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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…
The saints daily exercise A treatise concerning the whole duty of prayer. Delivered in five sermons upon I Thess. 5.17. By the late faithful and worthy minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty, Master of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolns Inn.The saints daily exercise A treatise concerning the whole dutie of prayer. Delivered in fiue sermons vpon I Thess. 5.17. By the late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Maiesty, Master of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne.
London: printed by W. Jones, 1629London: printed by W. Iones, 1629
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To this I answer, That prayer is so far from excluding the means, that it includes 1them; for, if the desire be fervent, when we desire any things at Gods hands, it will make us diligent in the use of the means, to use a convenient 2diligence; as it will make you earnest in seeking to God, and in putting up your requests to him: for, if a man shall pray, and be negligent in the use of the means, I will be bold to say it, it is but like the desire of the sluggard, that is a languishing, •ting desire: He desires, but ⟨p. 93⟩his soul hath nothing; he desires, but he putts his hand into his bosom; The desires, which you express, when you pray, they are not fervent, they are not earnest, if you be remiss in the use of the means. He that desires grace, desires strength, against sinful lusts, and temptations, and yet is remiss in the use of the means, by which grace should be increased, and strength gained, to resist those corruptions, and temptations; Certainly those desires are but vain desires.
To this I answere, That prayer is so farre from excluding the meanes, that it includes 1them; for, if the desire be servent, when we desire any things at Gods hands, it will make vs diligent in the vse of the meanes, to vse a convenient 2diligence; as it will make you earnest in seeking to God, and in putting vp your requests to him: for, if a man shall pray, and bee negligent in the vse of the meanes, I will be bolde to say it, it is but like the desire of the sluggard, that is a languishing, •ting desire: He desires, but ⟨p. 93⟩his soule hath nothing; hee desires, but hee putts his hand into his bosome; The desires, which you expresse, when you pray, they are not servent, they are not earnest, if you bee remisse in the vse of the meanes. Hee that desires grace, desires strength, against sinfull lusts, and temptations, and yet is remisse in the vse of the meanes, by which grace should be increased, and strength gained, to resist those corruptions, and temptations; Certainly those desires are but vaine desires.