An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, and thirty-seventh chapters of…

These Rules must be observed in all our prayer-addresses to God, else prayer is vain, or vanity; and when the prayer it self is vain, the person praying hath no hearing: God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. Consider that, Elihu doth not only say, God will not hear, but he adds, neither will the Almighty regard it. The doubling of the matter in higher Language intimates something to us; and we may note this from it; As the Prayers of evil men are vain, so they have not any, the lest regard from God:

These Rules must be observed in all our prayer-addresses to God, else prayer is vain, or vanity; and when the prayer it self is vain, the person praying hath no hearing: God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. Consider that, Elihu doth not only say, God will not hear, but he adds, neither will the Almighty regard it. The doubling of the matter in higher Language intima•es somthing to us; and we may note this from it; As the Prayers of evil men are vain, so they have not any, the lest regard from God:

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, (