I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Christs Cross an in-let of Glory, his suffering time was the Valley of Achor to his Disciples, and was it not a door of Hope unto them, and unto all the Saints? This is Gods way; Discouragements bring Encouragements; and the more Discouragements the Saints have, the more Encouragements they shall have; yea, their Discouragements shall contribute to their Encouragements, and be a door of ⟨p. 48⟩Hope to them, Now if the Valley of Achor shall by Promise be a door of Hope, why should we be discouraged whatsoever the Valley of Achor be, whatever our condition be?

Answ. 5 A praying man can never be very miserable whatever his condition be, for he hath the Ear of God; the Spirit within to indite, a friend in Heaven to present, and God himself to receive his desires as a Father; 'tis a mercy to pray, though I never have the mercy prayed for; thereby God doth come down to us, and we go up to God. It is the souls Converse with God on Earth, and a great ease to a burdened, troubled Spirit; for thereby he may go and empty all his heart into the bosom of his best friend. Now every godly, gracious man, is a praying man, more or less he prayeth; It's spoken as an Argument of Pauls conversion, Behold he prayeth; as Speech is common unto all men, so Prayer unto all Christians; God hath none of his Children born dumb; as soon as one of your children is born, it cries, and it sucks, and it •l•eps: So with every man that is born of God, as soo• •s •e is both, he cries unto God in Prayer, he sucks the breast of •he Promi e, and he sleeps in the bosom of God by Divine Contentment, being dead unto all the world; it may be he cannot pray as […] would, but though he cannot pray as he would, not hear as h• ••uld, nor perform any duty as he would, yet he prayeth, it may be said of him, behold he prayeth; turn him where you will, and behold he prayeth; sick, yet behold he prayeth; temped, yet behold he prayeth; at home, or abroad, yet behold he prayeth: and can he be miserable while he prayeth? Surely no: why then should he be discouraged whatever his condition be?