Two treatises the first of fear, from Isa. 8, v. 12, 13, and part…

I doubt not but it is a great design of the Devil to •eep us in continual alarms and frights, and to puzzle •ur heads and hearts with a thousand difficulties which possibly may never befall us, or if they do, shall ne•er prove so fatal to us as we fancy them, and all this ⟨p. 50⟩to unfit us for our present duties, and destroy our comfort therein; for if by frights and terrors of mind he can but once distract our thoughts, he gains three great points upon us, to our unspeakable loss.

I doubt not but it is a great design of the Devil to •eep us in continual alarms and frights, and to puzzle •ur heads and hearts with a thousand difficulties which •ossibly may never befall us, or if they do, shall ne•er prove so fatal to us as we fancy them, and all this ⟨p. 50⟩to unfit us for our present duties, and destroy our comfort therein; for if by frights and terrors of mind he can but once distract our thoughts, he gains three great points upon us, to our unspeakable loss.

1. Hereby he will cut off the freedom and sweetness of our communion with God in duties, and what an empty shell will the best duties be, when this kernel is wormed out by such a subtle artifice? Prayer as Damascene aptly expresses it, is [Greek or Hebrew] the ascension of the mind or soul to God; but distraction clips its wings; he can never offer up his soul and thoughts to God, that hath not the possession of them himself; and he that is under distracting fears possesseth not himself. The life of all communion with God in Prayer, consists in the harmony that is betwixt our hearts and words, and both with the will of God, this harmony is spoiled by distractions, and so Satan gains that point.