wlio art not put to guess at God's thoughts, hut hast tlie assui-ance of plain pro- mises for thy good speed! O, what fools, and how slow of heart are we to helieve the good word of God! If Moses supposed his hrethren would have understood, b}' the kind visit he gave them, and his friendly office in rescuing one single Israelite from his oppressor's hand, that God would by him deliver them all ; how much more may God expect that his people should understand his pur- poses of love toward them, when he exposeth his heart to so open a view of their faith by his promises, and hath sealed the truth thereof with so many examples, to whom already full payment hath been made of the same ? And do we ye( read them, as the eunuch that sweet promise, Isa. liii., and understand not the meaning of them? Do we yet sit so near our comfort, as Ilagar by the well, and our eyes not able to see it ? Can we walk over the promises as barren ground, when, with a little digging into them, we might find a treasure to pay all our debts, and supply all our wants?
Section III. — Oppose to thy fears, not only the greatness of the promises, but also the valuable consideration upon which they are made. Thou, indeed, beggest alms ; but Christ demands the same as a debt. God is merciful to thee, but just to him : and, therefore. Christian, though it becomes thee to sink thy- self beneath the least mercy in thy own thoughts, yet it behoves thee to be tender of Christ's credit, whose merit is as far above the greatest mei-cy thou canst beg, as thou art beneath the least. The Father will give you little thanks for casthig any dishonourable reflection upon his Son, on whom himself hath heaped so much glory ; yea, with whose honour his own is so interwoven, that whosoever dishonours the Son, dishonours the Father that sent him. Now there are three privileges purchased for every believer; and none of them can be lost by us without dishonour to him. First, He hath purchased a liberty to pi'ay : it had been death to come on such an errand to God, till he had by his blood paved a way, and procured a safe-conduct, Heb. x. 27. Secondly, An ability to pray ; as he purchased the Spirit for us, called, therefore, ' the Spirit of pro- mise.' Thirdly, The safe return of our prayers ; ' Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you,' John xvi. 23. Indeed it is his busi- ness in heaven to own our cause, and to present his blood for all his saints beg, that no demur be made to their requests : so that either thou must blot this article of Christ's intercession out of thy creed, or else put thyself to shame for questioning thy entertainment with God, when thou hast so good a friend at court to speak for thee.
Section IV. — The greatness of thy request cannot hinder thy success : they are most welcome that ask most. Who are the persons frowned on at the throne of grace, but those who lay out the strength of their desires, and bestow their greatest importunity, for mercies of least worth ! ' They have not cried unto me wath their hearts, when they howled on their beds,' Hos. vii. 14. Mark! The Lord did not account that they prayed at all, for all their loud cry ; and why, but because he disdained their low spirit, in crying loudest for that which deserved least, as it follows, 'They assemble themselves for corn and wine, and rebel against me ;' they would have a good crop, with a full vintage, and these scraps should serve them, so as not to ti-ouble God for any more. God's love and favour are quite left out of the story. May they but have their bellies crammed, they have all their wish, and leave the other for those that like them better. O, how God abhors these carnal prayers, when men tithe mint and cummin, but neglect the weightier things of the promises, such as an interest in Christ, forgiveness of sin, a new heart, grace here, and glory hereafter : or when they aim at low and base ends in praying for these things, which in themselves are noble and high ! And, therefore, fear not the greatness of thy request : God had rather give thee heaven and earth ; he can more willingly bestow himself on thee, who art in love with him, than a crust of bread on another that regards him not. The greater the mercy is thou askest, the greater revenue wilt thou pay him for it. The less he gives, the less he receives. By low requests thou wrongest two at once : thou art a thief to thyself in wanting what thou mayest have for asking; neither art thou so good a friend to thy God, as thou shouldst; for the less grace thou hast from hiin, the less glory thou wilt, return unto him. The reflex beams are proportionable to the lightsome body they come from.
2 T 2
g^^ PRAYING ALWAYS, ETC.
Where grace is weak, the reflection it makes of praise and glory to God can be but weak.