CHAPTER I. 97 have any real influence on God's own will, and persuade him contrary to what he was before inclined : but as he condescends go talk with us after' the manner of men, so he admits us to talk with him in the same manner too, and encourages us to plead with him as though he were inwardly and really moved and pre- vailed upon byour importunities. So you find Moses is said to have prevailed upon God for the preservation of his people Israel, when he seemed resolved upon their destruction ; Exod. xxxii. 7-14. In this work of pleading with God, arguments are almost infinite, but the chief of themmay be reduced to these followingheads: 1. We may plead with God from the greatness ofour wants, our clangers, or our sorrows ; whether they relate to the soul or the body, to this life or the life to come, toourselves or those for whom we pray. We may draw arguments for deliverance from the particular kind of afflictions that we labour under. as My sorrows, O Lord, are such as overpress me, and endanger my dishonouring of thy name and thy gospel. My pains and my weak- nesses hinder me from thy service, that I am rendered useless upon earth, and a cumberer of the ground : they have been already of so long continuance, that I fear my flesh will not be able to hold out, nor my spirit to bear up, if thine hand abide thus heavy upon me. If this sin be not subdued in me, ox that temptation removed, I feat I shall be turned aside from the paths of religion, and let go my hope." Thus from the kind, degree, or duration of difficulties, we may draw arguments for relief. 2. The several perfections of the nature of God, are another head of arguments inprayer. " For thy mercy's sake, OLord, save me: thy loving-kindness is infinite, let this infinite loving- kindness be displayed in my salvation. Thou art wise, O Lord, and though mine enemies are crafty, thou canst disappoint their devices : and thou knowest how by thy wondrous counsels to turn my sorrows into joy. Thou canst find out a way for.any relief, when all creatures stand afar off and say, that they see no way to help me. 'Thou art almighty and all-sufficient : thy power can suppress my. adversaries at once, vanquish the temp- ter, break the powers of darkness to pieces, release one from the chains of mÿ corruption, and bring me into glorious liberty. 'l'hóu art just and righteous, and wilt thou let the enemy oppress for ever? Thou art sovereign, and all things are at thycom- mand : thou caust say to pains and diseases, go, or come ; speak therefore the sovereign word of healing, and my flesh and soul shall praise thee. Thou delightest in pardoning grace ; it is the honour of our God to forgive ; therefore let my inquities be all cancelled, through the abundance of thy rich mercy." 3. Another argument in pleading with God may be drawn VOL. V. G
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