It followeth:1 Pray continually. As Elisha would not prophesy until the Musician came, and while the Musician played Elisha prophesied: so when the heart rejoiceth in God, then it is fittest to call upon God, and therefore Paul putteth rejoice before pray, like the Musician which played before Elisha prophesied. After Rejoice continually, he biddeth us Pray continually: showing that it must be such a rejoicing continually, that we may pray continually too, or else he doeth not allow us to rejoice. How can these two join together, Pray and Rejoice. Some if they should pray cannot rejoice for their hearts: Nay their harts are sick until their prayers be done, although they pray not themselves, but hear another pray for them, this is the difference between the rejoicing of the wicked, and the rejoicing of the godly. The comfort of the wicked, is like a compound medicine made of many ⟨p. 859⟩mixtures: for there must be piping and dancing, and leaping, and feasting, and dallying, at their game, or else they cannot be merry. but the comfort of the faithful is like a light in the air, which shines when no matter is seen: So the godly rejoice when no cause is seen: if they do but think upon God, they rejoice straight. If there be but a prayer, and a thankfulness, and a meditation, there are instruments enough for them, and they can be as merry as birds in May. The reason of it is this,2 as Christ said: I have another meat which you know not of, so the godly have another joy which the world knoweth not oft of this joy, a man may rejoice continually. And therefore Solomon sayeth, A good conscience is a continual feast, 3that is, a continual joy. But of the wickeds joy he saith, In laughter their heart is sorrowful: that is, their laughter is sorrow: as if he should say: the wicked never rejoice indeed but counterfeit joy, as they counterfeit virtue. Thus Paul joineth, Rejoice continually with Pray continually, as if he should say: by this thou shalt know whether thou rejoice well, if thou canst pray too: that is, if thy rejoicing move thee to prayer, as the joy of the Angels makes them praise GOD and sing, Holy, Holy, Holy, unto him. This is according to that in the 5. of James. 4If any ⟨p. 860⟩man be merry let him sing Psalms:
It followeth:1 Pray continually. As Elisha would not prophecie vntill the Musitian came, and while the Musitian played Elisha prophecied: so when the heart reioyceth in God, then it is fittest to call vppon God, and therefore Paul putteth reioyce before pray, like the Musitian which played before Elisha prophecied. After Reioyce continually, hee biddeth vs Pray continually: shewing that it must be such a reioycing continually, that we may pray continually too, or els he doeth not allowe vs to reioyce. How can these two ioyne together, Pray and Reioyce. Some if they should praye cannot reioyce for theyr heartes: Nay their harts are sicke vntill their prayers bee done, although they praye not themselues, but heare another praye for them, this is the difference betweene the reioycing of the wicked, and the reioycing of the godly. The comfort of the wicked, is like a compound medicine made of many ⟨p. 859⟩mixtures: for there must be piping and daunsing, and leaping, and feasting, and dallying, at their game, or else they cannot be merry. but the comfort of the faithfull is like a light in the aire, which shines when no matter is seene: So the godlie reioyce when no cause is seene: if they doo but thinke vppon God, they reioice straight. If there bee but a praier, and a thankefulnes, and a meditation, there are instrumentes inough for them, and they can bee as merry as birdes in May. The reason of it is this,2 as Christ said: I haue another meate which you knowe not of, so the godlie haue another ioy which the worlde knoweth not oft of this ioy, a man may reioice continually. And therefore Salomon saieth, A good conscience is a continuall feast, 3that is, a continuall ioy. But of the wickeds ioy hee saith, In laughter their hearte is sorrowfull: that is, their laughter is sorrowe: as if hee should say: the wicked neuer reioice indeed but counterfait ioy, as they counterfait vertue. Thus Paul ioineth, Reioyce continuallie with Praie continually, as if hee shoulde say: by this thou shalt knowe whether thou reioice well, if thou canst pray too: that is, if thy reioicing mooue thee to praier, as the ioy of the Angels makes them praise GOD and sing, Holy, Holy, Holy, vnto him. This is according to that in the 5. of Iames. 4If anie ⟨p. 860⟩man bee merry let him sing Psalmes:
