Eighth Day. Of prayer

I. ' Pray without ceasing.*' 1 Thess. V. 17. Such is our dependance upon God, that we are obliged not only to do everything for his sake, but also to seek from him the very power. I'his happy necessity of having recourse to him in all our wants, instead of being grievous to us, should be our greatest consolation. What a happiness is it, that we are allowed to speak to him with confidence; to open our hearts, and hold familiar conversation w ith him by prayer! He himself invites us to it: and.

as St. Cyprian well observes, we may judge how ready he is to give us those good things, which he himself solicits us to ask of him. Let us pray then with faith, and not lose the fruit of our prayers by a wavering uncertainty; which as St. James testifies, hinders the success of them. — The same apostle advises us to pray when we are in trouble, because thereby we should find consolation; yet, we are so wretched, that this heavenly employment is often a burthen, instead of a comfort to us. The lukewarmness of our prayer is the source of all other infidelities. 11. '' Ask and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find: knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Matt. vii. 7. If riches were to be had for asking, with what earnestness, assiduity, and perseverance, would men ask for them? If treasures were to be found with looking for;, what place would escape their search? if by knocking they could gain admittance into the king's council, or the highest places of preferment, what a knocking should we hear! But what reproaches, pains, and disappointments we undergo, in search of false happiness, vain honours, and wretched pleasures of this world, where nothing remains to us besides remorse. — IJivine grace is the only true good, yet the only thing they neglect; the only thing which they have not patience to wait for. The promise of Christ is infallibly certain, and it is our own fault if we do not find the effect of it.