Chap. 4z. 4n Expofation upon theBoa of J o a. Verf. ro. 9 3 9 prayer: They are finning againli me, requiting my love with ha- tred, Bat Igive my/elf unto prayer. But for whom didhe pray 1 doubtlefs he prayed, and prayed much for himfelf; he prayed al fo for them. We may underhand thole words, Igivemy /elf son- toprayer, two ',ayes. Firs, I pray against their plots and evil dealings with me (prayer was Davids belt Rrengch alwayes a- gainR his enemies) yet that was not all. Bur, Secondly, /give my Jeff toprayer, that the Lord would pardon their fin, and turn their hearts, when they are doing me mtfchief ; or, though they have done me mìfchief, I am wifhing them thebelt good. Da- vid (in another place) (hewed what a fpirit of charity he was cloathed with, when no reproof could hinder him from praying for others (in force good men, reproofs Rìr up pafhion, not pray- er) (Pfal.141. 5.) Let the righteousfinite me, it fhall be a bend- nefs (fmite nie, how? with reproof ; fo it followed) Let him reprove me,it (hall be an excellent oyl, which (hall not breakmy head, for yet myprayer (hall be in their calamities; that is, if ever they who are my reprovers fall into calamity, though they may think they have provoked me fo by reprovingme, that they have loQr my love, and have cat them out of my prayers, or that I will never (peak well of them, or for them again, yet I will pray for them with all my heart, as their matters (hail require ; I will pray for themwhen they have moRneed of prayer, even in their calamity. Some heighten the fence thus ; The more they (liar- pen their reproof, the more I think my felt bound to pray for them. It (hews anexcellent fpirit, not to be hindred from doing good to others, by any thing they do or (peak againfi us, nor by their fharpeR (though perhaps miffaken) reproofs of us. Thus it was with this good man, job prayed for his friends, who had ipokenmuchagain( him, and not only reproved him without caufe, but reproached himwithout charity ; and God turned his captivity when he prayed for them. Hence obferve, Secondly ; Prayer forfriends, efpecialiyfor unbindfriends, is very plea- fing to Clod, and profitable to us. We never reap more fruit or benefit by prayer our felves, than when we lay out our felves in prayer for others ; and then moll, when we pray for thofe who have deferved leali at our hands. D dd d d d a Player i
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=