Now when we have sufficiently prayed for things belonging to the soul, then may we lawfully and with safe conscience, pray also for our bodily necessities, as meat, drink, clothing, health of body, deliverance out of prison, good luck in our daily affairs, and so forth, according as we shall have need. Whereof, what better example can we desire to have, then of Christ him self, who taught his disciples, and all other ⟨p. 249⟩Christian men, first to pray for heavenly things, 1and afterward for earthly things, as is to be seen in that prayer, which he left unto his Church, commonly called the Lords prayer? In the third book of kings and third Chapter, it is written, that God appeared by night in a dream unto Solomon the king, saying, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give thee. Solomon made his humble prayer, and asked a wise & prudent heart, that might judge and understand what were good, & what were ill, what were godly, and what were ungodly, what were righteous, and what were unrighteous in the sight of the Lord. It pleased God wondrously that he had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast requested this word, and hast not desired many days and long years upon the earth, neither abundance of riches and goods, nor yet the life of thine enemies which hate thee, but hast desired wisdom to sit in judgement: Behold, I have done unto thee according to thy words, I have given thee a wise heart, full of knowledge and understanding, so that there was never none like thee before time, neither shall be in time to come. Moreover I have besides this, given thee that which thou hast not required, namely worldly wealth and richesse, princely honour and glory, so that thou shalt therein also pass all kings that ever were. Note this example, how Solomon being put to his choice to ask of God whatsoever he would, requested not vain and transitory things, but the high and ⟨p. 250⟩heavenly treasures of wisdom, and that in so doing, he obtaineth as it were in recompense, both riches and honour. Wherein is given us to understand, that in our daily prayers, we should chiefly and principally ask those things which concern the kingdom of God, and the salvation of our own souls, nothing doubting but all other things shall (according to the promise of Christ) be given unto us.
Nowe when we haue sufficiently prayed for thinges belonging to the soule, then may we lawfully and with safe conscience, pray also for our bodily necessities, as meate, drinke, clothing, health of body, deliueraunce out of prison, good lucke in our dayly affayres, and so foorth, accordyng as we shall haue neede. Wherof, what better example can we desire to haue, then of Christ him selfe, who taught his disciples, and all other ⟨p. 249⟩Christian men, first to pray for heauenly things, 1and afterwarde for earthly thinges, as is to be seene in that prayer, whiche he lefte vnto his Churche, commonly called the Lordes prayer? In the thirde booke of kinges and thirde Chapter, it is written, that God appeared by night in a dreame vnto Salomon the king, saying, Aske of me whatsoeuer thou wylt, and I wyll geue thee. Salomon made his humble prayer, and asked a wise & prudent hearte, that might iudge and vnderstande what were good, & what were ill, what were godlye, and what were vngodly, what were righteous, and what were vnrighteous in the sight of the Lorde. It pleased God wonderously that he had asked this thing. And God sayd vnto him, Because thou hast requested this worde, and hast not desyred manye dayes and long yeres vpon the earth, neither aboundaunce of ryches and goodes, nor yet the lyfe of thyne enemies which hate thee, but hast desyred wisdome to sit in iudgement: Beholde, I haue done vnto thee accordyng to thy wordes, I haue geuen thee a wyse heart, full of knowledge and vnderstāding, so that there was neuer none like thee before time, neither shalbe in time to come. Moreouer I haue besides this, geuen thee that whiche thou hast not required, namelye worldlye wealth and richesse, princely honour and glorie, so that thou shalt therein also passe all kynges that euer were. Note this example, howe Salomon beyng put to his choyse to aske of God whatsoeuer he woulde, requested not vaine and transitorie thinges, but the high and ⟨p. 250⟩heauenly treasures of wysdome, and that in so doyng, he obtayneth as it were in recompence, both riches and honour. Wherein is geuen vs to vnderstande, that in our dayly prayers, we should chiefely and principally aske those things which concerne the kingdome of God, and the saluation of our owne soules, nothyng doubting but all other thinges shall (accordyng to the promise of Christe) be geuen vnto vs.
- 1Matth. 6. Luke. 11.
