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All birds when they are first caught and put into the cage fly wildly up and down, and beat themselves against their little prisons; but within two or three days sit quietly on their perch, and sing their usual notes with their usual melody. So it fares with us, when God first brings us into a strait; we wildly flutter up and down, and beat and tire ourselves with striving to get free; but at length custom and experience will make our narrow confinement spacious enough for us; and though our feet should be in the stocks, yet shall we, with the apostles, be able even there to sing praises to our God.

(Bp. Hopkins.)

Continuing instant in prayer. —

I. WHAT IS PRAYER?

1. The hearty desire.

(1)  Mental (1 Samuel 1:13; Ephesians 5:10).

(2)  Oral (John 17:5).

2. Of necessary things.

(1) Spiritual, for the life to come.

(a)  Sense of sin (Luke 13:3).

(b)  Faith in Christ (Luke 17:5).

(c)  Pardon of former transgressions (Psalm 51:9).

(d)  Subduing present corruptions (Psalm 19:12, 13; Psalm 119:133).

(e)  The continual influences of His grace and spirit (Psalm 51:10; Luke 11:13).

(2) Temporal, for this life (1 Timothy 4:8; Proverbs 30:8).

3. From God.

(1)  God alone is to be worshipped (Matthew 4:10).

(2)  God alone understands our prayers (Isaiah 63:16).

(3)  He alone can answer them (Psalm 65:2).

(4)  He commands us to call to Him (Jeremiah 33:3; Psalm 1:15).

(5)  Christ directs us to pray to Him (Matthew 6:9).See the error of Papists, who pray to the Cross. To the Virgin Mary, etc. St. Roche for the plague. St. Apollonia for the toothache. St. Eulogius for horses. St. Anthony for hogs. St. Gallus for geese, etc.

II. WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?

1. God hath commanded it (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

2. Encouraged us with a promise (Psalm 1:15; Matthew 7:7).

3. Made it the condition of all promises (Ezekiel 36:37).

4. It is part of Divine worship.

5. Hereby we give glory to God.

(1)  Of omnipresence (Psalm 139:2, 3).

(2)  Of omniscience (Psalm 139:7).

(3)  Of omnipotence.

6. All blessings are sanctified by it (1 Timothy 4:5).

7. Only by this we acknowledge our dependence upon Him.

III. HOW SHOULD WE PRAY.

1. Before prayer, consider (Psalm 10:17).

(1)  Who is it you go to pray to (Exodus 34:6).

(2)  What you have to pray for (1 John 5:14).

(3)  How unworthy you are to ask or receive (Genesis 32:10).

(4)  That Christ is interceding for you (Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 7:25).

2. In prayer.

(1)  Pray with that humility, reverence, and submission, as becomes a sinful creature (Genesis 18:27; Luke 18:13; Ezra 9:6).

(2)  Utter nothing rashly before Him, nor mingle stories with petitions (Ecclesiastes 5:1, 2).

(3)  Let every petition proceed from the heart (John 4:24).

(4)  Pray only in the name of Christ (John 14:13, 14; John 16:23; Hebrews 7:25).

(5)  Let your affections and apprehensions go together (1 Corinthians 14:15).

(6)  Pray in faith (Mark 11:24; James 1:6).

(7)  Without wrath (1 Timothy 2:8; Matthew 6:14, 15).

(8)  For others as well as for yourselves (1 Timothy 2:1; Ephesians 6:18).

(9)  To the right end (James 4:3).

(10)  Add praise to prayers (Philippians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:1).

(a)  Praising God is all that He expects for His mercies.

(b)  It is the best sacrifice we can offer (Psalm 69:30, 31).

(c)  It is the work of Heaven (Revelation 7:9, 10; Revelation 19:1).

3. After prayer.

(1)  Consider what you have prayed for.

(2)  Expect it (Psalm 5:3).

(3)  Use means for obtaining it.

IV. WHEN SHOULD WE PRAY? Or how continue instant in prayer (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).

1. Be always in a praying frame.

2. Take all occasions of praying.

3. Never faint in prayer (Luke 18:1; 2 Corinthians 12:8, 9).

4. Make prayer your daily exercise.

(1)  We must serve God daily (Luke 1:75).

(2)  The sacrifices of the Old Testament were daily (Numbers 28:3; Acts 3:1).

(3)  Christ directs us to ask our daily bread (Matthew 6:11, 33).

(4)  The saints in all ages prayed daily (Psalm 55:17; Psalm 119:164; Daniel 6:10; 1 Kings 8:48; Luke 2:37).

(5)  The heathen and the Turks do it.

(6)  We need daily mercies.

(7)  We receive them.

5. Objection. I have oft prayed, but am never heard (Job 21:15).

(1)  However, we are bound to serve God.

(2)  If we get no good it is our own fault.

(a)  As to the matter (1 John 5:14).

(b)  Means (James 1:6).

(c)  End, of prayer (James 4:3).

(3) Perhaps you never expected it.

(4)  Or have not used the right means for it.

(5)  You have not prayed long enough (2 Corinthians 12:9; Luke 18:1).

(6)  Though you have not received that required, you have other mercies (2 Corinthians 12:9).

(7)  You may be answered, and not know it.Conclusion: Continue instant in prayer.

1. Otherwise ye live in continued sin.

2. Prayer is the most honourable work.

3. The most pleasant (Psalm 84:10).

4. The only way of getting real mercies (James 1:5).

5. Right praying is a sign of a true convert (Acts 9:11).

(Bp. Beveridge.)

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KJV: Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

WEB: rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer;