when heaven takes the alarm ; as when thieves are about a house to rob it, and they within give a sudden shriek to call in help, presently they flee ; and if God, for thy trial, should not come at first call to rid thee of these imwelcome guests, yet thy very crying out will prevent thy consenting to their villany. Secondly, They are a sovereign means to allay the Christian's affections to the world, one of the worst enemies he hath in the field against him, for it chokes the soul, thickens the Christian's spirit, and changes his very complexion. Who but dying men smell of the earth, and carry its colour in their countenance ? Grace dieth apace where the heart savours much of the earth. Now, prayer, what is it but the lifting of the soul from earth to heaven ? Were we oftener in a day drawing in new influences of grace from God, our spirits could not
f)ossibly be so poisoned with worldly affections. When one was asked whether le did not admire the goodly structure of a stately house, he answered. No; for, saith he, I have been at Rome, where more magnificent fabrics are to be seen. Thus, when Satan presents the world's pleasui'es or treasures to the Christian, that he may enveigle his affections to dote on them, a gracious soul can say, I have been at heaven ; there is not an hour in the day I enjoy better than these in communion with my God.
Section III. — They keep a Christian's heart in a holy disposition for the more solemn pei-formance of this duty. He that is so heavenly in his earthly employments, will be the less worldly in his heavenly. It was a sweet speech of a dying saint, that he was going to change his place, but not his company. A Christian that is frequent in these ejaculations, when he goes to pray more solemnly, he goes not from the world to God, but from God to God ; from a transient view of him to a more fixed ; whereas another discontinues his acquaintance with God after his morning visit, and comes not in his company till called in by his customary performance. Oh how hard a business will such an one find it to pray with a heavenly heart! AVhat you fill the vessel with you must expect to draw thence : if water be put in, we cannot, without a miracle, think to draw wine. What I art thou all day filling thy heart with earth, (God being not in all thy thoughts,) and dost thou look to draw heaven thence at night ? If you will have fire for your evening sacrifice, expect not new fire to be dropped from heaven, but labour to keep what is already on thy altar from going out, which thou canst not better do than by feeding it with this fuel.
Section IV. — They are of excellent use to alleviate any great affliction that lies upon the soul or body. While others sit disconsolate, grinding their souls, and wasting their spirits with their own anxious thoughts, these are his wings with which he flieth above his troubles, and in an instant shoots his soul to heaven, out of the din of his afflictions. How can he be long uncomfortable, who, when anything begins to disquiet him, lets it not lie troubling his mind, as a thorn in the flesh, but presently gives vent to it, by some heavenly meditation, or heart- easing prayer to God ? Those heavy tidings which came to Job one upon another, it was not possible for him to have stood under, had his thoughts been employed on no other subject than his affliction ; but being able to lift up his heart to God, — ' The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord,' — this one ejaculation gave him ease. Indeed, in afflictions that are very violent, it is no time for long discourses ; the poor creature cannot hold out in a continued duty of prayer, as at another time. When the fight grows hot, and the army comes to grapple hand to hand with their enemy, they have not leisure to charge their great artillery, then their short swords do them most service. So in this case ; the poor creature, may be, finds his body weak, and his spirit oppressed with temptations, which Satan pouj-s like so much shot upon him, that all he can well do is to pray quick and short : now fetch a groan for the pain he feels, and then shoot a dart to heaven, to call God to his help. And blessed is the man that hath his quiver full of these arrows. We see Christ, in his agony, choose to pray often, rather than long, — ' If it be possible, let this cup pass from me : however, not my will, but thine, be done.' This short ejaculation he sends to heaven thrice, with some little pause of time betv/een prayer and prayer ; ' and was heard in that he feared,' Heb. v. 7.
PRAYING ALWAYS, ETC. (5~7
CHAPTER XXXI.
A REPROOF TO THOSE THAT USE NOT THIS KIND OF PRAYER ; OR DO IT IN A PROFANE manner; OR USE IT, BUT NEGLECT OTHER,