Influences of the life of grace

2. The frame of the heart in doing would be looked to, as we suppose Elisha did right in that he would not prophecy, while as a passion of Anger was upon him, and therefore called for a Minstrel to sing a Psalm, and then the Spirit of the Lord acted upon him; and whether, while wrath is on, pure hands can be lifted up to God, see 1 Tim. 2. 8. possible out of eager opposition to Enthusiasts and Libertines we run on another extreme, that we rush on duties upon no other account, but only the Scripture is clear, Do this in remembrance of me; and that warranted us to eat at the Lord's Supper prepared or not prepared, but to rush on the duty while some preparation or self-examination go before is clear against another command of God, Let a man try and examine himself and so let him eat; some duties are of that nature, that ex natura rei of themselves they require fixed preparations, as the Priests sanctifying of themselves, and these who offered before they came to the Altar, Psal. 26. 6. Exod. 40. 31 but whether this may warrant none to pray, while they first prepare themselves to pray, before they pray, by praying, and so that prayer which is preparatory must be prepared by another preparatory prayer; and so, without end, spiritual preparations must in infinitum go on before spiritual preparations is another question. A fixed and set preparation before every duty is not requisite; but sure a preparing of the heart to seek the Lord, should go before solemn actions. 1 Sam. 7. 3. Job 11. 13. 1 Chron. 29. 18. 2 Chron. 12. 13. and beyond all controversy, we sin against God, and stumble many in headlong rushing upon duties, not looking to a spiritual frame of heart, in coming to the house of God, and not taking heed to the feet, and in yoking the Cart before the Horse. When we first sacrifice, and then hear, Eccles. 5. 1. godly prudence which dwells with wisdom saith both a fools bolt is soon shot, and a fools sacrifice is soon offered. Some receive the word [Greek or Hebrew] suddenly,