Q. How else should I know I shall have them?—A. When thy groanings after them are beyond expression (Rom 8:26).[19]
Q. How else should I know, and so be encouraged to pray?—A. When thou followest hard after God in all his ordinances for the obtaining of them (Isa 4:1,3, 64:5).
Q. How else should I know?—A. When thou makest good use of that little thou hast already (Rev 3:8).
Q. Are here all the good signs that my prayers shall be heard?—A.
No; there is one more without which thou shalt never obtain.
Q. Pray what is that?—A. Thou must plead with God, the name and merits of Jesus Christ, for whose sake only God giveth thee these things. If we ask any thing in his name, he heareth us, and whatsoever you ask the Father in my name, saith Christ I will do it (John 14:13,14).
Q. Doth God always answer presently?—A. Sometimes he doth, and sometimes he doth not (Isa 30:19; Dan 10:12).
Q. Is not God's deferring, a sign of his anger?—A. Sometimes it is not, and sometimes it is.
Q. When is it no sign of his anger?—A. When we have not wickedly departed from him by our sins (Luke 18:7).
Q. When is it a sign of his anger?—A. When we have backslidden, when we have not repented some former miscarriages (Hosea 5:14,15).
Q. Why doth God defer to hear their prayers that hath not wickedly departed from him?—A. He loves to hear their voice, to try their faith, to see their importunity, and to observe how they can wrestle with him for a blessing (Cant 2:14; Matt 15:22-28; Luke 11:5-8; Gen 32:25-28).