SEEKING THE SAINT'S REST. 113 might hear him; yet these men will rather venture to be an eternal prey to Satan, the roaring lion, than thus seek their own safety. Or their cold and heartless prayers invite God to a denial : for among men it is taken for granted, that he who asks but slightly and seldom, cares not much for what he asks. They judge themselves unworthy of heaven, who think it is not worth their more constant and earnest requests. If every door was marked, where families do not morn- ing and evening earnestly seek the Lord in prayer, that his wrath might be poured out upon such prayer - less families, our towns would be as places overthrown by the plague, the people being dead within, and the mark of judgment without. I fear, where one house would escape, ten would be marked out for death; and then they might teach their doors to pray, " Lord have mercy upon us," because the people would not pray themselves. But especially if he could see what men do in their secret chambers, how few would you find in a whole town that spend one quarter of an hour, morning and night, in earnest supplication to God for their souls ! O how little do these men set by eternal rest ! Thus do they slothfully neglect all endeavours for their own welfare; except some public duty in the congregation, which custom or credit engages them to. Persuade them to read good books, learn the grounds of religion in their catechism, and sanctify the Lord's day in prayer, and meditation, and hearing the word, and forbearing all worldly thoughts and speeches ; and what a tedious life do they, take this to be! as if they thought heaven were not worth the doing so much for. 4. Another sort are formal professors, who will be brought to an outward duty.; but to the inward work of religion they will never be persuaded. They will preach, or hear, or read, or talk of heaven, or pray in their families, and take part with the persons or causes that are good, and desire to be esteemed among the godly : but you can never bring them to the more spiritual duties ; as, to be constant and fer- 4 P
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