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

Fifthly: As for the dullness of your Heart in Duty and Prayer, though dullness be an ill-sin, yet the sense thereof is a good sign: As the T••stle is a good sign of a fat ground, though it be an ill Weed: so the sense of your dullness is a good sign, though it be an ill sin; for it argues that you are used to private Duties: for dullness in private, and pride in public Duties, is the Temptation. Only here remember Three things. 1. That you do not measure, or judg of your everlasting Condition, by your present Affection. 2. That you do not forbear Duty, because of your dullness in it; because Duty is a great remedy against it, and whither should a dead soul go, but to the living God? 3. That one great cause of your dullness, is your doubting, and discouragement; and therefore, no reason that you should be discouraged because of it, lest you augment the same.

Fifthly: As for the dulness of your Heart in Duty and Prayer, though dulness be an ill-sin, yet the sence thereof is a good sign: As the T••stle is a good sign of a fat ground, though it be an ill Weed: so the sence of your dulness is a good sign, though it be an ill sin; for it argues that you are used to private Duties: for dulness in private, and pride in publick Duties, is the Temptation. Only here remember Three things. 1. That you do not measure, or judg of your everlasting Condition, by your present Affection. 2. That you do not forbear Duty, because of your dulness in it; because Duty is a great remedy against it, and whither should a dead soul go, but to the living God? 3. That one great cause of your dulness, is your doubting, and discouragement; and therefore, no reason that you should be discouraged because of it, lest you augment the same.

Sixthly: What is Prayer, and the Nature of it? Prayer is the pouring out of the soul to God; not the pouring out of words, not the pouring out of expressions; but the pouring out of the soul to God. Words many times, and expressions, are a great way off from the soul; but sighs and groans are next the soul, and have more of the soul in them, than words and expressions many times have: now thou complainest, that thy heart is straightened, and dead, and dull; but when you are so straightened in Prayer, do ye not at that time pour out sighs and groans after Prayer? saying, O! what freedom once I had, O! Lord, that I might have the like freedom again. And whereas you say now, that your heart is hardened in Duty; consider, whether there be not a great mistake about hardness, and softness of heart: Durum est quod tactui non cedit molle cedit; A hard thing doth not yield to the touch, but a soft thing doth. Wax yields when it is touched, because it is soft; and Wool yields when it is touched, because it is soft, but an hard thing yields not. And upon this account, it is said of Pharaoh,