n after some
victory, when they were secure. Therefore we ought to give all diligence,
and love not sleep, lest we come into poverty.

From what hath been said, (1) We see how few are in a warlike posture
against Satan. Many serve under Satan's colours, and the strong man keeps
the house. They watch not against him, but for him, they fight for him,
and not against him. Do not many Christians, in profession, even watch for
their sin, how to encompass what they would be at? Many wait on all
advantages to get their own heart's desires, they watch against God's
word, to hold out conviction. These are the children of darkness, in whom
the devil reigns. We also observe from this, (2) That even the children of
God are seldom found watching. There is much woful security among them and
this is the universal complaint, who of you walks as if you were among
enemies? Ye walk as if ye were in a peaceable city without gates, as the
people of Laish, who dwelt securely. Ye have no friend in all the world,
and yet what unspeakable negligence and sleeping is there among you? The
flesh is so weak, that ye cannot watch but one hour for Christ. And O! but
the intermission of one hour's watching hath brought down many strong
ones. This made a breach upon David that could hardly be made up for ever
again. From the words, (3) We observe, that prayer is a part of a good
Christian's exercise. We may be ashamed to speak or hear of this duty.
It is true, indeed, our religion is all compendized in this duty. Yet this
duty is so little in practice, that our religion must be but little. We
would, then, speak somewhat of prayer, and observe,

1. That it is the distinguishing character of a Christian in scripture.
The child of God, and the man that calls upon God's name, is all one and
the same thing. The wicked man's name is one that calls not upon God, nor
seeks him, but the godly call upon their Maker, Acts ix. 11, 1 Cor. i. 2.
All the saints in scripture have been praying men. The wicked, or natural
man, is not an indigent man, he wants nothing, and therefore seeks nothing
from God, but the Christian is one who hath nothing in himself, a beggar
by birth, one that is cast out into the open field, and he is still
seeking to make up his losses. Praying and wanting goes hand in hand
together. Prayer then is the first breathing of the new man. What sign of
life would ye know him by? Motion is an infallible sign of life and this
is the motion of the