A30241:1061
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermon 41: Of Praying both for the Godly and the Wicked, With the Reasons and Motives thereof.
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.
3. Therefore there is hope to speed because they are such Subjects who desire to walk in such a way that they may put no stop to the proceedings of prayer; One great and sure destruction of all prayer is to regard iniquity, when we pray yet to do also service to sin; If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear my prayers, saith David; Psal. 66.18. And again, I will wash my hands in innocency so will I compass thy Altar, Psal. 26.6. He that prayeth and yet is given to sin doth benedicere Linguâ, but maledicere Vitâ; As the strings of an Instrument that are moistened are not fit for any Music, so neither is that mans heart or life which is polluted with any foul and noisome lust; If therefore thou prayest for the godly they are such who labour to keep hearts and lives pure; And therefore the benefit of prayer will find no gulf to stop it: It encourageth the Physician to give Physic to him who by his disorderly diet and Conversation will not go about to mar and destroy all.
3. Therefore there is hope to speed because they are such Subjects who desire to walk in such a way that they may put no stop to the proceedings of praier; One great and sure destruction of all praier is to regard iniquity, when we pray yet to do also service to sinne; If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear my praiers, saith David; Psal. 66.18. And again, I will wash my hands in innocency so will I compasse thy Altar, Psal. 26.6. He that praieth and yet is given to sin doth benedicere Linguâ, but maledicere Vitâ; As the strings of an Instrument that are moistned are not fit for any Musick, so neither is that mans heart or life which is polluted with any foul and noisome lust; If therefore thou praiest for the godly they are such who labour to keep hearts and lives pure; And therefore the benefit of praier will finde no gulf to stop it: It encourageth the Physician to give Physick to him who by his disorderly diet and Conversation will not go about to marre and destroy all.