894. Chap. 4i. an Expo/tioorupon the Book, of Jo a. Verf. $; It cannot be denied, but the prayers of a godly man may p:ofir a wicked man, an unbeliever, an impenitent perfon, forr his coo- verfion to the faith, and the bringing of him to repentance; but they profit not any man, who as he bath not faith, fo continues in his unbelief. Yet, I grant, that the prayers of a believermay profit fuch an unbeliever, as to the avoiding of fomctemporal evil, or as to the obtaining of force temporal good ; as is clear in Abraham pray- 'er.for Ab:melech (Gen. 2o.7.) But how much foever a godly man prayeth for the pardon of a wicked mars fin, or the inlvation of his foul, he (hall never be pardoned or favcd,.uolefshimfelf repent and believe. They who never-pray in faith for them felves, (hall not get favour with God, by any prayer of faith made 'by others for them. Now as from this, and fuch like Scriptures, it appears, that rt prayers of godly men, for good men here on earth, are vet y pit,,. fing unto the Lord, and receive great anfwers : 5o they do a:,- furdly, who, from this Scripture infer, that the Saints depar. ä.d pray` onus, as if they knew or underf ood our condition ; aud they do more abfurdly, who living here on earth, pray to r ^e Saints in heaven to pray for them. The Scripturá fpeaks not: ì,ßg of prayers to departed Saints, nor of departed Saints praying for us ; the Scripture (peaks only of the living on earth, praying for thofe that live on earth. fob was alive in the body, and to were thofe three men, to whom the Lord Paid, My femur Job fall pray for you. The Lord having affured Elipha:o and his twofriends, that fob would pray for them, giveth them encouragementtogo and delire his prayers, by a gracious promife. For (faith he ) himwill I accept ; and chreatneth them in cafe they fhouid forbear, in the next word., Left I deal with you ac- cording to your folly, in that ye have not fpok,,en of me the thing that es right, like my fervantJob. Firfi, Of the gracious promife, him will I accept. The-He- brew faith, kit face will Ilift up. Acceptation with God is the lifting upof the face of man ; then man lifceth up his face with boldnefs when he is accepted with God. When God rcfufed to accept Cain and his offering, .hi, countenance fell, or was aft down (Gen. 4. 5,) Ualefs the Lord lift up the light of his countt- nane
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=