Obftrv. 3· Vs R s.;. An Expo.Jitjon, 'With Notes will ·howl for carnal comforts: Beat away thefe carnal reflett:ions when they rnfh into your minds ; Abra~amdrove the fowls away, Gen. I 5. When you feel the heart nmnmg out by a pnverfe aimi difclaim it the more folemnly; Not to us, net to us,&c. 3• That prayers fr-~tmcd out of a carnal intentioN are u[u111lly· · fltccrjlefs. Prayers that want agoodaim, do alfo want agoodif{ue: Gods glory is the end o( prayer, and the beginningof hope, other– wife we can look for nothing : God never undertook to fatisfie flelhly defires; he wilt own no other voyce in prayer, but-that o£ his own Spirit: Rom/~. 27· He that fearcheth the heart, !Qzoweth , the mind oftht·Spirit. What•s a Atfhly groan? and what•sa fpj:..; ritual groan ? A carnal aim expreffed, is but a fupplication with a· confucation ; 'tis the next way eo be denyed : Spiritual fighs and breathings are fooner heard then carnal roarings ; they that cannot v.sk a mercy well,fddom ure it well; in the enjoyment there is more temptation. Ufually our hearts are more devout when we want a· bleffing,then when we ·enjoy it;and therefore when our~prayers are not directed to the glory ofGod, there is little hope that when Wi· receive the Talent we fhallemploy it to the Mafl:ers ufe. Befides all this, Prayers made with a bafc: aim put a great affront and ditbonor upon God ; you would make him a fervanc to his enemy : I fai. 43· 24. Ye mP~de me to ferve with your iniquities. We would commit fin, and we would have God to blefs us in it: •Tis much you fhould be fenants of fin, but that yoa fhould make God admi– niflrt4mpeccati, a fellow-fervant, and yoke himwith your felves in the fame fervility, •cis not to be endured. Well then, it teacheth us what to do when our prayers are not granted; let us not charge God foolifhly, but exatonine our felves ; Were not our requefis car– nal? Suppofe.you praytd for quickening, and God left you to your own deadnefs, did not your heart fancy your own praife? If for fafecy, you would live in eafe,io pleafure ; if for an efl:ate. you were pleafing your felf in the fuppofitions of greatnefs and efieem in the world. Oh Brethren, as we mind fuccefs, let us not come to God with an evil mind; holy.defl!es ~ave a fure anfwer, Pjal. I~). 19. , & 10. 17· Verf~~
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