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

5. Though God will not perform the good things he promiseth without our prayers, yet our Prayers are not meritorious; They deserve not at Gods hand: Though we cannot have the promised blessing without Prayer, yet not for our Prayer; Therefore it's not only arrogant but an irrational doctrine in Popery, to assert Prayer to be a meritorious work. Doth the beggar deserve an alms, because he asketh? Who would not rather say that prayer is a plain profession of our beggary, emptiness, and utter impotency; Thereby we proclaim that of our selves, we are not able to procure the least mercy; Therefore when we come to God, take heed of trusting in Prayer, of idolizing thy duties, It's a sin we are prone too, but as they say of clothes, Pride of them is an extreme vanity, because the very putting them on should put us in mind of our sin that made nakedness a shame, so our very prayer should make us abhor our selves and set up God as the only fountain of all hope and comfort, if we could help our selves why pray we to him?

5. Though God will not perform the good things he promiseth without our praiers, yet our Praiers are not meritorious; They deserve not at Gods hand: Though we cannot have the promised blessing without Praier, yet not for our Praier; Therefore it's not only arrogant but an irrationall doctrine in Popery, to assert Praier to be a meritorious work. Doth the beggar deserve an alms, because he asketh? Who would not rather say that praier is a plain profession of our beggery, emptinesse, and utter impotency; Thereby we proclaim that of our selves, we are not able to procure the least mercy; Therefore when we come to God, take heed of trusting in Praier, of idolizing thy duties, It's a sin we are prone too, but as they say of clothes, Pride of them is an extreme vanity, because the very putting them on should put us in minde of our sin that made nakednesse a shame, so our very praier should make us abhorre our selves and set up God as the only fountain of all hope and comfort, if we could help our selves why pray we to him?

6. Therefore it's disputed whether God doth require Prayer for the mercies sake. or give the mercy for Prayers sake; As for example God hath promised increase of grace, sanctification of all afflictions, if we rightly pray to him; Now the Question is whether he giveth this mercy for prayer sake, or not rather because he will give such a mercy, therefore he enableth us to pray, and certainly this latter way is the truth, God gives us not the mercy because we pray, but because he will vouchsafe such a mercy, therefore he quickeneth us up to pray; The mercy is not referred to prayer, but prayer to the mercy.