Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

to obtçin our &fires: knowledge of our wants and readineffe to fupply them muff free us from diffruflfull care, and move us with affiance to feek unto God in all our neceíli- ties ; to which end our Saviour Chrift informeth us of Gods knowledge and fatherly love. And fo the Apoflle Phil.4.6. Mnd'v ttspg,a7s, Be not diflruß- fully carefull for any thing, but in every thing let your requefls by prayer and fupplication with than kf iving be made known before God. The perfwafion there- fore of Gods knowledge and love muff not hinder us from prayer, but rather incourage us with faith ,and affiance to call upon him. Neither do we call upon God either to inform him in that which he knoweth not, or to move him to that which he hath not purpofed, but to do our duty to God and our felves : to God, in worfhipping him by this exer- cife, and acknowledging him by prayer and thankf- giving to be the authour of all good things : to our felves, in ufing that means which God hath ordain- ed for the obteining of our defìres. God hath pur- pofed and promifed to give good things, not to all but to thofe that ufe the means There is a promife of receiving and obteining, but to thofe that ask of finding, but to thofe that Peek ; and of opening, but to thofe that knock. And moreover, as Augu (line faith, the Lord would have us to exercife and increafe by prayer our defire,our hope and our faith, that fo we may be the more capable of thole good things which God bath promifed to give ; For they are great, fed nos ad accipiendum parvi C&_ an- Epi(?.izi, ad gufli fumus. Tantò quippe illud quod valde magnum Trobara, fumemus capaciús quanta fideliús credimus, ¿ fpe- ramus