Our Saviour's divine sermon on the mount explained in diverse sermons and discourses

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1740 Excerpt: ... SERMON V. Matt. VI. 6. Ver. 6. But thou, when thou pray eft, enter into thy Closet, and when thou hast shut thy Door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which Jeeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. The Second Sermon on this Text. OU R Saviour having in the preceding Verse, cautioned his Disciples against an hypocritical Way of Devotion, namely, against an Affectation to pray standing in the most publick Places, with a Design to be seen of Men, comes now, in the Words which I have read, to direct to the opposite Sincerity and Secrecy: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy Closet, &c. In which Words we are not to imagine that we are discouraged from publick Prayer, whether in the Church or Family; for neither of these was our Saviour reprehending, but only the undisereet and hypocritical Sallies of Devotion, at extraordinary Times and Places. The Meaning of his Exhortation then is, as if he had faid, The Pharisees are not contented with the ordinary publick Devotions in the Church Church and Family; but because they would be thought godlier than other People, they break out into great seeming" Flights of Devotion in the Markets, or wherever they can find any great Number of People assembled; instead of Devotion to God, aiming only at the Applause of Men: But instead of this vain Humour of pretended Devotion, I will teach you a way in which ye shall vent your real Devotion, and suppress your Pride. When thou hast a mind to shew any extraordinary Devotion, get thee to some secret Place, and let thy Devotions be between God and thine own Soul, and such Devotions he will reward. In the Words thus explained, we may observe these three Things. I. We have secret Prayer here recommended, before those undiscreet pubiick Devotions in the Cr...