask not we leave off petitioning before he leave granting 6. He hath his doors ever open his Mercy-seat and Throne of Grace ever set up that we may repair to Heb. 4.16 and therefore our desires fail sooner then his will to grant because his doors are never shut nor his Mercy-seat never barred up but we may go to it when we will Secondly From the Believers themselves 1. We have narrow hearts and our desires are scant and are not so full as his hand is in giving He opens his hand wide but we shut our hearts Narrow mouth'd vessels receive in little though it rain abundantly such vessels are our hearts were they more open and more capable to receive we might have more but the narrowness of our desires and hearts makes us leave off petitioning before he leave giving even Abraham himself though he had a larger heart then other men yet had it more straitned then Gods hand was to give 2. We are apt to stint our selves and to set bounds to our desires I will speak yet but this once sayes Abraham here And we stinting our selves hence it comes to pass that we sooner cease to make our requests then the Lord to give out his grants 3. We are afraid that he may be angry with us for asking him so much as Abraham here was and that shortens our desires and bars up our requests so that we have sooner done petitioning then the Lord hath in granting The fear of a Princes anger stops his mouth that