58 OF SPIRITUAL MINDENESS. know not what is become of them, but fear that God is not glorified by them, nor their own souls bettered. I answer, 1. There is great spiritual refreshment in that godly sorrow which is at work in our prayers. Where the Holy Ghost is a spirit of grace and suppli- cation, he causeth mourning, and in that mourning there is joy. 2. The secret encouragement which we receive by praying, to adhere unto God constantly in prayer, ariseth from some experience of this holy com- placency, though we have not a sensible evidence of it. 3. Perhaps some of themwho make this complaint, if they would awaken and consider, would find that their souls, at least sometimes, had been thus refreshed, and brought unto an holy rest in God. 4. Then shall you know the Lord, if you follow on to know him. Abide in seeking after this complacency, and satisfac- tion in God, and you shall attain it. 3. It is a sure evidence that our thoughts of spiri- tual things in our supplications are from an internal spring of grace, and are not merely occasioned by the duty itself, when we find the daily fruit and advantage of them; especially in the preservation of our souls in an holy, humble, watchful frame. Innumerable are the advantages, benefits, and effects of prayer, which are commonly spoken unto; growth in grace and consolation is the substance of them. Where there is continuance in prayer, there will be spiritual growth in some proportion. For men to be earnest in prayer, and thriftless in grace, is a certain indication of prevalent corruptions, and want of being spiritually minded in prayer itself. If a man eats his daily food, let him eat never so much, or so often, if he be not nourished by it, his body is under the power of prevalent distempers; and so is his spirtual consti-
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