A51845:297
A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer
A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer by ... Thomas Manton.
London: printed by J.D., 1684
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.
1. It showeth us, that Prayer is an act of the Heart, and not of the Lips; that it is not the sound of the Voice which can pierce the Heavens, and enter into the Ears of the Lord of Hosts, but Sighs and Groans of the Spirit. Christians, in Prayer God is near to us, and yet far from us; for we must look upon him as in Heaven, and we upon Earth. How then should we converse with God in Prayer? Not by the Tongue only, but by the Heart. The Commerce and Communion of Spirits is not hindered by local Distance: but God is with us, and we with him, when our Heart goeth up.
1. It sheweth us, that Prayer is an act of the Heart, and not of the Lips; that it is not the sound of the Voice which can pierce the Heavens, and enter into the Ears of the Lord of Hosts, but Sighs and Groans of the Spirit. Christians, in Prayer God is near to us, and yet far from us; for we must look upon him as in Heaven, and we upon Earth. How then should we converse with God in Prayer? Not by the Tongue only, but by the Heart. The Commerce and Communion of Spirits is not hindred by local Distance: but God is with us, and we with him, when our Heart goeth up.
2. It teacheth, the great work of Prayer is to lift up the Heart to God; To withdraw the Heart from all created things which we see and feel here below, that we may converse with God in Heaven. Psal. 123. 1. Unto thee lift I up mine Eyes, O thou that dwellest in the Heavens. And, Lam. 3. 41. Let us lift up our Heart with our Hands unto God in the Heavens. Prayer doth not consist in a multitude and clatter of Words, but in the getting up of the Heart to God, that we may behave our selves as if we were alone with God, in the midst of glorious Saints and Angels. There's a double Advantage which we have by this getting the Soul into Heaven in Prayer: It's a means to free us from Distractions, and Doubts. To free us from Distractions and other inter-current Thoughts. Until we get our Hearts out of the World, as if we were dead and shut up to all present things, how easily is the Heart carried away with the Thoughts of earthly Concernments? Until we can separate and purge our Spirits, how do we interline our Prayers with many ridiculous