A godly and learned exposition vppon the Prouerbes of Solomon: written in French by Maister Michael Cope, minister of the woorde of God, at Geneua: and translated into English, by M.O.

9 He that turneth away his eare from hearing the lawe, e∣uen his prayer shalbe abhominable.

For to serue God as we ought, it is not ynough, to heare that which hee teacheth vs, but also we must giue our heartes theretoo, * 1.1 and with a right affection set ourselues to conforme our manners vnto his word, for to obey him: and in this wise we shal please him, and he wil heare our prayers. But for to bee counted rebells before God, and to haue our seruice counted abhominable, there needeth not but the turning away of our eares from hearing of the doctrine which he presenteth and offreth vnto vs: as Solomon doeth wel sig∣nifie, saying,

He that turneth away his eare, &c. For he straightly comman∣deth vs to heare his worde, and hath in al times ordeined ministers thereof. And also whosoeuer despyseth to heare the doctrine, doeth fall to al disobedience and rebellion: and as hee detesteth all honestie and vertue, euen so doeth God abhorre al the seruice that such a contemner doth offer vnto him, howe faire and holy soeuer it appeare. And thus al the seruice that the Papistes doe call diuine, is nothing but filthinesse and stinking puddle. Wee must therefore bee carefull to heare the doctrine, that wee

man obtaine faith, which is the true foundation of our prayers. As except wee haue faith, beeing assured that God doeth loue vs, * 1.2 and wil giue vs whatsoeuer wee require, so farre as shalbee expe∣dient for our saluation, wee can not with a free heart and earnest minde make our prayers vnto GOD. Euen so can wee not * 1.3 bee hearde, except wee pray in true faith. And therefore, Iesus Christ doeth admonishe vs to aske in faith, and promiseth vs that wee shal obteine. Wherefore, let vs knowe that the prayer where∣of Solomon speaketh heere, is not properly praier, but crying which proceedeth of no right affection, but onely of hypocrisie, or of feare of tormentes, or of custome, and as if a man woulde acquite a thing, in hope of gaine and profite. With such kinde of cla∣mours poperie is filled. But Solomon doeth cal it prayer, because it hath some shewe thereof, and that the wicked doe so cal it, &c. For also true prayer is neuer abhomination before God, seeing that it is the principal seruice that wee can doe vnto God: not that hee hath neede thereof, but forasmuch as calling vpon him in our ne∣cessities, wee hope to receiue al good things of him, and not of any other, confessing that he is the only authour of al good things, and that wee can haue them no where else. And also vnder the in∣uocation of the name of GOD, the scripture comprehendeth al the seruice that wee owe vnto him. Let vs note then that al∣beeit the lawe was not written vntil the time of Moyses, yet in al times there hath beene doctrine, whereunto it behooued to giue * 1.4 eare, that such as hearde the same, might beleeue in God, and obey him. Otherwise the sacrifice of Abel coulde not haue pleased God, no more then the oblation of Caine. For without faith it is vnpossible to please GOD, Heb. 11. 6. It is not to say that faith must needes bee perfect, for to make our prayers to please God: but it suffiseth vs to folowe the steppes of Cornelius, Actes 10. Furthermore let vs note, that if their prayers which turne from the lawe were abhominable, by a more strong reason then must theirs which turne away from the Gospel, bee much more abhomi∣nable. and they that are such, must looke for wonderful great tor∣mentes. * 1.5

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psal. 50. 14. 15 & 145. 18. 19 Mat. 7. 21.
• * 1.2

  Rom. 10. 17.
• * 1.3

  Mat. 21. 22. Iohn. 15. 4. Iames. 1. 6.
• * 1.4

  Gene. 4. 26. Ioel. 2. 32. Rom. 10. 13.
• * 1.5

  Heb. 10. 29.