Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

That the impenitent cannot pray acceptzbly. and his eares are open to their crie : but theface and angry countenance of the Lord is againfi them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The man which had been blind , John 9.3 a . deli - vereth this as a received truth in the Church of the Jews.: This we knorr,faith he, that Godhearcth not fin- ners , that is , impenitent finners: but if a man be a worfhipper of God and doeth his will, him he heareth. Wherefore it is manifeft, that the promifes made to them that call upon God, are reftrained and (as it were) appropriated to the godly. And therefore whofoever defireth to pray unto God with hope to be heard, muff: turn unto the Lord by repentance, and lay hold upon Chrift by faith, unfeignedly pur- pofing amendment of life: For the name of the Lord is a Prong tower; the righteous runneth unto it and is exalted, orfit in fac fetie, P rov. 18 . TO. But it will be objeeted,That the promifes are ge- That all pro - nerall; and therefore belonging to all they are not mites are h li- mitedwit to be reftrained to force. I anfwer, That they and the conditi- all other promifes of the Gofpel are to be under- on of faith flood with the condition of faith and repentance, t ri reepen- which many times are expreffed, and where they are not , they are alwayes to be underflood, as re- firaining the promifes to the faithfull. For whereas Joel faith, chap. 2.30. that whofoever calleth upon the name of the Lord 'ball be Paved, our Saviour reftrain- eth it to the righteous , Math. 7.2 I. Not every one' that faith unto me,Lord, Lord, (that is, which calleth upon me) %hall enter into the kingdome of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven: and the ApofUle, Rom. IC). 13, I4, to the faithfull; But 43