Why we are to pray ‘with all perseverance 2/2

  (1.) He usually pays them use for their forbear­ance.  The longer they pray, the more redundant the mercy is when it comes.  Such a mercy, that comes as an answer of persevering prayers, is compared to the husbandman’s gains at harvest, which abundantly recompenseth his whole year’s patience. ‘In due season we shall reap, if we faint not,’ Gal. 6:9.  The breast is filling for the child while the mother is sleeping.  God sometimes seems to sleep and forget his poor children that cry to him, but he is preparing the fuller mercy for them.

           (2.) Such mercies are got with longest and great­est difficulties, they come with sweetest manifesta­tions of divine love: ‘O woman, great is thy faith,’ Matt. 15:28.  This poor woman had not her request so soon granted as some others, but she lost nothing by it; for, with the recovery of her child—which was all her errand—she carries away with her a high testi­mony from Christ’s own mouth to the truth and emi­nency of her grace.  She who was at first called a dog is at last owned for a dear child.

           (3.) Such mercies as are the issue of persevering prayers, they are received usually with more joy and thankfulness than others.  Partly they are so, because the Christian's desires are more intense and sharp by long staying and earnest praying for them—and so he tastes more sweetness in the mercy, as he that comes hungry from a long journey at plough relisheth his food better than another that hath not whetted his appetite with any labour or exercise; and also because such mercies give disappointment to the Christian’s many fears, which their long stay occasioned.  When God is long a coming, we are prone to question whether he will come at last or no: ‘Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?  Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?’ Ps. 77:7, 8.  See how many sad thoughts gathered about this good man’s heart; which, though they did not overthrow his chariot of prayer, yet clog­ged his wheels, and made him drive with a heavy heart.  Now, for a mercy to break out of so dark a cloud, it must needs bring such a glory with it as to ravish the soul with joy and enlarge it into thank­fulness.  Those judgments amaze and dispirit sinners most which come after long peace and prosperity, when they think the danger is over and bitterness of death is even past; as in Haman’s case, who was sent to the gallows after he had vaunted how he was invi­ted to the queen’s banquet.  This strange turn of his affairs made it a double death to him.  So, mercies that surprise the saint after he hath prayed long, and can hear no tidings that they are on their way, O how it affects his heart with joy and gratitude!  The church had prayed ‘without ceasing’ for Peter in prison, but still he is there, even to the very time when Herod would have brought him forth—probably to his exe­cution.  Now, when he came himself to bring the joyful news their prayers were heard—while they were instant at the work—it is said ‘they were astonished,’ Acts 12:16.

           (4.) They were usually more holily used and im­proved.  For God holds his people long at prayer for a mercy many times for this very end—to prepare and season their hearts, that, when they have it, they may know the better how to employ it for his glory and their own good.  None are more careful to husband a great estate than those who are at most pains to get it. Hannah prayed long for a son, but none is given. This makes her add a vow to her prayer: ‘If thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and wilt give unto thine handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life,’ I Sam. 1:11.  Happy was it for this good woman she had not her desire sooner.  If she had received him at first, haply she had never given him back to God again.  The Lord sometimes forbears to give a mercy to us, only to get us deeper into bonds to lay it out for him when we have it.

           (5.) The last advantage that comes to the Chris­tian by perseverance in prayer is, when the mercy is at last denied.  And it is this—it will enable and dispose him to bear the denial more meekly and holily than another.  He that is short‑spirited, and cannot wait on God for a mercy, will not easily submit to him in a denial; whereas, he that keeps up a spirit of prayer for it, when God comes to take away the subject of his prayer, will acquiesce, now he sees God hath fully de­clared his will in the thing.  David and Job are preg­nant instances for this.  Job lets not a day pass without prayer for his children; and how does the man behave himself when they are slain?  Doth he fret and fume?  Doth he curse God for making them a sacrifice for whom he had offered so many sacri­fices?  No; he meekly submits to his holy will; he opens not his mouth against him, but in praises to him.  So David, when his child was dead—for whom, while living, he ceased not passionately to pray—to show how well satisfied he was with divine provi­dence, he washeth his blubbered cheeks, puts off his mourning apparel, and goes to the house of God to worship, II Sam. 12:20. Prayer is a great heart‑easer; it breathes out those distempered passions which, being bound up in others, break out when God at any time crosseth them in their wills.