330 .11w ems Raw rslpft we Pray is Faith ? Serm. t4. ill. We are to believe, that whadoever we ask of God in Prayer is according to his will, t fohn 5.14. The poor doubting Spill will fay then, I dare not pray for the recove- ry of my child, lince I know not whether it be the vvill of God it (hall recover or no. I Anfwer, Thine asking what God bath decreed not to give, makes not thy Prayer finful, but t nine asking what he bath forbid thee to de- fire ; for the will of Gods Decree is not the rule for us to walk by, but the will of his Command, Dearc.29.29. If vv hat we pray for be fuck as is lawful, and good for as to delire, though God fhould cell us by a Prophet that he would not grant ir, yet we might lawfully pray for ir, and be blamelefs,for fo did David, 2 Sam. r 2. nay, though God fhould fend us word by a Prophet that we fhould dye and not live, yet we might pray, and not only be blamelefs but fuccefsful, for fo was Heme- kiah, nay, though God fhould forbid us to pray, yet fence he commands us co pray in his Word,we may pray,and be heard ; for though God bid Tacob let him go, yet he wrellled on and obtained the bleffing : and Mofes, though God bid him let hinB alone, yet Mofes did not let him alone,and prevailed. So then to ask things according to the will of God, is to ask nothing that is unlawful to ask, as for one to pray that God would profper us in evil waies,this is to ask what is not according to his will. I fay, you are to pray for nothing that is any way unlawful to be def red. Now it is not enough that the thing it felf be lawful to be defi- red, but the end for which we delire it mull be lawful ; for if we delire lawful things for unlawful ends, we ask amifs, 7,07;4.3. The end why we delire fuch a mercy muff be finch, as God approves of by his Word, as well as the thing it felf.To c'.efire gifts of Edification for Oflentation, though according to the Will of God as to the thing de(ired, yet as to the end it is abominable. As concerning the matter of our Prayers, we are to believe, as hath been Paid, fo as to God we are to believe feveral things: Indeed fcarce any of his Attributes but force way or other we are to aó} our Faith upon in Prayer, but I (hall choofe force few on which the eye of Faith is efpecially fixed in Prayer. The firfi is Gods Omnijcience, for elfe we shall be at a great lots. L If we believe not this, how can we be affured that God hears our' P: aytr,. For T. In refpeCi of the number of ,Prayers, there being Millions of Prayers put up at the fame time to God, if he be not O+nnifcient how
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