Medicines for the Plague, Collection of sermons · Sermon 12
THE TWELFTH SERMON vponupon the fourth verſe.
And graunt thee according to thine heart, and fulfill all thy purpoſe.
The meaning of the fourth verſe.THeſe are the words of ye people vntounto God for their King: and part of the prayer which they made for him; namely, that God would grant him according to his hearts deſire, and fulfill all his purpoſes: that is, whatſoeuer his heart did wiſh and deſire, that God would giuegive, and whatſoeuer hee purpoſed, God would bring to paſſe. As if they had ſaid, O Lord, whatſoeuer he deſireth in his heart, that grant thou: and whatſoeuer he purpoſeth in his minde, that bring thou to paſſe. Now, Dauid teaching them thus to pray, we may preſume that he did determine to hauehave nothing, but good deſires in his heart, and good purpoſes: and the people by the great experience that they had had a long time of his goodnes, did thus iudge of him: elſe neither could he hauehave deſired them ſo to pray for him, neither they hauehave done it in faith. Firſt then as in all other things we muſt approue our ſelues vntounto God, from our very heart, which is the chiefeſt thing that he looketh vntounto, and that eſpecially he requireth of all according as it is written, My ſonne giuegive me thy heart: Prou. 23.26.ſo in our prayers moſt of all: that wee deſire in our heart nothing but that that is iuſt and lawfull, and according to his will.All the deſires of our hearts in prayer, muſt be agreeable to the will of God. And ſo againe whatſoeuer we goe about, the meanes that we vſe muſt be lawfull, and ſuch as God may allow of, that ſo in our prayers we may commend them vntounto God. Then may wee boldly pray God to fulfill them, and deſire others alſo to doe ſo: and they being ſo perſwaded of vsus by good proofe, may ſafely and with a good conſcience thus pray for vsus, though they knowe not all our hearts deſires and purpoſes. For God hath promiſed, that whatſoeuer wee aske according to his will, he will grant it vntounto vsus. And al the promiſes that are made vntounto prayer, are thus to be vnderſtood and no otherwiſe. As when Chriſt ſaith: Aske and it ſhall be giuen you, ſeeke and you ſhall finde; Matth. 7.7.knocke and it ſhall be opened vntounto you: for whoſoeuer asketh receiueth, and he that ſeeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it ſhall be opened. And againe, Whatſoeuer yee aske in my name, Joh. 14.13.that will I do: that is, which is good, and according to Gods will. As it is euident by that which the Apoſtle writeth to the Romanes: Likewiſe the Spirit alſo helpeth our infirmities: Rom. 8.26.for we know not what to pray as wee ought, but the Spirit it ſelfe maketh request for vsus with ſighes, which cannot be expreſſed: But he that ſearcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the meaning of the Spirit, And ſuch prayers God will heare.for he maketh requeſt for the Saints according to the will of God. So that when a man prayeth by the inſtinct and motion of the Spirit of God, which directeth him to aske according to his will and word, then he heareth: and ſuch we may boldly deſire others to pray that God would grant.
So likewiſe it is ſaid in the tenth Pſalme;Pſal. 10.17. Lord thou hast heard the deſire of the poore: thou prepareſt their hearts: thou bendeſt thine eare thereto. Where the Prophet confeſſeth to the comfort of the Church, that God is readie to heare the prayers of his poore Saints: but how? when their hearts by Gods ſpirit bee prepared to deſire good things according to Gods will, then hee is readie to bend his eare: and the more that our hearts be thus prepared, the more may we be aſſured of it. Dauid here in this Pſalme being priuie to the goodnes of his owne heart, that in ſinceritie and truth hee deſired to pleaſe God, was bold to commend his deſires vntounto the people, that they might commend them to God,And ſuch we may commend vntounto men. that he would grant them. If then we would hauehave our prayers heard, and alſo hauehave any comfort in the prayers of others for vsus; let vsus hauehave no wicked or vngodly deſires, nothing contrarie to the will of God. For ſuch deſires wee can neither our ſelues commend vntounto God, nor any other for vsus: neither will he fulfill them, if wee ſhould. And here that wee might not wander and goe aſtray in our deſires to our owne hearts, our Sauiour Chriſt hath directed vsus in that forme of prayer, which hee taught his Diſciples. In which wee are taught firſt to pray for ſuch things as concerne the glorie of God,To this end we muſt follow that forme that Chriſt hath taught vsus. the aduancement of the kingdome of Chriſt here vponupon the earth: and then for all outward things appertaining vntounto this life, and for life it ſelfe, ſo farre foorth as they may ſtand with theſe: and afterwards for the forgiuenes of our ſins, and for power againſt our temptations, that wee be not ouercome. If then wee pray after this manner, God will heare vsus: as it is ſaid in another place; Seeke yee firſt the kingdom of God, Matth. 6.33. And ſeeke for the direction of his ſpirit to teach vsus to pray.and his righteouſneſſe, and all theſe things ſhall be ministred vntounto you. Therefore it is agreeable vntounto Gods will to pray firſt for heauenly things, and then for earthly; and ſuch prayers God will heare. And yet though wee hauehave this forme as a direction to guide vsus in our prayers; many times we may be ſo diſtracted, eſpecially in ſome temptation, that we ſhall not know what to aske aright,Rom. 8.26. as the Apoſtle ſaith: then Gods ſpirit in thoſe that be his, helpeth their infirmitie herein, and ſtirreth vp in them at the leaſt ſighes and groanes, that cannot be expreſſed: which being of the ſpirit of God, and ſo alſo according to Gods will, hee heareth and granteth the meaning of them. Therefore for our further direction we muſt pray to God for the aſſiſtance of his holy ſpirit in prayer, that it may moderate all our deſires, and teach vsus thus to pray according to the will of God, that ſo hee may grant according to our heart, and fulfill all our purpoſes, as it is ſaid here.
Thus did our Lord and Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe pray, who when hee was in ſuch great agonies, that hee ſaid,Matth. 26.38. My ſoule is very heauie euen vntounto the death, he prayed vntounto God, and ſaid, O father, if it be poſſible, let this cup paſſe from me; and this hee did three times: but in the end hee ſaid,Verſ. 42. O my father, if this cup cannot paſſe away from mee, but that I mu t drinke it, thy will be done: and ſo God heard him, as the Apoſtle ſaith;Heb. 5.7. That in the daies of his fleſh he did offer vp prayers and ſupplications, with ſtrong crying and teares, vntounto him that was able to ſaue him from death, and was alſo heard in that which hee feared. Luk. 22.43. Chriſt in prayer ſubmitting his will to Gods will, was heard.For there appeared an Angell vntounto him from heauen, comforting him. Thus his hearts deſire (as at all other times, ſo in this diſtreſſe of his) being according to the will of God, he did grant it. So look to al the prayers of Gods ſeruants in the old and new Teſtament, and we ſhall ſee, that when they hauehave ſubmitted their wils to Gods will, then he hath granted their deſires. Now the will of God is, that we ſhould abſolutely & firſt of all deſire thoſe things, that might make for his glorie, & the ſaluation of our ſelues and of our brethren: but al outward things ſo farre foorth, as they may ſtand with theſe, and further them: and ſo farre will God graunt them. Iacob when hee went to Laban, maketh his prayer in the way after this manner:Gen. 28.20. The will of God is that we preferre heauenly things before earthly. Deſiring God that he would be with him, and keepe him in that iourney which he went, and giuegive him bread to eate, and cloathes to put on; ſo that hee might come againe to his fathers houſe in ſafetie; and in a word, That he would be his God; for ſo doe the beſt interpreters reade this text. So that this he deſired principally, though it be laſt named, That God would be his good God, and continue his couenant of fauour with him, to forgiue him his ſinnes, to increaſe in him all graces needfull for his ſaluation, &c: and to ſhew his fauour this way in protecting him in his iourney, though it were but in giuing him things neceſſarie, as meate, and drinke, and cloathing. Now becauſe his prayer was thus agreeable to the will of God, that he firſt deſired the continuance of his fauour, and then all things needfull for this life, ſo farre as it might ſtand with that, God heard him; and hee confeſſeth it afterwards in his returne, that the bleſſing of God had been greatly vponupon him, when he ſaith,Chap. 32.10. And he hath heard his ſeruants, that hauehave thus prayed. I am vnworthie of the least of all the mercies and all the truth, which thou hast ſhewed vntounto thy ſeruant: for with my ſtaffe came I ouer this Iordan, and now hauehave I gotten two bandes. The like may bee ſaid of the prayer of King Salomon; That when in Gibeon the Lord appeared vntounto him in a dreame by night: 1. King. 3.5.and ſayd, Aske what I ſhall giuegive thee: and hee prayed thus GiueGive vntounto thy ſeruant an vnderſtanding heart, to iudge thy people, that I may diſcerne betweene good and euill. So that hee asked wiſdome that hee might bee fit to ſerue God in his calling. This did ſo pleaſe the Lord, that he gaue him this anſwere:Verſe 11. Becauſe thou hast asked this thnig▪ and hast not aſked for thy ſelfe long life, nor riches, nor the life of thine enemies, but hast asked for thy ſelfe vnderstanding to heare iudgement: Beholde, I hauehave done according to thy words: loe, I hauehave giuen thee a wiſe and an vnderstanding heart, ſo that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee ſhall ariſe the like vntounto thee. And I hauehave alſo giuen thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honour, ſo that among the Kings there ſhall bee none like vntounto thee all thy dayes.
This muſt teach vsus all to knowe the will of God, that it might direct vsus in all things, euen in our prayers; that wee doe not raſhly hand ouer head, aske wee cannot tell what. Let vsus aske that that may further vsus in our ſaluation, as the forgiuenes of our ſinnes,Thus muſt we pray in this time of the plague, that all men may profit by it. repentance for them, ſtrength againſt them, faith in Gods promiſes, the feeling of his louelove, and all thoſe things that appertaine to the glory of God; and thoſe we are ſure are according to his will; and if wee did aske theſe more, we ſhould receiue more. But all outward things, as long life, health and wealth, let vsus deſire in the ſecond place, both with leſſe deſire, and with mindes contented to want them, if it bee not Gods will to giuegive them: and ſo farre wee may bee aſſured that he will heare vsus. And namely for this viſitation of the Plague let vsus thus pray; that all might profit by it to repentance and amendment of life, for to that end we are aſſured that it is ſent. For as the Apoſtle ſaith to the Corinthians when there was great ſicknes among them, ſo that many alſo dyed; For this cauſe (meaning ſinne,1. Cor. 11.30. whereof he named one that was common among them) many are weake and ſicke among you, and many ſleepe, that is dye: for if we would iudge our ſelues, we ſhould not be iudged, but when we are iudged, wee are chaſtened of the Lord, becauſe wee ſhould not bee condemned with the world. So that if either wee had not ſinned before, or hauing ſinned we had repented vsus in time, and iudged our ſelues, God would not thus grieuouſly hauehave entred into iudgement with vsus. For as Dauid ſaith, he is full of compaſſion and mercy, ſlowe to anger, Pſalm. 103.8.and of great kindnes: and will not alway chide, nor keepe his anger for euer, though wee offend him continually. For if hee ſhould ſtraitly marke our iniquities,Pſalm. 130.3. and deale with vsus thereafter, who ſhould ſtand? that is, no man ſhould be able to abide it. But hee deferreth his puniſhments often, to ſee if men will repent them in time; and in deede hee giueth all men ſufficient time for that, and calleth them to it daily: as he did the olde world before the flood, by the preaching of Noah, Gen. 6.3.giuing them an hundred and twentie yeeres to repent in: and ſo did hee to the wicked Sodomites by the Miniſtery of righteous Lot, before they were conſumed with fire and brimſtone from heauen: and ſo did he to the Iſraelites, and to the Iewes by all his Prophets, before they were carried away into captiuitie: and ſo hath he this long time and often forewarned vsus of his iudgements, and called vsus earneſtly vntounto repentance by the miniſtery of all his faithfull ſeruants in our time, before this plague came vponupon vsus. So that wee cannot ſay, as the diuell did falſely challenge Chriſt in the Goſpell;Matth. 8.29. Why art thou come vntounto vsus before the time? But when for all this men goe on in their ſinne, and will not bee reclaymed, nor iudge themſelues one whit, hee is conſtrained to iudge vsus. Therefore let vsus pray that we may profit by it, and all his people alſo eueryevery where: and whoſoeuer hauehave any ſuch good deſires in them, wee may helpe them with our prayers, and pray that God would giuegive them their deſire (as the people doe here for the King) for this is according to Gods will.
And wee may ſafely pray for thoſe that are vnderunder this viſitation, that God would giuegive them patience and ſtrength to beare whatſoeuer it ſhall pleaſe God to lay vponupon them: for this alſo is according to his will, as the Apoſtle ſaith: God is faithfull, 1. Cor. 10.13.which will not ſuffer you to be tempted aboue that you bee able, but will giuegive the iſſue with the temptation, that yee may bee able to beare it. And that they may patiently beare it.So that if any hauehave this deſire, that they are contented to bee tried euen this way as well as any other, if it bee Gods will, ſo that hee would ſtrengthen them to beare it; we may all of vsus further them in their prayers, and deſire God to giuegive them their hearts deſire. And thus farre alſo wee our ſelues may bee aſſured, that wee hauehave our part in all the prayers of our brethren this day, and at all times; as wee doe deſire to profit by this hand of God, and to hauehave patience to doe his will in this, and all other croſſes of his. But as for the remouing of it,And how farre for the remoouing of it. wee may and ought to pray, that it may bee in his good time, when it is his holy will, and as it ſhall pleaſe him, ſo it may bee: and that wee might bee willing to waite vponupon his leaſure, and preſcribe no time vntounto him, nor any meaſure of his dealing, but that his will may bee done, and not ours: as our Sauiour Chriſt prayed in his greateſt agony, Father, not my will, but thine be done: then will hee heare vsus as hee did him. But if wee ſhall bee impatient and murmur againſt God, and thinke that hee dealeth hardly with vsus, in continuing ſo great a plague ſo long; or hauehave any ſuch wicked deſires in our mindes, which fleſh and blood is ready to offer vntounto vsus: as wee muſt not dare to offer them vp vntounto God, ſo if wee doe, none muſt further them, to deſire God, that hee would giuegive vsus according to our heart.If we ſubmit our wils to Gods will, then all the Church prayeth for vsus. Therefore let eueryevery one examine his owne heart, both for this, and for any thing elſe, that hee prayeth for; and ſee what it is that hee deſireth, and how: that if hee findeth it to bee according to Gods will, hee might hauehave comfort in the prayers of the Church; for in what caſe ſo euer hee bee, all the Church prayeth with him and for him, Thy will bee done. So that if his will bee agreeable to Gods will as it ought, then all good men and women pray for him continually in all his troubles, both of body and minde. And truly this is and may bee a great comfort for vsus at all times, and in all diſtreſſes, that in what eſtate ſo euer wee bee, night and day, if wee pray vntounto God, if wee can bring our hearts to this, that the deſire of them bee according to his will: and though wee would faine hauehave this and that, yet euermore with this condition and no otherwiſe, if it bee his bleſſed will; and wee ſubmit all our deſires to his holy will, and bee contented, that not ſo much our wils, as his might take place: then the whole Church eueryevery where prayeth for vsus, and will doe: as they did heere for Dauid: and ſo wee neede not doubt but God will heare vsus and them in his good time, that ſo wee might waite patientlie vponupon him.
But many men hauehave ſuch wicked and vngodly deſires,Many mens deſires are ſo wicked, that they are not to be commended to God or men. and the purpoſes of their heart are ſo bad, as they dare not commend them vntounto God, but hide them from him as much as they can. And though ſome do ignorantly & preſumptuouſly pray to God to fulfill their fooliſh and ſinfull deſires; yet none can pray for them, neither hauehave they part in the praiers of the Church, and ſo God heareth them not. And this is that which the Apoſtle ſaith to the Iewes, Yee aske, and receiue not, becauſe yee aske amiſſe, Iam. 4.3.that yee might lay the ſame out on your pleaſures. Where hee ſaith, that becauſe they did aske worldly things, firſt with an vnſatiable mind, and then to a wrong end, euen to conſume them vponupon their owne luſts, and not that they might glorifie God in doing good, and ſo it was not according to Gods will: therefore they had them not; for ſuch deſires of the heart God will not graunt. They that are couetous, they hauehave ſuch deſires in their hearts for the world, that neither themſelues,As the deſires of couetous men. 1. Tim. 6.9. nor any for them can pray, that God would graunt them, and giuegive them according to their heart. For they that will be rich, fall into temptation and ſnares, and into many fooliſh and noiſome luſts, which drowne men in perdition and deſtruction: for the deſire of money is the roote of all euill, which while ſome luſted after, they erred from the faith, and pearced themſelues through with many ſorrowes. This is a wonderfull, yet a true ſaying; For if eueryevery couetous man might hauehave according to his deſire; what ſhould become of all the world? al ſhould be little enough for themſelues. Nay what ſhould become of themſelues? they would aske that that ſhould be hurtfull for them. As it is written of one, that hee deſired that all that hee touched might be gold, and it was granted vntounto him: and by this meanes hee ſoone ſtarued for want of meate and drinke: for not onelyonly his cuppes and diſhes at his touching were turned into gold, but euen the meate and drinke that was in them: and ſo could neither eate nor drinke any thing: and thus his deſire through couetouſnes was not onelyonly fooliſh, but alſo noiſome and hurtfull, as the Apoſtle ſaid, whereby hee was drowned in perdition and deſtruction. Which though it bee but a meere fable, and poeticall fiction, yet it doth ſhew the truth of this that wee ſpeake of: namely, that couetous mens deſires many of them are ſuch, that they are not to bee deſired of God. Other men their hearts are ſo full of hatred and malice,And of the malitious. that all their deſires for the moſt part tend to the hurt of others, and to the good of few, eſpecially they deſire the hurt of thoſe whom they account their enemies: if they might hauehave their deſire (I ſpeake not of the Papiſts onelyonly, for then none of vsus ſhould be aliue) but of ſome other that profeſſe the Goſpell, many of their neighbours ſhould bee a great deale worſe than they are. I pray you what had become of all the nation of the Iewes, and of the whole Church of God,Heſt. 3.13. if malitious Haman had had his diuelliſh deſire; who ſought in one day to kill and to deſtroy all, both yong and old, children and women? Againſt theſe and ſuch like, Dauid teacheth vsus to pray thus;Pſal. 104.6. Bring not their deſires to paſſe.
Other hauehave their hearts full of the luſts of the fleſh, and the ſaying of our Sauiour Chriſt is verified in them: They looke on a woman and luſt after her,Mat. 5.28. And of the voluptuous. and ſo they commit adulterie with her in their heart: and they hauehave many vngodly deſires this way, which they cannot bring to paſſe: yet can they not themſelues, or any for them pray, that God would grant them their deſire, and giuegive them according to their heart: and ſo they conſume and pine away in their wicked deſire, as Amnon did;2. Sam. 13.2. of whom it is ſaid, That he was ſo ſore vexed, that he fell ſicke for his ſiſter Tamar, for ſhee was a virgin, and it ſeemed hard to him to doe any thing to her: and that wicked deſire continued vponupon him, that from day to day he waxed leane, becauſe he could not accompliſh his filthy deſire. Of theſe & ſuch like the Pſalmiſt ſaith, The deſires of the wicked ſhall periſh; that is,Pſal. 112.10. God will not fulfill, but diſapoint them of their wicked deſire: and ſo may we pray, not for them, but againſt them; and ſo no doubt doth the whole Church of God pray againſt ſuch continually. To be ſhort,And of the proud and ambitious. ſome are ambitious and proud, and ſeeke the ouerthrow of others for the rayſing vp of themſelues; as ſome traitours hauehave done in our time, though they hauehave not preuailed: And ſo did Abſalom conſpire againſt his father, & Achitophell did help him with counſel in that action: but Dauid praeid againſt thē, & ſaid, O Lord,2. Sam. 15.31. I pray thee turne the counſell of Achitophell into fooliſhneſſe: and ſo God did heare his prayer, and did ouerthrow his wicked counſell, & diſappointed Abſalom of his ambitious deſire. And not onelyonly by this example, but otherwiſe he hath taught vsus generally to pray againſt all ſuch: Fulfill not ô Lord their deſire,Pſal. 140.8. Theſe men hauehave no part in the prayer of others. leaſt they be too proud. Thus we ſee, that no wicked man that hath his deſires diſordered in any kind whatſoeuer, and will not ſubmit them to the word of God, can looke to hauehave any part in the prayers of the Church generally, or of any godly man or woman particularly, be they neuer ſo neere thē, or wiſh they neuer ſo well vntounto them. And we our ſelues muſt looke to our deſires, leaſt we be depriued of the benefit of the praier of others: For as if our hearts be ſound & vpright with God, and we deſire nothing but according to the will of God, then all pray for vsus, & eueryevery where by vertue of the communion of Saints we inioy the fruit of the prayer of the Saints; ſo if our hearts be turned from God by our crooked wayes,Pſal. 125.5. & we deſire things that are vnlawfull, then all forſake vsus, euen our deareſt friends, and none can pray for vsus in any faith. And we had need to be put in mind of this doctrine, becauſe for the moſt part our minds are more ſet vponupon earthly things, than vponupon heauenly, & we are more readie to lay vp our treaſures here on earth, than in heauen, where the true treaſure is: and ſo becauſe where the treaſure is, there will the heart be alſo, as our Sauiour Chriſt ſaith in the Goſpell,Math. 6.20.21. Nor hauehave any vnlawfull deſires. therefore wee deſire earthly things aboue heauenly; and ſo our hearts deſire being not according to Gods will, none can pray for vsus, that God would graunt them: and ſo through our owne default, we looſe the comfortable fruit of the prayer of others: and whereas prayer is compared vntounto ſtriuing, when we ſtriue about things ſo vnlawfully, none can ſtriue with vsus. Therefore let vsus not hauehave ſuch running luſts, and wandering deſires as the men of this world hauehave, who deſire earthly things, and ſay (as Dauid deſcribeth them) VVho wil ſhew vsus any good? But let vsus pray, as he teacheth vsus there, Lord lift vp the light of thy countenance vponupon vsus:Pſal. 4.6. and let vsus eſteeme of that, as he doth there, aboue all worldy things, ſaying, I ſhall hauehave more ioy of heart thereby, than they had, when their wheat and their wine did abound. And then we are ſure, that our deſires be well ordered, and ſo all good men will help vsus in their prayers, & ſay of vsus as the people do here of their King, The Lord graunt thee according to thine heart.
If then at any time we hauehave asked any thing at the hand of God, and hauehave not receiued it,If we aske, and hauehave not, let vsus examine, and correct our deſires. 1. Pet. 3.9. let vsus conſider what it is, and how we hauehave asked it: if it be any thing that is euill, as the deſtruction of our enemies, the curſe of God vponupon our neighbours, whereas we ſhould rather bleſſe them, as the Apoſtle ſaith, knowing that we are called to be heires of the bleſsing of God; then no maruaile, if God do not giuegive vsus our deſires. Or if it be a lawfull thing, yet we deſire it not lawfully, that is, not according to Gods will; as for example, If we deſire earthly things aboue heauenly, as moſt doe: or as concerning this viſitation of the plague, if we more deſire that it might be taken away, than that we our ſelues and others might profit by it: & generally, if we more deſire health and wealth, eſtimation and worldly proſperitie, than faith and repentance and the true feare of God, and ſuch like; then theſe deſires of our hearts no marueile if God graunt not. Or againe, if we deſire not theſe outward things, ſo that we can be contented to want them, if it be not Gods will to giuegive them; and to ſay with the Apoſtle, I can be abaſed, and I can abound,Phil. 4.12. eueryevery where and in all things I am inſtructed both to be full, and to be hungry, and to abound and to hauehave want; and what ſtate ſoeuer I am in, therewith to be content. For otherwiſe neither can we pray our ſelues,How we ſhold pray concerning this plague, if we will be heard. nor other for vsus, That God would giuegive vsus according to our heart; becauſe the deſires of the ſame are not faſhioned according to his will. Therefore both for the remouing of this plague, and for all other things we muſt be of that mind that Dauid was, when by the conſpiring of his ſonne Abſalom he was driuen out of Ieruſalem: who ſaid,2. Sam. 15.25. Carie the Arke again into the citie; if I ſhall find fauor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me againe, and ſhew me both it, and the tabernacle thereof: But if he ſay thus, I hauehave no delight in thee; behold here I am, let him doe to me as ſeemeth good in his eyes. Thus he reſigned both his kingdome and life into Gods hands, to hauehave them or looſe them according to his will; and then he receiued againe of God both the one and the other: for Abſolon was deſtroyed, and he ſafely returned into Ieruſalem. So ſhould we now much more receiue life and health in this great mortalitie, if we did pray for them with theſe minds,Heb. 11.17, 19. that as Abraham was willing to offer vp his ſonne Izaack vntounto God, and then he reſtored him vntounto life as it were againe, ſo we be willing to hauehave all, if it be Gods will, then will he reſtore all things vntounto vsus againe. Therefore if God giuegive vsus not that which we ask, let vsus thus profit, to the examining and conuerting of our deſires.
But to conclude for this time, whereas all men generally deſire, that they might hauehave their heart ſatisfied, and that whatſoeuer they hauehave a mind to, they might hauehave it: and this all ſorts couet and ſeek after, and therin conſiſteth great contentation and quietneſſe of mind, That we hauehave our deſires in all things: let vsus nouriſh in vsus continually none but good deſires, for thoſe God wil fulfill.The comfort of thoſe that hauehave good deſires: and the vexation of them that hauehave euill. But if we hauehave wicked and vngodly deſires in our mind, as the Lord will not fulfill them, ſo this ſhall be no ſmall croſſe vntounto vsus, that we are abridged of our deſires. So that all they that ſo liue, that they make conſcience euen of their deſires, and labour to keepe them within the compaſſe of Gods word and will, their life is moſt pleaſant and comfortable, & full of contentment, for they ſhall ſooneſt hauehave the deſires of their heart from time to time. But if we giuegive ſcope to our affections, and ſuffer our deſires to range beyond the bounds of Gods word and will, as therein we diſpleaſe him, that they are ſo vnruly; ſo we ſhall not be quiet, for God will croſſe them, and not ſuffer vsus to proſper in our wicked deſires. For though the wicked many times doe ſo, for their further condemnation, who often hauehave more than their hearts deſire: yet this is the ordinarie portion of Gods children, that if their deſires be good, God will fulfill them: as theſe of Dauids were, and therefore God did ſo vntounto him, as he confeſſeth,Pſal. 21.2. Thou haſt giuen him his harts deſire. But if they be euill, he will keepe them from them: and we are to pray, that he would doe ſo, to that end, that we might ſeeke to purge our hearts from all ſuch ſinfull deſires. And God graunt, that we may thus profit by the not hauing of our deſires, to examine them whether they be good or ill, and to amend whatſoeuer is amiſſe: and ſo ſhall it be more profitable for vsus, to be hindered in ſuch deſires, than to hauehave them fulfilled. But we ſhall hauehave occaſion to ſpeake more of this the next day: in the meane time let this be ſufficient.