Directions and Instigations to the Duty of Prayer, Sermons · Sermon

Directions and Instigations to the Duty of Prayer · Sermons · Sermon

p. 52SERMON I.

1 Thes. 5. 17.

Pray without ceasing.

REal godliness is so intire and undivi… a thing, and the parts of it are so ins… rably knit and linked one with anoth… and cannot be pa…ted, that it is like▪ Ch… coat that was without seam, that it could not … divided; and except the whole fall to us by … vine lot, we can have no part nor portion … it: and were this more solidly believed … imprinted upon our hearts, the insepar… connexion and near cognation that is amo… p. 53… the graces of the Spirit, we should not be … partial and divided in our pursuit … after …em, separating those things which he hath joy…d together; which oftentimes is the occasion …at our nakedness and deformity doth appear: …ither should we (if this were believed) be so …on satisfied with our attainments; but (in a …nner) should be entertaining an holy oblivi… and forgetfulness of all that we have pur…ased and put by our hand, and should be pas…g forward to these things that are before, till …ce we attain to that stature of one in Christ. …d till grace have its perfect work, and want …thing, we can never be constant. Amongst all …e graces of the Spirit which a Christian ought …gorously to pursue after, this grace of prayer …not amongst the least; it is that which keep… all the graces of a Christian in life and vigor, …d maketh us fat and flourishing, and bringing …th fruit in our old age: and except the Chri…n be planted by that wall, his branches …ll never climb over the wall. Who is the …ristian that groweth like a palm tree, and doth …rish as the cedar in Lebanon? Is it not he that …lanted in the house of the Lord, which is a …se of prayer: And we conceive that the foun…ental cause why grace and the real exer… of godlines, is under such a woful & remark…e a decay in these dayes, it is want of obedi…e unto this great commandment, Pray with… ceasing. Were we dwelling fourty dayes in … Mount with God, our faces should shine, and … should be constrained to cast a vail over them. …re we entertaining a holy and divine corre…ndancy with heaven by this messenger of …yer, we might be tasting of the first fruits p. 54of that Land … off. Prayer is one of th… faithful… messengers and spyes which a Christi… sends forth to view the promised land, … which alwayes doth bring up a good report … on that excellent and glorious land. O w… went ye to the brook Eschol by the exercise … prayer, and did cut down a branch with a … ster of g…, and were admitted to beh… th… land, which is the glory of all lands … the …st of which doth grow that tree of … which …s twelve manner of fruits every y… O what a land suppose ye it to be, wherein … twelve …arvests every year? Alace! we … st, …ned in our desires, which makes us … … our enjoyments. May not we blush … be ashamed that the men of the world … … their desires; as hell and as death … … Give, give, after these passing and t… … …nities of the world, and that Christ… should not be provoked to enlarge their …, … heaven, and as the sand by the sea s… …i these things that are more high and … …i… in their nature …d are mo… fuitful … advantageous in their enjoyments? We … ignorenceis is the cause of our flow pursuit … these things: and ignorance in men of the w… is the occasion of their swift and vigorous … suit after these endlesse and passing vaniti… this vain and transient world.

We did at the last occasion (speaking … these words) speak somwhat to that which … obstruct a Christians liberty in his secret re… me…s and conversing with God, so that … door of access is oftentimes shut upon him, … he hath not the dignity conferred upon h… enter into the Holiest of all.

p. 55We spake likewise to that which was the best …d most compendious way to maintain fellow…ip and communion with God after once it is …ttained, that when our hearts are enlarged, we may keep our spirits in a tender and spiri…ual frame, we shal now in the next place speak … little to you, how a Christian may be helped …o know the reality of his injoyments, whe…er they be delusions, yea, or not; or tokens …nd significations of the Lords special and sin…ular respect: and before we speak of that, we …hall permise these two things.

First, that a man which hath but a com…on work of the spirit, and hath never …een indued with real and saving Grate, he …ay attain to many flashes of the spirit, …d some tastings of the powers of the world … come, as likewise to the receiving of the …ord of the Gospel with joy, as is clear from, Heb. 6. 5. and Matth. 13. 20. He may have …any things that looks like the most Heavenly …d Spiritual enjoyments of a Christian, but we …nceive that the enjoyments of these that …ve but a common work of the spirit, they …e no… of such a measure and degree, as the …joyments of the sincere Christian. Hence …ey are called in Heb. 6. 5. but a tasting; the …ord is sometimes used for such a tastin…, as …hen one goeth to a Merchand to buy liquor, … doth receive somewhat to …aste to teach him … buy, but that is far from the Word which is … Psal. 36. 8. They shal be abundantly satisfied …ith the fatness of thy house: and thou shall make …em drink of the River of thy pleasures. And …om the word which is in Cant. 5. 1. Eat and …ink abundantly, O beloved! We conceive likewise p. 56that their enlargements and enjoyme… which they have, the strength and vigor their corruptions are not much abated there… neither is conformity with God attained: he… is that word, Matth. 13. 20. Though they … ceived the Word with joy, yet the tho… (which we do understand to be corruption … they do grow without any opposition; any t… never knew what it was to have the streng… and vigor of their lusts abated by their enj… ments, they have but a common work of … spirit. The Hypocrites enlargements are … ther in publick, and in their conversings o… with another, then in their secret retiremen… and those enjoyments that they have when th… converse one with another, they do ra… joy and rejoyce, because of applause that t… have by such enlargements, and of a reputa… of having familiarity and intimatness with G… rather then for the enjoyments themsel… and that dignity and honour hath been con… red upon them to taste somewhat of that Ri… that flowes from beneath the Throne of G… We conceive likewise that in all their enjo… ments that they have, they do not much sto… and endeavour to guard against all obstructi… and impediments that may stir up Christ, … awake him before he please; they can g… their heart a latitude to rove abroad after … pertinent vanities, yea, presently after … seeming access and communion with God. … likewise their desires to the exercise of Pray… and Christian duties is not much encreased … these enlargements which they receive bei… strangers to that Word which is in Prov 10. … The way of the Lord is strength to the upright, …

p. 57That which secondly we shall speak of, (be…ore we come to speak how a Christian may be …elped to know the reality of his enjoyments) … this, that there is an enlargement of gifts, which is far from the enlargement of the spirit, …nd of Grace. There may be much liberty of words and of expressions, where there is not much liberty of affections: We think that it is … frequent delusion amongst his own, that …hey conceive their liberty of their expressing of themselves in prayer, is enlargement▪ but we …re perswaded of this, that there may be much of this, and not much of the spirit and of the grace of Prayer (as we told before.) The spirit of prayer is sometimes an impediment to words, …o that a Christian which hath much of that, …ay have least of volubility, and of expression.

But first, these enjoyments that are real … which indeed are significations of his love and …espect to you) they do exceedingly move and …umble the Christian, and causeth him to walk …ow in his own estimation; hence is that word …, 2 Sam. 7. 18, 19. where David being un…er such a load of love▪ that (in a manner) he … forced to sit down and cannot stand: He doth …bjoyn that expression. Who am I, O Lord? and …hat is my house that thou hast brought me hither…? and also in Job 42. 5, 6. where that en…oyment which Job had of God, as to see him …ith the seeing of the eye (a sight not frequent … those dayes) He subjoyns a strange inference …om so divine premises, Therefore, I abhor my …f in dust and ashes: and in Isa. 6. 5. compa…d with the preceeding verses, where Isaiah …om that clear discovery of God, as to see him … his Temple, he is constrained to cry forth, p. 58Wo is me, I am undone, because I am a man of … clean lips▪ It were our advantage that wh… we are lifted up to the third heavens, were to hear words that are unspeakable, yet to … ver our upper lip, and cry, Unclean, unclea… we ought alwayes to sit nearer the dust, … more that grace doth exalt us to heaven: … we conceive that it is a most excellent way … keep our selves in life after our enjoyments, … be walking humbly with God, and to know t… the root heareth us, and not wee the ro… Christians enlargements that are real, hath t… effect upon them, it doth provoke them co… more constant exercise of pursuing after Go… their diligence is enlarged when they are en… ged: hence is that word, Psal. 116. 2. Beca… God hath enclined his heart unto me (which p… supposeth accesse) therefore will I call upon … as long as I live. It is certain, that if our enj… ments be real, they will be well improven, … this is a sweet fruit which doth alwayes … company them.

2. Ye may likewise know the reality of yo… enjoyments by your endeavours to remove … impediments and obstructions that may int… rupt your fellowship and correspondance wh… God, according to that word, Cant. 3. 6. wh… after the Church did behold him who had b… so long absent, she is put to this: I charge … O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by … …inds of the field, that ye stir not up nor awake… beloved till he please. I conceive this is one … the most certain demonstrations of the reali… of enjoyments, when you are put to more ca… …olnesse and sollicitude to have all things tak… out of the way that may provoke him to g… p. 59away, and quench his holy Spirit. O! but it is … marvelous undervaluing of the grace of Jesus Christ, to take such a latitude to our selves af…er we have been enlarged!

3. Ye may likewise know the reality of your …njoyments by this, when ye do attain confor…ity with God by your enjoyments: hence is …hat word, 2 Cor. 3 18. Whom beholding as in a …lasse the glory of the Lord, we are changed unto …he same Image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Our corruptions must be …bated, if we would prove the reality of our …njoyments: for if we give them that compleat …tude which they have had before, we have …eason to be suspicious & jealous of our selves: …nd we shall say this, Do not rest upon all …our enjoyments that ye have here with… time, … satisfactory; but let them rather provoke …our appetit, then suffice your desires and long…gs. That holy man David knew of no beginning of satisfaction, but when eternity should come; according to that word, Psal. 17. 15. When I awake (that is, in the blessed morning of the resurrection) then I shall be satisfied with …hy likenesse. Did David never find satisfaction …ere below! All that he did receive, was but …he streams that did flow from that immense …nd profound fountain and sea of love: He did …rink but of the brook, while he was here … ow; but when he was above, he was drowned …n that immense sea of love, and there was abun…antly satisfied. O let the streams lead you to …he fountain; and when ye are win there, y… may sit down and pen your songs of everlast…ng praise: these are but of the valley of Achor▪ which must be a door of hope, to have more intire …nd full enjoyment of him.

p. 60That which thirdly we shall speak to, shal… be to those advantages which a Christian m… have by the exercise of prayer, we may say th… unto you, Come and see, can best resolve the question: for those spiritual advantages which … Christian may have in the real and spiritual di… charge of this duty, they are better felt no… told. It is impossible sometimes for a Christi… to make language of these precious and excelent things that he meets with in sincere an… serious prayer.

The first advantage, It doth keep all th… graces of the spirit eminently in exercise: … maketh them vigorous and green: it keeps th… grace of love most lively; for one that is much in the exercise of prayer, he doth receive … many …table discoveries and manifestations … the sweetnesse and glory of God, and most … participations of that unspeakable delig… which is to be found in him, that he is co… strained to cry forth, Who would not love him w… is the King of Saints? O! when met ye wi… such an enjoyment of God in prayer, as thi… Did ye conceive that ye were cloathed with … impossibility to love him too much? Or … love him as he ought to be loved? And wh… did ye conceive that it was an absurd opinio… that he could be loved too much? Hence these two are conjoyned together, Rejoyce evermore and Pray without ceasing. And what is joy, but a fruit of love, or rather an intense measure … love? We confesse, it is a question that is difficult to determine whether prayer or faith doth keep love most in exercise? We think lo… (whose foundation is upon sense) is most kep… in exercise by prayer: hence it is when we are p. 61strai…ned in the exercise of that duty, and when he turns about the face of his Throne; then love begins to languish and decay, and then that excellent grace of faith doth step in, and speak thus to love: Wait on God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Faith can read love in his heart, when sense cannot read love in his hands, nor in his face; but when he seemeth to srown, or to strike, faith can make such a noble exposition on such a dispensation: I know the thoughts of his heart, they are thoughts of peace, and not of war, to give me an expected end.

Prayer doth likewise keep the grace of mor…ification eminently in exercise: Would ye know what is the reason that our corruptions do sing so many songs of triumph over us, and why we are so much led captive by them according to their will? Is it not the want of the exercise of secret prayer, and that we are not much taken up in imploying of the Angel that must bind the old Serpent, the Devil, as in men…ioned, Rev. 20. 1. that hath that great chain …n his hand. Hence Paul when his corruptions were awakened, and stirring within him, hee …new no weapon so suteable for them a… prayer, … is clear from 2 Cor. 12. 7, 8. where the mes…enger of Satan was sent to buffet him; it is …aid, that he besought the Lord thrice, that this …ight depart from him. And our blessed Lord …esus (speaking of the casting out of a devil) …e saith, Matth. 17. 21. This kind goeth not out …ut by fasting and prayer. It is no wonder that …tentimes we are led captive by your iniquiries, …nd our lusts and corruptions mocking at our …rofession, and scorning such weak and seeble p. 62builders as we are, say to us: Can such fee… Jews as these are; build such stately and glorio… buildings in one day? But ye who are much … the exercise of this duty, and who to your o… apprehensions doth not receive much victo… over your lusts, which maketh you oftentim… cry forth, It is in vain for me to seek the A… mighty, and what profit is there that I pray u… him? (We confesse, the small successe that … Christian hath when he doth discharge this do… of prayer, doth sometimes constrain him … draw that conclusion, I will pray no more.) W… think the small victory that ye obtain ov… your lusts, and the little increase in the wo… of mortification, may proceed from the w… of that divine fervency and holy fe…vor that ought to have in your proposing your des… unto God. The effectual servent prayer of … righteous availeth much, as James saith, chap. … 16. If we want servency in our proponing … desires unto God, it is no wonder that we w… successe: or likewise it may proceed from o… want of faith, our misbelief giving the reto… of our prayer before we begin to pray, and … ing this unto us, That though we call, he w… not answer: but as James saith, chap. 5. … The prayer of saith may save you who are sick, … may raise you up; for whatsoever ye ask in pra… believing, ye shall receive it. And it doth som… times proceed from the love and great resp… that God hath to you, desiring that yo… wounds may be alwayes bleeding, that so … may be alwayes kept about his Throne. I… not known that if our necessities were away … should abridge and inch much of our secret … votion to God? In a manner, necessity is th… p. 63chain whereby God binds the feet of his own … his Throne, he desireth not that they should …e away; and therefore they halt, so that they …ay rely on his his strength to bear them.

Prayer doth likewise keep the grace of pati…ce (under our most sad and crushing dispen…tions) eminently in exercise: would ye know …e most compendious way to make you pos…ess your souls in patience under great trouble? …hen be much in the exercise of the grace of …rayer: Hence is that word, Jam. 5. 13. If …ny man be afflicted, let him pray, &c. And what made Paul and Silas to sing in the prison, and so patiently to endure the crosse? Was it not …his, They were praying at midnight? Act. 16. …5. Certainly one that hath attained to much …ivine submission and holy enjoyment in the …earing of their cross, they have been much in …he exercise of prayer. Did ye never know (any of you) what such a thing as this mean…d, that going to complain of your anxiety to God, you have been constrained to forget them, …nd begin to blesse and praise him, because he hath stopped the months of your complaints, …nd hath put a more divine and heavenly ex…rcise in your hand? This the Psalmist did at…ain to in Ps. 89. where the scope of the Psalm will bear, that he was going to complain of …he misery of the Church, and of himself, yet …efore ever he began to propone a complaint …o God, he spent to the 38. verse in praising of …im. Sometimes Christians have been constrai…ed to cry forth, It is better to be in the house …f mourning, then in the house of mirth: and to …esolve not to fr… to be put in a fiery furnace …ot seven times more then ordinary, if they have p. 64in the furnace one like the Son of God to wal… with them.

Prayer doth likewise keep the grace of Fait… eminently in exercise. O! but Faith (which … one of the mysteries of godliness) doth much languish and decay in us through the want o… prayer! It is impossible for a Christian to b… lieve, except he be much in the exercise … prayer. We may maintain a vain hope and pe… swasion; but that spiritual exercise of Faith cannot be kept in life without that holy exe… cise of prayer: hence it is that prayer, whe… Faith is beginning to decay, doth go to God and cryeth forth, Lord, I believe, help my unb… lief. And we conceive there are these thr… grounds and golden pillars of Faith, on which it doth lean, which prayer doth oftentimes … minister and give unto it. First, there is th… golden foundation, The faithfulnesse of G… which prayer doth abundantly make evid… to the Christian: hence when a Christian do… pray according to his promise, and doth receive a return of his prayer, he doth receive… demonstration of the faithfulness to God, which is a pillar on which Faith doth lean. Pray… doth likewise give unto Faith this second pillar, which is the evidence and demonstratio… of the goodnesse of God. O! but one that … much taken up in the exercise of the grace … Prayer, what large and eminent discoveries … God doth he receive! He oftentimes disappoints their fears, and overcomes their hop… and expectation: he doth not regulate our e… joyments according to our desires: but … doth regulate them according to that divi… and most blessed rule, his own good will a… p. 65pleasure: and, O blessed are we in this that it … so! And thirdly, Prayer doth likewise furnish …o Faith, experience, which is a pillar on which …aith must lean: that which maketh the Chri…ian have so small experience, is want of the …erious and constant exercise of Prayer. O! but when he frowneth, we might have many things …o support our selves, if we were much in the …erious exercise of this duty of prayer. And …ruly if we had these three pillars, our prayers would not return empty.

Now the second advantage that a Christian doth reap by the exercise of Prayer, is, he is …dmitted by this duty to most intimate and fa…iliar correspondance with God. Did ye never …now what it was to behold him who is in…isible in the exercise of this Duty? Did ye …ever know what these large and heavenly communications of his love doth mean? Prayer is …hat divine channel through which that river of consolation (that maketh glad the City of God) doth run: When was it that Cornelius did …ee a man standing in white apparel? Was it …ot when he was praying? And when was it …hat Daniel did meet with the Angel? Was it …ot when he was in the exercise of prayer, and …ffering up his evening oblation to God? O for …ommunion and fellowship with God (which … so rare and singular in these dayes) were the …weetnesse of it believed, we should be more …requent and constant in the pursuit of it. … …onfess, and I wonder that we are not put to …ebate oftentimes whether there be such a …hing as communion and fellowship with him, …e do so little enjoy it. What happiness, (O …loved of the Lord, if so I dare call you) have p. 66ye, which doth so much satisfie you, that wh… your eternal happinesse is clearly holden fo… before your face, yet ye do so much underv… lue it? Surely this perswasion cometh not fr… him that called you. I think, if Angels and … souls of just men now made perfect (if so … may speak) if they were admitted to beh… that wonderful undervaluing of commun… and fellowship with God that is amongst … Christians of this generation, O how mi… they stand and wonder at us! They would th… it a paradox and mystery, to behold any und… valuing of him who can never be overvalu… Would yee not blush and be ashamed, if … should imbrace you, ye that have so much … dervalued him? I know no sin that a Christ… shall be so much ashamed of, when he shall … hold that noble Plant of venown, as the low … undervaluing conceptions and apprehensi… that he hath had of him. If in heaven th… were a latitude for us to pray, we would p… that prayer (when first our feet shall s… within the threshold of the door of our ev… lasting rest) Pardon us for our undervaluing thee, O precious Christ!

The third advantage which a Christian h… in the exercise of prayer, is this, It is that d… by which we must attain to the accompli… ment of the promises: Though God be m… free in giving of the promises, yet he will … supplicated for the accomplishment of the… this is clear in Ezek. 36. 37. where in the p… ceeding words there is named and holden for… large and precious promises, yet he subjoy… eth, Thus saith the Lord God, I will yet for t… be enquired, &c. This is likewise clear, 2 S… 7. 27. where David receiving the promise t… p. 67is house should be established for ever, and …hat the Messiah should come out of his loins according to the flesh) he maketh that sweet …uit of it: Therefore hath thy servant found in it heart to pray this prayer unto thee. Is not this mystery to turn over your promises into prayers, and your prayers into songs of praise? a i… no wonder that we of…times complain, That his word doth fail for evermore; because ye …e not much in the exercise of that du…y, which must bring the accomplishment of these …hings that he hath promised.

The fourth and last advantage that a Christian doth receive by the exercise of prayer, it is …he most compendious and excellent way to …esist temptations that assaults us. We… spake …e of mortifying of corruptions wh…n once they have seized upon us, and that it is a notable way to mortifie them by prayer: this is …kewise an advantage, that when temptations …egins to assault us▪ then we should go to our …es for relief: and I conceive, if a messenger …f Satan were sent to buffet us, we might be constrained to pray without ceasing. Hence Jesus Christ who knew what was the best and most effectual remedy to resist temptations, he giveth this remedy of prayer, Matth 26. 41. Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

Now we shall shut up our discourse, by speaking a little to the last thing we intended to speak of at this occasion, and it is how a Christian may …e helped to walk suitably, as he ought, under his spiritual bonds and straits. We confess, it is one of the most hard and difficult tasks in Christianity, for a person to walk with divine submission under his publick bonds, that when p. 68God (in the depth of his unsearchable wisdom hath thought fit to draw a vail over his … to subscibe that truth, He hath done all thin… well. We confess, God hath these precious … signes in such a dispensation, as that he may … hide pride from our eyes, and that we may … taught to walk humbly with him. O! but … we were alwayes enlarged in our publick co… versing one with another, how would … esteem of our selves above measure, and be… to undervalue these persons that are not th… kindly dealt with by God! Hence is it that … alwayes mixeth our wine with our water; … knoweth that the powring in of such precio… liquor, these bruckle vessels of ours could … contain it.

He hath this …sign likewise in such a dispensation, that we may be put to the sweet exerc… of the grace of prayer; in a word, that we … …e constant and serious in that duty: We conceive, if some liberty of words and enlargements in publick were granted us, we wo… abridge and come short in our private devo… ons▪ … is the great scope and main drift of so… to seem great in the Kingdom of heaven amongst men, though they be least in the estimation of Christ, who is that faithful and … witnesse.

And there is this d…sign likewise in such a dispensation, and it is that we may be convince… of our folly, and of the atheism and pride … our hearts, that we can rise up from secret prayer, and yet never have any anxious thought about it, but in our publike straits and bond… O how can we mourn and repine! And w… confesse, we think these repinings doth rather p. 69proceed from this, that we think that gourd of …ldy applause is now beginning to wither …r us, and therefore we cry forth; It is better …r us to die then live, then from this, want of …e presence of Jesus Christ, and the purticipation … his sweetnesse; which we may most strongly …onvince you of by this, is it not sometimes so …ith you, that under your publike bonds when …e have been most remarkably straitned within our selves, yet if your hearts have not concei…ed evil of you, but have restified their satisfa…ion, doth not your sorrow then decay, and …ere is no more repining thereat?

Now we think the best and most compendi…us way for a Christian to bear such a dispensa…on (as to attain to a divine submission to …hrist in all things, and to leave our complaints …pon our selves) is this: We should study much …e vanity of our popular applause, what an …pty and transient a thing it is. I confesse, I …ould wish no greater misery to any then to …k, and to have it. We think it is misery …ough to have it; but certainly they walk …est and most securest that cares not for it. …ence a Heathen said well to this purpose, … bene la…uit, bene vixit: He that lurks well, … lives well. I would likewise have you much …ken up in the consideration how ye have great …sadvantage by your repinings and murmur…gs which ye have against his dispensations, in …airning you in publike. O Christians! doth …t your repinings incapacitate and indispose …u for the going about the exercise of secret …ayer? Doth not your repinings under your …blike bonds, make your bonds strong upon …ur spirits? I confesse, a Christian may contract p. 70and draw on mo…etters and bonds by o… hours repining against such dispensations, … he is able to shake off for many dayes: … when ye are repining against such dispensatio… that ye have met with, doth not your lu… and corruptions stir and awake within yo… Surely they then prevail, as we may say, … contradicenti, nothing standing in opposi… against them to your apprehension.

We would also say this to you, that ye … attain to a divine and holy submission to su… dispensation as this, ye would be much in th… consideration from what fountain your rep… ings and murmurings doth proceed, what is … rise and original of them, and from which th… spring? Is it not rather from a principle … pride, then from a principle of love and delig… to God; from a principle of self estimatio… rather then from a principle of longing for J… sus Christ, and sorrow for his absence and wi… drawing himself from you; the evil of Di… phas (desiring the preheminence amongst the … thren) it is frequent amongst us; covering … be, as one said, Aut Caesar, aut nihil. We de… either to be singular and marchlesse, or els… be nothing. We confesse, if a Christian did se… ously ponder these things, and meditate up… them, certainly he might blush and be asham… at his own solly: he might cover his face wi… confusion, and not dare to look up.

But however, we would desire you (e… you that have in some reality and sincerity … heart, gone about this most precious and m… blessed exercise of the grace of prayer) that y… may now begin to renew, your diligence, … to add to your diligence, Faith, and to yo… p. 71Faith, Vertue, and comfort your selves with …is, that there is an everlasting feast prepared …r you in heaven above, which is not like that …st of Assuerus, that lasted for an hundreth and …rscore four dayes: but this blessed feast shall …st throughout all the ages of long and endless …ernity. Believe it, it shall be a blessed and e…erlasting feast. It shall be an everlasting feast of …ve. It shall be a feast that shall not be capable … any period nor end, nor yet shall know of any …thing: there is no satiety, neither any loa…ing in heaven. And, O may not this comfort …ou in your journey, and incite and provoke our desires to follow after him, who is alto…ther desirable, and altogether lovely, and …at bright and morning star?

And likewise I would say this to you, even … you who are Atheists and strangers to this …ecious exercise of the duty of prayer; I …ink it were compleat misery to you, if there …ere no more but that ye are strangers to it, …en to this exercise of the duty of prayer: for …e think the exercise of godlinesse it is a re…ard to it self, as we may say that word, Pie…s-sibi premium. It is such an inconceivable and …ellent a thing, that it is a reward to them …hosoever have it. And, oh! will not your …earts be prevailed with, to fall in love with …ch a rare and excellent exercise, even with …e exercise of godlinesse, which we conceive profitable for all things? And, O will ye make your study to pray to God, and to be in the …ercise of godlinesse, without which ye shall …ver see God; without which yee shall never … admitted to behold him (the beholding of …om is the exercise of all the Saints, and of all p. 72the souls of just men now made perfect, and … all those precious thousands that are no… about his glorious Throne) and without th… exercise of which, these feet of yours shall never be admitted to stand within the bless… gates of that precious City, even the City … New Jerusalem, where all the redeemed of … Lord are; and without the exercise of which … shall be eternally and undoubtedly undone. … ye want godlinesse, ye shall undergo the pains… hell, and the torments of that lake that bu… eth with fire and brimstone: and the day … coming when that curse (that sad curse!) sh… be sadly accomplished upon you, which is … Deut. 28. 34. Thou shalt be mad for the sigh… thine eyes which thou shalt behold: and when … Lord shall smite thee with an evil that thou ca… not be healed of, even from the sole of thy foot, … the crown of thy head: and thou shalt become … astonishment, and a proverb unto all Nations, … thersoever the Lord shall carry thee, and … shalt be smitten before thine enemies: Thou sh… go out one way against them, and thou shalt … seven wayes before them: and thy carcasse s… be meat unto the fowles of the air, and to the bea… of the field, and none shall fray them away; a… all these things shall come upon thee till thou … destroyed.

O Atheists! what a terrible and dread… sight shall it be, when yee shall behold tho… black and hideous everlasting chains, that sh… once be wreathed about your cursed necks! … to be thinking that ere long ye are to dwell … take up your everlasting prison, out of whi… there is no redemption again; and the doo… the prison house is sealed with the seal of t… p. 73King, which is an unchangeable and unalte…ble decree! Oh! if the apprehensions and …oughts of this could once provoke and stir …n up to pity your own precious and immor…l souls! (with which there is no exchange) …h! what a woful and marvelous stupidity and …rdness of heart hath over taken the people of …is present generation, that go to hell with … much delight and ease, as if they were go…g to heaven! Oh! that your spirits were …ee awaked from your security, that ye might …rceive the woful & miserable condition that … are lying under! O Christians, what are ye …solved to do? Are ye not afraid that ye shall … be-nighted with your work? Oh! shall the …ffering of these pains first resolve you, and …ar you of the sadness and inex…icable sor…ws that are in that bottomless pit? Now to …m who is that blessed Master of assemblies, …o can fix these words as nails in your hearts, …d who can roove them therein, to his bles…d and holie Name we desire to give praise.