[ 8 ]
ye perceive ye are a Hypocrite, and that all your former Freedom in Prayer has been only false Conceptions of Joy: I will not speak a Word of Comfort any more unto you, unless ye put up this short Petition, Lord, held Satan off me, and give me not leave to doubt of thy Love, or to believe anything that comes out of Satan's Mouth: Which she said heartily.
Then said I, By questioning your Access, 1st, Ye greatly dishonour God. Said she, God forbid. Said I, Madam ye dishonour God, because ye raze the very Foundation which God's own Hands have laid, when ye call in Question all his Love-Tokens he has given you in former Times. 2dly. Think nor ye are deceived in your Access, because ye cannot have your Desire satisfied to the full in having the fame Thing granted which ye fought from God: For some times Christ gives us not that which we seek, and yet he knows our Prayers, by giving us a better Thing, or by giving us Patience to endure the Want of the fame Thing. So was Christ himself dealt with, who defined the Cup might depart from him; yet it did not depart, but he suffered and drank it, the Father giving his Strength: And he was heard in that he feared. Ye fee then that God's dearest Children may have Access to him for several Things, tho' they get not their particular Petition granted; and yet their Access to God and Freedom in Prayer, will be true Access and Freedom. 3dly. In so thinking ye wrong your self, rendring yourself unfit to pray, or to do any holy Duty: Also by questioning your Access, ye lay your Heart open unto manifold Temptations; so that if ye be holden our of Heaven, ye hold out your self, God will not hold you out. Therefore in God's Name find Fault with your self, and fay, Lord, this is my Infirmity and Weakness, pardon me for Christ's Sake. 4thly. By questioning of your Access ye give Advantage to Satan, for if once he perceive that ye take all to you for Truth that he fays, then ye may look for Armies of Temptations, and Multitudes of Objections, as a Shower of Arrows, to be sent against you. If ye mind to have an Interest in Comfort, ye must resolve not to credit Satan nor your own deceitful Heart; believe God only
