A golden chaine: or The description of theologie containing the order of the causes of saluation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seene in the table annexed. Hereunto is adioyned the order which M. Theodore Beza vsed in comforting afflicted consciences.

Our Father which art, &c.]

THese wordes containe three partes, 1. A preface. 2. The praier it selfe, containing sixe petitions. 3. The testification of faith in the last worde, Amen.

Which although it be short, yet it doth not containe the smallest point in the praier: It is (I say) a testification of our faith, whereas the petitions that goe before are onely testifications of our desires. Nowe of these three partes in order.

We must consider howe our Sauiour Christ doth not set downe the peti∣tions abruptly, but he first begins with a solemne preface. Whereby wee are taught this lesson; that hee which is to pray vnto God, is first to prepare him∣selfe, and not boldly without consideration as it were to rush into the presence of God.

If a man be to come before an earthly prince, hee will order himselfe in ap∣parell, gesture and wordes, that he may doe all things in seemelinesse and du∣tifull reuerence: how much more are men to order themselues, when they are to appeare before the liuing God? Eccl. 5.1. Bee not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hastie to vtter a thing before the Lord. And Dauid, Psal. 26.6. Washed his hands in innocency, before he came to the altar of the Lord to offer sacrifice.

The meanes whereby men may stirre vp their dull and heauie hearts, & so prepare themselues to praier, are three. The first is to read diligently the word of God, concerning those matters about which they are to pray: & what then? this will be a meanes not onely to direct him, but also to quicken the heart more feruently to deliuer his praier. This is euident by a comparison. The beames of the sunne descending, heat not before they come to the earth, or some solide bodie where they may reflect, and then by that meanes the earth and aire adioyning is made hot: euen so the Lord sends down vnto vs his bles∣sed word, euen as beames and the goodly sunshine, and thereby he speakes to our hearts: now when we make our praiers of that which we haue read, Gods word is as it were re••••ected, and our hearts are thereby warmed with the com∣fortable heat of Gods holy spirit, to poure out our p••aiers to God more fer∣uently.

The second meanes is to pray to God that hee would strengthen vs with his spirit, that we might be able to praie as it is practised, Psal. 143.1. The third meanes is, the consideration of Gods most glorious maiestie, wherein we are to remember first his fatherly goodnes and kindnesse, whereby hee is willing; and secondly his omnipotencie, whereby hee is able to g••ant our re∣quests. One of these imboldened the leaper to pray, Lord, if thou wil•• thou canst make me ••leane. Mat. 8.2. Therefore both togither are more effectuall.

Now let vs come to the preface it selfe, Our father which art in heauen. It cō∣taines a description of the true Iehoua to whome we pray, and that by two arguments: the first is drawne from a relation, Our Father: the second is taken from the subiect or place, Which art in heauen.