892 Chap. 42. an Expoftion upon the Book of J o s. Verf. $. Arch- Bi(hop Cranmer to King Henry the VIII, he would not hear him, nor be reconciled to him, till Cranmer himfelf, whom he had wronged, came and fpake for him. Thus the Lord will not be reconciled to fome, till the wronged party intercedes for them. Yet we mua remember, that the power or effet of all our prayers, depends upon Jefus Chrift alone ; by him it is, that any have accefs to the father, and he is the way to the holieti, the beloved, in whom God is well pleafed, whom he heareth always, and through whomGod heareth his belt beloved favourites on earth. Obferve, Fifthly ; It isa great mercy tohave the prayers of a good man going for ois. The Lord told not Etiphaz and his two friends, of any thing elfe that job fhould do for them, he only faith, Job my Jervant ¡hall pray for you. If the Lord Both but fir up the heart of a fob, of a Moles, of a facob, a Wrefiler in prayer, to pray for us, who knows what mercy we may receive by it ! And therefore, when the Lord forbids his favourites to pray for a people, as form- times he doth , it is a fign that fuch are in a very tad condition, yea, that their cafe is defperate. Jeremiah was a mighty man with the Lord inprayer, and the Lord laid to him (fer. 14. i 1.) ?ray not to me for this people for good. Jeremiah was forward to pray for them, but the Lord fopt him, Pray no more ; not that the Lord diflikedhis prayer; but, becaufe he was refolvcd not to ,forgive them, though he prayed for them, thereforehe Paid, pray D.t. The Lord would not let fuch precious waters run wail, as theprayers of ,feremiah were.' They are in a remedilefs, ill con- dition, of whom the Lord faith, pray not for them. Of fuch the Apofile fpake (a John g. 16.) If any man fee hie brother fna fin not unto death, he(hall ask andGod !hall givehim life. There is a finuntodeath, I fay not that he (hall pray for it. The pardon of a fin untodeath it not to be prayed for. Every fin deferves death, bur every fm isnot unto death o They who fin fo, arepart prayer; and in how woful a plight are they, whole fins are Nil prayers f They o have been much in prayer themle!ve«, Ind .afterwards fa!! cif from, or walk contrary unto their prayers, cone at lei to this mite --hie ;flue, that either they give cvrr, pra).n2 for them- feives, oro<úe; 0: are fopt from póaying for them. And thr urh an outward:
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