Only remember this (when we exhort you thus to keep a constant course, for which you heard so many reasons in the morning, I say, remember this caution) that if it be performed in a 1formal, or in a customary, and overly manner, you were as good to omit it altogether: for the Lord takes not our prayers by number, but by weight: when it is an outward picture, a dead ⟨p. 30⟩carcass of prayer, when there is no life, no fervency in it, he regards it not, be not deceived in this, it is a very usual deceit, it may be a mans conscience would be upon him, if he should omit it altogether, and therefore when he doth something, his heart is satisfied, and so he grows worse and worse, therefore, consider, that the very doing of the duty, is not that which the Lord heeds, but he will have it so performed; that the end may be obtained, and that the thing may be effected, for which you pray. If a man send his servant to go to such a place, it is not his going to and fro that 2he regards, but he would have him to dispatch the business; so in all other works, he cares not for the formality of performance, but would have the thing so done, that it may be of use to him; if you set a servant to make a fire 3for you, and he go, and lay some green wood together, and perhaps put a few coals under, this is not to make a fire for you, but he must, either get dry wood, or he must blow till it burn, and be fit for use; so when your hearts are unfit, when they are like green wood, when you come to warm them, and to quicken them by prayer to God, it may be, you post over this duty, and leave your hearts as cold, and as distempered as they were before: My beloved, this is not to perform this duty. The duty is effectually performed, when your hearts are wrought upon by it, & when they are brought to a better tune, and to a better temper then they were before. If you find ⟨p. 31⟩sinful lusts, there your business is to work them out by prayer, to reason the matter, to expostulate the thing before the Lord, and not to glue over, till you have set all the wheels of your soul right, till you have made your hearts perfect with God; and if you find your hearts too much cleaving to the world, you must wean them, and take them off;
Onely remember this (when wee exhort you thus to keepe a constant course, for which you heard so many reasons in the morning, I say, remember this caution) that if it be performed in a 1formall, or in a customary, and overly manner, you were as good to omit it altogether: for the Lord takes not our prayers by number, but by waight: when it is an outward picture, a dead ⟨p. 30⟩carcasse of prayer, when there is no life, no servencie in it, hee regards it not, be not deceiued in this, it is a very vsuall deceipt, it may bee a mans conscience would bee vpon him, if hee should omit it altogether, and therefore when hee doth something, his heart is satisfied, and so hee growes worse and worse, therefore, consider, that the very doing of the dutie, is not that which the Lord heedes, but hee will haue it so performed; that the end may be obtained, and that the thing may bee effected, for which you pray. If a man send his servant to goe to such a place, it is not his going to and fro that 2he regards, but hee would haue him to dispatch the businesse; so in all other workes, hee cares not for the formalitie of performance, but would haue the thing so done, that it may bee of vse to him; if you set a servant to make a fire 3for you, and he goe, and lay some greene wood together, and perhaps put a few coales vnder, this is not to make a fire for you, but hee must, either get dry wood, or he must blow till it burne, and be fit for vse; so when your hearts are vnfit, when they are like greene wood, when you come to warme them, and to quicken them by prayer to God, it may be, you post over this dutie, and leaue your hearts as cold, and as distempered as they were before: My beloved, this is not to performe this dutie. The dutie is effectuallie performed, when your hearts are wrought vpon by it, & when they are brought to a better tune, and to a better temper then they were before. If you find ⟨p. 31⟩sinnefull lusts, there your businesse is to worke them out by praier, to reason the matter, to expostulate the thing before the Lord, and not to glue over, till you haue set all the wheeles of your soule right, till you haue made your hearts perfect with God; and if you finde your hearts too much cleaving to the world, you must wean them, and take them off;
- 1No•.
- 2Simile.
- 3Simile.
