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

Answ. No: Here is reason indeed, why you should be afflicted, but no reason yet, why you should be discouraged. I confess indeed, here is cause and reason of grief, and of affliction; for take Prayer, (to instance only in that) and, it is, That act and work of the soul, whereby a man doth converse with God; God conversing with man, and man with God. And is it not a sore affliction, for a poor creature to be shut out of Gods door, such a friend as God is? O! saith Chrysostom, it is more bitter than death, to be spoiled of Prayer: and hereupon, (as he observes) Daniel chose rather, to run the hazard of his life, than to lose his Prayer. Prayer is the souls Weapon; and is it not a grief, to want a Weapon in our spiritual warfare? Prayer is the souls Ornament, the excellent Garment of a Christian; and is it not an affliction, to be without this Garment, and to be found naked? Prayer is the Christians Element; And as the fish lives in the water, as in its Element, and dyes when it is out, so a Christian lives in prayer as in his Element, and his heart dies when he is out of it. Prayer is the souls Provisioner; fetcheth in Provision for the soul, and for all its Graces: The old bird, the Dam, goes abroad and fetcheth in meat for the young ones, and they lye in the nest gaping, to receive the meat upon its return; and if the old one be killed abroad, the young ones will die presently at home. So here, Prayer goes abroad, and fetcheth in provision for all our Graces, and they all lye gaping, to receive this provision from the mouth of Prayer; if this be killed, how can those other Graces live? The truth is, The more sweetness a Christian finds in any work, the greater is his affliction, if he want that work; now what abundance of sweetness, doth a Gracious soul find in Prayer? therefore when a man is narrowed, or shut up in Prayer, it cannot but be a great affliction to him. But though it be a matter of great affliction, yet a good man, hath no reason to be quite discouraged, yea, though he meet with many failings therein, and cannot pray as he would, nor perform duty as he should.

Answ. No: Here is reason indeed, why you should be afflicted, but no reason yet, why you should be discouraged. I confess indeed, here is cause and reason of grief, and of affliction; for take Prayer, (to instance only in that) and, it is, That act and work of the soul, whereby a man doth converse with God; God conversing with man, and man with God. And is it not a sore affliction, for a poor creature to be shut out of Gods door, such a freind as God is? O! saith Chrisostome, it is more bitter than death, to be spoiled of Prayer: and hereupon, (as he observes) Daniel chose rather, to run the hazard of his life, than to lose his Prayer. Prayer is the souls Weapon; and is it not a grief, to want a Weapon in our spiritual warfare? Prayer is the souls Ornament, the excellent Garment of a Christian; and is it not an affliction, to be without this Garment, and to be found naked? Prayer is the Christians Element; And as the fish lives in the water, as in its Element, and dyes when it is out, so a Christian lives in prayer as in his Element, and his heart dies when he is out of it. Prayer is the souls Provisioner; fetcheth in Provision for the soul, and for al its Graces: The old bird, the Dam, goes abroad and fetcheth in meat for the young ones, and they lye in the nest gaping, to receive the meat upon its return; and if the old one be kild abroad, the young ones wil die presently at home. So here, Prayer goes abroad, and fetcheth in provision for al our Graces, and they al lye gaping, to receive this provision from the mouth of Prayer; if this be killed, how can those other Graces live? The truth is, The more sweetness a Christian finds in any work, the greater is his affliction, if he want that work; now what abundance of sweetness, doth a Gracious soul find in Prayer? therefore when a man is narrowed, or shut up in Prayer, it cannot but be a great affliction to him. But though it be a matter of great affliction, yet a good man, hath no reason to be quite discouraged, yea, though he meet with many failings therein, and cannot pray as he would, nor perform duty as he should.