Richard Sibbes – Psalm 130:2

[page 208 of volume 6]

‘Lord, hear my voice; let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.’

Mark here his constancy and instancy in prayer by his ingemination; and this he doth not to work upon God, as if he were hard to be entreated to mercy, but to waken up his own heart, and to entreat of God a more inward and clear communion, communicating increase of grace; so as God’s children are not satisfied with small portions of grace. And this did Daniel, Daniel 9:18, 19. O Lord, hear, forgive, hearken, do, defer not!

His ardency shows into what an exigent he was brought; and indeed the Lord regards lukewarm prayers no more than lukewarm persons, so as he will spue them out. Prayers must be like incense. It must be fired with zeal.

Quest. But some will ask, How shall we come to make our prayers fervent?

Ans. I answer, consider of our wants, and our necessity of supply, of our misery in our want, of our hope to prevail by prayer; and these will edge our affections in prayer. Consider also how these times, and the estate of the church do sympathy with thy particular depths. The church abroad is in great depths; and if we will have proof that we are fellow-members, that we are children of that mother, let us labour for a fellow-feeling of their miseries, and make them our own; and to that end in our prayers allege the depths and pray, ‘Help thou, Lord, for vain is man’s help,’ Psalm 60:11. For extremity itself is a good argument to a father to help his children. Allege also the insolency of the enemies. ‘”Why should the heathen say, Where is our God?’ Psalm 79:10. There is no church but useth more helps of humiliation than we do, which foretells a great judgment; for God cannot endure this lukewarmness. Therefore call upon God with fervency, else will he cast us into such extremities as shall force tire into us. He that is poor doth naturally speak supplications.

Direct. 2. Secondly, Look that we always be in such an estate as God may hear us. If we be not within the covenant with God, our prayers shall turn to sin.

Direct. 3. Thirdly, Take heed of wilful neglect of God’s word. He that turneth his ears from hearing the law, his prayer shall be abominable, Proverbs 28:9. Some cry down preaching and cry up prayer, making opposition between duties where none is. Dost thou think God will hear thee, and thou wilt not hear him? Proverbs 1:28.

Direct. 4. Fourthly, Take heed of double dealing with God. This is hateful to God, and therefore David, till he dealt plainly with himself by condemning himself, his prayers were but roaring as a beast taken in a snare and [that] cannot get out, roars for pain and despite, Psalm 32:3.

Direct. 5. Take heed, in the next place, of allowance of any sin, though never so little; and though it be only entertained in heart, the Lord will not hear our prayers, Psalm 66:18. For shall we think that God cares for our prayers when we make covenant with his enemies?

Direct. 6. Take heed also of unmercifulness and cruelty. God would not hear the Israelites. Their hands were full of blood, Isaiah 1:15. God will rather have no sacrifice than no charity. Let us take heed of these things, and let us come boldly to the throne of grace while he holds out his sceptre to us.

But against this a man may object and say, that he is a wicked wretch, and his prayers shall but increase sin.

To such I answer, let them offer their prayers in obedience to God’s commandments, who commands them to pray, and he will respect the very ‘groans’ of his Spirit within. Elias was a man subject to the like infirmities; yet God heard his prayer, James 5:17. Where God’s Spirit stirreth up, man’s spirit is stirred up; and where Christ joins to offer the prayers to his Father as in his own name, why should we vilify that which God highly esteemeth? Let God have his sacrifice. He knows how to accept of that which is good, and to pardon that which is amiss. He will second his beginnings, and will enlarge the heart more and more. Though in the beginning, prayer may be dull and untoward, it shall end in fulness, and therefore let these spiritual depths be so far off from hindering us from prayer, as that rather it should encourage us to pray. For it may be one end why the Lord suffers us to fall into depths, to the end that we may be stirred up to come to him; that thus we may glorify him, and he glorify his mercy in hearing our prayers and granting our requests. For sure it is, he that hath not a heart to pray when he is in depths, shall never come out of them; and let such as do come to him know, that however God is not present to sense, but rather seemeth to hide himself, yet he is most near to such as, with Mary, cannot see him for their tears and griefs, it with her in humility they seek after him.