A Golden Chain

Fourthly, the child of God that takes God the father for his father, may freely come into the presence of God, and have liberty to pray unto him. We know it is a great privilege to come into the chamber of presence before an earthly prince: and few can always have this prerogative though they be great men: yet the kings own son may have free entrance, and speak freely unto the king himself, because he is his son. Now the children of God have more prerogative then this: for they may come into the presence, not of an earthly king, but of Almighty God the King of kings, and as they are the sons of God in Christ, so in him they may freely speak unto God their father by prayer. And this overthrows the doctrine of such as be of the Church of Rome, which teach and hold, that a man must come to speak to God by by prayer through the intercession of Saints: for say they, the presence of God is so glorious, that we may not be so bold, as of our selves to speak unto him; but needs must have the intercession of others.

Fourthly, the childe of God that takes God the father for his father, may freely come into the presence of God, and haue libertie to pray vnto him. We know it is a great priuiledge to come into the chamber of presence before an earthly prince: and fewe can alwaies haue this prerogatiue though they be great men: yet the kings owne sonne may haue free entrance, and speake freely vnto the king himselfe, because he is his sonne. Now the children of God haue more prerogatiue then this: for they may come into the presence, not of an earthly king, but of Almightie God the King of kings, and as they are the sonnes of God in Christ, so in him they may freely speake vnto God their father by praier. And this ouerthrowes the doctrine of such as be of the Church of Rome, which teach and hold, that a man must come to speake to God by by praier through the intercession of Saints: for say they, the presence of God is so glorious, that we may not be so bold, as of our selues to speake vnto him; but needes must haue the intercession of others.

Lastly, God will provide for all his Church and children all things needful both for their bodies and souls: so our Saviour Christ bids his disciples take no thought what they should eat, or what they should drink, or wherewith they should be clothed, adding this reason, for your heavenly Father knoweth all your wants. And if we take thought, it must be moderate, and not distrustful: it is a part of the fathers duty to provide for his family and children, and not the children for the father. Now shall an earthly father have this care for his children: and shall not our heavenly father much more provide for those that fear and love him? Nay mark further, in Gods Church there be many hypocrites which receive infinite benefits from God, by reason of his elect children with whom they live: and we shall see this to be true, that the wicked man hath ever fared better for the godly mans cause. Sodom and Gomorrah received many benefits by reason of righteous Lot: and when the Lord was purposed to destroy Sodom, he was fain to pull Lot forth of the city: