He will neither hear, nor regard. David saith (Psal. 66.18.) If I regard iniquity in my heart, God will not hear my Prayer. God will not hear a David, a good man, as to that particular prayer, if he regard iniquity in his heart, that is, if he hold any, the least compliance or secret correspondence with any sin, yea, if he hath not repented of, and laboured to mortify every known sin: Doubtless then he will not regard the prayers of evil men, ⟨p. 96⟩when they pray also with an evil mind. And when this, and other Scriptures say, he doth neither hear nor regard them; there is more intended than expressed, even that he doth reject and abhor them, that they are a burden and an abomination to him. The Scripture is much in showing how much God makes of holy prayers. For first, God hath not only promised to hear, but regard such prayers, (Psal. 112.17.) He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayers; that is, he highly prizeth and esteemeth them. Secondly, The Scripture telleth us, God delighteth to hear such prayers, they are sweet to him, they are the best music in his ears; Let me hear thy voice, for sweet is thy voice (her prayer-voice he means chiefly) saith Christ to his Spouse, (Cant. 2.14.) Thirdly, The Scripture assureth us, that God looks upon or reckoneth prayer as an honour done to him, 'tis an eminent part of worship, 'tis the giving of him glory; certainly therefore (take prayer purely) God doth regard it very much; he will have regard to that which he hath promised regard to, he will have regard to that which is sweet and delightful to him, which is an honour and brings glory to him; therefore there must needs be a great matter in it, when he saith, He will not regard a prayer; such a prayer must needs be very vile, impure, and stark naught in it self, which he thus thrusteth from him, or cannot away with.
He will neither hear, nor regard. David saith (Psal. 66.18.) If I regard iniquity in my heart, God will not hear my Prayer. God will not hear a David, a good man, as to that particular prayer, if he regard iniquity in his heart, that is, if he hold any, the least complyance or secret correspondence with any sin, yea, if he hath not repented of, and laboured to mortifie every known sin: Doubtless then he will not regard the prayers of evil men, ⟨p. 96⟩when they pray also with an evil mind. And when this, and other Scriptures say, he doth neither hear nor regard them; there is more intended than expressed, even that he doth reject and abhor them, that they are a burden and an abomination to him. The Scripture is much in shewing how much God makes of holy prayers. For first, God hath not only promised to hear, but regard such prayers, (Psal. 112.17.) He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayers; that is, he highly prizeth and esteemeth them. Secondly, The Scripture telleth us, God delighteth to hear such prayers, they are sweet to him, they are the best musick in his ears; Let me hear thy voyce, for sweet is thy voyce (her prayer-voyce he means chiefly) saith Christ to his Spouse, (Cant. 2.14.) Thirdly, The Scripture assureth us, that God looks upon or reckoneth prayer as an honour done to him, 'tis an eminent part of worship, 'tis the giving of him glory; certainly therefore (take prayer purely) God doth regard it very much; he will have regard to that which he hath promised regard to, he will have regard to that which is sweet and delightful to him, which is an honour and brings glory to him; therefore there must needs be a great matter in it, when he saith, He will not regard a prayer; such a prayer must needs be very vile, impure, and stark naught in it self, which he thus thrusteth from him, or cannot away with.
