leanness and barrenness that is among us; it is true in spirituals
as well as temporals, that peace brings plenty.

7. Where unity and peace is wanting, our prayers are hindered; the
promise is, that what we shall agree to ask shall be given us of our
heavenly Father: no marvel we pray and pray, and yet are not
answered; it is because we are not agreed what to have.

It is reported that the people in Lacedemonia, coming to make
supplication to their idol god, some of them asked for rain, and
others of them asked for fair weather: the oracle returns them this
answer, That they should go first and agree among themselves. Would
a heathen god refuse to answer such prayers in which the supplicants
were not agreed, and shall we think the true God will answer them?

We see then that divisions hinder our prayers, and lay a prohibition
on our sacrifice: "If thou bring thy gift to the altar," saith
Christ, "and there remember that thy brother hath aught against
thee, leave thy gift, and go, and first be reconciled to thy
brother, and then come and offer it." So that want of unity and
charity hinders even our particular prayers and devotions.

This hindered the prayers and fastings of the people of old from
finding acceptance; Isa. lviii. 3. The people ask the reason
wherefore they fasted, and God did not see nor take notice of them.
He gives this reason, Because they fasted for strife and debate, and
hid their face from their own flesh. Again, Isa. lix., the Lord
saith, his hand was not shortened, that he could not save; nor his
ear heavy, that he could not hear: but their sins had separated
between their God and them. And among those many sins they stood