A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

1. With respect to acceptance, God will own nothing in prayer, but what cometh from his spirit, any other voice is strange and barbarous to him, Rom. 8. 27. He knoweth the mind of the spirit, because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God, the Lord delighteth no• in the flaunting of pates, and the unsavoury belch•• ⟨p. 507⟩and eructations of an humane Spirit, the tun•able cadency of words is bu•an empty ring in Gods ears, the Psalmist saith, Psal. 19▪ 2. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense: Now the Censers were to be kindled with holy fire before the smoke went up, the coal wherewith we are kindled must be taken from the Altar not from a common hearth, and then our prayer goeth up as incense: Gods course is to prepare the heart, and then to grant the request, Psal. 10. 17. Thou w•lt prepare their hearts and cause thine ear to hear, surely Gods ear will be opened if our hearts be opened, when he himself sets us a work we need not doubt of audience; fire from Heaven to consume the sacrifice was the solemn token of acceptance heretofore, fire from Heaven is the token still, even an holy ardour wrought in us by the Spirit.

1. With respect to acceptance, God will own nothing in prayer, but what cometh from his spirit, any other voice is strange and barbarous to him, Rom. 8. 27. He knoweth the mind of the spirit, because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God, the Lord delighteth no• in the flaunting of pates, and the unsavory belch•• ⟨p. 507⟩