DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3689#0130
128 zd Serious Call to
These few reflections upon time, are only to show how poorly
they think, how miserably they judge, who are less careful of an
eternal state, because they may be at some years' distance from
it, than they would be, if they knew they were within a few
■weeks of it.
Chapter XIV.
Concerning that part of Devotion which
relates to times and hours of Prayer. Of
daily early prayer in the morning. How
we are to improve our forms of Prayer, and
how to increase the spirit of devotion,
HAVING in the foregoing Chapter, shown the necessity
of a devout spirit, or habit of mind in every part of
our common life, in the discharge of all our business,
in the use of all the gifts of God : I come now to con-
sider that part of devotion, which relates to times
and hours of prayer.
I take it for granted, that every Christian, that is in health,
is up early in the morning ; for it is much more reasonable to
suppose a person up early, because he is a Christian, than because
he is a labourer, or a tradesman, or a servant, or has business that
wants him.
We naturally conceive some abhorrence of a man that is in bed,
when he should be at his labour, or in his shop. We cannot tell
how to think anything good of him, who is such a slave to
drowsiness, as to neglect his business for it.
Let this therefore teach us to conceive, how odious we must
appear in the sight of heaven, if we are in bed, shut up in sleep
and darkness, when we should be praising God ; and are such
slaves to drowsiness, as to neglect our devotions for it.
For if he is to be blamed as a slothful drone, that rather chooses
the lazy indulgence of sleep, than to perform his proper share of
worldly business ; how much more is he to be reproached, that
had rather lie folded up in a bed, than be raising up his heart to
God in acts of praise and adoration ?
Prayer is the nearest approach to God, and the highest enjoy-
ment of him, that we are capable of in this life.
These few reflections upon time, are only to show how poorly
they think, how miserably they judge, who are less careful of an
eternal state, because they may be at some years' distance from
it, than they would be, if they knew they were within a few
■weeks of it.
Chapter XIV.
Concerning that part of Devotion which
relates to times and hours of Prayer. Of
daily early prayer in the morning. How
we are to improve our forms of Prayer, and
how to increase the spirit of devotion,
HAVING in the foregoing Chapter, shown the necessity
of a devout spirit, or habit of mind in every part of
our common life, in the discharge of all our business,
in the use of all the gifts of God : I come now to con-
sider that part of devotion, which relates to times
and hours of prayer.
I take it for granted, that every Christian, that is in health,
is up early in the morning ; for it is much more reasonable to
suppose a person up early, because he is a Christian, than because
he is a labourer, or a tradesman, or a servant, or has business that
wants him.
We naturally conceive some abhorrence of a man that is in bed,
when he should be at his labour, or in his shop. We cannot tell
how to think anything good of him, who is such a slave to
drowsiness, as to neglect his business for it.
Let this therefore teach us to conceive, how odious we must
appear in the sight of heaven, if we are in bed, shut up in sleep
and darkness, when we should be praising God ; and are such
slaves to drowsiness, as to neglect our devotions for it.
For if he is to be blamed as a slothful drone, that rather chooses
the lazy indulgence of sleep, than to perform his proper share of
worldly business ; how much more is he to be reproached, that
had rather lie folded up in a bed, than be raising up his heart to
God in acts of praise and adoration ?
Prayer is the nearest approach to God, and the highest enjoy-
ment of him, that we are capable of in this life.