§. Sect. 2 That prayer is the meanes of obtaining all Gods gifts and graces.
Secondly, heereby it appeareth, that prayer is a most excellent and ne∣cessary helpe vnto a godly life, in that we are able to doe nothing without it, but are inabled by it, to doe in some measure whatsoeuer good thing we can desire. For of our selues we are weake and impotent vnto all du∣ties, and all the imaginations of our hearts being continually euill, wee are not able to thinke a good thought, or to entertaine a holy desire; but it is the Lord onely who beginneth, continueth, and perfecteth his worke of grace and sanctification in vs, and inableth vs to returne vnto him those workes of holinesse and righteousnesse, which in respect of ability to per∣forme them, we haue first receiued from him. So that if wee tender vnto him any good duty, we may say with Dauid, Of thine owne haue wee offered vnto thee. Now the meanes which God hath ordained and sanctified for the obtaining of any grace or helpe at his hand, whereby wee may bee strengthened vnto all duties of his seruice, is feruent and earnest prayer, which he hath appointed to be the hand of the soule, to receiue from him all gifts of grace and goodnesse. And though like a bountifull Prince, he offereth liberally vnto vs whatsoeuer we can lawfully desire, yet he will not deliuer his rich gifts to those who hold their hand in their bosome, and will not vouchsafe to put it foorth, that it may receiue them. We are dry and empty cisternes, who haue naturally in vs no drop of grace and goodnesse, but what we receiue from God, who is the inexhaustible foun∣taine of euery good and perfect gift, as the Apostle telleth vs. Now as hee hath appointed Christ to be the Conduit head, so prayer to be (as it were) the Pipe, whereby he will conuay vnto vs these waters of Life, which, if we intermit not, hee will richly replenish vs with all his graces; but if we neglect this holy duty, and yet imagine to receiue any grace or spirituall strength from him, it is all one, as if we should cut off the pipe, and yet imagine to fill the empty cisterne.