Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

38 That the faithfull onely can pray acceptably. Firfi then it is necef 'ary that he who calleth upon -- God fhould be indued with faith : For how (hall they sall capon him in whom they have not believed ? Rom. 10.14. and, Without faith it is impofssible to pleafe God, Heb. 11.6. and likewife with repentance : For un- leire a man repent he reteineth a purpofe to go on in finne; and this his impenitencie or finne not re- pented of is as a wall of fiparation between God and John 9.31. him. God heareth not impenitent/inners, as hereafter we fhail Thew. Secondly , before our prayers or other anions can be accepted of God, our perlons muff be ac- cepted in Chrifl : Neither can the fruit be good while the tree is bad : neither can we hope to pre- vail with God by intreaty, whiles we do not delire to be reconciled unto him; but as we were born the children of wrath, fo his wrath abideth upon us, John 3.36. and we do continue in our enmitie a- gainfl God. Thirdly, there is no accefl"e to God but through Chrifi by the holy Ghofi, Ephef.2.i 8. and 3. 12. But the unbelieving and impenitent fìnner, as he bath no part in Chrift, fo is he void of the holy Ghofi. Fourthly, it cannot be but that the prayerof the unbelieving and impenitent finners is very abfurd and odious in Gods fight, becaufe they ask many times fuch things as they do not defire, and promife fuch things as they do not mean to perform, and bear the Lord in hand that they be fuch men then whom they are nothing leffe,going about to deceive the Lord with their mouthes, and with their lips fpeaking