Secondly; It informs us, that we may ask temporal Things, if we ask them lawfully. It is true, Prayers to God for spiritual Things are more acceptable. As your Child pleaseth you better, when it comes to you to be taught its Book, rather than when it comes for an Apple: So it is more pleasing to God, when you come for the Mediator's Blessing, and spiritual Things. Acts 3. 26. God hath sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his Iniquities. But yet we may ask other Things; why? For they are good and useful to us in the Course of our Service, and without them we are exposed to many Temptations. And Prayer easeth you of a deal of carking about them. Phil. 4. 6. Be careful for nothing; but in every Thing, by Prayer and Supplication, with Thanksgiving, let your Requests be made known unto God. We may ask them, but it must be lawfully; and that for Order, not in the first place. That is howling, when we come to God merely for Corn, Wine and Oil; when we prefer these Things before his Favour, and the Graces of his Spirit. Then it must be lawful too as to the Manner; a moderate Proportion, ⟨p. 323⟩not to set God a Task to maintain you at such a rate, but to ask a moderate Allowance. Christ teacheth us here to pray for Bread, which is a necessary Allowance. Prov. 30. 8. Feed me with Food convenient for me. And, 1 Tim. 6. 8. If we have Food and Raiment, let us therewith be content. And then ask them with Humility, and Submission to the Will of God. We ought to say, as in Jam. 4. 15. If the Lord will, we will go to such a Place, and get Gain. And then lawfully too, as to the End; not for an unlawful End, for Ostentation and Riot, that we may live at large, and at ease. Jam. 4. 3. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your Lusts. But we must ask it for a good End: Psal. 115. 1. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give Glory, for thy Mercy, and for thy Truths sake. Lord, not for our Ease, or our Plenty, but that thy Name may be glorified, that we may be supported in Service. And then again, lawfully as to the Plea; We must not come and challenge it, as if it were our Due; we must not use the Plea of Merit, but of Mercy. Our Saviour doth not say, Let this Bread come to us any how, as he saith, Let thy Will be done; our Subjection to God is due;
Secondly; It informs us, that we may ask temporal Things, if we ask them lawfully. It is true, Prayers to God for spiritual Things are more acceptable. As your Child pleaseth you better, when it comes to you to be taught its Book, rather than when it comes for an Apple: So it is more pleasing to God, when you come for the Mediator's Blessing, and spiritual Things. Acts 3. 26. God hath sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his Iniquities. But yet we may ask other Things; why? For they are good and useful to us in the Course of our Service, and without them we are exposed to many Temptations. And Prayer easeth you of a deal of carking about them. Phil. 4. 6. Be careful for nothing; but in every Thing, by Prayer and Supplication, with Thanksgiving, let your Requests be made known unto God. We may ask them, but it must be lawfully; and that for Order, not in the first place. That is howling, when we come to God meerly for Corn, Wine and Oil; when we prefer these Things before his Favour, and the Graces of his Spirit. Then it must be lawful too as to the Manner; a moderate Proportion, ⟨p. 323⟩not to set God a Task to maintain you at such a rate, but to ask a moderate Allowance. Christ teacheth us here to pray for Bread, which is a necessary Allowance. Prov. 30. 8. Feed me with Food convenient for me. And, 1 Tim. 6. 8. If we have Food and Raiment, let us therewith be content. And then ask them with Humility, and Submission to the Will of God. We ought to say, as in Iam. 4. 15. If the Lord will, we will go to such a Place, and get Gain. And then lawfully too, as to the End; not for an unlawful End, for Ostentation and Riot, that we may live at large, and at ease. Jam. 4. 3. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your Lusts. But we must ask it for a good End: Psal. 115. 1. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give Glory, for thy Mercy, and for thy Truths sake. Lord, not for our Ease, or our Plenty, but that thy Name may be glorified, that we may be supported in Service. And then again, lawfully as to the Plea; We must not come and challenge it, as if it were our Due; we must not use the Plea of Merit, but of Mercy. Our Saviour doth not say, Let this Bread come to us any how, as he saith, Let thy Will be done; our Subjection to God is due;
