The xiij. Chapter. Of Praiers, and of the intercession of Christ; wherein is intreated of speaking in a strange toong, of Musicke, and of hymnes.
1 THe praiers of the godlie, are diuided into two kinds. For some be at set times; as be those which are vsed in a publike congregation, at appointed and prescribed daies; I mean vpon the Lords daie, and [vpon such other daies] as are assigned by the church for publike praiers. Further, it is the dutie of a christian man, to haue houres also appointed euerie daie, wherein he maie praie vnto God: and that thrée times, fiue times, or seuen times in a daie; as his businesse will suffer him. An other kind of those praiers there is, which are called vncerteine; for we vse them so often, as anie present danger vrgeth vs. But Paule saith, 2 that he alwaies maketh mention of the Romans in his praiers: and in some bookes is added the aduerbe ⟨…⟩, Euerie where; although some copies haue blotted it out. There were Heretiks, which were called Messalians, of them the Tripartite historie maketh mention: 3 they attributed all things vnto praiers, and that so much, as they did derogate both from the word of God, and also from the sacraments; affirming, that all these things doo nothing profit: but what commoditie soeuer we haue, the same commeth by praiers. And they could not abide to labour with their hands, or to doo anie other thing. If a man had vrged them to worke, they would haue said, that the same should nothing at all profit; séeing we ought to doo nothing but praie. Whereas the apostle neuerthelesse warneth expreslie, 4 that He which laboureth not, ought not to eate. He also writeth; that A man ought not to neglect the care of his owne, 5 especiallie of his houshold: which fault if anie man commit, he should be taken as one that had renounced his faith.
But passing ouer this superstition, we must attribute verie much vnto praiers; séeing this is the nature of the children of God, 6 euen for the most part, to giue themselues vnto praiers; for that is to acknowledge the prouidence of God. For while we beléeue that a man can obteine nothing, which is not giuen him by God, we are oftentimes prouoked to praie humblie for his aid, in such necessities as doo happen. And while we praie, we doo no lesse submit our selues vnto God, than the claie is subiect vnto the potter: for we chéeflie make our praiers, that whatsoeuer we desire, we may haue the same if it be his will. And forsomuch as in praieng, the mind is led awaie from carke and worldlie cares, and is wholie carried vp vnto God; there ought nothing to be more pleasant vnto vs, than to occupie our selues in this kind of studie. And it is to be lamented at this daie, that the maner of praieng is so worne out of vre among Christians; that it is a thing but rarelie vsed, and especiallie in so great a light of the Gospell, and of the holie scriptures. It is no maruell then, though all things doo wax so cold. Certeinlie, 7 heat dooth there increase, where the light can not easilie passe through, but is heaten backe againe, and (as they saie) reboundeth to the vpper parts. Wherefore this lower part of the aire, which compasseth the earth, is most hot; bicause the beames of the sunne, which strike vpon the earth, (being not able for the thicknes thereof to perse) doo rebound backe againe, & be in a maner doubled; whereby the heat is stirred vp. In like maner ought it to be in our harts, when the light of Gods word shineth vpon them: for when we haue receiued it, we ought to returne it vnto God, in making praiers vnto him, to performe those things in vs which he hath commanded, & which he hath vouchsafed to reueale vnto vs. 8 For when we read the scriptures, God speaketh vnto vs; but when we praie, we speake vnto God. And we ought verie often to vse this dialog, that when we heare in the holie scriptures, that God either reuealeth himselfe, or commandeth anie things; we againe for our part may desire of him, that those things be not spoken in vaine vnto vs; but may be doone with profit and fruit.