6. The Divine Goodness doth appear in answering Prayers. He delights to be familiarly acquainted with his People, and to hear them call upon him. He indulgeth them a free access to him, and delights in every address of an upright Man*. The wonderful efficacy of Prayer depends not upon the nature of our Petitions, or the temper of our Soul, but the Goodness of God to whom we address. Christ establisheth it upon this bottom; when he exhorts to ask in his name, he tells them the Spring of all their Grants, is the Fathers love.* I say not I will pray the Father for you, for the Father himself loves you. And since it is of it self incredible, that a Majesty exalted above the Cherubims, should stoop so low, as to give a miserable and rebellious Creature admittance to him, and afford him a gracious hearing, and a quick supply, Christ ushers in the Promise of answering Prayer, with a Note of great Assurance.* I say unto you, ask and it shall be given you. I that know the Mind of my Father, and his good disposition, assure you, your Prayer shall not be in vain. Perhaps you ⟨p. 656⟩will not be so ready of your selves, to imagine so great a Liberality; but take it upon my word, 'tis true, and so you will find it. And his Bounty travels as it were in Birth, to give the greatest Blessings, upon our asking, rather than the smallest.* Your Heavenly Father shall give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him: Which in Mat. 7.11. is called good things. Of all the good and rich things Divine Goodness hath in its Treasury, he delights to give the best upon asking, because God doth act so, as to manifest the greatness of his Bounty and Magnificence to Men; and therefore is delighted, when Men by their Petitioning him, own such a liberal disposition in him, and put him upon the manifesting it. He would rather you should ask the greatest things Heaven can afford, than the trifles of this World▪ Because his Bounty is not discovered in meaner Gifts, he loves to have an opportunity to manifest his affection above the liberality and tenderness of Worldly Fathers. He doth more wait to give in a way of Grace, than we to beg.* And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you. He stands expecting your Suits, and employs his Wisdom in pitching upon the fittest seasons, when the manifestation of his Goodness may be most gracious in it self, and the Mercy you want most welcome to you;
6. The Divine Goodness doth appear in answering Prayers. He delights to be familiarly acquainted with his People, and to hear them call upon him. He indulgeth them a free access to him, and delights in every address of an upright Man*. The wonderful efficacy of Prayet depends not upon the nature of our Petitions, or the temper of our Soul, but the Goodness of God to whom we address. Christ establisheth it upon this bottom; when he exhorts to ask in his name, he tells them the Spring of all their Grants, is the Fathers love.* I say not I will pray the Father for you, for the Father himself loves you. And since it is of it self incredible, that a Majesty exalted above the Cherubims, should stoop so low, as to give a miserable and rebellious Creature admittance to him, and afford him a gracious hearing, and a quick supply, Christ ushers in the Promise of answering Prayer, with a Note of great Assurance.* I say unto you, ask and it shall be given you. I that know the Mind of my Father, and his good disposition, assure you, your Prayer shall not be in vain. Perhaps you ⟨p. 656⟩will not be so ready of your selves, to imagine so great a Liberality; but take it upon my word, 'tis true, and so you will find it. And his Bounty travels as it were in Birth, to give the greatest Blessings, upon our asking, rather than the smallest.* Your Heavenly Father shall give his Holy Sp•rit to them that ask him: Which in Mat. 7.11. is called good things. Of all the good and rich things Divine Goodness hath in its Treasury, he delights to give the best upon asking, because God doth act so, as to manifest the greatness of his Bounty and Magnificence to Men; and therefore is delighted, when Men by their Petitioning him, own such a liberal disposition in him, and put him upon the manifesting it. He would rather you should ask the greatest things Heaven can afford, than the trifles of this World▪ Because his Bounty is not discovered in meaner Gifts, he loves to have an opportunity to manifest his affection above the liberality and tenderness of Worldly Fathers. He doth more wait to give in a way of Grace, than we to beg.*
- *Prov. 15.8.
- *Joh. 16.26, 27.
- *Luk. 11.9, 10.
- *Verse 13.
- *Isai. 30.18.
