24. Part 3, Chapter 8. Enlargements in Prayer

CHAPTER VIII.

ENLARGEMENTS IN PRAYER WHEN SAVING.

Some other cases, in carrying on this weighty duty of prayer.

1. How enlargements in prayer are discerned to be from saving principles of grace, and differenced from those which are but from natural, common causes.

We must premise, that persons may be strangely enlarged in prayer, sometimes from principles that are not saving. The Pharisees made long prayers; but from a principle of hypocrisy; from carnal and sinful aims; and for a pretence make long prayers. From pride, as in those rhetorical repetitions. From error, as trusting to such enlargements, thinking to be heard for their much speaking. And for those who made many prayers, or multiplied petitions, as the Hebrew phrase imports: some from carnal emulation of some famous men in the church; some from delusive raptures, may be wonderfully enlarged in their expressions in prayer: yet none of these in the right.

Now, saving enlargements in prayer may be discerned from those that are common.

1. They arc free, not forced or strained: “As the droppings of the honey-comb,” or as the pouring out of water, or oil, which runs down naturally and freely: “They poured out a prayer to thee.” Not but that such enlargements do oftentimes issue from foregoing strugglings and conflictings with much opposition, yet the spirit is free at such times, and as far as it is spiritual, is delightfully drawn forth therein.

2. They are sweet, lively, strengthening enlargements, as honey or milk, and that not only to us, but to others that join with us. The church’s lips when exercised in prayer, as well as preaching, run down like the best wine, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.

3. They are seasonable enlargements. As when God in his providence calls to them in special sort, whether in way of confession of sins, or of God’s mercy; or in a way of petition for mercies, for ourselves or others. Thus Solomon, Ezra, Daniel, and Christ were then in special wise enlarged. These fruits of the lips of the saints are brought forth in season.

4. They are mostly secret closet enlargements. There David prays and cries aloud; there do they pour out largely their secret whispers.

5. They are contrite, melting enlargements. Not some few drops of either, but abundance of such a spirit’s influences; it is poured out: they are led as with supplications, so with weepings adjoined to their enlarged prayers; such were those of Christ, his strong cries were with tears likewise. His lips in prayer dropped sweet smelling myrrh, betokening some holy bitterness or brokenness.

6. They are obediential enlargements. David, as he offers a multiplied freewill offering, “Accept the freewill offering of my mouth,” so he desired to be taught his further duty; “and teach me thy judgments.” As he opens his mouth to express his enlarged desires largely, so is it out of obediential longings to do the will of God: “I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for thy commandments.”

Lastly, they are thankful enlargements: “Open thou my lips, that my mouth may show forth thy praise: “if his mouth be open, it will appear in his praises; the Psalmist’s mouth is filled with praise, a fruit and concomitant of the delivery of his imprisoned spirit.

II. By the matter of them. 1. The most acceptable enlargements being mostly and best seen in sensible aggravations of our own wretchedness, as in Ezra and Daniel’s examples. The choice matter of their supplications and enlarged prayer, is, touching the perverting of their way, and their forgetting of the Lord. Oh, how long will a contrite suppliant he here in making sad commentaries upon his own wretched heart? what large declamations will he make against his own sins?

2. In sensible amplifications of God’s grace and mercy to us, as in David, of which his Psalms are a plentiful proof. The love of God makes him eloquent iii setting out the beauty and excellency thereof to the life.

3. In spiritual pleas, especially for spiritual mercies, of which the prayers of David and other of God’s servants are full.

4. In the cases of afflicted, tempted ones, especially of afflicted churches. Oh! how large and unwearied is a gracious Nehemiah in such a case! he will spend days in dilating upon so sad a theme in the ears of the Lord. The substance of the largest prayer that is recorded to be made by Solomon, concerns most what the cases of afflicted ones in some kind or other.

III. By the occasional rise of them. The enlargement of the saints iii prayer being occasioned,

1. By afflictions. Afflicted Hannah was large and long in prayer, insomuch that Eli observing her moving her lips so long, said, “ How long wilt thou be drunken?” When David’s spirit is so hard bestead, then does he pour out a complaint. And when so persecuted and reproached, then is employed in little else but praying. And this argues that some spiritual principles are within, that such griefs and ails enlarge their hearts; which naturally rather contract the spirits of men, and silence them, as in hypocrites which are then straitened. Bonds of afflictions are bonds to their spirits, they cry not when God binds them. But afflictions sanctified to the saints, make them more abound in prayer.

2. By the conquest of some temptation, or the removal of some sad desertion, and after some foregoing straitenings, then it is not a supplication, but they are supplications. Hence David is large in supplicating, and is bent to spend in a manner his whole time in prayer, after such trials.

3. By the bringing home some word of promise to the heart. When David does pray for a free spirit., and to have his mouth opened, he prays that he might hear of gladness, have some quickening, healing promise manifested to him as the means thereof.

4. By some special sense of love to the Lord. Hence, when the Lord sets forth the lips of his spouse, so freely dropping sweet and savory expressions before him. He magnifies her love therein:

“How fair is thy love!” love is unsatisfied; it thinks it has never spoken enough of its mind to the Lord, that it is never near enough to him, that it has never love-tokens enough from him, that it has never sufficiently declaimed against treacherous distempers and sins, and that it has never spoken sufficiently his praises; so that it is no wonder if then they are so enlarged in their prayers. A fourth way of discovery of such enlargements to be right, is by the issue of them, being in the saints a successful prevailing for conquering graces over their corruptions, over their temptations of fear, care, grief, distrust, and the like; besides, the obtaining of quickening, comforting grace, for doing or suffering the will of God, and depending upon the promises and faithfulness of God in Christ. The fruit of enlarged prayers, is God’s gracious filling them with such grace: “Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it.” The fruit of Jacob’s long-continued supplications, when the angel wrestled with him, was, his distrust and carnal fears of Esau were removed, his faith anti joy are revived;