Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

of the efficaciouf of of prayer. themfelves , who are faid to have the power of death, give place to prayer : yea, that kind of devil which by no other means can be call out , is cafe out by prayer, Matth. r 7.2 a . And yet we flay not here : For the efficacie of 5. of God) o prayer is not onely feen in and upon the creatures; p greaterayer st is cif - but the effectuall prayer of a righteous man avai leth cacie. much with God , Jam. s. 16. For the Lord being omnipotent and of a moft fimple and pure nature, and therefore not fubjed to paffive power, cannot properly be faid to fuffer any thing : yet having by moft gracious promifes bound himfelf to grant the faithfiill prayers of his children , they are faid to prevail with him ; both becaufe they obtein fuch blefïings at his hands as otherwife would not be granted, and turn away fuch judgements as other - wife would have been inflifted. For elfe when the Lord was ready to have deflroyed the Ifraelites for their idolatry, had not Mofes flood up in the gap, Pfal. 106. 23 . why did the Lord bid him let him alone, Exod.3 2.1 o. but that Mores by prayer laid hold upon God, as the Prophet fpeaketh, I fa. 64 7. and (laid his hand ? And why is Jacob faid to have prevailed with God, and thereupon is called Ifrael,. but that the Lord fuffered himfelf as it were to be overcome by his prayer: whereby he laid hold up- on Chrifl, who is meant by that Angel, and would not fuffer him to depart until! he had granted him a blefïìng, Gen.32.26,28. And fo the Prophet Ho- fea teacheth, that when Jacob wrefiled with the Angel , he prevailed with him not fo much by flrength of body, as by. carnal and effe 1uall pray- er: