THese words are part of a lesson , which our Sauiour Christ taught vnto his Disciples ; being desirous how to pray aright that they might be heard . In the first verse of this chapter one in the behalfe of the rest puts vp this petition : Mr. teach vs how to pray as Iohn also taught his disciples . In the second verse he as a louing and carefull master as willing to profit his schollers , as they to learne : he sets them downe this absolute forme of prayer , teaching them what to aske , in these words when you pray say , Our Father which art in heauen &c. As followeth vnto the 5. verse . In which 5. verse and in the 6.7.8 . verses : least they should be discouraged if they did not incontinently and at the first , obtaine that which they prayed for : he bringeth the similitude or parable of the importunate borrower of three loaues of bread , teaching them not to be weary but to perseuere in praier ; and in this 9 verse , in these words which I haue now reade vnto you least they should be fearefull , and so not pray at all , or faint harted and so make weake praiers : he emboldens them , willing them to pray , and to be confident in prayer , giuing his word vnto them that he wil heare them : and promising that he will graunt their requests : Aske , ( saith Christ ) and it shall be geuen you .

In these words I will obserue two things , first an Inuitation in this word , Aske : secondly a promise , in these words , and it shall be giuen you . In the inuitation I will obserue . Quid , and Quomodo ; quid ? what wee must aske , Quomodo ? how wee must aske ; in the promise , I will obserue : the promiser , and the thing promised ; the promiser God , the thing promised ; whatsoeuer wee shall aske ; in the promiser , I will obserue first his abilitie : in that he is able to performe , whatsoeuer he promiseth . Secondly his willingnesse : in whatsoeuer he promiseth he is willing to performe . In the thing promised : I will likewise obserue these two two things ; first the generallitie , in this word It. Secondly the certainty of it , in this word , Shall ; It shall be giuen you ; Aske , and it shall be giuen you . And first of the first thing obserued , in the inuitation , Quid ? what wee must aske .

Saint Augustine in a certaine homely saith , that the first condition of praier is , that that which wee do aske , ought to be somthing ; that when we doe pray we must pray for somthing ; now his opinion is : that temporary matters , that the things which belong vnto the body , be nothing , and therefore are not to be asked , but aboue all things he would haue vs seeke the kingdome of heauen and the righteousnes thereof and then al these things below shall be cast vpon vs , and therfore he saith that it was but one thing , that the Prophet Dauid did require of the Lord : Vnum petij Psal. 27.4 . one thing haue I desired of the Lord , which I will require , that I may dwell in the house of the Lord ; all the daies of my life ; Qui vere christianus est , ( saith hee ) non ista temporalia appetere debet , sed totum pondus orationis & intentionis suae ad aeternam beatitudinem debet impendere ; He that is a true christian , ought not to aske and begg of God temporary matters , but the whole intent of all his prayers , ought to be bestowed in begging of the summum bonum the vnum necessarium , aeternall blessednes ; but he thus expounds himselfe saying , Sed tamen haec absolute petenda non esse , intelligendum est ; But not withstanding it is to be vnderstood : that these things ought to be asked ; but not absolutely ; he doth not say , that we must not aske them at all , but he saith we must aske them sparingly , and conditionally and comparatiuely , not at all in respect of spirituall blessings these temporary matters are not to be asked ; temporary blessings wee may pray for , but aboue all things , let vs aske of God those spirituall graces which will bring vs to the kingdome of heauen . Ecce alius in oratione ( saith St. Gregorie ) postulat vestem : alius sibi dari alimentum et : quidem si haec desint , ab omnipotenti deo , sunt petenda : haec petere , non est errare , sed tamen non nimie petantur ; one ( saith he ) desires of God i● his prayer raiment , and clothing , another begs for food , and nourishment , these things if they be wanting , must be asked of the almighty God ; to begg them is no sinne , but yet wee must not too greedily desire them . But Barnard de oratione , although mellifluously , yet plainely comes vnto the matter : for he sets downe what wee must pray for , and also the condition of our prayers what they must be : The prayers of the heart ( saith he ) I doe beleeue do consist in these three things ; neither doe I see what else besides these three things any child of God can pray for : two of which concernes this world : the third concernes the world to come ; all that wee can pray for , in this world , is that God would bestow vpon vs , the goods of our bodyes & soules , all outward blessings necessarie for the body , and all inward graces conuenient for the soule , and all that wee can desire in the world to come : is aeternall Blessednesse : that God as he hath giuen vs the kingdome of grace : so he would giue vs the kingdome of glory ; that he would in his good time bring vs out of this transitory world to his perpetuall kingdome , there to raigne with him world without end . And therfore wee pray Thy kingdome come . There is nothing else that wee can pray for ; All our prayers tend to this end that whilst wee liue in this world , wee may haue sufficient nourishment for our bodyes spirituall foode for our soules , and in the world to come , wee may haue life euerlasting . And in begging of these three things , three things must be auoided : in the first , Superfluitas ; in the second , Impuritas ; in the third , Arrogantia . In the first , superfluitie ; we must aske of God those things onely , which be necessary , for our bodies . In the second , Impuritie ; we must not aske and beg of God , spirituall graces , to brag and boast of them . In the third , Pride and arrogancie ; not seeking saluation in our owne works and merits , but in the mercies of God , and in the merits of our Sauiour and Redeemer Christ Iesus . In the first , in begging of things for the bodie , we must auoide superfluitie : for God will not grant our greedy desires ; neither will he listen vnto our prayers , if we doe not aske those things , which be meete for him to giue , and conuenient for vs to receiue . In oratione ( saith Zegedine ) duo spectanda : In prayer there are two things to be considered ; necessitas vel decorum ; the necessitie of those things which we aske ; and the comelinesse and meetnes of them : the necessitie ( that is ) those things which concerne the sustentation , the nourishment , the health , the freedome , and liberties of our bodies . Foode and clothing , health and liberty , is necessarie for our bodies : and these things must be asked of God , and so much of them , as will suffice , and no more : If we aske more then will suffice , to spend vpon our pleasures , or to satisfie our lusts , we shall not be heard , because we aske amisse : Yee aske and receiue not ( saith S. Iames 4.3 . ) because you aske amisse , that yee might consume it on your lusts . We must pray , as our Sauiour Christ commandeth vs ; Fanem nostrum quotidianum , da nobis hodie , Giue vs this day our daily bread : that is , giue vs those things , which be sufficient both for our bodies and soules ; giue vs the staffe of bread , which is sufficient for our bodies ; giue vs Christ , which is the bread of the faithfull , the foode of our soules ; giue vs panem praeter panem & super panem , aboue bread and besides bread ; Da nobis vtrumque panem corporis & animae , giue vs foode both for the body and soule . This I take to be the meaning of the words in generall . But if we come to handle the words in particular ; we shall finde that these three words , panem , nostrum , quotidianum , affords vs three speciall doctrines , fit for our purpose ; for whereas he saies Pan m , he bids vs aske for bread which is the common sustinance for our bodies , he would haue vs to be content with that which the Lord sends : and not to lust after the flesh pots of Egipt , to be fed with delicates and fare deliciously euery day , for if wee haue bread , if we haue wherewithall to satisfie our hunger , to quench our thirstes , and to clothe our bodyes ; wee must learne with the Apostle Paule , therewithall to be content . And whereas he saith , panem nostrum , our bread he would haue vs to be content with that which is ours , which is our owne , and not too greedily desire that which is other mens : he would not haue vs to liue vpon vsurie , oppression , theft , deceipt , falshood , he would not haue vs , so much as to couet our neighbours goods : neitheir Oxen , nor their asses , their man-seruants or their maide seruants , their wiues or their cattle nor any thing which belongs vnto them ; much lesse by force or violence , by craft or cunning to steale , or to purloine any thing from them : but to be content with that which is our owne : desiring of the Lord only ( panem nostrum ) our bread and no more . And wheras , he saith , panem nostrum quotidianum , our daily bread , he would not haue vs be too carefull for the time to come , for what wee shall eat , and what wee shall drinke and where withall wee shall be clothed ; but to take that which is present thankfully , confidently reposing and putting our trust , in the Almighty , that no want shall happen vnto vs , in regard wee haue him for our louing father , who will be as carefull ouer vs as wee can be ouer our selues : neither would he haue vs to be gluttons , and drunkards , and eate and drinke as much in one day , as would serue for many dayes ; but he would haue vs to be sober and temperate , and take no more in the day , then will serue for the day : auoiding all superfluitie , taking that only which is necessarie , no more we must vse no more wee must pray for , if wee do our p ayers shal be in vaine , wee shall not be heard , because wee aske amisse . And as wee must respect the necessi ie , so also must wee keepe a decorum in our prayers . Wee must aske of God that , which is meete for him to giue and conuenient for vs to receiue ; all superstitious , all wicked , vniust , curious , rash , presumptuous , & vnprofitable prayers must be laide a side ; and in all our prayers the special thing wee must aime at is the glory of God ; that those things , which wee pray for may be to Gods glory and our owne comfort . The prayer of the mother of Zebedeus children , was vnlawfull , because it was full of ambition , for shee dreaming of a temporall kingdome desired of our Sau our Christ honor and preferment for her sonns , that the one might sitt on his right hand th' other on his left hand in his kingdome ; Mat: the. 20.21 . Our Saviour Christ answered her with Nescitis quid petitis , you know not what you aske , rebuking them for their presumption for asking those things , which were not meete , for him to giue , and conuenient for them to receiue . The request also of Herodias daughter who asked of the king , Iohn Baptists head , was not to the glory of God ; but altogether abominable and vnlawfull and if we must not desire of men those things which be vnlawfull : much lesse of our heauenly father . Yf shee might not aske Iohn Baptist head of the king ; who was her mothers enemie : much lesse ought wee to desire of God , the hurt , destruction , or confusion of our enemies as they bee our owne enemies . Indeed , if in being our enemies , they be the enemies of God : then wee may pray with the prophet Dauid : Oh Lord confound our foes , let shame and confusion smite them , so that they may not be able to preuaile against thee and against thine anointed ; but the deprecations that wee daily vse , the curles and the plagues , which wee pray for , to light vpon one anothers heads , nay , and vpon our selues be most fearefull and most abominable ; we pray the plague , the pox , the gallowes , sudden death and a l manner of punnishments , to light vpon our selues and others : whereas if God were not more mercifull in hearing and granting , then wee be in desiring , there is no day but many of vs should be consumed : there is no hower but many of vs should perish ; there is no minute of an hower , but many of vs should haue one punishment or other light vpon vs ; Epicurus was wont to say , as * * Maximius Maximius reports : breui spatio homines omnes perituros esse , si hominum preces sequeretur deus ; that in a little time , all men should perish , and vtterly be consumed , if God should grant all men their desires ; and his reason is this , quoniam multa & acerba alij in alios precantur ; because men pray so bitterly one against another . If he might say so in his time : well wee may say so in our times : vpon whome the latter ends of the world be come : amongst whome iniquitie abounds ; for , whereas wee should pray for our enemies , and for one another , either wee neglect it , and pray not at all : or else wee pray for curses to light vpon them ; witnesse the continuall & common deprecations , which be as rise in mens mouthes , as their ordinary talking For which of vs amongst vs , ( I speake of the most part of vs ) doth not curse his enemie ? nay curse his friend ? nay , the fruit of our owne bodies ? wee do not spare , but many of vs commonly curse and bann our owne children : nay , our selues wee curse : wishing plagues to light vpon our bodyes , our soules , wee do not spare , but many of vs commonly wish damnation vnto them ; which prayers and curses if the Lord should heare , ( as no question but he doth heare them ) but if he should grant them , fearefull and lamentable were our estates ? beloued ; he doth grant them , & many times according to our owne harts desire , our bodyes consume and come to vntimely ends ; our wealth decayes and no way prospers ; our children turne disobedient riotous , vnruly and euill conditioned , & our soules are finally 〈◊〉 in hell fire ; how fearefull and lamentable be these our prayers ? and yet how ordinarily do wee vse them ? which of vs ( if wee examine our selues ) be free from them ? take heed , and take the psalmists councell ; stand in awe and sinne not ; Be carefull how thou makest such prayers vnto God ; for as sure as he liueth in heauen , he will heare them , and will send such plagues & curses vpon thee and thine as thou desirest : vnlesse thou speedily repent , such prayers wee must not vse , for they be neither meet nor conuenient , meete for God to heare , conuenient for vs to receiue , rather let vs pray with the heathen man : Da bona siue petare deus seu nulla petare & procul a nobis mala quaeque petentibus aufer , & mala siue petare nega , seu nulla petare . Grant oh Lord that wee may pray for such things as be to thy glory , or else that wee may not pray at all : and remoue farre from vs , wee beseech thee , all wicked prayers , either deny vs those things , which be hurtfull and not conuenient for vs , or else grant , that wee may make no such prayers vnto thee . And as in praing for temporary matters : wee must respect the necessitie , & keepe a Decorum : so in praying for spirituall graces , and for life euerlasting wee must respect th' end , why we pray and the manner how wee pray : wee must not pray for spirituall graces , to the end wee may be puffed vp , and so bragg and boast of them , as Hypocrits doe ; for then the Lord will not heare vs ; neither must wee seeke the kingdome of heauen , relying vpon our owne workes , and merits : as did the proud Pharisie , for then the Lord will not regard vs , but with the Apostle Paule , let vs begg for the graces need full for our soules in all simplicitie : and with the Publican for the kingdome of heauen in all humilitie : and then the Lord will giue vs those things which we desire , and then he will heare vs in those things which we pray for : Aske , ( saith Christ ) and it shall be giuen you

Thus much for the first thing obserued in the invitation ; Quid , what we must aske : the second thing obserued , is Quomodo , how we must aske . For as the Lord will not heare vs , if we doe not aske those things , which be meet and conuenient : so he will not grant our requests , vnlesse we pray as we ought to doe ; therefore it is very necessarie , for vs to learne how to pray . Now if we will pray as we ought to do , we must pray after this manner , Innocenter , humiliter , fideliter , amanter , constanter , and audacter ; innocently , humbly , faithfully , louingly , constantly and boldly : for if with our prayers , these six vertues be not ioyned , Innocencie , humilitie , faith , charitie , constancie , and courage , our prayers can be to no effect : neither can they enter into the Lords eares . For the two first : Innocencie and Humilitie , be the wings of prayer , whereby our prayers pierce the skies , and ascend to heauen gates . The second two , Faith and Charitie ▪ be the keyes of heauen gates , to let in our prayers when they are ascended : and the third two , Constancie and boldnes , be prayers aduocates to deliuer our praiers vnto the Lords eares , and to plead for such things as we pray for . Now if they want Innocencie or humilitie , our prayers cannot ascend : for they cannot flie without wings , neither will one winge suffice them to flie withall : If they want faith and charitie , they cannot enter into heauen gates , although they do ascend ; for heauen gates cannot be opened without these two keyes : neither can one key open them . And if they want constancie and boldnes , they cannot enter into the Lords eares ; for vnlesse these two preferre them , the Lord will listen to no petitions , neither dare one of these , come in Gods presence without the other . So that we may see , if any one of these vertues be wanting , we had as good not to pray at all ; for our prayers shall be in vaine ; and if with our prayers , these six vertues be ioyned , pray for what we will , ( secundum voluntatem ) according to his will , our prayers shall be heard , our requests shall be granted ; he himselfe doth promise it , Aske , ( saith Christ ) it shall be giuen you .

First , say , we must pray with innocencie , with pure hearts , cleane hands , innocent tongues , with hearts purified from idle thoughts , and worldly cogitations : Longe est enim à Deo animus qui in oratione cogitationibus saeculi est occupatus : For that heart is farre from God , which in the time of prayer is busied with the cares of this world . With hands washed from euill works , from all manner of wickednes and vngodlines ; Citius enim ad preces index flectitur , si peccator à prauitate sua corrigatur : For the iudge is sooner moued to listen vnto vs , when he sees our liues to be amended : with tongues seasoned with godly speeches , Nisi enim lingua sit pura , orationes impuras esse necess● est : For vnles our tongues be pure , it must needs be that our prayers must be altogether vnholy . Therfore when we come to pray , we must come with repentant hearts , with soules and bodies washed cleane , with the teares of repentance , hating the sinnes that we haue committed , hating our selues for committing of sin , then our prayers shall be offered vpon the Altar of our hearts , as the Lambe vpon the Altar of the Tabernacle Exo: 2. without spot or blemish : Then our prayers will smell sweet , will be as a sweet sauour in Gods nostthrills ; then our prayers will be powerfull , and will wrest blessings from the Lord : Nay then the Lord will willingly heare vs , and will willingly grant our requests : Si enim obedierimus Deo , obediet Deus orationibus nostris : If wee serue God , God will not faile , but he will be sure to serue vs . But if we come vnto him , in the midst of our sinnes , hauing our hearts polluted with wicked imaginations , our tongues poysoned with odious blasphemies , and our hands besmeared with the blood of his onely sonne , with the blood of Innocents , being full of wrongs and oppressions ; heare what the Prophet Esay saith 1.15 . When you spread forth your hands , I will hide mine eyes from you ; yea when you make many prayers , I will not heare you . Now we know that the Lord will not heare sinners , saith S. Iohn 2.31 . But as the Vnicorne will not be taken with the singing voice of a corrupt , but of a pure Virgin : and as the fish , will not come into or suffer it selfe to be inclosed , in an impure vessell , which is before moystned , and besmeared with the blood of other fishes : So the Lord will not ( as we may say ) be taken , with the hymnes , psalmes nor songs , neither with the prayers of the wicked , and vngodly ; neither is he inclined to heare those , whose hands be imbrued with cruelty , with wrongs and iniuries , and the blood of poore innocents . The Prophet Dauid often sung vnto the Lord , often cryed , often fasted , and often prayed , yet heare what he saith Psal. 66.8 . If I regard iniquitie in my heart , the Lord will not heare me . For as Bernard saith , Neque ietunium , neque silentium , neque vigilia , neque orationes , & alia bona opera grata sunt Deo , vbi virtus obedientiae deest : Neither fasting , nor silence , nor watching , nor praying , neither any good workes , are acceptable vnto God . if obedience vnto his lawes he wanting in vs : for to obey is better then sacrifice , to harken is better then the fat of Lambes . Therefore when we come to pray , with Dauid let vs wash our hands in innocencie , let vs clense our prayers in the deepe sighes of contrition , let vs wash them in the watery eares of Attrition , and embrue them in vertuous actions , and in holy cogitations , then they will shine in the Lords sight , then they will sound in the Lords eares , then they will turne vnto vs not empty , but laden with many blessings .

The second vertue , that we must ioyne with our prayers , is Humilitie ; thy prayers must be humble ; thou must pray , verecundo affectu , not daring to speake vnto the Lord , with the woman , Luk. 8. Et duro affectu , not daring to appeare in his sight , with the woman Luk. the 7. In the 8 of Luke , the woman who had the issue of blood , being ashamed to speake to IESVS ; she durst no more but touch the hemme of his garment : and Mary Magdalen in the 7. of Luke , being ashamed to appeare in his presence , shee stood behind him weeping , being wonderfully affectioned , shee washed his feete with her teares , and wiped them with the haires of her head . When we pray , let vs be ashamed of our selues , let vs be ashamed to come before God , let vs stand a far off , with the Publican , let vs hold downe our heads , knock our brests , and iudge our selues altogether vnworthy to bee heard , or to be regarded of the Almighty , and then our prayers from our lowly hearts , will no question flie vnto the highest heauens : Nam quando humilis oratio fuerit , ( saith S. Bernard ) coelum sine dubio penetrabit , vnde certum est , quod vacua redire non possit ; When our prayer is humble , it will without all question , pierce into the highest heauens , from whence it can by no meanes returne empty . Let me speake vnto the Lord , who am but dust and ashes , saith the holy father Abraham : He was a holy Patriarke , a man of great substance , one beloued of God , one who was reputed faithfull , and one in whose seede all the nations of the earth should be blessed ; yet wee may see , how in his prayer he humbleth himselfe ; he brags not of his riches , he boasts not in his good workes , he glories not in his promised posteritie , but acknowledgeth from whence he came , namely , out of the earth ; he confesseth what he is , made of , Dust and Ashes ; and as dust and ashes he humbles himselfe at Gods feete , before he durst make his praier vnto him : Haec est vera oratio this is true prayer , which is made in all humilitie : so saith Gregory in his Mor: Ille Deo veram orationem exhibet , qui semetipsum cognoscit , quia puluis humiliter vi it , qui nihil sibi virtutis tribuit , qui bona quae ugit , esse de misericordia conditoris agnoscit : He prayes rightly vnto God , ( saith he ) which knowes himselfe to be but iust and ashes , who attributes no goodnes vnto himselfe , but ascribes all vnto his Lord and maker . So did the Prophet Dauid , who makes himselfe a worme and no man , he makes himself a worme the least of all creatures , and by that meanes , becomes to be one of the greatest in Gods fauour : He sinned , and acknowledged his sinnes , he prai'd in all humilitie , and by his humble confession and lowly prayers , he obtained pardon for all his transgressions . So must we pray , if we will be heard , if we will haue our prayers ascend : wee must descend , not downe into earth , but cast our selues vpon the earth : wee must become lowly in our owne eies , and little in our owne conceipts , if wee will haue our prayers mount , if with the archer wee will haue our arrowe fly very high , if wee will haue our prayers fly to the highest : wee must bend backward very low , wee must humble our selues in all humilitie and then they will pierce the skies , for the praiers of him that humbleth himselfe , ( sayth the sonne of Sirach ) Eccle : 35.14 . goeth through th clouds , and ceaseth not vntill it come neere : and will not depart vntill the most high haue respect thereunto .

The third vertue that wee must ioyne with our prayers is faith , wee must Credere Deum , wee must beleiue that there is a God that doth heare our prayers and wee must Credere Deo , wee must beleeue that God , who doth heare our prayers , will performe our requests , it he shall see them conuenient for vs : If we do not beleeue there is a God , how shall we call vpon him ; How shall they call vpon him , in whom they haue not beleeued ? saith the Apostle Paul , Rom. 10.14 . And if we do not beleeue , that this God will heare vs , and will grant our requests , let vs neuer looke to receiue any blessing , so saith S. Iames , speaking of the wauering-minded man ; Let not that man ( saith he ) thinke that he shall receiue any thing of the Lord , Iam. 1.7 . If any man lacke wisdome , let him aske , and it shall be giuen him : But let him aske in faith , and wauer not , for he that wauereth ( as you may read in the former verses ) is like vnto the waues of the sea tossed in the winde , and caried away , he is vnconstant in all his actions , and therefore vnconstant in all his prayers ; hee beleeues euery thing , and therefore he beleeues nothing : as the waues of the sea be tossed here and there , and seldome at quiet ; so his minde neuer rests vpon one thing , but he is subiect to much variablenes , for now he thinks he shall be heard , presently he thinks not , sometimes he thinks that there is a God , another time doubts whether there be or no ; at one time he make no question of Gods abilitie and all-sufficiencie , another time he makes a question , as in his actions doeth plainely appeare , whether God can heare if his necessitie should require . How can God heare this man , who is so suspicious of him ? he cannot heare him : and why ? because he doth not pray ; for prayer without faith , is no prayer at all . Sola enim fides invocat eaque sola impetrat , fieri enim potest vt citra fidem quis Deo placeat : For it is faith onely that prayes , it is faith onely that calls vpon God , and without faith it is impossible to please him . Hebr. 11.6 . for he that commeth to God must beleeue that God is , and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him . Therefore saith our Sauiour Christ , Mar. 11.24 . I say vnto yee , whatsoeuer you desire when you pray , beleeue that yee shall haue it , and 〈◊〉 be done vnto you . This counsell the Prophet Dauid tooke Psal. 17.6 . I haue called vpon thee , ô God , for thou shalt heare me : and in the 55.17 . As for me I will call vpon God , and the Lord shal saue me . He prayed without wauering , he prayed without doubting ; he was so confident in prayer , that he said the Lord should heare him : he bindes God to performe that which he promiseth . God promiseth to heare all those who faithfully call vpon him , and therefore Dauid according to Gods promise will be heard . This counsell of our Sauiour Christ let vs also embrace , that which we pray for , let vs make no question but to obtaine ; let not the least doubt at all enter into vs ; let vs pray without doubting , and then without doubt we shall be heard .

The fourth vertue that we must ioyne with our prayers is Charitie ; and if we will haue this vertue Charitie accompanie our prayers , dandum est egentibus , ignoscendum est delinquentibus & orandum est pro omnibus : We must giue to others , we must forgiue others , and we must pray for others . We must giue vnto others , we must ioyne with our prayers , Almes ; and then our prayers and our Almes shall come vp into remembrance before God , as did the prayers and Almes of Cornelius , Act : 10. Then our prayers will enter into the Lords eares , Esay 58.7 . Deale thy bread to the hungry ; bring the poore that wander vnto thine house , and when thou seest the naked couer him , then shalt thou call , and the Lord shall answer , thou shalt cry , and he shall say , here I am . Secondly , we must forgiue others , if we our selues will be forgiuen , we must forgiue them that trespasse against vs : It is a petition we daily vse , Forgiue vs our trespasses , as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs . Thus we say : Sed vide quid dicas ( saith Ambrose ) quomodo dimitto sic & tu dimitte mihi , si dimiseris , bene conuenit vt dimittat tibi : si non dimiseris , quomodo convenit vt tibi dimittat ? Take heede and marke well what thou sayest , as I forgiue , so doe thou O Lord forgiue me ; if thou doest forgiue , it agrees well that God should forgiue thee : but if thou dost not forgiue , it doth not agree with Gods Iustice to forgiue thee thy sinnes committed against him . If thou dost not forgiue , thou shalt not be forgiuen ; if thou shewest no mercy , thou shalt finde no mercy in the time of neede ; for there shall be iudgment mercilesse to him that sheweth no mercy , saith S. Iames . 2.13 . Quod serimus metimus , quod damus accipimus : That which we sowe we shall reape , that which we giue we shall receiue . If wee sowe no forgiuenesse , we shall reape none ; if we giue no forgiuenesse , no forgiuenesse shall be giuen vnto vs when we pray for it . Therefore saith our Sauiour Christ Mar. 11.25 . But when you shall stand and pray forgiue , if you haue any thing against any man , that your Father also which is in heauen may forgiue you your trespasses : for if you will not forgiue , your Father which is in heauen will not pardon you your trespasses . Thirdly , wee must pray for others : We must pray for all men , first of all sorts : I will that first of all supplications and prayers , intercessions and giuing of thanks be made for all men , for Kings and all that are in authoritie ; for all men : that is , for all that be the children of election , for those that be of the houshold of Faith : For all men , that is , for all men in generall : for if we be bound by the words of the Apostle to doe good vnto all men , I see no reason , no more doe many other Diuines , which I haue read vpon this place , but that likewise we should pray for all men ; be they either Turkes , infidels , heathen , the enemies of God , or the enemies of our selues ; we must pray for their conuersion , if it be the will of God , that they may be conuerted . But most especially we that be Christians , we that be of the houshold of Faith , we ought to pray for one another ; Charitie bids vs , God commands vs : Non dicimus , pater meus , ( saith Cyprian de orat : Dom● ) sed noster , nec da mihi , sed da nobis , quia Christianitatis magister , noluit pri●atim precem fieri , vt scilicet quis prose tant●m precetur : vnum enim orare pro omnibus voluit , quando in vno omnes ipse portauit . We doe not say when we pray , as Christ hath commanded vs , my Father , but our Father ; nor , giue vnto me , but giue vnto vs : because he that is master of Christi anitie , would not that priuate prayer should be made , that is , that a man should pray for himselfe onely , or for his priuate houshold : but he would haue vs to pray for all in one , because as all in one he hath borne our infirmities . And the same Father writing vpon Matthew , vseth these words : Pro se orare necessitas cogit , pro alijs autem Charitas fraternitatis hortatur : To pray for our selues , necessitie compells vs ; to pray for others , brotherly Chatitie exhorts vs . Let vs therfore when we doe pray , pray not only for our selues , but for others ; not only for our friends , but for our enemies ; not only for some particular men , but for all men in generall . Pray for one another ( saith S. Iames ) that ye may be healed , for the praier of the righteous man auaileth much if it be feruent . Iam. 5.16 .

Fiftly , we must pray with constancie , with perseuerance , holding out vnto the end : Pray continually ( saith the Apostle Paul , Thessal : 5.17 . that is , continue in prayer : not all the time of your liues ; for the Wiseman saith , Eccles. 3.1 . That to all things there is an appointed time , a time to be borne , a time to dye , a time to plant , and a time to plucke vp that which is planted , a time to weepe and a time to laugh . But he would haue vs spend as much time as may be in prayer : we must with our Sauiour if need require , spend whole nights in prayer : we must with Daniel , pray thrice a day , in the morning , at noone , and at night : wee must begin our worke with prayer , goe forward with prayer , end it with prayer : and not onely doe thus one day , but all the daies of our liues ; we must hold out vnto the end , and then we shall obtaine the crowne . Let perseuerance plead for thee , and then thou shalt be surely heard : leaue not the Lord , but call vpon him continually from time to time , and at the end he will heare thee . The Cananitish woman with her constancie and perseuerance in calling vpon Christ , moued him to heale her daughter : the borrower of three loaues of bread , with his often knocking , obtained his request : and the widdow with her importunitie , moued the vnrighteous Iudge , to doe her iustice : And shall not God auenge his ? shall he not heare his Elect , which day and night call vpon him ? yea though he suffer them long , I tell you he will auenge them , he will heare them , and that quickly . If we continue to call vpon God , he will heare vs although not at the first time , yet at the second ; if not at the second , yet at the third ; if not at the third time , yet at many times ; if not at many times , yet once amongst many times he will heare . And if he once heare vs , we shall be sure to haue , that which is conuenient for vs ; and if before he had seene it necessarie for vs , we should without all question haue had it . Fideliter enim supplicans Deo ( saith Aug. in lib. Sent: ) misericorditer auditur , & misericorditer non auditur , quid enim infirmo sit vtilius , nouit magis medicus quam aegrotus : He that makes his faithfull and humble supplication vnto God , in mercy he is heard , and in mercy he is not heard : because he who is the phisition of our soules knowes better what is needfull for vs , then wee who be his weake patients . Therefore let vs be constant in calling vpon God and continue to cry vnto him : knowing that although he tarry long , that yet at last he will heare vs to our greater benefit .