C H A 13.2. Lpiftle to theTheffalonians. V E R.145. bath made, doethgood for nature fake his workemanfhip, to good and bad. But there is a fpeciall loue, and aflurance of it required in him, that will pray with affurance to bee heard. Tellimonies thereof are, not outward blefíings, none knower thi.t loue by any thong that e before him. But gifts there are that teftiJfie it, two here.fpecified. I Com- fort. z Hope. Which m none receiue, but the people of his loue. Particular explication expee anon, I apply now to the Apof;les purpofe. Noticing thefe and like gifts of the fpirit, as pledges of obtaining more, or in more abundance, the bleflìngs wee pray for. Hence called the ° eflrrha, or e,-irrhabo, earnefi peny of Gods contrae, tefiifying that hee is voluntarily bound to glue more, if we aske more of him. Wherefore Saints are not afhamed to promife themfelues more, be- caufe the Lord bath already done fo great things for their foules. See z Co,. 1.10. z Tern. 4.17,18. i Sam. 17.37. Nor to encourage vs to aske more, euen therefore becaufe the Lord bath already beene fo liberali to vs. I God is not as man, that the fountains of his bountie fhould be exhaufted. z Nor as the fonne of man, to° vpbraid vx with curte- fies already conferred. 3 His bosuns isfui clifufiuum; and delights to haue it felfe extorted by importunate prayer, that indeed hee re- quires. t That bee may bee acknowledged Authour of gifts. a That he may fee vs fitted and difpofed to receiue. 3 That he may reape thankes as a tribute, from thofe that are his beneficiaries. But aske what thou wantell, thou mayefl bee affured to receiue; fhall I fay ? Though thou haue already receiued much; nay, therefore bee encoura- ged to aske more, becaufe thou hat experimented the Lord fo liberali in bellowing. Grace fornetimes feemes P osier modeft,through confci- ence of vnthankefulnej[e, and 9 priuitie of no worth in it felfe to obtaine. Oh route vp your felues, you beloued of the Lord, and know 1 the Lords delight is to doe good to the Tonnes of men. z You are á worthy by acceptation in 207 1 Ecelef9,r. °1 Iohn I 5.17, ° s Cor,I,as. ° dat11.1.f. vfe. P Ezra 9.8,10. 91am.32,1o. 1 Chroo. r Apoc.3.4. Aralit . ná . :, 40i
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