for if he falleth, and faileth in this duty, 1through want of attention, and wandering thoughts, faintness of faith, and lack of fervency, there is none by to help him; whereas praying in the Congregation, we mutually supply one another's defects, one being devoutly diligent, when another groweth cold and remissly negligent, and ⟨p. 504⟩he rising again, as ashamed of his foils and falls, and recovering the fervour of his zeal and devotion, requiteth the other with his assistance, when he beginneth to faint and grow weary. Herein like unto soldiers, who being singled from one another, are easily overcome, but joined in a battle, do mutually second and succour one another, one fighting, when the other fainteth, and he with renewed strength giving a fresh charge, bringgeth of the other far engaged, when through weakness and weariness he is able no longer to bear the brunt. And thus much of the third public means of a godly life, to wit, prayer. Concerning the fourth and last, which is the reading of the Scriptures, I will speak when I come to entreat of private reading, because many things to be spoken are coincident to both, and I would not distract them in my Discourse. Only let it be remembered, that whatsoever can be said of the benefit and efficacy of private reading, is in a higher degree of excellency verified in that which is public, because being a ministerial function, ordained of God, for the common good of the whole Church, and every particular Congregation, it is more powerful to all good uses then private reading, Gods more special blessing by the inward operation of his holy Spirit, always more effectually accompanying his more excellent and public ordinances, then such as are private, and of an inferior nature. And therefore as the Word publicly preached is more powerful and profitable, then a Sermon privately read in our own houses (as I have showed) not in regard of the substance or matter contained in both, nor only in respect of elocution and action (wherein preaching excelleth reading) but chiefly because Gods blessing accompanieth more effectually that ordinance unto which he hath given the preeminence;
for if hee falleth, and faileth in this duty, 1through want of attention, and wandring thoughts, faintnesse of faith, and lacke of feruency, there is none by to helpe him; whereas praying in the Congregation, wee mutually supply one anothers defects, one being deuoutly diligent, when another groweth cold and remissely negligent, and ⟨p. 504⟩he rising againe, as ashamed of his foyles and falls, and recouering the feruor of his zeale and deuotion, requiteth the other with his assistance, when he beginneth to faint and grow weary. Herein like vnto souldiers, who being singled from one another, are easily ouercome, but ioyned in a battell, doe mutually second and succour one another, one fighting, when the other fainteth, and he with renewed strength giuing a fresh charge, bringgeth of the other farre ingaged, when through weaknesse and wearinesse he is able no longer to beare the brunt. And thus much of the third publike meanes of a godly life, to wit, prayer. Concerning the fourth and last, which is the reading of the Scriptures, I will speake when I come to intreat of priuate reading, because many things to be spoken are coincident to both, and I would not distract them in my Discourse. Onely let it be remembred, that whatsoeuer can be said of the benefit and efficacy of priuate reading, is in a higher degree of excellency verified in that which is publike, because being a ministeriall function, ordained of God, for the common good of the whole Church, and euery particular Congregation, it is more powerfull to all good vses then priuate reading, Gods more speciall blessing by the inward operation of his holy Spirit, alwayes more effectually accompanying his more excellent and publike ordinances, then such as are priuate, and of an inferiour nature. And therefore as the Word publikely preached is more powerfull and profitable, then a Sermon priuately read in our owne houses (as I haue shewed) not in regard of the substance or matter contained in both, nor onely in respect of elocution and action (wherein preaching excelleth reading) but chiefly because Gods blessing accompanyeth more effectually that ordinance vnto which he hath giuen the preeminence;
- 1Eccles. 4. 10.
