O that I could engrave the love of it in your hearts, as with a Diamond, and so instill your minds, that my words might be pricks to your consciences, and thereby give ye occasion to pray often. It is a wonderful matter to be able to persuade men, but if prayer be able to persuade the living God, ô how great is the force thereof! it goeth through the clouds, and ceaseth not till it come near, and will not depart till the most high have respect thereunto. O that you would therefore pray often, and learn of Christ (the most absolute pattern of our life) to pray continually. He prayed in 1his baptism, in the wilderness, in preaching, in working of miracles, in his passion, on the mount, in the garden, in his last supper, in commending his spirit to God at all times, and in all places, that he might leave unto us an example of the same. It followeth. And pray to the Almighty, to those three former reasons which I brought, why we must seek and pray to God alone, I added this as a fourth: because there is none so able to help us as the Lord. He that trusteth in the Lord shall be as mount Zion. If God be on our side, who can be against us? It is God that justifieth, who condemneth? The Lord destroyeth the counsel of the heathen, he 2maketh their devises to be of no effect. Christ is the Angel of great counsel, wisdom, and understanding, and there is 3no devise against the Lord. The world notwithstanding is come to that frame, that every man hath got him a strange kind of belief. Some believe not the Law, but the prophets: some be persuaded in the supremacy, but not in the sacrament: some in free will, but not in merit: some in invocation on saints, but not in purgatory: some in pilgrimages and pardons, but not in images: some like the doctrine well enough, but not the preachers: the most believe little, yet many believe somewhat, few believe all: therefore to deal ⟨image 14⟩plainly, because plain dealing is best, you must not believe by the halves: I mean you must not repose some trust in God, and some in Saints, but all in the Lord. The gods of the Gentiles they have mouths and speak not; eyes & see not, 4ears and hear not: then what can be looked for at their hands? But the Lord is strong and mighty, a merciful God:
O that I could engraue the loue of it in your heartes, as with a Diamond, and so instill your mindes, that my wordes might bee prickes to your consciences, and thereby giue ye occasion to pray often. It is a wonderfull matter to bee able to perswade men, but if prayer be able to perswade the liuing God, ô how great is the force thereof! it goeth thorow the cloudes, and ceaseth not till it come neere, and will not depart till the most high haue respect thereunto. O that you would therefore pray often, and learne of Christ (the most absolute patterne of our lyfe) to pray continually. He prayed in 1his baptisme, in the wildernes, in preaching, in working of miracles, in his passion, on the mount, in the garden, in his last supper, in commending his spirite to God at all times, and in all places, that he might leaue vnto vs an example of the same. It followeth. And pray to the Almightie, to those three former reasons which I brought, why wee must seeke and pray to God alone, I added this as a fourth: because there is none so able to helpe vs as the Lord. He that trusteth in the Lorde shall bee as mount Sion. If God be on our side, who can be against vs? It is God that iustifieth, who condemneth? The Lord destroyeth the counsell of the heathen, hee 2maketh their deuises to bee of no effect. Christ is the Angell of great counsell, wisedome, and vnderstanding, and there is 3no deuise against the Lorde. The world notwithstanding is come to that frame, that euery man hath got him a strange kinde of beliefe. Some beleeue not the Lawe, but the prophets: some bee perswaded in the supremacie, but not in the sacrament: some in free will, but not in merite: some in inuocation on saints, but not in purgatorie: some in pilgramages and pardons, but not in images: some like the doctrine well inough, but not the preachers: the most beleeue little, yet many beleeue somewhat, few beleeue all: therefore to deale ⟨image 14⟩plainely, because plaine dealing is best, you must not beleeue by the halfes: I meane you must not repose some trust in God, and some in Saintes, but all in the Lorde. The gods of the Gentiles they haue mouthes and speake not; eies & see not, 4eares and heare not: then what can bee looked for at their handes? But the Lord is strong and mighty, a mercifull God:
- 1Luke 6 Luke 6 Luke 6 John 11 Math 26 John 18 Luke 22 Luke 23 Math 19 Psal 40 Rom 8Luke 6 Luke 6 Luke 6 Iohn 11 Math 26 Iohn 18 Luke 22 Luke 23 Math 19 Psal 40 Rom 8
- 22. Tim 4.
- 3Psal 83 Isaiah 9 Prou 2.Psal 83 Esay 9 Prou 2.
- 4
