Christian praiers and holie medtations as wel for priuate as publique exercise: gathered out of the most godly learned in our time, by Henrie Bull. Wherevnto are added the praiers, commonly called Lidleys praiers.

AN INTRODVCTION TO PRAYER.

FOR AS MVCH AS OF our selues we are desti∣tute of all good thinges, and vtterly voyde of all necessarie helpes to sal∣uation: the Lorde our GOD of his owne free mercy and goodnes, offereth himselfe to vs in Christ, and in him he giueth vnto vs, in the steede of our miserie, all felicitie, in the steede of our pouertie, the vnspeakeable ri∣ches of his grace: he openeth vnto vs in him the treasures of heauen, that our Faith might wholy beholde him, and our Hope be fully fixed vppon him. In whome it hath pleased him that the f••lnesse of his grace shoulde dwell, that from thence we might all drawe (as out of a most plentifull founteine) the waters of eternall life. This secrete and great miserie is reueiled to such onely, whose eyes the Lorde hath opened, to see light in his light. Therefore since we are taught by Faith that whatsoeuer wee haue neede of and is wanting in vs, the same is laid vp with God for vs in Christ: it remaineth that we seeke it in him, and with Prayer craue it of him. The Apostle therefore, to shewe that true faith cannot be separate from the inuocati∣on

of Gods holy name, hath set this order, that as faith commeth by the Gospell, so by the same faith our heartes are stirred vp to call vpon the name of God: and therefore he saith, that the spirite of adoption, which sealeth in our hearts the witnesse of the gos∣pell, raiseth vp our spirites that they dare with boldnesse shewe foorth their desires: it stirreth vp in vs vnspeakable groninges, and causeth vs to crie with confidence: Abba Fa∣ther. By the benifite of prayer therefore wee attaine to those riches which God hath laide vp in store for vs: for thereby we haue fami∣liar accesse to God, and boldlie entering into the sanctuarie of heauen, we put him in mind of his promises: so that nowe by experience we feele and finde that to be true in deede, which by the worde we did before but onely beleeue: nowe we inioy those treasures by prayer, which by faith wee did before but onely beholde in the Gospell of our Lorde Iesus.

Nowe how necessarie and profitable this exercise of prayer is, it appeareth, in that the Lorde himselfe witnesseth our whole saluati∣on to consist in the calling vppon his name, whereby he is wholie present, with vs: name∣ly by his prouidence and fatherly care by the which he watcheth ouer vs: by his power,

by the which he susteineth and succoureth our weakenesse, being euerie moment ready to perish: and by his goodnesse & mercie, by the which he receiueth vs into fauour, being miserablie loadē & pressed downe with sin▪ And hereby groweth singular rest and quiet∣nesse to our conscience. For when wee haue disclosed to him our necessitie, herein wee finde most ioyfull and perfect quietnesse, that none of our euils are hidden from him, whom we are persuaded to be both most willing & also most able to helpe vs.

Now that our prayer may be made in such wise as it ought to be, firste we must see that we be in hearte and minde no otherwise pre∣pared, then becommeth those that enter in∣to talke with God, as we are taught. Eccle. 18. Before thou pray, prepare thy selfe, and be not as one that tempteth God.

We must consider therfore whē we pray, in whose presence we stand, to whō we speak, and what we desire. We stand in the presence of the almightie creator of heauen & earth, and all thinges therein conteined: to whose eternall maiestie innumerable thousandes of Angels doe assist, se••ue and obey We speake vnto him, who knoweth the secretes of our hearts: before whom nothing is more odious then hypocrisie, and dissimulation. We aske

those things which be most to his glorie and the comfort of our consciences. We must therefore diligen••ly endeuour our selues to remoue all such thinges as may offende his diuine maiestie. And first, that we be free from al worldly cares & fleshly cogitations, whereby our mindes are caried hither and thither, & being drawne out of heauen, and from the pure beholding of God, are pressed downe to the earth.

And here let vs call to minde how vnre∣uerently we abuse the great goodnes of God, calling vs into familiar talke with him, when we haue not that reuerent feare of his sa∣cred maiestie, that we woulde haue of an earthly creature or a worldly Prince: but suffering our heartes to be caried away with wandering thoughts and worldly imagina∣tions, are otherwise occupied, and forsake him in the mids of our prayer.

As God is a spirite, so he will be worship∣ped in spirit and truth: that is, in the inward affections of the heart, & with a true, faith∣full and vnfeined kind of worship. And ther∣fore as at all other times he requireth the heart: so specially in the time of prayer, whē we shew our selues in his presence, & enter into communication with him: & therevpon when he promiseth to heare all those that

cal vpon him, he maketh a restreint & saith: that call vpon him in truth. Seing therefore the chiefe dutie of prayer consisteth in the heart, we must with our whole heart poure out our prayers vnto God the searcher of hearts, & with a sincere, vnfained, & ardent affection & opening of our heart before God call vpon him, or else we shall not find him.

Let vs know therefore, that none prepare themselues rightly to prayer, but such as haue a reuerende feare of Gods maiestie, which they cannot haue that come not to it vnburthened of earthly cares & affections. And thi•• is it that is ment in the Scriptures by the lifting vp of handes, that we should remember our selues to be farre off from God, vnlesse we lift vp our heartes & mindes also on high. An therefore it is saide in the Psalme: To thee haue I lift vp my soule. The Scripture vseth also this manner of speach, To lift vp prayer: that they which desire to be heard of God, shold not haue their minds caried away with earthly cogitations & va∣nities. And though it be hard to be so bent to prayer, but that we shall finde that many bie thoughtes will creepe vpon vs to hinder our prayer: yet the more harde it is, the more earnestly wee must wrastle to ouer∣come all lets and hinderances, & labour with

inwarde groninges vnto the Lorde, that he will linke our heartes fast vnto him, and not suffer vs to beledde away from him, by the vayne suggestions of Sathan, who at al times compassing vs about, is neuer more busie, then when we addresse our selues to prayer, secretly and subtilly creeping into our brea∣stes and calling vs backe from God, so that oftentimes, when wee with all reuerence should speake to God, we find our harts, tal∣king with the vanities of the world, or with the foolish imaginations of our owne hearts.

Finally we must be in christian charity, loue, and concorde with all men, seeking vnfai∣ned, hearty, and brotherly reconciliation, if we haue offended any man, before we enter into prayer, or else God will not heare our prayers: yea they are otherwise execrable, & full of damnable hypocrisie in Gods sighte. And this that is spoken of prayer, may be said also of hearing of Gods word, or any other seruice of God.

We must therefore laye aside all malice, enuie, wrath, grudge, contention, wrang∣ling, dissimulation, all guilefull, craftie, and subtile dealing, and with a single hearte doe to other, as we woulde they shoulde doe to vs, Peter willeth, that such as haue once tasted howe good and bounteous the Lorde

is, and are become new creatures by the hea∣uenly regeneration, through the doctrine of the Gospell, shoulde like holy and innocent babes, lay aside all such workes of the flesh, which doe depriue a man of the kingedome of God. And S. Paul commaundeth vs, that laying aside those cursed vvorkes of darknesse, vve shoulde in the stead thereof, put on (euen as the e∣lect of God, holy and beloued) tender mercie, kind∣nesse, humblenesse of minde, meekenesse, long suffe∣ring, forbearing one another, & forgiuing one ano∣ther, if any haue a quarell to another, as Christ for∣gaue vs: and aboue all these things, (saith he) put on loue vvhich is the bonde of perfection, and let the peace of God rule in your heartes. VVhen ye shall stande and pray (saith S. Marke,) forgiue, if ye haue any thing against any mā, that your father also vvhich is in heauen, may forgiue you your tre∣spasses: for if ye vvill not forgiue, your father vvhich is heauen vvill not pardon you your tres∣passes.

Moreouer we must haue such a fe••ling of our owne miserie and wretchednesse, as may worke in vs an earnest sorrowe and vexati∣on of mind for the same. Example whereof we may see in the deare seruauntes of God, when they, say that out of the deepe deepe∣nesse, and out of the middes of the iawes of death, they vtter vnto the Lorde a sorrowfull

voyce. He that desireth mercie, must haue a feeling of his owne miserie, And therefore saith Dauid: Heale my soule O lord, for I haue sinned against thee. There is no health in my flesh (saith he) because of thy displeasure, neither is there any rest in my bones, because of my sinne.

Thi•• anguish and sorrowe, stirreth vp in Gods children a feruent desire to obtaine comfort, helpe, and succour at Gods hand, and therefore such as feele themselues op∣pressed with great calamities, hauing by the helpe of man no hope of deliueraunce, doe crye vnto God with afflicted heartes, as Da∣uid did in his distresse▪ My soule thirsteth for God, euen for the liuing God. And, as the Hart being vvounded, brayeth for the riuers of vvater, so panteth m•• soule after thee, O God.

This is that godly sorrowe which S. Paul saith, worketh in Gods children repentance to saluation. The Lord is nigh to them, saith Dauid, that are of a con••rue heart, & vvill saue all such as are afflicted in spirite. To him vvill I looke, euen vnto him (saith the Lord) that is af∣flicted and broken hearted, and trembleth at my vvordes. Therefore Dauid calleth the time of trouble, the fit and conuenient time for the faithfull to fly vnto God by prayer. And albeit they bee not at all times in like distresse, or continually groaning vnder the

burdē of present euils: yet must thei needs be euer in dread of new daungers, and carefully afraide of further troubles to followe. As trouble and feare therefore are the verie spurs to stir them vp to heartie and feruent prayer: so by occasion thereof, they haue more free accesse vnto God, as though he did thereby call them vnto him.

This godly sorrowe for sinne, and feruent desire and longing for Gods louing mercie and fauour, commeth not of our selues▪ but of the speciall goodnesse of God: for we are of our selues dull & without all lust to pray: yea, so great is our imperfection, that wee know not how to pray as we ought, and therefore the spirite helpeth our infirmitie, instructeth vs what is right, and guideth our affections. He maketh intercession for the Saints (saith S. Paul) according to the vvill of God, and that vvith sighes and groninges vvhich cannot be expressed: that is, he stir••eth vp our heartes, giueth vs a desire and bouldnesse to pray: and causeth vs to mourne when wee are by any meanes hindered from it, and feele not our selues moued therevnto with such feruent zeale & affection as we shoulde be.

Now although we knowe that it is the onely worke of the holy Ghost, thus to moue and incline our hearts to prayer, notwith∣standing

we may not be negligent & sloth∣full to dispose and stirre vp our selues there∣vnto, but rather contrariewise, so often as we feele our selues, colde and not disposed to prayer as we ought to be, we must make our supplication vnto the Lorde, that it woulde please him to inflame vs with his holy spirit, whereby wee maye be framed to pray with such feruencie of minde, as we ought to doe.

When we are cast downe by the sense and feeling of our owne infirmitie, sinne and mi∣serie: Yet must we pray (notwithstanding) in sure and stedfast hope to obteine our re∣questes▪ These be thinges indeed contrarie in shew, to ioyne with the feeling of the iuste vengeance of God, sure affiance of fauour: which things do yet very well agree, in that it is the goodnesse of God onely that raiseth vs vp being oppressed with our owne euils, from the which of our selues wee cannot rise. For as repentance and faith are knit as cōpanion•• together, (albeit the one driueth vs downe with feare, and the other lifteth vs vp againe with comforte) so in praying they must needes goe together. And this a∣greement Dauid expresseth in few wordes. I vvill (saith he) in the multitude of thy mercies en∣ter into thy house, and in the temple of thy holi∣••es, I vvill vvor••hippe thee vvith feare.

Therefore when we are once touched with true repentance and feeling of our own miserie, wee must withall haue such a per∣suasion of Gods fauour and mercie towardes vs in all our prayers, that they shall be ac∣cepted of God so farre foorth as it shall be necessarie for vs. This is the assurance, saith S. Iohn, that vve haue in God, that if vve aske any thing according to his vvill, hee heareth vs. Jf we haue not a sure trust and confidence in the mercie and promises of God, it is vn∣possible to make our prayer to him aright: and whosoeuer doubteth whether God hea∣reth his prayer, that man obteineth nothing: for to such prayers, God hath made no pro∣mise. But contrariewise he saith, VVhat s••e∣ye shall aske in prayeer, if ye beleeue, ye shall re∣ceiue it. And againe: vvhatsoeuer ye desire, be∣leeue that ye shall obteine it, and it shall be done vnto you. Aske saith Saint Iames, in faith, and vvauer not, for hee that vvauereth, is like to the vvaues of the sea, vvhich are tossed of the vvinde and caried avvay. And why shoulde wee wauer or doubt, seeing the holy scrip∣tures testifie of God, that hee is faithfull, iust and true in all his wordes and promises, saying: The Lord is faithfull in all his vvords, he vvill euer be mindefull of his couenaunt: the tr••∣the of the Lorde indureth for euer?

And although our faith be not so strong, and therefore our prayer so hearty and zelous as it ought to be, yea though our faith be faint and colde, yet let vs hold fast this principle, that our prayers are not frustrate or in vaine.

For our comfort herein, we haue an ex∣ample in the father which brought his son, first to the Apostles, & afterwarde to Christ, and saide: If thou canst Lorde, helpe: and yet afterwardes he acknowledged the weake∣nes of his faith▪ & desired to be made strong. I beleeue Lorde (saith he) helpe mine vnbeleefe. Howe often doe the children of God com∣plaine of this imperfection and imbecillitie of faith? Such as are exercised in true pray∣er, doe feele, that in crauing of God the for∣giuenesse of their sinnes, they bring scarce∣ly the tenth part of that sacrifice which Da∣uid speaketh of, where he saith: An accep∣table sacrifice to God, is a troubled spirite: a bro∣ken and an humble heart, O God, thou vvilt not despise. Many times they are driuen to wra∣stle with their owne dulnesse and coldenesse in prayer: many times thier mindes slippe aside and wander away in vanitie: many times they feele not their owne lacke and miserie to pricke them sharpely inough to prayer: yea, and many times they are so bea∣ten downe with the sense and feeling of their

owne sinne and miserie, as though they were forsaken of God, and their faith vtterly ex∣tinguished.

In what horror and anguish of heart was Dauid when he said vnto the Lorde: VVhy doest thou reiect my soule? VVhy hidest thou thy face from me? And againe, Cease from me vntill I goe avvay and be not. Whereby it might seeme, that he (like a desperate man) desireth nothing else, but that the hand of God cea∣sing, ••e might rot in his euils: but it is not so. For he saith it not, for that he woulde haue God to depart from him, as the repro∣bate doe: but onely he complaineth, that the wrath of God vvas too heauie for him to beare. A hard temptation is it, vvhen the faithfull are compelled to crie: Hovve long vvilt thou be angrie against the prayers of thy seruants as though their very prayers made God more angry. So vvhen Ieremy saith, The Lord hath shut out my prayer: no doubt, he vvas shaken vvith a vehemēt pang of temptatiō.

These are the imperfections of Gods chil∣dren, vvhich euen in beleeuing and hoping doe oftentimes vtter, some vnfaithfulnesse, and in the verie remedies fall into nevve di∣seases: for there is no prayer they make, which the Lord would not worthily loath and abhorre, if he should not winke at their

spots and imperfections. And such examples are common in the scriptures. Whereby wee see, that the Lorde often times suffereth his to be greeuously tempted and afflicted, and hideth from them the comfort of his spirite, as though they were cleane forsaken, but to their great consolation in the end.

This is the schole wherein the wisedome of God nurtureth and trieth hir children, as we may see Ecclesi. 4. First she vvill vvalke vvith them (saith he) by croked vvayes, and bring them vnto feare and dread, and torment them vvith her discipline, vntill she haue tried their soules, and haue proued them by her iudgementes: then vvill shee returne the streight vvay vnto them, and comforte them, and shevve them her secretes, and heape vppon them the treasures of knovveledge and vnderstanding of righteous∣nesse. Thus wee see the state of Gods chil∣dren, that when the Lorde hath shewed them what they are of themselues by the sight and horror of their sinnes and terrour of Gods iudgement for the same: then wil he shewe them what they are in Christ, as Esai saith. For a time, a little vvhile I haue forsaken thee, but I vvill gather thee together in vvonder∣full mercies. In a shorte time of vvrath I hide my face a vvhile from thee, but I vvill haue mer∣cie on thee for euer, saith the Lorde thy redeemer.

Such is the louing kindenesse and mercie of God towardes the afflicted, when they are sorie for their sinnes, lamenting and mour∣ning in their hearts to be deliuered from the same, that they might serue God in the free∣dome of conscience.

This is that mourning, this is that hunger and thirste that Christe speaketh of: Blessed are they that mourne, for they shall be comforte: blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righ∣teousnesse▪ for they shall be satisfied.

God for his trueth sake, will put the righ∣teousnesse of Christe on them, and washe their vnrighteousnesse away in his bloode. The brused Reede vvill he not breake, and the smoking flaxe vvill he not quench. The affli∣cted▪ the heauie and broken harted, the vveake and feeble vvill he not forsake: Yea, be they neuer so feeble and fraile, yet so longe as this luste, desire and mourning to be deliue∣red from their sinne and miserie, remayneth in them, God seeth not their sinnes, rekoneth them not, nor la••eth them to their charge, for his true••hes sake and loue to Christ. He is not a sinner in the sight of God, that woulde be no sinner. He that woulde be deliuered, hath his hart loosed already: his heart sinneth not, but mourneth, repen••eth, and consēteth to the law and will of God, & iustifieth God,

that is, he beareth recorde that God which made the law, is righteous and iust: and such an heart trusting in Christs blood, in Christs righteousnesse, is accepted for righteous, and his weakenes, infirmitie and frailtie is par∣doned, and his sinnes not looked vpon, vn∣till God put more strength in him: the in∣crease whereof he shall daylie feele in such sort, that at the length he shall in all troubles be able to say with Dauid: If I shoulde goe through the shadovv and dangers of death, I vvill not feare vvhatsoeuer happen.

Nowe to stirre vp our heartes in conside∣ration of our great miserie and necessitie to a more feruent prayer, the Lord himselfe hath commaunded vs to call vpon him for helpe and succour. Therefore let vs haue the com∣maundementes of God alwayes in our sight touching prayer, and whiles wee pray, let vs call them to our remembrance▪ Aske, seeke, knocke, vvatch, and pray. Call vpon me (saith God) in the day of thy troble. Pray alvvay vvith all maner of prayer and supplication, & vvatch therevnto vvith all diligence. Reioyce alvvaye, pray continually, in all thinges be thankefull: for this is the vvill of God in Christ Iesus tovvardes you▪ Continue in prayer, and vvatch in the same vvith thankesgiuing, Let your requestes be shevv∣ed vnto God in prayer and supplication, vvith

giuing of thankes.

And this we are also no lesse bounde to do by the commandement, whereby we are forbidden to take the name of God in vaine. For in that we are there forbidden to take the name of God in vaine, we are cōmanded also to take and to vse it to his glorie, giuing vnto him the prayse of all goodnesse, helpe, and succour, whiles we aske and looke for the same at his hand. Wherefore except we fly vnto him in our trouble, & necessitie, ex∣cept we cal vpon him for reliefe & soccour, we prouoke his displeasure no lesse, then if we shoulde make vnto our selues Idols, or worship strange gods: for in the contempt of euerie one of the commandemēts, we shewe like contempt and disobedience to the will of God, and all these sentences which com∣maund vs to call vppon God doe apperteine vnto his commaundement: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lorde thy God in vaine, and so prayer is a worke and chiefe seruice be∣longing to this commaundement. We may not therefore thinke that there are no sinnes but Idolatrie, murther, theft, whore∣dome, & such like, but that it is vndoubted∣ly a great sinne also, not to render this ser∣uice to God, that is, not to pray, not to aske, not to looke for helpe from God in our ne∣cessities

not to render thankes for the bene∣fites we haue receiued.

Therefore if our vnworthinesse at any time doe crie out against vs, stoppe or feare vs, in such sort, that our consciēces are asto∣nied and flee from God: if wee doubt whe∣ther God hath respect to our prayers, gro∣nings, and teares, wee must set before our eyes, howe that we are commanded, though we be neuer so vnworthie and our sinnes ne∣uer so many and great, to pray for reconci∣liation, Gods fauour and forgiuenesse of our sinnes. For else, whereas God commandeth vs to abstaine from theft, murder, whore∣dome, &c. we may in like sorte excuse our selues and say, that we are vnworthy to obey Gods commaundementes. Great is our ini∣quitie, and manifest is our contempt and de∣spising of God, when we neglect & delay to call for his help. Such as flee vnto God ther∣fore & call vpō him in their necessities, obey his will, & find therein no small consolation, knowing that thereby they do vnto him most acceptable seruice, for as much as hee pro∣noūceth y^• nothing is to him more accepta∣ble, thē obedience to his wil & cōmandemēt

As wee are commanded of God boldly and without all respect of our owne vnwor∣thines to come vnto him as a mercifull fa∣ther,

and one that knoweth our necessitie, & pittieth out miserie: so hath he promised ve∣rie gratiously to heare vs, and graunt our re∣questes. And hereof riseth yet a farre more comfortable and greater consolation: wher∣in consisteth our whole confidence and trust of obteining succour and mercie at Goods hand. Wherefore he allureth vs w••••h manie sweete promises to call vpon him. Aske, saith he, and ye shall haue: seeke, and ye shall find: knocke, and it shall be opened vnto you. Ye shall crie vnto me, and I vvill heare you: ye shall seeke me & ye shall finde me. Call vpon me in the day of trouble, and I vvill deliuer thee. The Lord is nigh to all them that call vpon him, that call vpon him in trueth: he doeth the vvill of them that feare him, and he vvill heare their prayers. He shall call vppon me, and I vvill heare him: I vvill be vvith him in his trouble, I vvill deliuer him and glorifie him. At the voyce of thy crie hee vvill ••rtainelie haue mercie on thee, vvhen he heareth thee, he vvill ansvvere thee. He that is Lorde ouer all, is rich and bountifull tovvardes them that call vppon him. He vvill fulfill the desire of them that feare him, he vvill heare their crie, & vvill saue them. And God to declare his rea∣dinesse in hearing of sinners, saith: Before they crie I vvill ansvvere, and vvhiles they are yet thinking vvhat to speake, I vvill heare.

Among many sweete promises of GOD, though these might be sufficient to prouoke vs to feruent and heartie prayer, yet there be certaine other notable and most comforta∣ble promises, which we shoulde specially haue in remembrance, as these: If ye vvhich are euill, can giue good giftes to your children, hovv much more shall your heauenly father giue the holy ghost to them that desire him? Consider the olde generation▪ and marke them vvell: vvas there euer any confounded that put his truste in the Lord? or vvho hath continued in his feare and vvas forsaken? or vvhom did he euer dispise that called vpon him? And of all other that is the most notable, which by the Prophet Ioel is added immediatly after the prophesie of that horrible destruction that was at hande, say∣ing: vvhosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lorde, shalbe saued.

HERE let vs consider the order of the promises, which perteine either outwardly to the bodie, or inwardlie to the soul. Which part (the soule I meane) because it is much more precious then the other, we must first craue such thinges as properly belong to the saluation thereof. But first of all confessing our sinnes vnto God with most humble and penitent heartes, let vs set before vs the pro∣mises of remission of the same. For this

sentence is true: God heareth no sinners, that is, such as delight and continue in sin. Wher∣fore in all our prayers, yea, when we be a∣bout to aske any other thinges, whatsoeuer they be, let vs firste thinke of the remission of sinnes, hauing alway in our sight some com∣fortable promises thereof, as this: If vve con∣fesse and acknovvledge our sinnes, he is faithfull and righteous to forgiue our offences, and to cleanse vs from all iniquitie. And herevnto let vs craue the light of the holy ghost, to kindle & con∣firme in vs the true knowledge of God. Let vs pray for the continuance of Gods holie worde and Gospell amongest vs, for the en∣larging of his kingdome, and the aduaun∣cing of his glorie. Let vs begge the gift of faith, repentance, feare, patience, prayer, hope, loue, ioye, peace of conscience, with such other fruites of the spirite, and for euer∣lasting life.

And here also we must remember that we doe not onely call our selues continually to account for our newe sinnes, crauing at Gods hand, mercie and forgiuenes of the same, but also for those sinnes which might seeme to haue beene long ago forgotten: as Dauid ha∣uing confessed an heinous offence, by that occasion returneth euen to his mothers wombe, wherein he had gathered the infec∣tion,

heaping together the sins of his whole life. Euen so in an other place when hee as∣keth an other thing, he saith: Remember not he sinnes of my youth: remember mee according to thy mercie, for thy goodnesse sake, O Lord. Againe, looke vpon mine affliction and trauell, and for∣giue all my sinnes.

When wee haue thus prayed for thinges pertaining to the soule and to the kingdome of God, wee must pray also for corporall be∣nefits, as well common as priuate: as peace & tranquilitie of those countries which giue harborough to the true professours of the gospel & godly congregations, being in this life as Daniel in the midds of the lions. Pray for the peace of Ierusalem, saith Dauid. Also for defence from misery, deliuerance from trou∣ble, for happie successe in the workes of our vocation, for health, liuing, protection of life, goods, name, &c.

And although the Lord knoweth before we aske what we haue need of, & is ready to giue liberally, yea and doth giue often times vndesired: and furthermore hath promised, that seeking first the kingdome of God & the righteousnes thereof, all other things should be giuen vs: yet he commaundeth vs to aske corporall benefits, & that for three causes.

• FIRST, that wee should know that he is

• the authour and giuer thereof, and therefore should not onely be thankefull for the same, but also stirred up, thereby to seeke, loue, and worship him.
• SECONDLY, that we should be well per∣suaded of his good prouidence towardes vs, when wee vnderstand that he doth not one∣ly promise that he will neuer faile vs, but also hath his hand alwaies stretched out to helpe them that cal vpon him.
• THIRDLY, that our faith of reconciliatiō & forgiuenes of sinnes, should bee exercised through the asking of those corporal things.

And herein we must specially & aboue all things seeke the glory of God, & therefore we must pray for these corporall thinges in such sort, that we may offer therwith our o∣bedience vnto God. Hereof we haue exam∣ples of Christ when he saide: father, if it be pos∣sible, let this c••p passe frō me: neuertheles, not as I vvill, but as thou vvilt. With this obedience to the wil of God spake Dauid, when he desi∣red to be brought againe into his kingdome, saying: If I shall find fauour in the sight of the Lord, he vvill bring me againe: but if he shall say vnto mee, thou doest not please mee: I am ready: let him do as it seemeth him good. And Iob saith: though he kill me, yet vvil I put my trust in him.

Therefore for as much as wee do knowe

that it is the lotte of Gods children to be al∣way vnder the crosse, and therefore concer∣ning these corporall benefites, we knowe not how, or what to aske as we ought: wee must herein offer our obedience vnto GOD, abiding his good will and pleasure so longe as it shall seeme good vnto him to exercise vs in the want therof, who suffereth vs som∣time to be afflicted for our chastisement, and for the probation of our continuance, and also that we may receiue with greater glad∣nesse (if to his diuine wisedome it seeme ex∣pedient for vs) that which with ardent de∣sire we long looked for. S. Paul saith, VVhen vve are iudged, vve are chastened of the Lorde, because vve shoulde not be condemeed vvith the vvorld. But whē we pray for spiritual things, we must aske them absolutely and without condition: for therevnto doe perteine the chiefe promises of the Gospell, of the which God woulde haue vs most assured. Verilie, ve∣rily, I say vnto you (saith Christe) he that be∣leeueth in me, hath euerlasting life. As sure as I liue (saith the Lorde) I vvill not the death of a sinner, but that he returne and liue.

To the promises of God we muste ioyne examples, whereby we learne that God hath heard & holpen those that call vpon him. For all deliuerances, whether they be of other

(whereof the scripture is full) or of our sel∣ues (whereof we haue experience) are exam∣ples of Gods promises. Hereby did Dauid comfort himselfe in the anguish and heaui∣nes of his heart, saying: I vvill remember the vvorkes of the Lorde, and call to minde thy vvonders of olde time. Thou hast mightily deliue∣red thy people, euen the sonnes of Iacob and Io∣seph. Againe, I vvil be glad and reioyce in thy mercie: for thou hast seene my trouble, thou hast knovvne my soule in aduersitie. And thus be∣ing warned both by promises and examples, let vs learne to cast our care vpon the Lorde, to call vpon him, and to looke for helpe at his hand: So shall our faith by little and little be more firme & certaine, and our heart shall rest in hope & expectation of Gods helpe.

But for as much as of our selues we are vnworthie to appeare in Gods sight, whose terrible maiestie comming once into our minde, it is impossible, but that we shoulde flie from him as a fearefull iudge: therefore he hath giuen vnto vs a mediatour, euen our Lorde ••esus, that he being a meane betweene GOD and vs, might change the throne of dreadfull glorie into the throne of grace, and that we by his merites hauing accesse vnto God, might haue assured trust to finde grace in his sight. If any man sinne, saith S. Iohn,

vve haue an aduocate vvith the father, Iesus Christ the iust, and he is the Reconciliation for our sinnes. To him saith S. Peter, beare all the Prophets vvitnes, that through his name all that beleeue in him, shall receiue forgiuenesse of their sinnes. By vvhome saith S. Paul, vve haue bold∣nesse and entraunce in all confidence through faith in him. And againe, VVee haue not an high Prieste vvhich can not haue compassion on our infirmities, but vvas in all pointes tempted like as vvee are, sinne execpted: let vs goe boldly therefore vnto the throne of his grace, that vvee may receiue mercie and finde grace to help in time of neede.

And as we are commaunded to call vp∣pon God, and haue a promise also to bee heard: euen so we are commaunded to make our prayers vnto him in the name, faith, and confidence of this our mediatour, and wee haue no promise to be heard without him: in whome are all the promises of God, yea, and Amen, confirmed and fulfilled. And no man commeth to the father, but by the sonne. For he is our mouth whereby wee speake to the father, hee is our eye whereby wee see the father, and hee is our right hande where∣by wee offer our selues to the Father. What¦soeuer therefore wee aske in his name, wee haue a promise to obtaine it. Verily, verily

(saith Christ) I say vnto you, vvhatsoeuer yee shall aske the father in my name, he shall giue it you: in my name, that is, for my sake: your high byshop praying for you. Hitherto ye haue not as∣ked any thing in my name: aske and ye shall re∣ceiue. In that day ye shall aske in my name, and vvhatsoeuer ye aske, I vvill doe, that the Father may be glorified in the Sonne.

Of prayer there be two partes, Petition, and thankesgiuing. By petition wee poure foorth our desires before God, requiring first those thinges that may set foorth his glorie, and then such benefites as are pro∣fitable and necessarie for vs. By giuing of thankes, we prayse and magnifie his bene∣fits bestowed vpon vs, acknowledging that whatsoeuer good thinges we enioie, we haue receiued them of his free goodnes and libe∣ralitie. Therefore Dauid ioyneth these two partes togither in one verse, when he saith: Call vpon me in the day of necessitie: I vvill de∣liuer thee, and thou shalte glorifie me

The scripture commaundeth vs to vse both, and that continually. For our necessi∣tie is so great, our life is so full of troubles and calamities, and so many daungers hange ouer our heades euery moment, that wee haue all cause ynough, yea euen the most holy with sighes and groninges continually

to flye vnto God, and to call vppon him in most humble wise. But this wee may better perceiue in things pertaining to the soule.

For when shall so many great sinnes, whereof wee know our selues guiltie, suffer vs to bee without care and not to craue par∣don of GOD for the same? when will sathan giue vs reast and quietnes? when wil he cease to range about, seeking whome he may de∣stroy? when shall our tentations giue vs∣truce, so that we shall not need to hasten vn∣to GOD for helpe? Finally, the desier of the kingdome and glory of God ought so to drawe vs wholy vnto it, not by fits, but cō∣tinually, that all times should be fit & con∣uenient for vs to pray. Wherefore, not with∣out cause we are so often commaunded to pray continually. And though we be not driuen with like necessitie at al times to pray, yet in this case S. Iames teacheth vs what we ought to doe. Is anie man heauie or afflicted, saith he? Let him pray, that i••, let him craue of God helpe and comfort: & vvho so is merry, let him sing, that is, let him praise God.

Moreouer the benefites and blessings of God, are large and plentifull towards vs, which way so euer we turne vs, that we can neuer want matter and occasion of prayse and thankesgiuing. And seeing wee ought

to acknowledge God to be the authour and giuer of all good thinges▪ we should alway receiue the same at his hand with thankes∣giuing▪ for to that end God continually be∣stoweth his good blessings and benefites v∣pon vs, that we should continually shewe foorth his prayse, and be thankfull vnto him for the same, and so we render v••••o him his due honour. And S. Paul, when he saith, that they are sanctified by the worde and prayer, signifieth, that to vs they are not holy and cleane without the word and prayer; and therefore Dauid saith, when he had felt the liberalitie of the Lorde, that there was put into his mouth a newe song▪ that is, a newe occasion of prayse and thankesgiuing. Wher∣by he signifieth, that it is a wicked silence, if we passe ouer any of Gods benefites with∣out praise▪ seing that as of••ē as he doth good vnto vs, so often he giueth vs occasion to speake good of h••m. We shoulde therefore continually, that is, as much as is possible, at all times, in all places, and in all thinges, as occasions are continually offered vnto vs, lift vp our prayer vnto God in crauing helpe at his hand, and confessing his praise, whereby we may both obteine of him all good thing••, & also praise & magnifie his name for all.

How this perseuerance in prayer is re∣quired

of vs, Christ himselfe teacheth vs by the parable of the three loaues, and of the widowe, and wicked Iudge: wherebie wee are taught to continue in prayer, with all earnestnesse and feruent supplication, and neuer to faint or giue ouer, vntill we be as∣sured in our spirit, that our prayer is heard.

The prayer of the humble, (saith the sonne of Sirach) goeth through the cloudes: it ceaseth not vntill it come neere, and it vvill not departe vntill the most high God haue respect therevn∣to. Beholde saith Dauid, as the eyes of the seruants looke vnto the hande of their maisters, and as the eyes of a maiden vnto the hande of her mistresse: so our eyes vvaite vppon the Lord our God, vn∣till he haue mercie vppon vs. And thus must we not cease to doe, vntill we may bold∣ly say also with Dauid: The Lord hath hearde the vo••ce of my vveeping, the Lorde hath hearde my humble petition, the Lord hath receiued my prayer.

Nowe, concerning the forme and manner of praying, leaste wee shoulde followe our owne fantasie, being of our selues so blinde that we knowe not how to pray, or what is meete and expedient for vs, the Lord him∣selfe hath sufficiently instructed vs: Who as he hath taught vs, throughout the whole scripture, how and for what thinges wee

ought to pray: so hath hee set foorth one manner of prayer, in the which hee hath briefly comprehended all such thinges as wee ought, yea or in any wise may aske of God. Wherein hee hath expressed what is due, pleasing and acceptable to him, what is necessarie for vs, and what hee will graunt: so that there is nothing herein omitted, that might be thought vppon, to the prayse and glory of GOD, or come into the minde of man for his profit and commoditie. And this is that prayer that our Lorde Iesus Christ taught his Disciples: when they asked of him how they should pray.

Whosoeuer therefore shal aske any thing that is not contained in this prayer, they presume to adde some thing of their owne to the wisedome of God, they are not obe∣dient to his will: and they pray without faith, hauing no worde of God to warrante them, and therefore they shall obtaine no∣thing. This praier, saith Tertullian, is the do∣ctrine of the wisedome of God, wherein hee hath taught whatsoeuer hee willed, & wil∣led whatsoeuer was needefull. Albeit we are not so bound to this forme of prayer, that we should not vse any other kinde of words then the Lorde himselfe herein hath vsed. For there are elsewhere set forth in the scrip∣tures,

many prayers farre differing from this in wordes, and yet written by the same spi∣rite, and verie profitable to be vsed of vs. And many prayers also are continually vt∣tered of the faythfull by the same spirite, which varie from the same in wordes. But this is required of vs, that none should looke for, seeke, or aske any other thing at all, then that which is brieflie comprehended in this praye••; and which, though it differ in wordes, yet differeth not in sense and sub∣stance: like as it is certaine that all the pray∣ers which are founde in the scriptures, and which do continually proceede frō the harts of the faithfull, are referred by the direction of Gods spirite vnto this prayer, howsoeuer they differ in the varietie of words.

Many good and godly men, euen in our dayes well exercised in prayer, haue left vn∣to vs most worthie examples and testimonies hereof, furnished with ample and large mat∣ter to forme holy and true prayer, and full of power to inflame the hearte to a feruent inuocation of Gods holy name: whereof we haue giuen here some taste vnto the godly, and especially to the simple, not yet well ex∣ercised.

¶ Reade them, meditate, and pray, and ye shall finde comfort in your soules.

Notes

• Rom. 10.
• Psal. 25.
• Psal. 86.
• 1. Pet. 2.
• Gal. 5.
• Mark. 11.
• Psal. 41. Psal. 38.
• Psal. 41.
• 1. Cor. 7. Psal. 34.
• Psal. 66.
• Psal. 5.
• 1. Iohn. 5▪
• Matth. •••• Mark. 11.
• Iames. 1.
• Marke. 9.
• Psal. 51.
• Psal. 8••.
• Psal. 39.
• Psal. 80.
• Lamen. 3.
• Esai. 54.
• Matth. 5
• Esai. 42.
• Psal. 23.
• Matth. 7. Psal. 40. Ephe. 6.
• 1. Tim. 5.
• Col. 4. Philip. 4.
• Matth. 7.
• Jere. 25.
• Psal. 50. Psal. 145.
• Psal. 91.
• Esai. 65.
• Rom. 8.
• Psal. 145.
• Esai. 6••.
• Luk. 11.
• Ecclus. 2
• 1. Iohn. ••.
• Psal. 51.
• Psal. 25.
• Psal. 122.
• Iosu. 1.
• 2. Reg, 15
• Iob▪ 3.
• 1. Cor. 15
• Iohn. 6.
• Eze. 33.
• Psal. 77.
• Psal. 31.
• 1. Ioh. 2.
• Acts. 10
• Ephe. 5.
• Heb. 4.
• 2. Cor. 1. Luk. 11.
• Iohn. 16.
• Ioh. 14
• Psal. 5
• Lu. 11.18
• Eccle. 35
• Psal. 123.
• Matth. 9. Luke. 11.