Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

But you will say, if he were my father, and I were his child, then it is true, he would give me his spirit: But ¹alas, he is not for any thing I know, neither my father, nor I his child.

But you will say, if he were my father, and I were his childe, then it is true, he would give me his spirit: But ¹alas, he is not for any thing I know, neither my father, nor I his childe.

1. 1Object.

To this I answer, suppose thou be not his child in thy ¹own apprehension, yet look back unto the 14. verse, and see what importunity doth: Though a man would not open his door, and give his neighbour that which he would have: yet in regard of the importunity of him that asketh, he will open, and give him what he would have; this do you: though you may have a denial sometimes, That is no answer at all, or an angry answer, yet take no denial, and your importunity will at last prevail with him. And to encourage you against former runnings out from God; the Apostle saith that he giveth and upbraideth no man; That is, as no man meriteth ²at Gods hand; so no man shall be upbraided with any railing to shame him, he gives unto all men that come unto him, that is without exception of persons, without any by-respects, freely; and reproacheth no man, That is, he will not lay before him either that which might ⟨p. 119⟩hinder him from coming to him, or him from receiving him; he might do, but he will do neither. And you know the promise made to the Disciples, They must go to Jerusalem, And he will after a certain time send the spirit, but they must wait for him; And this they did by constant prayer, and they had the promise made good unto them: for they had the Holy Ghost which came upon every one of them,