_Christians are called to a constant state of prayer and devotion?_
I. IT is one principal article of our religion to believe that our blessed Saviour is now at the right hand of God, there making _perpetual intercession_ for us, till the redemption of mankind is finished. Prayer therefore is undoubtedly a proper means of drawing near to God; since he who has conquered sin and death, who is Lord of all, is yet as the _great advocate_ for sinners, obliged to make perpetual intercession for them.
Whenever therefore we are in the spirit of prayer; when our hearts are lifted up to God, breathing out holy petitions to the throne of grace, we have this encouragement to be _constant_ and _fervent_ in it, that we are then joining with an intercession at the right hand of God, and doing that for ourselves on earth which our blessed Saviour is perpetually doing for us in heaven. This reason of prayer is perhaps not much considered; yet it certainly contains a most powerful motive to it. For who that considers his redemption as now carrying on by an _intercession_ in heaven, can think himself so rightly employed as when the constancy of his own prayers bear some resemblance to that never-ceasing intercession which is made above? This shews us also, that we are most of all to desire those prayers which are offered up at the _altar_, where the body and blood of Christ are joined with them. For as our prayers are only acceptable to God through the merits of Jesus Christ; so we may be sure it is the most prevailing prayer, when we thus pray in the name of _Christ_, and plead his merits in the _highest manner_ we can.
II. Devotion may be considered either as an exercise of public or private prayers at set times and occasions; or as a temper of the mind, a state and disposition of the heart, which is rightly affected with such exercises. Now external acts of devotion, are like other external actions, very liable to falseness, and are only so far good as they proceed from a right disposition of heart. Zealous professions of _friendship_ are but hypocrisy, unless there be an equal zeal in the heart; and so solemn prayers are but repeated hypocrisies, unless the heart be _conformable_ to them. Since therefore it is the heart only that is devout, I shall consider devotion chiefly in this respect, as it is a _state_ and _temper_ of heart; for it is in this sense only that _Christians_ are called to a _constant state_ of devotion. They are not to be always upon their knees; but they are to be always in the state of devotion.
III. *Friendship does not require us to be always waiting upon our friends in external services; these offices have their times of intermission; it is only the service of the heart that is never to intermit. This is not to begin and end, as external services do; but to persevere like the motion of our heart, or the beating of our pulse. It is just so in devotion; _prayers_ have their _hours_, their beginning and ending, but that turn of mind, that disposition of the heart towards God, which is the life and spirit of prayer, is to be as constant and lasting as our own life and spirit.
*The repeating of a _creed_ at certain times is an act of faith; but that faith, which _overcometh_ the _world_, stays neither for times nor seasons, but is a living principle of the soul, that is always believing, trusting and depending upon God. In the same manner verbal prayers are acts of devotion; but that prayer which openeth the gates of heaven, stops not at _forms_ and _manuals_ of devotion; but is a language of the soul, which worships, adores, and delights in God, at all times and seasons.
The reason of prayer, like all other duties of piety, is founded in the nature of God, and the nature of man. It is founded in the nature of God, as he is the sole fountain of all happiness; it is founded in the nature of man, as he is weak and helpless, and full of wants. So that prayer is an _earnest application, or ascent of the heart to_ God, _as to the sole cause of all happiness_. He therefore that most truly feels the misery, corruption, and weakness of his own nature; who is most fully convinced that a relief from all these disorders, and a true happiness, is to be found in God alone; he who is most fully convinced of these two truths, is most fully possessed of the spirit of prayer.