For herein we employ all the other parts of the "whole armour of God," which the Apostle there requires us to take unto us, and to put on us. We use our knowledge of the Truth; and act our Faith, our Love, and our Hope; and have recourse to the Word of God, particularly to His precious promises; and declare our sincere affection to all righteousness, and our upright intentions to persist and continue therein by the help of God which we implore. So that it is the more necessary, because by Prayer all the graces of God's Holy Spirit are continually exercised and kept in use; the whole armour of God is girt closer to us; and we are made more expedite and ready, on all occasions, to encounter with the enemies of our salvation.

X. Whence it was, you may observe in the last place, that holy men, who lived the life of God in this world, could never be persuaded to

one instance of this,

omit it. I will give but in the prophet Daniel: who, when he had received the command of a great king to forbear praying to his God, for the space of thirty

days, durst not consent to a compliance with his will and pleasure. And yet Daniel was a good subject, as well as a wise man; who was very sensible what ready obedience ought to be paid to kings, and how necessary this obedience was; where a contrary, antecedent necessity did not lie upon him, to obey God: especially when the thing was enjoined under the penalty of death, and when his sovereign did not require a total forbearance of this duty, but only for a limited time. And yet so it was, he chose rather to lose the favour of his prince, who had been very kind to him, nay to lose his life, as well as his honour; and more than that, to be thrown into the den of lions, there to be torn in pieces and devoured by those ravenous beasts; than to omit his constant devotion to the supreme Lord and Sovereign of heaven and earth. For, saith the history of his admirable piety, "When Daniel knew that this decree was signed," (mark that,) "he went into his house, and his window being open toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees, three times a day, and prayed,

and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime." Dan. vi. 10.

Which shows that, in his opinion, it is more necessary to pray and give thanks to God, than it is to live: and that there is a necessity also of the frequent returns of this duty. For three times a day (as often as he did eat or drink) he continued, nothwithstanding the great hazard he run therein," to pray and give thanks before hi sGod."

CHAPTER V.

SOME REFLECTIONS UPON THE FOREGOING CON

SIDERATIONS.

BEFORE I proceed to lay before you the

great advantages we have, by the serious performance of this part of our Christian duty; it may be useful here to rest awhile, and only look back upon what hath been already discoursed. Which, if the reader will please to do with a composed mind and attentive thoughts, he may soon know what to think of his condition, if he never set himself to this holy employment, or rather heavenly privilege, of making devout addresses to God, by Prayer and Supplication, with Thanksgiving for all the benefits of which we are desirous, or He hath already conferred on us.

Such men are without God in the world; estranged from the Father of their being, con

temners of His most excellent Majesty; usurpers of His Sovereignty; that set up for themselves, and live as if they were the Original of all things; who stand in no need to be beholden to any one higher and greater than themselves. Guilty they are of the highest treason, because they refuse to pay the most natural and necessary acknowledgment unto the most High. They will not own Him as their Lord; nor make any significations of their dependence on Him; but use Him as if he were only a name; to Whom we owe a slight respect, but no solemn, constant, reverence and service.

Lay this to heart, I beseech you, whosoever you be, that do not make it one of the most serious businesses of your life to pray unto God. Consider what you are; in what relation you stand to Him; and what a bold disowning of Him this is that you may be humbled for it, and come and bow down yourselves, and kneel before the Lord your Maker; to beg His pardon for this contempt, to beseech His grace, and assure Him hereafter of your faithful service.