A treatise of mans imaginations Showing his natural evil thoughtsA treatise of mans imaginations Shewing his naturall euill thoughts

Secondly, the exercise of prayer and invocation on the name of God, is rare among men: no doubt many a touched heart doth every day unfeignedly call on God for grace. but yet generally this is true: men go on from day to day, and from year to year, and never pray unto God for supply of grace. Indeed men plead for themselves, that they use to pray: for they say the Lords prayer: the Creed, and the ten Commandments: but we must know; that with many this practise is nothing, but a vain repetition of words; for prayer is an action of the heart, and not the labour of the tongue, and lips only: so to say the Lords prayer is not ⟨p. 55⟩to pray, for the words thereof may be repeated with the heart of an Atheist.

Secondly, the exercise of praier and inuocation on the name of God, is rare among men: no doubt many a touched heart doth euery day vnfainedly call on God for grace. but yet generally this is true: men goe on from day to day, and from yeare to yeare, and neuer pray vnto God for supply of grace. Indeede men plead for themselues, that they vse to pray: for they say the Lords prayer: the Creede, and the tenne Commaundements: but wee must know; that with many this practise is nothing, but a vaine repetition of words; for prayer is an action of the heart, and not the labour of the tongue, and lippes onely: so to say the Lords prayer is not ⟨p. 55⟩to pray, for the words thereof may be repeated with the heart of an Atheist.

And thirdly the contempt of them that put their trust in God, is rise among us: for who is so much scorned and reproached, as he that maketh profession of religion? Now may that complaint be justly taken up by the servants of God, Isai. 8. 18. Behold, I, and the children whom the Lord hath given me, are as signs and wonders. And, He that refrains from evil, makes himself a pray to the evil tongue.