2. It is not only an Omission in general, but an Omission of Prayer, which is, first, a Duty very natural to the Saints. Prayer is a Duty very natural and kindly to the new Creature. As soon as Paul was converted, the first News we hear of him, Acts 9. 11. Behold, he prayeth. As soon as we are new-born, there will be a crying out for Relief in Prayer. It is the Character of the Saints, This is the Generation of them that seek thee. Psal. 24. 6. a People much in calling upon God. And the Prophet describes them by the Work of Prayer, Zeph. 3. 10. My Supplicants: And, Zech. 12. 10. I will pour upon them the Spirit of Grace and Supplication. Where ever there is a Spirit of Grace, it presently runneth out into Prayer. Look as a Preacher is so called from the frequency of his Work; so a Christian is one that calleth upon God: Every one that calleth on the Name of the Lord, shall be saved. Rom. 10. 13. In vain he is called a Preacher, that never preacheth; so, he is in vain called a Christian, that never prayeth. As Things of an airy Nature move upward; so the Saints are carried up to God by a kind of Naturality, when they are ⟨p. 26⟩gracious. God hath no Tongue-tied or dumb Children; they are all crying, Abba, Father. Then, it is an Omission of a Duty which is of great Importance, as to our Communion with God, which lieth in two Things, Fruition, and Familiarity; in the Enjoyment of God, and in being familiar and often with him: Fruition we have by Faith, and Familiarity is carried on by Prayer. There are two Duties which are never out of season, Hearing, and Prayer, both which are a holy Dialogue betwixt God and the Soul, until we come to Vision, the Sight of him in Heaven. Our Communion with God here is carried on by these two Duties: We speak to God in Prayer, God answereth us in the Word; God speaks to us in the Word, and we return and echo back again to him in Prayer: Therefore the New Creature delighteth much in these two Duties. Look as we should be swift to hear, James 1. 19. until we come to seeing, we should take all Occasions, and be often in hearing: So in Prayer, we speak to God, and therefore should be redeeming Time for this Work. In the Word God comes down to us, and in Prayer we get up to God; therefore if you would be familiar and often with God, you must be much in Prayer. This is of great Importance.
2. It is not only an Omission in general, but an Omission of Prayer, which is, first, a Duty very natural to the Saints. Prayer is a Duty very natural and kindly to the new Creature. As soon as Paul was converted, the first News we hear of him, Acts 9. 11. Behold, he prayeth. As soon as we are new-born, there will be a crying out for Relief in Prayer. It is the Character of the Saints, This is the Generation of them that seek thee. Psal. 24. 6. a People much in calling upon God. And the Prophet describes them by the Work of Prayer, Zeph. 3. 10. My Supplicants: And, Zech. 12. 10. I will pour upon them the Spirit of Grace and Supplication. Where ever there is a Spirit of Grace, it presently runneth out into Prayer. Look as a Preacher is so called from the frequency of his Work; so a Christian is one that calleth upon God: Every one that calleth on the Name of the Lord, shall be saved. Rom. 10. 13. In vain he is called a Preacher, that never preacheth; so, he is in vain called a Christian, that never prayeth. As Things of an airy Nature move upward; so the Saints are carried up to God by a kind of Naturality, when they are ⟨p. 26⟩gracious. God hath no Tongue-ty'd or dumb Children; they are all crying, Abba, Father. Then, it is an Omission of a Duty which is of great Importance, as to our Communion with God, which lieth in two Things, Fruition, and Familiarity; in the Enjoyment of God, and in being familiar and often with him: Fruition we have by Faith, and Familiarity is carried on by Prayer. There are two Duties which are never out of season, Hearing, and Prayer, both which are a holy Dialogue betwixt God and the Soul, until we come to Vision, the Sight of him in Heaven. Our Communion with God here is carried on by these two Duties: We speak to God in Prayer, God answereth us in the Word; God speaks to us in the Word, and we return and eccho back again to him in Prayer: Therefore the New Creature delighteth much in these two Duties. Look as we should be swift to hear, James 1. 19. until we come to seeing, we should take all Occasions, and be often in hearing: So in Prayer, we speak to God, and therefore should be redeeming Time for this Work. In the Word God comes down to us, and in Prayer we get up to God; therefore if you would be familiar and often with God, you must be much in Prayer. This is of great Importance.
