5 FIRST SERMON our own affections. If there come but a little light into a room, the defect is not in the sun, but in the narrowness of the window ; if a vessel fill but slowly, the fault is not any emptiness in the fountain, but the smallness of the pipe. If mercies ripen slowly, or stop at any time in the way, it is not because they are unwilling to come to us, but because we are unfit to enjoy them. Our prayers, doubtless, in many of us, have not been words taken from him, but from our own carnal dictates. We would fain have things well in our country, but have we hitherto looked after our consciences ? The distractions without us, have they driven us to consider the distempers within, or to desire the things above ? The unsettledness of peace in the kingdom, bath it awakened us to secure our peace with God ? We would fain have better times, but have we yet laboured for better hearts ? We would fain have a right understanding prevail in public matters,; but have we yet seriously set about it, to have a more clear and sweet communion between us and our God ? We long to see more good laws, but are we yet come to the care of good lives ? Every one cries out, " Who will show us any good ?" but how few think on the light of God's countenance. Hence, hence, beloved, is the miscarriage of all our prayers. If we would seek God's kingdom, we are promised other things by way of overplus and accession, as he that buyeth a treasury of jewels bath the cabinet into the bargain. But when we place our kingdom in outward comforts, and let our daily bread shut all the other five petitions out of our prayers, no wonder if the promises of this life, whicb are annexed unto godliness, do not answer those prayers wherein godliness is neglected. It
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