A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

Prayers conceived, are such as upon meditation we fit to all present occasions, not using any ordinary form of words, but expressing our selves ¹with such as come to our minds; of which, we have many examples in the Scriptures, both in the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, and our Saviour Christ himself. The which, I acknowledge above all other kinds to be most excellent, if God have thoroughly furnished us with gifts fit for it, both because it is most free from distractions and wandering thoughts, and from satiety and weariness, this variety bringing with it much delight, and also because it is most opportune and seasonable, being fitted to the time, persons, and occasions. But here the Proverb is verified, that things excellent are most hardly attained, there being few that have this gift and ability, and those few not always in like measure, although there are many that are willing to make show of it. For there are divers things which ought to concur in him that is to conceive a prayer, which if any be wanting, it cannot be done without much weakness and imperfection. First, he must be diligent in meditation, before he thus speak unto God, calling to memory the sins which he is to confess, the wants which he desireth should be supplied, and the blessings for which he intendeth to give thanks; that so he may with David call his prayer a meditation, humble his soul in the sight of his unworthiness, inflame his heart with fervent desires, and not speak any thing rashly with his mouth unto his