Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

84 The me must not pray with fei gnedlips: ceiver. This is the condition of all impenitent fin- hers, to play the hypocrites before God in all their prayers concerning fpirituall things. We mutt learn therefore with David to pray with unfeigned lips, Pfal. i 7. t . and to praife God with an upright heart, Pfal. 119.7. For if it be the propertie of a found Chriflian, to fpeak unto his neighbour the truth which is in his he irt,Pfal.i .how much more fhall we think it to be our dutie when we call upon God who trieth the heart and fearch- eth the reins,to fpeak from the ground ofour hearts. And if we will not flick to fpeak diffemblingly un- to the Lord, who Teeth our thoughts long before, Pfal. 1 39.2. what hope is there that we will make confcience to fpeak the truth unto men, who fee no further then our mouthes ? Let us therefore avoid- ing this leaven of hypocrifie, which fowreth- our prayers,imbrace integrity and uprightneffe ofhearr, fetting the Lord before our eyes, and behaving our felves in our prayer as thofe who fought to approve themfelves to him who trieth the heart. Thus Peek- ing the Lord with upright hearts we (hall be fore to find him, and calling upon him in truth we fhall ob- rein our defines. :z, -Wemuft The fecond thing to be avoided is praying with no t pray víth w wandring thoughts: Which fault arifeth partly from thoughts. the fuggeflions of Satan, who is moil bufie to with- draw our minds from this heavenly exercife; partly from our own fpirituall fluggifhnefl'e and carnali fe- curitie , and the worldly vanitie of our minds; whereby it cometh to paffe that we behave our felves as thofe who neither have reverence of the rnajefty