A30608:322
The saints inheritance and the worldlings portion representing the glorious condition of a child…
The saints inheritance and the worldlings portion representing the glorious condition of a child of God and the misery of having ones portion in this world, unfolding the state of true happiness with the marks, means, and members thereof / by Jer. Burroughs.The saints inheritance and the worldlings portion representing the glorious condition of a child of God and the misery of having ones portion in this world, unfolding the state of true happiness with the marks, means, and members thereof / by Ier. Burroughs.
London: printed for Francis Eglesfield, 1657
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.
And after you have prayed, take heed that you make not your prayers vain, by not looking after them, for the accomplishment of them; or by being proud of your prayers & gifts, by resting in them.
And again it is vanity when thou undoest all as soon as thou hast done, by going contrary to thy prayer in thy life, not adding watchfulness to prayer. If a man take pains to weave a web, and spend so many hours in it, and then ravel it out, this man spends his time in vain. So do most people with their prayers, they pray for mercy, and grace, and as soon as they have done they go quite contrary and ravel and undo all, is not this vanity? No marvel if thou thinkest it in vain, when there is nothing but vain thoughts in thy prayers.
And again it is vani•y when thou undoest all as soon as thou hast done, by going contrary to thy prayer in thy life, not adding watchfulnesse to prayer. If a man take pains to weave a web, and spend so many hours in it, and then ravell it out, this man spends his time in vain. So do most people with their prayers, they pray for mercie, and grace, and as soon as they have done they go quite contrarie and ravell and undo all, is not this vanity? No marvell if thou thinkest it in vain, when there is nothing but vain thoughts in thy prayers.
And take heed that you make not the prayers of others vain. Luther writes to Melanchthon angerly, in regard of his fear of the power of his adversaries, saith he. You make our prayers void. So it may be said of many that are cold, and luke-warm, and dead-hearted, and do not take to heart the cause of God; that fear the displeasure of this body, and that body; you make our prayers void. You that have praying friends, it may be fathers, ⟨p. 242⟩