A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

1. This reproveth divers sorts of People. Some are Enemies to the Public Welfare, as Vipers eat out the Dam's Belly, especially Enemies to Zion; Down with it, down with it, even to the Ground. What Monsters hath this Age brought forth! Others are indifferent and careless which goeth up, Christ or Antichrist; they only mind the Matters of their own Interest and Concernment: All seek their own Things. As to the Public Interest of the Church, let all go how it will. Let me tell you, To be selfish, is a sort of Self-Excommunication; you cast your selves out of the Bundle of Life: And to be senseless, 'tis an implicit renouncing the Body. Others there are that are gracious, but full of discontent at some Passages of Providence, and these seem to have lost their public Affections. 'Tis a sad Symptom, when a praying People are discouraged from praying for Public Welfare. God is very tender ⟨p. 218⟩of the Prayers of his People; he is loth they should be lost, and sorry they cannot be granted. We may sin in ceasing to pray. 'Tis a sad Judgment, when the Hearts of God's People are taken off from praying. Again, Those that pray too coldly for the Public, not as those that would do their Work. There is a great Decay of the Spirit of Prayer, which is also a sad Presage. But now to show you,

1. This reproveth divers sorts of People. Some are Enemies to the Publick Welfare, as Vipers eat out the Dam's Belly, especially Enemies to Zion; Down with it, down with it, even to the Ground. What Monsters hath this Age brought forth! Others are indifferent and careless which goeth up, Christ or Antichrist; they only mind the Matters of their own Interest and Concernment: All seek their own Things. As to the Publick Interest of the Church, let all go how it will. Let me tell you, To be selfish, is a sort of Self-Excommunication; you cast your selves out of the Bundle of Life: And to be sensless, 'tis an implicit renouncing the Body. Others there are that are gracious, but full of discontent at some Passages of Providence, and these seem to have lost their publick Affections. 'Tis a sad Symptom, when a praying People are discouraged from praying for Publick Welfare. God is very tender ⟨p. 218⟩of the Prayers of his People; he is loth they should be lost, and sorry they cannot be granted. We may sin in ceasing to pray. 'Tis a sad Judgment, when the Hearts of God's People are taken off from praying. Again, Those that pray too coldly for the Publick, not as those that would do their Work. There is a great Decay of the Spirit of Prayer, which is also a sad Presage. But now to shew you,