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

As 1. There have been two contrary errors about Prayer; Some have looked upon it as necessary and strictly commanded that they thought we might do nothing but pray; That we were to cast off all other employments and betake our selves to that duty only; They were called the Euchetae, they were deluded from the mistaking of these places, Pray always and Pray without ceasing: Others have run into a contrary extremity, making prayer altogether useless and unnecessary, and that because all things came about in an inevitable and fatal manner, as they say, and therefore prayer doth no good at all, but the several commands of this duty, do show the impiety of that opinion; The Socinians though they grant men did pray in the Old Testament, yet they say there was no command for it till the Gospel-dispensation; They say, Christ required it as a new duty, it not being a duty before, but this also is false; For doth not the Old Testament say, Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will hear thee, and thou shalt glorify me, Psa. 50.15. So that to pray is not an indifferent or arbitrary thing, Neither may it be judged useless but of great power and prevalency.

As 1. There have been two contrary errours about Praier; Some have looked upon it as necessary and strictly commanded that they thought we might do nothing but pray; That we were to cast off all other employments and betake our selves to that duty only; They were called the Euchetae, they were deluded from the mistaking of these places, Pray alwaies and Pray without ceasing: Others have runne into a contrary extremity, making praier altogether uselesse and unnecessary, and that because all things came about in an inevitable and fatal manner, as they say, and therefore praier doth no good at all, but the severall commands of this duty, do shew the impiety of that opinion; The Socinians though they grant men did pray in the Old Testament, yet they say there was no command for it till the Gospel-dispensation; They say, Christ required it as a new duty, it not being a duty before, but this also is false; For doth not the Old Testament say, Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will hear thee, and thou shalt glorifie me, Psa. 50.15. So that to pray is not an indifferent or arbitrary thing, Neither may it be judged uselesse but of great power and prevalency.