The saints daily exercise A treatise concerning the whole duty of prayer. Delivered in…The saints daily exercise A treatise concerning the whole dutie of prayer. Delivered in…

Again, this is another case, what a man is to do in the private performance of this duty, whether ¹he be bound always to use his voice? whether he be bound always to use such a kind of gesture?

Againe, this is another case, what a man is to doe in the private performance of this duty, whether ¹he be bound alwayes to vse his voice? whether he be bound alwayes to vse such a kinde of gesture?

1. 1Case 5. About using the voice, and about the gesture in secret prayer.Case 5. About vsing the voice, and about the ge•ture in secret prayer.

I answer this briefly, (for there is no great difficulty in these things, and therefore I p•sse them ¹over) for the gesture in public, there is more heed to be taken of that; because it is a public and open worship of God; and therefore in public the g•ture is alway to be reverent. You know how often it is repeated, (in the old testament ⟨p. 85⟩especially) that they bowed down, and worshipped still, Christ looked up to heaven, Paul kneeled down, and the rest with him, and prayed; and many such like expressions you have mentioned in the Scriptures: where you have prayer mentioned in public, still you shall find an expression of some reverend gesture, and when we appear before the Lord in the public performance of this duty, especial care must be taken hereunto in the private, the case is different; there variety of gestures may be used. I do not see, but all variety of gestures may be used; there are many examples for walking, and lying, and sitting; only this is to be taken heed to, that, even in private, as far as may be, the gesture be such, as may both express the inward reverence in the heart, and of the outward man; but there i a liberty in that: I think this is the best rule in private, that the gesture be used, that doth