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at the remembrance of his blessed promises; and if withal, the heart be not gained to a renewed resolution to reform what is faulty, and to cry earnestly to God for grace and mercy; and for the time to come to endeavour to live a godly life; all your preparation is nothing. Nay, this slight and fruitless calling of sin and duty to remembrance, and no more, is a great emboldener and strengthener of sins; and a great weakener and quencher of the Spirit. For sins are like to idle vagrants, and lawless subjects; if officers call such before them, and, either say nothing to them, or only give them threatening words, but do not smite them and make them smart, they grow ten times more bold, insolent, and lawless. Good thoughts are like to dutiful servants and loyal subjects, such as are ready to come at every call, and offer themselves to be employed in all good services; now if such be not entertained with suitable regard, if they be not cherished in their readiness, they (like David's people) return disheartened, and their edge to future service is taken off, 2 Sam. xix. 3. Besides, this cursory performing of holy duties, is the highway to a habit of hypocrisy, that accursed bane of all that is good.

5. My last caution is, that if in your meditations, and in your prayers, you find a dulness and want of spirituality, I would have you to be humbled in the sense of your impotency and infirmity; yet, be not discouraged nor give them over, but rather betake yourself to these duties with more diligence and earnestness. When you want water, (your pump being dry) you by pouring in a little water, and much labour in pumping, can fetch water; so, by much labouring the heart in preparation, and by prayer, you may recover the gift of prayer, Luke xi. 13. And, as when your fire is out, by laying on fuel, and by blowing the spark remaining, you kindle it again: so by meditation you stir up the grace that is in you, 2 Tim. i. 6, and by the breath of prayer, may revive and inflame the spirit of grace and prayer in you. Yet, if you find that you have not time to prepare by meditation; or having done so, if you find a confusion and distraction in