to awaken the spirit of prayer in them. "I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear and go away: I will take away, and none shall rescue him," Hos. v. 14.

Now what was the reason of this severity? It follows, verse 15, "In their affliction they will seek me early." He thrust the spur into their side, and made them bleed, to make them mend their sluggish pace in duty; he chastened them that he might hear louder cries, and have more serious prayers from them.

Be

Use. 2. Shall be of Exhortation. persuaded to watch in prayer. Those that watch not at all, pray not at all in God's account: those that watch most, make most of prayer. These arguments I shall further use to second this exhortation.

1. The more watchful you are in prayer, the better you will understand the devil's enmity. You will perceive his envy and his hatred, and how loath he is that you should receive any distinguishing mercies, especially at the hand of God; therefore he does so bestir himself, that he may resist you. And the better

you know this enemy, the better armed you will be.

2. The more watchful you are in pray. er, the more will you be acquainted with yourselves, and with your own hearts. You will more fully understand your wants, and your spiritual plagues; and the understanding of these is one good step to the supply and cure.

3. The more watchful you are in prayer, the more experimentally will you understand the loving-kindness of the Lord: you will find that he deals bountifully.

Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee," Psalm cxvi. 7. God is certainly willing to give. They that watch in prayer, take notice what they receive; and great joy it is to behold the prayers which, as messengers we dispatched to heaven, return loaded with mercy. "Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full." So much then, for the fourth doctrine.

PERSEVERE IN PRAYER.

We must persevere if we would speed in prayer; or, prayer must be with all perseverance. The words of the text are not without emphasis; not only perseverance, but all perseverance is required by the apostle. There should not be the least fainting, but a vigorous persisting in our supplications. Observe how the

apostle speaks in other places; Col. iv. 2. "Continue in prayer ;" and, Rom. xii. 12. "Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer."

In speaking to this doctrine, I shall first tell you what it is to persevere in prayer, 2dly, What kind of perseverance is required. 3dly, Give you the reasons of this perseverance. Lastly make appli

cation.

In the first place, What it is to persevere in prayer.

1. This perseverance in prayer, implies, resolvedness of spirit against all opposition. The resolution is not to be made in our own strength, but in the power of grace, and then it will be firm, and hold.

7

He that perseveres in prayer, resists Satan's endeavors to hinder him in his duty. Though this hon roar upɔn kim by fearful blasphemous thoughts, though this adversary buffet him by confused, amazing, and afflighting imagmations; yet all his skill does not beat him off from prayer; the more busy he finds Satan, the more need he perceives of calling upon God. And as the devil cannot prevail by his more irksome temptation, so as to cause an omission of prayer ; in like manner, on the other side, the more pleasing temptations are withstood. When he speaks big words concerning sports and pastimes and pleasures of sense; when he talks at an high rate of worldly advan tages, that are to be pursued, that he may divert and draw away the heart from prayer; yet he that perseveres in this duty, believes this lying and deceitful spirit in nothing.

Nay, he retorts upon him, and answers, that therefore he prays, that he may find true joy, and greater sweetness in God than the creatures can possibly yield; that therefore he prays, because he has a mind to be rich indeed, and to have a

treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves cannot break through, nor steal.

And as for that opposition he meets with from within, from the corruption of his heart, which is indeed the greatest; he bewails it, struggles with it, and cries out for the Spirit of life to quicken and help him. He is convinced of the neces sity of prayer, and the excellency of what is prayed for; and opposition is but a whet to him, that he may stir up himself to lay hold on God.

2. This perseverance in prayer implies, getting through all discouragements. The more that blind Bartimeus was discouraged by the people," he cried the louder, Jesus. thou Son of David, have mercy upon me;" and his cry was heard; according to his desire, he had his sight restored.

The woman of Canaan who came to Christ that her daughter might be dispssessed of a devil, met with great discouragements, but overcame them all, Matt xv. 22-28. When first she uttered her request, Christ answered her not a word." This one would have thought, might have struck her dumb, and made