Wilson - BS2663 W54 653

Row our prayers be continuel. An Expofîtion upon Chap.-12. med, Rom. 5.5, and by hope they are Pa- ved, Rom. 8. 24. But if their affli &ions continue upon them, and wax more grievous, then to hope muff be joyned patience, which enableth to endure with fubmiffion unto, and waiting up- on the pleafure of God, as we are admonifhed in many places, Matti'. 24. 13. Rom. 5.4. Heb. ló. 36. 2 Pet. z. 9. To hope and patience muff be joyned prayer, which is a notable armour and weapon again troubles, becaufe it gets wifedome how to carry our felves its af8i &ions ; and divine helpe how to come out of it, that we may overcome, Jam. is. Pjal. 5o. 15. Our prayers may then be laid to be continual!, either when we call upon God by offered occafions, and neceffities bodily or fpirituall; or when by no eneanes we intermit the fet homes or times of prayer; or elfe when we are inftant in prayer,asking earneftly, Ja.5,or though we be not heard prefently, when we continue to aske without cealing, Luke 18. Or elfe we may underftand this not of moving of the lips, but the delires of the heart,which when they are conti- nuall, our prayers be continual!, for a continual) delire, isa continual! prayer; God evil! heare the defies of them that feare him, Pfal. 145. It was an hercfie con- demned in Extiches and the Magiliant, that though Chriflians ought all their Life long to do nothing elfe but pray ; abufitrg this and the like Texts to this end. Whereas betides prayer, the worker of our general! and particular vocation are to be followed, yea in Gods fervice there is preaching, and Sacraments muff have time allowed. It is a grievous fin in many Chriftians at this day, which contenting them - felves with publicke prayer ( which is a good thing) negle& let prayers in their families, or forellow the juit occafions to turne unto God by prayer,or in their prayers doe behave themfelves coldly or carelcfly: Inch as thefe,they both fall into many evils, & are left in their evils without comfort, becaufe they fake not unto God fervently for his aid and I protc &ion. Finally, remember unto all thefe precepts,and to the reff following, to knit thefe flea words of this Chapter [ F befeech you,] at a generall and moli forcible motive,to (line us up CO pra&ife them, as we would not call from us, and make our felves unworthy of the mercies of God, whereunto not all the world is to be compared, no not to the leaft of his fpeciall and.faving mercies in Chrift. DIALOGUE ;VIII. Verles 13,14,15. Difribliting or communicating unto the nece - ties ofthe Saints, giving your flvcs unto hofpitality. Bleffe them wd.ich perfecuteyou, Bleffeifa and curfe not:Rejoycewith them that rejayce, and weep with them that weep. Timor l EUs. Hat is required by the firfi of thefe precepts? S 1 L. Liberality or mercy to the poor, that we be ready to give them, acmes according to their need. The word tranflated [ nece(lïties, ] lignifies [nfes] to teach us, that as we may not minifterto the delicates of the poor, fo we may not flay till extreame neceflity urgeth them unto this duty of mercy in giving. There be many exhortations in the Scripture, upon fundry and great reafons,asHeb.13. r6.where it is called a facrifice, and God is fail to be well pleafed with it. In Phit.4. S. it is called an odour of tweet finell, a facrifice ac- ceptable to God. And Ads zo. 35. it is faid,that it is a more bleffed thing to give then to receive : and Luke 16. g. we are charged to make friends of un- righteousMammon, by giving to the poor, that they may receive us into ever - lalting habitation : and 1 Tim.6.18,19. of diftributing to the poor Pqu1 faith; it is the laying of a good foundation a- gain ft the time to come. Againe, Chriflians be Rewards, and it is required that Rewards be faithful!, to difpofe their goods to the 'Made of their Mailer; and his anode is, that filch as

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