Chap.42. An Expofuion upon the. Book of Jos. Verf.io. atk of God ; but let biroask in faith, nothingwavering: for let not that man (the man that wavereth) think that be [hall receive any thing (that is, any good thing asked)of the Lord. To askwithout faith; may bear the name, but is not the thing called prayer; and therefore fuch receive nothing when they ask. Thirdly, It is the prayer of a perron repenting, as well as be- lieving. yob was a penitent, he repented indull and afhes for the evil he haddone, before he obtained that good for his friends and for himfeif by prayer. Ifmy people (faith theLord, a Chron. 7®14.) which are called by my name, (hall bearablethemfelves, and pray, andreek my face, and turnfrom their wicked wayes (there's compleat repentance) then will I bear from heaven, and forgive theirfin, and heal their Land (there is compleat mercy.) Some pretend, at leaf, tobe much in believing, yet are little, if at all, in repenting and humbling themfelves under the mighty hand of God. How can their prayers prevail, for the turning away of their captivity, who turn not from iniquity ? If 1 (laid David, ?fill. 66. a8.) regardiniquity in my heart (his meaning is, if I put it not both out of my heart and hand, by found repentance) God will not bear me ; that if, he will not regard, much tels fa- vourably anfwer, my prayer. It isa piece of impuderc :, I am fore, loch a piece of confidence, as God will rejeet, and wherein no man (hail profper, to expe& good fromGod by prayers, while our evils are retained, or abide in our bofoms unrepented of. God hath joyned faith and repentance together ; woe to thole who put them afunder. They who either repent withoutbelieving, or be- lieve without repenting, indeed do neither ; they neither repent, or believe, nor can they obtain any thing of God by prayer.But, the prayer of a faithful man, made in faith, and mixed with found repentance, will make great turns ; fuch a one may turn thewhole world about by the engine of prayer. Bur, what is there in fuch a prayer,that fhould make fuch turns, . and move the Lord to change his difpenfations, or our con- ditions ? I anfwer, Firft, Such prayer is the Lords ownOrdinance or appointment; and he will anfwer that. When we meet God in his own way, he cannot refufe us ; he foals to his own inllitutions, by gracious anfters Secondly,
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