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

The second thing to be considered, is the quality of our speech, which ought to be such in our prayers, as is fittest both to stir up and express our zeal and devotion. Wherein we are to avoid two extremes; the first is, curious affectation of words, seeing the Lord respecteth not the eloquence of our speech, but the sincerity of our hearts, and the fervency of our desires, which are as loud cries, and most persuasive orations in his ears, when we are most barren in words. The second is, rudeness of speech, without any fit words, or good sense, order or coherence, which is caused through negligence, want of preparation, and of due reverence and respect of Gods glorious Majesty, before whom we stand, and unto whom we speak, not caring what, nor how we babble in his presence, though for our credit sake, we would be more careful in speaking to mortal man not much superior unto us. For otherwise, if it proceed not from carelessness, but from natural infirmity and want of utterance (which we may judge of, if we be so in other discourses, and upon other occasions) our prayers notwithstanding proceeding from upright hearts, and being joined with zeal and devotion, will be acceptable unto God; yea even our imperfect speeches, sighs and groans, will as effectually move him to hear us, and grant our suits, as the most eloquent speeches which have all the helps and ornaments both of nature and art.

The second thing to be considered, is the quality of our speech, which ought to be such in our prayers, as is fittest both to stirre vp and expresse our zeale and deuotion. Wherein we are to auoyd two extremes; the first is, curious affectation of words, seeing the Lord respecteth not the eloquence of our speech, but the sincerity of our hearts, and the feruency of our desires, which are as loud cries, and most perswasiue orations in his eares, when wee are most barren in words. The second is, rudenesse of speech, without any fit words, or good sense, order or coherence, which is caused through negligence, want of preparation, and of due reuerence and respect of Gods glorious Maiesty, before whom wee stand, and vnto whom we speake, not caring what, nor how wee babble in his presence, though for our credit sake, wee would be more carefull in speaking to mortall man not much superiour vnto vs. For otherwise, if it proceed not from carelesnesse, but from naturall infirmity and want of vtterance (which we may iudge of, if we be so in other discourses, and vpon other occasions) our prayers notwithstanding proceeding from vpright hearts, and being ioyned with zeale and deuotion, will be acceptable vnto God; yea euen our imperfect speeches, sighes and grones, will as effectually moue him to heare vs, and grant our suits, as the most eloquent speeches which haue all the helpes and ornaments both of nature and art.