6. He which would pray aright, must be like the prodigal child, that is, he must not only confess his sin, saying, Father I have sinned against heaven and against thee, &c. but also have a full purpose never after to offend his Father. For how can a Child call him father, whom he cares not continually to displease through his lewd conditions? He cannot do it; neither can any Father delight in such a child: therefore, in prayer we must call to mind our lewdness and rebellions against our heavenly Father, and with the Publican, in heaviness of soul, say, Lord be merciful to me a sinner. He which can truly do this, is a kind child. If we consider our selves as we are by nature, we are the children of the devil: no child so like his Father as we are like him, and in this estate, we continually rebel against God; for the ⟨image 19⟩Devil hath all the heart, our whole joy is to serve and please him. A man that is to pray must think on this, and be heavy for it. And happy, yea a thousand times happy are they, who have grace given them to see this their state & to bewail it. And further, it is not sufficient to confess our sins against our merciful Father, but we must set down with our selves, never in such sort to offend him again; and to lead a new life. This point is very profitable for these times; For many there be, when any cross or sickness comes on them, they will pray and promise repentance and all obedience to Gods word, if it shall please God to deliver them: but this usually is but in hypocrisy; they dissemble with God and men. For when their sickness is past like a dog that hath been in the water, they shake their ears, and run straight with all greediness ⟨image 19⟩to their former sins. Is this to call God father? No; he that doth this, shall not have God to be his father; but the man that is wounded in his soul for his offences past, and carrieth a purpose in his heart never wittingly and willingly to offend God again.
6. He which would pray aright, must be like the prodigall childe, that is, he must not onely confesse his sin, saying, Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee, &c. but also haue a ful purpose neuer after to offend his Father. For how can a Childe call him father, whome hee cares not continually to displease through his lewd conditions? He cannot do it; neither can any Father delight in suche a child: therefore, in praier we must call to minde our lewdnes and rebellions against our heauenly Father, and with the Publican, in heuines of soule, say, Lord be mercifull to me a sinner. He which can truly do this, is a kind child. If we consider our selues as we are by nature, wee are the children of the deuill: noe childe so like his Father as wee are like him, and in this estate, we continually rebel against God; for the ⟨image 19⟩Deuill hath al the heart, our whol joy is to serue and please him. A man that is to pray must think on this, and be heauy for it. And happy, yea a thousand times happy ar they, who haue grace giuen them to see this their state & to bewaile it. And further, it is not sufficient to confesse our sinnes against our mercifull Father, but wee must set downe with our selues, neuer in such sort to offend him againe; and to leade a newe life. This point is very profitable for these times; For many there be, when any crosse or sicknes comes on them, they will pray and promise repentance and all obedience to Gods worde, if it shall please God to deliuer them: but this vsually is but in hypocrisie; they dissemble with God and men. For when their sicknes is past like a dogge that hath bene in the water, they shake their eares, and runne streight with all greedinesse ⟨image 19⟩to their former sinnes. Is this to call God father? No; hee that doth this, shall not haue God to be his father; but the man that is wounded in his soul for his offēces past, and carrieth a purpose in his heart neuer wittingly and willingly to offend God againe.
