Secondarily, this heaping of so many words together, ask, seek and knock, signify that the prayer must be continual, and so doth the parable of the widow that sued to the wicked 1judge: and y• cause is, that we are ever in continual necessity (as I say) and all our life, but even a war fare and a perpetual battle. In which we prevail 2as long as we pray, and be overcome as soon as we cease praying: as Israel overcame the Amalekites. Exod. xvij. as long as Moses held up his hands in prayer, and as soon as he had let down his hands for weariness, the Amalekites prevailed and had the better. Christ warned his Disciples at his last supper to have peace ⟨p. 239⟩in him, affirming that they should have none in y• world. The false Prophets 3shall ever impugn the faith in Christs blood, and enforce to quench the true understanding of the law, and the right meaning and intent of all the works commanded by God, which fight is a fight above all fights. First they shall be in such number that Christs true disciples shall be but a small flock in respect of them. They shall have works like Christs, so that fasting, prayer, poverty obedience and chastity shall be the names of their profession. For as Paul saith to the Corinthians, the angels or messengers of Satan shall change them selves into angels or messengers of light and truth. They shall come in Christs name, and that 4with signs and miracles, and have the upper hand also, even to deceive the very elect if it were possible. Yea & beyond 5all this, if thou get the victory of the false Prophets, and pluck a multitude out of their hands, there shall immediately rise of the same, and set up a new false sect against thee. And against 6all these Amalekites, the only remedy is to lift up the hands of thy heart to God in continual prayer. Which hands, if thou for weariness once let fall, thou goest to the worse immediately. Then beside the fight and conflict of the subtle sophistry, false miracles, disguised and hypocritish works of these false Prophets, cometh the Dogs & Wolves of their Disciples with the servants of Mammon, and the swine of thine own scholars: against which all thou hast no other shield or defence but prayer.
Secondarely, this heapyng of so many wordes together, aske, seke and knocke, signify that the prayer must be continuall, and so doth the parable of the widowe that sued to the wicked 1iudge: and y• cause is, that we are euer in continuall necessitie (as I say) and all our lyfe, but euen a warre fare and a perpetual battaile. In which we preuaile 2as long as we pray, and be ouercome assoone as we ceasse praying: as Israell ouercame the Amalechites. Exod. xvij. as long as Moses held vp his hands in prayer, and assoone as he had let downe his handes for werynesse, the Amalechites preuayled and had the better. Christ warned his Disciples at his last supper to haue peace ⟨p. 239⟩in him, affirming that they should haue none in y• world. The false Prophetes 3shal euer impugne the faith in Christes bloud, and inforce to quenche the true vnderstāding of the law, and the right meanyng and intent of all the workes commaunded by God, which fight is a fight aboue all fightes. First they shalbe in such nōber that Christes true disciples shalbe but a small flocke in respect of them. They shall haue workes like Christes, so that fastyng, prayer, pouertie obedience and chastitie shall be the names of their profession. For as Paule saith to the Corinthians, the aungels or messengers of Sathā shall chaunge them selues into aungels or messengers of light and truth. They shall come in Christes name, and that 4with signes and miracles, and haue the vpper hād also, euen to deceaue the very elect if it were possible. Yea & beyonde 5all this, if thou get the victory of the false Prophetes, and plucke a multitude out of their handes, there shall immediately rise of the same, and set vp a new false sect agaynst thee. And agaynst 6all these Amalechites, the onely remedy is to lift vp the handes of thy harte to God in continuall prayer. Which hādes, if thou for werynes once let fall, thou goest to the worsse immediatly. Then beside the fight and conflict of the suttle sophistrie, false miracles, disguised and hypocritish workes of these false Prophetes, commeth the Dogges & Wolues of their Disciples with the seruauntes of Mammon, and the swyne of thyne owne scholers: agaynst whiche all thou hast no other shilde or defence but prayer.
- 1Luke. 18.
- 2Prayer. By prayer we win the victory only, and therefore is it of all thingest most necessary.Prayer. By prayer we wynne the victory onely, and therefore is it of all thynges• most necessary.
- 3False Prophets what their wickedness […].False Prophetes what their wickednes 〈…〉.
- 4Mark. xiij.
- 5Math. 24.
- 6Thy hart must be joy ned with thy prayer.Thy hart must be ioy ned with thy prayer.
