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…

I answer, that a man by setting himself upon the work, shall gather a fitness, though he were ¹unfit at the first: you know, members, that are ²benumbed, yet by using them, they get life, and heat, and come, in the end, to be nimble enough; so it is with the heart, in this case, when it is benumbed, the very using of it makes it fit for the duty: You know, wood, though it be ³green, yet, if it be long blowed, at the length, it will be dry, and take fire; so it is with the heart, a man may be long about getting it on the wing, yet, with much ado, he may do it, and therefore he ought to do this duty in such a case; yea, so much the rather, because there is never more need of calling upon God, then at such a time: for then a man lies most exposed to temptation, then, if any sin come, he is ready to be overtaken with it, he is unfit for any thing; and therefore, ⁴if ever he have need to call upon God it is at that time.

I answere, that a man by setting himselfe vpon the worke, shall gather a fitnesse, though he were ¹vnfit at the first: you know, members, that are ²benummed, yet by vsing them, they get life, and heate, and come, in the end, to bee nimble enough; so it is with the heart, in this case, when it is benummed, the very vsing of it makes it fit for the duty: You know, wood, though it bee ³greene, yet, if it be long blowed, at the length, it will be dry, and take fire; so it is with the heart, a man may be long about getting it on the wing, yet, with much adoe, he may doe it, and therefore he ought to doe this duty in such a case; yea, so much the rather, because there is never more neede of calling vpon God, then at such a time: for then a man lyes most exposed to temptation, then, if any sinne come, he is ready to bee overtaken with it, he is vnfit for any thing; and therefore,