942 Chap. 42. e3n Expoftion upon theBook of J o B. Verf. to. Secondly, If they continue Wolves and enemies hill, God will bemore our friend, and turn the evil which they either in- tend of do us, to our good. A fecond Inference isthis. If God be ready to deliver or from evil, anddous good !when We pray for others, then he will be ready to do usgood, and deliver usfrom evil, when wepray for our felves, This Inference appears every where in Scripture. And as the Lord himfelf hashoften invited or encouraged us to the duty of prayer for our felves by this promu e ; take one inflance for all (Pfal..go, 14.) Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thine /haltglorifie me ; that is, thou dial( have both oc- cafion and a heart to glorifie me, So.. the Lords servants have of- ten had experience ot his power and goodnefs in delivering them; or; as 'cis here expreffed concerning job, of turning their capti- vity ; take one inllance for all (Pal. 34, 4, 6.) I (laid <David ) fought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. This poor man cryed, and the Lord heard him, andfaxedhim Vest ofall his troubles. The Lord, who dorh usgood whenwe pray for others, cannot but do it when we pray for our felves, The Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends. But fome may ask,will the Lord turn any mans captivity, when he prayeth for his friends? whole prayer,and what prayer is it that obtains fo high a favour ? Ianfwer,in general ; It is the prayer ofa fob. That is, Firli, The prayer of a faithful man, or ot one who is perfe& and upright with God. It is not the prayer of every man that prevails with God (fans.5.a 6.) The effc6ual fervent prayer of a righteous man (only) availethmuch. Nor is it the prayer of a meer morally righteous man, that availeth ; he mull be anEvan- gelically righteous man, that is, a man eflated by faith in the righteousness of Jefus Chrifl. Secondly, As 'cis the prayer of the faithful, fo the prayer of faith; as it is the prayer of onein a gateof grace, fo of one a&- ing his graces,efpecially that grace of faith. It is poffible for a man that bath faith, not to pray in faith ; and' f rch a prayer ob- tainethnot (jam. t. 5, 6, 7.) If any man (faith that Apoflle) lack wifdom; we may fay, whatfoever any man lacketh, Ics him ask
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=