ntercessor. Men keep on their old way of praying,
and never add to it, come what like. Who is it that riseth above his
ordinary, as the tide of God's dispensation is? There ought to be such an
impression made by the changes of God's countenance as might be read on
the duties of his people. There should be such a distance between your
ordinary and such times as between a sleeping man and a waking man, that
whatever your attainment of access to God be, ye might stir up and go
beyond it according as matters call. Will God count your public fasts a
performance of this duty? Alas, we fast sleeping, and none stirreth up
himself to these things! Is there any difference betwixt your solemn
humiliation and another Sabbath? And is there any difference between a
Sabbath and a week-day, save the external duty? Is not this palpably our
case? Is there any wakening among us? No, security is both the universal
disease and complaint; and it is become an incurable disease since it
became a complaint. Doth any of you pray more in private than he used? Or
what edge is on your prayers? Alas! the Lord will get good leave to go
from us; it feareth me that we would give Christ a testimonial to go over
seas. Hold him, hold him! Nay, the multitude would be gladly quit of
him,--they cannot abide his yoke, his work is a burden, his word is a
torment, his discipline is bands and cords; and what heart can ye then
have to keep Christ? What violence can ye offer to him to hold him still?
All your entreaties may be fair compliments, but they would never rend his
garment.

II. There is no up-stirring to faith among us, and laying hold on Jesus
Christ, albeit all his dispensations warn us that it is now high time.
There are not many who are about this point, effectually to stir up their
faith or to secure their interest. Think ye that conjectures will carry
you through difficulties? The multitude think they believe much, but any
temptation proveth their mistake. The most part of Scotland would deny God
and his Son Jesus Christ, if they were put to it. Always it is a time ye
would not lie out from your stronghold,--faith only uniteth you to Christ,
and if ye would be kept in any trial, stir up faith.

_Thirdly_, Prayer and faith, diligence and laying hold on God, must go
together and help one another. Not calling on his name, and not laying
hold on him go together, and have influence one upon another.

I. Faith hath influence on prayer. Laying hold on G