A discourse of the work of the Holy Spirit in prayer with a brief…

Persons tied up unto such Rules and Forms never pray in their Lives, but in their occasional Ejaculations, which break from them almost by Surprisal. And there hath not been any one more effectual means of bringing Unholiness with an ungodly Course of Conversation into the Christian World, than this one of teaching men to satisfy themselves in this Duty by their Saying, Reading, or Repetition of the words ⟨p. 127⟩of other men, which it may be they understand not, and certainly are not in a due manner affected withal. For it is this Duty, whereby our whole Course is principally influenced. And let men say what they will, our Conversation in walking before God, which principally regards the frame and disposition of our Hearts, is influenced and regulated by our Attendance unto, and Performance of this Duty. He whose Prayers are Hypocritical is an Hypocrite in his whole Course; and he who is but negligent in them, is equally negligent in all other Duties. Now whereas our whole Obedience unto God ought to be our reasonable service, Rom. 12. 1. how can it be expected that it should be so, when the foundation of it is laid in such an irrational supposition, that men should not pray themselves what they are able, but read the Forms of others instead thereof, which they do not understand?

Persons tyed up unto such Rules and Forms never pray in their Lives, but in their occasional Ejaculations, which break from them almost by Surprizal. And there hath not been any one more effectual means of bringing Unholiness with an ungodly Course of Conversation into the Christian World, than this one of teaching men to satisfy themselves in this Duty by their Saying, Reading, or Repetition of the words ⟨p. 127⟩of other men, which it may be they understand not, and certainly are not in a due manner affected withal. For it is this Duty, whereby our whole Course is principally influenced. And let men say what they will, our Conversation in walking before God, which principally regards the frame and disposition of our Hearts, is influenced and regulated by our Attendance unto, and Performance of this Duty. He whose Prayers are Hypocritical is an Hypocrite in his whole Course; and he who is but negligent in them, is equally negligent in all other Duties. Now whereas our whole Obedience unto God ought to be our reasonable service,