Thirdly, A godly man may be a public good to save and deliver others by his Prayers and Intercession, by seeking the Lord that they may be delivered,1 as the latter branch was opened, he saves them by the pureness of his hands, lifted up in prayer. Yet we must take this with a Caution; For we cannot affirm it universally, that the righteous have always this privilege (in the event) to deliver the Island or Nation wherein they are. But we may say, that this is a privilege which Saints have often been honoured with, and which none but Saints have been honoured with at any time to be the Saviours and Deliverers of a people among ⟨p. 293⟩whom they dwell; For we know the Lord himself hath given express Exceptions to this rule (Jer. 15.1.) where he tells the stubborn Jews by his Prophet; Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people; Cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth; and it shall come to pass if they say unto thee, whither shall we go forth, thou shalt tell them, thus saith the Lord, such as are for death, to death; & such as are for the sword, to the sword, and such as are for famine, to famine. When he saith, Though Moses and Samuel stood before we; Some may ask, what to do? I answer, we are not to take it for a mute standing before the Lord, but a standing before the Lord with earnest Prayers, Intercessions, and Supplications, for the sparing of that people; Now saith the Lord, though Moses and Samuel (who in their generations were eminent godly men, and eminent favourites of God) though these should stand before me, earnestly praying for this people, yet my mind could not be toward them, that is, I would not spare them, nor save them from death, sword, famine, or captivity, no not at their entreaty. And we have a like Instance (Ezek. 14.14.) Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it (there were but two named in Jeremiah, but here three, though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it) they should but deliver their own souls by their righteousness saith the Lord God. They might have the privilege mentioned by Eliphaz in the former verse, When men were cast down, they might say, there is a lifting up, or there is preservation for us, God will take care of us: but God would not be persuaded, no not by Noah, Daniel, and Job, to save the rest.
Thirdly, A godly man may be a publique good to save and deliver others by his Prayers and Intercession, by seeking the Lord that they may be deliver'd,1 as the latter branch was opened, hee saves them by the purenes of his hands, lifted up in prayer. Yet wee must take this with a Caution; For wee cannot affirme it universally, that the righteous have alwayes this priviledge (in the event) to deliver the Island or Nation wherein they are. But wee may say, that this is a priviledge which Saints have often been honoured with, and which none but Saints have been honoured with at any time to be the Saviours and Deliverers of a people among ⟨p. 293⟩whom they dwell; For wee know the Lord himselfe hath given expresse Exceptions to this rule (Jer. 15.1.) where hee tells the stubborne Jewes by his Prophet; Though Moses and Samuel stood before mee, yet my minde could not be toward this people; Cast them out of my sight, and let them goe forth; and it shall come to passe if they say unto thee, whither shall wee goe forth, thou shalt tell them, thus saith the Lord, such as are for death, to death; & such as are for the sword, to the sword, and such as are for famine, to famine. When he saith, Though Moses and Samuel stood before wee; Some may aske, what to doe? I answer, wee are not to take it for a mute standing before the Lord, but a standing before the Lord with earnest Prayers, Intercessions, and Supplications, for the sparing of that people; Now saith the Lord, though Moses and Samuel (who in their generations were eminent godly men, and eminent favourites of God) though these should stand before mee, earnestly praying for this people, yet my minde could not be toward them, that is, I would not spare them, nor save them from death, sword, famine, or captivity, no not at their entreaty. And wee have a like Instance (Ezek. 14.14.) Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it (there were but two named in Jeremy, but here three, though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it) they should but deliver their owne soules by their righteousnes saith the Lord God. They might have the priviledge mentioned by Eliphaz in the former verse, When men were cast downe, they might say, there is a lifting up, or there is preservation for us, God will take care of us: but God would not be perswaded, no not by Noah, Daniel, and Job, to save the rest.
- 1Haud tamen deus id semper facit, neque est •uod quisquam in hac re certā ei legem imponat, fallitur ergo Eliphaz si hoc perpetuum esse putavit. Merc:Haud tamen deus id semper facit, neque est •uod quisquam in hac re certā ei legem imponat, fallitur ergo Eliphaz si hoc perpetuum esse putavit. Merc:
