1 14 Cltlofet~10~al!tt, . . . .Anfw. Is not this too like the languageof thofe that fay, It is in vliin to ferve God? Mal.3. 14. And areyou · .like thofe AtheHl:s, that think Prayer is to no putp.ofe? ' I hope not: You th~nk it doth go~d to fome, · put not to you. Well, what's the reafon? Is it not becaufe you 'do not pray aright ? Therefore fearch your felves,_ fee howyou prayed, mourn over your def~cts., 1attd mend the matter; Ies trtie;,one wh<> fees theWell dry,breaks, or throws away his Pitcher; but., Is God a barren wil– dernefs? Is it 'not goqd for you to draw near to God? Were they·ever afhame~ tha:t waited on him?Hall: not thou fometimes found benefit by fecret Prayer ? God is good to the foul that feeks him·: try again,-you will not lofe your. labour ·; be not weary of well doing., in due titne you fi1all reap,, if y~u faint not; l~t not your 1, hanas hang down,iet not your knees grow feeble;·· the · Text tells you, your Ftttber_ that fees in fecret will reward . you openly, and date.you not trufl: him beyond fenfe and . experience? Ther~ ~ay bemore.advantageby thisdu- · ~; .ty, thanyou are~ware of, you iliaJI not yet know the t profit you have by fecret Prayer, you mu{l~eep on ina t / patient continuance in well-poing, and aot give over till you receive:afull reward; but 0~ take ~h~ed of giving ()ver prayer, becaufeyou·thinkyouwant prefent pr9fit: y 9U cannot do Satan greater fervice,or your fouls mote prejudice : But more of this anon'. , .· · . 9.0bj. B'ut I am wea:k in . p~rts, . and know ~·otwhat to fay; · Fain I wo~ld, but ala's I can·not open my wants· '· to God in Praye!, I want gifts, abilities.. . ,. _ Anfw I am glad to hear thee thus complain' : thou · art fitter for praying, when thou canft He un~er the . fenfe ofthy inability ~o ~ray, thaf~ ,an ufeful difpofiti- . 90 tn duty: But thorrfadl: thou canft not ~ray, then. { ru tell thee what to d'o ; go thy waies alon , and fall. .down upon thyknees, and plainly teU the ;Lord t~otr ·canfi:not pray., and intrea·t hini to·helpl~bee by his·blef-
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