A supplement to the several discourses upon various divine subjects

2. From grace. The Spirit kindles, but gives us the Oil of grace to make the lamp burn clear. There must not only be wind to drive, but sails to catch it; a prayer without grace is a a prayer without wings. There must be grace to begin it. A dead man cannot rejoice in his Land, Money or Food, he cannot act, and therefore cannot be cheerful in action: Cheerfulness supposeth life: dead men cannot perform a duty, (Psal. 115.17. the dead praise not the Lord,) nor dead souls a cheerful duty. There must not only be grace infused, but grace actuated. No man in a sleep or swoon, can rejoice. There must not only be a living principle, but a lively operation. If the sap lurk only in the root, the branches can bring forth no fruit; our best prayers without the sap of grace diffusing itself, will be but as withered branches. Grace actuated puts heat into performances, without which they are but benumbed and ⟨p. 60⟩frozen^*. Rusty grace, as a rusty Key, will not unlock, will not enlarge the heart. There must be grace to maintain it. There is not only need of fire to kindle the lamp, but of Oil to preserve the flame; natural men may have their affections kindled in a way of common working, but they will presently faint and dye, as the flame of cotton will dimm and vanish, if there be no Oil to nourish it. There is a temporary joy in hearing the word; and if in one duty, why not in another? why not in prayer? Mat. 13.20. Like a fire of thorns that makes a great blaze, but a short stay.

2. From grace. The Spirit kindles, but gives us the Oyl of grace to make the lamp burn clear. There must not only be wind to drive, but sails to catch it; a prayer without grace is a a prayer without wings. There must be grace to begin it. A dead man cannot rejoice in his Land, Money or Food, he cannot act, and therefore cannot be chearful in action: Chearfulness supposeth life: dead men cannot perform a duty, (Psal. 115.17. the dead praise not the Lord,) nor dead souls a chearful duty. There must not only be grace infused, but grace actuated. No man in a sleep or swoon, can rejoice. There must not only be a living principle, but a lively operation. If the sap lurk only in the root, the branches can bring forth no fruit; our best prayers without the sap of grace diffusing itself, will be but as withered branches. Grace actuated puts heat into performances, without which they are but benum'd and