lleth on thee." It is a
terrible one, whether our condition be good or bad outwardly. Our peace
hath put us asleep, and the word cannot put men to prayers. Now, the Lord
hath begun to threaten, as you have been still in fear of new troubles,
and a revolution of affairs again, yet I challenge your own consciences,
and appeal to them,--whom hath the word prevailed with to put to prayer?
Whom hath the rumour of approaching trouble put to their prayers? Whose
spirit hath been affected with God's frowning on the land? And this yet
more aggravateth your laziness, in the time that God doth show terrible
things to his people in Ireland, giveth them a cup of wormwood, and to
drink the wine of astonishment, are not you yet at ease? When your
brethren and fellow-saints are scattered amongst you as strangers,(319)
yet your hearts bleed not.

Well, behold the end of it,--your case is a sad prognostic of the Lord's
hiding his face and consuming us; nay, it is a sure token that his face is
hid already. When Job's friends would aggravate his misery, they sum it up
in this, "thou restrainest prayer from God." It is more wrath to be kept
from much praying, not to be scattered, from your own houses. Therefore,
if you would have the cloud of God's anger, that covereth the land with
blackness, go over you, and pour out itself on others; if you would
prevent the rod, hearken to the word, and stir up yourselves to much
prayer, that you may be called his remembrancers. O how long shall prayer
be banished this kingdom! The Lord's controversy must be great with us,
for since the days of our first love there has been great decay of the
spirit of prayer. The children of God should be so much in it, as they
might be one with it. David was so much in prayer, as he in a manner
defined himself by it, Psal. cix. 4, "I give myself unto prayer." In the
original, there is no more but "I prayer." I was all prayer. It was my
work, my element, my affection, my action. Nay, to speak the truth, it is
the decay of prayer that hath made all this defection in the land. Would
you know the original of many a public man's apostacy and backsliding in
the cause of God, what maketh them so soon forget their solemn
engagements, and grow particular, seeking their own things, untender in
seeking the things of God?--would you trace back the desertion up to the
fountain-head? Then come and see. Look upon such a man's walking with God
in private, such a man's praying, and you