of prayer.

CHRIST. Man that is born

of woman lives but for a short time, and is filled with many miseries. But he is more miserable still, if, amidst those very miseries, he knows not that he is wretched, and poor, and naked, and weak; so that he neither searches for the remedies that would cure him, nor places his help in God. If thou art thus ignorant, my son, withdraw with me a little space from the crowd of men. I will lead thee into a lonely place, and there speak to thee in

perchance, acknowledge thy

misery and thy nakedness.

Remember then, O man, that it is I who made thee, and not thou thyself; and that I created thee to my own image when thou wert not. When thou wert lost, I redeemed thee myself, not with the gold, or the silver, or the precious stones, that perish, but with my own blood, which I shed for thee. And why? That thou mightest praise my name, and serve me in this life, and reign with me hereafter for ever.

See, then, to what dangers

B

and ills thou art exposed in the way wherein thou walk est, before thou reachest to the goal. Art thou not sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death? Art thou not walking in the midst of snares? Turn thee whithersoever thou wilt, whether to the right hand or to the left, every where are enemies and snares; fightings without, fears within. The devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour. The whole world, seated in wickedness, allures but to deceive; the flesh, thy household foe, more dangerous than all, flatters but to corrupt. The creatures, which ought to be thy steps of ascent to the Creator, are made a snare for the feet of the unwise. Thy very senses are doors and windows by which death enters into thy soul.

MAN. Too often, O Lord, have I found what thou say est to be true: what wonder, then, if I too exclaim, Unhappy man that I am, who will deliver me from the body of this death? Whither shall I turn in the midst of so many dangers ? What shall I do, that my feet may be guided into the way of peace and safety, that I may not be lost, but come securely to the goal, to thee, my God, who art my sovereign good? I am perplexed on every side, but know not what I ought to do; I have no resource left

but to lift up my eyes to thee in heaven, from whence cometh my help.

CHRIST. This is what I would have thee convinced of above all things, that thou may est understand how necessary for thee is serious and frequent PRAYER. Call on me, therefore, in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. In vain is the net spread before the eyes of the winged ones, of those who build their nest in the heavens, and in spirit fly thither from the earth. For they who dwell under the defence of the Most High abide securely under the protection of the God of heaven. Dost thou think thyself safe while thou trustest to thy own skill, and makest flesh thy arm? The thoughts of men are fearful, and their counsels uncertain. Without me you can do nothing; for it is I who give the will, the power, and the deed.

They who, without prayer, have ventured on great things, or attempted to effect the thoughts and purposes of their hearts, have been brought to nothing, and been confounded. They have woven spiders' webs; they have been like a garden without water, and like the ashes of tow. But look at the man that is given to prayer. He shall be like a tree planted by the waterside; all his works shall prosper. Search the

Scriptures, for they testify of things wonderful and above the strength of nature, which have been done by the power of prayer, by calling on the name of the Lord, who alone doth wonderful things.

MAN. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am poor and needy, and like a little child who knows not his going out and his coming in; who has, indeed, hands, and feet, but can go nowhere but by the help of his mother or his nurse. In vain I strive and labour in the sweat of my face to attempt any thing great or small without thee, in whom we all live, move, and are; and are not able to think any thing of ourselves as of ourselves, but all our sufficiency is from God.

CHRIST. Therefore, my son, if thou hast need of wisdom or of knowledge, ask of me, and it shall be given thee. In me are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge. Thou deceivest thyself if thou neglectest prayer, and thinkest that these may be acquired only by attention and by human skill. Hast thou not heard many of my servants frankly acknowledge that they have advanced more by prayer than by much reading and study? Dost thou desire riches and honours? The whole world is mine, and the fulness thereof. Mine is counsel, and prudence, and might. By me kings reign, mine are riches

and honour, wealth and justice. It is I, the Lord, who raise the poor out of the dust. It is easy for me in a moment to make the poor honourable, and to place the lowly among the princes of his people. Dost thou desire strength, health, or length of days? Know that nothing is done on earth without cause, and that pain springs not from the ground. It is I who command the sea, the wind, and the elements; and forthwith all obey me.

I kill, and I

§ 2. Preparation for prayer by the affections of humility, and penitence, or contrition. MAN. Truly every good and every perfect gift is from above, from thee, Father most good, who givest bountifully to all; and art so ready to give, that thou desirest, nay, commandest, us to ask.

My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready to speak to thee often, and to pour forth my prayer before thee.

But what is man that thou magnifiest him, and so lovingly invitest him to pray to, or rather converse with, thee? Shall I appear before thee,

and speak to my Lord, who am dust and ashes; nay worse, an unworthy and thankless sinner, who have so often insulted and offended thy majesty? Alas, if the just begins his speech by accusing himself, and dares not approach to thee, where shall I, the wicked and the sinner, appear? Is it, then, strange, that my spirit is troubled, and my heart vexed within me, if I am straitened on every side, while I reflect on the necessity of prayer, and how unworthy I am to pray? But whither shall I go from thy spirit, or whither shall I fly from thy presence? I am thy servant give me understanding, and teach me to do thy will.

CHRIST. It is I who exhort and invite thee to pray and to speak with me. Come, then, and do not fear. But beware thou come not unprepared. Consider Moses, who, before he came to converse with me, was commanded to put off the shoes from his feet. Follow, then, his example. First put off the actions and desires that are stained with the dust of the earth. For many rush irreverently and rashly to speak with me, as if they thought of nothing less than my presence, or that none are less worthy of honour and respect. Is it thus that the culprit conducts himself before his judge, the dependant before his lord, the servant before his master,

the beggar before the rich man? Nay, does a man speak thus to another who is his equal? If, then, thou wilt please me, or escape the fierceness of my wrath, be more diligent to prepare thyself to pray. For cursed is he who doeth the work of God negligently.

Before prayer, therefore, prepare thy soul, and be not as a man that tempteth God. He does this who asks of me by means that are unusual, or not rightly ordained; who dares to expect fruit from that prayer which is begun without care and attention, and performed in a dry spirit, without pleasure and affection. These are they who honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But see what this preparation requires of thee to do.

First of all, be sorry from the bottom of thy heart that thou hast so often offended me by sin, for praise is not comely in the mouth of a sinner. For how wilt thou tell of my justice, and take my testament in thy mouth, thou, who hatest my discipline, and hast thrown my words behind thee? Whom should I more readily and graciously look upon than him who is of an humble spirit, a contrite heart, and who trembles at my words? I will do the will of them that fear me, and will hear their prayer. Oh, how often have I called thee, and