Preparation for sufferings. Or The best work in the worst times Wherein the necessity,…

1. That this duty is the out-let of troubles, and the best way the poor Christian hath to ease his heart when surcharged with sorrow. Griefs are cased by Groans. Such evaporations disburden and cool the heart, as the opening of a vein in some cases doth. Oh the sensible ease that comes in this way! When grief in the mind, like vapours in the Air, are condensed into black Clouds, that over-spread the Soul, and darken that beautiful Light that once shone there, then Prayer like the Sun dispels and scatters them. 1 Sam. 1.18. Many a Saint by Prayer hath sucked the breast of a Promise, ⟨p. 111⟩and then sell asleep by Divine contentment, in the bosom of God. A time may come, when thy heart is ready to break with trouble, and not a friend to whom thou canst open and ease it: and then blessed be God for Prayer, Micah 7.5, 6, 7. That which sinks others is, That when troubles fill and overwhelm their hearts, they try what Reason, merry Company, or outward Comforts can do: but alas! this is to palliate a Cure, it returns again with the more violence: but prayer gives sensible relief, Psal. 102. title Psal. 62.8. For first, this opens and gives a vent to troubles, Jer. 20.12. (2) It gives our troubles a diversion, and so a cure, Psal. 5.1. and last verse compared. Yea (3) by praying over them, they are not only diverted but sanctified, and so cease to be distracting, or destroying troubles.

1. That this duty is the out-let of troubles, and the best way the poor Christian hath to ease his heart when surcharged with sorrow. Griefs are cased by Groans. Such evaporations disburthen and cool the heart, as the opening of a vein in some cases doth. Oh the sensible ease that comes in this way! When grief in the mind, like vapours in the Air, are condensed into black Clouds, that over-spread the Soul, and darken that beautiful Light that once shone there, then Prayer like the Sun dispels and scatters them.