# Jonathan Edwards  - The Most High a Prayer Hearing God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N2qzuIId5U

[00:03] The most high, a prayer-hearing God, by Jonathan Edwards.
[00:08] Psalm 65:2: O thou that hearest prayer.
[00:14] This psalm seems to be written either as a psalm of praise to God for some remarkable answer of prayer in the bestowment of some public mercy, or else on occasion of some special faith and confidence which David had that his prayer would be answered.
[00:30] It is probable that this mercy bestowed, or expected to be bestowed, was some great public mercy for which David had been very earnest and importunate, and had annexed a vow to his prayer.
[00:43] And that he had vowed to God that if he would grant him his request, he would render him praise and glory.
[00:50] This seems to be the reason why he expresses himself as he does in the first verse of the psalm: Praise waiteth for thee, O God of Zion, and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
[01:04] i.e that praise which i have vowed to give thee on the answer of my prayer waiteth for thee to be given thee as soon as thou shalt have answered my prayer.
[01:16] And the vow which i had made to thee shall be performed.
[01:21] In the verse of the text there is a prophecy of the glorious times of the gospel, when all flesh shall come to the true god, as to the god who heareth prayer which is here mentioned, as what distinguishes the true god from the gods to whom the nations prayed and sought those gods who cannot hear, and cannot answer their prayer.
[01:45] The time was coming when all flesh should come to that god who does hear prayer.
[01:51] Hence we gather this doctrine, that it is the character of the most high that he is a god who hears prayer.
[02:00] I shall handle this point in the following method.
[02:03] First, show that the most high is a god.
[02:06] that hears prayer
[02:08] second that he is eminently such a god
[02:12] third that herein he is distinguished
[02:15] for all false gods and fourth
[02:19] give the reason of the doctrine
[02:23] first the most high is a god that hears prayer
[02:27] though he is infinitely above all and stands in no need of creatures
[02:32] yet he graciously is pleased to take a merciful notice of poor worms of the dust
[02:39] he manifests and presents himself as the object of prayer
[02:44] appears as sitting on a mercy seat that men may come to him by prayer
[02:49] when they stand in need of anything he allows them to come and ask it of him and he is want to hear their prayers
[02:56] god in his word has given many promises that he will hear their prayers
[03:00] the scripture is full of such examples and in his dispensations towards his church
[03:06] Manifests himself to be a god that hears prayer.
[03:10] Here it may be inquired what is meant by God's hearing prayer.
[03:14] There are two things implied in it: first, his accepting the supplications of those who pray to him.
[03:21] Their address to him is well taken; he is pleased with it.
[03:25] He approves of their asking such mercies as they request of him, and approves of their manner of doing it.
[03:29] He accepts of their prayers as an offering to him.
[03:35] He accepts the honor they do him in prayer.
[03:39] Second, he acts agreeably to his acceptance.
[03:43] He sometimes manifests his acceptance of their prayers by special discoveries of his mercy and sufficiency which he makes to them in prayer, or immediately after.
[03:52] While they are praying, he gives them sweet views of his glorious grace, purity, sufficiency, and sovereignty, and enables them with great quietness to rest in him.
[04:06] To leave themselves and their prayers with him, submitting to his will and trusting in his grace and faithfulness.
[04:14] Such a manifestation God seems to have made of himself in prayer to Hannah, which quieted and composed her mind and took away her sadness.
[04:22] We read in First Samuel, chapter one, how earnest she was and how exercised in her mind, and that she was a woman of sorrowful spirit.
[04:33] But she came and poured out her soul before God and spoke out of the abundance of her complaint and grief.
[04:42] Then we read that she went away and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
[04:48] Verse 18, which seems to have been from something refreshing discovered which God had made of himself to her, to enable her quietly to submit to his will and trust in his mercy, whereby God manifest his acceptance of her.
[05:05] Not that I conclude persons can hence...
[05:08] Argue that the particular thing which they ask will certainly be given them.
[05:15] Or that they can particularly foretell from it what God will do in answer to their prayers any further than he has promised in his word.
[05:25] Yet God may and doubtless does thus testify his acceptance of their prayers.
[05:30] And from hence they may confidently rest in his providence and in his merciful ordering and disposing with respect to the thing which they ask.
[05:42] Again, God manifest his acceptance of their prayers by doing for them agreeably to their needs and supplications.
[05:50] He not only inwardly and spiritually discovers his mercy to their souls by his spirit, but outwardly by dealing mercifully with them in his providence in consequence of their prayers and by causing an agreeableness between his providence and their prayers.
[06:06] I proceed now to number two, to show that.
[06:10] The most high is eminently a God that hears prayers.
[06:15] This appears in several things.
[06:18] First, in his giving such free access to him by prayer.
[06:22] God in his word manifests himself ready at all times to allow this privilege.
[06:27] He sits on a throne of grace, and there is no veil to hide his throne or keep us from him.
[06:33] The veil is rent from the top to the bottom.
[06:39] The way is open at all times, and we may go to God as often as we please.
[06:45] Although God is infinitely above us, yet we may come with boldness.
[06:50] Hebrews 4:14 and 16: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
[07:01] How wonderful is it that such worms as we should be allowed to come boldly at all times to so great a God!
[07:09] Thus God indulges all kinds of persons.
[07:12] Of all nations, first Corinthians chapter 1 verses 2 and 3.
[07:17] Unto all that in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.
[07:21] Grace be unto you, and so on.
[07:25] Yea, God allows the most vile and unworthy.
[07:27] The greatest sinners are allowed to come through Christ.
[07:31] And He not only allows but encourages and frequently invites them.
[07:35] Yea, manifests Himself as delighting in being sought to by prayer.
[07:40] Proverbs 15:8: The prayer of the upright is His delight.
[07:45] And in Song of Songs chapter 2 verse 14, we have Christ saying to the spouse, O my dove, let me hear your voice, for sweet is your voice.
[07:55] The voice of the saints in prayer is sweet unto Christ.
[07:59] He delights to hear it.
[08:01] He allows them to be earnest and important, yea to the degree as to take no denial, and as it were to give Him no rest, and even encouraging them to do so.
[08:11] Isaiah 62 verses 6 and 7.
[08:14] Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence.
[08:18] And give him no rest, thus Christ encourages us in the parable of the unfortunate widow and the unjust judge, Luke 18.
[08:27] So in the parable of the man who went to his friend at midnight, Luke 11 verse 5 and so on.
[08:34] Thus God allowed Jacob to wrestle with him, yea, to be resolute in it: I will not let you go except you bless me.
[08:43] It is noticed with approbation when men are violent for the kingdom of heaven and take it by force.
[08:49] Thus Christ suffered the blind man to be most important and unceasing in his cries to him, Luke 18 verses 38 and 39.
[08:59] He continued crying, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
[09:05] Others who were present rebuked him that he should hold his peace, looking upon it as too great a boldness and an indecent behavior toward Christ, thus to cry after him.
[09:15] As he passed by, but Christ did not rebuke him.
[09:19] He stood and commanded him to be brought unto him, saying, 'What wilt thou that I should do to thee?'
[09:25] And when the blind man had told him, Christ graciously granted his request.
[09:31] The freedom of access that God gives appears also in allowing us to come to him by prayer for everything we need, both temporal and spiritual, whatever evil we need to be delivered from or good we would obtain.
[09:47] Philippians 4 verse 6: Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
[09:58] Second, that God is eminently of this character appears in his hearing prayer so readily.
[10:05] He often manifests his readiness to hear prayer by giving an answer so speedily, sometimes while they are yet speaking, and sometimes before they pray, when they only have a design of praying.
[10:17] So ready is God to hear prayer that He takes notice of the first purpose of praying and sometimes bestows mercy thereupon.
[10:25] Isaiah 65:24: And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
[10:37] We read that when Daniel was making humble and earnest supplication, God sent an angel to comfort him and to assure him of an answer.
[10:45] Daniel chapter 9, verses 20 to 24.
[10:50] When God defers for the present to answer the prayer of faith, it is not from any backwardness to answer, but for the good of His people.
[10:58] Sometimes that they may be better prepared for the mercy before they receive it, or because another time would be the best and fittest on some other account.
[11:08] And even then, when God seems to delay an answer, the answer is indeed hastened, as in Luke 18, verses 7 and 8: And shall not God avenge His own elect?
[11:19] Which cry day and night unto him.
[11:22] Though he bear along with them, I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.
[11:28] Sometimes when the blessing seems to tarry, God is even then at work to bring it about in the best time, in the best manner.
[11:35] Habakkuk 2:3: Though at tarry, wait for it; it will come, it will not tarry.
[11:43] Third, that the most high is eminently one that hears prayer.
[11:45] Appears by his giving so liberally in answer to prayer.
[11:50] James chapter 1, verses 5 and 6: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and upbraideth not.
[12:02] Men often show their backwardness to give, both by the scantiness of their gifts, and by upbraiding those who ask of them.
[12:10] They will be sure to put them in mind of some faults when they give them anything.
[12:16] But on the contrary, God both gives liberally.
[12:19] And upgrades us not for our undeservings, he is plenteous and rich in his communications to those who call upon him, Psalm 86:5.
[12:30] For those art good and ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy unto all that call upon thee.
[12:38] And Romans chapter 10 verse 12: For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
[12:50] Sometimes God not only gives the thing asked, but he gives them more than is asked, so he did to Solomon, 1st Kings chapter 3 verse 12 and 13: Behold, I have done according to thy words; lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart, so that there is none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
[13:13] And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honor, so that there
[13:20] Shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
[13:23] Ye God will give more to his people than they, than they can either ask or think, as is implied by Ephesians 3 verse 20.
[13:34] Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly above all that we ask or think.
[13:41] Fourth, that God is eminently of this character appears by the greatness of the things which he has often done in answer to prayer.
[13:47] Thus, when Esau was coming out against his brother Jacob with 400 men, without doubt fully resolved to cut him off, Jacob prayed, and God turned the heart of Esau so that he met Jacob in a very friendly manner, Genesis chapter 32.
[14:05] So in Egypt, at the prayers of Moses, God brought those dreadful plagues, and at his prayer removed them again.
[14:12] When Samson was ready to perish with thirst, he prayed to God, and he brought water out of a dry jawbone for his supply, Judges 15 verses 8 and 19.
[14:24] And when he prayed after his strength was departed from him, God strengthened him so as to pull down the temple of Dagon on the Philistines, so that those whom he slew at his death were more than all those whom he slew in his life.
[14:39] Joshua prayed to God and said, "Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou moon in the valley of Ajalon."
[14:46] And God heard his prayer and caused the sun and the moon to stand still accordingly.
[14:54] The prophet Elijah was a man of like passion with us, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
[15:05] And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit, as the apostle James observes, James chapter 5 verses 17 and 18.
[15:14] So God confounded the army of Zara the Ethiopian of a thousand thousand in answer to the prayer of Asa second.
[15:24] Corinth.
[15:25] Second Chronicles, chapter 14, verse 9, and so on.
[15:29] And God sent an angel and slew in one night 185,000 men of Sennacherib's army, in answer to Hezekiah's prayer, in Second Kings, chapter 19, verses 14 to 16, 19-35.
[15:46] Fifth, this truth appears in that God is, as it were, overcome by prayer.
[15:52] When God is displeased by sin, he manifests his displeasure, comes out against it in his providence, and seems to oppose and resist us.
[16:00] In such cases, God is, speaking after the manner of men, overcome by humble and fervent prayer.
[16:07] The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
[16:13] James 5:16.
[16:15] It has a great power in it.
[16:17] Such a prayer hearing God is the most high, that he graciously manifests himself as conquered by it.
[16:22] Thus God.
[16:25] appeared to oppose Jacob and what he sought of him yet
[16:29] Jacob was resolute and overcame.
[16:31] Therefore God changed his name from Jacob to Israel.
[16:35] For says he, as a prince thou has power with God and with men, and has prevailed.
[16:44] Genesis 32 verse 28.
[16:44] A mighty prince indeed.
[16:48] Hosea 12 verses 4.
[16:48] Yea, he had power over the angel and prevailed.
[16:51] He wept and made supplications unto him.
[16:54] When his anger was provoked against Israel and he appeared to be ready to consume them in his hot displeasure, Moses stood in the gap.
[17:05] And by his humble and earnest prayer and supplication averted the stroke of divine vengeance.
[17:11] Exodus chapter 32 verses 9 and so on.
[17:17] Number three: here in the most high is distinguished from false gods.
[17:22] The true God is the only one of this character; there is no other of whom it
[17:26] May be said that he hears prayer.
[17:30] Many of those things that are worshiped as gods are idols.
[17:35] Made by their worshippers, mere stalks and stones that know nothing.
[17:39] They are indeed made with ears, but they hear not the prayers of them that cry to them.
[17:45] They have eyes, but they see not, and so on.
[17:49] Psalm 115, verses 5 and 6.
[17:52] Others, though not the work of men's hands, yet are the things without life.
[17:58] Thus many worship the sun, moon, and the stars, which, though glorious creatures, yet are not capable of knowing anything of the wants and desires of those who pray to them.
[18:10] Some worship certain kinds of animals, as the Egyptians were wont to worship bulls, which, though not without life, yet are destitute of that reason whereby they would be capable of knowing the requests of their worshipers.
[18:25] Others worship devils instead of the.
[18:27] True God, Second Corinthians chapter 10, verse 20.
[18:30] But I say the things which the which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils.
[18:34] These, though beings of great power, have not knowledge necessary to capacitate them fully to understand the state, circumstances, necessities, and desires of those who pray to them.
[18:49] But the true God perfectly knows the circumstances of everyone that prays to him throughout the world.
[18:55] Though millions pray to him at once in different parts of the world, it is no more difficult for him who is infinite in knowledge to take notice of all than of one alone.
[19:07] God is so perfect in knowledge that he does not need to be informed by us in order to knowledge to a knowledge of our wants, for he knows what things we need before we ask him.
[19:19] The worshipers of false gods were want to lift their voices and cry aloud, lest their god should fail of hearing them as Elijah.
[19:28] Tauntingly bid the worshipers of Baal to do second Corinth, second Kings 18 verse 27.
[19:35] But the true God hears the silent petitions of his people.
[19:39] He needs not that we should cry aloud.
[19:42] Yea, he knows and perfectly understands when we only pray in our hearts, as Hannah did, first Samuel chapter 1 verse 13.
[19:51] Idols are but vanities and lies; in them is no help as to power or knowledge; they are nothing.
[19:58] As the apostle says, first Corinthians chapter 8 verse 4, an idol is nothing in the world.
[20:02] As to images, they are so far from having the power to answer prayer that they are not able to act.
[20:09] They have hands and handle not; feet have they, but they walk not; neither speak they through their throat.
[20:18] They therefore that make them and pray to them are senseless and soddish, and make themselves as it were stalks and stones like unto them.
[20:29] psalm 115 verses 7 and 8 and jeremiah 10
[20:33] verse 5
[20:34] they are upright as the palm tree but
[20:37] speak not
[20:38] they must needs be born because they
[20:40] cannot go
[20:41] be not afraid of them for they cannot do
[20:43] evil
[20:44] neither also is it in them to do good as
[20:47] to the hosts of heaven
[20:48] the sun the moon the stars although
[20:51] mankind receive benefit by them
[20:54] yet they act only by necessity of nature
[20:57] therefore they have no power to do
[20:59] anything in answer to prayers and devils
[21:02] though worshiped as gods are not able
[21:06] if they had disposition to make those
[21:08] happy who worship them
[21:10] and they can do nothing at all but by
[21:13] divine permission
[21:14] and as subject to the disposal of divine
[21:16] providence
[21:18] when the children of israel departed
[21:20] from the true god
[21:21] to idols and yet cried to him in their
[21:24] distress
[21:25] hebrew he reproved them for their folly
[21:28] by bidding them to cry to the gods whom
[21:30] they had served
[21:32] for deliverance in the time of their
[21:33] tribulation
[21:36] so god challenges those gods themselves
[21:38] in isaiah 41 verses 23 and 24
[21:42] show the things that are to come
[21:44] hereafter that we may know that ye are
[21:46] gods
[21:47] ye do good or do evil that we may be
[21:50] dismayed and behold it together
[21:52] behold ye are of nothing and your work
[21:55] of not an abomination is he that
[21:58] chooseth you
[22:00] these false gods instead of helping
[22:02] those who pray to them
[22:04] cannot help themselves the devils are
[22:06] miserable
[22:07] tormented spirits they are bound in
[22:10] chains
[22:10] of darkness for their rebellion against
[22:12] the true god
[22:13] and cannot deliver themselves nor have
[22:16] they any more disposition to help
[22:18] mankind
[22:19] than a parcel of hungry wolves or lions
[22:22] would have to protect and help the flock
[22:25] of lambs
[22:26] and those that worship and pray to them
[22:29] get not their good will by serving them
[22:32] all the reward that satan will give them
[22:35] for their service
[22:36] which they do him is to devour them
[22:39] i proceed now to number four
[22:42] to give the reasons of the doctrine
[22:45] which i would do in answer to these two
[22:47] inquiries
[22:48] first why god requires prayer
[22:51] in order to the bestowment of mercy and
[22:54] secondly
[22:55] why god is so ready to hear prayers of
[22:58] men
[22:59] inquiry 1 why does god require prayer
[23:03] in order to the bestowment of mercies
[23:06] it is not in order that god may be
[23:08] informed of our wants or desires
[23:11] he is omniscient and with respect to his
[23:13] knowledge unchangeable
[23:15] god never gains any knowledge by
[23:17] information
[23:18] he knows what we want a thousand times
[23:21] more perfectly
[23:22] than we do ourselves before we ask him
[23:26] for though speaking after the manner of
[23:28] men
[23:29] god is sometimes represented as it were
[23:32] moved and persuaded by the prayers of
[23:34] his people
[23:35] yet it is not to be thought that god is
[23:38] properly moved or made willing by our
[23:40] prayers
[23:42] for it is no more possible that there
[23:44] should be any new
[23:45] inclination or will in god than new
[23:47] knowledge
[23:49] the mercy of god is not moved or drawn
[23:52] by anything in the creature
[23:54] but the spring of god's beneficence is
[23:57] within himself only
[23:59] he is self-moved and whatsoever mercy he
[24:02] bestows the reason and ground of it
[24:05] is not to be sought for in the creature
[24:08] but in god's own good pleasure
[24:11] it is the will of god to bestow mercy in
[24:13] this way
[24:15] namely in answer to prayer when he
[24:18] designs beforehand
[24:19] to bestow mercy yea when he has promised
[24:22] it
[24:23] as in ezekiel 36 verses 35 and 37
[24:28] i the lord have spoken it and will do it
[24:31] thus saith the lord
[24:32] i will yet for this be inquired of by
[24:35] the house of israel
[24:36] to do it for them god has been pleased
[24:40] to constitute prayer
[24:42] to be antecedent to the bestowment of
[24:44] mercy
[24:45] and he is pleased to bestow mercy in
[24:47] consequence of prayer
[24:49] as though he were prevailed on by prayer
[24:52] when the people of god are stirred up to
[24:54] prayer it is the effect of his intention
[24:57] to show mercy
[24:58] therefore he pours out the spirit of
[25:01] grace and supplication
[25:04] there may be two reasons given why god
[25:06] requires prayer
[25:08] in order to the bestowment of mercy one
[25:10] especially respects god
[25:12] and the other respects our selves first
[25:15] with respect to god prayer is but a
[25:18] sensible acknowledgement
[25:20] of our dependence on him to his glory
[25:23] as he has made all things for his own
[25:25] glory so he will be glorified and
[25:27] acknowledged
[25:28] by his creatures and it is
[25:31] fit that he should require this of those
[25:34] who would be the subjects of his mercy
[25:37] that we when we desire to receive any
[25:39] mercy from him
[25:41] should humbly supplicate the divine
[25:43] being
[25:44] for the bestowment of that mercy is but
[25:47] a suitable acknowledgement of our
[25:49] dependence
[25:49] on the power and mercy of god for that
[25:52] which we need
[25:53] and but a suitable honor paid to the
[25:55] great author and fountain of all good
[25:59] second with respect to ourselves god
[26:02] requires prayer of us
[26:04] in order to the bestowment of mercy
[26:06] because it tends to prepare us
[26:09] for its reception fervent prayer
[26:12] in many ways tends to prepare the heart
[26:16] hereby is excited a sense of our need
[26:19] and of the value of the mercy which we
[26:21] seek
[26:22] and at the same time earnest desires are
[26:24] stirred for it
[26:26] whereby the mind is prepared to prize it
[26:29] to rejoice in it when it's bestowed and
[26:32] to be thankful for it
[26:34] prayer with suitable confession may
[26:36] excite a sense of our unworthiness of
[26:38] the mercy we seek
[26:40] and the placing of ourselves in the
[26:42] immediate presence of god
[26:44] may make us sensible of his majesty
[26:47] and in a sense fit to receive the mercy
[26:50] of him
[26:52] our prayer to god may excite in us
[26:55] a suitable sense and consideration of
[26:57] our dependence on god for the mercy we
[27:00] ask
[27:01] and in a suitable exercise of faith in
[27:03] god's sufficiency
[27:05] so that we may be prepared to glorify
[27:07] his name when the mercy is received
[27:10] inquiry number two why is god so ready
[27:13] to hear
[27:14] the prayers of men to this i answer
[27:17] first
[27:17] because he is a god of infinite grace
[27:20] and mercy
[27:21] it is indeed a very wonderful thing that
[27:23] so great a god
[27:25] should be so ready to hear our prayers
[27:28] though we are so despicable
[27:29] and unworthy that he should give free
[27:32] access
[27:32] at all times to everyone should allow us
[27:35] to be important
[27:37] without esteeming it an indecent
[27:39] boldness
[27:40] and should be so rich in mercy to them
[27:43] that call upon him
[27:44] that worms of the dust should have such
[27:47] power with
[27:48] god by prayer that he should do such
[27:50] great things in answer to their prayers
[27:53] and should show himself as it were
[27:55] overcome by them
[27:57] this is very wonderful when we consider
[28:00] the distance between god and us
[28:02] and how we have provoked him by our sins
[28:05] and how unworthy we are of the least
[28:08] gracious notice
[28:10] it cannot be from any need that god
[28:13] stands in of us
[28:15] for our goodness extends not to him
[28:18] neither can it be
[28:19] from anything in us to incline the heart
[28:21] of god to us
[28:23] it cannot be from any worthiness in our
[28:26] prayers
[28:27] which are in themselves polluted things
[28:30] but it is because god delights in mercy
[28:32] and condescension
[28:34] he he is hearing infinitely
[28:37] distinguished
[28:38] from all other gods he is the great
[28:40] fountain
[28:41] of all good from whom goodness flows as
[28:44] light from the sun
[28:46] second we have a glorious mediator who
[28:49] has prepared the way
[28:51] that our prayers may be heard
[28:52] consistently
[28:54] with the honor of god's justice and
[28:56] majesty
[28:59] not only has god in himself mercy
[29:01] sufficient for us
[29:03] but the mediator has provided that this
[29:06] mercy may be exercised
[29:08] consistently with the divine honor
[29:11] through him we may come to god for mercy
[29:14] he
[29:14] is the way the truth and the life no man
[29:17] can come to the father but by him
[29:20] this mediator has done three things to
[29:22] make the way
[29:23] for the hearing of our prayers first
[29:27] he has by his blood made atonement for
[29:29] sin so that our guilt need not stand in
[29:32] the way
[29:32] as a separating wall between god and us
[29:35] and that our sins might not be a cloud
[29:37] through which our prayers cannot pass
[29:40] by his atonement he has made the way to
[29:43] the throne of grace open
[29:45] god would have been infinitely gracious
[29:47] if there had been no mediator
[29:50] but the way to the mercy seat would have
[29:52] been blocked up
[29:54] but christ has removed whatsoever stood
[29:57] in the way
[29:58] the veil which was before the mercy seat
[30:01] is rent from the top to the bottom
[30:03] by the death of christ if it had not
[30:06] been for this
[30:07] our guilt would have remained as a wall
[30:10] of brass
[30:10] to hinder our approach but all is
[30:13] removed by his blood
[30:14] hebrews 10 17 and so on
[30:18] second christ by his obedience has
[30:21] purchased
[30:22] this privilege namely that the prayers
[30:24] of those who believe in him should be
[30:26] heard
[30:28] he has not only removed the obstacles to
[30:31] our prayers
[30:32] but he has merited a hearing of them his
[30:35] merits are
[30:36] the incense that is offered with the
[30:38] prayers of the saints
[30:40] which renders them a sweet savor to god
[30:43] and acceptable in his sight hence the
[30:46] prayers of the saints
[30:48] have such power with god hence
[30:51] at the prayer of a poor worm of the dust
[30:54] god
[30:55] stopped the sun in his course for about
[30:57] the space of a whole day
[30:59] hence when jacob a prince had power with
[31:03] god and prevailed
[31:06] our prayers would be of no account and
[31:08] of no avail with god
[31:10] were it not for the merits of christ
[31:13] third
[31:14] christ enforces the prayers of his
[31:17] people by his intercession at the right
[31:19] hand of god in heaven
[31:21] he has entered for us into the holy of
[31:23] holies
[31:24] with the incense which he has provided
[31:28] and there he makes continual
[31:29] intercession for all that come to god in
[31:32] his name
[31:33] so that their prayers come to god the
[31:35] father through his hands
[31:37] if i may say which is represented in
[31:40] revelations chapter 8
[31:42] verses 3 and 4 another angel came
[31:46] and stood at the altar having a golden
[31:48] censer
[31:49] and there was given unto him much
[31:51] incense
[31:52] that he should offer it with the prayers
[31:55] of all the saints upon the golden altar
[31:57] which is before the throne and the smoke
[32:00] of the incense which came with the
[32:02] prayers of the saints
[32:04] ascended up before god out of the
[32:06] angel's hand
[32:09] this was typified of old by the priests
[32:12] offering incense in the temple
[32:15] at the time when the people were
[32:17] offering up their prayers to god
[32:19] as as in luke chapter 1 verse 10
[32:22] and the whole multitude of the people
[32:24] were praying without
[32:26] at the time of incense
[32:30] application hence we may learn how
[32:33] highly
[32:34] we are privileged in that we have the
[32:36] most high revealed to us
[32:38] who is a god who who hears prayer the
[32:41] greater part
[32:42] of mankind are destitute of this
[32:44] privilege
[32:45] whatever their necessities are whatever
[32:48] their calamities or sorrows
[32:50] they have no prayer hearing god to whom
[32:52] they may go
[32:53] if they go to the gods whom they worship
[32:56] and cry to them
[32:57] ever so earnestly it will be in vain
[33:01] they worship either lifeless things that
[33:03] can neither help them
[33:04] nor know that they need help or wicked
[33:07] and cruel spirits
[33:08] who are their enemies and wish nothing
[33:11] but their misery
[33:12] and who instead of helping them are from
[33:14] day to day working their ruin
[33:16] and watching over them as a hungry
[33:18] hungry lion
[33:20] watches over his prey how we are
[33:23] distinguished
[33:24] from them in that we have the true god
[33:27] made known to us
[33:28] a god of infinite grace and mercy a god
[33:32] full of compassion
[33:33] to the miserable who is ready to pity us
[33:36] under all our troubles and sorrows to
[33:39] hear our cries
[33:40] and to give us all the relief which we
[33:42] need
[33:43] a god who delights in mercy and is rich
[33:46] unto all that call upon him how highly
[33:50] privileged are we in that we
[33:52] have the holy word of this same god to
[33:55] direct us
[33:56] how to seek for mercy and whatever
[33:59] difficulties or distresses we are in
[34:02] we may go to him with confidence and
[34:04] great encouragement
[34:06] what a comfort may this be to us
[34:09] in and what reasons we have to rejoice
[34:12] in our privileges
[34:14] to prize them so highly and to bless god
[34:17] that he has been so merciful to us as to
[34:20] give us his word
[34:22] and reveal himself to us and that he has
[34:25] not left us to cry for help
[34:27] to stalks and stones and devils as he
[34:30] has left many thousands of others
[34:34] objection i have often prayed to god for
[34:38] certain mercies and he has not heard my
[34:40] prayers
[34:41] to this i answer first it is no argument
[34:45] that god is not a prayer hearing god if
[34:48] he give not to men
[34:50] what they ask of him to consume upon
[34:52] their lusts
[34:54] often times men pray for temporal good
[34:58] things
[34:59] they desire them for no good end but
[35:01] only to gratify their pride or
[35:03] sensuality
[35:05] if they pray for worldly good things
[35:07] chiefly from a worldly spirit
[35:10] and make an idol of the world it is no
[35:13] wonder that god does not hear their
[35:15] prayers
[35:16] james 4 verse 3 ye ask and receive
[35:19] not because ye ask amiss to consume it
[35:23] upon your lusts
[35:24] if you request him to give you something
[35:27] of which you will make an idol
[35:29] and set up in opposition to him or will
[35:32] use as weapons of warfare against him
[35:35] or as instruments to serve as enemies no
[35:38] wonder that god will not hear you
[35:40] if god should hear such prayers he would
[35:44] act as his own enemy
[35:46] in as much as he would bestow them to
[35:48] serve his enemies
[35:50] second it is no argument that god is not
[35:53] a prayer hearing god
[35:55] that he hears not insincere and
[35:58] unbelieving prayers
[36:00] how can we expect that he should have
[36:02] any respect
[36:03] to that which has no sincerity in it
[36:07] god looks not at words but at the heart
[36:10] and it is fit that he should do so if
[36:13] men
[36:14] pray only in words and not in heart what
[36:17] are their prayers good for
[36:19] and why should that god who searches the
[36:21] hearts
[36:22] and tries the reigns have any respect of
[36:24] them
[36:25] sometimes men do nothing but dissemble
[36:27] in their prayers
[36:29] and when they do so it is no argument
[36:31] that god
[36:32] is the less a prayer hearing god that he
[36:35] does not hear such prayers
[36:37] for it is no argument of want of mercy
[36:40] sometimes they pray for that in words
[36:43] which they really desire not in their
[36:45] hearts
[36:46] as that he would purge them from their
[36:48] sin when at the same time they show by
[36:51] their practice
[36:52] that they do not desire to be purged
[36:54] from sin
[36:55] while they love and choose it and are
[36:57] utterly averse to parting with it
[37:00] in like manner they often dissemble in
[37:02] the pretense and show
[37:04] which they make in their prayers of
[37:06] dependence on god for
[37:08] mercies and of a sense of his
[37:10] sufficiency
[37:11] to supply them in our coming to god and
[37:14] praying to him
[37:15] for such and such things there is a show
[37:18] that we are sensible
[37:19] we are dependent on him for them and
[37:22] that he is sufficient to give them to us
[37:25] but men sometimes seem to pray while not
[37:28] sensible of their dependence on god
[37:31] nor do they think him sufficient to
[37:33] supply them
[37:34] for all the while they trust in
[37:36] themselves and have no confidence in god
[37:40] they show in words as though they were
[37:42] beggars
[37:43] but in heart they come as creditors and
[37:46] look on god as their debtor
[37:49] in words they seem to ask for things as
[37:51] the fruit of free grace
[37:53] but in heart they account it would be
[37:55] hard unjust and cruel
[37:57] if god should deny them in words they
[38:01] seem humble and submissive
[38:04] but in heart they are proud and
[38:06] contentious there is no prayer but in
[38:08] their words
[38:10] it does not render god at all the less a
[38:13] prayer hearing god
[38:14] that he distinguishes as an all-seeing
[38:18] god between real prayers and pretend
[38:20] ones
[38:22] such prayers as those which i have just
[38:24] now been mentioning
[38:25] are not worthy of the name in the eyes
[38:28] of him who searches the heart
[38:30] and sees things as they are that prayer
[38:33] which is not of faith is insincere
[38:36] for prayer is a show or a manifestation
[38:39] of dependence on god
[38:40] and trust in his sufficiency and mercy
[38:44] therefore where this trust or faith is
[38:47] wanting
[38:48] there is no prayer in the sight of god
[38:50] and however god is sometimes pleased
[38:53] to grant the requests of those who have
[38:55] no faith
[38:57] yet he is he has not obliged himself to
[38:59] do so
[39:01] nor is it an argument of his not being a
[39:03] prayer hearing god
[39:05] when he hears them not
[39:08] third it is no argument that he is not a
[39:11] prayer hearing god
[39:13] that he exercises his own wisdom
[39:16] as to the time and manner of answering
[39:18] prayer
[39:20] some of god's people are sometimes ready
[39:22] to think
[39:23] that he does not hear their prayers
[39:25] because he does not answer them
[39:27] at times when they expected when indeed
[39:30] god does hear them
[39:32] and will answer them in the time in the
[39:34] way
[39:35] to which his own wisdom directs
[39:38] the business of prayer is not to direct
[39:40] god who is infinitely wise and needs not
[39:43] any of our direction who knows what is
[39:46] best
[39:46] for us ten thousand times better than we
[39:50] and knows what time and what way
[39:53] our best it is fit that he should answer
[39:57] prayer
[39:57] and as an infinitely wise god in the
[40:00] exercise of his own wisdom
[40:02] and not ours god will deal
[40:05] as a father with us in answering our
[40:07] requests
[40:08] but a child is not to expect that the
[40:11] father's wisdom be subject to his
[40:13] nor ought he desire it but he should
[40:16] esteem it a privilege
[40:17] that the parent will provide for him
[40:19] according to his own wisdom
[40:22] as to particular temporal blessings for
[40:25] which we pray
[40:26] it is no argument that he is not a
[40:28] prayer hearing god
[40:29] because he bestows them not upon us
[40:32] for it may be that god sees the things
[40:35] for which we pray
[40:36] not to be best for us if so
[40:39] it would be no mercy in him to bestow
[40:42] them upon us but a judgment
[40:44] such things therefore ought always to be
[40:46] asked with submission
[40:48] to the divine will god can answer prayer
[40:52] though he bestow not the very thing for
[40:54] which we pray
[40:56] he can sometimes better answer the
[40:58] lawful desires
[41:00] and good end we have in prayer another
[41:02] way
[41:04] if our end be our own good and happiness
[41:07] god can perhaps better answer that end
[41:10] in bestowing something else than in the
[41:12] bestowment
[41:13] of that very thing which we ask
[41:16] and if the main good we aim at in our
[41:19] prayers be attained
[41:21] our prayer is answered though not in the
[41:23] bestowment of the individual thing which
[41:25] we sought
[41:27] and so that may still be true which we
[41:30] beforehand asserted that god always
[41:32] hears the prayer of faith
[41:35] god never once failed of hearing a
[41:37] sincere
[41:38] and believing prayer and those promises
[41:41] forever hold good
[41:43] ask and ye shall receive seek and ye
[41:46] shall find
[41:47] knock and it will be open to you for
[41:49] every one that asks
[41:50] receives and he that seeketh findeth
[41:54] and to him that knocketh it shall be
[41:57] opened
[42:00] another use of this doctrine may be of
[42:03] reproof to those that neglect the duty
[42:05] of prayer
[42:06] if we enjoy so great a privilege as to
[42:09] have the prayer hearing god revealed to
[42:11] us
[42:12] how great will our folly and
[42:14] inexcusableness be
[42:16] if we neglect the privilege or make no
[42:19] use of it
[42:20] and deprive ourselves of the advantage
[42:23] by not seeking
[42:24] this god by prayer they are
[42:27] hereby reproved who neglect the great
[42:30] duty of secret prayer
[42:32] which is more expressly required in the
[42:34] word of god
[42:35] than any other kind what account
[42:38] can those persons give of themselves who
[42:41] neglect
[42:42] so known a duty it is impossible that
[42:45] any among us should be ignorant of this
[42:47] command of god
[42:49] how daring therefore is their wickedness
[42:52] who live in the neglect of this duty
[42:55] and what can they answer to their judge
[42:57] when he shall call them to account for
[42:59] it
[43:01] here i shall briefly say something to an
[43:03] excuse
[43:04] which some may be ready to make for
[43:06] themselves some may be ready to say
[43:09] if i do pray my prayer will not be the
[43:11] prayer of faith
[43:13] because i am in a natural condition and
[43:15] have no faith
[43:17] this excuses not from obedience to the
[43:19] plain command of god
[43:21] the command is to all to whom the
[43:23] command shall come
[43:25] god not only directs godly persons to
[43:27] pray but others also
[43:30] in the beginning of the second chapter
[43:32] of proverbs god directs all persons to
[43:34] cry after wisdom
[43:36] and to lift up their voices for
[43:38] understanding
[43:39] in order to they're obtaining the fear
[43:41] and knowledge of god
[43:43] and in james chapter 1 verse 5 the
[43:45] apostle says
[43:46] if any man lack wisdom let him ask of
[43:49] god
[43:50] and peter directed simon magus to repent
[43:54] and pray to god if perhaps the thought
[43:56] of his heart might be forgiven
[43:58] him acts chapter 8 verse 22
[44:02] therefore when god says do thus or thus
[44:04] it is not for us to make excuses
[44:07] but we must do the thing required
[44:10] besides god is pleased sometimes to
[44:13] answer the prayers of unbelievers
[44:15] indeed he hears not their prayers for
[44:18] their goodness or acceptableness
[44:20] or because of any true respect to him
[44:22] manifested in them
[44:24] for there is none nor has he obliged
[44:27] himself to answer such prayers
[44:29] yet he is pleased sometimes of his
[44:32] sovereign mercy
[44:33] to pity wicked men and hear their cries
[44:36] thus he heard the cries of the ninevites
[44:39] in jonah chapter 3
[44:41] and the prayer of ahab in first kings
[44:43] chapter 21 verses 27 and 28
[44:46] though there be no regard to god in
[44:48] their prayers yet he
[44:50] of his infinite grace is pleased to have
[44:53] respect to their desires of their own
[44:55] happiness
[44:56] and to grant their requests
[45:00] he may and sometimes does hear the cries
[45:03] of wicked men
[45:04] as he hears the hungry ravens when they
[45:07] cry
[45:08] psalm 147 verse 9 and he
[45:11] opens his bountiful hand and satisfies
[45:13] the desires
[45:14] of every living thing psalm 145
[45:18] 16 besides the prayers of sinners
[45:22] though they have no goodness in them yet
[45:25] are made
[45:25] a means of a preparation for mercy
[45:28] finally seeing we have such a prayer
[45:31] hearing
[45:32] god as we have heard let us be much
[45:35] employed in the duty of prayer
[45:37] let us pray with all prayer and
[45:39] supplication
[45:40] let us live prayerful lives continuing
[45:43] instant in prayer
[45:45] watching there unto with all
[45:46] perseverance
[45:48] praying always without ceasing earnestly
[45:51] and not fainting