A20762:861
A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties
A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helps enabling & the reasons persuading unto it the impediments hindering the practise of it, and the best means to remove them whereunto are added divers prayers and a treatise of carnal security by John Douname Bachelor in Divinity and minister of Gods Word.A guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties wherein it consisteth, the helpes inabling & the reasons parswading vnto it ye impediments hindering ye practise of it, and the best meanes to remoue them whereunto are added diuers prayers and a treatise of carnall securitie by Iohn Douname Batcheler in Diuinitie and minister of Gods Word.
London: printed by Felix Kingstone and William Stansby for Ed, 1622
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§ Sect. 2 That we must not affect prolixity and superfluity of words in our prayers.
And these are the things to be observed in prayer, in respect of our gesture and voice. In respect of the speech it self, or words whereby our prayers are expressed, divers things are to be considered. First, in respect of the quantity and continuance of them: we must avoid affectation of prolixity, superfluity of words, vain babbling and idle repetitions, which proceed not from any fervency of affection, and earnestness of desire to obtain the things we pray for, arising from the sight and sense of our wants, (for in this case it may be lawful and requisite to repeat often the same things, as pressing our suits with such importunity as will admit of no denial: according to the example of Daniel, O our God, hear the prayer 1of thy servant; O my God, incline thine ear and hear, O Lord hear, O Lord forgive, O Lord hearken and do, &c. And of our Saviour Christ himself, 2praying often in the same words, that if it were possible, the bitter cup of his Passion might pass from him;) but out of an opinion that we shall be the rather heard for the length of our prayers, or out of an ostentation of our holiness and devotion, or our extraordinary gift above others, enabling us to continue long in this exercise. For this our Saviour straitly forbiddeth: When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the Heathen do, for 3they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking; prescribeth the contrary practice, in propounding that short and most pithy form for our imitation: and condemneth as hypocritical in the Pharisees, who under pretence of long prayers, devoured widows houses. And Solomon likewise: 4Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God, for God is in heaven, and thou upon the earth, therefore let thy words be few: Of which our Saviour giveth this reason; Because our Father knoweth what things we have need of, before we ask him: that is, being infinite in wisdom, he needeth not that we should express our minds in multitude of words, for he understandeth the desires of our hearts, and being our gracious Father, our wants serve as a loud cry, and eloquent