In the using of it for direction, there be three things required. 1 The first is, the knowledge of the Lords prayer, and all the parts thereof. He that would pray by it, must understand the meaning thereof, the wants therein to be bewailed, and the graces to be desired, for which end it hath bin expounded. 2. Knowing this, there is in the second place required thus much skill, that he be able to refer every want & grace to one of the six petitions: for example: feeling in himself pride of heart, he must be able to say, this is a want in the ⟨image 70⟩first petition: and feeling a rebellion & slowness in doing Gods commandment, he must be able to say, this is a sin to be prayed against in the 3. petition. Thus, every want he must refer to his proper head; again, he must refer every grace to be desired, to one of the six petitions: is strength in temptation to the sixth; affiance in Gods providence to the fourth; knowledge of God to the first, &c. and so in the rest. 3. In the third place, he must before he pray, consider what be his wants and imperfections, which most trouble him, as also the graces which he would obtain: then, for the helping of his memory, he must go to the petitions, and he must set those things first in his mind, which do concern the first petition; and those which concern the second petition, must have the second place in his mind and so he must proceed in order as ⟨image 70⟩shall have occasion. Thus a man keeping in mind the order of the petitions as they stand, shall be able by referring every grace and want unto his proper head, to make a distinct prayer, and to vary it as time, place, and other occasions shall move him.
In the vsing of it for direction, there be three thinges required. 1 The first is, the knowledge of the Lordes prayer, and al the partes thereof. He that would pray by it, must vnderstād the meaning therof, the wants therein to be bewailed, and the graces to bee desired, for which end it hath bin expounded. 2. Knowing this, there is in the seconde place required thus much skil, that he be able to referr euerie want & grace to one of the sixe petitions: for example: feeling in himselfe pride of heart, he must be able to say, this is a want in the ⟨image 70⟩first petition: and feeling a rebellion & slownes in doing Gods commandment, he must be able to say, this is a sin to be prayed against in the 3. petition. Thus, euery want he must refer to his proper hed; again, he must refer euery grace to be desired, to one of the sixe petitions: is strēgth in temptation to the sixt; assiance in Gods prouidence to the fourth; knowledge of God to the first, &c. and so in the rest. 3. In the third place, he must before he pray, consider what bee his wantes and imperfections, which moste trouble him, as also the graces which he wold obtain: then, for the helping of his memorie, he must goe to the petitions, and he must set those thinges first in his mind, which do concern the first petition; and those which concern the second petition, must haue the second place in his mind and so he must proceed in order as ⟨image 70⟩shall haue occasion. Thus a man keeping in minde the order of the petitions as they stand, shall be able by referring euery grace and want vnto his proper head, to mak a distinct prayer, and to varie it as time, place, and other occasions shall moue him.
