It were to long to tell of Judith, Esther, Susanna, and of divers other godly men and women, how greatly they prevailed in all their doings, by giving their minds earnestly and devoutly to prayer. Let it be sufficient at this time to conclude with the sayings of Augustine and Chrysostom, whereof the one calleth prayer the key of 1heaven, the other plainly affirmeth that there is nothing in all the world more strong then a man that giveth him self to fervent prayer. Now then, dearly beloved, seeing prayer is so needful a thing, and of so great strength before God, let us, according as we are taught by the example of Christ and his apostles, be earnest and diligent in calling on the name of the Lord. Let us never faint, never slack, never give over, but let us daily and hourly, early and late, in season, and out of season, be occupied in godly meditations and prayers. What if we obtain not our petitions at the first? yet let us not be discouraged, but let us continually cry and call upon God: He will surely hear us at length, if for no other cause, yet for very importunities sake. Remember the parable of the unrighteous judge, and the poor widow, how she by ⟨p. 234⟩2her importunate means caused him to do her justice against her adversary, although otherwise he feared neither God nor man. Shall not God much more avenge his elect (saith our saviour Christ) which cry unto him day and night? Thus he taught his disciples, & in them all other true Christian men, to pray always, and never to faint or shrink. Remember also the 3example of the woman of Canaan, how she was rejected of Christ, and called dog, as one most unworthy of any benefit at his hands: yet she gave not over, but followed him still, crying and calling upon him to be good and merciful unto her daughter. And at length by very importunity, she obtained her request. O let us learn by these examples, to be earnest and fervent in prayer, assuring our selves that whatsoever we ask of God the father in the name of his Son Christ, and according to his will, he will undoubtedly grant it. He is trueth it self and as truly as he hath promised it, so truly will he 4perform it.
It were to long to tell of Iudith, Hester, Susanna, and of diuers other godly men and women, how greatly they preuayled in all their doinges, by geuing their myndes earnestly and deuoutly to prayer. Let it be sufficient at this tyme to conclude with the sayinges of Augustine and Chrisostome, wherof the one calleth prayer the key of 1heauen, the other playnely affyrmeth that there is nothyng in all the worlde more strong then a man that geueth hym selfe to feruent prayer. Nowe then, dearely beloued, seeing prayer is so needeful a thyng, and of so great strength before God, let vs, accordyng as we are taught by the example of Christe and his apostles, be earnest and diligent in calling on the name of the Lord. Let vs neuer faynt, neuer slacke, neuer geue ouer, but let vs daily and hourely, early and late, in season, and out of season, be occupyed in godly meditations and prayers. What if we obtayne not our petitions at the firste? yet let vs not be discoraged, but let vs continually crye and call vpon God: He wyll surely heare vs at length, if for no other cause, yet for very importunities sake. Remember the parable of the vnryghteous iudge, and the poore wydowe, how she by ⟨p. 234⟩2her importunate meanes caused hym to do her iustice agaynst her aduersarie, although otherwyse he feared neyther God nor man. Shall not God muche more auenge his elect (sayth our sauiour Christe) whiche crye vnto hym day and nyght? Thus he taught his disciples, & in them all other true Christian men, to pray alwayes, and neuer to faint or shrinke. Remember also the 3example of the woman of Canaan, how she was reiected of Christe, and called dogge, as one moste vnworthie of any benefite at his handes: yet she gaue not ouer, but folowed hym still, crying and callyng vppon hym to be good and mercifull vnto her daughter. And at length by very importunitie, she obtayned her request. O let vs learne by these examples, to be earnest and feruent in prayer, assuryng our selues that whatsoeuer we aske of God the father in the name of his sonne Christe, and accordyng to his wyll, he wyll vndoubtedly graunt it. He is trueth it selfe and as truely as he hath promised it, so truely wyll he 4perfourme it.
- 1Aug. Ser. 26. de tem por•. Chri. sup. Mat. 22.
- 2Luk. 17.
- 3Mat. 15.
- 4John. 16Iohn. 16
