Now, to proceed and show why prayer is so necessary a means with our other armour for our defence, let us set forth these reasons in order. First. Because of the co‑ordination of this duty with all other means for the Christian’s defence, and that by divine appointment. Second. Because of the influence that prayer hath upon all our graces. Third. Because of the great prevalency prayer hath with God.
The co‑ordination of prayer with other means for the Christian’s defence makes it necessary. Reason First. The first reason is taken from the co-ordination of this duty of prayer with all other means for the Christian’s defence, and that by divine appointment. He that bids us take the girdle of truth, breastplate of righteousness, &c., commands also not to neglect this duty. Now what God joins we must not sever. The efficacy of co‑ordinate means lies in their conjunction. The force of an army consists not in this troop, or that one regiment, but in all the parts in a body. And if any single troop or company shall presume to fight the enemy alone, what can they expect but to be routed by the enemy and punished by their general also? Let not any say they use this means and that. If any one duty be willingly neglected, the golden chain of obedience is broke. And bonum non nisi ex integris—nothing is really good that is not so in all its parts. As to a good action, there is required a concurrence of all the several ingredients and causes; so to make a good Christian, there is required a conscientious care to use all appointed means. He must follow the Lord ‘fully;’ not make here a balk and there a furrow. It is not the least of Satan's policy to get between one duty and another, that the man may not unite his forces, and be uniform in his endeavour.
Few so bad as to use no means; and not many so faithful to God and themselves as conscientiously to use all. One, he pretends to sincerity, and dares appeal to God that he means well, and his heart is good. But, for ‘the breastplate of righteousness,’ it is too heavy and cumbersome for him to wear. Another seems very just and righteous, so that he would not wrong his neighbour, no, not of one penny, to gain many pounds. But, as for faith in Christ, this he never looks after. A third boasts of his faith and hope, as if he did not doubt of his salvation. But, as for the word of God that should beget and increase it, he cares not how seldom he looks on it at home,or hears it in the public. And a fourth, he hath this to say for himself, ‘That he is a constant hearer, his seat at church is seldom found empty, and at home the Bible often in his hands.’ But, as for prayer, his closet, could it speak, would bear witness against him, that he seldom or never performs it. This half doing will prove many a soul’s whole undoing. Samuel asked Jesse, ‘Are here all thy children?’ Though but a stripling wanting, he must be sent for before he will sit down. So may I say to many that are very busy and forward in some particular duties and means, ‘Is here all that God hath given thee in charge?’ If but one be wanting, God's blessing will be wanting also. And as that son was wanting of Jesse’s which God did intend to set the crown upon, so that duty and means which is most neglected, we have cause to think is the means which God would especially crown with his blessing upon our faithful endeavour.
