Serin.14. flow rnufc we Pray in Fd:th ? 333 man for molly, be pares with every penny as with a drop of bloud ; for us to chink God parts fo with his Mercies, that he is hard to be intrea- t ed, and that he is an hard Matter either for work_or wages,are thoughts utterly unworthy, and fhamefully difhonourable to the Goodnefs of Lod. If thy child,whofe finger if it fhould but ake, thine heart akes, fhotlld think thou grudgeft him every bit of meat he eats, thou wouldit think him a wretched child unworthy of thy tender affections ; and mull it not be far worfe in thee to have fuch thoughts of God ? firtce Mm pisse nerve, tam peer neneo. Was it fo great a grief to Peter co have Chnft queftion his love ? lokn 2I.í7. though he had given but fad re- ftirnony of his Love but lately; and can it choofe but much offend God for thee toqueftion Gods Love to thee, nay, his Goodnefs in it felt, when God hath given thee no caufe of either, A141.2, r. We flaould go to God with as much confidence of his Love, and readincfs to do us good,as the child doth to the tendereft Parent, as we do to the deareft friend we have in the whole world,and much more abundantly : If we do not believe that the goodnefs of God is as much above the goodnefs and love of our deareft friend, as we account his `\.ifdom and Power above our friends, we have unworthy thoughts of that Attribute which God bath molt abundantly manifefted, and would he;e moft glorified ; and the love our friend bears us is but a drop from and of that Ocean ti that is in God. Doubtlefs God loves his enemies more than we love our friends ; he loves us more (if we love him) than we love our felves or him. Surely God loves the weakeft Saint on earth more than the higheft Angel in heaven loves him ; for when God faith that he So lo- ved the World, it was fuck a Sic there was no Sicut for ir, it might not be faid as the Angels loved God. Ah we deal unworthily with God in having bale low thoughts of his goodnefs, he bath little deferved is at our hands, he that bath done fuch wonders and miracles of Mercies for us,and bath promifed to do more ; Say that every mercy is too great for thee to receive,but fay not that any is too great for God to give : Sure- ly,furely God is more willing co give, than we are to receive mercies. But you will fay, If God be fo willingto below mercies, why doth he not bellow them without Prayers, andfilch importunity ? I anfwer,God doch not thus becaufe he is not willing, but becaufe we are not fit for Mercies,for God waits to begraciores : The tender Mother had rather give her child Cordials than bitter Pils, but her child is lick: Bÿ our Prayers we make not God more willing, but we become more prepared for Mercies, for our Prayers exercife,and fo firengthen grace, and thong grace weakens and mortifies corruption,and then we are fit U u a for
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