1S2 FIFTH SERMON wider with a doubled and multiplied vigour : so our prayers usually go up narrow to God, but they cone down with enlarged answers from him again ; as the root is but of one colour, when the flower which groweth out of it is beautified with variety. Now this should be a great encouragement unto us to call upon God with sincerity of heart, because he multiplieth to pardon, because we know not the num- bers of his salvation, Psa. lxxi. 15. we cannot count the sum of his thoughts towards us, Psa. cxxxix. 17, 18. If there were any man so wealthy that it were all one with him to give pounds or pence, and who usually when asked for silver, would give gold, every in- digent and necessitous person would wait upon this man's mercy. Now, it is as easy with God to give talents as farthings, as easy to over - answer prayers, as to answer them at all. It is as easy to the sun to fill a vast palace as a little closet with light ; as easy to the sea to fill a channel as a bucket with water. " He can satisfy with goodness, and answer with wonderful and terrible things," Psa. lxv. 4, 5. 0 who would not make requests unto such a God, whose usual an- swer unto prayer is, " Be it unto thee as thou wilt ?" Matt. xv. 28. Nay, who answers us beyond our wills and thoughts, Eph. iii, 20. and measureth forth mercy by the greatness of his own grace, and not the narrow- ness of our desires. The shekel belonging to the sanctuary was, as many learned men think, in weight double to the common shekel which was used in civil matters ; to note unto us, that as God expects from us double the care in things belonging unto him above what we use in the things of the world, so he usually measureth back double unto us again ; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over into our bosoms. When the man sick of the palsy was
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