ious way of remedy of all things else. It always
makes up losses either of the same kind, or better; for if the loss be
temporal, if the want be bodily, prayer makes it up with access unto God.
It pays in gold. If it give not the same coin, yet it is better.

We have spoken something of prayer for this end, that your hearts may fall
in love with it. It is the property of a sincere upright man, that he
calls always upon God, whereas the hypocrite will not always do it. Count,
then, yourselves as much Christians as ye find of the spirit of prayer and
supplication in you; for those that call not on God, their portion is very
terrible. God will pour out his wrath upon them. God's face is set against
such as do not pray. And I believe the multitude of this visible kirk have
this brand upon their face, they call not upon God. God hath taken this
character to himself, "the hearer of prayer," and those who mock at it,
their judgment hasteneth, their damnation slumbereth not.

Sermon XXII.

1 Pet. iv. 7.--"Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."

We now come to consider the coherence and connexion these duties have one
to another. _First_, Prayer is the principal part of the Christian's
employment, and sobriety and watchfulness are subordinate to it. "Be
sober, and watch unto prayer." (1.) Prayer is such a tender thing that
there is necessity of dieting the spirit unto it. That prayer may be in
good health, a man must keep a diet and be sober, sobriety conduces so
much to its well-being, and insobriety makes prayer fail. Prayer respects
a wholesome Christian at his best estate. (2.) Because prayer that is well
in itself must have much divine affection in it, that may be the wings of
it to rise upon, the oil that may keep the flame, James v. 16. Now
insobriety is the moth of divine affection. The love of this world eats
out the love of God and spiritual things; as much as the one goes up the
other goes down, like the contrary points, 1 John ii. 15. Vehement desires
would be a cloud of incense to carry the petition up unto heaven; but the
love of this world scatters it, pours water upon the heart, and makes it
neither to conceive heat nor flame. To be carnally minded is death, both
here and hereafter, Rom. viii. 5-7. It is death to duties, it kills the
spiritual life of the soul. Insobriety is carnal-mindedness, and minding
of the flesh, so that a man hath no more taste of Jesus Christ than the
white of an e