The grand debate between the most reverend bishops and the Presbyterian divines appointed by…

Repl. We do in common speech call that a Prayer, which containeth ⟨p. 83⟩all the substance of what in that business and address we have to say unto God, and that a Petition which containeth one single request; usually a Prayer hath many Petitions. Now if you intend in your address to God, to do no more than speak a transient request or ejaculation (which we may do in the midst of other business) then indeed your instances are pertinent. But why then do you not give over when you seem to have done, but come again and again and offer as many Prayers, almost as Petitions. This is to make the Prayer short, (as a Sermon is that is cut into single Sentences, every Sentence having an exordium, and Epilogue as a Sermon,) but it is to make the Prayers much longer than is needful or suitable to the matter; Do you find this the way of the Saints in Scripture? Indeed Abraham did so, when Gods interlocution answering the first Prayer, called him to vary his request, Gen. 18. But that's not our case: The Psalms and Prayers of David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Asa, Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, and the other Prophets, of Christ himself, Joh. 17. are usually one continued speech, and not like yours, (as we said before.)

Repl. We do in common speech call that a Prayer, which containeth ⟨p. 83⟩all the substance of what in that businesse and addresse we have to say unto God, and that a Petition which containeth one single request; usually a Prayer hath many Petitions. Now if you intend in your addresse to God, to do no more than speak a transient request or ejaculation (which we may do in the midst of other businesse) then indeed your instances are pertinent. But why then do you not give over when you seem to have done, but come again and again and offer as many Prayers, almost as Petitions. This is to make the Prayer short, (as a Sermon is that is cut into single Sentences, every Sentence having an exordium, and Epilogue as a Sermon,) but it is to make the Prayers much longer than is needful or suitable to the matter; Do you find this the way of the Saints in Scripture? Indeed Abraham did so, when Gods interlocution answering the first Prayer, called him to vary his request,