remember, here is the reason, God punisheth their carelesness in hearing, with forgetfulness. He suffers Satan to take away the word from them, Matt. xiii. 4. The fowls of the air came and devoured the seed. The Devil is no recusant, he comes to church, but it is not for any good intent; he gets away the word from men. How many have been robbed of

the sermon and their souls both at once.

4. It may be the last time that ever God will speak to us in his word: it may be the last sermon that ever we shall hear; and we may go from the place of hearing, to the place of judging. Did people think thus when they come into the house of God, perhaps this will be the last time that God will counsel us about our souls; the last time that ever we shall see our minister's face, with what devotion would they come! how would their affections be all on fire in hearing! We give great attention to the last speeches of friends. A parent's dying words are received as oracles. Oh let all this provoke us to diligence in hearing: let us think, this may be the last time that Aaron's bell shall sound in our ears, and before another day, we shall be in another world.

3. The third duty wherein we are to offer violence to ourselves, is in prayer, Prayer is a duty which keeps the trade of religion agoing. When we either join in prayer with others, or pray alone, we must use holy violence; not eloquence in prayer but vio

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lence carries it. Theodorus speaking of Luther, once (says he) I overheard him in prayer, but, (good God) with what life and spirit did he pray! It was with so much reverence as if he were speaking to God, yet with so much confidence, as if he had been speaking to his friend. There must be a stirring up of the heart,

1. A stirring up of the heart to prayer, Job xi. 13. If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands towards him. This preparing our heart is by holy thoughts and ejaculations. The musician first tunes his instrument before he plays.

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2. There must be a stirring up of the heart in prayer. Prayer is a lifting up of the mind and soul to God, which cannot be done aright without offering violence to oneself. names given to prayer import violence. It is called wrestling, Gen. xxxii. 24. and pouring out the soul, 1 Sam. i. 15. both which imply vehemency. The affection is required as well as the invention. The apostle speaks of an effectual fervent prayer, which is a parallel phrase to offering violence.

Alas, how far are they from offering violence to themselves in prayer, 1. That give God a dead heartless prayer, God would not have the blind offered, Mal. i. 8. as good offer the blind as the dead. Some are half

asleep when they pray; and will a sleepy prayer ever awaken God? Such as mind not their own prayers, how do they think that God should mind them? Those prayers God likes best which come seething hot from the heart.

2. How far are they from offering violence, that give God distracted prayer? while they are praying, they are thinking of their shop and trade. How can he shoot right whose eye is quite off the mark? Ezek. xxxiii. 31. Their heart goes after their covetousness.→→ Many are casting up their accounts in prayer, as Hieram once complained of himself. How can God be pleased with this? Will a king endure that while his subject is delivering a petition, and speaking to him, he should be playing with a feather? When we send our hearts on an errand to Heaven, how often do they loiter and play by the way? This is matter of blushing; that we may offer violence to ourselves, and by fervency feather the wing of prayer: let these things be duly weighed.

1. The majesty of God with whom we have to do. He sees how it is with us in prayer, whether we are deeply affected with those things we pray for. The king came in to see the guests, Matt. xxii. 11. So when we go to pray, the King of glory comes in to see in what frame we are he hath a window which looks into our breasts, and if he sees a

dead heart, he may turn a deaf ear. Nothing will sooner make God's anger wax hot than a cold prayer.

2. Prayer without fervency and violence, is no prayer; it is speaking, not praying. Lifeless prayer is no more prayer than the picture of a man is a man. To say a prayer is not to pray; Aschanius taught his parrot the Lord's Prayer. St. Ambrose saith well, It is the life and affection in a duty that baptizeth it, and gives it a name. 'Tis the violence and wrestling of the affections that make it a prayer, else it is no prayer. But a man may say as Pharaoh, I have dreamed a dream, Gen. xli. 15.

3. The zeal and violence of the affections in prayer best suits with God's nature. He is a spirit, John iv. 24. and sure that prayer which is full of life and spirit, is the savoury meat he loves, 1 Peter ii. 5. Spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. Spirituality and fervency in duty, is like the spirits of wine, which are the more refined part of the wine. Bodily exercise profits nothing. 'Tis not the stretching of the lungs, but the vehemency of the desire that makes music in God's cars. 4. Consider the need we have of those things which we ask in prayer. We come to ask the favour of God; and if we have not his love, all that we enjoy is cursed to us. We pray that our souls may be washed in Christ's blood; and if he wash us not, we

have no part in him. These are such mercies, that if God deny us, we are forever undone. Therefore what violence had we need put forth in prayer? when will a man be earnest, if not when he is begging for his life?

5. Let it provoke violence in prayer to consider those things which we ask, God hath a mind to grant. If a son ask nothing but what his father is willing to bestow, he may be the more earnest in his suit. We go to God for pardon of sin, and no work more pleasing to him than to seal pardons. Mercy is his delight, Micah vii. 18. We pray to God for an holy heart, and this prayer is according to his will, 1 Thes. iv. 3. This is the will of God, your sanctification. We pray that God would give us an heart to love him. How pleasing must this request needs be to God! This, if any thing may excite prayer, and carry it in a fiery chariot up to Heaven, when we know we pray for nothing but what God is more willing to grant than we are to ask.

6. No mercy can be bestowed on us but in a way of prayer. Mercy is purchased by Christ's blood, but it is conveyed by prayer. All the promises are bonds made over to us, but prayer puts these bonds in suit. The Lord hath told Israel with what rich mercy he would bespangle them; he would bring them to their native country, and bring them thi