The things which may be asked, must be lawful and good: for so much implieth Christ where he saith, that dGod will give good things to them that ask him. Now those things are lawful and good which are agreeable to the good will of God: for Gods will is not only the rule and square of goodness, but the very ground of goodness. A thing is not first good, and then willed of God; but therefore good, because it is willed of God: so as Gods will giveth the very essence and being unto goodness. Whereupone the Apostle having prayed for⟨p. 368⟩ the Hebrews, that God would make them perfect in all good works, addeth by way of explanation, to do his will. This general point of framing our petitions according to Gods will, Saint John expressly layeth down, sayingf If we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. Would we then know what are those good and lawful things which may be asked? Search the Scriptures, for in them is Gods will revealed. If we have our warrant from thence for the good things we ask, then may we boldly ask, and look to receive them.
The things which may be asked, must be lawfull and good: for so much implyeth Christ where he saith, that dGod will giue good things to them that aske him. Now those things are lawfull and good which are agreeable to the good will of God: for Gods will is not onely the rule and square of goodnesse, but the very ground of goodnesse. A thing is not first good, and then willed of God; but therefore good, because it is willed of God: so as Gods will giueth the very essence and being vnto goodnesse. Wherupone the Apostle hauing prayed for⟨p. 368⟩ the Hebrewes, that God would make them perfect in all good wokes, addeth by way of explanation, to doe his will. This general point of framing our petitions according to Gods will, Saint Iohn expresly layeth downe, sayingf If we aske any thing according to his will, he heareth vs. Would we then know what are those good and lawfull things which may be asked? Search the Scriptures, for in them is Gods will reuealed. If we haue our warrant from thence for the good things we aske, then may we boldly aske, and looke to receiue them.
- dMat. 7. 11.
- eHeb. 13. 21.
- f1 John 5. 14.1 Iohn 5. 14.
