The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

II. To ask in Faith, is, to believe, that all we say in Prayer is true, when we confess our selves to be grievous sinners, we are to think our selves to be as great sinners as we say we are; when we call God Almighty our Father, we are to believe him to be so.

II. To ask in Faith, is, to believe, that all we say in Prayer is true, when we confesse our selves to be grievous sinners, we are to think our selves to be as great sinners as we say we are; when we call God Almighty our Father, we are to believe him to be so.

Then the poor Soul will say, Alas I cannot pray in Faith, for I cannot say our Father, since I do not believe that I am his child, how then can I call him Father?

I Answer 1. Thou mayst call him Father, for he is thy Father; if thou shouldest see diverse children playing some untowardness in the street, and should see a man that passed by, go and single out one of them, and correct him and yet the child should follow him, would you not say he was the father of that child; for a strange child would fly from him, or fly at him if he should strike him. Dost thou not follow God when he corrects thee? be of good comfort, God is thy Father, and thou art his child.

I Answer 1. Thou mayst call him Father, for he is thy Father; if thou shouldest see diverse children playing some untowardnesse in the street, and should see a man that passed by, go and single out one of them, and correct him and yet the child should follow him, would you not say he was the father of that child; for a strange child would flye from him, or flye at him if he should strike him. Dost thou not follow God when he corrects thee? be of good comfort, God is thy Father, and thou art his child.