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

If your lungs be rotten, you may be out of breath with speaking the most delightful words, or walking in the most pleasant fields or gardens; But the cause of the weariness is within you. If you have the hearts of Infidels, or graceless stupid worldly sinners, you are so unfit to approach the most Holy God in holy prayer, that I marvel not if you go to it as a Bear to the stake, as an Ox to the yoke, or as an offender to the stocks; For the God that you pray to, is a batter of all the workers of iniquity, and a consuming fire; and therefore no wonder if his terrors should meet you and leave you but little delight in prayer (Though its wonder that they do not follow you, and meet you in all your ways, and leave you less delight in the omission of it) But if you had the hearts of believing holy men, and had tasted in prayer what they have tasted, and had their experience of the success, you would then be easily persuaded that prayer is neither a Vain nor an unpleasant work. Surely it is not unpleasant to a burdened soul to dis-burden it self before the Lord: nor to a sinner that hath felt the weight, the smart, the sting of sin, to cry for mercy, and healing to him that is able and willing to show mercy; nor i• ⟨p. 285⟩it unpleasant for him that knows the worth of grace and glory, to lie upon his knees in begging them of the Lord. All those that have felt how good it is to draw near to God, had rather have leave to pray in hope, then to please their senses with any delights that earth affordeth. There is force in Prayer (through the grace that hath appointed and doth accompany it) to procure comfort to the distressed mind, and safety to them that are in danger, relief to them that are in want, and strength to them that are in weakness. Prayer is good for all things that are good; and good against all things that are evil. It is good against temptations, dangers, enemies and sin: It is good against sorrows, fears, and cares: yea against poverty, shame and sickness. For the God that Prayer goes to, and makes use of, is sufficient against all, and our only help. Turn away now from God if you dare, and cast off earnest constant Prayer, as if it were a tedious unpleasant thing! but be sure the time is coming when thou, even thou that thus despisest it, wilt betake thy self to Prayer, and cry Lord, Lord, when it is too late, or when anguish and terror seize upon thee.

If your lungs be rotten, you may be out of breath with speaking the most delightful words, or walking in the most pleasant fields or gardens; But the cause of the weariness is within you. If you have the hearts of Infidels, or graceless stupid worldly sinners, you are so unfit to approach the most Holy God in holy prayer, that I marvail not if you go to it as a Bear to the stake, as an Ox to the yoke, or as an offender to the stocks; For the God that you pray to, is a bater of all the workers of iniquity, and a consuming fire; and therefore no wonder if his terrours should meet you and leave you but little delight in prayer (Though its wonder that they do not follow you, and meet you in all your ways, and leave you less delight in the omission of it) But if you had the hearts of believing holy men, and had tasted in prayer what they have tasted, and had their experience of the success, you would then be easily perswaded that prayer is neither a Vain nor an unpleasnt work. Surely it is not unpleasant to a burdened soul to dis-burden it self before the Lord: nor to a sinner that hath felt the weight, the smart, the sting of sin, to cry for mercy, and healing to him that is able and willing to shew mercy; nor i