Selected quad for the lemma: soul_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
soul_n	answer_n	time_n	zion_n	16	3	9.6674	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89587	The strong helper or, The interest, and power of the prayers of the destitute, for the building up of Sion. Opened in a sermon before the Honorable House of Commons assembled in Parliament, upon the solemn day of their monethly fast, April 30. 1645. / By Stephen Marshall, B.D. minister of Gods Word, at Finching-field in Essex.	Marshall, Stephen, 1594?-1655.	1645 (1645)	Wing M790; Thomason E280_1; ESTC R200033	40,798	62

Zion But the second is the main Secondly The Lord doth then answer the prayers of his people when he builds up Zion because in truth the building up of Zion is the all in all of all his peoples prayers that is as Solomon saith Money answers all so whatsoever particular suites Gods people have offered up the building up of Zion hath been such a request that the answering of that answers all others whatsoever he denies them it skils not they have enough they are abundantly satisfyed they will clear all books and break all Tallies with God they will give in all other bills whatsoever if this be but done that this is so observe I beseech you wheresoever in the Scripture you read of the prayers of Gods people as by the way you shall hardly read of any godly man but you shall read of his prayer you will finde that the strain and the stream of all their prayers runs for Zion read Moses his prayers Joshuahs prayers goe on to David to Solomon to Ezra to Nehemiah and the severall Prophets read all their prayers and you shall finde that Zion is the bulk of them all In thy good pleasure doe good to Zion and though there are many particular suites to themselves yet what they beg to themselves is only begged as a means but when they beg for Zion they beg it as an end Thy Kingdome come to Gods people is next to Hallowed bee thy name It is more to them then all the rest of the Lords Prayer Give us our dayly bread Forgive us our trespasses Leade us not into temptation Deliver us from evill They are all inferiour to Thy Kingdome come the building up of Gods Church is that which hath swayed all with the Saints in all their prayers And it must be so it can be no otherwise with true godly men if you consider either the relation that the Church hath to God or that which they have to the Church First that of the Church to Christ it is his Love his Dove his Fair one his Spouse his Jewell that which he hath laid all his own glory upon one to whom he stands in all relations which argues intimative dearnesse and tendernesse what-ever is done to them is done to himself Yee did it to them therefore yee did it to mee The Churches cause is his Her rising is his glory her reproach is his dishonour Arise O Lord plead thy own cause remember how the foolish people reproach thee forget not the voyce of thy enemies when the Synagogues of the Church was pulled down when the Church was wasted And to themselves likewise it is their Mother in whose womb they have laine whose breasts they have sucked it is the Magazine wherein all their treasure is laid up a vessel wherein all their wealth sinkes and swims if the Church be safe they are safe and no thought of safety if it miscarry salva Ecclesia salva omnia as they were wont to say of Rome Salva Roma salva patria salva omnia so next unto God the Church is their all and therefore the building up of Zion the welfare of the Church of God must needs be the answer to all their prayers Give me leave to present you with a twofold Use of this Lesson and then I hasten to that which I chiefly intended First this Lesson may serve to every of you for one of the greatest discoveries of your owne spirits that can be whether in truth your hearts be right with God thinke how you could answer this one question Would the Lords building up of the Church the setling and establishing of Religion in purity and peace would that be to thy soule the answer of all thy prayers art thou able to say it before God Build but up Zion and I have enough No man under heaven can say it but a Saint and there is not a Saint upon earth but may say it I know it lies in the bottome of his soule But how shall we know it I le give you but one way of tryall If the welfare of Zion the building up of the Church be the summe of all thy prayers then it is likewise the summe of all thy endevours thy studies thy time thy wit thy parts thy interest what ever may be called thine are mainly laid out in promoving in helping forward the welfare of Zion This you shall finde cleare in the book of God that as all the prayers of Gods people run upon Zions welfare so now I say in the second place all the endevours of all that prayed for Zion run to help it forward Zion was the summe of all their prayers and of all their joyes and cares no joy to them like the joy they had in the prosperity of Zion when the Lord at any time turned back the captivity of his people they were like men that dreamed their mouth was filled with laughter and their tongue withjoy and no sorrow like that which was caused by the affictions of Jacob then they would even dye with griefe then they would name their children Ichabod then they would mourne and not be comforted and consequently all they had or could contribute was most readily afforded The Prophets and Apostles cold preach as well as pray and all their Sermons were for Zion Kings could plot project counsell c. as well as pray all their plots and projects were to build up Zion Souldiers could fight as well as pray all their warres were the warres of God Rich men could lay out money as well as pray all their wealth was a Sacrum to God a devoted thing to him when the Church needed it their penny went as willingly as their Pater noster other learned men if any man could write histories if any Poet could make songs all was laid our about the Church about furthering the welfare of it or if any were found among them who would professe love to it and joine in prayer for it yet mind their own affaires build their owne houses and let Gods house lye wast they are branded for degenerate hypocriticall ignoble spirits These were the Potters and those who dwelt among hedges there they dwelt with the King for his work a base people who would tarry in Babylon to get wealth and not go up with their brethren to build the house of God and even thus may we judge of our selves And therefore I say to you Honourable Senators that are Noble-men and Gentlemen engaged in this great work the present service you are called to if really you doe make the building of Zion to be the answer of your prayers it is the great Parliament project this day to settle the Church I know when Nehemiahs work was to build the walls of Hierusalem one halfe of his servants were faine to carry the Arms while the other built and many times those that built were faine to have a sword in one hand as well as a trowoll in the

are strong wise vigilant that are many who have all the Antichristian and Malignant part of the Christian world joyned with them and besides all this I am perswaded we now grapple with the revenging hand of God for the sins which this Nation hath lien in this hundred years God doth now remember them and visits the Kingdome for them the idolatry the blood the Apostasie and innumerable other evils and abominations our troubles are very great and the event may seem very difficult and doubtfull but let me tell you here is that may counterpoise all and support us against all discouragements and make us comfortably conclude of a good issue We shall over-master all that are against us we shall over-match them because the spirit and power of prayer is on our side we have had these three or foure years especially the spirit of prayer powred out I am perswaded in the greatest measure that hath been since the Apostles of Christ lived upon earth and our prayers have not been in vain though the full return be not yet made we have had the first fruits many a sweet in-come we have had already But know Honorable and beloved they are all filed up before God there is not one of them lost they will bring another manner of return then yet they have done And not our prayers only but the prayers of all the Christian world are before God in our behalf our cause is Gods the work we are ingaged in is the building up of Zion and therefore there is not a good man in the world no not at Oxford who prayes Thy Kingdome come but prayes for us who are indevouring the raising up of Christs Kingdom now these prayers are all before God and must bring a comfortable answer in due time Nay this comfort reaches yet further not onely wee that are now alive and our prayers but all the Worthies who are now with God their Prayers pray for us Though we must say of them as the Church did of Abraham they know us not they are ignorant of our condition yet their prayers which they offered up while they were on earth and longed to see this work proceed are now really assistant to us Daniel and Jeremiah did as really build the Temple and City as Zerubbabel and Nehemiah though they were dead long before That look as the blood of the Martyrs cryed for vengeance from Abel to Zacharias and thereby reach a present persecuting generation so the prayers of those who loved Zion do blesse and reach all the workmen now imployed in the rearing up of the Church their prayers speak as Abels Faith did when he was dead and rotten insomuch that I may confidently conclude that the two Houses of Parliament and our Armies as unworthy as we are are daily carryed upon the wings of many millions of prayers that have been offered up to God these many years they are all before God night and day God is only waiting the fit time and therefore I beseech you bear up your spirits against all other discouragements the Lord will in the most accepted time let you know that all that have ever said to him Lord remember England Lord purge thy Church in England Lord set it up there down with Prelacy stablish Liberty make way for Christ they are all before God and must prevaile and therefore certainly our comfort may be greater ten to one then our discomfort need be though all the Nations of the world were sworn against us You shall God willing have more of this before I dismisse you let this taste suffice at the present And Secondly It is also a most comfortable lesson to poore afflicted dejected spirits who mourn and wrastle with God for their own distresses There may be many such in this Assembly this day who pray every day it may be with David seven times in a day ten times in a day but the heart sinkes for want of an answer as wicked men think they shall never be reckoned with for their sins because divine vengeance seems to sleep so do poore soules conceive that because God at present seems to slight them he will never regard them I have oft heard many a sad soule lament after this manner Did but God heare my prayers did he but accept me I would with David call upon him as long as I did live might but my prayer come up before him and be lookt upon but to be thus as a despised reed a scorned poore creature as I confesse I deserve to be this daunts my soule that I dare not pray I am even ready to give over O saith the sad heart I beg mercies and I taste wrath I beg grace and I feel corruption I beg ease and I indure torment I beg love and I finde displeasure all goes backwards God casts my prayer out shuts it out from him and this this wounds the soule let me to such a sad soule speak a few comfortable words from the Lord I take this for granted that the things thou dost beg are according to Gods will thou darest not beg an unlawfull thing I take it also for granted that thou that dost call upon God dost indevour to depart from iniquity that thou darest not call upon the name of God and walk in sinfull waies but thou wouldest be his servant and I likewise take it for granted that thou dost not expect or desire audience for any ones sake but for Christ Jesus thy Saviour to whom thou lookest this I hope God witnesses with thee Why if so then it seems the onely evill that oppresses thy spirit is God doth not answer thee he doth not give thee such a return of thy prayer as thou desirest But know thou Gods answering of thy prayer must not be measured by thy sad apprehensions but by his own word which word assures me that all thy prayers are before God night and day and for his present answering of thee it is no token of his displeasure that he does not give thee a sudden answer his forbearance is no deniall the best of all his Saints have cryed and prayed till their throate hath been dry and God hath seemed not to answer David had prayed long for an answer Psal. 69. 3. when he complained Hee was weary of his crying his throate was dry his eyes failed while hee did waite for his God The whole Church long sought him whom her soule loved and found him not and Paul thrice that is many times besought God to remove the messenger of Satan which was sent to buffet him and was fain to wait still so that thou art not alone in being thus delayed Nay I tell thee further God hath many wayes of regarding and answering Prayer Sometimes he may regard a prayer which he absolutely denies when the thing would not be good for him that begs it So he peremptorily denyed Moses his prayer to goe into the Land of Canaan But if the thing be good and

our Saviour Christ to the poore woman when she came and prayed Lord helpe mee thou Son of David helpe mee At first he seemed not to regard her would not answer the next time he stayed and when she had delivered her petition he called her Dog to her face enough to have cut the womans heart in peeces This is wofull indeed this cuts to the quick and comes near to one of the saddest judgements threatned against his enemies You shall call and I will not answer but will laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear cometh So you see the prayers of Gods own people may for a long time seem despised But then the second branch is That even then are they highly regarded and will bring a timely answer That they are so I might give you abundance of proofe David observed it in the 31 Psalme one time he prayed and God gave him such an answer that he thought himself despised I said saith he I am cast out of the sight of Gods eyes when he prayed God turned him out of his presence yet follows Neverthelesse thou heardest the voyce of my prayer when I called upon thee And so in Egypt how long did Gods people mourn there and their burthens increasing it is like they thought God had wholly rejected them yet God told Moses Exodus 3. I have heard the cry of my people in Egypt But this will abundantly clear it that the prayers of the afflicted are said to be upon Gods file before God Let these my prayers bee nigh unto the Lord night and day they lye leiger before God they are called a memoriall they are alwayes in his sight and he is therefore called in the Scripture The God hearing Prayer God hearing Prayer is one of his attributes hearing is a participle of the present tense as if you cannot speak to him under the notion of God but you must conceive him hearing prayer hearing the prayers of his people at all times he is said likewise to remember the prayers of his people to carry them in his minde to have them in his thoughts and which makes all more clear he hath promised not onely to heare but in the best time to answer them in an accepted time I have heard thee The Lord would thereby intimate that hearing is one thing and answering is another thing and there often is a distance between them but all that distance of time God is but consulting as it were of the fittest opportunity and the best way to answer the prayers of his people The examples are not to be numbred of the timely answer of such prayers David in the 22 Psalme in his owne name in the person of Christ in the name and person of the whole Church begins with a sad complaint O my God I cry in the day time but thou hearest not but in the same Psalm concludes as comfortably he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted neither hath he hid his face from him but when he cryed unto him he heard Abraham had long prayed for a sonne before any answer came yet when in all probability he had given over praying he received a full answer So did Zachary and Elizabeth Luk. 1. so did Cornelius Act. 10. and those slaughtered soules Rev. 6. who cryed How long Lord holy and true c. at last received a full returne The building of the Temple after the 70 yeares captivity was a work long on the wheele even the time of 7 Princes reigne yet the prayers for the accomplishment and perfecting of it were all answered and fulfilled in their season and came as God promises the returne of prayer shall be like the former and the latter raine in due season And you will grant that this is so and must be so that their prayers must be thus regarded if you consider but these five things which meet in them First when the afflicted people of God doe powre out their prayers to the Lord they doe that which he commands them to doe they have his expresse commandement to doe it Gall upon me in the day of trouble now that which Gods people do in obedience to his command cannot be despised by him it would reflect upon his honour if duties and performances of his owne will should not be regarded Secondly when the afflicted soule prayes Gods owne Spirit prayes in them for they know not how to pray as they ought but it is the Spirit of God in them that makes intercession and however the Lord might be thought to quench the spirit of his poore sinfull ones he will never quench his owne spirit he must needs regard that And thirdly when ever Gods people doe thus pray Jesus Christ intercedes for them as his Spirit makes intercession within them upon earth so Christ makes intercession for them in heaven Hee is the Angel of Gods presence and the Lord cannot but regard that which is presented unto him by the hand of one whom he alwayes loves And fourthly They themselves are very dear to God they are infinitely beloved even those despised ones he hath none in heaven or earth dearer to him then his afflicted ones are This argument Christ himself uses to assure them their Prayers will be regarded in the 16. of John You shall ask in my name said he and I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you for the Father himself loveth you when you come to pray to him you come not as to an enemy and though I be your Mediator it is between you and a friend not between you and an enemy My Father loves you dearly we that are evill can give good things to our Children because we love them how much more will our heavenly Father doe it This argument our Saviour also presseth most sweetly in the parable of the unrighteous Judge who through importunity did right to a poore Widow and shall not God much more do it for his Elect ones his beloved ones And fifthly He hath ingaged himself by innumerable promises to the poor the desolate and the afflicted that they shall be answered by him Call upon me and I will answer thee in an accepted time I will answer thee many a time hath God engaged himselfe for it and he that commands his own servants if they look for his favour that they keep their promises though it be to their hinderance though it should be to an enemy certainly himself will never alter the thing the word that is come out of his mouth to them who are so dear to him as his Saints are and therefore their prayers must needs be before him But it may bee demanded Why then do they seem to be despised and why doth the Lord defer to answer them I Answer First God doth not alwayes defer them sometimes before they call hee doth

other hand but the swords and atmes were to defend the trowell the work of the trowell was the great project So will it be with you you will with that Emperour Ezra 6. 7 8. provide that all things shall be provided speedily and care fully for this house of God that government be setled Ministers provided encouraged maintained the Sacraments and other Ordinances kept pure and not be at quiet till the Cap-stone be sot upon the head of this building I know Armies must be provided for and Garrisons secured yet they will be looked upon but as meaner Religion the establishing of it will be the end yea your Liberties will be but as meanes Religion will be the Cap-stone the Creame and Oile which swims on the top of all if your hearts be but right with God Therefore I beseech you consider in secret what answer you could make whether you can call in your soules to witnesse that after all your combustions labours losses if God would but establish England a beautifull habitatien the people made holy that the Lord might own them and the three Nations joyned in a Covenant might be one stick in the hand of the Lord in a holy plous religious way that the flocks might have every one their shepheard and the glory of God the defence on every congregation if for these things you sweat and toile and care it is an evident token your hearts are right with God And if any of you the rest of the Assembly do make account that the building of Zion is the answers of all your prayers then if it have your prayer it will have your penny you 'll goe ride run and travell and nothing will stick with you if this be your main suit Indeed in the true notion and interpretation of prayer it is nothing but the craving of Gods blessing upon our endevours in those things which he hath appointed us to do toward the obtaining of any mercy we little better then mock him if we onely pray and set not our shoulder to the wheele And were this carried close to mens consciences how sadly would it speak to many who can abundantly satisfie themselves with joyning in a few dry prayers for the Church and in the meane while they grudge the bestowing of any other cost they can find work enough to build their owne houses and drive on their owne projects let God if he please take care to build his house and do his owne work himself let all such hypocrites know that God will indeed doe his work without them and their formall prayers will returne not with comfort into their bosomes but with vengeance upon their heads But much more sadly doth it speak against those whose lives and subtle machinations retard this work who to their utmost hinder the work of reformation and would not have it goe on for feare their lusts should be yoaked and yet set out Prayers and themselves seeme to joyne with them that God would build up Zion this is most abominable hypocrisie I remember I have read of one of the Emperours of Germany that had taken the Pope prisoner who commanded throughout the Empire solemne prayers to be made to God for the Popes deliverance out of prison and he himself kept him in prison at the same time so these wretched men say O pray for the peace of Zion pray that God would build up Zion and themselves waste it some by their wicked lives others by their pernicious counsels some by their lusts some for feare the Word of God and Ordinances should yoke them they pretend to build the wals of it and yet endevour to undermine the foundations of it God in mercy grant that no such be found among our selves but if in truth this be our great care and study and endevour to see the work goe forward that we count nothing of ours so well disposed of as what is cast into this common treasury it speaks the heart indeed to be right with God Is it so that when God builds up Zion he answers all his peoples prayers even their private prayers as well as this great one then I beseech you let this move every one of you to help forward this work even out of holy self-love you doe not know what a water'd Garden God may make your soule and family when he builds up his Church Certainly if a man were sure not to get any good to his owne soule yet if he might see the prosperity of Zion and Jerusalem he should think it a very blessed sight so thought he who pen'd the 106 Psalme Remember me O Lord with the favour thou bearest unto thy people that I may see the good of thy chosen that I may rejoice with the gladnesse of thy Nation that I may glory with thine inheritance So thought John the Baptist though he was sure he should decrease when Christ did increase yet to him it was the fulfilling of his joy to see the people flow in unto Christ when as the Bridegrooms friend he could heare the Bride-groomes voice rejoicing with his Bride But which is more thy peace shall be concurrent with Zions peace the Lord will satiate every afflicted soule in the day when he refreshes Zion let this therefore draw out all your hearts and bowels Remember an argument God uses in the 29 of Jeremy to them that were captives in Babylon Seek the peace of the City whither I have caused you to be carried captives and pray unto the Lord for it for in the peace thereof ye shall have peace What must they pray for Babylons peace for Nebuchadnezzars peace that like a Dragon had swallowed them and like a Lion had crushed their bones Yes pray for the peace of that kingdome because in the peace of that Kingdome you shall have peace O how much more should every one help forward Zions peace thy mothers peace the Spouse of Christs peace because thy soule shall never have so much grace thou shalt never be so holy thy children never so blessed all about thee never made so happy as when the Lord God shall build up Zion therefore O pray for the Peace of Zion they shall all prosper who love her as he said there For my brethren and companions sake I will now say Peace be within thee So say thou for my owne sake for my children and companions sake I will seek to doe thee good especially let it prevaile with you Honourable and Beloved you noble Patriots and Parliament men further it with all your might Go up into the mountain cut downe wood build the house that God may take pleasure in it and prove God whether upon your selves and families he poure not out a blessing without measure you little imagine what a blessing the Lord will give when once this work is done it may shatter and hazzard some things carnall friends and secret enemies may fall off from you but your labour will be

to be prosecuted more fully but I feare I have already transgressed upon your patience by the length of my Sermon I commend it to your thoughts and let us by prayer commend it and our selves to God that we may joyne with them and be numbred among them whose prayers he will heare for the building up of Zion FINIS Esa. 58. 12. Dan. 9. 25. Psal. 104 3. Luk. 17. 6. Intreduction Shewing the scope of the Text to bee a Circumstance which highly magnifies the work of Gods bullding up of Sion And containes I a plomise of Gods regarding his peoples prayers What it is for God to regard prayer what not to despise Psalm 51. 17. 2 This promise respects 1 The persons who 2 The time when 3 The matter wherein their prayer shall bee regarded The Persons who 1. The destitute who they are Hence two lessons Observat. 1. The Church often brought very low before deliverance Psal 102 6 7 8 9. Psal. 141. 7. Psal. 124. 7. Efa 48. 10. Reason 1. From their own folly Psal. 38 5. Esa 51. 20. Job 36. 8 9 10 Luk. 15. 17. Reason 2. For Gods greater glory in their deliverance Joh. 11. 34. Vse To teach us to judgeour selves of our present distresses Jer. 15. 8. Nahum 19. Esa. 43. 34. Psal. 68. 22. Lam. 3. 40. Obser. 2. The prayers of the destitute are highly regarded by God Isa. 49. 13. Job 34. 28. Psal. 18. 4 5 6. Psal. 143. 1 2. Reason 1. They pray indeed Psal. 101. title Prov. 18. 22. Reason 2. They look for help from God onely Psal. 142. 4. Reason 3. They will prize an answer Esa 41. 17 18. Reason 4. They most stand in need of favour Job 12. 5. Isa. 18. 7 10. Vse 2. To encourage such to pray Quest Ans. 2 Consider this text in relation to the time when God will regard his peoples prayers And thence Observ. 1. That prayers which seem long despised are yet highly regarded and will bring a timely answer Cleared in two branches 1 The prayers of Gods people may seem to be despised Psal 23. 2. Psal. 80. 4. Psal. 88. 17. 14. Lam. 3. 44. Mat●h 15. 26. Prov. 1. 26 27. 2 Yet then they are highly regarded Psal. 21. 23. 1 Kin. 8. 59. Acts 10. 4. Luk. 1. 13. Gen. 19. 29. 30 22. Psal. 20. 3. Psal. 65. 2. And will bring a timely answer Esa. 49. 8. 2 Cor. 6. 2. Psal. 22. 2. with verse 24. Luk. 1. 14. Acts 10. 3 4. Rev. 6. 10 11. with Rev. 8. 3 4. Hosea 6. Joel 2. 2 3. Jer. 3. 3. Reasons of it 1. They doe his commandements herein Psal. 50. 15. 2. His Spirit prays in them Rom. 8. 26. 3. Christ mediares for them Rev 8. 3. 4. They are dearly belo●ed of God Joh. 16. 26. Luke 18. 7. 5. He hath promised to heare them Psal. 50. 15. Isa. 49. 1 King 8. 33. ad finem Psal. 15. 4. Psal. 89. 34. Quest Why then doth he deferre and seem to despise them Answ. He doth not alwaies so Iso 65. 24. Gen. 24. 45. Dan. 9. 23. Jer. 29. 11. Psal. 143. 7. Mat. 14. 30. When he doth it 's for the glory of his Soveraignty His Free-grace Lev. 19. 13. And his Wisdome 2 For their good many wayes 1 Hereby hee teacheth them to pray Psal. 88. Mat. 15. 22. Gen. 32. 24 25. 1 Sam. 2. 2 Trains them up in humility Psal. 131. 1 2. 2 Sam. 6. 3 Exercise their Faith Hope Rom. 4. 19. Mat. 15. 2 Cor. 1. 8. Esa. 8. 17. Makes the answer of their prayer more comfortable Prov. 31. 2. Luk. 1. Prov. 13. 22. Application 1 Consolation in relation to our present work and troubles Vse 2. 2 Consolation to particular distressed soules Psal. 50. 21. Psal. 116. 2. Psal. 69. 3. 119. 123. Cant. 3. 4. 2 Cor. 12. 2 Chron. 7. 1. Psal. 35. 13. Obser. 2. The Lord answers all his peoples prayers when he builds up Zion Jer. 14. 11. Rev. 6. 10. Jer. 29. 11. Esay 25. 9. Cleared in two branches Then God relieves their particular wants Esa. 61. 2 3. Jer. 31. 25. Esa. 25. 4. Esa. 35. 3. This building up of Zion is the sum of all their prayers Deut. 32. 1 Kin. 8. 2 Chron. 20 Esa. 62. Dan. 9. Ezra 8. Neh. 1. 12. 14. Matth. 25. Psal. 74. 22 2● Vse 1. For examination a notable discovery whose hearts are right with God Psal. 126. 1 2. 1 Sam. 4 13 18 19. Neh. 1. 4. Dan 9 Psal. 13. 7. Esa. 22. 4. Haggai 1. 4. 1 Cllto 4 23. Neh. 4. 16 17. Ezra 6. 7 8. Esa. 4. last Vse 2. Exhortarion to all to promote this work Psal. 106. 4 5. John 3. 29 30. Jer. 29. 7. Psal. 1. 32. 6 7. Haggai 1. 8. Mal. 3. 10. Hester 4. 14. Zach 12. 3. Micah 58. 3 Consider this promise of Gods regarding the prayers of the destiture in respect of the thing wherein they shall be regarded Last Doctr. The building up of Zion the fruite of Gods peoples prayers proved 1 From Gods Providences Deut. 32. 36. Esa. 16 17 18. Jer. 29. 11. Zach 12. Esa. 62. 1. Psal. 102. 13. Deut. 9. 8. 2 From his command Jer. 29. 11. Psal. 122. 6. Jer. 51. 50. 3 From his promises Hose 12. 4 with Gen. 32. 26. Exo. 32. 10. 14 Reason 1. This way God provides that himselfe alone shall have the glory Ephes. 3. 20. Psal. 21. 3. 1 Kin. 3. 12. 13. Reason 2. For his servants glory Job 42. 8. Gen. 20 7. And benefit Prov. 31. 2. 1 Sam. 2. Application 1. Instruction what under God hath been our greatest help even the prayers of Gods people Vse 2. In what high esteem prayer and praying men ought to be Foure things wherein prayer is more excellent then all other helps 1. It is a most universall remedy 1 Kings 8 33 ad fir em Pro. 15. 4. 2. It will help in any extrem●ty 3. It helps at any distance Psal. 139. 8 9. 4. It is the most speedy help Vse 3. Exhortation to all who can pray to ply the throne of grace 1. Motives thereunto 1. Prayer hath done much already Psal. 66. 19. Jonah 2. 7. 2. Our need as great as ever 2 King 13. 19 A caution to be remembred not every man not every prayer will doe it 1. Not every Man Jer. 14. 12. Job 22. 21 27. 2. Not every Prayer Psal. 102. Title Jam. 5. 6. 1 Tim. 2. 8. Heb. 10. 22. Psal. 66. 19. Ezek. 14 4.