936 Chap. 42. An Expof:tionupon the Book,of J o B. Verf. 1o, While 1 was ¡peaking, and praying, and confefng my fin, and the finof my people ifrael, and prefenting my (applications before the Lord oey Grad, for the holy mountain of my God r Tea , while Iwas fpeakuig in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had feen in the viPion at the beginning, being caufed to fate fwiftly, touched one, about the time of the evening oblation, and he informed me, and talked with me, -and Paid, ODaniel, 1 am come forth to give thee shill.andunderflanding; at the beginning of thy fupplicattons the commandement came forth, and 1 am come to ¡hew: thee, &c. Whar commandement came forth? even a command for the turn- ing of their captivity. Thus here(I lay) pefíìbly the Lord gave out that word of command, for the turning of lobs captivity, at that very time when he was praying for his friends. But without queflion, there words, when he prayed for his friends, note a very fpeedy return of his prayer ; that is, foon after he had done thatgracious office foxAhem, he found matters mending with himfelf, and the anfwers of prayer in the mercies of God coming tumbling in thick and three-fold. His captivi- ty fled far away when he had thusdrawn near to God ; he had, as a very full and fatis'fat`ory, fo:a very fpeedy anfwer, When be prayed. Prayer is themaking known our wants and defires to God. It is a fpiritual work, not a meer bodily exercife ; it is the labour of the heart,not lip- labour. lobs prayer was a fervent working, or effelual prayer (as the Apoille lames fpeaks, chap. 5. 16.) not á cold, flothful, fleepy prayer ; when he prayed, he made work of prayer. Many fpeak words of prayer, that make no work of prayer, nor are they at work in prayer. lob prayed in the fame fenfee that Saal (afterwards Taal) did (Ails. 9. r t.) when the Lord Jefus bid Ananias,* to him, for, Behold he pray- eth, implying, that he was atit indeed. He had been brought up after the flri&eft rule of the Pha;ifees, who payed much, or mademany prayers ; but he prayed to fo little purpofe before,thac we may well call that his firft prayer, and fay he had never pray- ed before, lob prayed for his friends, as Paul for himfeff ; he was very earneft with God for them;and prevailed. Extraordina- ry.cafes call for extraordinaiylayings-out induty. It was anex- traordinary care, When he prayed For
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