Patience and its perfect work under sudden & sore trialsPatience and its perfect work under sudden & sore tryals

HE follows and confirms this hope of obtaining with this sure and certain promise [And it shall be given him.] For when the Souls of men, being made thoroughly apprehensive of their own wants of a Grace, are carried forth (to choose) to seek for Grace, or such or such a gracious disposition, and that before, and above all deliverance out of the trials they are in (as was afore observed, the Apostle had directed): In this case, God that is the God of all Grace, is the most ready giver of Grace, that he is of any thing else. There are no requests more pleasing to him, or that suit his divine, and blessed disposition, so, as THIS doth of praying for Grace as thus stated. For the bestowing and giving of Grace, thus prayed for, doth ⟨p. 162⟩tend, above all things else, to the glorifying of himself: And it is the aiming thereat, that must and doth carry out such an heart, to make this, to be the Top and Chief of its most earnest petitions. The God of Grace, is the most free of Grace. Thus Christ says, If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give [THE HOLY SPIRIT] to them that ask him? Our Apostle hath also told us, that though the Spirit that is in us lusteth to envy, that yet God gives more Grace; that is, a counterpoise of Grace unto that lust, unto all them that humbly seek for it, as Chap 4. 5, 6, 7. Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain, the Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth MORE GRACE. He resisteth the proud, but giveth Grace to the HUMBLE.

HE follows and confirmes this hope of obtaining with this sure and certain promise [And it shall be given him.] For when the Souls of men, being made thorowly apprehensive of their own wants of a Grace, are carryed forth (to choose) to seek for Grace, or such or such a gracious disposition, and that before, and above all deliverance out of the trials they are in (as was afore observed, the Apostle had directed): In this case, God that is the God of all Grace, is the most ready giver of Grace, that he is of any thing else. There are no requests more pleasing to him, or that suit his divine, and blessed disposition, so, as THIS doth of praying for Grace as thus stated. For the bestowing and giving of Grace, thus prayed for, doth ⟨p. 162⟩tend, above all things else, to the glorifying of himself: And it is the ayming thereat, that must and doth carry out such an heart, to make this, to be the Top and Chief of its most earnest petitions. The God of Grace, is the most free of Grace. Thus Christ sayes, If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give [THE HOLY SPIRIT] to them that ask him? Our Apostle hath also told us, that though the Spirit that is in us lusteth to envy, that yet God gives more Grace; that is, a counterpoise of Grace unto that lust, unto all them that humbly seek for it, as Chap 4. 5, 6, 7. Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain, the Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth MORE GRACE. He resisteth the proud, but giveth Grace to the HƲMBLE.