There is no way to take off his anger, but by turning from our wickedness. If we break off our sins, he will leave a blessing behind 1him, even a meat-offering, and a drink-offering to the Lord: he will both give, and take our sacrifice. Let us do thus, and prove him, whether 2he will not open the windows of heaven. Our repentance and righteousness shall open heaven, so that our prayers may go up for a blessing, and a blessing shall come down upon our prayers. Prayer is vox fidei, as John Baptist was vox Christi: if we mourn, and do not pray, our faith hath lost her voice: and prayer without faith, is John without Christ, a voice without a word. Faith is the soul, and repentance is the life of Prayer; and a prayer without them, hath neither life nor soul. If we believe not, we are yet in our sins: if we repent not, our sins are yet in us: and so long as this state continueth, no wonder if God be angry with his People that prayeth. But first will I wash mine hands in innocency, and 3then will I compass thine Altar. Then shall my Prayer be set before thee as incense; and the 4lifting up of my hands like the Evening sacrifice. When with the sword of severe and impartial repentance, we have cut the throat of our sins, and done execution upon our own lusts: then let us solicit heaven with our Prayers: then Pray, and speed: then come, and welcome: no Anger, but all mercy then. Then the Courtiers ⟨p. 36⟩about the King in Heaven, make room for prayer. Then the Prince himself will take prayer into his own hand, and with a gracious mediation present it to his Father. Then mittimus preces & lacrymas ad Deum legatos. Then is that Court of Audience ready to receive and answer 5our Ambassadors, which be our Prayers and Tears. Then Saint John sees twelve gates in heaven, all open, and all day open, to entertain such suitors.
There is no way to take off his anger, but by turning from our wickednesse. If we break off our sinnes, he will leave a blessing behind 1him, even a meat-offering, and a drink-offering to the Lord: he will both give, and take our sacrifice. Let us do thus, and prove him, whether 2he will not open the windows of heaven. Our repentance and righteousnesse shall open heaven, so that our prayers may goe up for a blessing, and a blessing shall come down upon our prayers. Prayer is vox fidei, as John Baptist was vox Christi: if we mourne, and do not pray, our faith hath lost her voice: and prayer without faith, is John without Christ, a voice without a word. Faith is the soul, and repentance is the life of Prayer; and a prayer without them, hath neither life nor soul. If we beleeve not, we are yet in our sinnes: if we repent not, our sinnes are yet in us: and so long as this state continueth, no wonder if God be angry with his People that prayeth. But first will I wash mine hands in innocency, and 3then will I compasse thine Altar. Then shall my Prayer be set before thee as incense; and the 4lifting up of my hands like the Evening sacrifice. When with the sword of severe and impartiall repentance, wee have cut the throate of our sins, and done execution upon our own lusts: then let us solicite heaven with our Prayers: then Pray, and speed: then come, and welcome: no Anger, but all mercy then. Then the Courtiers ⟨p. 36⟩about the King in Heaven, make room for prayer. Then the Prince himselfe wil take prayer into his own hand, and with a gracious mediation present it to his Father. Then mittimus preces & lacrymas ad Deum legatos. Then is that Court of Audience ready to receive and answer 5our Ambassadours, which bee our Prayers and Tears. Then Saint John sees twelve gates in heaven, all open, and all day open, to entertain such suitors.
- 1Joel 2. 14.
- 2Mal. 3. 10.
- 3Psal. 26. 6.
- 4Ps. 141. 2.
- 5Cypr.
