In the next words our Saviour proceeds in laying down some other Directions concerning the Duty of Prayer, and therein he forbids his Hearers to use vain Repetitions in Prayer: verse 7. When you Pray, use not vain Repetitions as the Heathens do. Not that all Repetitions in Prayer are vain babblings, in the sight of God; for our Lord himself Prayed thrice using the same words, for so we read Matth. 26. and 44. For doubtless as Copiousness and Variety of fluent Expressions in any, usually flow from raised Affections; ⟨p. 4⟩so when those Affections are heightened and raised to an Ecstasy and Agony of Soul in our wrestlings with God in Prayer, Ingeminations are then the most Proper and most Elegant way of expressing them, doubling and redoubling the same Petitions again and again; not allowing God (if I may so speak with Holy Reverence) so much time, nor our selves so much leisure, as to form in our minds, much more with our Lips to offer up any new requests, till by a Holy Violence in wrestling with God, we have extorted out of his hands those Mercies and Blessings our Hearts are set upon the suing to him for. Vain Repetitions therefore are such as are made use of by any without new and lively Stirrings and Motions of the Heart and Affections at the same time. And that which makes a Prayer vain, makes a Repetition in Prayer to be vain also. Now that is a vain Prayer, and we shall certainly find it so, when the requests we offer up to God therein, are heartless and lifeless. For we must know, God hath Commanded us to Pray; not that he might be excited and moved by hearing the Voice of our Cries in Prayer, to give unto us those Mercies and Blessings, which he himself was not resolved before hand to bestow upon us; but that we our selves might be fitted and prepared to receive from him, what he is always ready and willing to confer upon us. He requires Prayer from us, not that he might be affected therewith; for as the Apostle St. James tells us, With him there is no variableness nor shadow of turning, James 1.17. but that we our selves might have our Hearts raised and affected therewith. And therefore the chiefest effect of Prayer being to affect our selves, if Prayer it self be not vain, neither are Repetitions in Prayer vain, if whilst we are spreading the same requests before God, we do it with new Affections and Desires.
In the next words our Saviour proceeds in laying down some other Directions concerning the Duty of Prayer, and therein he forbids his Hearers to use vain Repetitions in Prayer: verse 7. When you Pray, use not vain Repetitions as the Heathens do. Not that all Repetitions in Prayer are vain bablings, in the sight of God; for our Lord himself Prayed thrice using the same words, for so we read Matth. 26. and 44. For doubtless as Copiousness and Variety of fluent Expressions in any, usually flow from raised Affections; ⟨p. 4⟩so when those Affections are heightned and raised to an Ecstasy and Agony of Soul in our wrestlings with God in Prayer, Ingeminations are then the most Proper and most Elegant way of expressing them, doubling and redoubling the same Petitions again and again; not allowing God (if I may so speak with Holy Reverence) so much time, nor our selves so much leasure, as to form in our minds, much more with our Lips to offer up any new requests, till by a Holy Violence in wrestling with God, we have extorted out of his hands those Mercies and Blessings our Hearts are set upon the suing to him for. Vain Repetitions therefore are such as are made use of by any without new and lively Stirrings and Motions of the Heart and Affections at the same time. And that which makes a Prayer vain, makes a Repetition in Prayer to be vain also. Now that is a vain Prayer, and we shall certainly find it so, when the requests we offer up to God therein, are heartless and lifeless. For we must know, God hath Commanded us to Pray; not that he might be excited and moved by hearing the Voice of our Cries in Prayer, to give unto us those Mercies and Blessings, which he himself was not resolved before hand to bestow upon us; but that we our selves might be fitted and prepared to receive from him, what he is always ready and willing to confer upon us. He requires Prayer from us, not that he might be affected therewith; for as the Apostle St. James tells us, With him there is no variableness nor shadow of turning, James 1.17. but that we our selves might have our Hearts raised and affected therewith. And therefore the chiefest effect of Prayer being to affect our selves, if Prayer it self be not vain, neither are Repetitions in Prayer vain, if whilst we are spreading the same requests before God, we do it with new Affections and Desires.
