OP SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. 49 I know that a man may pray often, pray sincerely and frequently for an especial mercy, grace, or delive- rance from a particular temptation; and yet no spiri- tual supply of strength unto his own experience come in thereby. So Paul prayed thrice for the removal of his temptation, and yet had the exercise of it contin- ued. In such a case there may beno defect in prayer, and yet the grace in particular aimed at not be attained. For God hath other holy ends to accomplish hereby on the soul. But how persons should continue in prayer, in general, according to the mind of God, so far as can be outwardly discovered, and yet thrive not at all, as unto spiritual strength in their souls, is hard to be understood. And which is yet more astonishing, men abide in the duty of prayer, and that in constancy, in their families, and otherwise, and yet live in known sins. Whatever spiritual thoughts such men have, in and by their pray- ers, they are not spiritually minded. Shall we now say, that all such persons are gross hypocrites; such as know they do but mock God and man ; know that they have not desires nor aims after the things which they mention in their own prayers ; but do these things either for some corrupt end, or at best to satisfy their convictions? Could we thus resolve, the whole diffi- culty of the case were taken off. ` For such double minded menhave no reason to think that they shall re- ceive any thing of the Lord,' as James speaks, chap. i. 7. Indeed, they do not. They never act faith re- ference unto their own prayers. But it is not so with all of this sort ; some judge themselves sincere, and in good earnest in their prayers, not without some hopes and expectations of success. I will not say of all such persons, that they are among the number of them con- s
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