A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

2. Another Holy Duty is Prayer, both secret, and with others, in family, and public Assemblies. And do you think it is a grievous tedious work, for a needy soul to beg of God, that is so ready to relieve him? For a guilty soul to pray to God that is so ready to forgive him? for a sinful soul to return to God, (and confess his sins, and beg for mercy,) that is so ready to meet him and entertain him! for a Loving soul to converse with God, when there is a mutual complacency between them? Is it grievous for a child to speak to his Father?? or are you weary of the presence of your dearest friend? What is there in holy prayer that should grieve or weary us? sure it is not his company that we speak to: For it is his presence that makes Heaven• And sure it is not the employment. For it is but Asking, and asking for the best and choicest thing, and asking in our necessities for that which we must have or we are undone for ever. And is it unpleasant to pray to a bounteous God, in our necessity, ⟨p. 284⟩and that for the best and pleasantest things? Perhaps there may be some of you that think it is but labour lost, and that you could better spend those hours, and that God regardeth not our prayers, and that indeed we speed never the better for them, and therefore you have no pleasure in them.] And no wonder! If you are Atheists and believe not that there is a God, you cannot love him, or rejoice in him. If you believe not his Promises, how should they give you any comfort! If you believe not that he regardeth Prayers, no wonder if you have no heart to pray: They that say It is in vain to serve the Lord, and it is no profit to us to keep his ordinances, Mal. 3. 14. Will also say, what a weariness is it! Mal. 1. 13. and will give him but a lame and lifeless service. If you did believe your friend to be your enemy, you would have small pleasure in him: Mis-conceits may easily make you loath the things that are most delightful. The thoughts of Heaven it self yield little Pleasure to them that believe not that there is a Heaven, or what it is. The Light is not pleasant to the blind: nor any object of our taste or smell to those that have lost these senses. Is music unpleasant, because it delighteth not the deaf? For shame do not charge the sweet and blessed ways of God with that which is the fruit of your own corruption.