i faint- if This Duty of Praying always, 15 inculcated to us ſzveral times in fl, 5+ the Epiſtles, as may appear from thoſe Texts quoted in the Margen, ; which we muſt not interpret, as an Obligation upon us to be al- ways upon our Knees praying 3 for thus our Obedtence to it would be inconfiſtent with our Obedience to other Precepts of God relating both to religious Duties and civil Adtions, neither was Chriſt himſelf al- ways praying 3 but it either lets us know, that there is no tim? in which we may not pray 3 as we may pray in_all places, every where lift- ing up pure hands without doubting (as the Apoſtle faith.) ſo we muſt pray at any time. Or, ſecondly, It 15 as much as pray frequently, and ordinarily 3 as Solomon's Servants are ſaid by the Queen of Sheba, to ſtand always, that 1s, ordinarily, and frequently before him, I Kings 10. 8. and the Jews arc ſaid always 70 have reſiſted the ſpirit of God, As 7. 51, That 1s, very often, for they did it not in eve- ry individual att of their livesz or elſe in every part of time, knit- ting the Morning and Evening (the general partsof our time) to- gether by prayer. Thus the Morning and Evening Sacrifice, 1s cal- Ied the continual Burnt Offering, Exod. 29. 42. Nehem. 10. 33. Or as it is in Eph. 6. 18. ey mzy]i aaugr : In every ſeaſon, when ever the providence of God ofters us a fair ſeaſon and opportunity for Prayer. Or Mentally praying always, intermixing good and pi- ous Ejaculations with our earthly, and moſt ordinary Occaſions; or, having our hearts at all times ready for Prayer, having the fire always on the Ajtar (as was required under the Old Law) tho the Sacrifice be not always offering. And not fainting, which 1s the ſame with that, Eph, 6. 18. Watching thereunto wth all perſeverence, and Col. 4. 2. Contiaue in Prayer, watching thereuntz. Not fainting cither by rea- ſon of Gods delay to give us the things we ask of him ; or through lazinels, and remitſion of our Duty, before our life doth determine.
y This is now what our Saviour defigncth to teach us in this parable, c which followeth, ; n« 2 Saying, There was Þ in acity a judge, which fear- - (1.94 not God, neither regarded man. | oo 2 And there was a widow in that city, and ſhe came unto him, ſaying, Avenge me of mine adverſaries. t, 4 And he would not for a while : but afterward he . faid within himſelf, Though I fear not God, nor regard 0 to man 3 : J n- 5 Yet becanſe this widow troubleth me , I will fo avenge her, leſt by her continual coming ſhe weary od me. og . 6 And the Lord faid, Hear what the unjuſt judge " ſaith. 6.1% #7 And * ſhall not God avenge his own ele, which Ii- cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with ve them ? : $ 1 tell you that he will avenge them ſpeedily. Ne- rts yertheleſs, when the Son of man cometh, ſhall he find 4 faith on the earth ? 76; Weave here the Parable, and the Interpretation thereof, both v, 1, 1nthe Proparabole, or the words 1mmediately going before it. mn and aifo in an Efiparabolz, or ſome words following it, which ſufh- 1 : Cientiy explain our Saviour's ſcop2 and intention in it, viz. To af- all ! lure his people, that tho the Lord ſhew a great deal of patience to- wares wicked men, who are the enemies of his people, and doth Nite not preſently an{wer their cries for deliverance of them out of their nand 3 yet if they go on crving to him, he will moſt certainly at bei th length deliver them. To this purpoſe he tells them a matter of i ht fait, which either, had happened, or might happen in the World, a” {.Toere was in a City a Fudge, which feared nt God, &Cc. ] v. 3, 4, 5. ) re- —_ irom hence he concludeth, arguing 4 minre ad majus, from the lef. all oo {er to the grcater, and iudecd there is an Emphaſis 1n every part 0! > of the compariſon. This was an wnjuf Fudge, God 1s a Righteous t to Judge. Ke did this for a Sr-,anger, Gods people are his own Elect. > de- Then he atfured them, that God would avenge them ſpeedily We here my from this diſcourſe of our Saviour, obſerve ſeveral things.
2% That all the wrongs and iniurics which the people of God ſuffer S | P
S. EL UET
Chap. XVII, in this Liſe,ſhould make them fervent and frequent in prayer to Cod
for redrefſing them. 2. That notwithſtanding their prayers, Gd
may bear with their Enemies long, for fo much time as they ſhall
think a long time. 3. If Gods people do not taint, but contiiae
night and day crying to him, God will hear them, and aven=e tiem
of their Adverſaries. The power that I'mpcunity \iath upon 1ioful
Men, may confirm us in this thing, and ought to ingage us to pray
without ceaſing and fainting. | Nevertheleſs when the Son of Man
cometh, ſhall he find Faith on the Earth} When Chrift thail come
to Judgment, he will find very few whote hearts have no+ tain:-
ed ; there will be multitudes who are fallen away trout the
power that temptations have upon the frailty of humane Nature ;
By Faith here ſeems to be underſtood the true 1nd proper effects or
Fatth, growing out of it as the Fruit out of the Root. This Premc-
nition of our Saviour alſo ſerved for an excellent caution ts his C1ſc:-
ples, that they would watch, and take care that they might be nr:
of that part of the Stars of Heaven, which by the Dx.c5ms Tail thou'd
be caſt down to the Earth.
9 And he ſpake this parable unto certain which truſt-
cd in themſelves || that they were righteous, 3nd actpl- i! Or, & 5e- ſed others.
By the Term certain or ſome, he unqueſtionably underſtandeth the Phariſees and their Diſciples, who (as we have a'l aloug in the t;- ſtory of the Goſpel obſerved) were a Generation of Men, wits were eminently guilty both of a boaſting of themſelves, and a ſoy nirg and 4; piſing all others. |
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray ; rhe one a Phariſee, and the other a Publicane.