Chap. 9. Ass'Expofttion upon tbeBook of J O B. Verf.'i 5.ì thoufeekunt.God andmake tby fupplication unto him betimes.Job Teems to anfwer, Your counfel is good, friend Bildad, Though I were righteous, ¡would not anfrvor bim ; but (according to your advice) I wouldmakefupplication to my judge. The prayers of the Church in greateft /traits and diftcef1es, are ufually expreffed by this wordtjfupplications ]Allpetitionary isfupplication; but becaufe we are much abafed,& laid very lowat filch times,there- fore prayer thenput up,is fpecially called fitpplication.Hence So- lomon at the dedicationof the Temple,putting cafes and fitppoü- tions ofmany aflii&ions incident to that people,ftill concludcs,At what time theyPall c&nfejs theirfins andpray, andmakefupplicatiw on, then, &c. (t Kings 8.) And (Eflh. 4. 8.) Mordecai fends to Efrher, charging her togo in to the King, What todo ? T. makefupplication unto him. The lives of the Jews beingNiven away to fatisfie the malice of Haman, it was time for her to fup- plicate in the lowel pofture. Thus Job had it in the thoughts of his heart tomakefupplication to his Judge ; as ifhe had Laid, IfI were toftand atuhe tribunal, ofan earthly Judge,Iwould notfteppli- cate,butplead; Iwould not petition bis favour, but(landuprnmy right;I would not ,cravebis pity, but expeel hisjuff:ice;I wouldbring forth my rtafansandarguments,my proofs andwitnefes, this courfè wouldI runwith an earthlyJudge: but my cauee beingwith God, I will onlyput apetition into theCourt,and fubmit unto him, let him dowithme what be pleafeth. Hence we mayobferve, Firfi, That there is no weapon canprevail with Godbut onlypray- er andfupplication. Jobsthoughts had travel'd thorow all the creatures and found not one of them could Rand before God ; therefore he refolves to fall downbefore him. I will make fupplication. Prayer overcometh Et/f otut vir- when nothing elfe can. Chrift conqueredbydying, and we con- tutisenercuero quer by fubmitting. And yet it pis not fupplication as an ad of °d vita>r, non ex meritit, fed ours; but fupplication as it is anordinance of Gods that prevails adveniamcon- with him : he looks upon prayer,as having the flan-1p ofhis own valefco.Preci inftitution ; otherwifeour greateft humblings could prevail no stag; inniten- snore then our proudeft contendings. The Word preached rre- r£meal rum wails upon the hearr, not as it is the ad ofaman, who difpenfeth at Vint it (there is no ftrength in that) but as it is anordinance of God, 7 ale vivjmur who hath appointed it : So hunible fupplications obtains much iúmititate with God,becaufe he hath faid it fhall. candidmus, Secondly,To makefupplication is to cravepity, Greg, Mm 2 As 267
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