Addresses to old men, and young men, and little children. In three discourses ...…

But how is that? briefly,

Gracious little Children, will use to pray with Boldness. As a Child will go boldly to his Father upon all occasions; thus will these Children be ever now and then coming to God, and as the Apostle speaks in Heb. 4. 16. Come boldly to the Throne of Grace. When they see the infinite Majesty and Purity of God, they do with much fear approach unto Him; but when they see, that God is their father, this does again encourage them. They been't loth to go tell this father of theirs, what they all, in all of their Distresses; no, they go to God; and cry, Abba, father! and in all things make known Requests unto God.

Again, gracious little Children, will use to pray with Comfort. These Children are comfortably persuaded of success in their Cries to God, as Children in theirs unto a Father; and they argue at that rate, in Mat. 7. 11. If ye, being Evil, know how to give good gifts unto your Children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven. As Luther would say, That word, my Father, used by a praying Saint, all the Rhetoric and Eloquence in the world could never equal it. Thus, these, when they say unto God, my father, they promise themselves that no good thing shall be denied unto them. Since God is their Father, they expect that their Father will Pity them, that their Father will counsel them, that their Father will supply them; and make them happy for-ever.

Again, gracious little Children, will use to pray with Comfort. These Children are comfortably perswaded of success in their Cryes to God, as Children in theirs unto a Father; and they argue at that rate, in