Uses.
Here 1 See what encouragement we have to pray unto God.* Such is our need, that though he, by whom it were to be supplied, were most tenacious, we had cause to beat his eares continually by our uncessant clamours, that if he would not for any other cause, yet being wearied with our importu∣nity he might grant us what we ask. But God (Who not onely admits but invites us to pray) as He hath an inexhaust plenty of all good things, so He is also as plenteous in kindnesse and ready to give. But if He de∣ferre His giving, the reason is, because that which we ask is not convenient for us, or be∣cause we ask amisse, or are not yet fit to re∣ceive, or because it is expedient for us that our faith, hope, patience &c be thereby exercised &c. Otherwise it would come to passe (as Isa. 65.24.) that before we should call, God would answer, and whilest we were yet spea∣king. He would hear. See Dan. 9.20, 21, 22, 23. Let the papists therefore with their will wor∣ship goe to their he and she saints: but let us goe to God with our prayers, as both His commandement layes a necessity upon us, Page 187and this Attribute abundantly encourages us.
2 See the fountain of all good; whence both what we have is received, and what we want is to be sought.
3 If God be so plenteous in loving kind∣nesse even towards all; how much more towards His children!
4 If any man do not abound with good things, let him know that the cause is not in God (Who is plenteous in loving kindnesse) but in himself.
This reproves 1 Such as seek the good things they desire,* from any other then from God. These are like unto them Jer. 2.13. they commit two evils &c. For whereas every transgression of the law is sinne, they trans∣gresse two waies at once. Which their trans∣gression (as all sinnes are not equall) see 1 how impious it is. 2 how unprofitable and foolish. 1 For the impiety, the degree of it (which for the substance is to be estimated by the Commandement which is violated) is very great: because it is against a com∣mandement of the first Table which imme∣diately respects God Himself, and so the violation of it, caeteris paribus, is worse then the violation of any of the comman∣dements of the 2d Table, which respect our neighbour. And whereas the first Com∣mandement Page 188of the first Table concerns the having of the true God (as the rest the true manner of worshipping Him) therefore the breach of that is most hainous. See the story of the Samaritanes 2 King. 17. God sent lions against them that did not at all ac∣knowledge Him, ver. 25. but with-held them from those that worshipped Him though af∣ter Jeroboams manner. Now whereas the first commandement enjoines the having of the Lord for our God, and forbids other gods; these men violate both parts of it, the affirmative by forsaking the Lord, the nega∣tive by digging themselves other cisternes. For Trust is an act eminently due onely to God, and not to be placed in any thing else but with subordination unto Him: And therefore in what thing soever a man princi∣pally trusts, that he makes his god. 2 How unprofitable and foolish this is, appeares by the description of God and these cisternes. God is the fountain of living waters: The cisternes, which they dig, as (being but ci∣sternes, not fountaines) they have no water of themselves, so (being but broken cisternes) they can not hold the water that is put into them to supply those that dig them. For all creatures as they are from God, so they de∣pend upon Him for their operation, yea and Page 189for the continuance of their being: and there∣fore unlesse they be preserved by God, and enabled by Him, it is impossible they should help us. Now He will be so farre from bles∣sing the creatures wherein men idolatrously trust, that He curses those that trust in them, Isa. 31.1. Jer. 17.5. and many times takes away and destroyes the creatures themselves, Isa. 31.3.
2 Such as are unlike to God 1 Priva∣tively, such as either through their own fault have not spirituall or temporall good things wherewith to profit others or who having them are not ready to communicate them. 2 Positively, such as are plenteous in mis∣chievousnesse; who are so much worse then the former, by how much commission of ill is worse then omission of good, which it in∣cludes in it self and superadds to it.
On the other side this serves to comfort 1 Sinners, if truly penitent.* Benhadad ha∣ving lost the day, and being in great feare of losing not onely his kingdome but his life, his servants comforted him with the fame that they had heard, that the Kings of Israel were 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 mercifull Kings, 1 King. 20.31. but we know most certainly that the God of Israel is a mercifull God, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 plente∣ous in mercy or loving kindnesse, as here.
Page 190 2 Much more the godly. For if God be so plenteous in loving kindnesse to men, whilest they are yet His enemies; how much more when they are reconciled to Him, and become His friends and His children, whom He tenders as the apple of His eye, more then a mother her sucking child? Can we think that Jacob feared the famine after he knew there was come enough in Egypt, and the disposall thereof in the power of his son Joseph? Yet among men love descends, so that the love of a sonne toward his father, is not equall to that of a father toward his children: and the love of any earthly father whatsoever is nothing to the love of our hea∣venly Father; whether we consider the ten∣dernesse, or the constancy, or the efficacy of it. Of how little faith therefore are we, if so great kindnesse of so loving a Father can not comfort us against any grief or feare whatsoever!
Let this also exhort us 1 For the good things we yet have not,* to expect and seek them of Gods loving kindnesse.
2 For those we have already received, to be thankfull to Him.
3 To imitate God in this Attribute also as in the former.
Motiv. 1 The dignity of man consists in Page 191being like unto God. Some courtiers have imitated even the imperfections of their prin∣ces. And shall not we much more imitate our God every way most perfect? And par∣ticularly in His bounty or loving kindnesse: seeing, as it is more honourable in the eies of men, so it is a more blessed thing before God to give then to receive (Act. 20.35.) to be a help rather then a burden to others. 2 The good things we have, whether spirituall or temporall, are not our own, but are onely to be dispensed by us according to Gods pre∣scription. And He hath prescribed us this duty, Gal. 6.10. 3 We are all brethren in our first parents, of the same flesh and blood, Isa. 58.7. Act. 17.26. partakers of the same naturall, capable of the same gracious and glorious image of God. 4 Hereby God shall be glorified, His doctrine adorned, we shall give good example to the good, winne them who are yet enemies, or else stop their mouths, we shall get and keep the peace of conscience, other men will be moved to help us when we shall need, or (if men be in∣gratefull and inhumane) God will most am∣ply recompense us here, and minister unto us abundantly an entrance into His heavenly kingdome hereafter.
