Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

326 The expofition of thefourth Petition. therefore they are in judgement to be efteemed and in affeion defired above all worldly things, which without the fpirituall graces are nothing worth; For what will it profit a man to gain the world, and lofè his foul? Mark 8.36. Therefore the Pfalmiff Pfal.4.6. faith, 1l'any f y, Who will flew us any good? ( that is, worldly profit: ) But, Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance : for f fhalt thou give me more joy and gladneffèthen when their wheat and wine did abound. So John 6. 27. But the reafon why we are firft taught to ask temporali things is this; 1. Be- caufe it is an eafier matter to depend upon the pro- vidence of God for the maintenance of this life then to rely on his mercy for the falvation of our fouls : and therefore the Lord would have faith trained up by the eafier, that we may learn to re- pofe our truft in him for the greater. Therfore thofe which make profeffion of their faith in God con- cerning their falvation, and have not learned to rely upon his providence for temporali matters, but feek the fame by unlawful! means, are greatly to fear left they deceive themfelves with_ an opinion of faith: for if they truft him not for the leffe how will they believe him for the greaten 2. Becaufe the things of this life are amongft thofe things which we ask of the leaff value; therefore in medium quaff Agmen conjiciuntur, Homericâ filicet dif ofitione, in medio infirma, they are cafi (as it were) into the middle rank, according to Homers method placing infirm things in the middle. And the rather becaufe in all fpeeches the heat of affedion fheweth it fell moll in the beginning and in the end: And therefore elfewhere