XI. _Clito_ says he desires no more time for rising, dressing, and saying his prayers, than a quarter of an hour. He tells this to his friends; not to shew his want of religion, but that he may be thought to understand devotion. You tell him that our Saviour’s parables teach _continuance_ and _importunity_ in _prayer_; that the apostles exhort to pray _without ceasing_, to pray _always_; and that devout persons are recorded in scripture as praying _night and day_. Still _Clito_ is for short prayers. He at last finds a text of scripture, and appeals to the example of the _angels_; they only said, _Glory be to_ God _on high, and on earth peace, good-will towards men_. _Clito_ takes this to be an argument for short prayer, because the angels had done so soon. But _Clito_ must be told, that this is no prayer at all; it is only a joyful proclamation to men. And surely the manner of _angels_ speaking to men, can be no rule or measure of men’s speaking to God. The angels had no more to tell the world than this message of joy; but does it therefore follow, that sinners are to be as short in their addresses to God? If _Clito_ must have an example from heaven, he might have found one much more proper than this, where it is said, _That they rest not day and night, saying, holy, holy, holy, Lord |God| Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come_¹. ¹ Rev. iv. 3. XII. There are _two seasons_ of our hearts which we should carefully observe: I mean the _time_ when we are _most affected_ with our devotions, and the _time_ when we are _most indisposed_ to pray. For both these might equally serve to instruct us in the knowledge of ourselves, and how to govern the motions of our hearts. *Reflect with yourself, how it was with you; what circumstance you was in; what had _happened_ to you; what you had been _doing_; when you found yourself _so affected_ with your devotions. Now, if you find out what state you was then in, when you was disposed to pray so fervently, then you have found out a way of raising your devotion at another time. If you was then to put down in _writing_ some short remembrance of the _chief things_ that raised your heart, so that you might have a view of them as often as your mind wanted such assistance, you would find a benefit that would reward your labour. On the contrary, whenever you have found yourself _very much indisposed_ for prayer, reflect with yourself, what _state_ you was then in; what had _happened_ unto you; what _thoughts_ you had in your head; what _passions_ were then awakened; what you had been _doing_, or were _intending_ to do: for when you have found out the state you was then in, you have found out the hindrances of your devotion; and know what things to avoid, if you desire not to quench the Spirit.