escape the fury of his enemies? Dotli he desire a band of the Persian king to l)e their guard? No ; he hath gloried so much in tliat God wliom they served, tluit he is ashamed the king shoukl think ho was not willing to east himself upon his protection ; hut he goes to fasting and jirayer, Ezra viii. 21 ; then they take their march, and find the way all along cleared before them, ver. 31. Christ hath sanctified this duty for this end in his own holy example, who, when the Twelve went forth to preach the gospel, that they may succeed the better in their embassy, he sends them under the protection of prayer, and to that end spends the preceding night himself in the exercise of that duty, Luke vi. 12, 13. Now, though every Christian is not called forth to such great and public enterprises as some others are, yet if he will observe the several passages of his more private employments, and turns of providence in the course of his life, he shall find many such actions occur as give him a fair hint to make use of this duty. Haply thou art to enter upon a calling, or in the calling thou art met with many difficulties and temptations. Thou hast a long journey or dangerous voyage to take ; thon hast to do with a subtle, potent adversary ; though thy cause be good, yet thou art likely to be outwitted or overborne. Here is a fair errand put into thy month to go before the Lord for counsel, assistance, and protection. May be thou hast children, and these are to be disposed of into callings or new relations : will not the issue that depends upon this great change of their condition lay the foundation of much grief or joy to thee? Yet how light these things are treated by many! as if the marriage of a child were of little more importance than the selling of a horse or cow at a fair ! Heaven, alas ! is seldom consulted in these marriages, I mean, by solemn prayer engaging God in the business. Abraham's servant puts many parents to shame ; he earnestly prayed for success in his journey when sent to take a wife for his master's son ; and not a prayer from them for their children. But I wonder not that they who propound low and carnal ends to themselves in such enterprises, should forget by prayer both to ask God's counsel in the match, or invite his blessing at the wedding.
Section IL — When the Christian is in the dark concerning any truth, and cannot satisfy his judgment by the humble and diligent inquiry which he hath made after it, now is a fit season to take up this extraordinary duty as an excellent means to be led into the knowledge of tlie mind of God therein. Prayer is the proper key to unlock God's heart, and he alone can open oiu* understandings. This course Daniel took, and got more understanding by his fasting and prayer than by all his study ; for a messenger is sent from heaven to give him skill and understanding, Dan. ix. 20 — 23, and again, chap. x. 12. And the angel is careful to let him know that it was his extraordinary prayipg that prociu-ed this extraordinary favour, and also how acceptable his prayer was, by the easy access and quick dispatch it found with God ; and therefore tells him that he had no sooner set upon this course of afflicting his sold, but he was heard, and the messenger ordered to give him an answer to his prayer. Surely, prayer hath not lost its credit in heaven, but is now as welcome to God as ever ; and though an angel be not the messenger to bring the saint an answer, yet he shall have it by as sure and more honourable hand, even the Holy Spirit, whose office is to lead his people into truth. Thus Cornelius, Acts x., came to be instructed in the mystery of the gospel upon his extraordinary seeking of God by fasting and pi'ayer. It is very probable this good man, in those divided times, wherein he saw many zealous for the old way of Jewish worship, and others preach up a new way, stood in some d(-ubt, and consequently was induced, by fasting and prayer, to ask counsel of God to direct him in the way of truth, as may seem by the tenor of the message sent him from God in the vision while he was at prayer, which bade him send to Joppa ' for one Simon, whose surname is Peter; — he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do,' ver. 5, 6. And in our divided times, wherein there is so much difterence of judgment, had there been less wrangling among ourselves, and more wrestling with God for his Spirit, we had been in a fairer way to find the door of truth, which so many are yet groping for. The way of controversy is dusty, and contentious disputes raiseth this dust, and blows it most into their eyes that gallop fastest in it, so that they miss the truth, which humble souls find upon their knees at the throne of grace. "When the disciples were (juarrelling, then they got nothing
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from Christ but a chiding, Luke xii. 14, &c. ; but when they were praying together earnestly, then lie sent his Spirit to teach them, Acts ii.