In the first place be sure to bless God for what thou hast received, Do not despise the day of small things, nor think any of his consolations little, seeing thou art less than the least of all: bless him that he hath proclaimed his ⟨p. 308⟩[…] ⟨p. 309⟩[…] ⟨p. 310⟩[…] ⟨p. 311⟩[…] ⟨p. 312⟩name (The Lord gracious) and that thou hast had a taste thereof; that there is such a saying (faithful and worthy of acceptance) that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners; that thou hast taken in the milk of this Gospel (the first principles of the doctrine of Christ) Repentance from dead works, and Faith towards God and Christ; that thou are taken into the Family though thou have but little of the Children's bread, but art fed with crumbs: The best way to be blest with more is to bless God for what we have; To him that hath (been thankful) shall be given, and he shall have more abundantly. Yea, bless him and tell him thou wilt do it for ever, though he should never do more for thee than he hath done: seeing he hath convinced thee of the sinfulness of sin, of the excellency of a state of Grace, and given thee desires to grow, & (as thou art told) hath made with thee an everlasting Covenant (well ordered in all things and sure) thou wilt bless him for it as for thy Salvation, though thy house be not so with God as thou couldst wish it, and though he make it not to grow. Yet humbly tell him withal that this is not all thy desire, but thou hast a request to make with this thy thanksgiving, and 'tis that he would place thee among the children that thou mayest cry, Abba Father; for the taste thou hast had of his grace, hath set thy soul a longing (as it did the Spouse, Cant. 1.1,—3.) after the good fruit and growth of the Land: and that thou hopest, seeing he did find thee when thou soughtest him not, that he will make himself known to thee (as a ⟨p. 313⟩Father) now thou enquirest after him. Tell him that 'tis a desire of his own begetting, and beg him that it may not be disappointed or denied by him, who hath styled himself, A God hearing Prayers, which is the great encouragement that all flesh hath to come unto him: Say, O Lord, thou hadst wont not only to bring to the birth, but to bring forth and then to bring up, and wilt not thou (who art the same to day as yesterday) be merciful as thou art wont to them that love thy name, which Lord, my dear Lord, thou knowest I do.
In the first place be sure to bless God for what thou hast received, Do not despise the day of small things, nor think any of his consolations little, seeing thou art less than the least of all: bless him that he hath preclaimed his ⟨p. 308⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 309⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 310⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 311⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 312⟩name (The Lord gracious) and that thou hast had a taste thereof; that there is such a saying (faithful and worthy of acceptance) that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners; that thou hast taken in the milk of this Gospel (the first principles of the doctrine of Christ) Repentance from dead works, and Faith towards God and Christ; that thou are taken into the Family though thou have but little of the Childrens bread, but art fed with crumbs: The best way to be blest with more is to bless God for what we have; To him that hath (been thankful) shall be given, and he shall have more abundantly. Yea, bless him and tell him thou wilt do it for ever, though he should never do more for thee than he hath done: seeing he hath convinced thee of the sinfulness of sin, of the excellency of a state of Grace, and given thee desires to grow, & (as thou art told) hath made with thee au everlasting Covenant (well ordered in all things and sure) thou wilt bless him for it as for thy Salvation, though thy house be not so with God as thou couldst wish it, and though he make it not to grow. Yet humbly tell him withal that this is not all thy desire, but thou hast a request to make with this thy thanksgiving, and 'tis that he would place thee among the children that thou maist cry, Abba Father; for the taste thou hast had of his grace, hath set thy soul a longing (as it did the Spouse, Cant. 1.1,—3.) after the good fruit and growth of the Land: and that thou hopest, seeing he did find thee when thou soughtest him not, that he will make himself known to thee (as a ⟨p. 313⟩Father) now thou enquirest after him. Tell him that 'tis a desire of his own begetting, and beg him that it may not be disappointed or denied by him, who hath stiled himself, A God hearing Prayers, which is the great incouragement that all flesh hath to come unto him: Say, O Lord, thou hadst wont not only to bring to the birth, but to bring forth and then to bring up, and wilt not thou (who art the same to day as yesterday) be merciful as thou art wont to them that love thy name, which Lord, my dear Lord, thou knowest I do.
