Were we but seldom to have to do with God, you might think there were no such need of keeping our hearts in frame; but seeing we are to do with him daily, who is so pure and holy a God, Oh, what manner of persons ought we to be? How exactly should we walk? Jerem. 7.9.10. Will ⟨p. 16⟩you steal and murder, and come and stand before me in this house which is called by my name, saith the Lord? so will you walk loosely, live vainly, when you are to do with so holy a God every day? Oh, let every man that calls upon the name of the Lord, depart from iniquity. Let every one that holds up praying duties, keep his heart in a praying frame: such a Christian is not worth a pin, who is only good when he is on his knees, who thinks it sufficient to snatch up affections to serve the turn of a duty, and then to lay them aside as soon as the duty is over: he is a Christian indeed who prays on his feet as well as on his knees, whose life is nothing else but a real prayer, that if you look into his heart, there is all his desires engraven, his heart ever pants and breaths the same things he prays; and if you look into his life, his life speaks the same language his lips do; his life is a ⟨p. 17⟩walking prayer; many men are one upon their knees, another upon their feet, but he is the same; he walks with the same spirit, the same affections, the same desires and disposition: he is the same man. It is something to pray, more to pray as a Christian, and more when you have prayed your prayers, to live your prayers; nay, to live those affections, those dispositions wherewith you prayed, to live as high as prayer. It is a shame to see, how we slide out of duty into the world, and out of the world into duty again; as if we were two contrary men, one upon our knees, and another on our feet: And therefore you shall see men to gather up some affections, some dispositions, before they enter on a duty, and put themselves into another frame; but lay them aside as soon as ever they have done; these must only serve to act ⟨p. 18⟩a praying part, when that is done, then lay them aside; you have no more use of them, you must put on another spirit to go into the world withal. Christians, you have often to do with Ordinances, and had therefore need to keep your hearts in an Ordinance frame: he who keeps not close to God in practice, shall never keep close to God in prayer;
Were wee but seldom to have to do with God, you might think there were no such need of keeping our hearts in frame; but seeing we are to do with him daily, who is so pure and holy a God, Oh, what manner of persons ought we to be? How exactly should we walk? Jerem. 7.9.10. Will ⟨p. 16⟩you steal and murther, and come and stand before mee in this house which is called by my name, saith the Lord? so will you walk loosly, live vainly, when you are to do with so holy a God every day? Oh, let every man that calls upon the name of the Lord, depart from iniquity. Let every one that holds up praying duties, keep his heart in a praying frame: such a Christian is not worth a pin, who is only good when he is on his knees, who thinks it sufficient to snatch up affections to serve the turne of a duty, and then to lay them aside as soone as the duty is over: hee is a Christian indeed who prays on his feet as well as on his knees, whose life is nothing else but a reall prayer, that if you look into his heart, there is all his desires ingraven, his heart ever pants and breaths the same things he prayes; and if you look into his life, his life speaks the same language his lips do; his life is a ⟨p. 17⟩walking prayer; many men are one upon their knees, another upon their feet, but he is the same; hee walks with the same spirit, the same affections, the same desires and disposition: hee is the same man. It is something to pray, more to pray as a Christian, and more when you have prayed your prayers, to live your prayers; nay, to live those affections, those dispositions wherewith you prayed, to live as high as prayer. It is a shame to see, how we slide out of duty into the world, and out of the world into duty again; as if we were two contrary men, one upon our knees, and another on our feet: And therefore you shall see men to gather up some affections, some dispositions, before they enter on a duty, and put themselves into another frame; but lay them aside as soon as ever they have done; these must only serve to act ⟨p. 18⟩a praying part, when that is done, then lay them aside; you have no more use of them, you must put on another spirit to go into the world withall. Christians, you have often to do with Ordinances, and had therefore need to keep your hearts in an Ordinance frame: hee who keeps not close to God in practice, shall never keep close to God in prayer;
