340 Chap.i6. AnExpofition upon the Book of J OB. Vert.a7 that our wants may be fupplyed (that may be an end) yet never that our lofts may be fatisfied (James43.) Te ask and receive not , becaufeye ask am fs : Where was the faalt which the Apostle found , and fpecified in thofe prayers ? Not in the Object, they prayed to God ; not in the matter, they prayed for things lawful s not in the form, they prayed in the Name of Christ ; but the fault was in the end, ye ask amifs, thatyemaybellow it onyour lufls. It is poffible for a man to pray, not onely for evil! things, but for good things, and not onely for outward good things, but for fpiritual good things, tobestow upon his lulls; Come pray for fpiritual gifts, to bellow them on their.lufls, pride , vainglory, and covetoufnefs ; yea, it is poffible for a man to pray for grace, to bellow it on his lull (fo Hyppocrites do) though it be imo poffible for any man, who indeed receivesgrace, to bestow it uponhis lint : Let your end be pure, that your prayers may be pure alto. Fifthly, Prayer is pure when it is mingled with, andput up inFaith. By Faith Abel offered a more excellent fserifce then Cain (Heb,a r q. ) and without Faith it is imponible to pleafe God (Verf.6;) Prayer is our comming to God, He.tbat comes to God, muff beleeve that God Is and that he is a rewarderof therm that diligentlyfeekhim. Faith takes hold ofChrift, by whom onlyour prayers are purifyed ; and therefore there can be no pure prayer without Faith. As God purifies our hearts by faith, fo our prayers are purified by Faith. Faith doth not only take hold ofGod for the grantingof our prayer,in which fenfe 'cis laid ( Jam, I.6.) Ifany one ask, let him ask in Faith ; that ís, That he !hall receive : but Faith takes holdof Chrift for the purifyingofour prayer, that fo it may come up with ac- ceptance before God. He is ofpurer eyes then to behold evil, he cannot lookon iniquity (to approve of it, or to like it, Hab. I.13.) Seeing then there is much iniquity in our holy things, we mull do all byour High Prieft, who (as the typical High Prieft, did fortheChildren of Ifrael (Exod.28.33.) bears the iniquity ofour:holy' things, that we (as they) may be accepted before the Lord. Sixthly, That, andonly that, is pureprayer,which is breathed in, andbreathed out, .by thefpirit of God. Edifie your [elves in ;user moll holy Faith,pray in the holy Ghofl (fade Verf ao.) Or, praying
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