A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

4. Consider the Mischief which followeth Neglect of private Converse with God. Omissions make way for Commissions. If a Gardiner withholds his hand, the Ground is soon grown over with Weeds. Restrain Prayer, and neglect God, and noisome Lusts will abound. Our Hearts are filled with Distempers, when once we cease to be frequent with God in private. It is said of Job, chap. 15. 4. Thou restrainest Prayer before God. That Passage is notable, Psal. 14. 4. They eat up my People as they eat Bread, and call not upon the Lord. Omit secret Prayer, and some great Sin will follow; within a little while you will be given up to some evil Course or other: Either brutish Lusts, Oppression, or Violence; to hate the People of God, to join in a Confederacy with them which cry up a Confederacy against God. The less we converse with God in private, the more is the Awe of God lessened. But now a Man which is often with God, dareth not offend him so freely as others do. As they which are often with Princes, and great Persons, are better clothed, and more neat in their Apparel and Carriage: So they which are often conversing with God, grow more heavenly, holy, watchful, than others are; and when we are not with God, not only all this is lost, but a great many Evils to ⟨p. 30⟩be found. It is plainly seen by Mens Conversations, how little they converse with God.

4. Consider the Mischief which followeth Neglect of private Converse with God. Omissions make way for Commissions. If a Gardiner withholds his hand, the Ground is soon grown over with Weeds. Restrain Prayer, and neglect God, and noisom Lusts will abound. Our Hearts are fill'd with Distempers, when once we cease to be frequent with God in private. It is said of Iob, chap. 15. 4. Thou restrainest Prayer before God. That Passage is notable, Psal. 14. 4. They eat up my People as they eat Bread, and call not upon the Lord. Omit secret Prayer, and some great Sin will follow; within a little while you will be given up to some evil Course or other: Either brutish Lusts, Oppression, or Violence; to hate the People of God, to join in a Confederacy with them which cry up a Confederacy against God. The less we converse with God in private, the more is the Awe of God lessen'd. But now a Man which is often with God, dareth not offend him so freely as others do. As they which are often with Princes, and great Persons, are better cloathed, and more neat in their Apparel and Carriage: So they which are often conversing with God, grow more heavenly, holy, watchful, than others are; and when we are not with God, not only all this is lost, but a great many Evils to