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

Quest. what is the reason of that?¹

1. 1Quest.

Ans. ¹Because such depend upon God, such as have no other fathers to depend upon, such are apt to depend upon God, and he showeth mercy to such, not because they are fatherless, but because they depend upon him.

Ans. ¹B•cause such depend upon God, such as have no other fathers to depend upon, such are apt to depend upon God, and he sheweth mercy to such, not because they are fatherless, but because they depend upon him.

1. 1Answ.

So you have it expressed by the Apostle, Widows (saith, he) that are left alone trust in God, those (saith he) are widows indeed, they might have trusted in God while they had husbands, but that is our weakness while we have other props we are apt to trust upon them, but when they are taken from us we are apt to trust in God. So the woman when she had spent all in Physic, then she came to Christ, so if we depend upon him, we shall be as the fatherl esse and widow that know not where else to have help. This winneth God to you, for dependence presupposeth trust, for upon whom you depend, upon him, you trust, now God will not fail those that trust in him, for he hath put so much nobleness and ingenuity into the hearts of men that they will not fail those that put their trust in them; now dependence is a trust in God, therefore the more you depend upon God the more mercy you shall have, he hath put that instinct into every Creature, the hen you see covereth her chickens under her wings because they depend upon her. He is worse then an Infidel (saith the holy Apostle) that doth not provide for his household, because they depend upon him, this is an instinct put into the very Infidels. If God have put this instinct into the Creature will he not do it himself? He that gave them this disposition certainly he himself will be abundant in mercy to those that depend upon him, for dependence winneth love from God, therefore he so nurtureth his Children, that commonly before he bestow mercy upon them, he will teach them what it is, and therefore he helpeth them not till he bring them to extremities, that so they may depend upon him, and then he showeth mercy, therefore if you would have abundance of mercy, learn to depend upon God, that is to do these two things.