And secondly,1 not simply Gods name, as in an Ordinance made known, but also His name, that is, His Attributes are taken in vain. For it is a sign you think of that God you pray to, that either his ear is heavy, that he cannot hear: or his hand shortened, that he cannot save: or his heart straitened, and his bowels restrained, that he will not: And thus you rob him, and despoil him of one of his most royal ⟨p. 13⟩Titles, whereby he styles himself,2 a God that heareth prayers; who is so regardful of them, that in the first of Kings 8. 59. they are said to be nigh the Lord day and night, they are all before him, and he sets them in his view, as we do letters of friends which we stick in our windows, that we may remember to answer them; or lay them not out of our bosoms, that we might be sure not to forget them: so the petitions of his people, pass not out of his sight, till he sends an answer, which is called speaking here; God speaking as well in his works as in his word. But you, by your ⟨p. 14⟩neglect herein, make an Idol God of him, such as were the vanities of the heathen, as if he had ears and heard not, eyes and saw not your need, &c. Such a God as Elijah mocked, You must speak aloud, (saith he) he may be in a journey, &c. Even such a God do you make the God of heaven & earth to be, whilst you put no more confidence in him, or make no more reckoning of your prayers to him, then the heathens did of their sacrifices to their Gods. Petitioners do not only put up their requests, but use to wait at great mens doors, & enquire, and listen what answer is given unto them; ⟨p. 15⟩and it is part of an honour to great men that we do so: and for the same end are we also to wait on God, As an acknowledgement of his greatness, and our distance from him, and dependence upon him; as the eyes of the servants look to the hand of their Masters, 3so do we (saith David) on thee, till thou hast mercy on us. And Psalm. 130. after he had prayed ver. 2. He saith, he waited more then they that watch for the morning, like those that having some great business to do on the morrow, long for the day light, and look often out to spy the day, so he for a glimmering, and dawning of an ⟨p. 16⟩answer. The like we have Psal. 5. 3. In the morning will I direct my prayer to thee, and look, that is, for an answer.
And secondly,1 not simply Gods name, as in an Ordinance made knowne, but also His name, that is, His Attributes are taken in vaine. For it is a signe you thinke of that God you pray to, that either his eare is heavy, that hee cannot heare: or his hand shortned, that he cānot save: or his heart straitned, and his bowels restrained, that he will not: And thus you rob him, and despoile him of one of his most royall ⟨p. 13⟩Titles, whereby he styles himselfe,2 a God that heareth prayers; who is so regardfull of them, that in the first of Kings 8. 59. they are said to be nigh the Lord day and night, they are all before him, and he sets them in his view, as wee doe letters of friends which wee sticke in our windows, that we may remember to answer them; or lay them not out of our bosomes, that wee might be sure not to forget thē: so the petitions of his people, passe not out of his sight, till hee sends an answer, which is called speaking here; God speaking as well in his workes as in his word. But you, by your ⟨p. 14⟩neglect herein, make an Idoll God of him, such as were the vanities of the heathen, as if hee had eares and heard not, eyes and saw not your need, &c. Such a God as Elias mockt, You must speak aloud, (saith he) he may be in a journey, &c. Even such a God doe you make the God of heaven & earth to bee, whilest you put no more confidence in him, or make no more reckoning of your prayers to him, then the heathens did of their sacrifices to their Gods. Petitioners do not onely put up their requests, but use to wait at great mens doores, & enquire, and listen what answer is given unto them; ⟨p. 15⟩and it is part of an honour to great men that we doe so: and for the same end are wee also to waite on God, As an acknowledgement of his greatnesse, and our distance from him, and dependance upon him; as the eyes of the servants looke to the hand of their Masters, 3so doe we (saith David) on thee, till thou hast mercy on us. And Psalm. 130. after he had prayed ver. 2. Hee saith, hee waited more then they that watch for the morning, like those that having some great businesse to doe on the morrow, long for the day light, and looke often out to spy the day, so hee for a glimmering, and dawning of an
- 1Reas. 2. We take the Attributes of God in vain.Reas. 2. Wee take the Attributes of God in vaine.
- 2Psal. 65. 2.
- 3Psal. 123. 2
