7. To be a means of comfort and spiritual refreshing. The soul is disburdened of trouble b}^ this kind of vent and utterance. To j)our out our complaints into a friend's bosom, who will only pity us, though we do not expect succour and redress from him, will give us some ease ; much more to open our hearts to one who is able and willing to help us : Job xvi, 20, 'My friends scorn me, but mine eye poureth out tears to God.' To bring our complaint and request before the throne of grace, must needs yield comfort and solace to the soul. Certainly none ever made conscience of prayer but he carried away some comfort with him. There is a pacifying virtue in this duty, as the opening of a vein cooleth the blood. Many of David's psalms begin with anguish and bitter complaints, and end with assurance and rejoicing ; as if in the midst of prayer his affairs were altered, and one had brought him news, and all things went according to his own heart and mind. The very conferring Avith God bringeth some refreshment, your burden is cast off, and devolved upon the Lord : 1 Peter v. 7, ' Cast your care upon God,' saith the apostle, ' for he careth for you.' How do we cast our care upon God ? Another place will inform you : Phil iv. 6, 7, ' Be careful for nothing ; but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.' &c. It is no more dishonour for God to bear our cares than it was for Christ
302 A FAST SERMON.
to bear our sins ; and what is the effect ? ' The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ,' &c. Look, as when the air is imprisoned in the earth, there are shakings, and convulsions, and earthquakes, till it get a vent, but then all is quiet ; so the soul is tossed and turmoiled with many tor- menting thoughts, till we acquaint God with the matter, then all is quiet. When Hannah had commended her suit to God she went away, and her countenance was no more sad, 1 Sam. i. 8. How often do the children of God come away with triumph from the throne of grace, and leave their sorrows and their fears behind them ! Well, then, thou that neglectest prayer, neglectest the comfortablest and sweetest part of God's worship, a duty that is not burdensome, but pleasant, and con- duceth to the comfort, and quiet, and ease of the soul, as well as to God's honour ; a duty wherein you have liberty to beg the greatest mercies, to deprecate his most grievous judgment, to treat with him about the most important business in the world, which is the saving of your own souls. Surely it is no tedious task for a needy soul to beg of God, who is so ready to relieve him, and show him grace and favour.
Secondly, The causes why men neglect it.
1, Out of atheism, that is at the root. When men neglect prayer, either they believe there is no God, or no providence ; for did we be- lieve that there was a God who made all things, and doth sustain all things, and that we do depend upon his goodness for all that we are and have, we would be more frequent in prayer ; for necessity compelleth us to worship him whom we take to be God ; and to im- plore his help who giveth all manner of blessings, and ordereth all things which fall out in the world. The pagan mariners in a storm called every man upon his God : Jonah i. 6. Jurevenit cultus ad sihi quisque deos. The gentiles that acknowledge a God, have also acknowledged a necessity of prayer and supplication to him. Plato and Proclus have written books irepl irpocrevxn'i, concerning prayer, a;nd have given directions how to pray, though they were heathens. Cer- tainly whatever profession men make, they are not better than atheists, who do not make conscience of prayer, public in assemblies, private in families, personal and secret in closets. When the eyes of all things look to him for a supply of their wants, should not we own him and acknowledge him ? Eliphaz chargeth Job deeply : Job xv. 4, ' Thou castest off fear, thou restrainest prayer before God.' As if the restraint of prayer did argue a casting away of ail reverence and fear of God. Many content themselves with public worship, are never with God in private. Have they any sense of providence, any fear and respect of God ? David maketh the not calling upon God to be the special character of an atheist : Ps. xiv. 1, ' The fool hath said in his heart. There is no God.' How doth he prove it ? ver. 4, ' They call not upon the Lord,' they do not seek after him. This sign is sure, and will not fail. Thou hast need to suspect thyself when thou neglectest to pray in thy family, in thy closet ; thou dost not think God is there.
2. Security. The creature's address to God beginneth in a sense of his own wants ; for surely they that are deeply affected with their own wants, and persuaded of God's readiness to supply them, will pray ;