upon theEpi{!le of J A M li s. VER.S.2. feem litde, becaufe there is fitll fo much in hope; like ch1ldren , that greedily defire a thing,and when they have it defpi 'e ir; or like • drunkards, who are always pouring in, yet do not quench, but in– flame the appetite; fee Ecclef. 4· 8. & 5. I o. Well may it be faid then, ye cannot obtain; carnal men polfds much, but have nothing. · - . . Ye fight tti4d U'.tr ,<tndyetye have not,] That is, though their vio– lence and carnal dd1res had broken out fo far as publique Infmred: i– ons and Tumults, yet fiill they wereat a lofs. Becaufe y eask not.] Th:tt is, ye do not u\e the hwful means of prayer. But how can it be faid, ye ask._not, Gnce in the next Vcrfe he faith , 1eaok._, and receive not, becau{e ye a&k..amifs? I an rwer, · r. Poffibly here he may task one abufe, there another; here that: they hoped to help them[elves by their own endeavors wichollt prayer, there that their prayers were conceiv.ed toacarnal purpofe. 2, .l~ccau[e prayers not conceived in an humble and holy manner are no prayers; luft s prayers are no praprs, eruCl:ations of lufl:s, not fpirirual Supplicatiom; .mhorvft.,g, Hof.7·I4· which God re– gardeth not. r. LuFfings are ufually difoppointJd: Ye lufl, and h~ve not. Obfervat. I. Goci loverh ro crors dellres when they are inordinate; hi& h,mdis ftreightened Whm our dejires are enlarged. Sometimes out of Mercy : •fis a bleffing to meet wi chdifappointm~n~ in theways of fin; you cannot have a worfe judgment then to have your car– ml dd1res filled up. Oh u;1happy men,whom God leaveth ro them– fel ves without refl:raint ! Prov . I 4• I 4· The back.; (lidt'l' in heart foa/1 befi!!ed Wit/1his own ~1ays, anda goodman fhall be f atisjied f rom himft!f. The curfed Apof!:ate fhall have enoughof honours, andpleafures, and ·preferments: Twas a mercy to the Church to be difappoimed; She [hall follow afte'r her Lovers, but jhtlll not overtale! them; fhe jh.;zl/fe ek.. them, but not find them: then foe foal! thinlzofher former. hu~band, &c. Hoj: z. 7· Profperous and ' fucce[sful wickednefs encourageth a man to go on in chat way ; fame rubs are an advantage. What we deflre wi thgreedinefs, we enjoy with furfeic; to difappoint and check our luf!:, God in me:r– cy fencech up our way with thorns. Sometimnin Judgmerft , that ~e· may to.rmem men by their own luf!:s; their defires pro.ve their , Jufl: torture: The blood heated by intemperance, and the heart en– larged by de~re, are both of them fins that bringw ith th~m their - · Ii i 3 · · own
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