The rule and exercises of holy living. In which are described the means and instruments of obtaining every vertue, and the remedies against every vice, and considerations serving to the resisting all temptations. Together with prayers containing the whole duty of a Christian, and the parts of devotion fitted to all occasions, and furnish'd for all necessities.

Remedies against wandring thoughts in Prayer.

If we feel our spirits apt to wander in our prayers, and to retire into the World, or to things unprofitable, or vain and impertinent.

1. Use prayer to bee assisted in prayer: pray for the spirit of supplication, for a so∣ber, fixed, and recollected spirit: and when to this you adde a moral industry to be stea∣dy in your thoughts, whatsoever wandrings after this do return irremediably, are a mi∣sery of Nature, and an imperfection, but no sinne while it is not cherished and indulged too.

2. In private it is not amisse to attempt the

cure by reducing your prayers into Collects, and short forms of prayer, making voluntary interruptions and beginning again, that the want of spirit and breath may be supplied by the short stages and periods.

3. When you have observed any conside∣rable wandring of your thoughts, binde your self to repeat that prayer again with a∣ctual attention, or else revolve the full sense of it in your spirit, and repeat it in all the effect and desires of it: and pos∣sibly the tempter may be driven away with his own art, and may cease to interpose his trifles, when hee perceives they doe but vex the person into carefulnesse, and piety: and yet hee loses nothing of his devotion, but doubles the earnestnesse of his care.

4. If this bee not seasonable, or oppor∣tune, or apt to any Mans circumstances, yet be sure with actual attention to say a hearty Amen to the whole prayer, with one uni∣ted desire, earnestly begging the graces men∣tioned in the prayer: for that desire does the great work of the prayer and secures the bles∣sing, if the wandring thoughts were against our will, and disclaimed by contending a∣gainst them.

5. Avoid multiplicity of businesses of the World; and in those that are unavoidable, labour for an evennesse and tranquillity of spirit, that you may be untroubled and smooth in all tempests of fortune: for so we shall better tend Religion, when we are not torn in pieces with the cares of the World, and seiz'd upon with low affections, passions and interest.

6. It helps much to attention and actual ad∣vertisement in our prayers, if we say our pray∣ers silently, without the voice, onely by the ••pirit. For in mental prayer, if our thoughts wander, we onely stand still; when our minde returns, we go on again, there is none of the prayer lost, as it is, if our mouths speak and our hearts wander.

7. To incite you to the use of these or any other counsels you shall meet with, remember that it is a great undecency to desire of God to hear those prayers, a great part whereof we do not hear our selves. If they be not worthy of our attention, they are far more unworthy of Gods.