2:66 The Cofpel.iVlyflery Direct. XIII. Pet. ii 5. compared with Pfalm cxli. 2. and the pro- perty of faints, i Cor. i. 2. and God is a God hear- ing prayer, Pfal. lxv. 2. God will be prayed to by his people, for the benefit that he is minded to beftow upon them, when once he path enabled them to pray; though at find he is found of themwho feekhim not, Ezek. xxxvi. 27, 37. Phil. i. 19, 20. that he may prepare. them for thankfgiving, and make benefits double benefits to them Pfalm lxvi. 16, 18, 19. and 1. is. 2 Cor. i. r o, r . Though his will be not chang- ed by this means ; yet it is accompiifhed, ordinarily, and his purpofe is to accomplith it this way. And therefore, trufling affuredly fhould not make us ne- glea, but rather perform this duty, 2 Sam. vii. 27. C rift the Mediator of the new covenant, by whom ¡unification and fanftification are promifed, is alto the Mediator for acceptance of our prayers, Heb. iv. z.5', r6 The Spirit that fanaifieth us, begetteth us in Chrift, and fheweth the things of Chrift to us, is a Spirit of Prayer, Zech. xii. io. Gal. iv. 6. He is as fire inflaming the foul, and making it to mount upward in prayer to God. Prayerlefs people are dead! to God. if theyare children of Zion, yet they are but flill=born, dead children, who crynot, A61s ix. r r not written among the living in Jerufalem ; Heathensin nature, thoughChriftians in name, Jer. x. 25. It is a duty fo great, that it is put for all the fervice of God, as a fundamental duty, which, if it be done, the reft will be done well and not without it; and other ordinances of worfhip are helps to it, ifa. lvi. 7. It is the great means whereby faith cloth exert itfelf to perform it's whole work, and poureth itfelf fo'rth in all holy defires and àffeuions, Pfalm lxii. 8. and fo yields a fvveet favour, as Mary's box of precious fpikenard, Mark xiv. 3. John xii. 3. and fo the fame prornifes are made to faith and prayer, Rom. x. r r-, r2, 13. It is our continualincenfe and facrifice, whereby we offer ourfelves, hearts, affec- tions, and lives, to Gcd Pfalm cxii. a firc ad all
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