A New Pathway Unto Prayer, Part 3
How a Christen man shoulde prepare hymselfe to praye.
¶ The. xiii. Chapter.
ALthough ther be so many thynges to be consydered in the godly exercyse of praier,Eyther thinges are to be consydered in the repeparar… …n of prayer. ye we may praye aryghte, yette me thynke that eyghte thynges chefely aboue all other muste be consydered … obserued in it, without the whiche …o mā can prepare hymselfe to praye accordyng vntounto the wyll of God. Of theyse eyghte therfore wyll I nowe speake in order by the assistence and helpe of Gods moost holy Spiryte, whome I moost instātly desyre so to directe my pen, that I maye wryte all thynge vntounto the glorye of God, & the profytte of his holy churche. Fyrst it is requisyte, that he whiche entendeth to pray, consydereth deply wt himselfe his state & case wherin he stōdeth. If he doth thus, thā shal… he fynde that to be true, whiche th… Psalmograph wryteth:Ps. xxxviii EueryEvery man that lyueth is nothyng out altogyther very vanite.Psa. lxi. Agayne, the chyldren of men are vayne. They are lyers & false, in asmuche that yf yu puttest thē & vanite togyther in a ballaunce, vanite wyll surely wey them vp.Esal. xi. All fleshe is grasse, & all his glory is lyke a floure of the felde.
Gen. vi.Moreouer he shal easely perceyue that all hys senses & thoughtes are prone to euell, & that he is not able of him selfe to thike a good thought. Agayne,ii. Cor. iii. he shall shortely vnderstōde that his herte is wycked & inscrutable,Iere. …vii. Esa. i. & that ther is no whole parte in hym from the toppe of the head to ye soole of the fote, but that in all his thoughetes, wordes & dedes, he is a verye synner & greuous offender of the diuyne maiestye. Thus must he fyrst of all, whā he entēdeth to pray, consyder with hym selfe what he is, euen a very synner, a trangressoure of Gods precepte, a breker of the diuyne lawe, and a wycked doer in all his actes.
This consideracion fyrst of all is very necessary. For it bringeth a mā to the knowledge of hym selfe, & makethe hym desyrous for to praye, that he maye be deliuered frō this great enormite.Mark this well. Certes except a man doth fyrst of all on this wyse iudge, vnderstōde & perceyue of himselfe, he can neuer be trulye bent for to praye. For who desyrethe the colour & warmenes of clothe, that feleth no colde? Who longeth for meat & drynke, that is not hungry & thyrsty. Who wyssheth helth that is not sycke? Who prayeth for remission of synnes, that fealeth not himselfe to be a synner?iiii. Reg. xx. Esa. xxxiii. Woulde Ezechias hauehave prayed for health & longe lyfe, yf he had not felte hymselfe sycke & at the poynt of death?ii. Para. i. Woulde Salomon hauehave desyred wisdōe for the right gouernaūce of his people, yf he had not perceiued,ii. Re xii. Psal. i. that he had had nede of it? Woulde Dauid when he had played the adulterer with Bethsabe ye wyfe of Urias, so greatly hauehave lamented his synne, yf he had not knowē hym selfe to be a greuous synner?Luk. x viii. Would the poore Publican contrary to the māners of the proude Pharise hauehave stonde a farre of, beynge afrayde to lyfte vp his eyes, and knockyng his brest, sayeng: O God be thou mercifull vntounto me a synner, yf he had not knowen himselfe to be full of synne, misery & wretchednes?Luk. vii.x. Would Mary magdalene hauehave ben so desyrous of Christes company, yf she had not knowen herselfe to be a miserable siner, and Christ a bounteous Sauyvor? Nay verely.
Therfore the nexte & moost redy waye for a man to prepare hymselfe to praye aright, & with a feruent spiryte & hungry mynde, is to knowe & graūt hymselfe to be a synner, and ye therfore he hath great nede to pray.
¶ The. xiiii. Chapter.
SEcōdly, whē he hath once thorowly debated & beaten we hiselfe his owne misery, wretchednes, synne, & abhominaciō, & perceyuethe that to be delyuered therof, ther is no other waye, but only by the mercy of God thorowe prayer, he muste streyghte wayes set before his eyes the Commaundement of God, which after ye knowledge & confession of his synne commaundeth hym to praye. And here ought he not a lytle to reioyse. For who, whā he hath ones offended God, durste be so bolde as once to desyre pardon of his offence, & to pray vntounto God for mercy, yf God himself had not commaundes him so to do? Uerely no man.Beholde what sinne both. For the transgression of Gods cōmaundement doth so confounde the consicience of ye trāsgressour, that it soner dryueth hym vntounto desperacion, than to any hope of helpe or fauour.Gen. iii. This is well proued by Adam, which, when he hadde once broken Gods precepte in Paradyse, fled streyghtwayes from ye face of God, hyd hym, & soughte all meanes possible no more to come īto his syght.Gen. iiii. Howe was Caym also confoū ded in his conscience whē he had kylled his brother Abell, thoughe there was yet no lawe raygnynge? Was he not so consternate & stryken with suche feare, that he sayd: EueryEvery one that fyndeth me, wyll kyll me? was he not ashamed so greatly of his mā slaughter, that he sayd, mine iniquite is greater thē I maye deserue for gyuenes? Dyd he not flye frō ye face of the LORDE, so farre as he myght. Agayn,Mat. xxvi was not Iudas so ashamed of his dede whan he had solde Christ to the Bysshoppes & heade prestes, ye he brought the mony agayne to thē, & sayde, I hauehave synned, betrayenge the innocent bloud?Act. ii Dyd not synne so cōfoūd & slay his cōsciēce at ye last, that he went & hāged vp hymselfe, & when he was hanged, dydde not he brast a sūder in the myddes, and all his bowels gusshed out? Who being a Traytoure dare come before the Kynges maiesty to desyre pardon of his offence? Yea who rather beynge fauty in that detestable sinne, fieth not from hys graces presence in to straunge countreyes, that he maye be free and withoute punyshment? For the rewarde of synne is deathe.Rom. vi. Therfore I saye ought he that knoweth & graūteth himselfe to be a sinner very muche to reioyce that God for his offence hath cōmaunded him to praye, whiche els durst nothynge lesse than once to attēpte for to approche before the diuyne maiesty we onye kynde of prayer,The nature of sinne & when synne shall laboure accordynge vntounto ye nature therof for to condemne the conscience, & to expell from the herte all sayth, cōfidence, & trust in God, thā to erecte, eleuate & lyfte vp himselfe by gyuyng sure & vndoubted fayth to the cōmaūdement of God, which commaundeth hym to praye, we this perswasion, that God hath not commaūded him for to praye in vayne. He muste therfore put these & suche lyke Comaundementes euer before his eyes,Mat. vi. Psal. xlix. Mat. xi. Aske, Seke, Knocke, watch praye. Agayne, call on me in the day of trouble. Come vntounto me al ye that labour & are ladē. All ye that thyrst come vntounto the waters.Esa. xliiii. And ye that hauehave no mony make hast, by & eate. Come & bye withoute mony, & withoute ony marchaundyse, wyne and mylke. These moost gentle & louyng commaundementes of God cōforte the sorowefull mynde of the synner greatly, & engraffe in him a certayn gladnes & hope for to obtayne remissiō of his synnes, seyng ye God so boū teonsly commaundeth him to pray.
¶ The. xv. Chapter.
THyrdely when he hathe on this maner poudered the cōmaundement of God, wherwt he is prouoked to praye, than doth cōuenient tyme requyre that he also consydereth the moost louynge, gentle, & bounteous promises of God, in the which he promyseth for to heare vsus, & to graunte vsus oure peticions. For what doth it profyt for to aske & not to obtayne? If God had only cōmaunded vsus to praye, and not also promysed for to heare vsus, & gentelly to gyue vsus oure desyres, what greate pleasure had he done for vsus? what had he done for the which we had nede once to saye, LORDE God a mercy? What syngulare benefite had we receyued of hi? But although ye Cōmaundement to pray putteth vsus i good confort, yet whā we are promysed also graciously to be heard, this maketh vsus vnfainedly to reioyce & seriouslye to tryumph. This maketh vsus to put oure of oure herte all doloure & sadnes, & to be replete with all myrthe & gladnes. The promyses of God brynge quietnes to the conscience,The promysce of God. huarite to the herte, tranquilitie & peace to the soule. No man is able to expresse howe much & howe great ioye lyeth buried vp in the diuyne promises, & how feruent consolacion the synner taketh by the hearyng of thē.Gen. iii. What ioye thynke ye was thys vntounto Adā for to heare after his offence, that ye sonne of GOD should be borne of a pure mayde, & tread downe the Serpētes head, that is, subdue Satā & deliuer Adam wt all his posterite frō his tyranny, bryng thē agayne into the fauoure of God, & make thē heyres of eternall glory?Gen. xxii. What cōforte I praye you was this to faythefull Abrahā for to heare that in his seed all nacious of the earthe shoulde be blessed? What a great pleasure was this to ye Israelites,Num. xxi. whē they were greuously stynged & slayne of the fyry serpentes for theyr disobedience, to heare this promyse of God: make a brasē serpēt, & set it vp for a signe He that is stryken & loketh vponupon it, shall lyue?Iosue. i. What exceadyng cōforte receyued Iosue by thys promyse of God vntounto him: I wyll not leaue the neyther wyll I forsake the. Be therfore strōge & take a good herte vntounto the? As I maye come nerer to oure matter,Ioel. ii. Act. ii. Rom. x. howe much ioye, consolaciō & pleasure hauehave the faythfull fealte of this one promyse of God: Euerye one that callethe on the name of the LORDE, shall be saued?
Therfore in this behalfe the promises of God must be earnestly wayed, pondered & consydered.The promyses of God are oure only conforte. In them must we reste, & dailye as in a moost pleasaūt Herboure. In thē must we repose oure selues. In them must be all oure delyghte, pleasure & felicite. The chefe promises concernynge Prayer are these.Psa. xxxvi. Delyghte thou in the LORDE, & he shall giuegive the, the peticiōs of thy herte.Psal xlix. Call on me sayth God in the daye of thy trouble, & I wyll delyuer the, and thou shalte honour me.Psa. ixxxx Agayne he sayth: Seynge that he hath put his truste in me, I wyll delyuer hym, & I wyll defende hym, in asmuche as he hath knowen my name. He cryed vntounto me, and I wyll graciously heare hym, I am we hym in tribulacion, I wyll delyuer hym & glorify hym. With the length of dayes wyll I replenysh hym, and shewe hym my sauynge helth. Christ also saith:Mat. xi. Come vntounto me all ye that labour & are laden, & I shall refresh you. EueryEvery one that is a thyrste, let hym come to me & drynke.Ioan. vii. Mat. vi. Agayne, aske, & it shall be gyuen you. Seke & ye shall fynde. Knocke & it shall be opened vntounto you. For eueryevery one that asketh, receyueth, & he that seketh, fyndeth, & to hym ye knocketh, it shal be opened. If the sone asketh breade of ony of you, whiche is his father, wyl ye profer him a stone? or yf he asketh fysh,Luke. xi. wyll ye gyue hym a Serpent? or yf he aske an Egge, wyll ye profer hym a Scorpion? If ye than which are euell, know howe to gyue good gyftes to your chyldren, howe much more shall your father celestiall gyue the holy ghost to them that desyre it of hym? These & suche lyke promises of God, must he that intē deth to pray set before his eyes, that he cōforted with the remembraunce of them, maye with the more frācke courage gyue himselfe to godly and deuout prayer at all tymes.
¶ The .xvi. Chapter.
Fayth gyuen vntounto the promyses of godFOurthly when he hath on this maner confyrmed & establyshed his mynde with the contēplacion & beholdynge of the diuyne promises, he maye not dout any thynge at all of them, but faythfully beleue & vndoutedly perswade hymselfe ye they are true, in asmuch as they are the promises not of man but of GOD, which cā not lye,Cit. l. Psa. cxliiii whiche is true, yea whiche is the selfe trueth, whiche is faythfull in all his wordes, & holy in al his workes, whose worde & trueth also abyde for euer and euer.Esay. xi. For though God be neuer so mercyfull, & bounteous in gyftes,Note wel. yet yf we do not beleue that his mercy & bounte pertayne also to vsus, we are neuer ye better. Let it so be, that whā a tray tour for his offence cōmitted agenst the Kynges maiesty,Mark this Example flyeth beyonde the sees into a straung countrey by cause he wyll eschewe the daunger of the lawe, & escape ye payne due for his offence, the Kynges grace hathe pitie on hym, pardon his faulte, and sende ouer his letters vntounto hym, wherī is declared the kynges great mercy & gentlenes toward him, and wylleth hym to returne into his natyue countre, & there agayne to enioye the benefytes of the same, & of all other that he possessed before, yea & that with no lesse fauoure, than he dydde in tymes paste, whan he was mooste estraunged from that faulte of treason: yf the Traytour not beleuynge the wordes of the moost gracious & free pardon, woulde contēne & despyse it, recountyng it to be but a vayne gloose, & of no trueth, what should the kynges gentlenes in this behalfe profytte hym? The kynge is mercyfull, but the traytoure is vnfaythfull. Therfore receyueth he no commoditie by the kynges pardon. And yet is not the faulte in ye kyng, but in the traytour, which beleueth not that glad and merye tydynges.
Another example.Agayne: Be it in case, that a cunnyng & learned Phisiciō come vntounto a sycke man, promisynge hym helpe & delyueraunce of his dysease, & yet yf the sycke parsō beleueth hym not, but setteth nought by hym, & despyseth his medicines what doth it profytte him? What is he holpen by the presence of the Phisiciō, be he neuer so cūnynge? What doth the redines of helpe profyt him, yf he refuseth to take & enioye it? Uerely nothyng at all. In lyke maner be God neuer so mercyfull & boūteous, & neuer so redy to helpe vsus, yet yf we beleue hym not to be so, his mercye, bounty and assistēce profyt vsus nothynge at all.Psa. cxliiii The Psalmograph sayeth not only, the LORDE is nygh to all that cal on hym, but he addeth, to al that call on hym in trueth.To cal on God in truethe, what it is What is it to call on God in trueth, but to beleue earnestly that he wyll trulye performe hys promyses, & do in all thynges as he hath promysed?Psa. lxxxiiii. Agayne, Dauid sayeth: Mercy & trueth hauehave mette togyther, ryghteousnes & peace hauehave kyssed one another.Mark this Exposiciō What is this, mercy & trueth hauehave mette togither but that as God is mercyfull in makynge his promises, so is he true in perfourmynge them? Agayne, what meaneth this, righteousnes & peace hauehave kyssed one another, but only to shewe, that the ryghteousnes of god in fulfyllynge his promises, and the trāquilite of cōscience hauehave ioyned them selues togyther in the hertes of the faythfull.
Therfore yf we do not obtayne ye hygh treasures & great pleasures ye God hath promised let vsus impute it to nothynge els but only to our vnfaithfulnes.Heb. xi. For S. Paule sayth we out fayth it is not possible to please God. He that cōmeth to God, sayth he, must beleue that God is, & that he is a rewarder to thē that seke h….Rom. v. Agayn, we beyng iustifyed by fayth hauehave peace toward God thorow our LORDE Iesus Christ, by whome also it hathe chaunsed vntounto vsus, that by fayth we should be brought īto this grace, wherin we stond, & prayse vnderunder the hope of the glorye of GOD. S. Iames also sayeth,Iacob. i. If ony man wanteth wisdome lette hym aske of hym that gyueth it, I meane God, which gyueth to all men wtout doublenes, & casteth no man into ye teth, & it shalbe gyuen him. But let hym aske in fayth & wauer not. For he ye doubteth, is lyke the waues of ye see, tossed of the wynde, & caried with violence. Neyther let that mā thynke yt he shal receyue ony thynge of God Christ also sayeth,Math. xi. Who soeuer shall saye to this mountayne, take away thy selfe, & cast thy selfe into the see, & shall not wauer in his harte, but shal beleue that these thinges which he sayth, shall come to passe, what soeuer he sayth, shalbe done vntounto him. Therfore I saye vntounto you, what soeuer ye desyre when ye praye, beleue that ye shall hauehave it, & it shalbe done to you. Agen he saith hauehave ye ye faith of GOD, ye is to saye, asure pswasiō & confydence of the promyses of the grace & mercy of God, & learne ye to assent & agre to the diuyne promyse which thyng yf ye shall do, verely I saye vntounto you, all thynges that ye aske whan ye praye, beleue ye ye shall receyue them, & they shall chaūse to you, as he sayth, al that euer ye aske whan ye praye, beleue that ye shall hauehave thē, & they shall chaunse vntounto you,Math. ix. We read that whan two blynd men desyred Christe to make thē for to se, he sayd vntounto thē, do ye beleue ye I am able to do this thynge? They aunswared, we beleue LORDE. Thā sayd Christe vntounto thē, accordyng to your faythe, be it to you. And theyr eyes were opē. Agen whā a certayne mā brought his sōne to Christ for to be healed, Christ said to him: If thou canst beleue yt, al thinges are possible to hī yt beleueth. In diuers other places we reade,Mat. ix. that Christ sayd to thē whōe he heled. Be it vntounto the accordīg to thy fayth. And thy fayth hath saued the. For by fayth are we mary to God.Lull. vii. Mat. xv. Oze. ii. Ioan. i. Gala. iii. By faythe are we made the sonnes of God. By faythe all good thynges chaunse vntounto vsus. Therfore that we maye be partakers of the cō fortable promises of God, let vsus ear nestly beleue thē, beyng perfectly pswaded that what soeuer God hath promised, he wyll surely fulfyll it. For he is that trueth, which can neyther lye nor deceyue, but graunteth all thynges abosidantely to thē that aske in faythe.In Lucā Lap. xviii. Theophilacte hath a very goldē & notable sayenge, which is this. The foundacion & grounde of all prayer is fayth. For excepte a mā doth beleue, that he shal receyue that to his profyt, which he asketh, the prayer that he maketh is vayn.
But yf it be so that we are yette weake, & hauehave no sure truste of ye clemencye & great goodnes of God towarde vsus, nor can not perswade ourselues that our prayer is heard, but double & wauer peraduēture of the diuyne promises,Luk. vii. than after the exā ple of ye Apostles let vsus pray, LORDE encrease our fayth. Yea let vsus wyth teares crye oute & saye wyth the father of a certayne chylde.Mar. ix I beleue LORDE, succour & helpe myne incredulite & vnfaythfulnes. And ye mighty ruler, which is a mercyfull & gentle God,Exo. xxxiiii. pacient, longe sufferynge & true, which kepeth mercy, which taketh away iniquite, wickednes and synne, wyl surely hauehave mercy on vsus & encrease faythe in vsus.Eco. ii. For the power of the LORDE shall be with thē, which seke hym with al theyr affect, duplicate page duplicate page herte and mynde.
¶ The. xvii. Chapter.
FYftely whan we aske ony thyng of God, we maye not aske it in our owne name, in our owne dignite & worthynes, in our owne iustyce & righteousnes, in our owne good dedes & merites, in our owne innocency and purenes,What it is to aske in the name of Christ. but in the name of Christ. What is it to aske in yt name of Christ, but only to cōfesse that for our owne dignitie & worthynes, we are not worthy to be hearde, & therfore desyrynge to obtayne mercye, grace, fauour, & remission of our synnes, we approche vntounto the throne of GOD with oure faythefull prayers, not in oure owne name, but in the name of Christe, that is to saye, in Christes dignite, worthynes iustyce, ryghteousnesse, innocencye, purenes, good dedes & merites. And for his sake & for his goodnes do we desyre to be heard, and to hauehave oure Peticions graunted:
This is a great cōforte for them that shall pray,A confortable sayeng for …. yt though they be imperfecte, yet is Christ perfecte, & his perfecciō is theyr perfecciō, though they be vnrighteous, yet is Christe ryghteous, & his ryghteousnesse is their righteousnesse, though they be vnholy, yet is Christ holy, & his holines is theyr holines, though they be voyde of perfecte good workes, yet hathe Christe perfecte good workes, and his good workes are theyr good workes, yf they leaue theyr vngodlines, turne from theyr wycked wayes, & study to lyue innocently, & therfore nede they not feare for to praye, but boldly to aske all thinges in the name of Christ.
Our righteous aduocate,In Czech. Lib. i. Nom. vii. sayeth S. Gregory, shall defende vsus ryghteous in the iudgement, bycause we do both knowledge & accuse our selues vnrighteous. Therfore not in our owne wepiges, not in our owne actes but in the allegacion of our aduocate let vsus truste. Hereto pertayneth the sayenge of S. Austen,In Psal. …viii. the prayer which is not made by Christ doth not only not put awaye synne, but also the prayer it self is made very synne. Christ sayth, whatsoeuer ye shall aske in my name, that wyll I do, that the father maye be gloryfyed by ye sōne.Ioan. xiiii If ye aske ony thyng in my name, that shal I do. Agayne If ye abyde in me, & my wordes abyde ī you, aske what soeuer ye wyl, & it shall be done to you. In another place also he sayth:Ioan. xvi. Uerely verely I say to you, what soeuer ye shal aske the father in my name, he shall gyue it you. Nytherto ye hauehave asked nothynge in my name. Aske & ye shall receyue, that your ioye maye be perfect. Thus so we yt in Christes name we must aske all thynges.Act. iiii. For there is none other name gyuen vntounto mē vnderunder heuē, wherī we must be saued but onlye this name of iesus christ. Euerye one yt calleth on thys name shalbe saued.Joel. ii. Pro.xviii. For the name of the LORDE is a stronge tower & valeaūt Bulwarke, vntounto that doth ye righteous, that is, the faythefull man flye.Psal. xxxix. Blessed is that man, which trusteth in the name of the LORDE, and hath no respecte vntounto vanities and false madde fantasies.
Moreouer Dauid,Dauid. although God prayseth him greatly, & sayeth, that he hath founde Dauid his seruaūte euen after his owne herte, yet dyd not he, whan he prayed, desyre to be hearde for his owne name, & for his owne ryghteousnes & vertu, but he prayed on this maner,Psal. cxiii. LORDE heare my prayer, heare my request for thy truthes sake, yea fauourablye heare me for thy righteousnes, Agayne, in the O LORDE hauehave I trusted,Psal. xxx. let me neuer be cōfoūded, but deliuer me in thy righteousnes. My strēgth and my refuge arte thou, and for thy names sake shalte thou lede me forth & norish me.Psal. xxiiii For thi names sake LORD shalte thou be merciful to my sinne, for it is much. O god for thy names sake saue thou me,Psal. iiii. & in thy vertu delyuer me.Ps. lxxviii. Helpe vsus O God our sauyour, & for the glorye of thy name O LORDE delyuer vsus, & be mercyfull to our synnes for thy names sake. Beholde he desyreth not the fauoure of God for his owne sake, for his owne name, righteousnes, trueth & vertu but for Goddes name, for Goddes ryghteousnes, trueth and vertue. Nowe who is the ryghteousnesse of God,The righteousnes of God, is Christ. is Lord. but Iesus Christe the sonne of God, whiche alone is founde righteous among men? As Paule wytnesseth, he is made of God our wisdom ryghteousnes, sanctificacion & redē cion, that as it is wrytten, he that reioyceth, maye reioyce in y• LORDE Who is the trueth of GOD,The truth of God. but he which sayth of himselfe. I am ye way the trueth & the lyfe.Ioan. xiiii. The vertu of God. i. Pet. ii. No man commeth to the father but by me? Who is ye vertue of God, but he that hath done no synne, nor in whole mouth ony gile was foūd, which is Christ …. Austē wryteth of Christ on this maner,Tract. xxii. in Io. cap. v. I am, sayth he, ye way, trueth & lyfe. No man cōmeth to the father but by me. As though he should say, wylte thou walke? I am the waye. Wylte thou not be deceyued? I am the trueth. Wylt thou not dy? I am ye lyfe. This doth thy Sauyour say to the, ther is none other, to whome thou mayst go, but vntounto me. There is no waye that thou canste go, but by me.
So that for Christes sake & not for his owne dyd Dauid althoughe both godly & vertuous, yea & dearly beloued of God, d…re to be hearde, & to hauehave the peticions of his herte graunted.… obiection. But it maye be obiected, Dauid also prayeth on this maner. Heare O LORDE my ryghteousnes,Psal. xvi. & gyue attendance vntounto my prayer. Let my iudgement come forth from thy face, lette thyne eyes se equite. Thou hast proued my hert & visited it in the nyght, thou haste tryed me wt fyre, & yet hath there none iniquite be found in me.Psal. xvii. Agayne, I wyl be wtout spotte wt him, I wyll kepe me from iniquite, & the LORDE shall rewarde me accordynge to my righteousnes, & accordynge to the puritie of my hādes in the syght of his eies. Also in another place,Psal. xxv. Iudge me O LORDE, for I hauehave walked in my innocēcy. In these & such lyke Dauid layeth oute his owne innocency, purite & ryghteousnes, '& semeth to desyre to be heard for them.…n answer I answere if Dauid desyred to be heard for his owne ryghteousnes, than should he fyght wt himselfe wherin many and diuers places he cōfesseth his synne, & cleueth only to the mercy of God, desyreth to be hearde for the righteousnes, trueth & vertue of God, and not for his owne sake.… Enter not in to iudgement, O LORDE, sayeth he, with thy seruaunt, for no man that lyueth shalbe iustifyed in thy syght. Nowe thā could he set out his owne ryghteousnes before GOD, that he myghte be iustifyed by it? What shall we then saye to this matter?Note thys Solucion: I aunswere, yea & that not wythoute the authoritie of the holy scriptures & the mynde of the aunciente Doctors, that as in dyuers other places of the Psalmes, so in these and such lyke he speakethe in the parsonne of Christe, and not in his owne. He speketh of Christes innocency, puryte, ryghteousnes & vertue, & not of his owne. He representeth Christes parson, & not his owne. Whan he speaketh in his owne parson, he graunteth hymselfe alwayes a synner, seketh helth of God, & desyreth not to be heard for his owne ryghteousnes but for Gods ryghteousnes, whiche is Iesus Christ. So that ī Christes name he offered vp his prayers vntounto God the father,Exo. xii. Ioan. i. as all the faythfull ought to do. For Christ is the lambe wtout spotte. Christ is that lambe of God, which taketh away ye synne of the worlde.Mat. iii. Christ is that dearly beloued sonne, for whose sake God the father is well pleased with men. Christ is that Byshop,Heb. vii. which is godly, innocente, vndefyled & segregate from synners.Ioan. x. Christ is the dore, by whome alone we muste come to the father.Math. i. Christ is that sauiour which saueth his people frō theyr synnes. Christ is he by whome grace & verytie is shewed vntounto vsus.Ioan. 1. Colos. 1. Christe is he, which by his moost precious bloude hath reconciled vsus to Godye father. Christ therfore is he, in whose name that is, in whose dignite, ryghteous…nes, innocency, vertue, & purite, we must offer vp our prayers to God ye father.Esa. lxiiii. For all our ryghteousnesses …ampared to the iustyce of God, are …yke a cloth polluted with mēstrue. That we are not able to obtayne any thynge of God for our owne righteousnes, it is manifest by these wordes which God himselfe speaketh by his Prophet Esaye,Esa. xliii. I am, I am he, which putteth awaye thyne iniquities, yea & that for myne owne sake. (Marke ye he sayeth, for myne owne sake.) And wyll remēber thy synnes no more. Put me in remembraūce, & let vsus be iudged togyther. Tell me yf thou hast ony thing wherby thou mayst be iustifyed.Esa. xlviii. Agayne: For my names sake, wyll I put away myne anger. For myne owne sake, yea for mine owne sake wyll I do this, that I may not be blasphemed & euel spoken of. In the name of Christe therfore let hym aske, that entēdenth to obtayne onye thynge of God the father, as S. Paule sayeth,Col. iii. whatsoeuer ye shall do in word & dede, do an… thynges in the name of the LORDE Iesus, gyuynge thanckes to God the father by him. And so doynge let hym not doubt, but that he shall obtayne all good thynges accordyng… vntounto his hertes desyre.
¶ The .xviii. Chapter.
All thynge must be ashed accordyng vntounto … wyll of God.SYxtely, he that intēdeth to pray, muste earnestly prouyde that he asketh all thynges accordyng vntounto the wyll of God. He may not aske af… ter his owne fantasy, wyl & plesure, but after the wyll of God. For oure wyll in comparison of Gods wyll, is neuer good, but euell or prone to euell. For we knowe not what we shoulde praye,Rom. viii. as it becommeth vsus. Therfore what so euer we aske, we must refe…ce it vntounto ye wyll of God, and be contented to be ordered in all thynges accordyng vntounto his moost …olye wyll, as Christe taughte vsus to …raye in the Pater noster. Let thy wyll be fulfylled as in heauē,Mat. vi. so lyke wyse in earth. Christe also himselfe for to gyue vsus an example, when the …oure of his passion began to drawe …igh, prayed vntounto his father on this manner: My father, yf it be possible, …et this cup go awaye from me:Math. xxvi. Not withstandyng let not myne but thy wyll be fulfylled.mat. viii. The Leper also …ayd to Christ, LORDE yf thou wylt, …hou maist make me whole Here the Leper desyred to be clensed of his le…rosye, yet he referred his requestes vntounto Christe eyther to be graunted or denyed.Nota. So it becōmeth vsus ī lyke maner to aske all thynges accordīg vntounto the wyll of God, & what soeuer we desyre, euer to submyt & referre …t vntounto Gods wyll, whiche knoweth …este, what we hauehave nede of, & what …s moost necessarye for vsus,math. vi. before we pray. For we hauehave not a greter war… re nor an harder fyght ī this world than ye battayle & stryfe of the Spi… ryte, & of ye fleshe, which two are al… wayes so at debate, ye the hatred be… twene thē can neuer be apeased.Gal. v. For as ye flessh lusteth agaynst ye spiryte so doth the spiryte fight very valeāt ly agaynst the wycked, fearce & cruel violence of the fleshe, & are euermore as the Apostle wytnesseth, one agēs… another,Rom. vii. so that we can not do those thinges ye we would, in asmuch that we are compelled to crye oute we the Apostle, o wretched & vnhappy that I am, who shall delyuer me frō thys body bonde vntounto death.
Howe euell it is to followe oure owne wyll, neglectynge in ye meane season the good pleasure of God, dyuers Histories of ye holy scriptures shewe. Kyng Saul thought that he had done well,1. Reg. xiii. when he perceyuyng the people to go away from hym, offered burnte offrynges to ye LORDE in the absence of Samuel, sayenge, that he dyd it to pacifye the LORDE, & that he was cōpelled to do so. But Samuell sayd vntounto hym, thou hast done folisbly, neither hast thou kept the cōmaundementes of the LORDE thy God whiche I cōmaunded the.
Agayne God cōmaunded Sauli. Reg. xl…. to staye Amelech, to destroye al that euer ther was, not to spare one, not to couyt any thyng of theyr goodes, but to kyll man, woman, chylde, sue kynge babe, ore, shepe, camell, asse, & what soeuer could there be sound besydes. But Saul followīg his own wyll more than the wyll of God, spared Agag the king of Amelech alyue with the beste flockes of shepe, ores, cattell, & all that euer was fayre he spared, & woulde not destroye them, but what soeuer was vyle and of no pryce, that he destroyed. Whan Samuel came vntounto hym & sayde, what of beastes do I heare here? He auswe… red, the people hathe broughte them from Amelech. They be the best and fattest of all the flockes, & they be reserued to be offered vntounto the LORDE. But Samuel sayde vntounto hym. Bycause thou hast cast awaye the word of ye LORD, yu LORD hath cast away ye that thou be no more king. Wyll the LORD burnt offringes & sacrifices & not rather that it may be obeyed vn to his worde? Obedience is better then Sacrifyces, & to gyue eare to ye LORDES cōmaundement is more thā to offer the satte of wethers. What godly excuses had kynge Saul here to couer his faulte, and to make his wyll vntounto carnall iudgemētes to appeare verye vertuous & godly? For all that euer he dyd, was done to honour God,A poynte for theyr li…nge. to sacrifice & offer oblacions to God. Yet God casteth awaye that wyll, whiche is contrary to his wyll, seme it neuer so godlye, vertuous and good in the syght of fleshly wyse mē. Yea cursed be all good wylles, all good zeeles, all good intētes, that fyghte we the wordes of God.
Oza also thought he had done welii. Reg. vi. when he seyng the arke of God in iopardy of fallyng oute of the wayne, steyed it we his hande, yet for all hys good voyl, bicause he touched it, was he stryken of the LORDE, & streyghte waye dyed.
Kynge Ozias in lyke maner of aii. Pa. xxvi. good intent would hauehave taken vpō him to burne incense vntounto ye LORDE but Azarias the preste sayd boldely vntounto hym, it is not thyne offyce Ozias to burne incēse vntounto the LORDE, but it pertayneth to prestes the sonnes of Aaron, which are consecrated to suche ministry & seruyce. He com, maunded him also to go out of ye sanctuary, & tolde him ye that whiche he had done, should not turne vntounto his prayse of the LORDE God. And immediately after for his disobedsente presumpciō, he was stryken we leproly, & so beynge cast oute of the house of the Lorde, he contynued a Leper euen vntounto his death.
Good intentes not groū ded on Gods word, are the authore of al euell.The Iewes dyd put Christ & his Apostles to death of a good zele, wyl intent and purpose. The tyrauntes whiche dyd slaye the holy martyres thoughte they dyd well. The bloude soupers also, which at this tyme persecute Christes gospel vnderunder ye name of Heresye, & cruelly slaye & shed the bloude of the true Christians vnderunder the pretexte of persecutynge Heretikes, perswade themselues that they do well, & thynke they meryte greatly in ye syght of God,Ioan. xvi. as Christ sayth the tyme shall come that they which kyl you, shal thike ye they do an high seruyce vntounto God.
Whyle we follow our owne wyll, we commyt many absurdities & vnsyttynge thynges. Therfore whatsoeuer we do we must hauehave a respect to the wyll of God, & make ours conformable vntounto it, vnlesse we hepe vp dānacion vntounto our selues in all our peticions, prayers & requestes. We muste aske accordynge to the wyll of God. He that doth otherwyse, doth euell, & therfore he obtayneth not ye which he desyreth,Iaco. iiii. as S. Iames say ethe: Ye aske, and hauehave not, bycause ye aske amysse, for to consume it vponupon youre volupteousnes. If he doth obtayne it, vndoubtedlye it is to his greater damnaciō. Therfore let vsus aske accordynge to the wyll of God. So may we be sure to hauehave our her tes desyre,i. Ioan. v. as S. Iohn̄ sayth, This is the trueth that we hauehave in God, that yf we aske ony thyng according vntounto his wyll, he heareth vsus. And yf we knowe that he heareth vsus, what so euer we aske, we knowe that we shall hauehave the Peticions that we desyre of hym. And that we maye do it fruytfully,Psal. …xlii let vsus praye wt the Psalmograph, teach me O LORDE, to do thy myl, for ye arte my God. So shal God worke his good pleasure in vsus.
The nynetyne Chapter.
We maye appoynte God no tyme.MOreouer although ī our prayers we aske all thynges accordyng vntounto the wyll of God, yet may not we appoynt God the tyme of obtaynynge these thynges. We muste praye & aske, but oure peticions we muste referre & commyt to God for to be graunted, whan it shall be hys moost godly pleasure. For he knoweth what is moost fitte for vsus better than we do our selues, & he wyll vndoubtedly graunt vsus those thinges that we aske, or elles muche better, whā he seeth his tyme.Psal. cxxii Therfore let vsus lyft vp our eyes vntounto him, which dwellethe in ye heauens. And as the eyes of seruauntes are euer on the hādes of theyr maysters, & as ye eies of the handemayde are all wayes on the handes of her maystres, so lette our eyes be bent euer vntounto ye LORD, vntyll he hath mercy vponupon vsus. Let vsus aske, & paciētly abyde his diuyne wyll, & surely we shall not be deceyued of our desyres. But yf we shall appoynte hym the tyme, & wyl that he be obediēt to our wyl, rather thā we to his, than do we tempte him, & prouoke his anger agaynst vsus. Exā ple hauehave we in ye History of Judith,Ju. vii, viii. where we read that whan the Israelites had ben longe oppressed of Nolofernes & his army, & had contynued manny houres in theyr prayers, cryenge vntounto the LORDE for helpe, & yet perceyued none at all at ye hande of God: They all consented that yf God dyd not helpe thē wythin fyue dayes, they woulde gyue ouer both thēselues & theyr citie vntounto Dolofernes & his people. But whan Judith that vertuous woman hearde of it, she sayde: Why hauehave ye consented to gyne ouer the citie vntounto the Assyrianes, yf helpe commeth not vntounto you from the LORDE within fiue dayes? What are you that thus tempte the LORD? This is not a sayēg for to prouoke mercye, but rather to store vp yre, & to kyndle furor. Daue ye appoynted ye tyme of the LORDES mercy? & hauehave ye appoynted hym a daye at youre pleasure? But seynge the LORDE is paciēt, let vsus repent, and be sory for this thynge, and let vsus desyre his sauour wt wepynge teares.
Thus se we that it is no s…iale of fence, be our peticions neuer so righteous, for to appoynte God ye tyme. For that appoyntement of tyme declareth vsus to be vnsaythfull. It sheweth that we hauehave no ryght perswasion of God. It is a manifest argument, that we depende & hange vpō Gods goodnes & mercy only for our carnail profytte & auaūtage. It maketh euydent, that we do no longer regarde God, than he satisfieth and fulfylleth our lustes, pleasures, and desyres.Good coūse… Therfore let vsus do, that we are cōmaunded, that is, hūblye offer vp our prayers to God, myth all submission of mynde, powre out our hertes before him, & with vnfayned teares lament our cause vntounto hym, nothynge doubtynge, but that accordyng to his moost godly promyse he wyll heare vsus, graūt vsus those or els better thynges, when it shall be hys plesure. And yf God semeth to withdraw his helpe frō vsus at any tyme & not streyghtwayes to graūt vsus our requestes, lette vsus not dispayre, nor fall from the true confidence, truste & hope in the moost confortable promises of god therfore, but rather be the more earnest & importune in askynge, beynge perswaded that God only differeth & prolongeth the accomplyshmēt of his moost faythfull promyse, bycause he wyll trye oure fayth, whyther it be right constant, and stedfast or not. Dearly beloued, sayth S. John̄ Chrisostome, whā I saye, praye vntounto God, besech hym, & wayte vponupon him, thou sayst: I hauehave prayed once, twyse, & thryse, yea and ten tymes & twenty tymes, & what hauehave I receyued, sayst thou? Go not thy way, tyll thou receyuest, for the ende of the thyng asked, is the receyuynge of hym that prayethe. Than cease thou, whan thou hast receyued yea rather neyther cease yu than, but stil perceyue & cōtinue, giuig thākes for that which thou hast receyued, ye that which thou hast taken, may cō tinually remayne with the.
Mat. xv.Let vsus followe the woman of Canane, which, as it woulde appeare, beynge denyed of her peticiō diuers tymes, at the leeste receyuynge but smale cōfort at christes hand, would not cease, but styll continued in makynge suyte & supplicaciō for ye helth of her doughter, tyll at the laste she heard this swete & cōfortable voyce, O woman great is thy fayth. Be it vntounto the, as thou wylte.
¶ The. xx. Chapter.
THe laste of all, which is to be cō sythered in the preparacion of prayer, is so necessary, that without it, all the other are but vayne, & nothyng to the purpose: And it is this that whā soeuer we entend to pray, we do fyrst forgyue such as hauehave offended vsus, or els by no meanes can we obtayne remission of our synnes & fauour at the hand of God. Therfore do we on thys manner praye in the Pater noster:Math. vi. Forgyue vsus oure dettes, euen as we forgyue our detters. And Christ sayth forgyue, and it shall be forgyuen you. Yea he gyueth vsus a playne cōmaūdemēt ye we should forgyue so many as hauehave offē ded vsus, before we praye, or elles oure prayer worketh vsus rather damnacion than saluaciō.Marke. xi. Whan ye prepare your selues to praye, sayeth Christe, forgiue yf ye hauehave ony thyng agenst ony man, that your father, which is in heauē, may forgyue you also your trespasses.Math. vi. Agayne he sayth: yf ye forgyue men theyr faultes, your heauē ly father wyl also forgyue you. But yf ye do not forgyue men theyr faultes, nether wyll your father forgiue you your faultes.
We reade that Peter came vntounto Christ,Mat. xviii. & sayd, LORDE howe ofte shal my brother synne agaynste me, and I shall forgyue hym? Untyll seuen tymes? Christ aunswered, I say not vntounto the, vntyl seuen times, but vntyll seuenty tymes seuē tymes. And … Luke he sayth:Luke xvii. Take hede to your selues. If thy brother synneth agēst the, rebuke hym, & yf he repente, forgyue hym▪ And yf he synneth seuen tymes in a daye agaynste the, & shall seuen tymes in a day turne agayne vntounto the, sayenge: It repenteth me, forgyue hym.Math. xviii… And in Mathewe to make the matter more playne, that we shall not be forgyuen of God, except we forgyue thē ye offende vsus, he putteth for the a similitude or parable of a certayne kynge, which when he called hys seruauntes to a countes, had one brought to hym, which ought hym ten thousande talentes. Whan he was not able to paye, hys Lorde cōmaunded hym to be folde, & his wyfe, & his Chyldren, & all that euer he had, & payment to be made. The seruaūt fell downe, & worshypped hym, sayenge: LORDE be pacient toward me, & I wyll paye the all togyther. The LORD had pitie on that seruaunt, losoned hym, and forgaue hym all that he ought. But that seruaunte goynge forth founde one of his fellow seruauntes, which ought hym an hundred pence, and layenge hād on hym, & tahīg him by ye throte he sayde, paye that thou …west. Hys fellowe seruaunte fell downe, & desyred hym, sayenge. Be paciēt toward me, & I wyll paye the all togyther. He would not, but went his waye, & cast him ito pryson, vntyll he should paye the dette. Dhan his fellow seruauntes saw that which was done, they lamēted verye sore, & came, and openned vntounto theyr Lorde all those thynges that were done. Than dyd theyr LORDE call hym, & sayde vntounto hym, thou vngracious seruaunt, I forgaue the all that dette, whē thou desyredst me, had it not ben conuenient also, that yu shouldest hauehave had pitie on thy fellow seruaunt? And his LORDE beyng angry, cōmytted him to the Ialours, vntyll he should pay all that was due vntounto hym. Christe concludethe: So lykewyse shall my heauenly father do vntounto you, yf eueryevery one of you euen from y• very hert doth not forgyue hys brother theyr offences. Hereof doth it appere more clerely than the lyghte, that excepte we forgyue, we shall neuer be forgyuen,Prayers done out of charite please not God. neyther can ony thynge please God that we do, yf it be done out of charitie. For the worde of God abydeth fyrme, sure, & constant for euermore. And this sayeng of Christ can not be mocked by onye meanes, nor made frustrate, so lykewyse shall my heauenly father do vntounto you, yf eueryevery one of you euē from y• very herte dothe not forgyue his brother theyr offences. What S. Paule wrytethe of those workes, which are done out of charite in the fyrste Epistle to the Corinthians, the thyrtene Chapter, it is not vnknowen to them ye reade the holy scriptures. God louethe no vncharitable, malicious, wycked, enuious, & bloudy prayers. EueryEvery one that hateth his brother, is a māslayer.i. Joan. iii. And ye knowe sayeth S. John, ye eueryevery manslayer, hathe not euerlastyng lyfe abydyng in hym. Agayne If ony man sayeth,i. Ioan. iiii. I louelove God, and hatethe his brother, he is a lyer. For he that loueth not hys brother, whō he hath ser…e, god, whom he hath not sene, how can he louelove? And this commaūdemēt hauehave we of hī, ye he, which loueth God, do also louelove his brother. But let vsus heare what oure golden mouthed Doctor sayeth to this matter.
¶ The. xxi. Chapter.
Hom. lxxxix De ora…ione.IF that we be commaūded not only to pray for the faythfull but also for the vnfaythful, consyder thou how great & euell it is to desyre euel agaynst ye brothers. What dost thou o man… Commest thou to God for to make him mercyfull vntounto the, & dost thou wysh euel to another? Excepte thou doste forgyue, neyther shall it be forgyuen the. Thou doste not only not forgiue, but thou also desirest God, that he wyll not forgyue▪ If it shall not be forgyuen the, which dost not forgyue, doste thou not alonlye not forgyue, but also desyrest GOD not to forgyue? If it be not forgyuē him, that doth not forgiue, how shal it than be forgyuen him, which prayeth the LORDE, that he maye not forgyue? If it be a shame to hauehave enemies, consyther thou than, howe great a synne it is to desyre euell to them, whan thou oughteste to pourge thy selfe, bycause thou hast enemies, dost thou also accuse thē? What forgyuenes shalte thou obtayne, detracting & reportyng euell of thy neyghbour, thefely at such time, when thou hast nede of no meane mercye. For thou tāmest also to praye for thyne owne synnes.Note well… Remeber not therfore other mennes fautes, vnlesse thyne owne be reserued. Thou arte a man, vomyte not oute the poyson of adders. Thou arte a man, playe not the cruell wylde beast. Thou haste a mouth made vntounto the for thys cause, not ye thou shouldest byte, but that y• shou… dest heale. Remēber what God manifestly hath monysshed the to do, euen that yu shouldest spare & forgiue.
De cō …ūe. cordi…. li. i.Agayne in another place he sayth as concernynge that which is wrytten: Forgyue vsus oure dettes, as we forgiue our detters, who is he amōg vsus all, that dare boldely saye theyse thynges to God? For althoughe we do no euell to our enemies & detters yet hauehave we within vsus a wounde of offence, that is incurable, and canne not be made whole. But Christ wyll not only that we forgyue them that offendethe vsus, but also that we louelove them & praye for them. For yf onlye thou dost not hurt hym, which hath hurte the, & yet turneste awaye thy selfe from hym, & wouldest not gladly se hym, without doubte ther abydeth a wounde in thy brest, & sorowe encreaseth styll in thy herte. If it be so, certes that is not fulfilled, which Christ hath cōmaūded. Wylte thou that God be mercyfull vntounto the o… such sorte, that he shoulde not hurte the, & yet turne hym selfe awaye frō the, & remember thy synnes, & hauehave no mynde to se the? Therfore euen such one as thou wouldest that god shoulde be vntounto the, whan thou desyrest forgyuenes of thy synnes, suche one oughtest thou to shewe thy selfe vntounto them, whiche hauehave offended agaynst the. As a certeyne wyse man wryteth, saying, he that seaketh ven geaunce, shal fynde vengeaunce of y• LORDE, which shall surely kepe hym his synnes. Forgyue thy neyghbour the hurte that he hath done the, & so shall thy synnes be forgyuen the also whan thou prayeste. A man that bereth hatred agaynst another, how dare he desyre forgyuenes of God▪ He that sheweth no mercy to a man which is lyke hymselfe, howe dare he aske forgyuenes of his synnes? If he that is but flesshe, beareth hatred, & kepe it, who shall itrete for his …ines
Seynge therfore that excepte we do forgyue our detters,De cōpū … cordi…. li. oure dettes shall not be forgyuen of God, and in asmuch as we shall fynde God suche one to vsus, as we are to oure neyghbours, let vsus followe Christ & Steuen, whiche prayed to God for theyr enemies in the myddes of theyr tormentes, that they myghte be forgyuen. For let vsus know this to be true and nothynge more truer, that as a Surgion can not heale perfectely y• wound so long as any yron is in it, so likewyse can not prayer profyt so longe as the mynde is canchred, and defyled with gyle, fraude, deceyte, simulacion, rancoure, hatred, malyce… emnite, & suche other wyckednesses. There is nothing, layth Chrisosto… that maketh vsus more lyke vntounto God than yf we be gentle & easy to be intreated of them that be euel, and d… hurte vsus. God is redy to forgyue at al times, yf we forgiue. God maketh his sonne to shyne both vponupon ye good & euell, & sendeth rayne vponupon ye righteous & vnryghteous. Let vsus therfore after the example of our heauenly father louelove not only our frendes, but also our enemies, yea & that frō the bottome of the herte. Let vsus forgyue so many as offende vsus, & shew our selues of such affeccion toward them that offende vsus, as we desyre y• Christ should be towarde vsus. Lette vsus be so feruentely gyuen vntounto the preseruacion of fraternall concorde & mutuall charitie, that yf thorowe humayne infirmite it chaunseth at ony tyme that cōtencion ryseth vp amonge vsus, we maye notwythstandynge so shortely put it away by reconcylynge one to another, that all displeasure taken awaye, the sonne maye not faull downe vponupon our anger. Let vsus euer set before oure eyes this sayeng of S. Paule▪ As y• elect of God, holy & beloued, put on tēder mercy, kyndenes, hūblenes of mynd mekenes,De cō …ū cordi…. li. longe sufferynge, forbearynge one onother, and forgeuynge one another (yf o…e manne hauehave a quarell to another) as Christe forgaue you, so do ye. But aboue al thī ges put on louelove, whiche is the bonde of perfeccion. And the peace of God mought rule in your hertes, vntounto y• whiche peace ye are called in one body, and se that ye be thanckefull.
If we wyll do thus whan soeuer we praye, we maye be sure to praye wyth fruyte, we maye be sure to obtayne what so euer we aske of God the father thorowe Iesus Christ, we maye be sure to hauehave forgyuenes of all oure synnes, & euer to hauehave God the father a bounteous and gentle father vntounto vsus.
Hytherto hauehave I declared, what prayer is, of what vertue & strēgth the true & christen prayer is, & howe we ought to prepare oure selues for to praye.
Now it remayneth that I declare in what place a Christen man should praye, & after what maner. Agayne for what thynges, & at what tyme he ought to praye.