An oversight, and deliberation upon the holy prophet JonahAn ouersight, and deliberacion vpon the holy prophete Ionas

The third thing in this prayer is to be noted (lest in the port it self we make shipwreck, & offend God in praying) to whom we pray. Unto him that only seeth the cogitations of out heart, and can and will do all things for us accordingly, help at need, & punish in due season, which only god can do: & unto him should we direct, and make our prayer, after the examples of the Patriarchs, Prophets, & the Apostles, who called always upon their God: for such as direct otherwise their prayers, they fail and err all the heavens wide. ⟨image 91⟩Against whom speaketh Isaiah. lxiii. Jere. ii.xv. Each. xiiii. And the Lord is angry with his people as Isaiah sayeth, Chap. ix. because they turned not unto him that strake them, nor unto the God of armour. And in the Prophet Ose. Chap vii. They called not to me (sayeth the Lord) in their hearts. And in the same place a little after sayeth the Prophet: they be returned, but not unto the highest. So likewise are they no less to be blamed that deuyde their hearts part unto God, and part unto creatures: of whom speaketh Hosea, in the x. Chapter. If these three things that Jonah used in the whales belly, were used of the people that profess Christs name in ⟨p. lxxxiii⟩our temples, blessed were we. But it is all to the contrary: we know not what prayer is, nor yet will take the pains to learn it, The more is the petty, and the more is God stirred to vengeance and punishment, and the more cruel shall the pain be when it is executed by God. As we know by the text, he prayed, so may we know by the same how he prayed, and what was the form and manner of his prayer. That is very requisite to be known, marked and borne away. The effect and sum thereof consisteth in three points. In two of y• first verses he putteth forth briefly the abridgement & Epitome of his prayer. Then declareth he the greatness of his danger ⟨image 92⟩and jeopardy. Thirdly he setteth forth the pity, and mercy of God. The first part.

The thyrde thynge in thys praier is to be noted (lest in the porte it selfe we make shyppewracke, & offende God in praying) to whome we pray. Unto hym that onlye seeth the cogitacions of out herte, and can and wyl do al thynges for vs accordyngly, helpe at neede, & punish in due seasō, which onli god cā do: & vnto him shuld we direct, and make our praier, after the examples of the Patryarckes, Prophetes, & the Apostels, who called alwaies vpon their God: for such as direct otherwise theyr praiers, thei fail and erre al the heauens wyde.