504 Conrolations forfach as bewaile their wants in prayer. quìreth ofvs;for example, the Lord commandeth vs to loue himwith all our hearts, and with all our foule, and with all our flrength,..which dutie ofloue wee performe with great w'cakeneife, and exceeding coldly ; but becaufe wee can not doe it as God requireth and as wee ought,. fhall wee not therefore does itat all? God forbid. So the Lord comman- deth vs to truff and toput our wholeaffiance in him, but we are ready'to reflandrelie vpon the armeoffleíh and inferior neanes,either inwholeor atleaft inpart,and when they faile vs, our truft in God is verie vveake and mingled with much. diffidence and doubting : but (hall wee therefore put no af- fiance inGod at all, becaufe we cannot doe it fo perfe6tly as Godrequireth ? be it farre from vs. Só in the very like ma- ner, the Lord expreífelychargeth and commandeth vs tocal vpon his holie name, which dutieoftentimes wee performe coldly and negligently,h.auing our minds carried awaywith wandring thoughts and worldly imaginations : but (hall Sa- tan working'vpon our ovine corruptions, therfore.perfwade vs altogether todefiftfrom this holieexercife ? no, in no cafe let vs not yeeld to this tentation. For it is not left vnto vs at our own choice as athing indifferent to pray,or not to pray, but it is a notablepart ofGods worfhip and feruice, anda fngularduety which the Lord exprefly inioyneth vs;toperr forme, whereuntohehathadioyned- utoít comfortable pro miles which dependnot-vpon our worthineffe, and the ex- cellencie ofour prayers, but on his ovine free mercy and goodneffe, andthe merits and intercefiïon of our Sauioar Pfal.56.1... Chrií}. SoPfal.5o.i 5. Callvpors me in the day oftrouble, fowill Ideliuer thee,and thoufhaltMrifae mee. AndMatt.7.7.eAkl. Matt 7 7. and it (?ialbegiuenyou. And John i 6,2 3.Verily, verily I fay vtr- toyou, whatfoe..eryou'hallafke the fathér in my name free will loh. t 6.z3. 2 4. yon.24.Ac eand 'e¡hallreceníe,that your ioymay beefull. .Thcf s.i y. Andthe Apoftle `Paul chargeth vs. i.Thef.5.i 7. thatweepray contrrrisaliy. Seeing therefore the Lord exprefly requireth this dutie at ourhands; thoughour infirmities and corrup- tions bee neuer fo great, let vs labour continually- to per- forme it,affuring our felues,thatifin obedience to his corn- mandement.we call vponhim,and labour andfriue againít thofe
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