A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

2. A frothy Eloquence, and an affected Language in Prayer, this directly comes under Reproof: As if the Prayer were more grateful to ⟨p. 59⟩God, and he were moved by Words and Strains of Rhetoric, and did accept Men for their Parts, rather than Graces. Fine Phrases, and quaint Speeches, alas! they do not carry it with the Lord: They are but an empty Babble in his Ears; rather than an humble Exercise of Faith, Hope, Love, and Child-like Affections, and holy Desires after God. If we would speak with God, we must speak with our Hearts to him, rather than with our Words. This is a Sin of Curiosity, as the other was of Neglect. 'Tis not Words, but the Spirit and Life, which God looks after. Prayer, it is not a Work of Oratory, the Product of Memory, Invention, and Parts; but a filial Affection, that we may come to him, as to a Father, with a Child-like Confidence. Therefore too much Care of verbal Eloquence in Prayer, and tunable Expressions, is a Sin of the same nature with Babbling. Tho Men should have the Wit to avoid impertinent Expressions, and Repetitions; yet when Prayer smells so much of the Man, rather than of the Spirit of God, alas! 'tis but like the unsavoury Belches of a rotten Breath in the Nostrils of God. We should attend to Matter, to the Things we have to communicate to God, to our Necessities▪ rather than to Words.

2. A frothy Eloquence, and an affected Language in Prayer, this directly comes under Reproof: As if the Prayer were more grateful to ⟨p. 59⟩God, and he were moved by Words and Strains of Rhetorick, and did accept Men for their Parts, rather than Graces. Fine Phrases, and quaint Speeches, alas! they do not carry it with the Lord: They are but an empty Babble in his Ears; rather than an humble Exercise of Faith, Hope, Love, and Child-like Affections, and holy Desires after God. If we would speak with God, we must speak with our Hearts to him, rather than with our Words. This is a Sin of Curiosity, as the other was of Neglect. 'Tis not Words, but the Spirit and Life, which God looks after. Prayer, it is not a Work of Oratory, the Product of Memory, Invention, and Parts; but a filial Affection, that we may come to him, as to a Father, with a Child-like Confidence. Therefore too much Care of verbal Eloquence in Prayer, and tunable Expressions, is a Sin of the same nature with Babling. Tho Men should have the Wit to avoid impertinent Expressions, and Repetitions; yet when Prayer smells so much of the Man, rather than of the Spirit of God, alas! 'tis but like the unsavoury Belches of a rotten Breath in the Nostrils of God. We should attend to Matter, to the Things we have to communicate to God, to our Necessities rather than to Words.