基本信息
maine on him, as the thing onely permanent, and his name for ever to be praised by us. now, as there is nothing more certaine, but that even as temporall things are mortall and transitory, so are they both in and out of themselves, full of sorrow, paine, and anguish, and subjected to infinite dangers: so in the same manner, we live mingled among them, seeming as part of them, and cannot (without some error) continue or defend our selves, if god by his especiall grace and favour, give us not strength and good understanding. which power we may not beleeve, that either it descendeth to us, or liveth in us, by any merites of our owne; but of his onely most gracious benignity. mooved neverthelesse and entreated by the intercessions of them, who were (as we are) mortals; and having diligently observed his commandements, are now with him in eternall blessednes. to whom (as to advocates and procurators, informed by the experience of our frailty) wee are not to present our prayers in the presence of so great a judge; but onely to himselfe, for the obtaining of all such things as his wisedome knoweth to be most expedient for us. and well may we credit, that his goodnesse is more fully enclined towards us, in his continuall bounty and liberality; then the subtilty of mortall eye, can reach into the secret of so divine a thought: and sometimes therefore we may be beguiled in opinion, by electing such and such as our intercessors before his high majesty, who perhaps are farre off from him, or driven into perpetuall exile, as unworthy to appeare in so glorious a presence. for he, from whom nothing can be hidden, more regardeth the sincerity of him that prayeth, then ignorant devotion, committed to the trust of a heedlesse intercessor; and such prayers have alwaies gracious acceptati
