8 <ltlofet~~~a rer, ~·AChriflian muff do nothing for praife or applau[e., efpecially in matters_ofReligion: It is aba!eprofiituting the highefi thing~ of God, to our beaflly lufl:s. It ls to feed an humour., and damn rhe foul 'with that which· fhot.dd fave it. Let noChdlt.ians,(as. the Ph:Irtfoes here,) n1ake Prayer rruckle to their credit, Phi!. 2. ,3. Let nothinj!, be clon€ th;-ough ftrife or vain.r;lory. 5. There are /et and flaud t tmes~(Prayer: This is f1inred in this word, \Jif/he.n, when thou prayefl: A time ~ tDere n1uft be for ir, though the ·point of time is nor de· t~rmined,yet a titne n1t1H be iet apart for the duty ,eve– ry day ; a Chr iftian mufl: chufe our the fitteft titne for the duty' by the dueu{eof his liber.ty and difcretion. 6. Circum{l:ances are ofgreat ufe in aUour aCtions: The i1reets are proper places to walk,ralk,buy and iell in, but not fo fit for Pra-yer ; the Church is ~fit place for publick devotion, not fo for a foletnn performance of the duty ofiecret Prayer. Although tnental,eiacula~. tions are fit enough in both, yet it''s not convenien~ to kneel down or ufe outward gefiures offecret Prayer , there. 7. Ct'ofot- Pray_er muft be with all {ecrecyandfoiitarine(s: ,. In a Clo!et,door !hut: As we n1uft nol blow a Trumpet when we give Alms., fo we muft not hold our a flag \Vhen we go to wait on God in the Duty ·of Prayer: ,.. . It was carnal counfel the brethren ofChrift gave ~im.; . · Joh. 7· 4· Shew thy[elf to the World. The reafon ts gt~ ven, v. 5. Fr.rr neither didhis brethrenbelieve in him : A fad !ign of car'naliry! · 8. God alone is the proper object of OWl' Prayers: Pray ro,thy Father. As he is the object of our Faith, fo of ; Prayer: For he alone can help, therefore he is to be r· iought,. n~n~ elte fees our frate, 'or C~D: fatisfie fouls : · I fa. 63. 16. Doubtle{s thou art our Father, thqughAbra· hambe ignor;ant of us.~ · . ·. 9~ In all our addrelfe5 t<? God we muft own God ~s . ov 1t
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