Chip.:9. An apofitiofi rtpótt thé.$oj f J O B. Verf. r4.: 257- leaff ofthy mercies. Though Ì anìthiís bold to urge thy Covenant, yet I am as ready to acknowledge my own undcfert Thou art a debter by the promífe thou hall made to mc, and not by anyper- formanceofmine to thee. Fifehly,He leeks to continue the current ofGodsfavour,by.thewing how plentifully it had already flreamed unto him; which he doth by way of Antithefis, fetting his for mer poverty in oppolition tohis prefent riches, WithmyftafIpal_ fed this Jordan,,andnow 1 ambecome two bands; That is, thou me abundantly, and (hall my brothers malice blall'all ? am I encreafed only to make him abound ? The fixth argument is,the greatnefs and eminence of his peril, verle I r. Ifear leali be will comeandflay the mother upon the children ; a proverbial fpeech in the holy language;. like that ofcutting off branch and root in one . day, both denoting total! cxcilìon, or an utter overthrow. Se- venthly, He (huts up, by re-enforcing the mention of the promífe, which he urgeth more ftrongiy then before; there it was only, Thoufcidff,I will deal well with thee ; but here it is, Thoufaidji,in doinggood, I will do thee good, that is, as it is rendred in our tranf- lation, I willfurely do thee good, and therefore Iet not my brother doe me evil. We fee Jacobs praying was a reafoning with God, and himfelf in the iffue got not only a new biding, but a now name, Ifrael, a Prince with God, and aprevailer both with Godand men. And thus we may reafonwith God in the flrength, and for the fake ofChrift in all our prayers. For as when God calls for our o- bedience, he ufually adds perfwafion to his precept, and reafons with us, as well as direF.fs us His commands are not alwayes barely authoritive,and the refolves ofhis perogative : So, when we call upon God for audience, we (hould adde perfwalions to our petitions, and reafon with him, as well as entreat him. Only we (hould becarefull toreafoi from right Topicks, and heads of argument, fuch as thefe, Ertl, From.the freenefsof the grace Of God. Sctondly, from the firmnefs ofhis promífe. Thirdly, From the greatnefs of our need, or of the Churches mifery. Fourthly, From all the concernments of his own glory, &c. Thus we may reafon with God for the doingofany thing we ask according tohis will; and in thefe rçafonings, the fpirit,life and% tirength ofprayer conhfts. L 1 So
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