“3. He
is such a Father as is not unwilling to relieve us. Your heavenly Father is
very ready to give you such things as you stand in need of, as Christ
expresseth it, Mat. vii. 11, ‘If ye,
being evil, know how to give good things unto your children, how much more
shall your heavenly Father give good things to them that ask him?’ And Luke xi.
13, it is, ‘How much more shall your heavenly Father give his Holy Spirit?’
When you come to beg for grace, consider what earthly parents would do for a
child. Their affections are limited, they are in part corrupt; and poor
straightened creatures have not such bowels of compassion as God; and yet, when
a child comes to them with a genuine cry, with a sense of his want and
confidence of his father, he cannot harden his bowels against his child. This
also checks much speaking; for we do not pray to stir up mercy in him, as if he
needed much entreaty, and were severe, and delighted to put the creature to
penance. No, he is ready before we ask; he knows our wants and needs, and is
ready to supply us with those things we stand in need of, only will have this
comely order observed. Sometimes he prevents our prayers before we ask: ‘Before
they call, I will answer; and I am found of them that sought me not.’ Before we
can have a heart to come, the Lord prevents us with his blessing. And sometimes
he gives us what we ask. This is the condescension of God, that when you call
he will answer; and when you cry, he doth in his providence say, ‘What will you
have, poor creatures?’ And he gives more than we ask; as Solomon asked wisdom,
and God gave him more than he asked—wisdom, riches, and honour.
“Object.
But here is an objection. These notions seem not only to exclude long prayer
and much speaking, but all prayer. If God know our wants and is so ready to
give, whether we ask or no, what need we open them to him in prayer at all?
“I
answer, it is God’s prescribed course, and that should be enough to gracious
hearts that will be obedient to their Father. Whatever he intends, though he
knows our wants and resolves to answer them, yet it is a piece of religious
manners to ask what he is about to give: Jer.
xxix. 11, ‘I know my thoughts towards you, thoughts of peace, yet will I
be inquired of you for these things.’ God knows his own thoughts, hath stated
his decrees, and will not alter the beautiful course of his providence for our
sakes, yet he will be sought unto. So Ezek.
xxxvi.: God purposed to bless them, and therefore promiseth, ‘I will do
thus and thus for you’; yet, verse 37, ‘I will yet for this be inquired of by
the house of Israel, to do it for them.’ I will do it, but you shall milk out
the blessing by prayer. This course is also necessary, and that both for his
honour, and our profit and comfort.”
-From
The Works of Thomas Manton; Volume 1 (The Banner of Truth Trust, Edinburgh and
PA; page 29)
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