Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

VVhat ought to be the gesture of him that praieth?

A diuerse gesture is not prescribed, but yet is described in the scriptures.

The Iewes in time past, did pray somtimes standinga 1.1, but sometime with bowed knees, as Solomonb 1.2, and Christ him∣selfe ^c kneeled downe and praied, as also Peterd 1.3, and Stephene 1.4, Paul also vsed bowing of the knees, Ephes. 3.14. For this cause (saith he) I bowe my knees vnto the father of our lorde Iesus Christ, by which gesture, a lowly subiection, and an empting of our selues before God is signified.

2 Moses lifteth up his handes towardes heauen: and Paul willeth. 1. Tim. 2.8. that pure hands should be lifted vp vnto God: which gesture belongeth vnto children, who do reach their hand to the parents, when they will obtaine any thing, or are suppli∣ant to them. But this cerimonie of lifting vp of handes doth ad∣monish vs, that the heart and senses are to be lifted vpon hie, least they which desire to be heard of God, should abide in their dreggs, as Dauid interpreteth Psal. 86.4.25.1. vnto thee o Lord I lift vp my soule.

f 1.53 Iesus lifting vp his eies praied: which is also a token of the heart lifting vp it selfe vnto god with confidence of hearing: con∣trariwise, the letting downe of the eyes in the publicang 1.6, was a signe of exceeding great demission of the minde.

4 Paul biddeth the man to pray with his head vncouered, to testifie the greater reuerence of God: but the woman with her head couered, for subiection and for modestie sake. 1. Cor. 11.4.

5. There beseemeth also the office of prayers, a voycc, or tongue, both in speaking moderately, and also in singing, either priuate¦ly, or in the church assemblie, so that it followeth affection,

1. Cor, 14.15. I vvill sing vvith the spirit: I vvill sing vvith the vnder∣stāding also. And Ephes. 5.19. And. Col. 3.16. Teaching and admonish∣ing your ovvne selues, in hymnes, psalmes, & spirituall songs, singing & making melodie with a grace in your hearts to the Lorde. So Christ after the supper instituted by himselfe, together with the Apo∣stles did sing a psalmea 1.7, And Plinie the second, in a certaine E∣pistle to Traiane the Emperour, writeth that Christians ac∣customed to sing hymnes to their Christ before break of day. But we must take heede least that, the song be made onely for sweetenesse and the delight of the eares, least that the eares be more bent to the pleasant tuning, then the affections to the spi∣rituall meaning of the wordes, and that neither merit nor the greater parte of Gods worship be placed in singing.

Non vox sed votum, non musica cordula sed cor, Non clamans sed amans cantat in aure dei. For, Its not voice but vote; not musicall harmonie, but heart, Not clamant, but amant, chaunts it in gods holie eare.

Otherwise, the tongue moueth the senses, exerciseth and re∣taineth the minde in thinking of God, and is made speciallie to declare and publish the praise of God, according to that

Affectus cordis, verbis excitatur orantis.

The affection of the heart is stirred vp by the wordes of him that prayeth.

Yet it is not alwaies necessarie. For sometime the best prayers are without voice, so Moses. Exod. 14.15. is said to haue cryed vn∣to God, who yet is not read to haue opened his mouth. So the mouing of the lips of Anna the mother of Samuell is commē∣dedb 1.8, whose speech notwithstanding was not heard, for (as Cy∣prian saith) est Deus non vocis, sed cordis auditor, that is, God is a hearer not of the voice but of the heart. yet notwithstanding the principall vse of the voice, is in publique prayers, for mutuall e∣dification and for the setting forth together of the praise of godc 1.9.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Math, 6.5 Mark. 11, 25
• b 1.2

  1 Kings. 8 54 Dan, 6, 10
• d 1.3

  Luk. 22, 4 Acts, 9.40
• e 1.4

  Act. 7.60
• f 1.5

  Ioh, 11.41.
• g 1.6

  Luk. 18.13
• a 1.7

  Mat. 26.30
• b 1.8

  1. Sam. 2.13
• c 1.9

  Coll. 3.16