'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 25

Christ taught his disciples that men ought always to pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1). The hypocrite is revealed here. He will meddle with this duty now and then, but grows weary of the work if he is made to wait a long time for an answer. Saul prayed to God, and because he did not hear from him, he went at last to seek the devil. Observe the effect that God's silence or seeming denial produces in your heart. Does it wear off the edge of your prayers, or sharpen them? Does it move you away from God's door or make you fall on it with more courage and rekindle your affection more firmly? If you find your effort increased, you may conclude that Christ and his graces will come to you. It is a great folly to lose heart in prayer. If mercy does not come in all haste, will you run from it by ceasing to pray? Do not cease, but mend your prayers. Find the hole where the fish escaped and double your diligence. Whatever mercy you need must come from God's hand. Prayer with perseverance is the path God directs all his people to take. Suppose a physician was sent for, to help a sick man. If that physician must be delayed, but sends medicine that would help until he arrives, and then if the patient begins to follow his physician's directions, but sees his physician delayed further and puts the medicine away and does not take it any more; when the physician at last sets forth, and as he is on his way to him, hears of it, he turns back and does not come at all. The poor man dies by his own hasty folly. God for reasons best known to himself stays a while before he comes to his tempted, distressed servants for their deliverance, but leaves orders for them to apply themselves to this duty of prayer until he comes. He assures us that he will come soon enough to save us. We must be at it until he comes, though it is no easy matter.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour, II:515-517
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