thoughts wander, ere we are aware, and in spite of our endea- vours to fix them. We seem to lose the accustomed energy of our minds. We need again and again to stir up our sluggish hearts.]
When we consider the duty in this light, we shall see reason to lament,
II. The general neglect of it —
Many live entirely without prayer — [They are wholly occupied with worldly concerns. They are not sensible of any spiritual wants. They rely on their own industry for temporal advancement. They acknowledge not before God either their sins or their necessities.]
Others only occasionally lift up their hearts to heaven —
[They will cry under the pressure of some heavy afflic- tion11. But they resemble those spoken of by the prophet e : like metal from the fire they soon return to their former hard- nessf; after some signal deliverance too they will praise God; but, like the Israelites, they will soon forget his mercies g.]
Some will maintain with constancy an external re- gard to this duty —
[They will repeat their accustomed form at stated seasons, or they will offer a few general and cold petitions ; and with this outward act they will rest satisfied. They feel no plea- sure in the duty, but perform it as a task.]
But there are some few indeed who pray to God aright —
[There is a remnant now, as there was in the prophet's daysh. There are some who "stir up their souls to lay hold on God." But these are few when compared with the bulk of mankind: they may be said comparatively to be "none" at all.]
To counteract this evil, we proceed to set forth —
III. The consequences of this neglect —
The tokens of God's displeasure, which those in the text experienced, will be experienced by all who neglect prayer. God will surely " hide his face from them."
He will not reveal to them his glory —
d Isai. xxvi. 16. e Hos. vii. 14. f Ps. Ixxviii. 34 — 37.
g Ps. cvi. 11—13.
h Isai. viii. 18. The prophet certainly did not mean to include them in his censure.