God's anger

3. In particular, it is the hypocrisy of sin, or the sin of hypocrisy, that makes God so angry with our prayers. When we honour him with the prostration of our bodies, and solicit him with the petitions of our lips, and yet still dishonour him in our sinful lives, is not this hypocrisy? When we speak before him in the Temple as suppliants, and sin against him abroad like rebels, is not this hypocrisy? Like the outlaw, that sues to the King for a pardon, and yet resolves to live in rebellion. We will not part with our beloved sins, and yet beg the removal of Judgements; will not this dissimulation make God angry with our very prayers? If we shall, Judas-like, kiss his Throne with the Devotion of our lips, and betray ⟨p. 32⟩his Honour with the wicked works of our hands, should he not be angry at our prayers? We make as if we did lift up our hands unto him, but indeed we stretch out our hands against him: if this be prayer, it is such a one as deserves anger. Fear can make the Devil himself fall to his prayers; ^bI beseech thee, torment me not. Another request he made, which Christ granted; but it was in wrath, not in favour. The pride of our hearts, the covetousness of our hands, the blasphemy of our mouths, the uncleanness of our lusts, the wickedness of our lives; these make God angry with our prayers. If we could be throughly angry at our sins, God would cease to be angry at our prayers. But so long as we run on in those sinful courses upon earth, let us look for no favourable audience from heaven. Do good, and continue it: then pray for good, and have it. It hath been said, loquere ut te videam, speak that I may see thee: so saith God to man; Operare ut te audiam, work that I may hear thee. If we dishonour Gods Name by our oaths and blasphemies, and upon every trivial occasion toss it in our profane mouths; in vain we pray, Sanctificetur Nomen tuum, Hallowed be thy Name. If we hear the Gospel preached, and receive no instruction by it, nor give any regard or obedience to it; in vain we pray, Adveniat regnum tuum, thy Kingdom come. If the current of our affections and actions runs cross to the will of God; in vain we pray, Fiat voluntas tua, Thy will be done. If we extort the bread of the poor ⟨p. 33⟩out of their hands, or seek to live by violence or oppression;