Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

334 in what refpetls God is f idtogive. thofe either of the Church or commonwealth: To whofi neceffities we are to defire that we may not be wanting. Give. In what re- G od is faid to be the giver of thefe things 1. be a God is faid togive. giveth either he them without our means, P or elfe bieffeth our means unto us for the obteining of them. 2.becaufe he granteth us the ufe & fruition of them. 3. becaufe he bleffeth the ufe of them un- to us, giving them vertue and ftrength to nourifh and chern us. 4. And again, that is faid to be given which is freely and gratioufly bellowed. Here therefore we are taught I. to afcribe thofe temporall bleflings and good things which we have neither to fortune nor chance, nor to our own la- bour and induftry, nor to our own merit and de- fert; but to the goodneffe of God freely beftowing them upon us. Now if we cannot deferve a piece of bread of God, but muft acknowledge the good - neffe of God therein and our own unworthineffe, Gen. 32. 10. much leffe can we challenge eternall life as our own defert, but muft with the Apoftle Rom. 6. 23. acknowledge it to be the free gift of God. And as we are to acknowledge God the gi- ver of thefe things , fo II. we are when we want them to beg them of him, and when we have them to return thanks unto him for them : For which caufe we are taught to receive the good creatures of God with prayer and thankfgiving. III. If we are to defire temporall bleflings as the gifts of God, we are to bt carefull to get them by good means. For then we are to etteem them as the gifts of God and pledges

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=