Length without meaning
The thing here reproved is not simply the length, any more than the shortness, of our prayers. It is, first, length without meaning: the speaking much and meaning little or nothing. It is the using, not of all repetitions, for our Lord himself prayed 3 times, repeating the same words (Matthew 26:44), but of vain repetitions, as the Heathen did, reciting the names of their gods over and over, as they do among Christians, vulgarly so called, and not among the papists only, who say over and over the same string of prayers without ever feeling what they speak. Second, it is the thinking to be heard for our much speaking, the fancying that God measures prayers by their length and is best pleased with those which contain the most words, which sound the longest in his ears. These are such instances of superstition and folly as all who are named by the name of Christ should leave to the Heathen, to those on whom the glorious light of the gospel has never shined.
1771 text
The thing here reproved, is not simply the length, any more than the shortness of our prayers: but, first, length without meaning; the speaking much, and meaning little or nothing: the using (not all repetitions; for our Lord himself prayed thrice, repeating the same words; but) vain repetitions, as the Heathens did, reciting the names of their Gods over and over: as they do among Christians, (vulgarly so called) and not among the papists only, who say over and over the same string of prayers, without ever feeling what they speak: secondly, the thinking to be heard for our much speaking, the fancying God measures prayers by their length, and is best pleased with those which contain the most words, which sound the longest in his ears. These are such instances of superstition and folly, as all who are named by the name of Christ, should leave to the Heathens, to them on whom the glorious light of the gospel hath never shined.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 26 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 6:1-15.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.