Chap. 23. An Expoftion upon the Book of J'O B. Verti. t 3 435" fword, andby thefamine; andby the ptflilence. Their. own prayers had no.power in them to turne God and he who had a power to 'lop God by prayer, is himfelfe 39pc from prayer, as in Ct place lalt quoted, fo once before (7er. 7. i 6.) Thertf6resráynot for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer f rthem, neither male ìnterctf ton to me, for Iwill not Beare thee. And as the Lord ltope yeremy fromprayer for them,fo he profefleth that if they who in former ages had been molt prevailing with him, ibould now a gaine mannage their fuite before him, yet he would not be mo- ved by ir. (7er. r 5. 1.) Then raid the Lard unto me, though Mo- fef and Samttelflood before tee, yet my mink could not be toward this people. Ai ifthe Lord had laid ; Though they fnould get my chicle favourites,to follicit their caufe,and plead on their behalfe, yet they fhould finde me in one mindr, and that even they could not turne me. Jelus Ch rift never fulicïted any caufe hut he fpcd in it, but the beat ofmen may be earnelt foliciters and nor rived. For thoughgood men will not Coheir a bad caufe before God, or pray againfi his revealed will, yet they doe not alwaycs 1.1t h is fecret will. And God who faith to his people generally (7)1:4o. 15.) Call upon me in the day oftrouble, I wißdeliver thee: yet in fome p ,rticular cafes he will not deliver them, though they call upon him. Prayer is not onely an allowed, but a commanded rmanes,, and fo the molt probablemeanes to obtain deliverance, yet that cannotalwayes obaine or fetch it. YeaGod who often brings his people into trouble, on purpofe to provoi:e them to feeke his help, yet, fomerimes, will not help them though they leek him. And the reafon is, b :caufe he is in ore mind, and will rot be turnedfrom hie poerp,¡e.r,no not by prayer.Ifonce the Lord be re- lolved to deltroy, prayer cannot fa,ve;Though Mo/es and Samu- el flood 6.f re me, yet ( faith the Lord) my min' de could not be toward this people, ca(l them cut ofmy ,ht, and let them Sae forth. pleb as are for thefword to the %word, &c. But if prayer cannot turne God,then 5 on !ay a temptation be- fore us to turne away from Prayer. I aníwer,firlt, as was fhewedbef.yre;pra-yer may turne God in reference to his outward difpeniations,though it cannot turn him from any of his counfels and rjfolutions. But then it may be erquired ; how (hall I doe to di'eic my prayer.? For I know not what the purpofe or refulution of God K k k 2 is,
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