CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those that seek him, but how can this be? when a man by ignorance is in a confused chaos, Oh that ignorant people would attend to this, They say, they pray, yea, they hope to be saved by their good prayers, when (alas) thou that knowest nothing of God or Christ canst not pray at all, Thou never didst pray acceptably to God all thy life time; If a Parrot be taught to say the Lords Prayer, shall that be accounted a prayer? and is there not many that pray Gods Name may be hallowed, his Kingdom may come, and yet understand not at all the sense of their prayer? Thus in Popery they do sinfully nourish people in their ignorant prayers, for seeing their prayers are in Latin, it's all one whether they pray good matter or blasphemy; The Apostle 1 Cor. 14. doth expressly argue against praying in an unknown tongue, saying for himself, He will pray in the spirit, and with understanding also. What terror then doth this proclaim? ignorant people, pray they cannot, they do not, no not when they pray; If that Question should be put to them which Philip put to the Eunuch, Understandest thou what thou readest? So Understandest thou what thou prayest? Were they able to say one word of knowledge to you? We may cry out, Be astonished O Heavens and the Earth at the ignorance and blindness of many people, and yet nothing will provoke them to get knowledge.

He that cometh to God must beleeve that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those that seek him, but how can this be? when a man by ignorance is in a confused chaos, Oh that ignorant people would attend to this, They say, they pray, yea, they hope to be saved by their good praiers, when (alas) thou that knowest nothing of God or Christ canst not pray at all, Thou never didst pray acceptably to God all thy life time; If a Parrot be taught to say the Lords Praier, shall that be accounted a praier? and is there not many that pray Gods Name may be hallowed, his Kingdom may come, and yet understand not at all the sence of their praier? Thus in Popery they do sinfully nourish people in their ignorant praiers, for seeing their praiers are in Latine, it's all one whether they pray good matter or blasphemy; The Apostle 1 Cor. 14. doth expresly argue against praying in an unknown tongue, saying for himself, He will pray in the spirit, and with understanding also. What terrour then doth this proclaim? ignorant people, pray they cannot, they do not, no not when they pray; If that Question should be put to them which Philip put to the Eunuch, Ʋnderstandest thou what thou readest? So Understandest thou what thou praiest? Were they able to say one word of knowledge to you? We may cry out, Be astonished O Heavens and the Earth at the ignorance and blindenesse of many people, and yet nothing will provoke them to get knowledge.