occasion be not so extraordinary : if it be, First, About that which is lawful in itself. Secondly, Of importance. Thirdly, Necessarily then to be despatched. And, Fourthly, If it surpriseth us, and we do not bring it upon oiu-selves by our own fault ; — the duty of prayer may, without sin, be adjourned for a fitter time. But let us take heed of stamping a pretended necessity on things and actions, only to gratify our lazy hearts with a handsome excuse, whereby we maj' both save the pains of performing a duty, and also escape a chiding from oin- con- science for the non-performance of it. Of all fools, he is the worst who puts a cheat on himself, and especially on his soul : such an one must expect, that the less his conscience barks at present, the more it will bite when it shall be un- muzzled. Again, if the occasion be important and necessary, whereby thou art called off from the solemn performance of this duty at present ; then, P'irst, Lift up thj' heart in an ejaculatory prayer to God, to guide and guard thee. This is the short dagger thou art to use for thy defence against temptation, when thou hast no time to draw the long sword of solemn prayer. Thus thou mayest pray in any place, company, or employment. A short parenthesis interrupts not the sense of a discourse, but gives elegancy to it : and a short ejaculation to heaven will not interrupt any business thou ail about, but benefit it much. Secondly, Be careful to recover this loss which thy worldly business hath put thee to in thy comnmnion with God, by more abounding in thy duty the next opportunity. The tradesman who is kept from his dinner on the market day, goes sooner to his supper, and eats the freer meal at night. O that we were as wise for our souls, what we are prevented at one time, to recover with advan- tage at another, by a doubled enlargement of our hearts in our prayers and meditations .'
CHAPTER XI.
Satan's policy to discourage the christian from prayer, under a pretence, that the mercies he would beg are too great for him to hope he shall ever receive.
Satan discourages sometimes the Christian when on his way to this duty, from the greatness of those requests which he hath to put up to the throne of grace. Thou art going to pray ; and will nothing serve thee less than pardon of sin, love and favour of God, with eternal life, &c. ? Surely thou art too free of another's purse, and too kind to thyself, if thou thinkest to be welcome at God's door with so bold an errand. This is a boon reserved for some few favourites ; and darest thou think so well of thyself, that thovi art one of them ? Now, to arm thee against this, that thou mayest neither be kept from the duty, nor go misgivingly to it upon the account of the greatness of thy request, ponder upon these five considerations.
Section I. — Oppose the greatness of that God thou art going to make thy address unto, against the greatness of thy request. We are bid, Dent, xxxii. 3, to ascribe greatness to our God : and if ever, especially when kneeling down to pray. Wert thou to put wp thy request to some puny prince, thou hadst reason to consider, whether thy pitcher were not too great that thou wouldst have filled. Possibly thou mayest ask such an one more at once than he is worth. ' Help, rny lord, O king,' said the woman in the famine of Samaria, yet she had not relief: * If the Lord do not help, whence shall I help thee ?' 2 Kings vi.2r), 27. Or, possibly, if he hath power, he may want a heart to part with so much as will serve thy turn ; there are many of Nabal's name in tlie world ; such churls, who think every bit of bread lost that they eat not themselves ; yea, some who grudge their own necessary food. Wert thou at the door of such, what couldst thou expect but cold welcome ? But remember, he is a great God, great in power ; thou canst not over-ask ; thou mayest draw thine aiTow to the head, and yet not over-shoot the power of God ; even when thou hast drawn thy desires to the highest pitch, he will be above thee ; ' For he is able to do exceedingly above what we can ask or think.' Wouldst thou have thy sins pardoned ? Yes, if they were not too great, thou sayost ; l)ut can God at once discount such a sum, and discharge so vast a debt, that hath been gathering many years by a full trade of constant sinning, with so gi'eat a stock of means and mercies as I have had ? Yes, he is able abundantly to pardon, without any wrong to himself, or
2 t
nAO PRAYING ALWAYS, ETC.