A30241:1060
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermon 41: Of Praying both for the Godly and the Wicked, With the Reasons and Motives thereof.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. Therefore it's like to be a speeding prayer because they are such as are within the Promise and Covenant; Now when we have a promise from Gods Word when he hath obliged his fidelity to such, Then we have strong Arguments to plead for such; Oh what a sad disheartening is it in prayer to think, I pray for such an one, but I know no promise to apply to him; It's true God is merciful and his goodness that is a general Encouragement, but yet there must be some more peculiar Encouragements from the Word of God, to be hopeful in prayer: Oh then be not guilty of the neglect of so much help and comfort to the Children of God, as to forget thy prayers for them, Thou mayest urge the promises of God for them as well as for thy own self.
2. Therefore it's like to be a speeding praier because they are such as are within the Promise and Covenant; Now when we have a promise from Gods Word when he hath obliged his fidelity to such, Then we have strong Arguments to pleade for such; Oh what a sad disheartening is it in praier to think, I pray for such an one, but I know no promise to apply to him; It's true God is merciful and his goodnesse that is a general Encouragement, but yet there must be some more peculiar Encouragements from the Word of God, to be hopefull in praier: Oh then be not guilty of the neglect of so much help and comfort to the Children of God, as to forget thy praiers for them, Thou maist urge the promises of God for them as well as for thy own self.
3. Therefore there is hope to speed because they are such Subjects who desire to walk in such a way that they may put no stop to the proceedings of prayer; One great and sure destruction of all prayer is to regard iniquity, when we pray yet to do also service to sin; If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear my prayers, saith David; Psal. 66.18. And again, I will wash my hands in innocency so will I compass thy Altar, Psal. 26.6. He that prayeth and yet is given to sin doth benedicere Linguâ, but maledicere Vitâ; As the strings of an Instrument that are moistened are not fit for any Music, so neither is that mans heart or life which is polluted with any foul and noisome lust; If therefore thou prayest for the godly they are such who labour to keep hearts and lives pure; And therefore the benefit of prayer will find no gulf to stop it: It encourageth the Physician to give Physic to him who by his disorderly diet and Conversation will not go about to mar and destroy all.