imagination in prayer.

He stood and prayed thus "with himself." He prayed thus, talking to
himself; for so also it may (I think) be understood. It is said of
the unjust judge, "he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor
regard man," &c., Luke xviii. 4; that is, he said it to himself. So
the Pharisee is said to pray with himself: God and the Pharisee were
not together, there was only the Pharisee and himself. Paul knew not
what to pray for without the Holy Ghost joined himself with him, and
helping him with groans unutterable; but the Pharisee had no need of
that; it was enough that he and himself were together at this work;
for he thought without doubting that he and himself together could
do. How many times have I heard ancient men, and ancient women at it
with themselves, when all alone in some private room, or in some
solitary path; and in their chat they have been sometimes reasoning,
sometimes chiding, sometimes pleading, sometimes praying, and
sometimes singing; but yet all has been done by themselves when all
alone; but yet so done, as one that has not seen them must needs have
concluded that they were talking, singing, and praying with company,
when all that they had said, they did it with themselves, and had
neither auditor nor regarder.

So the Pharisee was at it with himself; he and himself performed, at
this time, the duty of prayer. Now I observe, that usually when men
do speak to or with themselves, they greatly strive to please
themselves: therefore it is said, there is a man "that flattereth
himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful;"
Psalm xxxvi. 2. He flattereth himself in his own way, according as
his sense and carnal reason dictate to him; and he might do it as
well in prayer as in any other way. Some men will so hear sermons