Prayer is Restrained, when it is altogether Omitted. They Restrained Prayer, to whom it was by the Apostle said, in Jam. 4. 2. Ye Ask not. And Prayer is Restrained when it is Abated of what it either hath been, or should be. When the People of God had so Restrained Prayer, it was by the Prophet said, in Dan. 9. 13. We have not made our Prayer before the Lord our God The Restraint of Prayer, is the Neglect of such Prayer as is required in the Rule of Prayer. Men do Restrain Prayer, when their Prayer, for the Quality of it, is not according to that Rule, in Jam. 5. 16. The Prayer of a Righteous man, made with an Inwrought vehemency. Men do Restrain Prayer, when their Prayer, for the Duration of it, is not according to that Rule, in Luc. 18. 1. That men ought always to Pray, and not to Faint. Men do Restrain Prayer, when all the sorts and kinds ⟨p. 20⟩of Prayer, are not performed by them, according to that Rule, in Eph. 6. 18. Praying always, with all Prayer, and Supplication, in the Spirit, and watching thereunto, with all perseverance, and Supplication for all Saints. But why is this called, A Restraint? A Restraint notes, The keeping in of a Thing, that would fain break out. There are two Things that would cause Prayer to break forth; namely, Gods Command, and mans Conscience. The Command of God would fetch it out. It is the Edict of Heaven, in Isa. 55. 6. Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call ye upon Him, while He is near. Indeed, it is the Command lying every where, the whole Bible over; That the Eternal God should be Eternally Prayed unto. You'll see Prayer bespoke, in the Sacred Pages, dip where you will. But then, the Conscience of man would would also push it out. There is mention of some, in Rom. 1. 18. Who held the Truth in Unrighteousness. Although' many a man▪ be so Unrighteous, ⟨p. 21⟩as to Live without Praying unto God, yet his Conscience within him, holds this for a Truth, It should be otherwise: even a Pagan Plate, a Pagan Proclus, have written Treatises, Entitled, Concerning Prayer. So, when Prayer is Neglected, there is a Violence done, to hinder both of these Motives, from having of their Efficacy; thus Prayer is Restrained in the Neglect. But,
Prayer is Restrained, when it is altogether Omitted. They Restrained Prayer, to whom it was by the Apostle said, in Jam. 4. 2. Ye Ask not. And Prayer is Restrained when it is Abated of what it either hath been, or should be. When the People of God had so Restrained Prayer, it was by the Prophet said, in Dan. 9. 13. We have not made our Prayer before the Lord our God The Restraint of Prayer, is the Neglect of such Prayer as is required in the Rule of Prayer. Men do Restrain Prayer, when their Prayer, for the Quality of it, is not according to that Rule, in Jam. 5. 16. The Prayer of a Righteous man, made with an Inwrought vehemency. Men do Restrain Prayer, when their Prayer, for the Duration of it, is not according to that Rule, in Luc. 18. 1. That men ought always to Pray, and not to Faint. Men do Restrain Prayer, when all the sorts and kinds ⟨p. 20⟩of Prayer, are not performed by them, according to that Rule, in Eph. 6. 18. Praying always, with all Prayer, and Supplication, in the Spirit, and watching thereunto, with all perseverance, and Supplication for all Saints. But why is this called, A Restraint? A Restraint notes, The keeping in of a Thing, that would fain break out. There are two Things that would cause Prayer to break forth; namely, Gods Command, and mans Conscience. The Command of God would fetch it out. It is the Edict of Heaven, in Isa. 55. 6. Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call ye upon Him, while He is near. Indeed, it is the Command lying every where, the whole Bible over; That the Eternal God should be Eternally Prayed unto. You'l see Prayer bespoke, in the Sacred Pages, dip where you will. But then, the Conscience of man would would also push it out. There is mention of some, in Rom. 1. 18. Who held the Truth in Unrighteousness. Altho' many a man▪ be so Unrighteous, ⟨p. 21⟩as to Live without Praying unto God, yet his Conscience within him, holds this for a Truth, It should be otherwise: even a Pagan Plate, a Pagan Proclus, have written Treatises, Entituled, Concerning Prayer. So, when Prayer is Neglected, there is a Violence done, to hinder both of these Motives, from having of their Efficacy; thus Prayer is Restrained in the Neglect. But,
