Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v12

IGi 944 Chap. 42. eel'nExpoftieutspon the Book, of 0 B. Verf. io: Secondly, As prayer is the Ordinance of God, fn he bath made promife tohear and turn the captivity of thofe that pray, as was (hewed before. Promifes are engagements to performance. God will not be behind hand with man, as to any èngtgement: For, as he is powerful, and can, Co he is faithful, and will do what- ever he bath engaged himfelf to do by promife. A word from the God of heaven, is enough to fettle our louis upon for ever, feting hisword is fettledfor ever in heaven (Pjal, I t 9. 8g.) Half a promife, or an half promife, an it may be (Zeph. 2. 3.) from God, is better fecuriry thanan abfolute promife, than an it(hall be, yea, than an oath fromany of the ions of men. Thirdly, Prayer honours God.Our fecking to him in our wants and weakneffes, inour fears and dangers, are an argument that we fuppole him able tohelp us,& that all our ruines may be under his hand : Such a fecking to God, is the honouring of God; and therefore, God is a rewarder of them that diligently leek him, and call upon him. Our coming to God in all our wants, (hews, that he is an inexhauffible fountain ; fo thicka cloud, char we can- not weary him, nor he fpend all his waters, how much foever he (bowersdown, or fp:ods upon us. He can dillil mercies, and drop down bleflingseverlallingly. We often want vefl'els to re- ceive, but he never wants oyle to give. It is the glory of Kings and Princes, that fo many come with petitions to them ; that they havemany fuitersat their gates, may poffiblyburden them,but un- doubtedly is honours them ; doth it not lignifie , that he bath a purfcto relieve their neceffities? or power to retires their wrongs and injuries ? O thou thatbesrefl prayer, is a title of honour given to God (Pfal.65. Z.) To theefloat!allfled come. As God bath Paid (Pfal. so. s S.) they that call upon him (hall glorified him, for help received, fo they do glorifiehim, by calling upon him for help: Nomarvel then, if he turn a Jobs captivity, when be prayeth. . Fourthly, Prayer is the voice of the new creature. The Lord loveth that voice,'tis mufick, the befi mufick, next to praife, in hisear. Let me hear thyvoice (Cant. 2. i.}.) that is, let me hear theepraying, or thy prayer-voice; let me fee thy countenance for fweet a thyVoce, and thycountenance is comely. The Lord delight- eth in prayer ; therefore the Lord will turn the captivityofa ¿bc ,t q,.prayeth. Fifthly;

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