A Christian Directory

11. But the grand incommodity greater than all the rest is, that it usually occasioneth carelessness, deadness, formality and heartless lip-labour in our prayers to God; whilst the free way of present prayer tendeth to excite our Cogitation• to consider what we say. And it is not only the multitude of dead-hearted hypocrites in the Church, that are thus tempted to persevere in their lip-labour and hypocrisy, and to draw near to God with their lips when their hearts are far from him, and are gratified in their self-deceit, whilst Parrot-like they speak the words which they regard not, and their tongues do overgo their hearts: But even better men are greatly tempted to dead remissness: I mean both the speakers and the hearers: For, 1. It is natural to mans mind to have a slothful weariness as well as his body; and to do no more than he findeth a necessity of doing: And though Gods presence alone should suffice to engage all the powers of our souls, yet sad experience telleth us, that Gods eye and mans together will do more with almost all men, than one alone. And therefore no mens Thoughts are so accurately governed as their words. Therefore when a Minister knoweth before hand that, as to mans approbation, he hath no more to do, but to Read▪ that which he seeth before him, he is apt to let his Thoughts fly abroad, and his affections lye down, because no man taketh account of these. But in extemporate diversified prayer, a man cannot do it without an excitation of his understanding to think (to the utmost) what to say; and an excitation of his Affections, to speak with life, or else the hearers will perceive his coldness. And though all this may be Counterfeit and hypocritically affected, yet it is a great help to seriousness and sincerity, to have the faculties all awake: And it is a great help to awaken them, to be under such a constant necessity even from man. As those that are apt to sleep at prayer, will do it less when they know men observe them, than at another time.

11. But the grand incommodity greater than all the rest is, that it usually occasioneth carelesness, deadness, formality and heartless lip-labour in our prayers to God; whilest the free way of present prayer tendeth to excite our Cogitation• to consider what we say. And it is not only the multitude of dead-hearted hypocrites in the Church, that are thus tempted to persevere in their lip-labour and hypocrisie, and to draw near to God with their lips when their hearts are far from him, and are gratified in their self-deceit, whilest Parrot-like they speak the words which they regard not, and their tongues do overgo their hearts: But even better men are greatly tempted to dead remisness: I mean both the speakers and the hearers: For, 1. It is natural to mans mind to have a slothful weariness as well as his body; and to do no more than he findeth a necessity of doing: And though Gods presence alone should suffice to engage all the powers of our souls, yet sad experience telleth us, that Gods eye and mans together will do more with almost all men, than one alone. And therefore no mens Thoughts are so accurately governed as their words. Therefore when a Minister knoweth before hand that, as to mans approbation, he hath no more to do, but to Read that which he seeth before him, he is apt to let his Thoughts fly abroad, and his affections lye down, because no man taketh account of these. But in extemporate diversified prayer, a man cannot do it without an excitation of his understanding to think (to the utmost) what to say; and an excitation of his Affections, to speak with life, or else the hearers will perceive his coldness. And though all this may be Counterfeit and hypocritically affected, yet it is a great help to seriousness and sincerity, to have the faculties all awake: And it is a great help to awaken them, to be under such a constant necessity even from man. As those that are apt to sleep at prayer, will do it less when they know men observe them, than at another time.