Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 7:11

11 If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him?

Asking is but a Verb[illegible: 1 letter]l Expre[illegible: 1 letter]sion of an inward desire, no Man desireth that which is Evil, but that which he at least apprehendeth to be good, (that is, suitable unto his wants) as Earthly Parents knowing that their Children, tho through weakness of understanding they may ask that which is really Evil for them, yet will not give them any such things, and gratify their Ignorance, so neither will your Heavenly Father, knowing what you truly need, and what is truly good for you, give you any thing which he knoweth is not suitable for you, but Noxious to you, but if you ask any thing which is either absolutely good for you; and cannot be Evil, or which your Heavenly Father knoweth to be good for you, under your present Circumstances, you may be assured, considering he is your Father, and hath as great a kindness for you as an Earthly Father for his Child, and that [illegible: 1 letter]e is your Heavenly Father, and therefore hath a sufficiency to give, will give good things to you asking them of him, and this you may be assur'd of from that good will, and inclination which you, tho you come infinitely short of the perfection and good inclinations of your Heavenly Father, find in your selves towards your Children; for you derive from him, as his Children, all th[illegible: 1 letter]t goo[illegible: 1 letter]ne[illegible: 1 letter]s and Benignity which you have. If therefore we in Prayer ask any thing of God, which may be Good, or Evil under differentCircumstances and receive it not, we may conclude, that tho we thought what we asked, Bread, yet indeed it was a Stone, tho we t[illegible: 1 letter]ought it a Fish, yet God saw it was a Scorpion, and account that God answered o[illegible: 1 letter]r General Desires, which were for some good by denying o[illegible: 1 letter]r Specifical request.

Marginal references: Gen. 6.5. & 8.21.