A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

In two things; when both our Care, and our Delight, is lessened towards Heavenly Things.

1. When our Care is lessened, when we are not so serious, so frequent in Communion with God, as we were wont to be; as Martha that was cumbered ⟨p. 489⟩about many things, but Mary had chosen the better part, Luke 10. 42. When you begin to lessen your Cares of Duty, and Hagar thrusts Sarah out of Doors; when the Son of the Bond-Woman begins to mock at the Son of the Free-Woman; when Religion begins to be looked upon but as Mopishness; to be so nice, precise, and so careful to maintain constant Commerce with God, and begin to have lessening Thoughts of God, and Religion goes to the Walls. So,

1. When our Care is lessened, when we are not so serious, so frequent in Communion with God, as we were wont to be; as Martha that was cumbred ⟨p. 489⟩about many things, but Mary had chosen the better part, Luke 10. 42. When you begin to lessen your Cares of Duty, and Hagar thrusts Sarah out of Doors; when the Son of the Bond-Woman begins to mock at the Son of the Free-Woman; when Religion begins to be looked upon but as Mopishness; to be so nice, precise, and so careful to maintain constant Commerce with God, and begin to have lessening Thoughts of God, and Religion goes to the Walls. So,

2. When our Delight is less in heavenly things; when we have lost our favour of the Word, and Ordinances, and Sabbaths, and they are not so sweet as before;