A plea for the Godly

1. Because his Affections are drawn forth strongly in prayer; his eyes melt, his heart burns: He is fervent in spirit, Rom 12. 11. It is a Metaphor alludes to water, quae ebullit prae ardour, which boils over; a good heart boils over with hot Affections in prayer; there may be powder in a Gun when there is no fire; some may have good matter in prayer, but no fire of affection to discharge it; Prayer without fervency, is like wine that hath lost the Spirits; Fervency (as Ambrose saith) baptizeth a duty, ⟨p. 25⟩and gives it a name^*; without this, prayer is no prayer: A righteous man is carried up to heaven in a Fiery Chariot of Devotion: This holy Fervency is caused by the Spirit of God, which both indites and inflames the Saints prayers. Rom. 8. 26. The spirit helps us with sighs and groans^*: Not only gifts, but groans; and surely the incense of a righteous mans prayer with the holy Ghosts fire put to it, must needs ascend as a sweet perfume to Heaven.

1. Because his Affections are drawn sorth strongly in prayer; his eyes melt, his heart burns: He is fervent in spirit, Rom 12. 11. It is a Metaphor alludes to water, quae ebullit prae ardore, which boils over; a good heart boils over with hot Affections in prayer; there may be powder in a Gun when there is no fire; some may have good matter in prayer, but no fire of affection to discharge it; Prayer without fervency, is like wine that hath lost the Spirits; Fervency (as Ambrose saith) baptizeth a duty, ⟨p. 25⟩and gives it a name^*; without this, prayer is no prayer: A righteous man is carried up to heaven in a Fiery Chariot of Devotion: This holy Fervency is caused by the Spirit of God, which both indites and inflames the Saints prayers. Rom. 8. 26. The spirit helps us with sighs and groans