The saints daily exercise A treatise concerning the whole duty of prayer. Delivered in…The saints daily exercise A treatise concerning the whole dutie of prayer. Delivered in…

To this I answer, that we must distinguish ¹of the cause whence these wandering thoughts a rise.

To this I answere, that wee must distinguish ¹of the cause whence these wandring thoughts a rise.

1. 1Ans.

Sometimes they arise, not so much from our own neglect, as from weakness, from temptation: ¹and in such a case, God lays them not so much to our charge: as, for example, one that aims at a mark, and doth his best to hit the ²mark, yet, if he hath a hand, or an arm, that hath the palsy in it, or if one jog him while he is about it, the fault was not so much in him, it was not want of good will to do it, nor want of diligence; but, either it is his weakness, or it is an impediment cast in by another: so it is in this case, this wandering of mind proceeds from a natural infirmity, and imbecility that hangs upon the nature of man, which is not so able to keep it self close to such a spiritual business; and thy God considers: for he is wise, and knows that we are but flesh. When a weak servant goes ³about a business, though he do it not so well as a stronger, yet a man is wise to consider, that the servant is but weak: the Lord considers the natural weakness that we are subject unto; and he deals mercifully with us, in such a case: for herein a man is as one that hath a bow in his ⟨p. 73⟩⁴