Godly Meditations Upon the Lords Prayer, Part 1
Inſtructions to be obſerued concernynge Prayer.
There be nyne thynges that pertayne to the knowledge of trew prayer.
FIrſte to knowe what prayer is. Secondlye, howe manye ſortes of praier there be. Thirdlye, the neceſſitie of prayer. Fourthlye, to whom we ought to pray. By whom we muſt pray. Where to praye, and what to praye. The excellencye of prayer. What we muſt do that our prayers may be hearde.
What prayer is.
PRaier is a ſimple, vnfained, humble and ardent openinge of the heart before God, wherein we either aſke thīgs nedeful, or giuegive thankes for benefits receaued. Paull in ye firſt to timothe &. 2. Chap. calleth it by fowre ſōdrie names in one ſentence, to witte, praier, ſupplication, interceſſion and thanks geuing. In latyn, Deprecatio, Obſecratio, inte recſsio, et gratiarum actio. Wherof the firſt is for the aduoiding and preuenting of euil, the ſecond is an earneſt and faruent calling vpō god for any thing, ye thirde is an interceſſion for other, the fourth is a praiſinge of God for thinges receaued.
¶ There be .ii. maner of waies how we ſhoulde praye.
2. Firſt publikly, and that is called comō praier: and priuatlie, as when men praye alone, and that is called priuat prayer: and howe bothe theſe two are allowed before god ye ſcripture beareth teſtimony by the example of all the holye men and women before and after Chriſt.
¶ Of the neceſſitie of praier.
3. There be .iiii. thinges ye prouoke vsus to pray, firſt the commaundemēt of god, ſecondlie ſinne in vsus, whiche driueth vsus of neceſſity to god for ſuccor, life, & mercy, thirdlie our weake nature being vnable to doe any good requireth praier to ſtrengthen it, euen as a houſe requireth principal pillers for ye vpholding of it, fourthlie the ſutteltie of the enemye (who priuilie lurketh in ye inwarde parts, waitinge to ouerthrowe vsus euen in thoſe things which we thinke to be beſt done) ſtyreth vsus vehementlye therevnto.
¶ To whom we ought to praie.
4. Thre thinges pertaine to hym that muſt be praied vntounto, firſt that he hauehave ſuch eares as may heare al the worlde at ones, ſecondlie that he be in al places at ones, thirdlie that he hauehave ſuch power that he may be able to helpe, and ſuch merciemercy that he wil delyuer.
By whom we ſhoulde praye
5. Chriſt only is the way by whom we hauehave free acceſſe vntounto the father and for whom our praiers are accepted (our infirmites notwithſtāding) withoute whom al oure prayers are abhominable.
Where to pray and what to pray.
6. As touching the place where we ſhould pray, ſeyng al places are one, there is none forbidden: onelye the cōmon praier muſt be made in what place ſo euer the congregatyon of Chriſt doth aſſemble.
7. What to praye, lyeth in the neceſſitie of eueryevery man: & for as muche as we nede both ſpirituall and corporall things, we may bouldly aſke thē both. For as to aſke ſpiritual giftes it is profitable & commaunded, ſo to aſke corporall, it is neceſſarie and allowed.
Of the excellencie of prayer.
8. The worthines of praier conſiſteth in .ii. thinges: in the dingnitye of the commaunder who is god the fountayne of all goodnes, who alſo commaundeth onelyonly good thinges, and in the effect ye foloweth it, which is the obtaininge of whatſoeuer we deſire faithfully, according to ye will of God.
What to doe that we may be heard
9. Firſt we muſte put of oure owne rightuouſnes, pride, and eſtimation of our ſelues, and put on chriſt with his rightuouſnes: ſecondlye, an earneſt faith and faruent louelove, with the putting of all rancnor, malice & enuie is required: finally trewe repentaūce knitteth vp the knot, for in it are contained al the vertues aforenamed.
I. Breadford.