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

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, ⟨p. 100⟩That his heart was hard, why? Because he did not yield to God, he had not a yielding disposition. Now there is many a poor soul complains, that his heart is hard, and yet notwithstanding, he hath a yielding disposition to every Truth, a yielding disposition to every Affliction, and Dispensation of God. Wherefore, doest thou complain, and say, O! my hear is very hard? yet if at this time thou hast a yielding disposition, to yield to every Truth of God, and to yield to every touch of the Lords hand, know from the Lord, that here is a soft heart, be not mistaken: but many are mistaken, and because they are mistaken herein, and it is b•t a mistake, therefore they have no reason for to be discouraged.

Sixtly: What is Prayer, and the Nature of it? Prayer is the powring out of the soul to God; not the powring out of words, not the powring out of expressions; but the powring 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 powr 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,