each PERSON dilïníily. 289 tnife, and yet ndt have their prayers regulated by the promife, they may pray for what is inthe promife, but not as it is in the promife, fo Janes fays, Some ask and receive not, becaufe they ask ámifs, to fpend it on their hulls, chap. 4: 3. tho' the things which God would have us ask, be requef- ted, yet if not accordingas he would have us do it, we ask atnifs. Two things are requited, that we may pray for the things in the pro- inife, as they are in the ptotttife. [r. That we look upon them as promifed, and promifed in Chrift that is, that all the reafon we have, whence we hope for attaining the things we ask for, is from the mediation and purchafe of Chrift, in whom all the promifes are yea and amen. This it is, to ask the father in Chrift's name; God as a father, the fountain, And Chrift as the procurer of them.' [a That we ask for them for the end of the promife, not to fpend on our luft; when we ask pardon for fin, with ferret (a) referves in our hearts to continue in fin, we ask the choiceft mercy of the covenant, to fpend it on our tufts. The end of the promife the apofile tells us, 2 Cor. vii. Having thefe promifes, let us cleanfe our felnes from all pollution of jlefh and fpirit, pet torn. holinefs in the fear of God. When we ask what is in the promife, as it is in the promife, to this end of the promife, our fupplics Lions are according to the will of God. And this is the firft conjugal affec- tion that Chrift exercifeth towards believers ; he delights in them, which that he both is evident, as upon other "confiderations innumerable, fo from the inftance given. In return hereunto, for the carrying on of the communion between them, the faints delight in Chrift, he is their joy, their crown, their rejoicing; their life, food, health, ftrength, defire, righteoufnefs, falvation, bleffednefs, without him they have nothing, in him they find all things, Gal. vi. s4. Godforbid that Ifnould rejoice, fave in the crofs of Cbrill. He hall from the foundation of the world, been the hopes, expe&ation, defire, and de- light ofall believers. The promife Of him was all, (and it was enough) that God gave Adam in his unexpreffible diftrefs, to relieve and comfort him, Gen. iii. 15. Eve perhaps fuppofed that the promifed feed had been born in her firft born, when the faid, I have gotten a man from the Lord, fo mutt "properly not denoting the fourth cafe; and this was the matter of her joy, Gen. iv. r. Lamech having Noah given to him as a type of Chrift% and falvation by him, cries out, This fame fhhall comfort us concerning our work, and the toil of our hands, becaufe of the ground which the Lord bath turfed, Gen. v. 29. he rejoices in him who was to take away the cürfe, by being made a curie for us. When Abraham was in the height ofhis glory, returning from the conqueft of the kings of the eafl, that came againft the confederate kings of the vale of Sodom, God appears to him with a glo- rious promife, Gen. xv. t. Fear not Abraham, Iam thy fhield, and thy ex= reedinggreat reward. What now could his foul more defire? alas l he cries, as Ruben afterwards upon the lofs of Jofeph, the Child is not and whi- ther (hall Igo ? v. a. LordGodwhat wilt thou giveme, Peeing Igo thildlefe? Thou haft promifed, that in my feed (hall all the earth be bleffed, ifI have not that feed, ah ! what will all other things do me good ? Thence it is faidthat herejoiced tofee the day ofChrift; he taw it and weir glad, Joh. 56. the thoughts of the coming of Chrift, which he looked on at the diftance of two thoufand years, was the joy and delight ofhis heart, Ja- (a) PtlLAxsvüï. v. 35, 36, 37. Dddd cob
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