A remedy against private contentions A godly and fruitful sermon on James, 4.1. &c.…A remedy against priuat contentions A godly and fruitfull sermon on Iames, 4.1. &c.…

Objection. Further it is added, Ye fight and war and get nothing. Then belike (might some say) we are not Gods children, if things be thus far amiss on our parts, and God also deal so severely with us. Answer. Answ. Nay, the Apostle doth ⟨p. 5⟩not conclude any such matter, but says thus much in effect, you may be Christians (many of you) though very carnal Christians▪ and children you may be, though ill children: neither is the Lord to be charged with oversevere dealing: no, it is not the hardness of the father, that vvill not grant, but the badness of the children that will not ask: that is the cause why you get nothing: so that it was not the want of friends, nor the want of means that caused them to be in necessity, but the want of prayer, and so consequently of a faithful heart, and fitted to receive the things they prayed for.

Obiection. Further it is added, Yee fight and warre and get nothing. Then belike (might some say) wee are not Gods children, if things be thus farre amisse on our parts, and God also deale so seuerely vvith vs. Answer. Answ. Nay, the Apostle doth ⟨p. 5⟩not conclude any such matter, but sayes thus much in effect, you may be Christians (many of you) though very carnall Christians▪ and children you may bee, though ill children: neither is the Lord to bee charged with ouerseuere dealing: no, it is not the hardnsse of the father, that vvill not grant, but the badnesse of the children that will not aske: that is the cause why you get nothing: so that it was not the want of friends, nor the want of means that caused them to be in necessity, but the want of praier, and so consequently of a faithfull heart, and fitted to receiue the things they prayed for.

Objection. But here they would reply again, (as hypocrisy makes men full of shifting) and say, you charge us that we do not pray: that is not so, I have prayed again and again, and yet am never the better. Answer. Indeed (saith he) Ye ask, and yet ye receive not: and why? Because ye ask amiss. As if he had said, if ye speed not in prayer, it is certain all is not well in your prayers: for that is a key to open Gods treasury; neither is his ear uer shut against the faithful supplications of his servants: and hereby doth it appear that you ask amiss, in that ye ask, That ye might consume it upon your lusts. They would not be so absurd, as to say so to God, Lord give me this, that I may bestow it upon my lusts: but that was their purpose & intent; which is evident by this, that the scope and drift of their petitions was for earthly things: if they were sick, oh how earnest would they be for wealth! if in debt, what importunity would they use to get out it of? and so for other the like matters: but why did they ask these worldly things? Even for worldly respects: not to serve God better, but to serve themselves: they desired health, that they might pursue their commodities, or follow their pleasures and delights: they asked wealth, to the intent they might hold up their heads with the best, that they might have larger maintenance, that they might better their apparel, and their diet, &c.