CHAPTER IX.

MELTINGS IN PRAYER.

A NINTH case is about meltings in prayer; how they may be discerned to be from saving principles, and not from the moving nature of some pathetical expressions in prayer, or from some common natural passion, or melting disposition and aptness of nature to tears.

It is dangerous being deceived in the semblance of that which ordinarily fails not of acceptance with God: yea, never, when such meltings in prayer are in truth. God eyed with a gracious aspect Hezekiah's tears shed in his prayers; and heard the voice of David weeping in his prayer.

But we must premise,

1. That God makes use sometimes of pathetical expressions to break his people's hearts, when they are more stupid, and careless. And, therefore, often in the prophets, there is much use made thereof for this purpose. Jeremiah's lamentations abound therewith: yea, the Lord makes use of natural disposition this way, sanctifying a naturally tender, melting disposition, as well as any other: "All things be

come new."

2. That yet it is very possible, that men may be melted in prayer from such common causes; some from mere natural tempers, some from carnal grief, as those grieved women, whose husbands abusing of them by marrying others in their lifetime, they

made them cover the altar of God with tears. Some from the affecting nature of the notions in prayer, (especially praying with others,) as pleasing a curious fancy, or illuminating their minds in material passages, or setting forth to the life some sad afflicting matter. Many of those which with the rest of the congregation at Mizpeh, wept abundantly at the religious exercises there. Verily, in many, this was from such like common principles, though in others it were from holy and spiritual causes; yea, some may from some sudden ecstatical joys conceived, upon some mistaken apprehensions and feelings in prayer, as "Benjamin wept for joy," (which yet had a real ground in him,) so these from mistaken grounds of joy.

But that we may come to some answer to the

case.

1. When more pathetical expressions are used by ourselves or others in prayer, yet not like melting attending; and when at other times there are fewer such like expressions, yet there are more meltings accompanying the same: yea, when expressions which are more obvious, and not so pathetical, yet melt us: then surely does it evidence, that our meltings are not wrung from us by any force of expression, but from some inward better principle. The father of the possessed child in his request unto Christ for its cure, had many more moving expressions: "Ofttimes he hath cast him into the fire. If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us," yet in mentioning of those wherein a father's bowels might have flowed forth into tears, he is not melted: but in the gracious expressions he used in his prayer

to Christ: "Lord, I believe, help mine unbelief;" therein he breaks forth into tears.

2. When meltings whilst we pray are without expressions; or do at least prevent our expressions in prayer; such meltings are from more inward principles than moving expressions. As in the woman which silently begged the clearing of her justification to them, as appears by our Saviour's answer to her silent and secret desires: "Woman, thy sins are forgiven thee;" she is there weeping behind him, without expressing in words her heart's desire.

David's tears, probably, first spake, ere he uttered his heart; and his tears called out expressions, his expressions did not provoke and urge his tears. Jacob wept and prayed, he was weeping ripe, even as he went about to pray; his heart was so full, that it issued out at his eyes, before his mouth could utter forth his desires.

3. When they are most spiritual strains in prayer, which most affect therein. Here nature is purblind and senseless, as above its element. Or, when nature and self is most vilified, and the Lord and his grace is most exalted, then we are usually most melted; then fear not any force of expressions, or strength of a natural melting temper to be chief in such meltings. Such was Ezra's weeping in his prayers, when he exalted God, and his rich grace, and abased man and self in his expressions.

4. When they are not sudden meltings, as some affecting matter is mentioned: nor are they some light, vanishing dew, but they are more continued and abundant; their prayers which melt kindly, sometimes are sealed with tears: so that their prayers at

times are rather weeping than words. Hezekiah said little, but wept sore, or much.

ended meltingly.

Ezra began and

5. When such meltings are not unusual things, but are more frequent and constant. Therefore they are joined with weeping and supplications, as in the usual way which the Lord guides them: yea, when such meltings are opportune, holding some gracious proportion to the occasions which are offered, and which fall into tears and meltings, as in Ezra's more than ordinary weeping, when a more than ordinary cause thereof was given. So in Nehemiah's weeping with his prayers sundry days which he set apart for fasting and prayer for the calamities of the people of God in his native country. It is a part of the saints' spiritual calling and husbandry, to sow such seed-tears. They are mourning beggars: "Blessed are the poor in spirit:" "Blessed are they that mourn."

6. When such meltings are not merely rain-dews, mere notional, fleeting things, but the heart is poured forth with them; they proceed from a melting, contrite heart, as in Josiah's request, which he made and God heard: "I have heard thee," says God; yea, but his prayer is not there recorded; true, but a prayer it is likely he made when his heart melted so before God, else what was it which God heard? or wherein is it said that God heard him? when all suitable workings in spirit do accompany such meltings in prayer, when there is strength and favor of spirit suitable to meltings in prayer, then are they right, as in Christ: "He made supplications with strong crying and tears."

7. When they are not unprofitable meltings, but there comes much good fruit after them, as upright walking with God and men: conscientiousness and tenderness of the least blunders in the ways of God. These are fruits of God's covenant of grace; he used to lead his own with such weepings in their supplications, as that they keep the closer, and the more directly and inoffensively in the way that he has appointed: "I will lead them with weeping and supplications in a strait way."

Lastly, when they are meltings of faith and love. When Christ would show the source of the woman's weeping, in presenting her secret desires of his mercy, he instances her love: "She loved much," in her faith, "Thy faith hath saved thee." "She stood behind him weeping, and washed his feet with her tears." Thus that poor man, when in a believing frame in his prayer to Christ, then he cried out with tears. When in prayer the saints are apprehensive by faith, that, notwithstanding their unworthiness, and backslidings, yet the Lord is willing to hear them and accept of them, then are their hearts full, then with grief and shame for their own vileness, and joy in the favor of God in Christ towards them, they are dissolved in tears.