Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

26 ILL Nether by prayer we alwayes obtain our defire: er : fie had power, faith he, chap. i 2.4. over the in: gel and prevailed, he wept and made fupplication to him, &c. And in this fenfe the Apoftle exhorteth the Romalíes, chap. i 5.30. ouvaya,ví;Eam , together with him to wrefile in their prayers for him. And Epaphras in like manner is faid, Col. 4. 12. to have wreftled for the Coloffians in prayer. And what elfe mean - eth the parable of the widow and the judge, Luke 18.z. and of the two friends, Luke i r. y. but that the importunitie of our prayers prevaileth with the Almighty: And thus the woman of Syrophenicia, Matth. r 5.2 2528. having taken divers repulfes, yet at the length by the importunitie of her faithfull prayer prevailed with Chrift. The ufes. The ufe of this do6trine is, r. That by confide - ration of the great efficacie of prayer we fhould be moved upon all occafions to pray without fainting: Luke 18.r. Jam. r. r 6. 2. That we may be encoura- ged to pray with confidence and afiìarance to be heard. And fo much of the firft queftion. A threefold limitation of Gods promife to beare. CHAP. VI. Whether by prayer we alwayes obtein our defire. Tile fecond, Whether we do alway obtein our defire. The promifes are generali as you have heard, Matth.7.7,8. John 16. 23. Notwithftand- ing force ask and do not receive, Pfal. 22. 2. force feek and do not find, Cant. 3. r. force knock to whom it is not opened, Luke 13.25. Wherefore the promifes are to be underftood with a threefold limitation ; in refpe t of the Perlon, Prayer, and Thing.