enjoyments, are like luscious wine : we cannot drink little of them, they are so sweet to our carnal palate ; and we cannot bear much of them, because they are strong and heady, fuming up in pride and carnal confidence. Now prayer is an excellent preservative against the evil of this state. First, As it spiritualizes our joy into thankfulness. It is carnal joy that is dreggy, and therefore soon putrefies. Now, as prayer in aflfliction refines the Christian's sorrow by breath- ing it forth in holy groans to God, whereby he is kept from sinful complaints and minnnurings against him; so here the Christian, by giving a spiritual vent to his joy in thanksgiving and praises of his God, is preserved from the degene- racy of carnal joy, that betrays the soul to many foul sins, if itself be not one : for which purpose it is, that the apostle James cuts out this twofold channel for this double aflfection to run in : — ' Is any afflicted ? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms,' James v. 13. As if he should say. Let the afflicted soul pray, that it may not murmur : let the joyous saint sing psalms, that his joy turn not sensual. A carnal heart can easily be merry when he prospers ; the saint alone is praisefid. The jjsalmist, speaking of the mariners delivered from storms at sea, saith, 'Then are they glad, because they be quiet,' Psa. cvii. 30 : but this they may be, and yet not thankful : wherefore he adds, 'O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness !" Secondly, By prayer the soul is led into the acquaintance of higher delights than are to be found in all temporal enjoyments, and thereby is taken off from an inordinate valu- ation of them, because he knows where better are to be had. The true rea- son why men are puffed up with too high an opinion of worldly felicities, is their ignorance of spiritual. Thirdly, Prayer is God's ordinance to sanctify our creature-comforts. Everything is ' sanctified by the word of God and prayer,' 1 Tim. iv. 5. Now, this obtained, the Christian may safely drink of these sti'eams ; the unicorn hath now piit in his horn to heal them ; Satan shall not have such power to corrupt him in the use of them, as another that bespeaks not God's blessing on them. There is a flatulency in every creature, which, if not corrected by prayer, breeds indigested humours in him that feeds on it. Fourthly, In thy prosperity pray, to shew thy dependence on God for what thou enjoyest. Thou boldest all thy mercies i7i cupite. He that gave thee life, holds thy soul in life : ' Thou didst hide thy face,' saith David, ' and I was troubled.' Truly it is time for God to withdraw his hand when thou goest about to cut off" his title. That enjoyment comes but as a guest, which is not entertained by prayer. Solomon tells us of wings that ovir temporal mercies have: now, if any- thing can clip these, and keep them fi-om flying away, it is prayer. God would often have destroyed Israel, had not Moses stood in the gap; their mercies were often upon the wing, but that holy man's prayers stayed their flight. God's heart would not allow him to refuse his prayer, and put that to shame ; no, they shall live, but let them say, Moses's prayer begged their life. Now, if the prayer of a holy person could prevail for others, and obtain a new lease for their lives, who were (many of them) none of the best ; surely then, the prayer of a saint may have great power with God for his own. Long life is promised to him that honours his earthly father: prayer gives our heavenly Father the greatest honour. If, therefore, thou wouldst have thy life, or the life of any mercy prolonged, forget not to pay him this tribute. Yea, would you transmit what God hath blessed you with to your posteiity? The best way thou canst take is, to lock thy estate up in God's hand by prayer. Whatever tvill thou makest, God is sure to be thy executor. Man may propose and purpose, but God disposeth. Engage him, and the care is taken for thy posterity. Fifthly, Pray now that thou may- est outlive the loss of thy prosperity. When prayer cannot prevail to keep a tem- poral mercy alive, yet it will have a powerful influence to keep thy heart alive when that dies. O, it is sad, when a man's estate and comfort are buried in the same grave together. None will bear the loss of an enjoyment so patiently, as he that was exercised in prayer while he had it. When Job was in his flou- rishing estate, his children alive, and all his other enjoyments, then was he a great trader with God in this duty ; — he sanctified his children every day. He did not bless himself in them, but sought the blessing of God for them. And see how comfortably he bears all ; ' The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the Lord.' The more David prayed for his child while alive, the fewer tears he shed for it when dead.
PKAYINCi ALWAVS, ETC. (J7^
CHAPTER XXIX.