Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

158 of the Tine of prayer, juft occafion , whenfoever opportunity is offered. To confirm this expofìtion this reafon may be ufed; ._ The Lord in his word inioyneth us a great fort of duties betides Invocation; which if we do omit, for the omiflion of them , although we Mould do no hurt, we (hall be condemned: Matth.2 5.42. the fen - tence of condemnation is pronounced againfi the wicked for the omiffion ofcertain duties, which ne- ceffarily muff be omitted if we fhould do nothing elfe but pray. Again,it is a received diIIinaion,That the negative commandments of God do bind both limper & ad Temper to the abfieining fró thofe things which are forbidden; but the affirmative command - ments, howfoever they do bind us femper, yet for the moll part they do not bind us ad fmper. And therefore although we be al wayes bound to the per- formance of this duty, and never exempted from it, yet we are not bound to do it alwayes. So that thefe commandments of continuing in prayer are to be un- derftood of the whole life and not of every mo- ment of time. That we are Now that we are alwayes bound to this duty ap balwaounyd es to the peareth both by our continuall neceffitie to pray, in dutyofpray- regard firfi of our necefïities and wants both fpiri- er, tuall and temporali; fecondly,of the continuall rage of our fpirituall enemies, who are never at truce with us except we be at league with them ; thirdly, of innumerable dangers which are alwayes immi- nent, from which by Gods continuall mercy and goodneffe towards us we are delivered, for which we muff return thanks unto him. For if there were no other caufe of thankfbiving (as there are many) but