I answer: True it is that every action of a Christian man is to be sanctified by prayer either general or special, but not every action with every sort and manner of petition or prayer. A man may pray for his recreations, that he may carry himself csoberly and without offence in them, and that even by them he may be the better fitted for better things: and such prayer is sufficient to sanctify them to him conceived either in general or in special, as he findeth and feeleth his heart affected, and as occasions and circumstances either admit or require it. This then in game ought to be a mans general desire, which he may also by prayer lawfully impart to God, if he please. Beside which other again more particular desires a man may have also in game, as to win rather then to loose, to overcome rather then to be conquered; neither are such desires evil, so they be moderate; (for they are idle and frivolous, yea dangerous where they grow excessive and immoderate, being other then befitteth the nature of that which they concern) yet are they not such as it is seemly to acquaint God withal. For the better conceiving whereof consider we thus much: that devery desire is not by and by a prayer; albeit every prayer ordinarily import some desire; neither is every lawful desire a fit matter for prayer. For prayer is a wish or desire of the heart directed unto God. But many things we desire and may lawfully desire, which yet are not matters of that moment as may ⟨p. 261⟩be fit to acquaint God in particular with our desire of them, or to direct our petitions in special manner to him for them; much less to expect or require at Gods hand any special work or help of his for the effecting of them. And of this kind are those latter sort of desires; of which to say therefore in game, I pray God I may win, or, I would to God I might have such a card, or such a cast, is too too much presumptuousness, and will not well stand with that reverent respect that each one of us oweth to Gods majesty.
I answere: True it is that euery action of a Christian man is to be sanctified by praier either generall or speciall, but not euery action with euery sort and manner of petition or praier. A man may pray for his recreations, that he may cary himselfe csoberly and without offence in them, and that euen by them he may be the better fitted for better things: and such praier is sufficient to sanctifie them to him conceiued either in generall or in speciall, as he findeth and feeleth his heart affected, and as occasions and circumstances either admit or require it. This then in game ought to be a mans generall desire, which he may also by praier lawfully impart to God, if hee please. Beside which other againe more particular desires a man may haue also in game, as to win rather then to loose, to ouercome rather then to bee conquered; neither are such desires euill, so they be moderate; (for they are idle and friuolous, yea dangerous where they grow excessiue and immoderate, being other then befitteth the nature of that which they concerne) yet are they not such as it is seemely to acquaint God withall. For the better conceiuing whereof consider we thus much: that deuery desire is not by and by a praier; albeit euery praier ordinarily import some desire; neither is euery lawfull desire a fit matter for praier. For prayer is a wish or desire of the heart directed vnto God. But many things we desire and may lawfully desire, which yet are not matters of that moment as may ⟨p. 261⟩be fit to acquaint God in particular with our desire of them, or to direct our petitions in speciall manner to him for them; much lesse to expect or require at Gods hand any speciall worke or helpe of his for the effecting of them. And of this kinde are those latter sort of desires; of which to say therefore in game, I pray God I may win, or, I would to God I might haue such a card, or such a cast, is too too much presumptuousnes, and will not well stand with that reuerent respect that each one of vs oweth to Gods maiestie.
- c[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- dTo desire is not to pray, but showeth what we approve. H Smith in Pilgrims wish.To desire is not to pray, but sheweth what wee approue. H Smith in Pilgrims wish.
