it is by the Means of Application to God that you will be relieved: If Temptations folicit you, if Afflictions opprefs you, if you labour under any Neceffity, feek for Redress by Prayer. If your Addrefles to God are managed with thofe Qualifications that are required, with Reverence and Attention, with Fervour and Conftancy, and with an entire Truft in his Goodness, they will not faii to meet with Succefs. You afk, and have not, because you afk amifs. The Power, Dexterity and Art of Man, can never prevail fo much as the conftant Prayer of a Good Man; this has a Force to which all other Means muft fubmit. As to the Practice of this Duty; I. Let your Hours of Prayer be regulated. Confidering the other Circumftances of your Life, allot that Share of Time you can allow to this Exercife of Devotion, and be conftant in your Obfervation of fuch appointed Times. Never begin the Day without entering into your Clofet, and addreffing yourself to the great Creator of Heaven and Earth; and never retire to your Reft, without commending yourself to his Protection. If you are a Mafter of a Family, let Morning and Evening Prayer have their stated Hours, that the Family may fo order their Affairs as not to be abfent: This is the best Method to keep up a Senfe of Religion among your Children and Servants, without which other Measures will prove ineffectual. As often as you conveniently can, frequent the public Prayers of the Church, which as they are moft acceptable to God, fo they bring the moft Profit and Advantage to us: This Exercife of our Devotion is the proper Bufinefs of Sundays, and therefore we muft charge ourselves with it as Matter of Duty, to be present in the public Affemblies upon fuch Occafions; no flight trivial Excufe fhould be admitted to prevent our Attendance in God's Houfe; and the Flame of Piety muft burn very dimly, if we can omit fuch Occafions without Concern, or enjoy them without Pleasure and Satisfaction. We fhould likewife endeavour fo to order our worldly Affairs, as to frequent the public Worship on Holy Days. II. Accuftom yourfelf to pious Ejaculations. These fhort Breathings of the Soul towards God are very ufeful to preserve in us a devout Frame and Temper of Mind; they keep our Affections warm, and make us ready and zealous to embrace all Opportunities of doing Good. For this Purpose, we neither want a Church nor a Clofet; but at our Work; at our Study, at our Bufinefs, nay, even in Converfation, we may exercife this Sort of Devotion. We fhould always remember, that we are in the Prefence of God; that our moft fecret Actions are expofed to his View: For this Senfe of God's Prefence will have a great Influence upon the Conduct it is by the Means of Application to God that you will be relieved: If Temptations folicit you, if Afflictions opprefs you, if you labour under any Neceffity, feek for Redress by Prayer. If your Addrefles to God are managed with thofe Qualifications that are required, with Reverence and Attention, with Fervour and Conftancy, and with an entire Truft in his Goodness, they will not fail to meet with Succefs. You afk, and have not, because you ask amifs. The Power, Dexte rity and Art of Man, can never prevail fo much as the conftant Prayer of a Good Man; this has a Force to which all other Means muft fubmit. As to the Practice of this Duty; I. Let your Hours of Prayer be regulated. Confidering the other Circumftances of your Life, allot that Share of Time you can allow to this Exercife of Devotion, and be conftant in your Obfervation of fuch appointed Times, Never begin the Day without entering into your Clofet, and addreffing yourself to the great Creator of Heaven and Earth; and never retire to your Reft, without commending yourself to his Protection. If you are a Mafter of a Family, let Morning and Evening Prayer have their stated Hours, that the Family may fo order their Affairs as not to be abfent: This is the beft Method to keep up a Senfe of Religion among your Children and Servants, without which other Measures will prove ineffectual. As often s II. Accuftom yourfelf to pines Ejaculitis 161 for fpiday, the y can be Ons upon f our Sa nany Arvout: At mine the compare at where ay repair and beg the future. ime apart to the holy ntage, that nd inflames linds above 3 very pro Conduct of our Lives, in reftraining us from Sin, in fortifying us against Temptations, and in animating us with a holy Zeal in all our Actions. Thefe Ejaculations are particularly of ufe when any Temptation affaults us: Lord, let not the Enemy prevail against_me; be thou my Strength and Support in this Hour of Trial: When any Affliction happens to us; It comes, O Lord, from thy Hand; therefore I will receive it with Patience and Submiffion, and I will wait thy Time for my Deliverance: When we fall into any Sin: Miferable Wretch that I am, to offend fo good a God; Pardon for Chrift's Sake, O Lord, this my Folly, and enable me to avoid it for the Time to come: When we are delivered from any Danger; Thy Power and thy Might have preferved me: I will fing of thy Goodness as long as I live. When we receive any Bleffing; I owe this Merey, O Lord, to Thee, who art the Fountain of all Goodness, and I will exprefs my Gratitude by ferving Thee faithfully all the Days of my Life: When Bufinefs and Converfation have diffipated our Minds; Let not the Affairs and Pleasures of Life fill my Head; but let the Thoughts of Thee delight my Soul. There is no great Time required for thefe Afpirations of the Soul towards God; a Caft of the Eye, a Gefture, a Sigh, one Word fometimes may be fufficient to teftify to God the Bottom of our Hearts, and exprefs the Defire we have to please Him. III. Set |