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

5. God hath required Prayer as a constant duty to be performed by all, notwithstanding any purposes or promises made by him; I say as a constant duty required of all, and therefore that is an unjustifiable position of some, That it's not lawful, or a duty, for wicked men to pray: But when our Saviour speaks so universally Ask and ye shall have, and Gods wrath is to be poured upon the Families of the earth, because they call not upon God; It's plain, it's their sin, that they do not pray, and although God will not hear the Prayer of sinners, but it's an abomination to God, yet for all that it's their duty to pray, not indeed to pray sinfully, not to keep up their sins and their prayers together, but to empty themselves of their poison, to lay aside their superfluity of naughtiness, and so to come with pure hearts and pure hands to God, as David, I will wash my hands in innocency, so will I compass thy Altar, Psa. 26.6. It's therefore a duty enjoined all and that indispensably to pray unto God; Again I say, It's a constant duty required of all, not as if there were to be no intermission, but when the time and season doth require it, as they are called constant Sacrifices, which were offered every day, though not all the day long, and this overthroweth that opinion of some who think it no duty to pray, unless when they feel some motion or impulse of the Spirit of God upon them, so that if they are a day, a month, a year without this, they will not pray; This is not according to the Rule: Again it's a constant duty required of all, Therefore it's a presumptuous conceit of those who apprehend themselves above Petitions; They will do nothing but sing praises to God, and give him ⟨p. 139⟩thanks, as if they were Angels in heaven, but as for Petitions and Confessions they are so perfect they are above them, Why do not such men refuse to eat and drink, saying, they have such perfect bodies they need no sustenance? Doth not Christ himself here importunately and fervently put up his Petitions to the Father?

5. God hath required Praier as a constant duty to be performed by all, notwithstanding any purposes or promises made by him; I say as a constant duty required of all, and therefore that is an unjustifiable position of some, That it's not lawfull, or a duty, for wicked men to pray: But when our Saviour speaks so universally Ask and ye shall have, and Gods wrath is to be poured upon the Families of the earth, because they call not upon God; It's plain, it's their sin, that they do not pray, and although God will not hear the Praier of sinners, but it's an abomination to God, yet for all that it's their duty to pray, not indeed to pray sinfully, not to keep up their sins and their praiers together, but to empty themselves of their poison, to lay aside their superfluity of naughtinesse, and so to come with pure hearts and pure hands to God, as David, I will wash my hands in innocency, so will I compasse thy Altar,