I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Answ. 4 You say and complain, That you have no Parts or Gifts; but I pray, hath not the Lord recompensed the want of them some other way unto you? Philosophy saith of Nature, Ubi deficit in uno, abundat in altero; Where Nature is deficient in one thing, it is abundant in another thing. If a man wants his Eyes, he hears the better; and the less he sees, the more he remembers: where Nature is wanting in one thing, it is exceeding in another. And as Nature, so the God of Nature, and the God of Grace too: It may be you do want a Head-memory, but hath not the Lord given you a Heart-memory, to remember th• Sermon as you have occasion to use it? Some have Parts and Gifts, and they want plainness and openness of heart for God; some again have a plain heart, and they want Gifts and Parts. It is said Jacob, That he prevailed with God in Prayer, and he was a plain man. Mark how the Holy Ghost doth put these two together, That, that man should be the prevailing man with God in Prayer, who was the plain man; and that man that was the plain man, should be the prevailing man in Prayer: a plain man, but prevailing with God. Well then, though thou beest but a plain person, and hast no Parts or Gifts, as others have, yet thou mayest prevail with God, and thy Name may be called, Israel, prevailing with the Lord: When God denies one, he gives another Mercy. Thus it is with all the Saints and People of God, and a godly, gracious man, may say thus; Well, though I have not great Parts and Gifts, yet blessed be the Lord, I have a plain and an open heart for God; and if the Lord hath done thus much for you, and recompensed you in another way, have you any reason then to be discouraged for want of Parts and Gifts in Duties? Certainly you have not.

Answ. 4 You say and complain, That you have no Parts or Gifts; but I pray, hath not the Lord recompenced the want of them some other way unto you? Phylosophy saith of Nature, Ʋbi deficit in uno, abundat in altero; Where Nature is deficient in one thing, it is abundant in another thing. If a man wants his Eyes, he hears the better; and the less he sees, the more he remembers: where Nature is wanting in one thing, it is exceeding in another. And as Nature, so the God of Nature, and the God of Grace too: It may be you do want a Head-memory, but hath not the Lord given you a Heart-memory, to remember th• Sermon as you have occasion to use it? Some have Parts and Gifts, and they want plainness and openness of heart for God; some again have a plain heart, and they want Gifts and Parts. It is said Jacob, That he prevailed with God in Prayer, and he was a plain man. Mark how the Holy Ghost doth put these two together, That, that man should be the prevailing man with God in Prayer, who was the plain man; and that man that was the plain man, should be the prevailing man in Prayer: a plain man, but prvailing with God. Well then, though thou beest but a plain person, and hast no Parts or Gifts, as others have, yet thou maiest prevail with God, and thy Name may be called, Israel, prevailing with the Lord: When God denies one, he gives another Mercy. Thus it is with all the Saints and People of God, and a godly, gracious man, may say thus; Well, though I have not great Parts and Gifts, yet blessed be the Lord, I have a plain and an open heart for God; and if the Lord hath done thus much for you, and recompenced you in another way, have you any reason then to be discouraged for want of Parts and Gifts in Duties? Certainly you have not.