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.

ƲƲhich things are contrarie to true prayer?

1 A Pharisaicall opinion of mans owne merits.

2 The hinderances of prayers, as distrust, doubting, and double mindednessea 1.1,* 1.2 crueltie, prideb 1.3, also brawlings or hatreds, among which there is no place for inuocation ^c, surfetting and drunken∣nessed 1.4, corrupt desirese 1.5. Impenitencie, according to that, God heareth not sinners, Iohn. 9. Ambition and vaine glorief 1.6, Hipocri∣sie, Battologie, or vaine babling, and repetition of short prayers. Math. 6, 7. of which fault the breuiaries of the Romanists are guil∣tie, the howers (which they call) canonicall, the rosaries and in∣finite things of like sort.

3 The prayers of hypocrites, who in no measure are touched with the feeling of their sinnes, or sleightly do rehearse praiers for fashion, as if they should pay a taske to God, or yawning doe mumble prayers, but coldlie without meditation and considera∣tion. And of them who account faith and hope in prayers to God for an absurd thing.

4 The errour of inuocation or intercession of Saints, of praiers for the dead, of outlandish and not vndestood speech to bev sed in praiers. 1. Cor. 14.15.

5 Falling downe before Idols and Images, false opinion of merits and the number of prayers: the superstition of them which do thinke that prayers made by themseselues in a certaine place, imagine in this or that chappell, or at this or another time, are more effectuall.

6 Superstitious rites of the dedication of Churches, the vaine and false distinction of religious adoration into 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: whenas 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is termed among the Grecians the same which also is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And Paule when he had said, Rom. 1.9 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (that is, to serue) chap. 16. vers. 18. vsed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which signifieth also to serue.

7 All superstitious, impious, vniust, curious rashly taken in hand, vnprofitable, much more hurtfull prayers are contrarie to the true inuocation of Gods name.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Iam. 1.6.7.8.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• b 1.3

  Esay, 1.15. 1, Pet. 37.
• d 1.4

  Luk. 21 34 & 1. Cor. 7.5
• e 1.5

  Iam 4.3.
• f 1.6

  Mat. 6.5. & 23, 11.