But you will say,1 May we then only pray for those that are already godly, must we like the Priest and the Levite pass by all wicked men? God forbid; Though there be not such comfort and hope in praying for them, yet it's our duty, 1 Tim. 2.7. to pray for all men:2 There are no sorts of persons excepted but such as have sinned that sin unto death; Indeed God is angry with Samuel for praying any more for Saul, and God commands Jeremiah to pray no more for that people, Jerem. 7.6. but that was chiefly in respect of temporal Mercies, Saul to have his Kingdom still; The People of Israel to have their Judgements removed, but that could not be, God had determined otherwise; It's our duty to pray for the wicked though wallowing in their sins, that they may be converted and brought home to God; Thus Christ that would not pray for the world of the Reprobates, yet prayed for wicked men, That God would forgive them for they knew not what they did; And seeing that Christ was heard in what he prayed for, we may think all those were converted; Those that knew not what they did, that were ignorant in their crucifying Christ, or if not all yet many, for our Saviour spake indefinitely not universally: Thus Steven converted Paul by his Prayer at the hour of his Martyrdom; So Monica the Mother of Austin, by her daily prayers was a means of converting ⟨p. 232⟩Austin, So that we may say of the ungodly as Samuel concerning the people of Israel, though a stubborn and wicked Nation, God forbid I should cease to pray for you, And indeed if it be our duty to admonish and exhort others, and with much patience to endure, if it be possible to bring them out of the snares of sin, no doubt we are to pray that God would bless such Reproofs, That he would prepare the heart to receive them; And again the very miserable and wretched estate they are in through sin makes them fit Objects of prayer: There is never a profane man that walloweth in his lusts, blessing himself in his hearts desire, but he is an Object of great pity, Even as mad men that think themselves Great Persons, when they are bound up in chains; Seeing therefore they lie under such great misery and they feel not this, They pity not, nor pray for themselves; This should make us that can pray to commend their estate to God;
But you will say,1 May we then onely pray for those that are already godly, must we like the Priest and the Levite passe by all wicked men? God forbid; Though there be not such comfort and hope in praying for them, yet it's our duty, 1 Tim. 2.7. to pray for all men:2 There are no sorts of persons excepted but such as have sinned that sinne unto death; Indeed God is angry with Samuel for praying any more for Saul, and God commands Jeremiah to pray no more for that people, Jerem. 7.6. but that was chiefly in respect of temporall Mercies, Saul to have his Kingdome still; The People of Israel to have their Judgements removed, but that could not be, God had determined otherwise; It's our duty to pray for the wicked though wallowing in their sinnes, that they may be converted and brought home to God; Thus Christ that would not pray for the world of the Reprobates, yet praied for wicked men, That God would forgive them for they knew not what they did; And seeing that Christ was heard in what he praied for, we may think all those were converted; Those that knew not what they did, that were ignorant in their crucifying Christ, or if not all yet many, for our Saviour spake indefinitely not universally: Thus Steven converted Paul by his Praier at the hour of his Martyrdome; So Monica the Mother of Austin, by her daily praiers was a means of converting ⟨p. 232⟩Austin, So that we may say of the ungodly as Samuel concerning the people of Israel, though a stubborn and wicked Nation, God forbid I should cease to pray for you, And indeed if it be our duty to admonish and exhort others, and with much patience to endure, if it be possible to bring them out of the snares of sinne, no doubt we are to pray that God would blesse such Reproofs, That he would prepare the heart to receive them; And again the very miserable and wretched estate they are in through sinne makes them fit Objects of praier: There is never a prophane man that walloweth in his lusts, blessing himself in his hearts desire, but he is an Object of great pity, Even as mad men that think themselves Great Persons, when they are bound up in chains; Seeing therefore they lie under such great misery and they feel not this, They pity not, nor pray for themselves; This should make us that can pray to commend their estate to God;
- 1Of praying for ungodly men.
- 2Motives there unto.
