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ercises of Piety, we may be easily satisfied, that one moment spent in the discharge of this duty, will much outweigh an whole life spent in the indulgence of Senfuality and Libertinifm. So much as the Soul is fuperior to the body, fo much are the pleasures of the one beyond those of the other. Corporeal gratifications are violent, but not lafting; they foon cloy, and pall upon the appetite, and, notwithstanding the charm of variety, grow tedious and infipid. The pleasures of the foul are more fedate and temperate, more lafting and permanent; the more we ufe, the more we relish them, the longer we are acquainted with them, the more lovely they appear, and the stronger they engage us. But of all the pleasures of the foul, those which the receives from the communication of God in the exercise of Prayer, are undoubtedly the moft excellent, when the mounts

upon

upon

the wings of Devotion, and, divefted of earthly thoughts and affections, penetrates into the highest Heaven, and enjoys the glorious prefence, and the gracious conversation of her God. Senfual gratifications leave a fting behind them, which the greatest libertine in the world cannot always appeafe; he must fometimes in his cooler hours, feel the terrors, and groan beneath the burden of an accufing confcience; but the pleasures refulting from Prayer, as they are free from all difquietudes at the time, fo they are not terminated with the exercise itself, but diffufe a folid and lasting fatisfaction over the foul; and the action is not only pleasant in the performance, but alfo in our confideration of it afterwards. A pleasure this, which Vice may always wish for, but never can enjoy. We may therefore with great truth affert, that whatever the world may think, and wicked men

may

may talk of pleasure, it is never to be found till we become acquainted with God, till we are made fenfible of his love, and enjoy that happy friendship, and communion with him, which is only expreffed and maintained by Prayer, and spiritual exercifes.

But the performance of this duty is not only attended with Pleasure, but Honour alfo. To enjoy the intimacy and friendship of a monarch, to be admitted to his Prefence at all times, to be at liberty to prefent our petitions and be affured of fuccess, is deservedly esteemed a great honour; but how much greater is it to enjoy the friendship of the King of Kings, to have freedom of accefs at all times, to lay open our wants, and make our diftreffes known, with that freedom and liberty which a man ufeth to his friend. A mighty privilege

this

this furely an honour as much greater than the familiarity of an earthly king, as God is fuperior to the greatest monarch; an honour, which is not to be fought through difficulties, dangers, and uncertainties, but may be eafily, fafely, and certainly obtained by the meaneft man on earth; an honour, which does not depend upon the breath of an unftable and mifjudging man, but on the favour of an immutable and all-wife God; an honour which is not to be acquired by violating our integrity, and contradicting the frame of our nature, but by preferving and complying with it; which is not to be fought through the labyrinth of lies, flattery, and deceit, but in the plain road of truth, fincerity, and honefty; which is not to be obtained by envy, hatred, and ambition, but by love, charity, and humility; an honour which will not leave us in the grave,

but

but accompany us to, and be perfected in

another life.

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To the confideration of Pleasure and Honour, let us add that of Profit also; and Profit redounding to us both in temporal and spiritual matters. Prayer is the best means of obtaining God's favour for the acquifition of what we want, and the Preservation of what we have. If we fearch the fcriptures, we cannot but obferve the great prevalence of this duty with God, and have inftances, in the hiftorical parts of them, of the great temporal bleffings which are to be procured by it, which are at large fet forth by Solomon.

If thy people Ifrael be fmitten down before the if Heaven be shut up,

enemy;

and there be no rain; if there be in the'

land famine, or peftilence, or if thy people

VOL. IV.

E

go

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