that a man hath and not according to that he hath not Answ. 1. This axiom and Scripture were never intended as a pillow for the lazy but a support to the weary nor to exempt us from our duty but to comfort us under our weakness What Parent will accept this answer from a negligent Child or what Master will be content of this excuse from a slothful servant offer it now to you Governour and imagine not it will pass with God which would be counted a mockery with men 2. God never accepts the Will for the Deed when the Deed may be done when the Idem cannot be paid the Tantundem shall serve yea and so far as the Deed can be done the will without it is but a mockery unto God But wherein an upright heart hath done its utmost in the use of all means and would do more this will is accepted for the Deed even as if thou hadst perfectly obeyed And so that Scripture cited is express in the case of charity It is accepted according to that a man hath So that a man must give according to that he hath or else his willing mind stands for nothing Now have you done your utmost against Distractions can you do no more If Death stood at the end of the Duty you could double your watch Plead not this till you have done your best 3. It is far from the quality of grace to sit down content in any defect or sin or to vouch the mercy of God to secure the soul in any transgression who when he is drest in his richest garments of mercy Exod. 34.7 Yet will not by any means clear the guilty No it is the Genius of true Grace to be restless under his deâ—ects if he cannot be rid of them to rowle up the stone though it tumble still upon him and cry out and roar under those diseases that are uncurable After the Apostle had told us Rom. 7.19 The good I would I do not but the Evil that I would not that I do He lyes not down and resolves to let it run but fights and strives and cryes O wretched man that I am Vers. 24. Si dixisti sufficit periisti If thou once sit down be content and say I 'le strive no more thou givest the field The Spirit withdraws with tears and Satan goes away with triumph 4. The Great Iehovah is so far from being content with such a frame that he hath plainly cursed all such as do the work of the Lord negligently or deceitfully Jer. 48.10 Though you neglect not the work of the Lord yet if you do it negligently you are in danger of the curse Every Distraction is a neglect in each wandring you deal deceitfully with God and for every of these in a Duty Gods Law pronounceth a Curse And is the Divine Curse inconsiderable with you who could digest an hundred curses though pronounced at your door by a provoked neighbour O how much more intolerable is it to be obnoxious to an hundred Curses from Heaven justly deserved and infallibly inflicted if Repentance prevent not It is not the work of the Lord will excuse you Nadab shall perish with his strange fire as well as if he had offered nothing at all Take heed of forgiving your selves when God forgives you not A negligent Duty is abomination to God And thus you have the most material Objections answered which is the fifth Point handled CHAP. VI. The Causes of Distractions with their Remedies SECT I. VVE shall now proceed unto the more Practical part of this Subject namely to find out and summ up the causes of this Epidemical Disease which is the Sixth Point to be handled The First Cause of Distractions in Gods service is Secret Atheism There is an Atheism of the Head Atheism of the heart and Atheism of the Life In the first The Fool hath said in his Head There is no God Psal. 14.1 Mark it is not He hath thought in his heart but says it by rote to himself rather as what he would have than what he doth believe And of him this is truly said That the speculative Atheist is the greatest Monster in the world except the Practical And our late Divisions by the help of our corrupt Natures have proselyted a considerable number to this desperate Opinion As if the different opinions about the ebbâ—ng and slowing of the Sea should render it doubtful whether the Sea did ebb and flow or the disputes about the manner of Vision should call our Sight it self into question You would think it a fond conclusion to say Because Philosophers argue much about the sensitive and vegitative Faculties of the Soul that there is no rational Soul at all in that these very velitations and debates do argue a rational Soul by and with which these points are disputed even so it is notorious madness to conclude from the variety and diversity of Opinions about Religion and Government that there is no God seeing you are supported by him while you dispute and argue about him Atheism of the Heart is whereby the Fool saith also in his Heart There is no God that is either secretly questions or but coldly assents to the existence of God or heartily wishes there were none at all And it is worth observation of both these that they are such as are obnoxious to the Divine Majesty by some misdemeanor The Felon wishes there were no Judge at all and even these are forced in some pangs to acknowledge him at some fright by thunder under some horrour of Consciâ—nce or in the point of death they are forced to give Iehovah his due And they also in any sudden fright or great extremity use to cry out O God O Lord as earnestly as others Atheism of the Life that 's described Tit. 1.14 They profess that they know God but in works they deny him Now both these latter do breed of the first and this last is most visible in our Distractions For if thou didst as verily believe God present in an Ordinance as he that sits next thee durst thou trifle so egregiously as thou dost The Minister looks at you and you dare not talk if you saw him that looks at you from Heaven you durst not straggle And therefore the more or less strong our belief is of God the more or less lively are we in our applications to him Oh the patience of God! that he can indure the Worm to doubt of him yea implicitely to deny him and not demonstrate himself by a Thunderbolt But the Countrey-man's ignorance of the Primum Mobile doth not nullifie it no more doth the Athiests Infidelity degrade the Primus Motor the Majesty of Heaven Heb. 11.6 He that cometh unto God must first believe that he is The Remedy of this Cause is Humbly to read the Scripture which is the most clear certain and convincing way to work Faith herein Prayer and the Bible have convinc'd more than
unprepared Heart To such an Heart the whole Duty is a Distraction When a vain and earthly Soul like a truant Scholar keeps out of his Masters sight out of choice and with content and is any where better than at his Lesson What little Rest would such a Soul find in Heaven Or what true delight can he take in the most holy presence of God above that can find no rest and sweetness in his presence below 3. Again some Distractions are long and do consist of a concatenation of vain thoughts when they do lodge in the heart The Lord still calling at the door and saying How long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee These do much alter the complexion of the Soul and argue too deep an habit of vanity therein It is a true saying Though we cannot hinder the Birds from flying over our heads yet we may disturb their roosting or making Nests in our hair So though we cannot well hinder the sudden suggestion of a vain thought yet we may trouble its quiet resting in the Soul Yet such strange subtilty is there in us that we can keep God in play a long time yea when our selves are employed in a Prayer and be tampering with the world or sin all the while the soul never coming in till the Amen of a Prayer do awaken us But other Distractions are but short only a step out of the way and in again and the soul catcheth the faster hold of God And indeed when the soul doth follow hard after God as every one should do in his service though it stumble as it often happens to the most earnest in the way yet it recovers to its advantage being more zealous after The fall of the former being like that of the Swine who lyes still in her mire The fall of the latter like the Sheep that falling riseth and runs the faster And thus you have seen the several kinds of Distractions which was the second general Head CHAP. III. To Attend on the Lord without Distraction is our Duty SECT I. IN the third place I shall prove that to Attend upon the Lord without Distraction is our Duty which will clearly follow by demonstrating 1. The Possibility of it 2. The Necessity of it First It is Possible thus to serve our God the sluggard it is true finds a Lyon in his way to every Duty and nothing is possible because nothing is welcome There is no Duty so easie but can pose the negligent none so hard but is facile through Divine grace to the diligent Perfection herein I assert not but that we may attain it in the substance and security thereof is proved 1. From the Precept of God The wise and merciful God commands nothing but he finds or makes it possible He most truly sayes Viam aut inveniam aut faciam His commands are not snares but Rules yea and Helps When a Master commands power and assistance waite not on his Commands the Servants strength must perform the Masters will but here are the commands of a Father which when they outstrip his childs strength are still accompanied with his own assistance and the chair which the weak cannot bring in he helps to fetch himself Now behold the Divine Precept 1 Sam. 12.24 Serve him in Truth with all your Heart What truth is there while we appear to serve the Lord and indeed do not think upon him at all Or how is that with all the Heart while there is not half nor any thereof many times while we can pray and plot and think and look and begin our Devotion only at the end of the Duty Our merciful Father will not impose an impossible Law upon us It may by accident become impossible but it is not so in it self 2. In regard of the Power of God it is possible Ours is the Duty but his is the strength God and his servant can do any thing When you look on a hard task and your heart fails you advance your eye of Faith and you will find God the strength of your heart Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through Christ that strengthneth me loe here the omnipotency of a worm If all things that is all my duty then this among the rest But you will say This was an Apostle a Person of great strength and Grace yet still the Acts were from the man but the Strength was from Christ for the same person saith 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God Who though he be at the same time Terrible out of his holy places and darts his Curses on them that do his work negligently yet the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power to his People Blessed be God Psal. 68.35 He gives that is he is ready to give it out but alas his stock lyes almost dead by him and none sues to him in good earnest His Power is at your service and therefore serve your selves of it 3. In regard of the Promise of God This is Possible To every command there is a Promise The command finds us work the Promise â—inds us strength As to this some think that clause in our Magna Charta Ezek. 11.19 of One Heart is intended this way wherein the Lord promiseth an united heart to his servants An hypocrite hath more hearts than one an heart for his pleasures an heart for his pride here and there his affections are stragling now saith God I will give one heart There is another Promise Jer. 32.40 I will put my fear into their hearts that they shall not depart from me neither in whole nor in part unless fault be in your selves Now these promises are Amen in Christ and do belong to every soul that is in Christ who may claim and have the benefit of them 4. Add hereunto the Experience of many servants of God who by an habit of holy watchfulness have attained to considerable strength against these Wandrings Hope of relief makes many complain of their Distractions when fear of Pride hinders them from divulging their attainments And that which by the grace of God is possible for others with the same grace is possible for you SECT II. SEcondly It is necessary and therefore no doubt our duty to Attend on God without Distractions It not only may be done but must be done You will say They are happy that can do it but they may be safe enough that cannot Thus the inside and substance of Religion is counted an high attainment but not Duty I shall shew therefore that this soul-attendance on the Lord is necessary 1. It is Necessary to the Essence or Being of the Duty As the soul is necessary to the Being of a man the body is no man but a Corps without it even so a solemn Duty with a wandring heart is but the Corps of a Duty Lam. 3.41 Let us lift up OVR HEARTS with our
spirits and Gods spirit also Those that tremble at the prophane mans taking Gods name in vain should make a Conscience lest they do it themselves lest They be damned for their Oaths and You for your prayers because you wrong Gods Majesty under the pretence of serving him and so affront him with more solemnity 3. They contract more sin upon the Soul We read Levit. 10.1 That Nadab and Abihu the sons of Aaron took either of them his Censer and put fire therein and put incense thereon and offered strange fire before the Lord. And the Lord took it in high disdain and with strange fire consumed them Sins of Ordinances are often extraordinary sins as Sacriledge is a greater sin than plain theft because it is a purloyning of what is consecrated so a sin in worship hath this aggravation that its in a place and presence and business that is set apart for communion with God Hence it comes to pass that many of Gods â—hildren have had grievous pangs and â—errour of Conscience on their death-bed for ordinance sins He that should be scoring out his sins and instead of that scores on more makes his sin exceeding sinfull O what need then have we to pray Psal. 119.39 Turn away mine eyes from beholding Vanity and quicken thou me in thy way And these are some of the Reasons that confirm and inforce this Practical Doctrine That we should attend upon the Lord without Distractions and so you have the fourth general Head CHAP. V. Objections Answered SECT I. BUT because there is no Duty so clear that our sinfull hearts will embrace if any shew of contradiction can be produced I shall wipe away all Possible Objections against this Duty which is the Fifth general Head to be handled It is impossible thus to Attend on God without distractions Such is the Variety of objects such the imbecillity of our Nature such the weakness of our Graces such the suddenness and swiftness of a thought that none but Angels can do this You press impossibles it can never be Though this objection hath been prevented before yet seeing it recurs again I answer 1. Perfection herein is impossible in this life not but that a prayer or other Ordinance may be attended with that intenseness as to exclude every wandring thought that would step in but to be perfectly free in every Duty from them is rather to be wished than hoped for in this life That Angelical perfection is Reserved for Heaven This Evangelical perfection may be here attained which is the prevalence of grace against them and not only a will but a watch and an endeavour to be utterly rid of them 2. And in this sense there is no divine precept impossible Though our Lord Jesus saith Joh. 15.5 Without me ye can do nothing yet the Apostle finds Phil. 4.13 I can do all things through him that strengtheneth me If all things then why not this Though it were impossible ex parte Rei in its self yet is it possible ex parte Dei with Gods help we are prone to think that we can compass easie things by our own strength and that difficult things are too hard for God Have you ever tryed to the utmost what God and you can do could you not have heard a Sermon better if a naked sword had hang'd by a single twist over your bare heads and have prayed more cordially if you had seen every word you prayed written down by the hand of God The same circumspection that keeps a Distraction out of one sentence might were you faithful therein keep it out of two or ten or twenty and he that can be temperate for a day might be temperate every day if he did his best 3. It is a mixture of cowardize and sloth that makes it impossible It is an argument of a slothful heart to say There is a Lyon in the way O there is a Lyon in the streets Prov. 26.13 yet if there were a Lyon in the way to Heaven thou must rather run upon him than run from God There is a worse Lyon will meet you in the way to Hell No no it s not the danger without but the dulness and slothfulness within that Creates the impossibility How many hundreds out of fearfulness and idleness have restrained Prayer before God till being soundly awaken'd they set about prayer and found it both feasable and delightful Religion in the power of it is a work of pains If you will not sweat for Heaven you must never have it try but the next duty with your best Diligence and you shall find it possible to the power of Grace which looks impossible to the strength of Nature SECT II. Obj. 2. It is difficult if it be not impossible yet it s very hard It s a lesson for the upper form in the School of Iesus Christ. We mean schollars need not attempt it because we cannot attain it as good to sit still as rise up and fall This is too hard for us Answ. 1. This argues the excellency of it the more hard the more honourable and therefore this should rather whet than dull thy courage If you except all hard points out of the practice of piety you will leave but few to be practised It is the idle Schollar that skips over the hardest words of his lesson but the rod must fetch him back unto them neither must you expect that God will take any notice of your easie duties if you turn off the hard he could have servants enough to do his easie work but Religion must go all together and almost Christianity will not serve the turn 2. The way to Heaven is hard and this you were told at first Mat. 7.14 Because strait is the Gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life If you like it not let it alone but see you exchange for the better To get a Kingdom is not easie its easie to lose one Who gets a race without sweating or a victory without bleeding or Heaven without striving Hence Mr. Latimer to one that objects against the duty he was pressing which was that Landlords should send for their Tenants and end differences among them that this were a good work indeed but marvellous hard O saith he my friend It is an hard matter to be a Christian. Heaven was never gotten yet without violence and there is no new way found of coming there But if Christ Iesus had not done harder work than this for thee thou must never have come there 3. And is there no hardship in attending upon sin Is it an easie thing to serve the Devil Wise Solomon saith Prov. 13.15 The way of Transgressors is hard Our love to it blinds our eyes or else he serves an hard service that dances attendance on any sin The Lascivious man swallows many difficulties perhaps weeks and months together to continue the pleasure of an hour How many dark nights doth the
and seeking help The condemned prisoner is not sleeping or fooling at the Bar. Dionysius his Flatterer had little mind of his Musick seeing the naked sword hang by an hair over his empty head neither would a poor sinner if he were enlightned to see his guilt and danger so commonly and senselesly trifle before God when his matter is debating and terms of life or death proposing Alas there is no hope of your cure in this till your fundamental disease be healed your whole life is a long distraction from the true end and main business of life and therefore it stands you upon if ever you would perform a pleasing duty unto God to get grace whereby you may serve God acceptably for without that you cannot do it And to counterballance that corruption of Nature in you you that have some sanctification must get more This sweet wood cast into that bitter water will by degrees render it more wholesome The more sanctification the more you will be mortified to the world and all the business and vanity thereof and then its thoughts and cares will not rush in with that violence upon you but stay to speak with you at your better leisure or if they be invading the heart you will have more vigour of grace to expel them and more repentance for them you will be more lively and spiritual and fervent in Religious duties and so less room for these wandrings for he that 's hot in his business prevents the assault of the most importunate diversions and a lively serious Christian runs on his errand like Elisha's Servant 2 King 4.29 If thou meet any man salute him not and if any salute thee answer him not again and Satan cannot fasten discourse on such a man yea and generally the more holy the heart is the fewer of these wandring thoughts forasmuch as sanctity being his frame and element heterogeneous by thoughts do put him out of his temper and so displease him and cause some smart to the soul and the sin that really molests a man will hardly ever prevail over him and finally the more holiness you attain the more afraid will you be to displease God For to be amended with a little cross to be affected with a little mercy and to be afraid of a little sin are certain arguments of a great deal of grace And therefore an holy Christian is more troubled at a vain thought in a duty than a sleight Christian is at the total neglect of a Duty It follows therefore that all means be used and improved to the utmost for the increasing of the grace of God in your hearts there being as much duty to grow in grace as to get it and no greater argument of sincerity than endeavours to grow better Turn therefore those many thoughts you spend about the truth of your grace into all possible care to advance and increase it so will you best clear your doubts and in particular clear your distractions SECT III. THe third Cause of distractions in the Service of God is unpreparedness unto it Iob 11.13 If thou prepare thine heart and stretch out thine hands to hins If iniquity be in thy hand put it far away Then shalt thou be stedfast First prepare the heart then stretch out the hands He that keeps not his foot when he goes into the house or service of God a thousand to one he stumbles and offers but the sacrifice of fools He that 's unfitted for any work must needs be unfixed in it As holy Mr. Dod used to say of Afflictions when we are prepared for them they are like a sword that only strikes upon our Armour but when we be unprepared they be like a sword striking on our bare skin Even so when the heart is well fixed and prepared for the Lord's service an impertinent thought or suggestion falls on our Armour but when we come unprepared it meets with our very hearts and runs away with them If a man chop into a Prince's presence undress'd unbrush'd or without his band you may easily imagine how when he is aware of the feathers or dirt up and down he is distracted so is the Soul wofully carried off when approaching to God the follies of sin and vanities of the world disfigure and divert it from a close converse with God and therefore a serious Christian doth not only pray and watch in prayer but watcheth unto prayer We so eat our meat says Tertullian of their primitive Supping as remembring we must go pray before we go to bed And here I shall answer a necessary Question viz. Q. What kind of Preparation is necessary before our ordinary duties of Worship Answ. 1. The light of nature teacheth us to prepare for every weighty action Approaching to the Lord of Heaven and Earth is such Who teaches the Client to consider his case when he comes to state it to his Advocate or the Husband-man to prepare himself for his tillage or the poor suitor to weigh his request that he makes to a Prince Why the light of nature teacheth this and the light of Scripture distinguisheth an upright man from an hypocrite hereby 2 Chron. 19.3 There are good things in thee in that thou hast prepared thine heart to seek God there was Iehoshaphat Again 2 Chron. 12.14 Rehoboam did evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord. He sought God its likely as many will do but he cared not how he did it and so though he did a good thing yet saith the Scripture He did evil Answ. 2. Most certainly the Lord is a great God who can raise or ruine thee in a moment and whom the Angels approach not without a profound respect and so likewise Duties of Worship are great and weighty Duties wherein you transact for a Kingdom and plead or hear the cause that is for life or death You drink a cup that will either mend or end you and who is sufficient for these things And it is manifest that we are naturally unprepared and to every good work reprobate The positure of our hearts is inverted and now they are open downwards and shut towards Heaven all which if you lay together it must needs follow that some preparation is necessary even for the ordinary duties of God's Worship Answ. 3. The hearts of men are of a different temper and so are their occasions the hearts of some are always in heaven or else within a Call they are as the Apostle speaks Tit. 3.1 Ready to every good work When a duty of Piety is offered they are ready when an object of charity is proposed they are ready to distribute And this present Spirit is a great blessing when Holiness is so rooted and framed upon the heart that God's Worship is their Element the hearts of others through custom and supine negligence abide at great distance from God no little ado will raise them nor will they be fetch'd in with many calls like a great
to me that see and am contracting for an eternal and glorious house and state Alas what tast it there in these rotten things 2. The more grace the clearer will be your eye of faith to behold the Majesty of God with whom you have to do and the reality of the things about which you treat for faith is the evidence of things not seen and makes the soul as real as the body and Heaven as real as the world and the day of Judgement as real as the present day And how undistractedly would a man pray that saw the world on a flame or himself dropping into another world 3. The more grace the tenderer will be your conscience and so sooner smart and more oppose these enormities the tender eye cannot bear what the brawny hand can A distraction in a duty more troubles a tender conscience than the total omission of it doth another A little sin isâ— no little sin where there is a great deal of grace O keep your conscience tender with all the caâ—e and skill you can A little wedge makes way for a greater and a little thief can let a greater in Blessed is the man that feareth alway and he that hath a soft heart is alwaies hard to sin 4. The more grace the more affections to things above Col. 3.2 Set your affections on things above and where there is much affection there is little distraction A heavenly mind is all in all Isa. 26.8 9. When the desire of the soul is to the remembrance of Godâ— when with thy soul thou hast desired him in the night then with thy spirit within thee thou wilt seek him early He that hath his usual conversation in Heaven will not easily have his heart from thence in prayer It 's a clear case where the treasure is there will the heart be also A mind above will no so easily have thoughts below Where is that man that can say Psal. 119.20 My soul breaketh for the longing it hath to thy Iudgements at all times He whose heart breaks for the presence of God will break his heart when he slips from him And he that cryes O when shall I come and appear before God will not privately wish when shall I have done and take leave of him 5. The more grace the more disposed frame will the heart be in for the service of God And it is indisposition to an Ordinance that lets in distractions there as an instrument out of tune hath divers jarring strings and still one or other slips and spoils the melody a distraction is a string slipt that spoils the musick a tuned and disposed heart would prevent it much The flock of sheep that 's indisposed and unwilling to drive start out of the way into every Lanes end one this way and another that and just so is it with an unwilling heart one thought starts this way another that and it 's a piece of skill to drive them through O but a willing heart an heart prepared and ready to every good work it flies up quite an end and delights its self in the Lord The Law of God is in his heart none of his steps then shall slide Psal. 37.31 6. The more grace the more spiritual and invisible sins are observed and resisted Small grace discerns and mortifies the filthiness of the flesh but strong grace sees and hates the filthiness of the spirit and so perfects holiness in the fear of God Gross sins are left at first but more resined sins spiritual wickedness in heavenly imployments these are work for riper graces afterwards Hence the strong Christian usually with ease can avoid oppression cruelty uncleanness drunkenness and the like but the weak Christian hardly conquers spiritual pride passion unbelief distractions and such like a little mote more troubles the eye than much dirt molests the hand so an holy tender heart is more troubled with these undiscerned sins than another man with greater crimes 7. The more grace the stronger resolutions you will put on against them and resolution breaks the heart of them The poor Country-man going to his Market at every door in town almost there is a snare laid for him here one calls him in and there another but he resolved in the morning not to spend a penny and thereby he breaks through and avoids them all Alas his whoâ—e weeks earning had gone at a clap and he should have had nothing but repentance to feed on the week following Even so when thou comest into an holy Ordinance the souls Market where the soul hath much business here one thought stands and beckens and there lyes another and at the door of every verse and sentence a suggestion stands but if thou hast firmly resolved at the beginning of the duty by God's grace I 'le not stir from my God from my work one jot thou wilt not heed nor exchange a word with these vain follies For alas if thou shouldst the whole gain of thy duty would be eaten up and the end of thy duty would be the begining of thy grief 8. The more grace the more business ye will find you have to do with God in his Ordinances little grace hath little to do and much grace hath much to do he hath alwaies business with God special earnest business Psal. 27.4 One thing have I desired of the Lord that I may dwell in the house of the Lord and why to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his Temple O I have somewhat to inquire after I am to do something by this duty and therefore cannot trifle He that comes to visit his friend in a complement he talks he walks he trifles and goes home again but he that comes upon business he is full of it He is like Abraham's honest and faithful Servant Gen. 24.33 And there was meat set before him to eat but he said I will not eat till I have told mine errand I have great business with the Lord about the Church and about my soul and I will not eat nor talk nor think nor dally about any thing till I have told mine errand or heard my Maker's errand unto me And for this end it 's a rare thing to carry somewhat alwaies on the spirit to spread before God an heart pregnant with some needful request or matter whereof to treat with God Psal. 45.1 My heart is inditing a good matter and then my tongue shall be like the pen of a ready Writer O then I shall go merrily on in his service when I have matter prepared in my heart And indeed as the Mariner sees further new stars the further he sails he loseth the sight of the old ones and discovers new so the growing Christian the further he sails in Religion he discovers new wants new Scriptures affect him new tryals afflict him new business he finds with God and forgetting those things that are behind he watcheth after those things that are before and so finds every day new
I found thee and dead I leave thee So most justly might the Lord answer our distracted duties with distracting terrours and leave us under the judgement of distraction for our sins in distractions And what a piece of ignorance and impudence is it for any man to be proud of his duties Alas the best duties are of divers colours like the Beggar 's Coat and what Beggar will be proud of his patched Coat If there were any flowers or spices in thy duties they were none of thine from thee came all the stench from above came all the perfumes and what poor reason then hast thou to be proud It is sad that when our sins make us humble our duties should make us proud Isa. 64.6 We are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy raggs for there is none that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee With what shame and trouble would we go among folks if we had no better cloaths than filthy raggs and yet how high we look that have no better cloaths of our own upon our souls if you wear any better they are borrowed garments and what silly wretch is proud of borrowed garments And this shews likewise what need we have of the Righteousness of Iesus Christ to make our prayers pass into the holy place It was the smoak of the Incense which came with the prayers of the Saints and ascended up before God out of the Angels hand Rev. 8.4 The prayers of the Saints themselves are like smoak in God's eyes to speak with reverence but the smoak of the Incense is a perfume in God's nostrils Iesus Christ can be heard when we cannot Our quaintest Oratory is broken and ineffectual His intercession is constant and Imperatory Go therefore to the Throne of Grace leaning on your Beloved Keep an actual eye to Christ's mediation in your prayers and though you bring in his precious Name in the fagg end of your supplication yet remember you have need of him in every sentence a broken prayer had need of an intire Mediator SECT II. II. IT follows hence That omissions of holy duties are extremely dangerous Into these our fall is most frequent against these our watch is most careless after these our mourning is most easie yet of these the number great and the nature heinous If according to that Ier. 48.10 He be cursed that doth the work of the Lord negligently what is he that doth not God's work one way or other If a distraction in prayer may damnâ— O what may an Omission of prayer do If the Scholar be whipt that looks off his book what will become of him that plaid the truant Do the consciences of God's children smite them for vain thoughts in a duty how should yours wound you that you have no thoughts of your duty O you that omit secret prayer reading the Scripture meditation and such like will your negligence pass with God He sees how seldom you sigh in secret what strangers you are to prayers and tears should one in some cases refuse marriage for fear of distractions in God's service and can you wholly omit his service without danger Are watchfulness and seriousness such dispensable things that they are happy that have them but one may do well without them I tell you he that chastens his careless children will punish his graceless servants He that makes them smart for their distractions will make you tremble for your omissions Undone duty will undo your souls It 's not enough that you have left off the language of swearing unless you have learnt the language of praying It 's not enough that you have burnt your books of curious Arts unless you love to read in the Book of Books the Scripture To be mortified to contemplative wickedness is well but till you be vivified to contemplative holiness it is not well enough Do you must or die you shall You may come to Hell as certainly by not climbing up as by running down and lose Heaven by Naturality as well as by Hostility When you have read the 25 th chap. of Matthew you shall tell me whether wanting Oyl may not as truly ruin you as drinking poison whether an unprofitable servant will not come to a sad reckoning as well as a prodigal Son Though you take not anothers yet you may be consumed for not giving your own and in fine you will find that sins of omission do deserve damnation O hearken to this all ye that live quietly in the omission of closer or family-prayer of solemn fasting or communion in the blessed Supper of the Lord. Hath God abated you of the price that others must give hath he granted a new way to Heaven for you must others make Religion their business and you baulk it where you please what can your consciences answer to that Iam. 2.10 If a a man keep the whole Law mark the whole Law and yet offend Gr. stumble stumble and stop at one point he is guilty of all O beloved there is a concatenation of Truths and Duties in Religion you may easier go away with all your work than some a negative holiness will but bring you to a negative Heaven and you know behind Heaven-door is Hell O awaken therefore your hearts ye that stick at this point that are far from debauchery and excess any way but will not be gotten to positive duties Will ye with one dash expunge the one half of Scripture Is not Good as amiable as Evil is hateful what cause is there to fear that your avoidance of evil is from no good principle but either fear or shame or interest or at the best a better temper For the love or fear of God would make you cleave to that which is good as well as abhor that which is evil and to do God's will as well as deny your own SECT III. III. SEE hence what grand necesitâ—y we have of Watchfulness that most continual duty of a Christian this is the garment we must put on next us every day especially in every duty Between duties that we may not want praying hearts in duties that we miss not prayer-blessings Some duties bind alwaies but not to be alwaies done as prayer hearing meditation but you can be safe no where without your watch at all times in all places with all companies yea with no company in all callings there is a snare for the heart every where Wherefore saith the Prophet Hosea 12.6 Wait on thy God continually and the wise man Prov. 23 17. Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long especially but not only in your morning and evening sacrifices It is a true and a sad observation that many praying people are most devout and serious in God's service morning and evening but trace them all day long hardly one word of God or Heaven in their mouths as if Religion were hem'd up in times of Worship nay they are often most light and vain
betwixt times but be thou IN the fear of the Lord involved surrounded and swallowed up in the sense and fear of God's glorious presence all the day long This will dispose you to duties of Worship A watchful Christian hath his heart ready at a call it is quickly in tune that was never out Holy duties are not heterogeneous to any holy heart the same frame will serve He that walks with God is never out of his way A short or rather no preface will serve to usher in conference with whom you have been conversing all the day It is sometimes the whole work of a prayer to be acquainted with God Away with this strangeness if you will be upright walk before God and watch unto prayer Methinks sincerity and watchfulness are the Catholick Graces Sincerity makes every grace true watchfulness makes every grace sure Of all graces study these Catholick Graces Here is the essence here is the quintessence of Religion O therefore prize this Angelical this Evangelical Grace pray for it Psal. 141.3 Set a watch O Lord before my mouth keep the door of my lips for except the Lord do keep the City the watch-man waketh but in vain Thou art impotent God is omnipotent And then practise it the use of it will teach the Art of it as children learn to go step by step as they learn to swim by venturing Adventure on this exercise try one week try one day try one hour try the next duty As you renew your falls still renew your vows you can do all things through Christ that will strengthen you I beseech you in Christ's behalf set on this duty in good earnest You will pay me for all my pains with one well-grounded resolution to set up a constant watch What a sad close will that be unto your life to say Cant. 1.6 My Mothers's children made me a keeper of the Vineyards but MINE OWN VINEYARD have I not kept O therefore watch and pray or else temptation will enter into you and you will fall into temptation And most especially in the service of God Watch and pray Christ hath joyned together and what Christ hath joyned together let no man especially no good man put asunder What is the first step in an Ordinance as the Orator of old in another case Watchfulness What is the second step in an Ordinance Watchfulness What is the third step in an Ordinance still Watchfulness Particularly First In Prayer Prayer is a pouring out the heart unto the Lord by a distraction you pour it by Psal. 62.5 My soul wait thou ONLY upon God for my expectation is from him A distraction imposes two Masters on the soul to wait on Rovings in prayer make that which is our most reasonable service the most irrational thing in the world No folly like speaking to one person and thinking of another Secondly In hearing God's Word This is the audible conference of the Almighty with thy soul. A distraction lets him talk unto the walls When you come to a Sermon you stand on your watch and set your self on the Tower and watch to see what God will say to you Hab. 2.1 By a distraction you do almost as if a servant stopt his ears at the orders that his Master is giving Thirdly In reading Therein you peruse God's heart in black and white where you may believe every letter to be written in blood not like Draco's Laws but in bleeding love A distraction neither understands nor applies those sacred characters Which of you would so read your Father's last Will especially in matters that concern'd your selves One chapter one leaf one verse well read and applied will do your heart more good than an hundred read with half an heart Fourthly In singing Psalms you had need to watchâ— Thereby you pay unto God the Rent of his mercies A distraction clips the coin and turns the heart to do homage to the Devil Well resolved therefore of David Psal. 103.1 Bless the Lord O my soul and ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME praise his holy Name Thy melody is base if the main strength of the soul be not in it I am perswaded that God hath suffer'd this Ordinance in particular to be slurr'd once and again to be left off by some and cast off by others out of his just Judgement there being so general a neglect of the inward and feeling management thereof For where sits the man that lets each word and line in the Psalms run through his heart as he sings them Nay if the truth were known there is hardly one passage that 's felt from the beginning to the end for if it were O the heavenly affections it would raise and the sweet frame it would leave on the soul you would not part with that Ordinance out of your Families nor Congregations for all the world Fifthly In Meditation great need of watchfulness else when the soul is soaring aloft like the Eagle these darts will or ever you are aware strike down the heart again O how hard is it to spend a quarter of an hour in meditation without a distraction If there be any thing in the fancy if there be any thing in the room if there be any thing in the world thou wilt have it to withdraw thy heart from God And generally the more spiritual the duty the more distractions And therefore I say unto you watch SECT IV. IV. SEE hence what cause you have to bless God for freedom from distractions and be sure you do it Those that have an habitual ability against these snares O bless the Lord for it it's he that keeps the heart in tune not you We like little children can break the strings and put our hearts out of tune but 't is the Lord that sets and keeps us in order You little know the anxiety and fear and trouble that these do cost many a poor Christian they strive they mourn they doubt they are ready to throw up all These Vultures do gnaw upon their very hearts no comfort no joy of the Holy Ghost no peace within and all through the continual assaults hereof And by the only mercy of God thou art well and free Thou canst continue instant in prayer thou canst come to Heaven gates and get thy errand heard thy business dispatcht and little distraction in it O give the Lord praise lest he leave thee to thy self and then thy case will be more miserable than theirs Thankfulness keeps the mercy which ingratitude forfeits And we are Free-holders of these blessings but 't is because we hold of his free grace and mercy Yea those that are oft pestered with them and yet sometimes freed bless the Lord for that It is as much your duty to praise God when you are freed as to bewail it when you have failed It is the comparison of a good Divine if a man have planted many Trees in his Orchard and the Caterpillars or Cankers have consumed them all
and the dangerous passenger for all his importunity is stopp'd and turn'd again Why perhaps the plague comes with him and therefore the Halbard salutes his breast he comes not there the neglect of this care would soon lay waste the land So if any stragling thought perhaps with the plague in it shall enter at pleasure into the soul especially while the Lord's service is in hand no wonder that soul lies waste Lord have mercy may be written on that door 1. The neglect of watchfulness before holy duties causes distractions and that is by not heeding to order your affairs with discretion for God's service When you involve your selves in too much business too much for your head too much for your time or too much for your strength then worldly thoughts will get place you cannot help it Or when men are unadvised in their business in not chusing a fit time for duties and thereby your business and God's shoulder one another and neither is done well And therefore we are commanded 1 Pet. 4.7 to watch unto prayer As Satan watches to cross and indispose us by throwing some diverting and cooling occasions so is it our wisdom to counter-watch him Indeavour to time your businesses and especially your duties It is the character of a good man Psal. 112.6 that he orders his affairs with discretion and renders every thing beautiful in its time For its a true observation that an indiscreet ordering of Saturdays business hath great inâ—luence into the unprofitableness of the Sabbath's Ordinances 2. Neglect of watchfulness in holy duties Our hearts so far as unregenerate are fetch'd into holy duties as a prest souldier into the field he is brought in against his will no principle of courage or love to his country he had rather be digging or idling at home Now such a souldier what trust can you repose in him if he be not watch'd he steals away at every lanes end and in the midst of the battel you shall be sure to miss him a constant eye must keep him or you lose him 'T is just so with our naughty hearts if there be not a predominant principle of grace 't is not choice but use that brings them in they would rather be carking or trifling about any thing than busie in prayer and therefore if you neglect to watch them at every turn no sentence end but they will steal away For prayer without watching is but a meer complement Where the tongue goes one way and the heart another that 's a complement and such is a watchless duty It is said the Nightingale in her sweetest notes is apt to fall asleep to prevent which she settles her self on a bough with a thorn at her breast that when she begins to nod that sharp monitor may awake her The holiest Saint is apt to nod and steal away in the midst of his solemnest duties if God's Spirit do not aurem vellere quicken his watch Christ's own Disciples even just after a Sacrament were overtaken for want of this Matth. 26.40 What could ye not watch with me one hour And if they fell asleep at prayer for want of watching how can you keep close to God without it that have neither so good a monitor without nor so good an heart within 3. Neglect of watchfulness after duties causes distractions in the next that follow people use to let loose their hearts when the Duty ends and unlace themselves for ease and then their thoughts take liberty Which our deceitful hearts fore seeing no cords will bind them to a good behaviour in the very duties themselves whereas were there a constant watch kept up after our duties were done and conscience made of our thoughts all the day long we should contain our hearts in better order while God's worship lasts The fore-sight and especially fore-tastes of liberty approaching sets the soul madding thereupon and we cannot keep it in Besides Religion is concatenated hath a dependance one thing upon another and it is unsufferable to take and leave where we will If vain thoughts lodge with you at other times they will visit you at your business and if they be entertained when you have a mind they will press in when you have no mind The Remedy against this neglect is To be throughly convinc'd of the absolute necessity of constant watchfulness Prov. 4.23 Keep thy heart with all diligence as a castle is kept from scaling an house from robbing or a Jewel from defacing so the Criticks and all these are kept constantly one hours negligence would hazard any of them And then with all diligence Heb. with all keeping or as some above all keeping The eye we watch from harm all the day the vitals we defend and guard with constant care we know that a touch there is mortal but above all keeping keep the soul Be perswaded that watchfulness is as necessary as prayer you think without prayer you shall go to hell and I aver that without watchfulness you cannot go to heaven Mans life in this sense is a continued Ordinance Hos. 12.6 wait on thy God continually not only at thy prayers but at thy plough while on your knees you are waiting on God and when you rise from your knees you are going to wait on him in your calling and an unbecoming thought is displeasing to him every where he is sensible of an affront in the kitchen as well as in the parlour and hates vanity all the day long 1 Pet. 4.7 Be sober and watch unto prayer Sober and watch as if they that do not watch are mad To watch unto prayer is duty as well as to watch in it He that watches not to duties doth not do his duty a wise Christian should have always something in store for God work and look at God eat and drink and talk and still look at God and at the soul This is to wâ—lk with God all the day long As the careful Bee must needs leave her hive and fly abroad but she dwells no where else she lights on this â—lower and then on that exhausts their sweetness deflowers them and gets away she never rests till she return to her hive there she rests and enjoys her self So an holy heart must needs out into the world and business must be done but he rests at nothing till he return to the enjoyment of God again no flower gives him content no business no company satisfies but he retires to God looks at him and is lightned and steps out again This Sirs this is the Religion of Religion I know it 's hard but it 's possible the ice is broken for you and the way is trodden Act. 24.16 Herein do I exercise my self to have always a conscience void of offence It 's my daily trade and business to keep my soul that I neither offend God nor man If you will make a trade on 't you may do it God never calls for duty but helps in
it Phil 4.13 I can do all things through Christ. God and his servant can do any thing SECT VIII THe eighth cause of distractions in holy duties is A beloved sin When the soul hath espoused some bosome lust the thoughts be you never so busie will be warping towards it though God himself look on Ier. 4.14 O Ierusalem wash thy heart from wickedness how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee When wickedness is in the heart vain thoughts will be in thy duties they will enter yea they will lodge within thee A beloved sin is like a byass on the bowl though you throw it out never so streight yet the byass will draw it off that way do what you can so is a beloved sin unto the soul aim you with utmost skill yet there is a secret load stone in it that attracts the heart and makes that prayer to end in hell that began in heaven Either sin and you must be at a distance or God and you will The soul that is in league with sin dare not come at God dare not look at him dare not think on him and what must that man think on in a duty that dare not think seriously on God As that penitent Father speaks in his confessions An unmortifi'd soul like the husband of a scolding wife had rather be any where than at home and makes many a sad bargain abroad because he hath no comfort at home with his wife so such an heart chooses to be thinking of any thing rather than God alas matters are not straight between them the poison of sin is in him and he hugs that abhominable thing which God hates the Thief had rather go forty miles another way than come near the Judge God is an offended Judge to a wilful sinner and he cares not for ever coming near him Hence Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience He that comes to God with a true upright honest heart being sprinkled from an evil conscience may draw near to God in full assurance of faith whereas guilt clouds clogs and distracts the soul. So that you see both the guâ—lt and power of a bosom sin furnish us with too much cause of distractions Sin That would have all the heart and God He will have all or nothing It 's such an offering that is a whole burnt-offering that the Lord delights in As no subject is capable of two contrary qualities in the intense degree as heat and cold may be both in the same hand but not in their intense degrees so the heart of man cannot entertain Christ and corruption light and darkness except the one be loved and served superlatively above the other Psal. 66.18 If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me God first stops his ear above and then the sinners mouth below that regards iniquity that likes loves approves or gives it rest and quiet in the soul. Indeed God neither regards him nor doth such a soul regard God He must love God that is lively in his service Iob 27.10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty will he always call upon God will he always he may now and then send a thought that way in his special need but not always there 's difference between converse and communion One may have converse or traffick with a stranger upon occasion but communion is with a friend there 's visits of pure kindness an hypocrite may have some converse or trading with God for necessaries but sweet communion constant calling on God and serious duties he can never enjoy and follow that loves any sin before the chiefest Good The Remedies against a beloved sin are briefly these two 1. Consideration sit down and think what real good this sin hath ever done thee Think what hurt it hath done thee and others and what fruit but shame and death it brings to any Thy dearest sin is but sin which is the worst thing in the world and its masks and disguises being laid aside more ugly than the devil more horrid than hell it self And think the more thou lovest it the more God hates it and his rage and jealousie is increased with the increase of thy desires Think how many prayers it hath lost thee how many mercies it hath poison'd to thee how many smiles it hath clouded besides what unutterable sufferings it hath inflicted upon Christ and is preparing for thee in hell Consider that thou maist have as much joy happiness and true comfort without it and all converted sinners confess that Jesus Christ hath been better to them than all their sins and if you may have as good injoyments or better to have Christ with them and Heaven after them will not make them worse 2. Supplication Kneel down and pray with faith in the uprightness of your hearts for strength from above All the strength of Heaven is engag'd by prayer He that heartily sets himself against his sin by prayer cannot but dislike it and when it is truly disliked its heart is broken Augustine complains that when he in his unconverted estate begged a divorce from his sin his heart was afraid lest God should hear his prayers Beware lest your hearts secretly cry Spare when your tongues openly cry Lord kill and crucifie my corruption but do thou bonâ fide pull on earth and the Lord will bono Spiritu pull from Heaven and rent thy sin and soul asunder Otherwise as the Poets tell us of Hippomanes that running with Atalanta for victory he conquered by throwing golden apples down which Atalanta stooping to take up lost the prize so Satan seeing the soul running heaven-ward in God's service will throw down the gilded temptations of a beloved sin stop it in its carreer and hazard the prize of eternal glory SECT IX A Ninth cause of Distractions in the Worship of God is Satan And this he doth sometimes more remotely by throwing in some cross business before Duties whereby the soul is unhinged some body or Letter with business just before prayer or some passionate distempering passages in the family whereby to lay matter ready for our discomposure and wandrings in the following duties Sometimes he approaches nearer and by presenting and occasioning objects to our senses in God's Worship draws off the heart He can stay One long from the Congregation that Another may be distracted in observing him coming in and so wounds two and sometimes twenty at a blow Satan is not idle when this and that child are restless and unquiet in the family whereby perhaps all in the family lose the passages that would most profit them He can create a further distraction by every pillar and part of the structure and every person in the congregation and can be content you read sentences on the walls to hinder and divert your sâ—uls from the sentences in the pulpit