58 An Expofition of the 27. P falene. Verf.7. The third Thirdly, Gods mercies, tefiified by gracious promifes. Reafon. and anfwerable performances, did notably encourage him to be zealous and earneft in prayer. For his promifes , fee pfal. 50.15. Call upon me in the day of trouble. Exod. 22, 23. If thou afia them in any wife , and they cry at all unto me , I millfurely hear their cry. See for his obfer- ving Gods dealing, with thofe rhat cry, Pfal. 22. 4, 5. Pfd. 107. 6 , 1 3 , 1 9 . Pfal. 6, 8, 9. The fourth Fourthly, Davids own neceifitiesand d ilireffes didurge Reafon. and enforce him to be earneft in prayer. Pfal. 18. 4, 5, 6. The farrows of death complied me , and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The forrowes of hell com- pafJed me about : the !hares of death prevented me. In my diftreffe, I called upon the Lord, and criedunto my God. This ferves for infirudion, admonition, and comfort. The ute for For iniirudion, it acquaints us with a property in pray- inflruftlan. er, both profitable and commendable, which few regard, viz. to be zealous, and fervent, and carnet therein. They, that think the fervice ofGodhands in the workdone ; as Papilis, and ignorant peopledo, who therefore tye them- felves to a fet number ofprayers, fo many times faid over cannot much regard this property. But we mull know,that the true God , who cannot endure luke-warm profeffours of his true religion , threatning to fpew filch out of his mouth, Rev. 3. 16. cannot like of cold or luke-warme prayers. Is not prayer a good work ? Now Chrift Jefas bath redeemed us to be zealous of good works. Tit.2.14. therefore we mull not be cold in prayer. The tie for For admonition, this ferves tomove every childeof God to labourfor this property of zeal and fervencie in prayer. For which end , we mull firft confider Gods commande- ment requiring it. Rom. 12. I I, 12. Fervent in fJirit, con- tinuing infttant in prayer. Luke i 1.5, 6, 7, 8. Chrili bids ask, feek, and knock , upon the refemblance of a mans importunitie , prevailing with his friend , to rife out of bed , to lend him provifion for a friend come unto hum. admonition. How to get zeal and fer- vency in pray- er. Seconde
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