Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

4S in what refpea God heareth the wicked. his hearing of the godly and the wicked. For in temporali matters the Lord heareth men either as a gracious and loving Father, or as a merciful! Cre- atour, or as a fevere Judge. I. In fpeciall favour as a gracious Father in Chrifi he heareth his faithful! children, ever fub- ordinating their good to his own glory; not alwayes fatisfying their carnali or worldly defires, but al- wayes granting their requefis as shall be moll for his glory and their fpirituall and everlaíling good: under which conditions our prayers for temporall bleffings ought alwayes to be framed, and being fo conceived they are ever granted. 2. As a merciful! Creatour the Lord heareth men crying unto him in their extremity : And thus he heareth all forts of men, but efpecially the god- ly: for he is the %vi our , that is, the preferver, of all men, but chiefly of the faithfull, i. Tim. 4, io. The godly have a promife ofdeliverance when they call upon God; Pfal. 5 o.14, I g. and 145.19. and 91.15. and 34.17, z 9. So have not the wicked;Pfa1.51. 16. and 18. 41. Yea, in many places, as ye have heard, he threatneth that when they cry unto him in their trouble he will not heare them. The afiäion and deliverance of the godly do both turn to their fin - gular good ; Rom. 8. 28. and being delivered they glorifie God,confulting with themfelves what to render unto the Lord for his benefits, and taking the cup of falvation, that is, of thankfgiving for their falvation and deliverance; Pfal. 116. 12, 13. The wicked not being bettered by their afllidion , are many times delivered according to their deliire, the Lord