Some considerations pressing the duty of persevering prayer 2/2

   Fourth Consideration.  Consider it is as sinful as foolish to give over this duty.  ‘Thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God,’ Job 15:4.  It is a high crime for one trusted with a castle for his prince to deliver it cowardly into his enemy’s hand, espe­cially if he hath provision wherewithal to defend it. Now hath not God provided sufficiently to enable the Christian to maintain this duty against all the armies of men and devils, afflictions and temptations, that can oppose it? Princes are most careful to enforce and supply frontier castles above others with all necessaries for defence, because most assaulted.  Prayer is a duty that is as hard laid at by Satan as any, and hath many other difficulties that render it no easy matter for the Christian to be instant and constant at it.  God hath considered this, and accordingly pro­vided succour.  He gives his Spirit to help the Chris­tian—because of his many infirmities—what and how to pray; who, if he be used kindly, will not be wanting to lift with him in the work.  And, while the Spirit is ready to pray in him, Christ is as ready in heaven to pray for him; who also sends the precious promise of the gospel—as messengers into a besieged town—to assure the soul relief is coming from heaven to him, be the affliction or temptation never so great and formidable that besets it.  Now, to faint in the work, and, by giving over the duty, to open the city gates of his soul, for Satan to enter and triumph over God with his insulting blasphemies—O what gracious soul, that hath any spark of loyalty in his breast unquenched to his God, doth not tremble at the thought of such a treasonable action!  We cannot cast off prayer, but we cast some dishonourable reflection upon God; for, as one saith well, every real defect in the creature proceeds from an imaginary defect which he falsely supposeth to be in God.  Men first conceive unworthily of God, and then carry themselves un­worthily and undutifully to him.  Now the causes from which this fainting in prayer proceeds are all evil and bitter, as by and by will appear.

           Fifth Consideration.  As it is foolish and evil, so it is of dangerous consequence to ourselves, to faint, and cease to pray.

1. It is the ready way to bring some stinging affliction upon us.  This is the best that can come of it.  Art thou a servant of God, and fleest from his face?  Art thou a child, and playest the truant?  Look that thy heavenly Father will send thee to school with a rod at thy back.

           2. Cease to pray, and thou wilt begin to sin. Prayer is not only a means to prevail for mercy, but also to prevent sin.  ‘Pray that ye enter not into temptation.’  The thief comes when the candles are out and all the house in their beds. Christ could not keep his disciples awake at their devotions; and how soon were they put to the rout when the tempter came!  When the courtier in a discontent withdraws, and gives over his attendance at court, he is more easily wound in to disloyal practices against his prince.  Discontent softens the heart to receive sinful impressions from the tempter.  ‘Thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God,’ Job 15:4.  Eliphaz’s doctrine was true, though his application was false.  When Saul gave over in a pet to pray to God, then he sought to a witch.  Sins of commission are the usual punishments that God inflicts on persons for sins of omission.  He that leaves a duty may fear to be left to commit a crime; he that turns his ear from the truth takes the ready course to be given over to believe fables, II Tim. 4:4.  He that casteth off prayer, it is a wonder if you find him not ere long cast into some foul sin.