The Institution of Christian Religion

Now, to frame prayer rightly & well, let this be the first rule, that §4we be no otherwise framed in mind and heart, than becometh them that enter into talk with God. Which verily we shall attain as touching the mind, of the same being free from fleshly cares and thoughts wherewith it may be called away or withdraw from the right & pure beholding of God, do not only bend it self wholly to prayer, but also so much as is possible be lifted up & carried above it self. Neither do I here require a mind so at liberty, that it be pricked & nipped with no •are, whereas contrariwise the ferventness of prayer must by much carefulness be kindled in us (as we see that the holy servants of God do som•••e declare great torments, much more carefulnesses, when they […] •hat they utter to the lord a bewailing voice out of the deep depth, […] out of the middest of the jaws of death) But I say that all strange ••d foreign cares must be driven away, wherewith the mind it self wandering hither and thither is carried about, and being drawn out of heaven is pressed down to the earth. I mean by this that it must be lifted up above it self, that it may not bring into the sight of God any of those things which our blind and foolish reason is wont to imagine, nor may hold it self bound within the compass of her own vanity, but rise up to pureness worthy for God.

Now, to frame prayer rightly & well, let this be the first rule, that §4we be no otherwise framed in minde and heart, than becōmeth them that entre into talke with God. Whiche verily we shall atteyne as touchyng the minde, of the same beyng free from fleshely cares and thoughtes wherwith it may be called away or withdrawe frō ye right & pure beholding of God, do not only bend it self wholly to prayer, but also so much as is possible be lifted vp & caried aboue it self. Neither do I here require a minde so at libertie, that it be pricked & nipped wt no •are, wheras cōtrariwise the feruētnesse of praier must by much carefulnesse be kindled in vs (as we see yt the holy seruāts of God do som•••e declare great tormentes, much more carefulnesses, when they hat thei vtter to the lord a bewayling voice out of the depe depth, out of the middest of the iawes of death) But I say that al strāge d foreyne cares must be driuen away, wherwith the minde it selfe wandring hether and thether is caried about, and beyng drawen out of heauen is pressed downe to the earth. I meane by this that it must be lifted vp aboue it selfe, that it maye not bryng into the sight of God any of those thinges whiche our blinde and foolish reason is wont to imagine, nor may holde it self bound within the compasse of her owne vanitie, but rise vp to purenesse worthy for God.