296 An .Expofitionupon Chap. 8, Offee ft/. nir v .`:á:,e AoJtru. Die 1. R eafonr. sigh for want of ferre leffe good things then their eternal! life. Secondly, from hence we mayfce, that true beleevers have reafon to rejoyce, infontuch as though their perfc& felicity be abfent, yet they are moft fhre in the end to have it. So cannot Papifls be, whofe hope refieth upon Gods grace 'and mans merit. T r M. What is their duty in the mean time? S r L. With patience to wait for it till it conte. And this is the other part of the nature of hope, even to expe& with courage and patience that which it hash not. T r M. But what need is there of pa- tience ? S r L. A two -fold need : Firff, be- caufe their hope is deferred, therefore Chriffians muff have patience ; for it is no final' tryall and temptation to be long kept from that which one doth carnet/1y and truly love, being of Inch ineffiniableworth. Secondly, becaufe the faithful! are here fub ¡e& to mani- fold ntiferics, therefore they muff pof- feffe their fouls in patience, it being the will of God to afib& them diverfly and deeply, and not only to hold their inheritance from them fora while : and therefore they have need of patience, that having done the will ofGod, they may be glorified. This may be set forth by the example of Merchants, Souldi- ers,and Labourers,who are all of com- fort, becaufe they do look very furely ro obtain a good end oftheir labours ; yet in the mean time, they make ac- count to meet withall, and to refill di- vers difficulties in their voyage, wars, and affairs. T r M.W'hatufehereof? S i L. It infiruð us , that fuch areunn-ect for heaven, as promise to thetnfelves eafe and freedome from troubles here. Secondly, it doth ad- monish the faithful to get patience, be- caufe through many tribulations they muff cone to the hoped for haven, All. 14. 22. Die L©GUE XXIII. Vertes 26, 27. Likereife the Spirit alfo helpeth our infirmi_ ties: for we know not what to prayfor as we ought, but the Spirit it felfmaketh requefi for ut, with fight that cannot be expreffed. TIM OTMEus. WHat it the drift of this Text ? S I L. It affordeth unto be- leeversa new reason why they ought patiently to bear the Croffe, and to fuffer persecution for righteoutneffe fake, with comfort and Chriflian cote- nancy. Thisreafonis drawn front an effe& of the holy Spirit of God, in the hearts of the beleevers ; to wit, his se- cret and mighty help afforded them in their prayers to God: when they are fo befit and ffraieh tned,as they know not what courfe to follow. T i m. How may it be that prayer (boa afford comfort to the godly,while they are un- der the Grofe? S i L. They are helpful and com- fortable in two refpe &s. First, be- caufe they are flirred up by the holy Ghoft,verf 26. Secondly, becaufe they are heard and granted ofGod, serf. 27. T i M. What may the parts of this. Text be ? S t L. Two : the firft is, that prayer is a great flay in affinions. The second is the reafons hereof, the one taken front the author, towit,the Spirit flit - ring them up; the other from the fruit thereof. T i M. Expound the words and tell to what is here meant by [the Spirit ?] S a L. Some by Spirit underffand a fpiritual man : others by Spirit under - ffand an extraordinary and miraculous gift of the Spirit : but by Spirit is here meant the third person in Trinity , even the holy Spirit ofGod. fir M. What doth [infirmity] figaifted S r L. Thefe three things : First, our finfull weakneffe, to wit, igno- rance,diftrufl, &c. for there be the pro- per caufesto make us weak, Matz 6. r q.. The
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