63a What mull Chriflians do, that the influence Serm. s8. the Lord. Hereupon David much affected with his fuccefs in this affair (David the King alfo rejoyced -with great joy) his foul being now upon the wing, he flies to God by prayer, and therewith con- cludes his sermon. The prayer conuills of petition and thankigiving, both of them, not conformed to any common modell ; but fuiting the particular occafon now before him. He bleffeth God for ma- king fuch an impreffion upon the hearts of the people, as moved them to offer, and after this fort to offer, fo cheerfully, fo generouf- ly; from ver. 1 o, to 18. and bJeecheth God f}ì11 to keep their hearts in fuch a temper, to make this holy imprefmn durable and abi- ding, ver. 18. O Lord God of Abraha*n, &c. keep this for ever in the imaginations, &c. Where we have the inforcenient of the petition and the matter of it. It is inforced from the Covenant of God, by vertue of which , he was the God of Abraham, Ifaac, and / fragil, and had laid an obligement on himfelf, to have a gracious refpee} to their pofterity ; hence this expreffion is frequently ufed, being no fmall incouragement to the faithful,to pray for Covenant- mercies, and to pray in faith. The matter of the Petition, that which he prayes for is, that the effect which his words had upon the people might be durable and continuing, that the efficacy thereof might abide upon their fouls, and every part thereof: that it might fink into the depths of their hearts, and flick fait there : that it might pierce through their fan- cies and imaginations into their mind and thoughts, and through their thaughrs into their hearts and affeaions ; that the Lord would continue it there, and continue it long there , even for ever. David was apprehenfive what a flippery and inconflant thing the heart of man is, how like a deceit`ull bow, to which he elfewhere compares ir, how apt to fl^cken on a fuddain, when it bath been tend- ed to any good inclinarlbns or refolutions by the power of the Word, or any otter Ordinance. What an unhappy womb it is, how ordinarily holy motions mifcarry before the heart bath pone out its full time with them. What danger there was, leaft their righte- oufnefs , which now made fuch a flourifhing appearance might prove like the morning cloud, or the early dew. And therefore hav- ing raifed their hearts to fo good a pollure, he takes the bell courfe to fix them there. His words having had a powerfull influence upon their fouls, he ufetb the belt means to render it durable and abiding. Hence Obferve, The
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