ANSWER. That is true; but God gives to no man for his worthiness,
nor rejects any for their sinfulness, that come to him sensible of
the want and worth of mercy for them. Besides, the desires of a
righteous man, and the desires or his God, agree. God has a desire
to thee, thou hast a desire to him. God desires truth in the inward
parts and so dost thou with all thy heart. God desires mercy, and to
show it to the needy; that is what thou also wantest, and what thy
soul craves at his hand.
Seek, man; ask, knock, and do not be discouraged; the Lord will
grant all thy desires. Thou sayest thou art unworthy to ask the
greatest things, things spiritual and heavenly: well, will carnal
things serve thee, and answer the desires of thy heart? Canst thou
be content to be put off with a belly well filled and a back well
clothed?
"Oh, better I never had been born."
See! thou wilt not ask the best, and yet canst not make shift
without them.
"Shift? no; no shift without them; I am undone without them, undone
for ever and ever," sayest thou.
Well then, desire.
"So I do," sayest thou.
Ah, but desire with more strong desires; desire with more large
desires; desire spiritual gifts, covet them earnestly; thou hast a
license too to do so. God bids thee do so, for he hath said, "The
desire of the righteous shall be granted."