1Some say: I would trust in deed that my prayers should be heard, if I were worthy, or if I could pray well. Then, say I, if thou wilt not pray, before thou shalt know and find thy self fit to pray, that thou shalt never pray. For as it is before said, our prayer must not rest upon our worthiness, or the worthiness of it self, or be grounded thereon, but upon the immutable truth of the promise of God. If so be that it trust to it self or any other thing, and ground it self thereon, it is false, and deceiveth thee, albeit thy hart should even be burst by reason of the ardent affection of godliness, and thou shouldest weep nothing but drops of blood. For therefore we pray, because we are unworthy to pray, and hereby surely we are made worthy to pray, and fit to be heard, ⟨p. 163⟩inasmuch as we think that we are unworthy,2 and do boldly and cheerfully trust to the faithfulness and truth of God. Although thou be unworthy, yet have regard hereunto, and mark most diligently, that a thousand times more consisteth in this, that thou honour the truth of God, and not with thy doubtfulness accuse his faithful promise of falsehood. For thy own worthiness doth not further thee, neither thy unworthiness hinder thee: but infidelity doth condemn thee, trust and confidence maketh thee worthy & preserveth thee. Wherefore so behave thy self all thy life long, that thou do not at any time esteem thy self either worthy or fit to pray or receive, unless thou find thy self to be such a one, as dareth enterprise the matter freely, trusting to the true and certain promise of thy merciful God, which will so show both his mercy and goodness unto thee, that as he promised to hear thee being unworthy, and having not deserved it, of his mere grace, moved with no prayers: so he will hear thee being an unworthy asker, of his only grace, to the honour of his truth and promise, that so thou mayst give thanks, not to thy own worthiness, but to his truth, whereby he hath fulfilled his promise, and to his mercy, whereby he hath made and set forth his promise. And this the 25 Psalm confirmeth, where David saith: Gracious and righteous is the Lord, therefore vvill he teach sinners in the way. He vvill guide the meek in judgement, and teach the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, unto such as keep his covenant, and his testimonies.
1Some say: I would trust in deede that my prayers should be heard, if I were worthy, or if I could pray well. Then, say I, if thou wilt not pray, before thou shalt knowe and finde thy selfe fit to pray, that thou shalt neuer pray. For as it is before sayde, our prayer must not rest vpon our worthines, or the worthines of it selfe, or be grounded thereon, but vpon the immutable truth of the promise of God. If so be that it trust to it selfe or any other thing, and ground it selfe thereon, it is false, and deceiueth thee, albeit thy hart should euen be burst by reason of the ardent affection of godlines, and thou shouldest weepe nothing but dropps of blood. For therefore we pray, because we are vnworthy to pray, and hereby surely we are made worthy to pray, and fit to be heard, ⟨p. 163⟩inasmuch as we thinke that we are vnworthy,2 and doe boldly and cheerefully trust to the faithfulnes and truth of God. Although thou be vnworthy, yet haue regard hereunto, and marke most diligently, that a thousand times more consisteth in this, that thou honour the truth of God, and not with thy doutfulnes accuse his faithfull promise of falshood. For thy owne worthines doth not further thee, neither thy vnworthines hinder thee: but infidelitie doth condemne thee, trust and confidence maketh thee worthy & preserueth thee. Wherefore so behaue thy selfe all thy life long, that thou doe not at any time esteeme thy selfe either worthy or fit to pray or receiue, vnles thou finde thy selfe to be such a one, as dareth enterprise the matter freely, trusting to the true and certaine promise of thy mercifull God, which will so shewe both his mercy and goodnes vnto thee, that as he promised to heare thee being vnworthy, and hauing not deserued it, of his meere grace, moued with no prayers: so he will heare thee being an vnworthy asker, of his onely grace, to the honour of his truth and promise, that so thou mayst giue thankes, not to thy owne worthines, but to his truth, wherby he hath fulfilled his promise, and to his mercy, whereby he hath made and set forth his promise. And this the 25 Psalme confirmeth, where Dauid sayth: Gracious and righteous is the Lord, therefore vvill he teach sinners in the vvay. He vvill guide the meeke in iudgement, and teach the humble his vvay. All the pathes of the Lord are mercy and truth, vnto such as keepe his couenaunt, and his testimonies.
- 1We must not therefore doubt in our prayers for that we be unworthy.We must not therefore dout in our prayers for that we be vnworthy.
- 2How we are made worthy to be heard in prayer.
