V ER.I7. Epbe/an.r,Chap. t. 159 The latter queflionis anfwered thus. Looke as a brunt ofunbeliefe doth not evacuate our faith formerly grounded on Gods promife ; for Davidhis Paying, that Seul wouldat length catch him, and flyingout of unbeliefe toGO,' did not make his former faith in vaine , fo intermif- fion for a brunt, while the fit ofunbeliefe, dejection of miede, or impa- tiency lafteth, doth not hinder, but that we fhall receive the things we have unfainedly defired. TheVfe is to (litreus up that we faint not in following God : Wee love not to be troubled, and even molefled with inflancy, but nothing is more acceptableto God then this violence,which will notlet him goe till he bath bleffedus.I,but I feekandfee nothingofmy prayers: the har- vefl commeth not fo foone as the feed is fowen;though thou feeleflnot the things thou askeff, nor removall ofthofe evils whereofthou com- plaineft,yet thou doeft not knowwhat evill this courfe offollowingGod doth keepefrom thee,nor what good in other kindes he doth theefor it. Againe,thou fhalt reape in timeif thou utterlyfaint not, for that whichis denied us in life, is often by Gods molt wife difpofttion granted in the end ofir.But to come to the prayer it felfe. Now followeth his Prayer, inwhich we marke thePerfonto whom he prayeth,with his defcription:Firft from his relation,to Chrifl;Second- ly, from the attribute ofhisglory,GodofChrifl, theFather ofglery.zThe benefits for which he prayeth ; touching which, three things are to be obferved. Firft, the benefits to bellowed, which are propounded in this verfe, and further declared in the beginning ofthe verfe follow- ing. Secondly, theway by Which they Mouldbe given them, in theend of this verfe ; Wifdome and revelation through the knowledge, orac- knowledging ofChrift. Thirdly, theend, that thus they might know both thethings kept for them in the heavens, and that whichhad beene bellowedupon them. Toopen the wordsofthis verfe ; the Father ofglory, dothnote out God,as glorious bynature in himfelfe, and the fountaine ofthat glori. ous life which is communicated with any ofhis creatures. The fbirit of wifdome, is put for the gift ofwifdome, which isbellowed on us ; and it is called thefpirit of wifdome, both becaufe the fpirit doth beget it in us, as:dfo becaufe thefame fpirit is with it to fuftaine it, and perfect it. Thirdly, becaufe the wifdome itfelfe is ofa fpirituall nature, moving them in whom it is, to worke after the directionof ir. Theffiritofnevelation.]Revelation is extraordinary,orordinary,and it isnothing but the gift ofillumination, or that light which the fpirit caufeth to fhineabout our mindes,by which as a mean, things fpirituall are made manifeft to the eyeofour underftanding, as by the light ofthe Senne things bodily are made manifeft to the eye of our body; and the fpirit caufeth this, and continueth it, even as the Sunne doth caufe and continue this naturali light which we havewith us allthe day long. Knowledg afchrif,isputfor that affè6tionateknowing and acknowledg- ing of him.The fumure is. Since I heardofyour faith in the Lord Jefus,I goe to him,who is the God ofthis Chrifl,onwhom you have beleeved; P a who a, irea s e:ï;7-.
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