282 How Divine Worflïp S E R M. them to pray, Mat. vi. 7. after warning them X. againft the hypocritical oftentation of the pharifees, who chofe to fay their pretended private prayers in the ftreets, and places of publick concourfe, that they might be feen and applauded by men ; he addeth, when ye pray, z fe not vain repetitions, as the heathen do, for they think that they fha/l be heard for their much fpeaking. This laff expreßìon fheweth us, the true caufe of that fuperfti- tion which was ufed by heathens, but very unbecoming the fervants of the true God, namely, a multitude of words with agitations of the body, as figns of the vehement fer- vor and perturbation of the mind, of which there is a remarkable inflance in that famous conteft between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, concerning the true God ; the manner of the idolaters upon that occafion, was fre- quently repeating this exclamation, 0 Baal, hear us, with extravagant geftures and cere- monies. Our Saviour, I fay, fheweth the true caufe of that fuperftition, which is, that they think to be heard for their much fpeak- ing, and other external tokens of importu- nity. Now, upon what principle is this founded ? It can be no other than that the fuppofed deity, the object of religious invocation, is either ignorant of the wants of
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