Verfe 2 7. the E piffle to the Romans. Secondly , becauCe their prayers are framed atter the will of God. Thirdly, becaufe they which pray are Saints and dear to God. T t M.Let us examine thefe three rear iti. , and tell us how k God faid to fearch,. feeing he needs no inquifition,but knower all things without fearcb ? S r L. It is true he Both fo , for his knowledge is infinite whereby tree knoweth molt perfe&ly both himlelfe and all other things, even the moll dark and hidden, t Cop.4.4. But this is a fpeech borrowed from the manners and doings of men, and applyed unto God for the batter underftanding of his nature ; for that which men delire perfcaly to know,that they fearch for, and by fearch they come CO the exa& underflanding of things. T 1st. What is fignified here by heart? S t L. The foul,and all that is in it, even the moft fecrets thoughts, pur. pofcs,and motions,all which God cloth molt perfeftly behold : and this is fuch a privi ledge as agreeth to none fave to God alone, t Chron.28.9. T i M. Tet Paul faith, that the f iris of man knoweth what is in a man, s Cor.a. S I L. Firft, a man may lino v__ his own thoughts,andwhat is in hisltart; but nothing without a man can doe DIALOGUE XXIV. it, fave God onely. Secondly, God knoweth every mans heart, more per - Verfe 27. fe &ly then the man himfelf, t Cor.4.4 Eut be that fearcheth the heart knoweth the Many fins which are fecret to the coin- meaning of the Spirit , for he makes re- ' m itter, are open to God. Pfal. 19. 12. cueff for the Sainte, according to the will Alfo many good motions are known of God. to God: but they are unknown to him in whom they be. T t M. But the Divell knew the heart T i i í o r d a u s, of Cain, Saul, and judos, and egged them `% %Hat it the dri ft of this Text, with to wicilednejfe, whereunto he fan, them bent ; V V thefummeofit ? IthereforeGodisnot the onely fearcher of the S t L. To comfort the godly Ro- heart. mans, and all other belcevers in 'great S t L. The Divellknowes not mens aftli &ions. The fumme of the comfort thoughts, till they Ionic way be ut- is thus much : that their prayers how tered, by lignes, words,writings, and feeble foever, which come from Gods l a &ions ; God knoweth mens thoughts Spirit,are known and granted of God. without thefe means, Pfal. 139. i, 2. This is proved by three reafons : Firft, j Secondly, the Divell;by obferving of from the infinite knowledge of God, complexions, dothguefie'at mens in- ward S t t. That the fighes of the ,heart, ' albeit never aword be fpoken,be Arai- ! ers, even as a delre to beleeve and to repent in atruely humbled heart , bee accepted for faith and repentance with God, who will not break the bruifed reed , and accepts the will for the work/ to the deluxe to call upon God, is prayer in his fight:God will fulfil the defires of them that fear him, Pfal.145 19. See Mailer Perk?ne Grain of Muflard feedat large of this point. T t M. What life it to be made of this point vfdolirine? S r L. Ir affords a fingular comfort to the godly in theiraffli&ions,for that G-ds fpirit works wonderfully in their beau ts, to litt them to God - ward,even above that that themfelves can perceive ìn a:ind,or be able to declare in words. Sccondly,it ferrts for to flrengtheu the weak againft a temptation that they cannot pray,whereas they are to confi- der t'aat ifthey do but figh,it is a prayer before God : a c' fire is a prayer,a con tinuall dcfire is a continual! prayer. Thirdly, it reproves hypocrites who imagine that they can pray well when they fpeak many words, and yet have their hearts within void of fccrct ftghs and groans which doe accompany true prayer. 30
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