have tliey reason to be very careful in the management of this service, the issue whereof cannot be ordinary, because the dut)' is extraordinary. Now the coini- sel to be given must be divided into three general heads : something shoidd be directed as preparatory to this undertaking ; something to be observed in its performance ; and also after the despatch of it. Tlie city cannot be safe unless the whole line be kept ; it is all one whether the enemy breaks in at the front, flank, or rear of an army. First, Some preparatory direction before the duty. Now, there is a double preparation requisite, habitual and actual. There is a remote and habitual preparation, of great use to the performance of this solemn duty, and it lies in this : — To look. Christian, that thou shewest a con- scionable care in tliy daily walking, and the constant exercise of this duty in thy ordinary daily offices of devotion, or else thou art likely to make but bad work when thou comest to engage in the extraordinary. First, Thy neglect in (lie ordinary duty will exceedingly indispose thee for extraordinary. In extra- ordinary prayer the soul is to be put on her full speed, all its powers to be strained to their utmost ability, and to continue long in the work. Is he fit for so swift and long a race whose soul is not ke])t in breath by the daily exercise of ordi- nary prayer, but lets his graces, if he hath any, be choked up with sloth or foi-mality ? The more any member is used, the stronger it is ; the right hand, which is our working-hand, hath more activity that the left, that is used less. A weakness v/ill certainly invade the powers of thy lazy soul, which, though th.ou perceivcst not as thou slttcst in thy chair of sloth, will appear when thou riscst and thinkest to go forth in any solemn duty as^thou wert wont to do; then thou wilt find with Samson, that thou hast lost thy strength in the lap of sloth and negligence. A weak soul is as unfit for the exercise of extraordinary prayer as a slothful one ; and the only way to gain strength in order to its due performance, is not to neglect the ordinary? duty. Secondly, As it will indispose thee for this solemn duty, so it is a bad symptom concerning thy spiritual state itself. Grace works uniformly, and discovers a comely proportion in its actions. Perhaps you may see the son of a prince on some high day in richer and more glorious apparel than on another; but you shall never find him in beggarly clothes ; still he will be clad as becomes a king's son. Possibly you may see the Christian come forth in an extraordinary duty with more enlargement of affections in prayer, and all his graces raised to a higher glory than ordinary ; but you shall never find him with his grace laid aside ; still the true saint will declare his high birth by his everyday coiirse ; he will not live in the neglect of ordinary duties, and cast off communion with God in his daily walking. It is the brand of an hypocrite to have his devotion come by fits ; to seem, for zeal, like an angel at one time, and live like an atheist at another. Surely grace is never so unlike itself. It is ill living in that miser's house who hath never any good meat on his table but when he makes a feast, and that is very seldom ; or with him that upon an occasion hath a day of prayer, but starves himself and family in their daily fare. Never think of meddling with this extraordinary duty till thou inurest thyself to the ordinary, and takest more care in thy daily walking with Ciod.
Secondly, There is a more close and immediate preparation required, and this I called actual preparation. It is true he that is conscientious and careful in the ordinai-y exercises of religion, hath a great advantage over him that neglects them, or is loose in them, for his heart must needs stand in a nearer disposition to this extraordinary service ; as he that is up and hath his clothes on is more ready to go on his master's errand than he that is asleep in his bed : yet, besides this care in our daily walking, there need some farther pains to be taken with his heart to raise him vmto such a frame as may comport with this solemn service. Now, meditation is the great instrument thou art to use in this preparatory work : allow thyself some considerable portion of time for thy re- tirement, before the day of extraordinary prayer, wherein thou mayest converse with thy own heart ; this cannot be done in a crowd, neither must it be left to the time of engaging in the extraordinary duty. We cannot do both duties together ; betake tlij'self therefore to thy closet, and in the first place call thy thoughts off the world, arid as much as is possible clear thy soul of all that is foreign to the work thou art about. Now, the more eftectually to bring thy heart to a holy seriousness, and gather thy thoughts together, lay before thee
WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUri'LICATlON. >JQC)