Now when he hath thus furnished these three heads with things that in particular concern himself, they being all matters of weight, he must now carry these things, or the chief of them in his mind, and frame his heart to speak to God in the best words he can get, to signify his detestation of those sins, his humble requests for those graces, and his unfeigned thankfulness for those blessings. Howsoever he may be rude or unperfect in his Language about these at the first, yet exercise will bring him to a ripeness; and by this course he shall be sure to speak ⟨p. 254⟩of things that concern himself nearly; and that God which hath taught Parents to regard the unperfect language of their little Children when they begin to speak unto them, will himself much more delight to hear the desires of his Servants, that are grieved, that they cannot speak in a better sort unto him. The profit and comfort of this course will appear by experience to be exceeding great: besides it is an easy way, where there is in any a true desire to be at the pains to learn this Language of speaking to God by prayer; and Gods Spirit will help and teach the poor Christian, and draw his petitions for him, and prompt him both with words and affections: And the Christian must know this, that when he hath confessed his sins, and showed what he should have God do for him, with the best words he could in the truth of his heart, ⟨p. 255⟩he hath made a most effectual prayer to God.
Now when hee hath thus furnished these three heads with things that in particular concerne himselfe, they being all matters of weight, hee must now carry these things, or the chiefe of them in his mind, and frame his heart to speake to God in the best words he can get, to signifie his detestation of those sinnes, his humble requests for those graces, and his vnfained thankefulnesse for those blessings. Howsoeuer hee may be rude or vnperfect in his Language about these at the first, yet exercise will bring him to a ripenesse; and by this course hee shall be sure to speake ⟨p. 254⟩of things that concerne himselfe neerely; and that God which hath taught Parents to regard the vnperfect language of their little Children when they begin to speak vnto them, will himselfe much more delight to heare the desires of his Seruants, that are grieued, that they cannot speake in a better sort vnto him. The profit and comfort of this course will appeare by experience to be exceeding great: besides it is an easie way, where there is in any a true desire to bee at the paines to learne this Language of speaking to God by prayer; and Gods Spirit will helpe and teach the poore Christian, and draw his petitions for him, and prompt him both with words and affections: And the Christian must know this, that when hee hath confessed his sinnes, and shewed what hee should haue God doe for him, with the best words hee could in the truth of his heart, ⟨p. 255⟩he hath made a most effectuall prayer to God.
