going, from morning to night, and thereby lose much of the pleasm^e of our journey, should then have it in a manner always before us, as a joyful prospect in our eye to solace us in the difficulties of our pilgrimage, and make us gather up our feet more nimbly in the ways of holiness, when we shall see whither they lead us. We count them pleasantly situated, who live in a climate where the sun is seldom off their horizon. Truly, none have such a constant light of inward joy and peace shining upon their souls, as those who are familiarly conversant with this duty ! they stand at the best advantage of any other to have, if not a continual, yet a frequent intercourse with God, from whom both the influences of comfort and grace do all come. And if those trees must needs have the fairest and sweetest fruit which stand most in the sun, then surely they are most likely to excel others, both in comfort and grace, who are most witii God. Every little that the bee brings to the liive adds to the stock. Though the soul makes no long stay with God in this kind of prayer, yet the frequent reiterations thereof conduce much to the increase of its grace. Little gain, with quick retiu-ns, make a heavy purse. Little showers, often following one upon another, plump the corn. So do those short sallies of the soul to heaven enrich and increase grace in the heart exceedingly. Now, if thou sho\ddst ask, how thou mayest make this kind of ejaculatory prayer more familiar unto thee :
First, Keep thy heart with all diligence,— thy affections, I mean. The very reason why we sally out so seldom toward God in these occasional prayers, is, because the weight of our affections poise us another way. If our affections be carnal, to earth we go, and God hath little of our company. Adam, it is said, ' begat a son in his own likeness,' Gen. v. 3, and so doth the heart of every man. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy ; as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. Labour, therefore, to keep thy heart heavenly ; especially look to these three aftections: — First, Thy love. If this fire biu-n clear, the more of these sparks will, from it, mount up to God. Love is a great friend to memory. The adulterer is said to have his eyes full of the harlot; and holy love will be as mindful of God. Such a soul will be often setting God in its view ; ' I have set the Lord always before me,' Psa. xvi. 8. And by often thinking of God, the heart will be enticed into desires after him, Isa. xxvi. 8 : ' The desire of our soul is to thy name; and to the remembrance of thee;' and see what follows, ver. 9 : ' With my soul have I desired thee in the night, yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early.' Love sets the soul on musing, and from musing to praying. Meditation is prayer in bullion, pi-ayer in the ore, — soon melted and run into holy desires. The laden cloud soon drops into rain ; the piece charged soon goes off when fire is put to it. A meditating soul is iu pro.iima potentia to prayer. ' While I was musing, the fire burned ; then spake I with my tongue, Lord, make me to know mine end,' Psa. xxxix. 3, 4. This was an ejaculatory prayer shot from his soul, when in the company of the wicked. Secondly, Thy fear. Even wicked men, though they be great strangers to prayer, yet we shall hear them knocking at God's door in a fright ; much more will a holy fear direct the Christian, upon all occasions, to lift up his heart to God. Art thou in thy calling? Fear a snare therein, and tliis will excite thee often in a day to ask counsel of God. Art thou in company ? P'ear lest thou shouldst do, or receive hurt, and thou wilt be lifting up thy heart to him that can only keep thee from both. We cannot have a more faithful monitor to remind us of this duty than holy fear. ' They that feared the Lord thought upon his name,' Mai. iii. 16. 'At what time I am afraid,' saith David, ' I will trust in thee.' Fear makes us think where oiu- safety lies, and leads us to our refuge. Had not Noah feared a i^torm, the ark had not been built. Men fear no sin nor danger, and therefore God hears not of them all the day long. The ungodly, who walk with their back upon heaven, and look not up to God from morning to night, — ' The fear of God is not before their eyes.' Thirdly, Thy joy and delight in God. O, cherish this ! As fear disposeth to pray, so joy to praise. Now, and not till now, the instrument of thy heart is in tune. One hint now from the providence of God, and touch from his spirit, will set such on work to bless God. Carnal men, when they are frolicsome, have their catches and songs. How much more will the gracious soul, that walks in the sense of God's love, be often striking up his harp in holy pi-aiscs to God ! Psa. Ixiii. 3, ' Because thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee ;' ver. 4, ' I will bless thee while 1 live ;'
g§Q _ PRAYING ALWAYS, ETC.