342 Chap.i6. An E,x6ólïtion upon the Boot, of J®$. Verf. 17 as fuppofe he not onely prayeth w God, and for fuch things asare agreeable to the will of God, but alto (as he thinks) for the glory ofGod ; yet the mans prayer is impure, bbecaufe himfelt is impure God hath refpe& to the perfon, before he bath refpeu`f tohis fupplication, Prov. 15. 8. Theprayer of the" wicked is an abomination to God ; but the prayer of the upright N his delight : And again, He that turns away his Earfrom hearing the Law, even bin prayer fhall be abomination, Pray. 28. 9. S..c©ndly, As there-muff be purity of(late, before there can be a pure prayer ; fo alfo purity of life, that is, he mull be re- newed in purity, not lying or continuing in any fin : 1 Tim. 2.8. I will that men pray every where,lifting up holy hands witha out wrath anddoubtings. Holy hands, note the purity ofour a&ions,as'aholy heart notes the purity ofour (late : To lift up the hands is to pray, the fgn being put for the thing fignif .. ed : The meaning is, let your prayers be holy. Firfi, without wrath to men ; come not to leek the favour of God, with an- ger and revenge in thy heart again(' man : Secondly, pray without doubting; that refpe6ts God, and is oppofed to Faith : As if the Apofile had faid,Pray both in a6%ual Faith and Love. Yet the Greek word (AuTb oa ) there ufed, is rendred by force, Difceptation, or wrangling as ifthe Apofile had in that fpecified one effect of wrath. 'Tis expounded allo by others, for any internal difiration, or difietnper of the mind ; for the mind ofman is often carryed away man God in prayer, and maintains fecret Dialogifines, difcourfcs, and conferences, in, and with it fell, when it íhould be wholly taken up with God. The covetous mans heart talkes of Gold, and the volup- tuous Mans heart talks of plealures, when he teems to pray : yea, thefe Foules will often come down upon the Sa- crifice of an Abraham, onely as loon as he efpies them, he drives them away ; yet by thefe interruptions in prayer, as well as by any finful action unrepented of, before, prayer, the holineffe of prayer, or the lifting upofholyhands in prayer , is hindred and defaced, even in thofe , whole perlons are holy. Davidwas a man that was pureM fiate, he was a 'converted.perfon yet he faith (Pfal 66.18.) IfI regard iniquity in myheart, the Lordwill not bear myprayers.Though I am
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