Some people think they never have the presence and renewings of
God's grace upon them, but when they are comforted and when they are
cheered up--when, alas, God may be richly with them, while they cry
out by these visions, My sorrows are multiplied; or, Because I have
seen God, I shall die.
And tell me now, all these things considered, has not grace, even
the grace of God which thou hast so much desired, been coming to
thee and working in thee in all these hidden methods? Thus therefore
thy desire is accomplishing, and when it is accomplished will be
sweet to thy soul.
5. But we will follow thee a little in the way of thy heart. Thou
sayest thou desirest, and desirest grace, yea, hast been a thousand
times upon thy knees before God for more grace, and yet thou canst
not attain.
I answer, (1.) It maybe, the grace which thou prayest for is worth
thy being upon thy knees yet a thousand times more. "We find that
usually they that go to king's courts for preferment, are there at
great expenses, yea, and wait a great while, even until they have
spent their whole estates, and worn out their patience too."
Yet they at last prevail, and the thing desired comes; yea, and when
it is come, it sets them up anew and makes them better men, though
they did spend all they had to obtain it, than ever they were
before.
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