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calling in such sort, that, usually, the one shall not obstruct the other.

If, through taking up too much time in preparation to prayer, and in prayer, either of them grow necessarily tedious and burthensome; Satan will circumvent you by this means, causing you out of a true weariness of too much (even before you are aware) to omit them altogether.

Thirdly, Whereas when you prepare yourself to pray, and when you do pray, it is lawful to think of your worldly business, to the end that you might pray for direction and for good success therein (for you may ask your daily bread,) Matt. vi. 11; you must take heed, when you think of these things, that your thoughts be not worldly through distempers and distractions about the same, Luke xii. 29. For these will abate your spirituality and fervour in prayer, and will shut the ears of God against your prayer.

SECT. 4. SIGNS OF WORLDLY-MINDEDNESS IN DEVOTION, AND REMEDIES AGAINST IT.

If you desire to know the signs and remedies of distempers and distractions about worldly things in your preparation for holy duties; by distempers, I mean, inordinate trouble about the means; and by distractions, I mean, a vexing trouble about success.

I. As to the signs of it. You may know that your mind is distempered with worldliness (even in thinking on lawful business) when you prepare yourself to prayer, and at other seasons, by these marks:

1. When (except in case of necessity in their apparent danger) your worldly affairs are first in your thoughts to be the matter of your meditation. For thoughts how to hallow God's name, and how his kingdom may come, and how you may do his will, should usually be in your mind, before those that concern your daily bread.

2. When they interpose themselves, interrupt, and