oh this people haue done a greate synne and haue made them Goddes of golde Nowe forgyue theÌ„ theyr synne or els wipe me out of this boke that thou hasle wrytteÌ„ S. Paule also wyssted hymselfe to be cursed from Christ for the Israelites Christ commaundeth to blesse theÌ„ that cursse vs to praye for theÌ„ that do vs wroÌ„ge persecute vs howe much more than ought we seynge ther is one boâ—y one spirite one LORDE one sayth one baptisme one God father of vs all to praye one for another generally in the vnite of the spiryte thorowe the bond of peace If we search in the Histories of the moost sacred Byble we shal in manny places fynde and euidently perceyue with howe gredy affeccion and feruent minde one prayed for another so y e there was in theyr prayers a certayne godly coÌ„munion a lâ—ke thought or care for all meÌ„ For as he that loueth y e father of y e house holde vnfaynedly doth also loue her tely all his whole familye so in lyke manner they that loue our celestial father with a true affecte mynde can none otherwise do but loue also his people his householde his heritage whom he hath so greatly honored y e he hathe not disdayned to call them the plenitude fulnesse of hys onlye begotten sonne Therfore the prayer of a Christen man oughte on such maÌ„ner to be made that it may be common coÌ„prehende in it all meÌ„ that are his brothers in Christ and pertayne to the housholde of fayth Yea he ought to praye for all men lyuyng in this world be they Turkes SaraceÌ„nes Iewes or ony other of the hethenysh vnfaythfull sorte y e God maye delyuer them by this holy spiryte out of the darkenesses of ygnorancy brynge them into y e meruaylous lyghte of his mooste blessed worde that in the vnite of the Spirite they maye also confesse with vs one LORDE one God one sauyoure one faythe one Christen religion one trueth But some men wyll say peradueÌ„ture is it not lawefull for a man to praye seuerally for himselfe for his owne priuate affayres Yies verely so that the mynde be not vtterly deflected turned awaye from the coÌ„templacion of this coÌ„munite but referreth all thynges vnto that For Christ prayed perticularely for hymselfe vnto hys Father a lytle before his passion Ezechias prayed for his owne health Dauid prayed for the remission of his synne The Publycane desyred mercy forgyuenes of his offence The these desyred Christ to remember hym whan he came in to his kyngedome All theise prayed theyr owne priuate affayres were hearde Semblably it is lawfull for euery Christen man to lamente his owne cause before the mercyful eies of the diuyne maieste Arte thou a magistrate gouernoure of the common weale perceyuynge that thou wanteste wisdome to gouerne the people of God aright accordyng to iustyce Than mayst thou lawfully pray w t Salomon to God for the gyfte of wisdome Arte thou a minister of Goddes worde so mayst thou after the example of the Apostles pray for the influence of the holy Ghost that y e mayst be repleted with the knowledge of spiritual thynges so feed the flocke of Christ whome he hath purchased w e his moost precious bloud that thou mayst receiue y e iÌ„marcessible crowne of glory whan that Prynce of shepe heardes shall appeare Arte y â— an housholder thaÌ„ mayst thou lawefullye praye vnto God for grace that thou mayst gouerne and rule thy family accordynge to Goddes moost holy worde Arte thou a rytch man thaÌ„ oughtest thou for to pray vnto God that thou mayeste distribute his goodes coÌ„mytted vnto the accordyng to his pleasure vpon the poore people Arte thou poore than pray to God that thou mayst paciently suffer the crosse of pouerte which he hath layd vpon the. Felest thou ony vyce to raygne in the â–ª So mayeste thou be â—olde to praye vnto GOD for the suppression of that vyce and for the obtaynynge of y e vertue coÌ„trary to the vyce To be shorte arte thou a ChristeÌ„ man So mayst thou at al tymes be bolde to praye that God maye so endewe the with strength from aboue that thou mayst lyue in all poyntes accordynge to thy profession ¶ The. xxxi Chapter BUt in thus prayenge for our selues we must take hede that we desyre not those thiÌ„ges which should turne to oure owne priuate auauntage to the hynderaunce or discoÌ„moditie of other For this is not acceptable in y e syght of God The chyldren of Zebedeus desyred Christe y e one of them might sitte on his right hande another on his lyfte hande But Christ answered and sayde ye knowe not what ye aske They desyred the primacy to be alofte in superioryte aboue aâ— y e disciples which made the other to haue indignacion at them bâ— the. That Peticion therfore is not lawefull nor ryghteous whiche hathe a respecte more to pryuate auauntage theÌ„ to publique vtâ— lite As yf a Phisicion shoulde praye that many might faull sycke or that they that are sycke myght so contynue longe that he myghte haue the more auauÌ„tage Or yf an heyre dyd praye that his parentes myght dye wortly that y e heritage myght quickely chaunse vnto hym Or yf a wicked Souldiour dyd desyre that many temples might be spoyled and diuers honest men robbed y e he myght come home looden with proyes and robberies These such lyke requestes in as muche as they come for the from the fleshe and not froÌ„ the spiryte God whiche is a spiryte dothe not heare theÌ„ as S. Iames sayth ye aske and receyue not bycause ye aske euell y e ye maye consume it on your pleasures And yf he heareth certes he heareth vnto the great euell incoÌ„moditie of them y e praye For they store vppe prouoke the anger of God towarde them S. Austen sayth thiÌ„ke it no great thyng to be herd at your owne wyll but rather thyncke it a great thynge to be heard vnto your profytte For the dyuels were herde at theyr owne wyl were suffred to go into y e swyne accordyng to theyr desyre Theyr Prynce also the diuell was heard at his owne wyll whiche desyred to haue Iob to tempt him The Israelites also were hearde at theyr owne wyll whan the meate was yet in theyr mouthe ye knowe what thynges followed Thyncke it therfore no great thynge to be heard at youre owne wyll pleasure For God sometyme beynge angrye gyueth that which thou askest God beynge mercyfull well pleased denyeth that which thou askest But yet is theyr prayer much more wicked which beyng enflamed with the fyre of malicious fury furious malyce do desyre euell to theÌ„ selues that worse maye chauÌ„se vnto theyr brother whome they hate Yea there want not which
herte vnto God he was hearde For the LORDE God sayd vnto him â–ª What cryest y u vnto me â–ª His cryeng was not the voice of the mouth but the affeccion of the herte He cryed w t a pure mynde to God therfore was he hearde though the mouthe kepte sylence In lyke maner Anne the wyfe of Helcana when she had ben long baren w tout fruyte prayed God that he woulde take awaye from her opprobry and shame and gyue her chyldreÌ„ wich thynge she obtayned And yet sayth the scripture she spake in her herte Her lippes only moued but her voyce was hearde nothynge at all Mary Magdalene also prayed not wyth her lyppes mouthe when she wasshed Christes fete w t y â— teares of her eyes wyped them with the heere of her head kyssynge annoynted theÌ„ full tenderly in the house of Symon the Pharyse she only lameÌ„ted in her herte her synfull lyuynge dissolute coÌ„uersacion desyryng in her mynde to haue remission of her synnes she hearde this swete voyce of Christ. Her synnes are forgyneÌ„ her bicause she hath loued much â—ea immediatly after Christ sayde to her Thy fayth hath saued the go thy way iÌ„ peace ChristeÌ„ also the selfe trueth wisdom of his father sayd to the woman of Samaria whan they talked togyther of worshyppyng God Woman beleue me the hour coÌ„meth whan neyther in this mountayne nor yet at Ierusalem ye shall worship the father â—e worshyp that ye knowe not we worshyp that we knowe For helth is of the Iewes But the houre coÌ„meth nowe it is whan the true worshyppers shall worshyp the father in spirite trueth For the father sekethe such y t shoulde worshyp hym God is a spirite they that worshyp hym must worshyp hiÌ„ in spiryte trueth Here christ which is y â— very trueth can not lye sheweth vs two notable thynges One that God his father is a spirite another that as he is a spiryte so wyll he be worshypped in the spirite who perceyueth not thaÌ„ that it is the Spirite the herte the mynde I meane the inwarde spirituall man that must worshyp God â–ª It is a common sayeng among vs lyke wyll to lyke And euery one desyreth suche as he is hiÌ„selfe Trueth it is Now is God a spirite therfore requireth he a spirituall manner of worshyppynge which doubtles procedeth from the herte not from y â— steÌ„toreous voyce of the mouth The pure affeccion of the herte not the whysperynge noyse of y â— lyppes doth God requyre God which is the searcher of the herte seaketh to be worshypped in the herte as he sayth by SalomoÌ„ sonne gyue me thy herte Moreouer S. Paule sayth God is my witnes whom I worshyp in my spirite In my spirite sayth he and not in the vnfruytefull bablyng of my lyppes Agayne Speake amoÌ„g yourselues in Psalmes Hymnes spirituall songes syngyng and makynge melody in youre hertes to the LORDE Lostyll he maketh mencion of the herte wyllynge y â— all prayses songes melody be done in our hertes to y e LORD our God As though he shoulde saye all that euer is done w tout the herte is vayne vnfruytefull yea playne abhominacion before God rather workynge daÌ„nacioÌ„ then saluacion to the doers of it as Christ sayeth This people honoure me w t theyr lyppes but theyr herte is farre from me Uerely they worshyp me in vayne Thus se we proued by the scripture that Prayer is the worke of the herte of the spiryte of the mynde not of mouth lyppes But let vs heare what the Doctors saye to this matter ¶ The fyfte Chapter SAynt Cipriane y â— blessed martyre sayth which Fulgentius also recyteth that God is not the hearer of the voyce but of the herte neyther is he to be admonysshed w t exclamacions outecryes whiche seeth the thoughtes as the LORDE proueth sayth what do ye thinke wyckednes in youre hartes â–ª in another place All congregacions shall know that I am the searcher of the raynes and harte that is to saye of the inward parte Also S. Ambrose sayeth take hede that thou doste not babble out rasshely the mysteries of the Crede or of the LORDES prayer Doste thou not knowe howe greuous a thynge it is to heape vppe synne in Prayer where thou trusteste to haue remedy â–ª Certes y â— LORDE taught by the Prophet y e this is a greuous cursse sayeng His praier is becoÌ„e eueÌ„ very synne Excepte peraduenture thou recouÌ„test it but a tryfle to mistrust It is surely a great incredulite and vnfaythfulnes to thynke thus of y â— power of God y â— thou canste not be heard excepte thou cryest oute Let thy worke crye let thy fayth cry let thy mynde crye let thy passions and suffrynges cry let thy bloud as the bloud of holy Abell cry wherof god sayde to Caym the voyce of thy brothers bloud cry vnto me For he heareth in secrete which maketh cleane in secrete We can not heare a maÌ„ excepte he speaketh vnto vs but vnto God not wordes but thoughtes do speake Agayne S. Gregory sayth vndoubtedly true prayer consysteth not in the voyce of the mouthe but in the thoughtes of the herte For our wordes do not make the voyces the more pythethy and valeaunt to come vnto the moost secrete eares of God but our desyre and affeccions Therfore sayth the LORDE in y â— Gospell Enter into thy closet sparre thy dore He sparreth y â— dore prayeth in his closet whiche holdeth his peace w t his mouth powreth oute the affeccioÌ„ of his mynde in y â— syghte of God aboue Moreouer S. AusteÌ„ â—ayeth Thou knowest I am sure y â— â—t is commaunded vs for none other thynge that we should praye in our closettes â–ª being sparred wherby the secrete partes of the mynde are signifyed but that God seaketh not to be monyshed or taught by oure speakynge of that thynge whiche we coâ—uyt that he shoulde gyue vs. For he that speaketh gyueth outwardely a sygne or token of his wyl by some articulate playne euidente sounde But God is both to be soughte to be prayed vnto euen in the very secrete partes of a reasonable soule whiche is called the inward maÌ„ For he wylleth that these be his TeÌ„ples Wherfore we nede no speakyng wheÌ„â—â—e praye that is to saye no wordes that shall make any sounde excepte peraduenture as y â— prestes do for to vtter theyr mynde not y â— God but that man shoulde heare theÌ„ wyth a certayne consent be drawen to coÌ„teÌ„placion by remeÌ„brynge theÌ„ Hereâ— to agreeth the sayeÌ„g of S. Jeromeâ— we ought sayth he to syng to make melody to prayse y e LORDE rather in mynde then in voyce And this is it that is sayd syngynge makyng melody to the LORDE â— your hertes Let yong men heare these thyrâ—ges
yea let them heare whose offyce it is to syng in y â— Chyrch that they must singe to God not in the voyce but in the herte neither must theyr throte chawes be annoynted after y â— maner of Gameplayers w t swete oyntementes that in the chyrch syngyng more fytte for game places shoulde be hearde but in feare in worke in knowledge of the scriptures ought they to synge vnto the â—ORDE Drigen also sayeth God in prayer doth not so much weye ponder our wordes as he doth the herte y e mynde â–ª For he it is whyche searchethe thâ— hertes and the raynes Although I coulde reherse many no notable sayeÌ„ges of these other Doctors which proue manifestly y e â—rayer is not the worke of y e mouth â—ut of the herte not of y e voyce but â—f y e thought not of y e lyppes but of â—he mynde yet these at this present â—aye seme aboundantly to satisfye â—eyther do I recyte y e testymonies â—f y e old fathers to confyrine make â—ur matter the more stronge which â—redy is sufficiently establysshed by â—he holy Scriptures neyther nede â—hey the confyrmacion of any manâ—es doctryne whiche of them selues â—ught to be beleued without hesitaâ—on or doubtynge of the faythefull â— asmuch as they be y â— Oracles in â—llible spechâ—â— of God in whome al â—ecessary trueth for our saluacioÌ„ is â—prehended without the authoriâ— wherof all that euer is taught or â—ritten be but mere fantasies hâ—â—ayne inuencions but I haue called the holy catholyke Doctors tâ— witnes bicause they reach the samâ— thynge y t the Scripture dothe tâ— stop the mouthes of certayne wycked ignoraÌ„t persons which thickâ— no trueth to be trueth except by mâ—nes authoritie it be establyshed anâ— that men seyng hearyng the iudgâ—ment of such as are learned shouldâ— be the more redy to cast away theyâ— Hypocrisye accoÌ„modate theÌ„ selues to the true maner of worshyppyngâ— and prayeng to our LORDE God ¶ The syxte Chapter VUell of these thynges thaÌ„â— heretofore rehearsed is it easye to lerne that such as wyll pray to God with fruyte must praye in herte in spirite in mynde in thought in affeccion in the soule in the inwardâ— man or els the noyse of the mouth â— muÌ„blynge of the lippes the roryngâ— of the throte the shakynge of y e head the knockynge on the brest the kneâ—lynge on the ground what soeuer canne be rekened more is vayne vn fruytful nothyng to y â— purpose rather bryngynge damnacion then saluacioÌ„ as we haue heard heretofore What is than to be thoughte of such personnes which whaÌ„ they are in the teÌ„ple or els where neuer leue â—ablynge theyr myndes beynge vtterly drawen from theyr prayers altogyther set vpon transitory and wordely thynges â–ª Some streatche â—ut theyr prayers into an innumerable noÌ„ber of leaues thynkynge so to do God an hygh sacrifyce Some also vpon theyr bedes taly vp I caÌ„not tel howe many Lady Psalters â—heynge perswaded y e by that menes they shall se our Lady corporally before they dye that whan they are once dead our lady all the. xi M virgins w t other saintes mo whose nomber is infinyte shall mete wyth theÌ„ euery one hauyng in theyr handes a brennynge taper of waâ—e so receyue theÌ„ ito glory puttynge vpoÌ„ theyr heades a crowne of golde garnysshed I can not tell you w t howe many red Roses Some agayn worshyp dayely a great nomber of sayntes euery one hauige to theyr parte an hundred Pater nosters wyth as many Aues besydes y e Credes and that for diuers causes These thynges be more openly knowen than y e they nede here to be rehersed except we be so blynde that we wyll se nothynge so ignorant that we wyll nothyng knowe I feare greatly vnlesse that may iustly be spokeÌ„ of such vayne bablers whiche is spoken by the Prophet Esay rehersed of our sauiour Iesus Christ in the Gospel of Mathewe This people sayth he honoreth me with theyr lyppes but theyr herte is far from me Uerelye they worshyppe me in vayne Yea I feare vnlesse that they thorow such vnfaythfull bablyng do acumulate heape vp to them selues the greater daâ—acion as Christ wytnesseth in the Gospell Wo be to you Scribes Pharises Hypocrites sayethe Christ which eate the houses of wydowes yea and y e vnder the pretext of longe Prayer For this shal ye be punyshed y e more greuously Agayn he sayeth Beware of the Scribes whiche haue a pleasure to walke in longe roobes loue to be saluted in the Markettes to haue the chefe preminence in the Synagoges and the hygh seates at feastes which deuour y e houses of wydomes fayning outewardely longe Prayers They shall receyue the greater damnacioÌ„ If we shall at the daye of iudgemeÌ„t render an accountes of euerye ydle worde y t we speake as the holy scripture testifyeth what is then to be thought of those wordes whiche we vnfruitfully waste wheÌ„ we pretend outwardly to pray yet inwardly haue our myndes entaÌ„gled w t y e care of worldly thiÌ„ges or els entysed froÌ„ the affeccioÌ„ of prayer with vayne cogitacions of thynges carnall It is to be feared vnlesse we iÌ„curre run into greater damnacion then they which praye nothynge at all For is suche prayer any other thynge than playne mockynge of God â–ª Our external pretext is as though we praied and desyred to haue our prayers heard of God but iÌ„ dede our maner of prayeng is nothyng els I speke of the vnfruytfull bablers but only a desyrynge of God that he shoulde heare vs our prayers nothyng at al seyng we our selues do not heare them nor yet mynde them in oure hertes yea we desyre hiÌ„ that he wyl take vengeaunce on vs for our mockyng ydle bablyng And this is it that S. Ambrose sayth take hede y â— thou doste not bable oute rashly the misteries of the Crede of the LORDES prayer Doste thou not knowe howe greuous a thyng it is in prayer for to heap vp synne where thou trustest to haue remedye â–ª Certes y â— LORD taught by y e Prophet that it is a greuous cursse sayeÌ„g His prayer is become to hym euen very syn â— Gregory also saith Simulata sanctitas est duplex iniquitas Fayned holynes is double iniquite To praye nothyng at al is iniquite playne synne but to pretende outwardly an holy maner of prayenge yet not praye in dede in our hertes is double iniquite encreaseth much daÌ„nacioÌ„ vnto vs as we haue hearde heretofore in asmuch as we are dissemblers both before God maÌ„ But let vs heare what S. John Chrisostome sayeth Many coÌ„mynge into the chyrch do extende streytch out theyr prayer vnto a thousand verses as though the multitude of wordes were nedeful vnto God as vnto one that doth not knowe what y â— arest which knoweth
that he also consydereth the moost louynge gentle bounteous promises of God in the which he promyseth for to heare vs to graunte vs oure peticions For what doth it profyt for to aske not to obtayne If God had only cōmaunded vs to praye and not also promysed for to heare vs gentelly to gyue vs oure desyres what greate pleasure had he done for vs what had he done for the which we had nede once to saye LORDE God a mercy What syngulare benefite had we receyued of hi But although y e Cōmaundement to pray putteth vs i good confort yet whā we are promysed also graciously to be heard this maketh vs vnfainedly to reioyce seriouslye to tryumph This maketh vs to put oure of oure herte all doloure sadnes to be replete with all myrthe gladnes The promyses of God brynge quietnes to the conscience huarite to the herte tranquilitie peace to the soule No man is able to expresse howe much howe great ioye lyeth buried vp in the diuyne promises how feruent consolacion the synner taketh by the hearyng of thē What ioye thynke ye was thys vnto Adā for to heare after his offence that y e sonne of GOD should be borne of a pure mayde tread downe the Serpētes head that is subdue Satā deliuer Adam w t all his posterite frō his tyranny bryng thē agayne into the fauoure of God make thē heyres of eternall glory What cōforte I praye you was this to faythefull Abrahā for to heare that in his seed all nacious of the earthe shoulde be blessed What a great pleasure was this to y e Israelites whē they were greuously stynged slayne of the fyry serpentes for theyr disobedience to heare this promyse of God make a brasē serpēt set it vp for a signe He that is stryken loketh vpon it shall lyue What exceadyng cōforte receyued Iosue by thys promyse of God vnto him I wyll not leaue the neyther wyll I forsake the. Be therfore strōge take a good herte vnto the As I maye come nerer to oure matter howe much ioye consolaciō pleasure haue the faythfull fealte of this one promyse of God Euerye one that callethe on the name of the LORDE shall be saued Therfore in this behalfe the promises of God must be earnestly wayed pondered consydered In them must we reste dailye as in a moost pleasaūt Herboure In thē must we repose oure selues In them must be all oure delyghte pleasure felicite The chefe promises concernynge Prayer are these Delyghte thou in the LORDE he shall giue the the peticiōs of thy herte Call on me sayth God in the daye of thy trouble I wyll delyuer the and thou shalte honour me Agayne he sayth Seynge that he hath put his truste in me I wyll delyuer hym I wyll defende hym in asmuche as he hath knowen my name He cryed vnto me and I wyll graciously heare hym I am w e hym in tribulacion I wyll delyuer hym glorify hym With the length of dayes wyll I replenysh hym and shewe hym my sauynge helth Christ also saith Come vnto me all ye that labour are laden I shall refresh you Euery one that is a thyrste let hym come to me drynke Agayne aske it shall be gyuen you Seke ye shall fynde Knocke it shall be opened vnto you For euery one that asketh receyueth he that seketh fyndeth to hym y e knocketh it shal be opened If the sone asketh breade of ony of you whiche is his father wyl ye profer him a stone or yf he asketh fysh wyll ye gyue hym a Serpent or yf he aske an Egge wyll ye profer hym a Scorpion If ye than which are euell know howe to gyue good gyftes to your chyldren howe much more shall your father celestiall gyue the holy ghost to them that desyre it of hym These suche lyke promises of God must he that intēdeth to pray set before his eyes that he cōforted with the remembraunce of them maye with the more frācke courage gyue himselfe to godly and deuout prayer at all tymes ¶ The .xvi. Chapter FOurthly when he hath on this maner confyrmed establyshed his mynde with the contēplacion beholdynge of the diuyne promises he maye not dout any thynge at all of them but faythfully beleue vndoutedly perswade hymselfe y e they are true in asmuch as they are the promises not of man but of GOD which cā not lye whiche is true yea whiche is the selfe trueth whiche is faythfull in all his wordes holy in al his workes whose worde trueth also abyde for euer and euer For though God be neuer so mercyfull bounteous in gyftes yet yf we do not beleue that his mercy bounte pertayne also to vs we are neuer y e better Let it so be that whā a tray tour for his offence cōmitted agenst the Kynges maiesty flyeth beyonde the sees into a straung countrey by cause he wyll eschewe the daunger of the lawe escape y e payne due for his offence the Kynges grace hathe pitie on hym pardon his faulte and sende ouer his letters vnto hym wherī is declared the kynges great mercy gentlenes toward him and wylleth hym to returne into his natyue countre there agayne to enioye the benefytes of the same of all other that he possessed before yea that with no lesse fauoure than he dydde in tymes paste whan he was mooste estraunged from that faulte of treason yf the Traytour not beleuynge the wordes of the moost gracious free pardon woulde contēne despyse it recountyng it to be but a vayne gloose of no trueth what should the kynges gentlenes in this behalfe profytte hym The kynge is mercyfull but the traytoure is vnfaythfull Therfore receyueth he no commoditie by the kynges pardon And yet is not the faulte in y e kyng but in the traytour which beleueth not that glad and merye tydynges Agayne Be it in case that a cunnyng learned Phisiciō come vnto a sycke man promisynge hym helpe delyueraunce of his dysease yet yf the sycke parsō beleueth hym not but setteth nought by hym despyseth his medicines what doth it profytte him What is he holpen by the presence of the Phisiciō be he neuer so cūnynge What doth the redines of helpe profyt him yf he refuseth to take enioye it Uerely nothyng at all In lyke maner be God neuer so mercyfull boūteous neuer so redy to helpe vs yet yf we beleue hym not to be so his mercye bounty and assistēce profyt vs nothynge at all The Psalmograph sayeth not only the LORDE is nygh to all that cal on hym but he addeth to al that call on hym in trueth What is it to call on God in trueth but to beleue earnestly that
vnto deathe Dyd not Ieremye praye vnto God when he was in prysonne Dyd not Christ customably praye on y e mountaynes in the feld Dyd he not pray in the gardyns Dyd he not praye hangynge vpon the crosse Dyd not Stephen pray to God whaÌ„ ne was stoned vnto death Dyd not y e Apostles wyth certayne women Mari the mother of Iesu his brothers praye togither after Christes ascencion in a parloure Dyd not Cornelius the Centurion pray at home in his house Dyd not Peter praye in the ouer parte of the house of Symon the CaÌ„ner Dyd not Paule w t his coÌ„panyons praye in dyuers places as cities townes felde s see baÌ„ckes shyppes prysons c Were not all these heard yes verely theyr peticions graunted them mercifully What do we learne of all these Histories Certes that a faythfull christian is bouÌ„d to no place Wher soeuer a faithful maÌ„ prayeth he shal vndoutedly beheard Christ sayd to the womaÌ„ of Samaria WomaÌ„ beleue me y e houre coÌ„meth whaÌ„ neither in this mountayne nor at IerusaleÌ„ ye shall worshyp the Father Ye worshyp ye knowe not what We worshyp that we knowe For helth is of the Iues. But the houre coÌ„meth nowe it is whaÌ„ true worshyppers shall worship the father in spiryte trueth For y e father also seketh suche y e maye worshyp hym For God is a spiryte and they that worshyp hym muste worshyp him in spirite trueth Saynt Paule also sayth I wyll that men praye in euery place lyftynge vppepure handes wythout wrath conteÌ„cion But let vs heare what Chrisostome sayth ¶ The. xxiii Chapter LEt vs not excuse our selues sayenge that it is no easye thynge for a man beynge entaÌ„gled w t worldly businesses to praye seynge that he hath no oratory nor house fytte for prayer nygh vnto hym For wher so euer thou be thou mayst make and appoynt thyne altare For the place hyndereth nothynge neyther dothe the tyme let but though thou doste not bowe thy knees nor knocke thy brest nor stretche out thy handes to heauen yet mayst thou pray aright make thy prayer perfecte so that thou only shewest bryngest forth a ferueÌ„t mynde For thou mayst whaÌ„ thou goest vnto markette walkest by thy selfe alone make longe prayers Thou mayst also syttynge iÌ„ thy shoppe sowynge skynnes dedicate thy soule vnto the LORDE The seruaunt also that byeth or goeth vp downe the Cooke doyng his office whan he can not go to chyrche may make a prayer longe discrete For God disdaineth not the place but requyreth one thynge that is to saye a feruent mynde a pure soule For Paule also not in an Oratory but in the prison lyenge wyde open nor stondynge ryghte vp nor bowynge his knees for the clogge wherwyth his feete were bound dyd not suffer hym yet seynge that he lyenge prayed feruently he shaked the prysonne vnlosoned the foundacions dydde bynd the keper of the pryson afterward brought hym vnto holy religion And Ezechias not stoÌ„ding right vp nor bowynge hys knees but lyeng wyde open in his bedde bycause of his syckenes whaÌ„ he turned hymselfe vnto the wall in asmuche as he called vpon God feruently wyth a pure soule he both called agayne the sentence pronouÌ„ced obtayned much beneuolence was restored to hys olde helth And the these beyng stretched out vpon the crosse wyth fewe wordes purchased the heaueÌ„ly kyngdome And Ieremy in the myre and lake Daniel in the prysone and amonge the wylde beastes And Ionas in the belly of a whale prayeng vnto God dyd both dissolue all maner of euels wherwith they were beseged coÌ„passed set about and also found fauoure at the hande of God what than oughteste thou to saye when thou prayest Uerely euen the same thynge that the woman of Canane dyd For eueÌ„ as she sayd Haue meroye on me my doughter is greuously vexed of a dyuell so say thou lykewyse haue mercye vpon me my soule is very greuously vexed of a diuell For synne is a great dyuell she y â— had the dyuell dyd fynde mercy yet was she hated whaÌ„ she dyd syn Haue mercy on me is but a short saienge yet doth it contayns an whole see of mercy For wher soeuer mercy is ther are all good thiÌ„ges Though thou be without the chyrch cry sayeng haue mercy on me though thou dost not moue thy lyppes but onlye crye in thy mynde For God also heareth them that holde theyr peace Ther is no place to be sought but a begynnyng of a place Ieremy was in the myre he made God bounteous vnto hym by prayer Iob was on y e dunge hyll he made God mercyfull vnto hym Ionas was in the whales bellye he had God gentle to hym Though thou be in a vayne praye Wher so euer thou be praye Thou arte the temple seke no place The see was before the Iewes and the Egipcians behynd at theyr backes Moses in the myddes speking nothynge for he was greatlye troubled in his prayer yet sayd God vnto hym what cryest thou to me In lyke maner thou therfore whan soeuer temptacion shal come vpon the flye vnto God call on the LORDE Is he a maÌ„ that thou shouldest seke after a place God is euer at hande For thou yet spekynge he wyll say Beholde here I am presente Thou hast not yet made thy praier and he bryngethe helpe For yf thou haste a mynde pure from vncleane mocioÌ„s though thou be in the market or in way or in the consystory or in y e see or in the ynne or in the shyppe or in onye other place of the worlde loke where so euer thou calleste on God there mayest y u obtayne thy peticioÌ„ Hytherto haue I rehersed y e wordes of S. John Chrisostome Lyke vnto this wryteth Sayncte AusteÌ„ sayenge Why dost y u seke for a fytte and holy place whan thou shouldest make thy supplicacioÌ„ to God make cleane thy inward partes all eueâ— lustes expulsed from thence prepare thy selfe a secrete place in the peace of thy herte Thou wyllyng to pray in the temple praye in thy selfe and so behaue thy selfe alway that thou mayste be the teÌ„ple of God For God heareth there where he dwelleth Thus seâ—we both by the authoryte of the holy scriptures the auncient fathers that a faythfull Chrysten man may praye lawfully in euery place in asmuch as he is the temple of God as S. Paule sayeth Do ye not knowe that ye are the TeÌ„ple of God the spiryte of God dwelleth in you The Temple of God is holy which you are And this is it y e christ sayth Whan thou shalt praye enter into thy closette the dore sparred praye to thy father whiche is in secrete Therfore let hym y e shall pray nothynge feare to praye vnto God in euery place boldly wyth this perswasion y â— God wil heare hiÌ„