Our desire in Prayer must be both sincere and fervent, even an hungering, thirsting, longing desire.1 Under these metaphors the desires of the faithful are oft set forth.2 Now hungry and thirsty persons, and women that long, do both in truth, and also with great earnestness desire that which they desire. If in Prayer our desire be such, it will pierce the Heavens, and move God to yield unto it: if it be not a true and sincere desire, but complementall and hypocritical, it is no prayer of the heart, but mere lip labour, and so no whit acceptable to him who searcheth the heart. If it be not fervent, but a cold desire, it cannot pierce so high as Heaven. For as a bullet flieth no further then the heat and force of powder driveth it: so Prayer no further then the fervour of spirit carrieth it. Be thereforea fervent in spirit. We heard that the Prayer of a righteous man availeth much, but with this Proviso,b If it be fervent.
OVr desire in Prayer must bee both sincere and feruent, euen an hungring, thirsting, longing desire.1 Vnder these metaphors the desires of the faithfull are oft set forth.2 Now hungry and thirsty persons, and women that long, doe both in truth, and also with great earnestnesse desire that which they desire. If in Prayer our desire be such, it will pierce the Heauens, and moue God to yeeld vnto it: if it be not a true and sincere desire, but complementall and hypocriticall, it is no prayer of the heart, but meere lip labour, and so no whit acceptable to him who searcheth the heart. If it be not feruent, but a cold desire, it cannot pierce so high as Heauen. For as a bullet flieth no further then the heate and force of powder driueth it: so Prayer no further then the feruour of spirit carrieth it. Be thereforea feruent in spirit. We heard that the Prayer of a righteous man auatleth much, but with this Prouiso,b If it be feruent.
- 19 & 10.
- 2Pray in sincerity of heart, & with fervency of spirit.Pray in sincerity of heart, & with feruency of spirit.
- aRom. 12. 11.
- bJam. 5. 16.Iam. 5. 16.
