.1L, iv. G 1C Confcience âs evil, tho' others prayers may fometimes have weight before God to further his change ; yet he him - felf can have no comfort in them while he is fuch : There- fore, while David is praying for his enemies, he fays, His prayer returned into his own balm ; but it did them little or no good : Thus we fee what advantage it is to have aï good Confcience, it makes us capable of the benefit, both, of our own and others prayers ; and the want of a good Confcience, on the contrary, excommunicates us in a manner from the benefit of the prayers of others. The ad queflion is, If this argument ought to have any more weight with Chriffians, in praying for them, than others ? or, if we 4hould pray for them only, that keep a good Confcience, and not for others ? We anfwer, i/l, That. Chriffians would not limit their duty in prayer only to thefe : For we fee, Mofes, David, and many others of the faints, pray for fuch as had no good Confcience ; fo that we may warrantably pray for others, tho' not having a good Confcience, and may hope to be accepted therein, and that our praying for them fhall not be without fruit and benefit to ourfelves at leaf+. Yet, 2d:y, There lies a greater ty and obligation on us to pray for them that keep a good Confcience than for others; even as there loth, to do good efpecially to thefe that are of the houfhold of faith, the communion of faints here binding and linking (to fay fo) more ftraitly and ffrongly; fo we are (I fay) proportionably more firi&ly tied to pray for fin - cere feekers of God ; as the apofile's practice, Gal. 6. 16, fhews, where he prays thus, .fls many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and on the whole lfrael of God: He prays for peace to them, as being the moll pro- per objects of the faints prayers, efpecially as to God's peace ; not having fuch ground for prefenting that, or o- ther fuch -like petitions to God for others. Yea,' idly, Not only does it lay on a fronger obligation, but it gives greater ground of encouragement and confidence to deal with God on their behalf, and of hope and expeeta- tion to be heard :' Peace (faith the apottle) be upon then: that walk according to this ruled He finds here firmer ground to ftand on (to fay fo) in praying confidently,, and with hope of fuccefs, for fuch than for others. qtly, Clear - T 7 tàef
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