A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

1. Call upon the Giver, as the beggar frequents the gates of bounty; and that in faith,^c Ask in faith, without wavering: for Desinat orare, qui non sperat exorare: let him spare to speak, that distrusts to speed. Faith is to GOD as Bathsheba was to Solomon; so in favour, that the^d King will deny her nothing. And when thou movest this bounteous Giver, beg the best things, such as are well worth giving. When we put to sea, we pray for a good gale; when we have sown, for a good spring; when we reap for fair weather: we may have all these, and yet be cursed: let us entreat for grace, this will bless all. God ••es us no wrong in taking away our temporal things, for they are but lent us: Retrahit sua, non abstrahit nostra: he takes back his own, he does not take away ours. It is an argument of love in the Father; when he takes away the child's knife, and gives to him a book. We cry for riches, it is a knife to cut our fingers: GOD gives us a Bible the riches of verity, not of vanity. Magnum magna decent: great works become a great nature: let us not be afraid to ask him a kingdom; for how unworthy so ever we are of things so far beyond us, yet he gives things worthy himself. When Alexander ⟨p. 66⟩gave a whole City to one of his Favourites, he modestly replied; It was too great a fortune for a man of so mean condition. But the Monarch answered; Non quaero quid oporteat te accipere, sed quid deceat me tribuere. I examine not what is fit for thee to receive, but what is fit for me to give.

1. Call upon the Giver, as the beggar frequents the gates of bounty; and that in faith,^c Aske in faith, without wavering: for Desinat orare, qui non sperat exorare: let him spare to speake, that distrusts to speed. Faith is to GOD as Bethshebà was to Salomon; so in favour, that the^d King will deny her nothing. And when thou movest this bounteous Giver, begge the best things, such as are well worth giving. When wee put to sea, wee pray for a good gale; when we have sowen, for a good spring; when we reape for faire weather: we may have all these, and yet bee cursed: let us intreat for grace, this will blesse all. God es us no wrong in taking away our temporall things, for they are but lent us: Retrahit sua, non abstrahit nostra: hee takes backe his owne, he does not take away ours. It is an argument of love in the Father; when he takes away the childs knife, and gives to him a booke. We cry for riches, it is a knife to cut our fingers: GOD gives us a Bible the riches of veritie, not of vanity. Magnum magna decent: great workes become a great nature: let us not bee afraid to aske him a kingdome; for how unworthy so ever wee are of things so farre beyond us, yet he gives things worthy himselfe. When Alexander