12. *One of the greatest benefits of private devotion, consists in adapting our prayers to the difference of our state, and the difference of our hearts.
*By the difference of our state, is meant the difference of our external state, as of sickness, health, pains, losses, disappointments, troubles, particular mercies or judgments from God, and all sorts of kindnesses, injuries, or reproaches from other people.
Now, as these are great parts of our state of life, as they make great difference in it, by continually changing; so our devotion will be made doubly beneficial to us, when it watches to receive and sanctify all these changes of our state, and turns them all into so many occasions of a more particular application to God, of such thanksgivings, such resignation, such petitions, as our present state more especially requires.
*And he that makes every change in his state, a reason of presenting unto God some particular petitions suitable to that change, will soon find, that he has taken an excellent means, not only of praying with fervour, but of living as he prays.
13. *We are likewise always to adapt some part of our prayers to the difference of our hearts; by which is meant the different tempers of our hearts, as of love, joy, peace, tranquility, dulness and dryness of spirit, anxiety, discontent, motions of envy and ambition, dark and disconsolate thoughts, resentments, fretfulness, and peevish tempers.
If we are in the delightful calm of sweet and easy passions, of love and joy in God, we should then offer the tribute of thanksgiving.
If, on the other hand, we feel ourselves laden with heavy passions, with dulness of spirit, anxiety and uneasiness, we must then look up to God in acts of humility, confessing our unworthiness, opening our troubles to him, beseeching him in his good time to lessen our infirmities, and to deliver us from these passions.
By this wise application of our prayers, we shall get all the relief from them that is possible; and the very changeableness of our hearts, will prove a means of exercising a greater variety of holy tempers.
You will perceive by this, that persons ought to have a great share in composing their own devotions.
As to that part of their prayers, which is always fixed, they may use forms composed by other persons; but in that part which they are to suit to the present state of their life, and the present state of their heart, they must let the sense of their own condition help them to such kinds of petition, thanksgiving, or resignation, as their present state requires.