302 An Expofition upon Chap. 8. ward difpofitions : but God needes no fuck helps,without which he perfe&ly knowes what is in man, John 2. 25. Thirdly, the Divell knowes but forme thoughts at fome time,but God knows all our thoughts at all times. T t *,t. What is the reaf n this belongs to Gcd alone,to fearch the heart? S t L. Becaufe hee alone made the heart, Pfal.94.4.; Secondly, becau fe hee alone is the Judge of the world , there- fore he mull know all fcecrets,elfe how can he righteoufly reward men accor- her : fo. God is better pleated with the ding to their workes, EccieGt2. I4. feeblerequtfts of beleevers, then with Rom.z.6, Thirdly,Godalone is omni- the pompous arid long petitions of hy- fcient or of incomprehenbble know- pocrites.. ledge,a Sam.2.2. as he alone is omni- potent,able todoe what he will. I jJ I n L O G U E XXV. T i M. What profit is to bee made of this truth , that God alone fearcheth the Verfe 28. heart? Alfo we know that all things worse toge- S r L. Fitt, it mull bridle all men ther for the heft unto them that love from judging the inward intentions God, even unto them that are called of his hndpurpofesof men; for this is to purpofe. make our felvesto be God. Secondly,it mull hold us in charity so think the belly ofinen, where no evil! appeares. Thirdly, it fhould provoke all men to labour to be as upright in thoughts be fore God,as they are jull in dealings be- fore men.Laftly,it may comfort fuch as fear left their prayers come not up to heaven,but through their great weak. neffevanifhin-the air, and languifh in the middle way:nay that cannot be,for tieing God fearcheth the heart, there - fore fuch fecrets and requefts as are hid from us,yet be not hid from hint,for he knoweth the meaning of his Spirit. T t M, What is meant here by the mean- ing ofthe Spirit? S a L. Such prayers and Riles as cone from the infpiratiou of the Spi- rit. T I M. What ismeant by Gods knowledg? [He knower.] S t L. His love and good pleafure , he delights in them,as Rom. 8.29. and t t.2.Pfal.1.6.Mat.7.z ;. T t M. What is the doeirine from thefe words? S t L. Even this : that God taketh pleafure in the weakeft prayers of his Saints; for he knoweth them,fe that he heareth them, and in favour granttth th em.The reafon is, becaufe they come from the Spirit, the meaning whereof God knoweth and embraceth, as a man Both whatfoever comes from himfelf. For as a mother knoweth the cry of her own Infant though Thee leech it not, and though an hundred other children cry ; and liketh it better then the elo- quent oration and learned fpeech of {mile other, who is but a flranger to V T I MOT H EUs. 7Bat is the drift o f this T ext ? V S t L. It teacheth a new comfort to thofe which fuller affli &i- ons for TefusChrifl : it is drawn from the effe &s which follow aflfi &ions, which.are not to be hinderances, brat rather furtherances of our falvation. The- argument may be thus framed: Chri ftians are bound patiently to bear that which is helpfit ll tò their falvati- on: but áflii &ions are fo;therefore they mull patiently be borne. T t M. By what reafons is it proved that affliäïions profit unto falvation fuch as fuller them ?. S -a L. Firil by a reafon taken from the generali to the fpeciall thus. All things ferve to she falvation of the faithfull, therefore affli &ions ferve al- fò unto their falvation. Secondly, this is proved -by the teftimony of all the godly, [We know]. Moreover in this text, be contained the perfons .to whom there croffes are profitable, they are defcribedby two marks : firfi that they are fuch as love Gòd. Secondly, they Drift. Stmmn. Order or Method. Ì
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