31 Six several motives to the duty of prayer The First sort of motives are taken from the necessity of the duty 1. God commands it pag. 33 2. The creature is sanctifyed by it 3. There is no comfort in the Ordinances without it pag. 34 4. We lie under Gods curse if we neglect it A second sort of motives are taken from the benefits that come by prayer 1. It shall not be in vain pag. 35 2. It is a signe of true Conversion 3. It is alwayes accompanied with salvation 4. It is sweet and pleasant in Gods ears pag. 36 5. It will give ease to the grieved heart 6. It is the only means to get the heart filled with spiritual graces 7. By prayer we approach into Gods presence pag. 37 A third sort of motives are taken from the power and goodnesse of God 1. God hath stiled himself a God hearing prayer 2. He is able to help his people pag. 38 3. He is willing to help them 4. He hath made many promises to help them pag. 39 Seventhly the times of prayer in general continually pag. 40 That is 1. Upon all opportunites 2. Without fainting pag. 41 3. Daily all their life long The special times of prayer are The Lords dayes fasting dayes thanksgiving dayes and upon private occasions pag. 42 But more particularly 1. Every day pag. 43 2. Twice every day morning and evening pag. 44 Reasons why we must be thus constant and frequent in prayer are because 1. We continually need blessings pag. 45 2. Without prayer our calling prospers not pag. 46 3. Without it our graces will decay 4. The Devils temptations will prevail pag. 47 5. Our sins will multiply and pag. 48 6. We have need to beg daily pardon of sin pag. 49 Eightly and lastly several objections against prayer are answered as 1. Object It is to no purpose to pray 1. Because God knoweth our wants 2. He hath decreed what shall befall every man 3. He is ready to give what is fit for us This is answered pag. 50 2. Object It is needlesse because the good successe of things depend upons second causes and natural means This is answered pag. 54 3. Object They that never pray do as well as they that pray most what need then is there of this constant praying This is answered pag. 56 4. Object I am unable to pray I would pray but I want faith and the spirit of prayer This is answered pag. 59 5. Object I would fain pray but I am so sinful and unworthy a wretch I dare not I know God heareth not sinners John 9.31 Yet such a one am I and therefore I dare not pray This is answered pag. 16 6. Object I have prayed but I can find no answer This is answered pag. 66 7. Object I can finde no good by praying but I finde I am rather the worse This is answered pag. 71 The use of all is 1. For Instruction 2. For Reprehension 3. For Consolation Lastly for Exhortation 1 Use 1. It instructs us in the right manner of prayer where pag. 75 1. We see dead dull formal heartlesse prayers are not pleasing to God 2. That wicked men that have not the Spirit of God cannot please God in their praying pag. 76 2. It instructs us concerning the power of prayer of which many examples in Scripture are instanced pag. 77 2. Use Reprehension divers are reproved 1. Those that pray not at all pag. 81 2. Those that are lasie and sluggish in prayer pag. 82 3. Those that have evil ends in praying pag. 83 4. Those that pray for light and slight things 5. Those that are formal and hypocritical in their prayers 6. Those that pray without judgment or understanding pag. 84 7. Those that pray but resolve to go on in their sinnes pag. 88 Lastly Those that pray without faith and fervency pag. 90 3. Use Consolation for all those that are faithful frequent constant and fervent in this duty of prayer 1. God usually blesseth those families where prayers are daily used pag. 91 2. God will answer secret prayers 3. If thou canst pray in faith it is a certain signe thou hast the truth of grace thou art a childe of God and shall be saved pag. 92 4. If thy heart be sincere in prayer God will accept of thee although thou hast many failings pag. 93 5. When words fail tears sighs and groanes are a signe thou hast the spirit of prayer pag. 94 6. Sincere seeking of God will give comfort in all afflictions and trials pag. 95 7. A constant course of praying is a certain signe the sinne or judgement thou prayest against shall be removed or the mercy thou prayest for shall be granted pag. 96 8. That God that calleth thee to pray he is able ready and willing to help thee pag. 98 Lastly all the prayers of Gods faithful servants on earth shall undoubtedly be heard and answered in heaven If 1. They be Righteous persons and pag. 99 2. Ask in the Name of Christ pag. 100 3. According to the will of God The fourth and last use is Exhortation to the performance of the duty of prayer where first you have divers Directions in the duty as 1. Labour to be reconciled to Christ pag. 102 2. Ask nothing but what God hath promised to give pag. 103 3. Seek God with a contrite and broken heart pag. 104 4. Take heed of wandering thoughts in prayer 5. Beare in thy minde all the sinnes thou art to pray against and the graces thou art to pray for mind also the mercies thou hast received to be thankful for them pag. 105 6. In thy prayers have a high esteem of God pag. 106 7. Be as ready to be thankful for what you have received as to seek God for what you want 8. When your prayers be ended take heed you rest not in the duty pag. 107 9. Let Gods glory be your utmost aime in all your prayers pag. 108 Lastly Take heede of a selfish spirit prayer Pray for all men pag. 109 Two questions concerning prayer answered 1. Question I cannot tell how to pray I want utterance whether or no is not my reading a forme of prayer acceptable with God in this case This is answered pag. 110. 2. Question I cannot read and I know not how to pray what shall I do in this case This is answered pag. 113 Lastly four encouragementts to the duty of prayer 1. God is so well pleased with it That he hath heard the prayers of men for temporal things that had no grace pag. 117 2. Whosoever sets upon the duty with a sincere heart shall find God carrying of him on in it beyond expectation pag. 118 3. God is more ready to answer his people than they are to ask pag. 120 Lastly God is so well pleased with prayer as that he makes his readinesse to hear a ground of encouragement to quicken them to the duty pag. 121 Books Printed by George Calvert at the signe of the Half-Moon
in Pauls Church-yard MYsteriorum Medulla Bibliorum The Mystery and Marrow of the Bible viz. Gods Covenants with man in the First Adam before the Fall and in the Last Adam Jesus Christ after the Fall From the beginning to the end of the World by Francis Roberts M. A. in fol. The Communicant instructed or practical directions for the worthy receiving the Lords Supper in octavo The Believers Evidences for eternal life in octa An Alphabetical Table of the chief things handled in this Treatise A Ability to pray shall not be wanting to him that goeth on in the duty pag. 118 Anguish of mind the cause why Gods people regard not answer of prayers pag. 73 Answer of prayers five wayes pag. 66 Answer of prayers sometimes as a judgment pag. 70 Asa's sin in seeking to the Physitian and not to God pag. 54 Ask in the name of Christ according to the will of God and thou shalt be answered pag. 100 What it is to ask in the Name of Christ pag. 13 No warrant to ask what God hath not promised to give pag. 103 God is more ready to answer than we are to ask pag. 120 B Better with him that prayeth than with him that prayeth not pag. 56 Benefits that come by prayer pag. 35 Blessings of God not to be expected without prayer pag. 46 Bodies as well as souls must worship God pag. 19 C Call of God to prayer a sign God intends to answer pag. 98 A Catalogue of sins of graces and of blessings will furnish thee with matter of prayer pag. 105 Cautions in reading forms of prayer pag. 112 Commandments no prayers pag. 85 Constant seeking God a certain sign God will answer pag. 96 Continual praying what is meant by it pag. 40 Creed no prayer pag. 87 D Daily prayers a means to obtain grace and to persevere and increase therein pag. 46 Dead dull formal heartlesse prayers are not pleasing unto God pag. 75 Delayes of God are no denials pag. 72 Directions in the duty of prayer pag. 102 The Divel is conquered and daily sins prevented by daily prayers pag. 47 48 Doubting in prayer sinful pag. 90 E Earthly things must be sought conditionally pag. 14 Ends bad in prayer spoil the duty pag. 83 Esteem highly of God in prayer pag. 106 Examples of frequent prayer See Epist to read Examples of five in Scripture that went to God in the sense of sin and obtained mercy pag. 64 Eyes lift up to God in prayer examples for it pag. 22 F Faith the condition upon which the promise of answer of prayers is made pag. 90 Faith may be when thou feelest it not pag. 59 Faithful praying is a sign of one that hath grace that is a child of God and shall be saved pag. 92 Family prayers bring a blessing upon the family pag. 91 Forms of prayer lawful pag. 110 G Gestures in prayer pag. 18 God must first speak to the heart before the heart can speak to God pag. 5 God must be sought in the use of means pag. 54 Gods goodnesse a motive to prayer pag. 37 Gods ready hearing others an encouragement to prayer pag. 121 Gods time the best time for answering prayers pag. 100 Gods glory only to be sought in prayer pag. 108 Grace in the heart will enable a man to pray without reading forms pag. 113 H Hands as well as hearts must be lifted up to God in prayer pag. 20 Hands lift up in prayer what it signifies pag. 21 Hate the sin you pray against pag. 16 Heart broken for sin shall be broken by God from sin pag. 104 Heart to pray where given God will lend an ear to hear pag. 115 Heavenly things must be sought absolutely pag. 14 Hypocrites serve not God out of the love they bear to him pag. 84 Humility requisite in prayer pag. 10 I If thy heart incline to sin Gods ear will not incline to thy prayers pag. 89 Incouragements four to the duty of prayer pag. 117 Instructions in the right manner of prayer pag. 75 Interest in Christ makes both our persons and our prayers accepted pag. 102 K Kneeling a part of divine worship pag. 18 Kneeling in prayer examples for it pag. 19 Knowledge requisite in prayer pag. 9 L Labours to no purpose without Gods blessing pag. 55 A lasie posture in prayer is not to be used pag. 28 Lasie and sluggish prayers provoke God pag. 82 Love to our brethren requisite in prayer pag. 10 Love not long prayers pag. 15 Love the grace you pray for pag. 17 M Meditation a help to prayer pag. 8 Men to be uncovered in prayer pag. 23 Mental prayer pag. 6 Morning and Evening the fittest times for prayer pag. 44 Motives to prayer pag. 33 N Needs of Gods people God is able and willing to supply pag. 38 Necessity of prayer in four respects pag. 33 O Objections against prayer answered pag. 50 Order in prayer required pag. 14 Outward gestures when they may be omitted pag. 25 P Power of prayer in divers examples pag. 77 Prayer what it is pag. 4 Prayer several definitions thereof See the Epistle to the Reader Pray that you may pray pag. 7 Prayer several requisites in it pag. 9 c. To pray for light and slight things a taking Gods Name in vain pag. 83 Prayers five several wayes answered pag. 66 Prayers answered as a judgment and denied as a mercy pag. 70 Prayer gives comfort in all afflictions pag. 95 Prayer may be effectual when a man is indisposed to it and distracted in it pag. 59 Prayer is the Bucket by which we draw water out of the Wells of salvation pag. 34 Prayer neglected exposes a man to all sins and temptations pag. 81 82 Pray aright and be sure to speed pag. 35 Preparations to prayer pag. 7 Pride keeps men from prayer pag. 65 Priviledges of the praying Christian see the Epistle to the Reader Promises to prayer pag. 39 He that turns the promises into prayers speaks to God in his own language pag. 103 Q Questions two concerning prayer answered pag. 110 R Reasons six for daily prayers pag. 45 Reproof for those that pray without judgment or understanding pag. 85 Reproof for those that use irreverent gestures in prayer pag. 29 Rest not in the duty of prayer pag. 107 Reverence in prayer exhorted to pag. 31 Reverence in prayer an effect of faith pag. 27 S Sacrifices under the Old Law morning and evening figured out the Christians daily prayers pag. 44 Secret prayers shall be answered pag. 91 Sense of sin should not keep us from prayer pag. 63 Sighs and groans a sign of the spirit of prayer and accepted with God pag. 94 Sincerity in prayer accepted with God although there be many failings pag. 95 What sinners God will not hear pag. 62 Sitting in prayer not found in Scripture pag. 32 Not greatnesse of sinne but want of faith keeps men from seeking Gods mercy pag. 5 T Tears have a voice in Gods ears pag. 60 Temporal things must be
answered yet it may be not presently You must not exspect the Mercies you pray for when you will no but ye must wait Gods time which is the best time Saith the Prophet Isa 28.16 He that believeth maketh not haste He is content to stay himself upon God and wait his leasure So did David Psal 40.1 I waited patiently upon the Lord and he enclined unto me and heard my cry And so did the Church in Isaiah I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the house of Jacob and I will look for him I shall conclude this Use with that in Isaiah 30.18 Isa 30.18 And therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious to you and therefore will he be exalted that he may have mercy upon you for the Lord is a God of judgement Blessed are all they that wait for him So much for the third Use which hath been for Consolation I come now to the fourth and last Use 4. Use Lastly which is for Exhortation Is it so Exhortation that it is the Duty of all the people of God to Pray Then I beseech you be exhorted to the performance of the Duty In the prosecution of this Use I shall First give you divers directions in the Duty of Prayer Secondly I shall answer two material Questions concerning Prayer Thirdly and lastly I shall lay down some Encouragements to the Duty of Prayer First Directions in Prayer of the first I shall lay down nine or tenne Directions in the duty of Prayer First Labour to be reconciled to Christ that your person may be accepted and you may be in favour with God Till this be done your Prayers will not be answered God accepted of Abel first Gen. 4.4 then he accepted of his Sacrifice His Faith in the promised Messiah was that which made both his person and Sacrifice accepted with God Heb. 11.4 So by Faith get an interest in Christ and then both thy person and thy Prayers shall be accepted Secondly For the matter of your Prayers be sure they be for such things as are agreeable to Gods will Thou hast no warrant to ask what God hath not promised to give For this purpose it is requisite you should be well versed in the Scriptures And then turn the Promises into Prayers so shall you speak to God in his own language your requests shall be according to his will 1 John 5.14 and then you may be confident you shall be heard Thirdly Approach to God in Prayer with a contrite and broken heart for sinne As God will not despise a contrite and broken heart Psal 51.17 so neither will he despise the Prayers that proceed from such a heart When the heart is broken for sinne God will also break that heart from sinne and satisfie the desires of that soul Fourthly Take heed of wandring thoughts in Prayer and let thy heart and thy tongue goe alwayes together Wandring thoughts or vaine thoughts are bad at any time worst of all in Prayer God complaines of them Jer. 4.14 How long shall vaine thoughts lodge within thee Doe thou complain of them to God And seek not that with thy tongue which thy heart doth not desire for if thou dost God seeth thy hypocrsie and will hate thee for it Heb. 4.13 For all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to doe in Prayer Fifthly Take a Catalogue of and bear in minde all the sinnes thou art to pray against and all the graces thou art to pray for Mind also the mercies and blessings thou art to pray for And think also of the mercies and blessings thou hast received to be thankfull for them The serious thoughts and meditations of these things will furnish thee with sufficient matter for Prayer Sixthly in all thy Prayers have a high esteem of God Saith Soloman Eccles 5.2 Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thy heart be hasty to utter any thing before God for God is in Heaven and thou upon Earth therefore let thy words be few Think seriously what a God it is thou speakest to these thoughts will make thee reverent and serious in the duty Seventhly In all your Prayers to God be as ready to be thankful to God for what you have received as to seek him for what you want I fear it is a sinne too common amongst Gods children to be so mindful of what they want as to forget to be thankful for what they have But take heed of this the way to obtain new mercies is to be thankful for the old Saith David Psal 116.12 13. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. As if he should have said I will be thankful to God for what I have and I will call upon him for more blessings Eighthly When you have ended your Prayers Take heed you rest not in the Duty but mourn for the sinnes of the Duty and look up to God for an Answer So did David Psal 5.3 In the morning I will direct my Prayer unto thee and I will look up He doth not rest in the duty done but continued praying and looking up to God for an answer So doe you take heed you rest not in the duty neither let the work be tedious to you For as painfulnesse of speaking argueth a sick body so doth irksomnesse in praying a sick soul Ninethly Let Gods glory be your utmost aime in all your Prayers Seek not your selves nor your own ends in your Supplications but the glory of God onely Saith Christ John 8.50 I seek not my own glory Neither should we seek our own glory in any thing we doe much lesse in Prayer For if Gods glory be not our ends and aimes in Prayer it will render our prayers odious unto God Tenthly and lastly Lastly Take heed of a selvish spirit in Prayer Pray not onely for your selves and your Friends but as the Apostle exhorts for all men of all degrees 1 Tim. 2.1 2. Magistrates and Ministers c. Pray not onely for your friends that pleasure you but also for your enemies that despitefully use you as our Saviour exhorts Mat. 5.44 The more publick our spirits are in the duty of Prayer the more pleasing are our Prayers unto God It is good to have a publick spirit in private duties Take heed therefore of a selvish or private spirit in the duty of Prayer Thus by way of Exhortation I have given you divers directions in the duty of Prayer observe them for your good I come now in the second place to Answer two material Questions concerning Prayer The first is this 1. Quest. I cannot tell how to pray I want utterance Whether or no is not my reading a Form of Prayer acceptable with God in this case It is farre better to use the
help of a good Prayer Book Answ then not to pray at all onely be sure that the Prayers you read be sutable to your condition And take heed the spirit of Grace and Supplication be not wanting in him that reads the Prayer nor in them that hear it The best Reformed Churches hath and doth read Set-formes of Prayer It is Objected Object To read a Sermon is not to Preach therefore to read a Prayer is not to Pray I Answer Answ the reason is not alike in both For the gift of Preaching is not shewed in reading therefore reading a Sermon is not preaching but the grace and gift of Prayer may be shewed in reading of a Prayer Again it is Objected Object If we read Formes of Prayer then we stinct the Spirit I Answer no. Answ For if we joyn with another that prayes without a Form his prayer is a Form to us For although our hearts be more enlarged yet we must stick close to the words of him with whom we joyn in Prayer So as this is no stinting of the spirit For when thou art alone thou maist enlarge thy self Yet further know that the enlargement of the heart stands not so much in the multitude and variety of expressions as in the extent of the affections So that although you be tyed up in words yet there is no tie upon the affections they may be enlarged in putting up the same petition when an other is straightned Thus you see a man may read and use Formes of Prayer onely take these two Cautions First 1. Caution Take heed you do not rest in this way For although reading is a help to Prayer yet must you labour to pray without it A child that cannot goe alone may be helpt to go but ye must not be alwayes children not alwayes doe thus Secondly 2. Caution Take heed you neglect not to use and exercise the grace God have given you For know this there is no man that hath any work of Grace upon his heart but is able to pray without reading or using a Set-forme of Prayer There was never any man in extreme need but he could tell how to expresse his wants to those that could relieve him without reading them I come to answer the second Question which is this 2. Quest. I cannot read and I know not how to pray What shall I do in this case I Answer Answ Go to God with David and say O Lord open thou my lips Psal 51.15 and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise Put into my mouth what I shall speak unto thee And then doubtlesse that God that bids his people take unto them words Hos 14.2 and hath promised his spirit shall help their infirmities Rom. 8.26 will undoubtedly give them words to seek him with For God never puts a man upon a duty but he will help him in it As you may see in the example of Moses he complaines of his inability to speak God bids him go and promiseth to be with his mouth Exod. 4.10 11 12. and to teach him what he shall say And Moses by Gods help was mighty in words as well as in deeds Acts 7.22 Let a man be never so full of words and matter he cannot bring it forth in Prayer without Gods assistance he cannot utter his own conceptions without Gods help Prov. 16.1 Saith Solomon The preparation of the heart in man and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. A man can neither prepare his heart to speak nor speak what he hath prepared without Gods assistance And therefore go to God to give thee a heart and words to speak to him with and doubtlesse that God that hath promised to give a mouth to his children Mat. 10.19 Luk. 21.15 to speak before their enemies He will not deny to give them words when they come by Prayer to speak before himself For a full answer to this question take these two Conclusions First God never gives a man an heart to pray Psal 10.17 but he lends an ear to hear Secondly He that hath an heart to pray will seek God to give him words And he that with a sincere heart seeks God to give him words shall never want words to seek him with Hast thou then a heart go to God and he will give thee words Psa 19.14 Pray with David Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer And then God will make thy words acceptable in his sight For there is no mouth into which God cannot put fit words to seek him with When God puts forth his power the weakest instrument shall be enabled to do his will As appeared Num. 22.27 to 32 verse when God enabled Balaams Asse to convince his Master And so much for the Answer to the two Questions Lastly I come now in the third and last place to lay down some encouragements to the Duty of Prayer I have already given divers in the use of Consolation To all which in the close let me adde these three or four following First 1. Encourag God is so well pleased with Prayer that he hath heard the Prayers of men for temporal things that had no grace You may see this in the example of King Ahab 1 King 21.24 to the end who sold himself to work wickednesse in the sight of God Yet when he heard the judgement threatned against him he humbled himself by Fasting and Prayer and although it was not the humiliation of a true Penitent for he turned not from his sinnes yet see what God saith to the Prophet concerning him 1 King 21.29 Seest thou how A hab bumbles himself before me I will not bring the evil in his dayes but in his sonnes dayes will I bring the evil upon his house If God be thus moved with the humiliation and prayer of a wicked man as to put off or deferre a temporal judgement how can God deny the Prayers of those that have the truth of grace when they seek him for pardon of sinne and spiritual blessings If external humiliation prevail thus with God O how prevalent are the Prayers of tender broken-hearted sinners 2 King 22.19 such as good King Josiah was Secondly 2. Encourag There is no man that hath set upon this duty of Prayer with a sincere heart resolving to go on in the practice thereof although he hath been never so weak and unable to the work at the first yet in time he hath found God carrying of him on in it beyond expectations and hath found a daily growth and increase of Grace and abilities to Pray God despiseth not the day of small things Zach. 4.10 Though grace in the soul of him that humbly seeks God be at the first but as a grain of Mustard seed Mat. 13.1 31. yet afterward it shall
covered dishonoureth his head I read the Turkes neither kneel nor uncover the Head in prayer esteeming it unmanly But Christians in all places and in all Ages have used both these gestures in Prayer And for men to be uncovered in Prayer I conceive this reason holds good because it is usual amongst Christians when Inferiours are speaking to Superiours to have their heads uncovered to manifest their subjection and it is a shame and a dishonour to a man to doe otherwise So when poor weak frail mortal man is by Prayer speaking to the great God of Heaven and Earth it is requisite he should manifest his reverence and subjection unto God by being bare-headed otherwise as the Apostle saith he dishonoureth his Head But may some Object Object Will you tie us to these gestures seeing we finde that Gods people stood and prayed Neh. 9.2 And the Publican and Pharisee stood and prayed and it is said Luke 18 11 13. Heb. 11.21 Iacob leaned upon his staffe and worshiped To which I answer I doe not tie you at all times to the Gestures before mentioned No For first outward gestures may be omitted when they shall hinder us in the service of God As for example If the Minister should kneel the people could not so well hear him and the seats of some in the Church are so placed that if they should kneel they should not hear the Minister In this case standing is better then kneeling because God accepts not of that gesture that hinders us in his service And it is like in this case Neh. 9.2 3 4. the Levites did stand and pray and the people also stood and prayed And for the Publican and Pharisee their prayers were but short Ejaculations not the solemne setting themselves to the dutie of Prayer therefore their example in standing can be no rule for our practice in the set performance of the duty Secondly outward gestures may be omitted when we cannot use them without evident danger of health or without such pain to the body as trouble and distract the mind in Gods service Some cannot kneel in prayer through bodily weaknesse and infirmities in this case God perfers mercy before sacrifice Mat. 12.7 And in this respect old Iacob rose upon his bed Heb. 11.21 leaned upon his staffe and worshipped And so if a man through age or weaknesse cannot be bare-headed he may have some covering Onely take this rule in these cases if a man cannot kneel or be bare-headed in Prayer yet must he use some other bodily gesture to shew as much bodily reverence as he can For so did Iacob who being aged and ready to give up the Ghost yet would he not lie along on his bed and pray but he rose up and leaned on his staffe he shewed as much reverence as he could he was not able to kneel or sit upright therefore he leaned and this gesture is given as an effect of his Faith By Faith he did thus to teach us that those that have true Faith in God will shew as much bodily reverence to him in prayer as they can If yet it be objected Object Why may not a man sit or lie along or be covered and pray I Answer Answ If they can use the other Gestures which are most sutable to the duty and yet doe not they sinne For if sitting or lying be as fit gestures in Prayer as kneeling what needed David to have rose at midnight to performe the duty as we finde he did resolve upon Psal 119.62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to thee Psal 119.62 When others were sleeping he was praying and that he might apply himself to such a posture as was most sutable to the duty he rose at midnight to performe it To teach us that a lazie posture in the duty of Prayer is not to be used As a full answer to all cavils take these two Conclusions First those gestures that bring a deadnesse and dulnesse and shew no reverence to God in the duty of Prayer ought not to be used But sitting lying and for men to be covered in Prayer when there is no infirmity or necessity constrains them to it brings deadnesse and discovers no reverence to God in the duty therefore they are not to be used in it Secondly those Gestures in publick that are of bad example to others are not to be used But sitting lying along or being covered are of bad example to others therefore they are not to be used in Prayer Now although it be my purpose to make a general application of all in the close yet observing that many in the Congregation are defective in the gestures of Prayer give me leave to speak a few words by way of Use to this before I passe to the next thing propounded And 1. For Reprehension 2. For Exhortation First by way of Reprehension 1. Use Reprehension is kneeling lifting up the hands and eyes and being bare-headed commanded and commended in Scripture as gestures requisite in Prayer Tell me then doe not those deserve to be reproved that neglect these Gestures or use the contrary That instead of using these gestures they sit or lie along and are with their Hats half off and half on are not these lazie and irreverent postures more fit for those that give themselves to sleeping then those that set themselves to Prayer If any of your Children should greatly offend you and then come and sit down before you or lie along or be with their hats half off and half on and ask you forgivenesse would you not be displeased with them and condemne their want of reverence Beloved we ought to come to God as a Father but if we come to him with irreverent postures may he not say unto us Mal. 1.6 If I be a Father where is mine honour More reverence becometh children to their Father Can your Consciences serve you to use lesse reverence to God then you would use to man think of it Secondly for Exhortation 2 Use Exhortation I beseech you be exhorted to use more reverence in Prayer God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the Saints Psal 89.7 and to be had in reverence of all that are about him If thou hast grace it will teach thee to serve God reverently Therefore Heb. 12.28 Let us have grace whereby we may serve God with reverence and godly fear God accepts not of that service that is not reverently performed He therefore that will serve God acceptably must serve him reverently That man that does not behave himself reverently in respect of the outward man in Prayer he can have no reverent nor high esteeme of God in his heart for where that is it will cause an humble and reverent deportment of the body Wherefore I Exhort and beseech you for time to come use not such irreverent postures in Prayer as if you scorned the Ordinance but let the outward postures