PART II.

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING. 1 Thess. 5: 17.

HAVING despatched the discourse about the nature, sorts, and parts of prayer, we come to consider modof prayer, enjoined and implied in the

ifications

word ἀδιαλείπτος, which implies praying importunely, opportunely, and indefinitely. Some interpreters make account, that Paul has reference herein unto that speech of Christ, "that men ought to pray al

ways, and not to faint."

without

as that of

So here, pray, diakeíñтos,

giving out, leaving off, or intermitting any space of time, which implies importunate praying, the widow's plying the unjust judge with earnest suit for justice, notwithstanding any seeming discouragements or denials. And, indeed, such as pray importunately, earnestly, and fervently, in God's and account, pray continually, or without

intent

ceasing.

Now for our better handling this duty of praying importunately, let us consider, 1. Wherein importu

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nity of prayer consists. 2. The qualifications of it. 3. The reasons enforcing it. 4. Some helps furthering it. 5. Some marks discovering that importunity of prayer which the Lord means.

1st. Wherein importunity of prayer consists? consists

1. In the extensiveness and intensiveness of the mind and heart, and of each praying grace of a godly suppliant in his prayer. Our new translation renders that in Acts 12: 5, by a like phrase as this in the text, "Prayer was made without ceasing,” but the word in the Greek is EKTεvns; then was prayer made which was stretched out upon the tenters; not so much, namely, in the length and largeness of the intercessions of such as put up the same, as in respect of the thoughts, holy affections, and exercise of the graces of the spirits of those godly suppliants in their prayer. So in Acts 26: 7, prayer was one special piece of that service intended in that there mentioned, "Our twelve tribes instantly serving God day and night.". The words are ev EKTEvìa, in a "stretched out manner, serving God, I cried with my whole heart." David's whole heart acted in that prayer with all earnestness; his prayer was the common cry of all that was within him; his desire, love, hope, and all the graces of his spirit in his heart put forth themselves in his prayer. So "continuing instant in prayer; роσкартεроUPTES, continuing with all your might in prayer." The acceptable prayer is dheσus ¿verуovμévn, an inwrought prayer. A prayer wherein all the active hands within the suppliant are set on work, according as there it is said of him: "Always laboring fervently in prayer for you, ¿ywvišóuevos, wrest

ling for you in prayers. A fervent suppliant does wrestlerlike, bend and writhe, and strain every joint of the new man in their souls; yea, of their whole mind and heart, so far as sanctified, that they may take all helps and advantages of the Lord to prevail with him in prayer. centre of prayer; our whole man must wait upon the creature of the Holy Ghost; as it will share in this blessing, so it must act in begging it; and then it will put on the garment of praises also As before, the whole man went in mourning weeds in the want of that blessing; so the mercy will be sweetest to the whole man when it is in this holy manner employed in begging it; or if the be delayed, yet it can the more quietly sit

All our lines must meet in this

this as

for it.

mercy down

means

in

the want of it, when it has used God's for it. A Christian that prays much, can

want much, he has that inward peace that guards his heart and mind from discontent: "Make your request to God, and the peace of God shall keep

known

your hearts.”

2. Importunity in prayer, consists in a frequent

renewing work, early and late; the Psalmist was at it early, when he said, "My prayer shall prevent thee." "I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried."

of our suits, when we are at this holy

He was

SO

So early;

earnest in this holy work, who was at it a lively Christian will be up in his spirit,

and hard at this work, when drowsy professors are not stirring this way. And verily he must be up betimes, who prevents the Lord with his prayer, who

is wont

tunate

before we call to answer us. The imporsuppliant also will be late at it, come for

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bread at midnight, when he might have it inwardly suggested to him, that he comes unseasonably, as the parable holds forth. He will pray with the first and with the last too, he will pray again and again: "For this I besought the Lord thrice." His fresh suits freshen up the suppliant's praying graces; put a new lustre upon his faith, love, fear, zeal, holy desires, and the like. Sometimes the heart is more ripe for prayer than at other times; importunity tries conclusions, sees how our heart's prayer-pulses beat at all times; the heart is sometimes more full of holy motions and workings, much more resolute, more fixed upon God and good, much more tender and sensible. Importunity takes all advantages of the heart of a Christian; an importunate suppliant is wont to be always taking the scales and balances into his hand, and in his thoughts puts in the mercies he needs and longs for, in the one scale; and all his prayers, pleas, and tears for the same in the other. And perceiving the mercies to weigh down all his prayers, he then lays in more prayers and sighs, and yet alas, they are not weight, which makes him still to be laying weight after weight, prayer upon prayer, all his days. Prayer is the soul's messenger, which it speeds to heaven, there to relate in the ears of its God and king, the various cases which do concern it; and as good speeding messengers are the most serious, and the most serious messengers speed best, so it is in the case of prayer; yea, as messengers are sent again and again, till their errand be fully told, and their business despatched, or sufficient order taken for it, so it is here. Prayer after prayer is sent up to heaven, until either the Lord do what is

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desired, or that which is equivalent to it; as in Paul's case, he said unto me: My grace is sufficient for thee; my strength is made perfect in weakness." An importunate suppliant has the art of praying, and so has his divers spiritual topics, whence he frames variety of holy arguments and pleas in prayer, in which holy reasoning with God he has great spiritual eloquence, so that he is seldom nonplussed in prayer, but with sweet and apt variety, is again and again pressing upon the Lord for mercy; and when ordinary prayer seems not to prevail, importunity in prayer will be expressing itself in an extraordinary way, fasting shall be joined to crying mightily, and if our prayers alone prevail not, it will make us go another way to work with God, even to set others on work to seek God with us and for us: sought him, but found him not." "If you find my beloved, tell him I am sick of love."

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3. It consists in a holy impatience of delay; it makes a gracious suppliant to stand upon thorns; "the captive exile hasteth to be delivered." The church is even sick of love for want of the desired presence of Jesus Christ: "Hear me speedily," says David, "my spirits fail, lest I be like to one of those that go down to the pit," it is even death to such to be delayed, much more to be denied, hence those frequent repetitions: "How long, Lord, how long? every day, week, or month, is as seven to importunity; love in the soul to the Lord, his favors and fellowship, keeps account how long he has held us off, and therefore calls upon the soul, Go again to him, renew thy suits; speak, why dost not thou speak for a speedy answer? and faith whispers the soul in the ear, Be