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obtained a promise that if only ten could be found, the rest should be spared for their sake. What an astonishing idea does this give us of GOD'S REGARD FOR HIS PEOPLE!

Let us observe,

I. How dear to Him are their persons!

We forbear to notice the honourable appellations which he gives them (as his jewels, his peculiar treasure, &c.) or the great and precious promises made to them, or the blessings of grace bestowed upon them: we shall confine our attention solely to the interpositions of his providence in their behalf: because it is in that view only that they are noticed in the text. But in marking God's kindness to them, we shall notice it as manifested,

1. To them personally

[We cannot conceive any thing so great, but God has actually done it for his people.

He has controlled the elements. The earth has opened at his command to maintain the authority of his chosen prophet, and to swallow up his insolent competitors. The air has raised itself into tempests, and shot forth its lightnings, and shaken the foundations of the earth, with its thunders, in order to punish the enemies of his people, or vindicate their injured honour. Fire also has suspended its destructive energies, in order to defeat the persecuting rage of a tyrant, and rescue from his hands the children of oppression. Nor has the water been backward to obey his will, when any signal benefit was to be conveyed to his favourite people. It has repeatedly stood as a wall, to open an avenue for them through the rivers', and through the seam.

God has compelled all classes of the brute creation also to consult their benefit. The birds, though of the most voracious kind, have served up the stated meals of bread and meat to his prophet in a time of dearth and necessity". The beasts, though fierce and hunger-bitten, have shut their mouths before the saint, whom they were invited to destroy. The fishes have swallowed up a drowning prophet, to discharge him again in safety upon the dry landP; or taken into their mouth a bait

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unsuited to their appetite, that the Saviour in his humiliation might be enabled to pay his tax. The insects too have united their irresistible efforts to punish a proud and cruel nation, and to assert the liberties of God's oppressed people'.

We may add also, that even the heavenly bodies have been overruled by God for the purpose of aiding, or comforting, or honouring those who were dear to him. The sun and moon stood still for the space of a whole day, to witness the triumphs of his chosen servants". "The stars in their courses fought against Siserat." And the shadow on the sun-dial of Ahaz returned ten degrees, that a pious and afflicted monarch might be assured of the deliverance which his soul desired".

How dear to God must they be to whom the whole creation is thus made subservient, and for whose benefit the government of the universe is administered!]

2. To others for their sake

[For their sakes blessings have been imparted to the undeserving, and judgments averted from the wicked. For Jacob's sake God multiplied the flocks of Laban; and from respect to Joseph he prospered the house of Potiphar. If ten righteous could have been found in Sodom, the impending destruction would have been turned from all the cities of the plain and notwithstanding the extreme wickedness of its inhabitants, the city of Zoar was exempted from the common fate, at the intercession of Lota; nor could the storm be poured out upon Sodom, till Lot was placed beyond its reach". The mercy shewn to a whole ship's company on account of Paul, deserves peculiar notice. There were 276 souls on board: the storm was so violent that there was no hope left for their preservation; they were just ready to be swallowed up in the tempestuous waves. But there was one saint on board; a saint, hated of men, but beloved of God: and for his sake the whole were preserved from death, and not a hair of their heads suffered to perish. When God was about to send the Jews into captivity, he told them, that if they could find one righteous man in Jerusalem, he would spare them all": and after he had inflicted his judgments upon them, he assigned as his reason for it, that not one had been found to stand in the gap, and to intercede for them. After the murder of the Messiah, the Jewish nation was devoted to utter destruction: but when the days of vengeance came," they were shortened for

q Matt. xvii. 27.
t Judg. v. 20.
y Gen. xxxix. 5.
b Gen. xix. 22.
e Ezek. xxii. 30, 31.

Exod. viii. 17, 24. u Isai. xxxviii. 6-8. z The text.

c Acts xxvii. 24, 34.

8 Josh. x. 13. x Gen. xxx. 27. a Gen. xix. 21. d Jer. v. 1.

the elect's sake;" yea, it was out of respect to them alone that there was not an utter excision of the whole human race.

What stronger proofs can be given of God's love to his chosen people?]

But we shall have a further insight into this subject, if we consider,

II. How acceptable are their prayers!

Who can contemplate one single individual interceding, as Abraham did, for all the cities of the plain, and not admire the condescension of God to his praying people? He has heard and answered them, for whomsoever they made their supplications; whether, 1. For themselves

[No limits whatever, except those which were necessarily fixed by a concern for his own honour, have been assigned by God to the exercise of his own grace in answer to his people's prayers. God has said to them, "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it:" "Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." Agreeably to these promises he has done for them not only what they have asked, but exceeding abundantly above their most sanguine hopes. The prayer of Jonah ascended up even from the bottom of the sea, and brought him a deliverance unprecedented in the annals of the world. The situation of the Canaanitish woman may be considered in some respects still more desperate, because her request had been repeatedly refused: but by persisting in her supplications she obtained the desire of her heart". No kind of blessing has ever been denied to the prayer of faith. David sought information whether the men of Keilah would betray him; and God told him that they would. He desired direction, when and in what manner he should attack the Philistine armies: and God pointed out to him the precise time and place for making his attack successfully. Thus also when they have implored mercy after the most heinous transgressions, God has shewn the same readiness to hear and answer their requests *. "He has never said to any of them, Seek ye my face in vain."] 2. For each other

[Mutual intercession is a duty which has been expressly enjoined, and to which we have been encouraged by the most signal tokens of God's acceptance. The deliverance vouchsafed to Peter deserves particular attention. He was secured in prison with all the care that human foresight could devise.

f Matt. xxiv. 22. g Matt. xv. 22-28. h1 Sam. xxiii. 11, 12. i 2 Sam. v. 19, 23, 24. k Ps. xxxii. 5. 2 Chron. xxxiii. 12, 13.

He was chained between two soldiers, and guarded by many others. Prayer was made for him by the church; but apparently to no purpose. The day appointed for his execution was almost arrived. But at midnight God returned an answer; an answer which as much surprised the suppliants, as it confounded their enemies: his chains fell off, the iron gates opened to him of their own accord, and his adversaries were put to shame. It was from a full persuasion of the efficacy of intercession, that St. Paul was so earnest in requesting the prayers of others for him m, and that he was so unwearied in his prayers for them". And it is particularly in reference to intercession for the saints, that St. James says, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."]

3. For the ungodly

[The iniquities of a nation may indeed arrive at such a height, that if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, those holy men should not prevail, except for the preservation of themselves. But the instances wherein God has heard prayer on behalf of the ungodly are very numerous, and very encouraging. How speedily did the supplications of Amos remove the threatened judgment from his country! And how irresistible, if we may so speak, were the intercessions of Moses! God had determined to execute vengeance on his people for making and worshipping the golden calf. He therefore, fearing, as it were, that Moses would interpose in their behalf, and prevent the execution of his purpose, said to him, "Let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them;" that is, 'If thou intercedest for them, thou wilt bind my hands; therefore let me alone, that I may inflict upon them the judgments they have deserved.' But Moses would not "let him alone:" he instantly "besought the Lord," and, as it were, prevailed against him: for "the Lord repented of the evil which he had thought to do unto his people."

While in such instances as these we contemplate the condescension of our God, we cannot fail to notice the love which he bears to his chosen people, and the peculiar delight which he feels in hearing and answering their prayers.]

OBSERVE,

1. What blessings are God's people in the places where they live!

[Our blessed Lord represents them as "the lights of the world," and "the salt of the earth;" because, without them,

1 Acts xii. 4-19.

n 1 Thess. iii. 10.

P Ezek. xiv. 14.

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q Amos vii. 1—6. r Exod. xxxii. 10, 11, 14.

the world would be immersed in total darkness, and speedily become one mass of corruption. Little do the world think how much they are indebted to the saints. They are ready to traduce the characters of God's people, and to represent them as "the troublers of Israel:" but, were they viewed aright, they would be considered rather as "the shields of the earth," who ward off from it the judgments of the Almighty. Only let us duly notice the tokens which God has given them of his regard, and the mercy he has shewn to others for their sake, and we shall know how to appreciate their value, and ardently pray for their increase in the earth.]

2. What encouragement have the ungodly to pray for themselves!

"The

[Has God shewn himself so willing to hear the prayers of a single individual in the behalf of populous cities, and will he not hear the prayers of individuals for themselves? Never from the foundation of the world has he rejected the petitions of a real penitent: nor, as we have before observed, has he prescribed any limits to our petitions for spiritual blessings. Lord will not be angry," however frequently we renew, or however largely we extend, our supplications: "If we ask, we shall have; if we seek, we shall find;" yea, if we ask for all the glory of heaven, it shall be given to us. O that men were duly sensible of the privilege of prayer! and that they would plead for mercy while yet a throne of grace is open to them!] 3. How diligently should the godly improve their interest in the behalf of others!

[We can scarcely conceive a person so obdurate, but that if, by speaking to another, he could obtain health for the sick, and relief for the indigent, he would avail himself of such an opportunity to benefit his fellow-creatures. Yet is there amongst us a lamentable backwardness to the work of intercession, notwithstanding our almighty Friend is at all times accessible, and the blessings which he will bestow are infinitely greater than words can express. O let all of us stir up ourselves to this blessed work! Let us consider how much we ourselves need the prayers of others; and let a sense of our own necessities stimulate us to "labour fervently in prayer' for others. We are sure at least that, if we prevail not for them, we shall bring down a blessing upon our souls, and "our prayer shall return into our own bosoms." Let us consider also that to neglect to pray for others, is to sin against our Gods; and that, if we have no heart to sigh and cry for the abominations or the miseries of others, we have great reason to fear and tremble for ourselves.]

1 Sam. xii. 23.

t Ezek. ix. 4. with Amos vi. 6, 7.

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