ON HOSEA XIV.- VERSES 5 -7. 181 This serveth to encourage us unto prayer, because God doth not only hear and answer prayers, which is a sufficient motive unto his servants to call upon him, " 0 thou that hearest prayers, unto thee shall all flesh come," Psa. lxv. 2. lxvi. 20.lxxxvi. 5 -7. cii. 17. but also because he oftentimes exceedeth the modesty, the ignorance, the fearfulness of our requests, by giving unto us more than we ask. When poor men make requests unto us, we usually answer them as the echo doth the voice, the answer cuts off half the petition. The hypocrite mentioned by the apostle, James ii. 15, 16. when he saw a brother or sister naked or destitute of daily food, would bid him be warmed or filled, but in the mean time give him nothing that was needful, and so did rather mock than answer their re- quests. We shall seldom find amongst men Jael's courtesies, Judg. v. 25. giving milk to those that ask water, except it be as hers was, an entangling benefit, the better to introduce a mischief : there are not many Naamans among us, who when you beg of them one talent, will force you to take two, 2 Kings v. 23. But God's answer to our prayers is like a multiplying glass, which renders the request much greater in the answer than it was in the prayer. As when we cast a stone into the water, though it be but little in itself, yet the circles which come from it spread wider and wider till it fill the whole pond : so our petitions, though very weak as they come from us, and craving but some one or other good thing, yet finding way to the foun- tain of life, and unsearchable treasure or mercy which is in Christ, are usually answered with many and more spreading benefits. The trumpet exceedingly strength - eneth the voice which passeth through it ; it goes in at a narrow passage, and the voice is but a silent breath as it comes from the mouth ; but it goes out Q
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