Wilson - BS2663 W54 653

404 Interpret. Expofition upon Chap. io S I L. They be fix : Firft, falvation. Secondly, calling on God. Thirdly, faith in Chrift.Fourthly,hearing. Fift- ly,preaching the word.Sixtly,the fend- ing or vocation of God, which are knit together in one chain as caufès' and ef- fe&s : the firftbeing concluded of the laft, and the Taft inferred ofthe firft , as we have before let down. T I M. What doe yee call falvation ? verfe 13 S 1 L. A deliverancefrom all fin and all miferies , and the enjoying of molt perte& bliffe in heaven. This falvation is given the dea in this world imper- fealy by jollification , delivering from the guilt and the whole punifhment of fin; and by fanaification, freeing them in part from the power and dominion of iin and perfe&ly by glorification in the world to come, difcharging the ale& of all the remainder of fin, of all corruption and infirmities whatfoever, that they may be like Chrift in his cele- ftiall glory and felicity. T I M. The calling upon God, how mani- feflii it? S I L.Twofold : Firft falfe and coun- terfeit, when men draw neer with the lips onely,as the Pharifee prayed , Luke 18.11. Secondly,trueandfound, when with our hearts we defile of God need - full and lawful! things, with fure trufl to obtain them through the interceffi- on of Chrift.Thus the Publican prayed, Luke 18. 13. and David, Pfal. 25. I. This later Kinde of calling on God, is either in heart onely , as Mofer prayed at the Red fca,Exod.14.15. and Hannah, I Sam. 1.53. or .both with heart and mouth, as David prayed, Pfal. 116. I, 2; 3. They are both meant here, vocali and mental]. prayer, but chiefly the latter. T 1 M. What learn we from hence? S I L. That true prayer is a certain undoubted note of falvation,even as the want of the gift of prayer is a plaine mark of wicked man, Pfal. 119. Save me 0 Lord, furl cal}}d4,j+pon thee, Pfal.14. 4. they call not upon thMord. T I M. What ufe of thispoint? S i L. It ferves to move fuch as would be Caved, and lack the gift of prayer,to ftrive to have it ; and fuch ashave it, to make precious account of it, and to be heartily thankful! to God for fuch an unfpeakablegift : yet we ought not to think that by the work of prayer, wee merit falvation , the root and caufe whereof, is faith from Whence ithath all efficacy and commendation. T.I M. What may it teach us,tbat we muff beleeve in him on we doe call ? S I L. That faith in Chrift is necefla- ry unto true prayer, yea fo neceffary as without it, we not only cannot pray a- right, with hope to fpeed, Marke i i. 24. James 1.6.7. but our prayers are turned into fin, Rem. 1 . 23. The rea- foils hereof be; Firft, becaufe it is writ- ten , Hee that commeth to God mull be- leeve that God is, and that he it a rewar- der of them that feek him, Heb. 11.6. Secondly, becaufe scuff and confidence of the heart that God will hear, is that which begetteth prayer, whereof as of all other good gifts and good workes, lively faith is the mother and roote whence they fpring, fetching all their praife and vigour from faith ; therefore it was, that Mofes cryed for deliverance from the Egyptians, and David from Saul and other enemies, and the Syro pbenician prayed for her daughters lait- ty, and the blinde man for his fight,and the Publican for the rentiffion of his finnes, &c. becaufe they beleeved that God could and would grant their peti- tions, As we in our neceffities when wee need other men , do willingly become loiters for help at their hands, when we have truft to be heard and fuccoured : fo it is the affiance of Gods goodneflèe which doth bring forth invocation, and calling on his name, as David laid, We beleeve and therefore we pray, Pfal. 116. T i M. What profit it to be made of this initiation ? S I L. Firft; it doth admonifn us that when we pray, we bring faith, having afro ranee of Gods love in Chrift, that for his fake he is our Father, and alfo will faithfully keep his promifes which he bath made to them that call upon him.

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