Of E leflion. 351 them [ wh<1t i< ptell{t;!g ili hiS }'ght =.J which two oppolltes fer one again{\ the o-~ thcr, !hew, that 111 tho(e Samts wh1ch walk exactly, there is fuch a full graci· Chap. ' l · ous acceptation of their holy walking, in their whole coude, even when they~ arc wor!t, as hath _an acceptation , and a well-pleafednefs in the eyes of God, altholigh accompamed With the or_dmary defects of fin lul Infirmities, imperfections, though common, cleavmg thereunto: Wh1ch God tdlified of'job and others: Whereas in others that are more loofe , and wilfully, or at ltaft indulgcmly negligent in good works; there is a blame-worthy guiltfies on them that provokes God to a partial fore d1fpleafure againil them, for fo walk ing; Or.ly let me add this, that fo far as fuch negligent ones, that are Cllled do perform during that while, any good works, and holy duties, and that fo far as there is any good in what they do in fincerity ; that fo far they are accepted of God: Wh1llt yet a p1rual temporary d1fpleafure from God lies againfl them, 111 that their whole courfe IS not hlled up wnh every kmd of good work incumbent on them; which was the cafe of Jchojhapat, as appears by the 'Prophet Jehtt, in his mctfage to him from God, 2 c;hron. '9· 2, l· .AndJehu the Son of Hanani the Seer, went o11t to mert bim; and jilidto Kwg Jeholhap,hat, jhou!dtfl thott help the u11godb, and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore i< wrath upon thee from before the Lord: Neverthelefs there are good thing,- fottnd irJ Thee; in that thott hafl takm away the Groves out of the L and ; a11d hafl prepared thi11e Heart to f'ek God, Thus oppofitely Parallel is the matter of thefe two Texts that are afore us ; and in the very words in either,a correfponding one with the other:There never was a piailler fo perfectly fuited to a fore, and extenfively adequate in compafs, aod breadth to overfpread it; and in vertue, and efficacy to heal it; as the matter of this prayer is unto that lapfed cafo: As if it had been made, and penned for this very i:afc in a more efpecial manner : So as if God in, and at Ius good ploafure , will but apply it, and lay it on, the malady will be heal– ed. Thus in the matter ofthem, they being one and the fame; and therefore this Prayer fitly appliable to thofe cafes. So 2. T here were fuch Perfons truly called, among thofe very Hebrews the Apoflle wrote to, who were in fuch a condition, whom therefore the Apoflle prayed thus for , and who mull have been in an efpecial manner in his eye : 1\nd that if he prayed for any, then furely for them: For (as by and by) they had mo11 need fo to be prayed for: We read of fuch in that Epiflle, who after their etfedual calling, had made little , or no proficiency in many years pro– feffion; either in knowledge, or good works: (And if not knowledge, when they might, as he tell• them they might, then not in good works :) This ap– pears by his complaint of them, Heb, 5. 12, 1J, '4• For whw for the time )'e ought to be Teachers, ye have 11eed that o11e teach you agaitz, which be the ftrfl prinCiples of the Oracles of God: .Andare become fttch aJ have tued of milk, a11d not of flro11g meat: For every 011e that tJjeth milk, i< tmskiifu! m the word of righteotiftufs ; for he u a Babe: Butjlrong meat be!ongeth to them that are of fidJ Age; evm thofe, who by reafim of rife, h,zve tlmr Senfes ex– e1'Cijed to dzfcertJ both good, and evil: And yet he verily judged of thefe,he fpeaks thus of, that they were truly called, and continued ilill in the main, true Chriflians: As Chap. 6. 9, 10, 1 r. But, beloved, we are perfwt>drd bet– ter things of you, tJ11dthi11gs that accompatJy Salvatio11, though we thtMJPeak: Fqr God u not unrighteoUJ, to forget your tabour of love, whzch )'C have Jhtwed towards hu 11ame; i11 that ye have mi11i[lred to the Sai11ts , and do minif/er: .A•.dw;ede{irtthateveryoneof"rott, dojhewthe ji>me de!zgrnce; to the ftt!J a{fitrtmce of hope, m11o the md : Ana to the like purpofe it is, he ·revives in them the remembrance, of what a glorious work of Grace, and zeal they had in them at the firll; Chap. 10 . 32. But ca!J to remembrcmce the former days, i11 wh1ch after ye were it!remwated; ye md11red a great fight of .AffliElions: Moreover you find another mention of a fort of funk, de– clined Profefiors, ( or perhaps the f1me) amongll thefe Hebrews, fa .ar gone in a fpiritual Confumption, that they were almoll a turning out of that good way of a Chriilian Prolelfion, and even a giving up Chrill ! (one great lcope cf
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