The answer to that is this; we must distinguish of persons; There are some that are exercised in the way of godliness, and do keep their hearts close with God in the ways of holiness; now for them it may be supposed that through their exercise in ⟨p. 56⟩the ways of Godliness, and keeping of their hearts constant with God in communion with him, walking with God closely, that they are at all times prepared to every good work, and fitted to fulfil that command of the Apostle, Pray continually, that is, in the disposition of their hearts, they are fit to pray at any time, there is no day in the week, nor no hour in the day, but they (if God call them to it) could fall down to solemn Prayer. And indeed this is an excellent condition, and a good evidence of the hearts walking close with God, that there is no time but they are fit to pray, and fit for any Ordinance, yea, to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper. It is possible to keep the heart so close to God, as to be fit for Prayer and for the hearing of the Word, and for receiving the Sacrament every day, or any hour in the day; but this needs a very close walking with God and communion with God; and the truth is, this is very rare; most men let out their hearts so much to other things, as their consciences cannot but tell them, that if God call them to Prayer at such a time in the day they are altogether unfit for it: If they were called to receive the Sacrament, their consciences would accuse them, and tell them, they are unfit for it: but it is not so with those that walk close with God, though they be in the world.
The answer to that is this; we must distinguish of persons; There are some that are exercised in the way of godliness, and do keep their hearts close with God in the waies of holiness; now for them it may be supposed that through their exercise in ⟨p. 56⟩the waies of Godliness, and keeping of their hearts constant with God in communion with him, walking with God closely, that they are at all times prepared to every good work, and fitted to fulfil that command of the Apostle, Pray continually, that is, in the disposition of their hearts, they are fit to pray at any time, there is no day in the week, nor no hour in the day, but they (if God call them to it) could fall down to solemn Prayer. And indeed this is an excellent condition, and a good evidence of the hearts walking close with God, that there is no time but they are fit to pray, and fit for any Ordinance, yea, to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper. It is possible to keep the heart so close to God, as to be fit for Prayer and for the hearing of the Word, and for receiving the Sacrament every day, or any hour in the day; but this needs a very close walking with God and communion with God; and the truth is, this is very rare; most men let out their hearts so much to other things, as their consciences cannot but tell them, that if God call them to Prayer at such a time in the day they are altogether unfit for it: If they were called to receive the Sacrament, their consciences would accuse them, and tell them, they are unfit for it: but it is not so with those that walk close with God, though they be in the world.
