Sect. 49. (Book 45)
Prayer is that sacred negotiation man hath with God, the art of imparadising our souls, the Iacobs Ladder, by which we may bring down Angells, and wrestle till they blesse us: We may hear God speak in a Preacher, we speak to him in our Prayers. It cannot be obedience to hear our Masters command, but do his will. Thus with Enoch, we may walk in Para∣dise, and if we cast aside the mantle of mundan employments with Elias, mount up in a fiery chariot to heaven. Gods house should be called a house of prayer, but most make it a den of theeves: Not taking heaven by violence in prayer, but offer violence on earth. Gods word is rob'd of its efficacy, and the Priests by that advan∣tage turn'd mony-changers, and expose Doves to sale, Gods innocent children in the Temple, as if these Doves could not mount up towards heaven, unlesse they were sealed; they are blinded in an un∣known tongue, or intitle Gods spirit to blasphemy, or battologie, or ready to of∣fer the sacrifice of fooles, or make fooles a sacrifice.