169 / 808
V
E
R.16.
Epbefians,Chap.
i.
i57
Secondly,
feeing
that
this
is
the
effeét
the grace
of
others hath
in
the godly, what
may we thinke
ofthem
who
are vexed to
fee
the com-
ming on
of
othersto
a
godly courfe,yea,who
will
notftick to curiethem
by whom they were
feduced
to
this
Puritan
ftri.'.neffec furely
that
feede
of
the
old ferpent
is
ftrong
in
them, which doth
make
them fo
full
ofen
miry againft
thofe
in
whofe hearts the
feede
of
Grace
is
now fowne
through Gods mercy.
Flo
This fheweth Chriftians what they
are
to
doe
:
Would
they
have
their Minifters madeglad,& their hearts inlarged,
to
thankfgiving ' Let
them thew
forth thepower
of
Grace
in
their converfation
:If
you
Hand
edfaß,faith
rail
i
rhef
3.8. whereas
if
they
lie in
grievous
ftate,it doth
fogrieve
their Minifters,that nothing can refreth
them,but theiramend-
ment, by whom they are grieved
z
Cor.z.
Naturali
parents are fo
affec-
ted, that while their children ftand well with them, they thinke there
is
no
croffe; but
if
a
croffe
befall them here,
they
can finde
no content
for
.
the
time
in
any thing befide.
VJ
3.
Obfervefecondly,that Chriflians
are
to helpeeach
other
with prayer,
efpecially Minifters
their converted
people..God requireth
it
of
all
Chriftians,and doth
ergo
make
promifes,tharour
prayers
(hall
beavaile-
able,as
well for
others,
as
for our felves, lam.
q. But
M:nifters
by
office
areGods remembrancers,&muft offerincenfe
as
well
as
teach,Dext.3.3
which our
Saviour likewife did
before
his
offering up
himfelfe,
Ieb» 17.
.0/8.2;
The
bounty
of
God doth
encourage
us
unto it, who hath laid, that they
who have any thing
in
truth,
fhallihave
more
;
it
is
but
as a
pledge
of
his
further grace to be bellowed.
Againe, theDevill
is
bufie, feeking
to bring them
backwho now
are
taken from
under
his
power:we
fee
by
wofullaxpfrience,how
many are
turned back from
good
beginnings ; we
have
need
therefore to fupport
them,
and
when
Minifters fhould
have parent-
like affeElions,
how
can
they
but
feeke
their good
a
How
many
willies
will naturali
Parents
have about their
naturallchildren
e
Wherefore
let
us
all feeke
to God
each for
other
:
What
will we doe
for
him
whom we
will
not
lend
a
word to for
his
good
a
Efpecially,
let
us
Minifters
fay as Samuel, r
Sam.
Io.
God
forbid
I
fheald
ceafe
to
pray
for
you,
and
fa
fanne
again"
God.
The
laic
thing
is,
that
he prayed unceffantly; whence
obferve,
That we mull with
perfeverance
follow
God
in
thole
things we pray
for:
This
our Saviour teacheth by
thofe
two
parables,
Luke
i
t.
of
him
that went to
borrow three
loaves,and
Luke
ro.ofthe
widow following
the unrighteous
Judge.There
are many
conditions
in
prayers,
in
regard
of
the perlonsto whom
we pray;perfons and things for
which we pray
;
perfons
who pray;
finally,in regard
of
the prayer
it felfe;as
that
it fhould
be humble, fervent, and continuali.
God
doth
prevent
us
with fotne
things, he doth give
us fpeedily
otherfome, but there
are others a-
game, for
which he will have
us
follow
him
with continuance, before
he beftow them ; for
fhould we
flillno fooner
aske
then
receive,
Prayer
were
rather
a
matter
of
experience, then
of
faith
:
he
doth,
ergo,
fee it
fit
Dalï.3.
P
thus