Well, we see here that the man of God doth not overly, or lightly ask this heavenly knowledge, hypocrites may stretch out their throats, and yell with their voices as loud as he: but the man of God in the bitterness of his spirit complaineth to God of his wants, and from the abundance of the heart prayeth thus to the Lord. And besides his much and continually praying, we see his other exercises in meditating, at morning and evening, his praising God seven times a day, his teaching and conferring with others. Wherefore we must needs see and confess, that either he was very vile, and we very holy: or he most holy, and we very vile. Shall we hope to attain this without using the like means? Did not he attain to Knowledge without so many means, and shall we attain to it with using of no means? Shall we think the Lord will be more partial with us, than he was with his beloved Prophet? Did not the man of God obtain without asking often, and shall we obtain without asking at all? Shall he cry and call, pray and complain, watch, and wake to get understanding, and shall we slug and do nothing? Or did it more appertain to him to do these things; or do they less concern us, seeing he did them for our instruction? The holy Ghost hath for no other end blessed the commendation of so good men to us, then for a type of godliness, which we must follow, and whereby he vouchsafeth ⟨p. 598⟩as it were to open heaven gates for us, and to give us access to the treasures of heaven. Surely, it was not for any profit of the Prophet himself, who did it, but for all posterity to come, to put us in mind of our corruption, to show how we should strive against it. Wherefore it standeth us in hand more carefully, more frequently, more fervently to use prayer, if ever we will hope for the like graces. For the Lord hath promised, that if we knock on this sort, the door of knowledge shall be opened; if we seek wisdom on this sort, we shall surely find her; if we crave understanding with this affection and ala••••e, we shall receive plentifully. We must then in our behalf know, that we must knock and that instantly, we must seek and that carefully, we must ask and that diligently, with an holy importunity.
Well, wee see here that the man of God doth not ouerly, or lightly aske this heauenly knowledge, hypocrites may stretch out their throtes, and yell with their voyces as loud as he: but the man of God in the bitternes of his spirit complaineth to God of his wants, and from the abundance of the heart praieth thus to the Lord. And besides his much and continuallie praying, wee see his other exercises in meditating, at morning and euening, his praising God seuen times a day, his teaching and conferring with others. Wherefore we must needes see and confesse, that either hee was very vile, and wee very holie: or he most holie, and we very vile. Shall we hope to attaine this without vsing the like meanes? Did not hee attaine to Knowledge without so many meanes, and shall wee attaine to it with vsing of no meanes? Shall wee thinke the Lord will be more partiall with vs, than he was with his beloued Prophet? Did not the man of God obtaine without asking often, and shall we obtaine without asking at all? Shall he crie and call, pray and complaine, watch, and wake to get vnderstanding, and shall wee slugge and doe nothing? Or did it more appertaine to him to doe these things; or doe they lesse concerne vs, seeing he did them for our instruction? The holy Ghost hath for no other end blessed the commendation of so good men to vs, then for a type of godlines, which we must follow, and wherby he vouchsafeth ⟨p. 598⟩as it were to open heauen gates for vs, and to giue vs accesse to the treasures of heauen. Surely, it was not for any profit of the Prophet himselfe, who did it, but for all posteritie to come, to put vs in minde of our corruption, to shew how we should striue against it. Wherefore it standeth vs in hand more carefully, more frequently, more feruently to vse prayer, if euer wee will hope for the like graces. For the Lord hath promised, that if wee knock on this sort, the doore of knowledge shall be opened; if we seeke wisedome on this sort, wee shall surely finde her; if wee craue vnderstanding with this affection and ala••••e, we shall receiue plentifully. We must then in our behalfe know, that wee must knocke and that instantly, we must seeke and that carefully, we must aske and that diligently, with an holy importunitie.
