Ghap.r6. AnExpofition upon the BookofJ OB. 'Yerf.rg. 319' from the fight ofGod or mm, but is willing to Rand forth in the open light,for though the belt ofmen may have done force ad, which is not fit for the open light, yet confidering the wholeframe of their hearts and lives towards God, together with what hath pall betweenGod and their fouls about that ad ; they are not afraid that the worft adwhich ever they have done (hould (land forth in the open light ; and a5 for thofe crimes which rn,nuncharitably charge upon them, eve- ry hone(l heart=(peaks boldly the fenfe of this fiat part ofJob's imprecation, -0 earth, - cover -not thou my blood. From the fecond branch of Job's imprecation, Let my cry, havenoplace. Obferve. Not tohaveprayer heardandaccepted by God; is thegreateff tni ry that can fall man. God is the lati refuge of a diftreífed foul, and the meanes by which we make God our refuge , or lie to him for.refuge, is believing, and fervent prayer : Prayer is a duty, and yet it is a priviledge, it is a priviledge, not onely to receive an an. Ewer of prayer, but to put up our requefts in prayer ; he there- fore that askes a flopuponhis own prayers, hath at once asked a flop upon all his mercies ; he cannot look to be relieved, who tells God he doth not look tobe heard ; and when pray- er bath no place ofacceptance in Heaven, we can have no place of contentment on the Earth : Upon this account we may conclude: That. Man cannot befpeak any thing worfe for himfelf, then not to be heard when he fpeaks to God. As it is one of the higheft honours done to God that men make prayers to him,fo it isone of the deepeft aflit` ions ofman,for God not to hear his prayers : Such wasSauls condition, 2 Sam,28. God doth not anfwer me, neither bydreamer , nor byVrim, nor by Prophets : He could get no anfwer from God, his cry had no place : This troubled himmore then the invafionof the Phi. HMIs. Iam fore diffreffed (faith he) the Philiffimr make ¡Far upon me, andGod it departedfromme. When trouble comes,and God goesaway, man is in a woful eftate. We have no pro. mife to receive unlefs , we ask , and though we doask, we cannot receive, unlefsour prayer be received : -God receives the ..
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