XI. _Clito_ says he desires no more time for rising, dressing, and saying his prayers, than a quarter of an hour. He tells this to his friends; not to shew his want of religion, but that he may be thought to understand devotion. You tell him that our Saviour’s parables teach _continuance_ and _importunity_ in _prayer_; that the apostles exhort to pray _without ceasing_, to pray _always_; and that devout persons are recorded in scripture as praying _night and day_. Still _Clito_ is for short prayers. He at last finds a text of scripture, and appeals to the example of the _angels_; they only said, _Glory be to_ God _on high, and on earth peace, good-will towards men_. _Clito_ takes this to be an argument for short prayer, because the angels had done so soon. But _Clito_ must be told, that this is no prayer at all; it is only a joyful proclamation to men. And surely the manner of _angels_ speaking to men, can be no rule or measure of men’s speaking to God. The angels had no more to tell the world than this message of joy; but does it therefore follow, that sinners are to be as short in their addresses to God? If _Clito_ must have an example from heaven, he might have found one much more proper than this, where it is said, _That they rest not day and night, saying, holy, holy, holy, Lord |God| Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come_¹.
¹ Rev. iv. 3.
XII. There are _two seasons_ of our hearts which we should carefully observe: I mean the _time_ when we are _most affected_ with our devotions, and the _time_ when we are _most indisposed_ to pray. For both these might equally serve to instruct us in the knowledge of ourselves, and how to govern the motions of our hearts.
*Reflect with yourself, how it was with you; what circumstance you was in; what had _happened_ to you; what you had been _doing_; when you found yourself _so affected_ with your devotions. Now, if you find out what state you was then in, when you was disposed to pray so fervently, then you have found out a way of raising your devotion at another time. If you was then to put down in _writing_ some short remembrance of the _chief things_ that raised your heart, so that you might have a view of them as often as your mind wanted such assistance, you would find a benefit that would reward your labour. On the contrary, whenever you have found yourself _very much indisposed_ for prayer, reflect with yourself, what _state_ you was then in; what had _happened_ unto you; what _thoughts_ you had in your head; what _passions_ were then awakened; what you had been _doing_, or were _intending_ to do: for when you have found out the state you was then in, you have found out the hindrances of your devotion; and know what things to avoid, if you desire not to quench the Spirit.
XIII. If you was here again to make short remembrances in _writing_, of the chief things which rendered you indisposed for prayer, and frequently to read and reflect upon them, you would have a faithful information of what you are most to avoid. If you find that _impertinent visits_, _foolish conversation_, or a day idly spent in _civil compliances_ with other people, have rendered your mind _dull_ and _indisposed_, and less _affected_ with devotion, then you will have found that impertinent visits, and ceremonious compliances in spending our time, are not _little indifferent_ things; but are to be daily watched and guarded against by all those who desire to be daily alive unto God.
XIV. They who are for short prayers, because God does not _need_ much intreaty, ought also to shew, that man does not need much prayer; does not _need_ that strength, and light, and help, which arises from _much praying_. For unless this be the state of our hearts, we shall want much prayer to _move_ and _awake_ ourselves; how little soever we suppose necessary to _excite_ the goodness of God. If therefore men would consider prayer, not only as it is an _invocation_ of God, but also as it is an _exercise of holy thoughts_; as it is an endeavour to _feel_ and be affected with the great truths of religion, they would soon see, that tho’ God is so good as not to _need_ much calling upon; yet that man is so weak as to need much assistance, and to be under a constant necessity of that help, and light, and improvement which arises from praying much. When therefore we would know how much we ought to pray, we must consider how much our hearts want to be altered, and remember that the great work of prayer is, to work upon ourselves; it is not to _move_ and affect God, but it is to move and affect our own hearts, and fill them with such tempers as God delights to reward.