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Obj. SVch as pray by the Spirit use Tautollogies, and vaine repe∣titions in their prayers.
Ans. God doth not give the measure of his Spirit to his Chil∣dren by equall proportions, but to some more, to some lesse, but to all some; yea such a some, that he that hath the least of it, hath so much as to make his prayer acceptable, though not so much prevalent with God, as them who have a greater measure of it.
Again, Gods wayes are not our wayes, he is not like an earthly
Prince, who is commonly petitioned, with a premeditated speech;* 1.1 neither is it eloquence of words, which worketh upon him, but the pious thoughts and desires of the heart, which the Lord be∣ing formerly acquainted withall, before they be expressed by the tongue, are even then accepted of him, which the Lord testifieth by his Prophet in these words; Before they call, I will answer, Isa. 65. 29. so that it is not so much the expression of the tongue, as of the heart which God accepteth, or floweth as pleasing unto him.
Again, let them peruse their Liturgy, and see if they can ex∣cuse* 1.2 it of Tautologies, when they repeat these Sentences, viz. Lord have mercy upon us, Christ have mercy upon us, Lord have mercy upon us; Christ heare us, O Christ heare us, Lord have mercy upon us, Christ have mercy upon us; with, Thou Lambe of God that takest away the sins of the world, three times repeated together; with, Good Lord deliver us; and, We beseech thee to beare us good Lord, very many times: repeating the Lords Prayer also many times at one Service. And yet to see those vaine bab∣lers, that will accuse others with that, which they are the most guilty of themselves; yea, what is their Pulpit Prayers but meere tautologies, the same the next Sabboth as was the former,* 1.3 and so for all their life long; yea let the occasion be what it will, Funerall or Feast, Plenty or Famine, Warres or Peace, or what occationals soever, God must either be pleased with their set forme, or he is like to have none at all; yea though there be ne∣ver a clause in their expressions, which tendeth to the present oc∣casion: whereas through the whole Booke of God, we neither read of any childe of God that prayed, but that his prayer did solely tend to his present occasion, as I have formerly proved when I spake of the Lords Prayer it selfe.
It is not elo∣quence of words that God rega••deth in p••ayer.
Their Liturgy ha••h many tautologies in it.
A carnall man tyeth God to one and the same prayer.