The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

2. In respect of the Secrecy of Prayer; for except God know our hearts he cannot know our prayers, for it is the heart that prays, the tongue only speaks, Orat mens, lingua loquitur.

2. In respect of the Secrecy of Prayer; for except God know our hearts he cannot know our prayers, for it is the heart that prayes, the tongue only speaks, Orat mens, lingua loquitur.

3. If God knew not the heart, the poor soul who prayed with sighs and groans that cannot be expressed should find no acceptance, when the hypocrite that speaks much and means nothing, shall be heard for his much babbling.

3. If God knew not the heart, the poor soul who pray'd with sighs and groans that cannot be expressed should find no acceptance, when the hypocrite that speaks much and means nothing, shall be heard for his much babling.

4. The Saints ask such things that require infinite Knowledge and Wisdom to do for us; for when we desire God to make us to know him, it requires more wisdom than for us to teach an Infant the Mathematics. So we desire God to cure us of our spiritual distempers, alas they are so various, so contrary, so deeply rooted in our Natures, we are such froward unruly Patients, that it requires infinite Wisdom to heal us; for when God goes to cure our Pride by afflicting us, then our impatience is increased: That which is the cure of one corruption increaseth another.

4. The Saints ask such things that require infinite Knowledge and Wisdom to do for us; for when we desire God to make us to know him, it requires more wisdom than for us to teach an Infant the Mathematicks. So we desire God to cure us of our spiritual distempers, alas they are so various, so contrary, so deeply rooted in our Natures, we are such froward unruly Patients, that it requires infinite Wisdom to heal us; for when God goes to cure our Pride by afflicting us, then our impatience is increased: That which is the cure of one corruption increaseth another.