Master Bezaes household prayers translated out of French into EnglishMaister Bezaes houshold prayers translated out of French into English

It cheereth us in those works, which the holy ghost worketh in us, & by us, yielding a sweet smell to our souls, and is moreover unto us, as a strong Tower, and most assured fortress, against all that might astonish us, in this our earthly habitation: yea which is more, prayer doth sometimes stand us instead, to obtain of Almighty God, most evident testimonies of his glory, ⟨image 9⟩in matters supernatural, which our reason should judge impossible, as it befell unto Moses, praying for the victory of the Israelites, against the Amalekites: to Joshua when at his prayer, the course of the Sun was stayed: to Elijah, bringing fire down from heaven, and to Hezekiah restored to health after sentence given of his death: not that we should simply attribute so great and profitable effects to the work of prayer: but to the goodness, love, power, and counsel of God, who worketh so, and by such means as he pleaseth in his creatures: and of his free mercy, crowneth ⟨image 9⟩the prayers of his elect with rewards, and with grace for grace. These therefore are the fruits and benefits we are to look for from our good god and father, when reposing our selves upon his love in Christ, and with humble and penitent hearts, we do prostrate our selves before his face, to sanctify his name, craving his mercy, and beseeching him to bless us, teach and guide us as his children, to believe his word, even as he whom we call upon, doth desire our good, because he loveth us, may give unto us that we ask, because he is almighty: and is willing to hear us, for his Sons ⟨image 10⟩sake, because he hath so promised. But it is also most true, that according to his wisdom, he knoweth the time and convenient means, to let us fully enjoy the efficacy of our prayers. Let us persevere, only asking those things which are to his glory, and he will not fail to help us in all our necessities. We are moreover to note, that it is not the sound of the lips which the Lord requireth of us, unless the same be also guided with the holy affections of the soul: for he harkneth rather to the heart than to the voice, and giveth to us openly that which he seeth us in secret to desire ⟨image 10⟩with our affections mortified in his sight.