"He would not lift up his eyes to heaven." Why? Surely because shame
had covered his face. Shame will make a man blush and hang his head
like a bulrush. Shame for sin is a virtue, a comely thing, yea, a
beauty-spot in the face of a sinner that cometh to God for mercy.
Oh, to stand, or sit, or lie, or kneel, or walk before God in
prayer, with blushing cheeks for sin, is one of the excellent sights
that can be seen in the world.
POSTURE IN PRAYER.
There is no stinted order presented for our behaving ourselves in
prayer, whether kneeling, or standing, or walking, or lying, or
sitting; for all these postures have been used by the godly. Paul
kneeled down and prayed; Abraham and the publican stood and prayed;
David prayed as he walked; Abraham prayed lying upon his face; Moses
prayed sitting. And indeed prayer, effectual fervent prayer, may be
and often is made unto God under all these circumstances. For God
has not tied us up to any of them; and he that shall tie himself or
his people to any of these, doeth more than he hath warrant for from
God. And let such take care of innovating; it is the next way to
make men hypocrites and dissemblers in those duties in which they
should be sincere. Acts 20:36; 2 Sam. 15:30, 31; Gen. 17:17, 18;
Exod.
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