Heaven taken

1. Keep up daily prayer. Prayer is the bellows that blows up the affections; and a Christian is most active, when his affections are most violent. Prayer keeps the trade of Religion agoing. Prayer is to the soul, as the animal spirits are to the body; the animal spirits make the body more agile and lively; so doth prayer the soul. That the motion of a Watch may be quicker, the spring must be wound up. Christian, wind up thy heart every day by prayer. Prayer fetcheth in strength from Christ; and when his strength comes in, it sets the soul a ⟨p. 184⟩working. Prayer leaves the heart in a good frame: As the morning Sun leaves a warmth in the room all the day after. When Christians lay aside prayer, or leave off fervency in it, then by degrees they lose their holy violence.

1. Keep up daily prayer. Prayer is the bellows that blows up the affections; and a Christian is most active, when his affections are most violent. Prayer keeps the trade of Religion agoing. Prayer is to the soul, as the animal spirits are to the body; the anmal spirits make the body more agile and lively; so doth prayer the soul. That the motion of a Watch may be quicker, the spring must be wound up. Christian, winde up thy heart every day by prayer. Prayer fetcheth in strength from Christ; and when his strength comes in, it sets the soul a ⟨p. 184⟩working. Prayer leaves the heart in a good frame: As the morning Sun leaves a warmth in the room all the day after. When Christians lay aside prayer, or leave off fervency in it, then by degrees they lose their holy violence.

If you would be violent for Heaven, ¹get under lively preaching. The word is quick and powerful, Heb. 4. 12. It puts li•e into a dead heart. It is both a sword o cut down sin, and a spur to quicken grace. The word is a fire to thaw a frozen heart, Jr. 23. 29. Is not my Word fire? As good almost be without preaching, as be under such preaching as will not warm. It is a part of the Word, not only to inform, but to inflame,