ous in some way of sin against God. "Wilt thou not from this time cry (namely, in this slighty fashion), my Father? Behold, thou hast done evil as thou couldst." Such are wont to be serious in discontented complaints of God in his dispensations of providence; as that his way was not equal, when it is their own ways rather which are unequal; as slighty complainers of their sins are bold to charge God as if his ways were not equal.

CHAPTER VI.

OF PRAYER OF INTERCESSION, AND IMPRECATION.

HAVING spoken of the sorts of prayer in general, we come to speak especially of solemn and continued prayer, and letting pass those which respect ourselves, we shall only single out those two respecting others, namely, Prayer of Intercession and Imprecation.

Concerning prayer of intercession, whereby upon all occasions we are bound to pray for others' good, we shall not mention the persons especially concerned in it; as magistrates, ministers, parents, masters, husbands, and all other superiors, for their inferiors, as also their inferiors respectively for their superiors; or any other special relations, as of friends, kindred for their friends, and the like; of which Scripture instances are plentiful; but we shall

consider it generally, as that which respects all sorts of godly persons; nor shall we spend time in urging reasons and motives from the honorableness of this holy service of love in itself; its advantage to the persons themselves who so plead for others' welfare every way, the suitableness of this to that matchless pattern thereof in the Lord Jesus, and the mighty things which have been done for others thereby. But shortly come to lay down, first, some rules to guide us in it. Secondly, some means to help us in it. Thirdly, some marks to discover our gracious speeding in it.

Touching the first thing propounded, we observe these rules in it.

1. Attend the times, and observe them, when the Lord is in any more special manner with us by his Spirit, and when our hearts are near to him, by special stirrings of faith and love. They are as in Christ's lap, upon their spouse's knee, in their beloved's bosom, and they would yet be nearer to him. The church is leaning upon her beloved, yet says, set me as a seal upon thine arm, and upon thy breast, and then makes that gracious motion to her beloved. We have a little sister, what shall we do for her? As she is ready to do her part, so she would have him do his part for the other's good; when the daughters of Jerusalem find Christ, when he meets them, then they must in their prayers tell him of the church's sad case, that she is sick of love. Moses will take the advantage of God's being so near him, and speaking to his heart, to speaking for his presence with the rest of God's people: "If thy presence go not with us, carry us not hence. And Moses made haste

and bowed himself to the earth, and worshipped, and said, O Lord, I pray thee, if I have found favor in thy sight, that the Lord would now go with us, and pardon our iniquity, and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance." It were pity that the saints would not improve their waiting months upon the king of saints, to move him as well for others, as for their own good. The king at Esther's banquet expects request for her people; so does the Lord at such time especially look that some should make intercession. He expects that some should ask him of things to come, concerning his sons and his daughters. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Tell

2. When others are under any special desertion or temptation, or in any helpless, desolate, disconsolate conditions, as when the Lord is withdrawn from them: "My beloved had withdrawn himself. him that I am sick of love." When under reproaches and indignities from others, who by their profession and place should do better offices for them, as when the church is smitten and wounded by the watchmen, and her veil taken away by the keepers of the walls, then tell " my beloved I am sick of love." When others are deeply sensible of their need of Christ, and nothing else will content them but Christ, then they are sick of love, then tell Christ of it. When the displeasure of God himself is breaking out against His own people, then if Moses have interest in God, he must be down on his knees for Israel, then Aaron must haste to offer incense. Then Job must offer for his friends. When enemies are ready to swallow up the Lord's heritage, then Isaiah must lift up his prayer for the remnant of God. When

persons of choicest use are in greatest hazards through the rage of persecutors, then prayer is made without ceasing for Peter by the godly. When people want a fruitful ministry, pray for them especially. Pray, then, that the Lord would thrust forth laborers into his harvest, and in other sad cases of the saints.

3. Be serious and not flighty in pleading for others, "Lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left." Wrestle together in prayer for me, if we should seem therein to get a defeat, yet again try more with God for them, especially in difficult cases. Abraham follows Christ with prayer upon prayer, even for Sodom: "Give the Lord no rest until he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

4. We take advantage of the least possibility of speeding, to set us upon this service of love for others, in any case whatsoever, though not always desired thereto by others; but especially when thereto moved by them. It may be the Lord hath heard Rabshakeh's word; and, "Wherefore lift prayer for the remnant that is left." "Moses said unto the people, ye have committed a grievous sin, but now I will go up to the Lord, peradventure I may pacify him."

Touching the second, even helps to further us in this duty.

1. Cherish brotherly love, and kindness, and charity. Love the church and people of Ged, his Jerusalem, and you will pray for them. Love your enemies, and you will pray for them. The centurion will be suing to Christ for his servant, who is very dear to him. If we love others, we will every way

seek not our own things so much as theirs. Jonathan, who loves David, will be a petitioner to his father for him. And Esther, who loved her people, will not be content to ask her own life, but theirs also of the king. So in our requests to the Lord for others, if we love them. Moses will have no greatness of his, founded in his people's ruin; nay, he refuses an offer thereof, so he may bespeak mercy for his people. True suppliants can sometimes be earnest for others, when more sparing in suing for themselves.

2. Be as much acquainted with, and well informed in other's estates as you can, especially inquire out all the good which is in them. The knowledge of others' miseries, as the eye affects the heart, opens those sluices then whereby it comes to be poured out for them; this brought good Nehemiah upon his knees, when he had certain information of Jerusalem's calamities: "He sat down, and wept, and fasted, and prayed." Hence the direction, confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another. The best are much led by sense; others' cases, of which we have but some general information, do not so affect, as those of whose particular case we have better knowledge; knowledge, also, or hope at least of the grace which is in others, does much quicken us to pray for them. From the day that Paul heard of the faith of the Colossians and Ephesians, how importunate is he in prayer for them? The report of Philemon's faith and love, makes Paul echo forth. the sound thereof in the ears of God by praying for him. And it would be good to keep a fresh memorial of others' graces, as Paul did of those in the Thes