Verf. i. the Epifile io the Romans. pleating and acceptable to God, and they only teflifie that we have the Spi- rit of God, Rom. 8. 26, 27. T r M. 13y what means arethefe defires ffirred up in the hearts of Gods Children ?. . Sr L. By the due and godly medita- tion : 'Fiat, of the excellency of the things we pray for. Secondly, of : the neceffity,in that we cannot be happy if we be without them. Thirdly, of our grievous fins, which deferve things quite contrary to the things we do pray for. T r M.Whortufe of this point ? Vfes. S t L. It teacheth that the thing chief-en in pray er,is,that the heart be fet on work in fending up good delires towards heaven, as fparkles our of a furnace. Secondly, it fheweth the true caufe why that many prayers of the godly fpecd not, even for that theirde- lires are cold, and faint, and Bender. Thirdly, it warneth that the prayers of the wicked are but bablings, (vain and abominable,) becaufe they call upon God with their lips, the defire of their heart being farre from him, Mat. 15. 8. Laftly,the diftin&ion of mentali and vocal prayer is ¡unified by this place, and indeed no diflin&ion in divinity (is currant but that which hath'ground in the Scripture dire&ly, or by good de- duaion. T t M. In that the Apefle prayeth for them, what doth this teach of ? S i L. That our Chriftiars love one towards another, doth no way more firmly manifefi it felf, then by praying one for anothers falvation. Thus Paid proves the truth and earnefinefíeof his love to the Ifraeliter, by this duty of praying for their converfion to Chrif}, that they might be faved. Which fhewes it to be afpecial evidence of love: yea, Paul did moredemonflrate his love in praying for the Ifraelites good, then when he grieved for theirevill ;becaufe it is more to be faved, then to be de- livered from paine. Alfb Stephen at his death witneffed his charity by his fupplication unto God for his perfe- cutors, Ail. 7. 6o. And Chrift alto manifefled his deep love to his crud- fiers, by praying God to forgive them. Moreover, Paul unified his love to all the Churches, in the beginning of his Epiftles, by thankfgiving. and prayer for their faith and love ; and it cannot be, but a man muff love him heartily, for whofe repentance and falvation,he heartily prayeth. T t M. Whereunto muff the knowledge of this truthferve us? . S t L. Firfi, to reprove them for want of love,which foreflow or forget to pray for others,or do it not for their being Paved. Secondly, to confute them oferrour, who think love to confift only or chiefly, in good fpeech or 9lmes, or other outward works of mercy to the body. Thirdly,here is an admonition to every one,to prove unto himfelf, the truth of his Chriftan love, by his diligent 'and earnell prayers for the good of others: namely, for their converfion and falvation, which is the chiefefl good. For whofoever he be that truly loves another, doth ever aim at the good of the party loved,and efpe- cially of that which may do them moli good ; and that what can it elfe be, but the falvation oftheir fouls, after Paull example here ? T t M. But did this prayer prevail with the lever, to get themall faved ? S t L. No : thefe words fet forth not the effe &, and what fruit came of his prayer,but what fcope and end he pro- pounded to his prayer ; which was not earthly and temporall,but eternal good things. T r M. But why would Paul pray for them whomhe knew to be cafe out from God and falvation ? S r L. All were not fo, and for the other he might pray, Rom. uI. t. Se- condly, the Nation of the Jewes were not cafe out for ever, but for a time ; and therefore he might pray for the falvation of fuch as were to be called, Rom. t T. 25. This admonifheth all Chriflians, what things in prayer they ought efpecially to beg for others ;and that the event oftheir prayers, even for the molt excellent good, which ever en- dures, doth depend upon Gods plea= Kk 3 Pure; 379
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