46o Horn may we cure Digraiitions Serm, 19. though many times we fail and are carried aide; this Aquinas calleth primann intentieniem, our of the Scripture we may call ir, The fetting of the heart to feekthe Lord, r Chron. zz. 19. Now, what (hall we fay in this Cafe? On the one fide, we mutt not be too ftriçt left we prejudice the comfort and expeE1 ation of Gods people ; when did they ever man- age a duty but they are guilty of force wandrings r It is much to keep up our hearts to the main and folid requefls that are made to God in Prayer. But on the other fide, we mull not be too remits left we it- courage indiligence and carelefs devotion : Briefly then by way of an Ewer, There is a threefold diftra &ion in Prayer, diftral1io invi ?á, neg- ¡teens, & voluntaria. s. There is diflrat io invita, an unwilling diflra &ion, when the heart is j' rioufly and folemnly fet to feekGod, and yet we are carried 6e fides our purpofe ; for it is impoff ble fo to (hut doors and windows but that foam wind will get in ; So to guard the heart as to be wholly free from vain thoughts,but they are not conftanr, frequent,allowed, but re- ftfted, prayed againft, flriven againit, bewailed, and then they are not iniquities, but infirmities , which the Lord will pardon ; he will ga- ther up the broken parts of our Prayers, and in mercy give us an an. wer ; I fay, where this diftra&ion is retra5led withgrief, refilled with tare, as Abraham drove away the fowls when they came to pitch upon his Sacrifice, Gen. r 5. r i .it is to be reckoned among the infirmities of ;h. Saints, which do not hinder their Confolation. 2. There is d'; flraElio negligens, a negligent diflral"tion When a man !lath an intention to pray, and exçrefs his delires to God, but he prays carele fly, and cloth not guard his thoughts, fo that fometimes he wan- ders, and fometime recover. himfelf again, and then (frays again, and is in and out, s ff :Ind on with God : as a Spaniel rove:: h up and down, and is í}i11 crofíing the ways, fometimes lofing the company he goes with, and then retiring to them again. I cannot fay, this man prayeth not at all, or that God Both not hear him, but he will have little comfort in his Prayers ; yea, if he be ferious they will minilter more matter of grief to him than comfort ; and therefore he ought to be more earnefi.: and fedulous in refit ing this infirmity, that he may be allured of audi- ence : Otherwife, if his heart be not affe&ed with it in time, by de- grees, all thole motions and difpofitions of heart that are neceffary to prayer will be raten cut and loft. z, 3. There is dif ra1fio voluntaria, a voluntary diflrallion; when men mind no more than the tack or work wrought, and only go round in a track o f actu(tcrned .rlrties, witlio9t conidering with wìat heart they perform
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