Chapter V. Six things which may help in the exercise of prayer

These, Christian reader, are the Meditations for exercise through the days of the week, so that you may not fail of material for your thoughts. But — here, as matter to think upon, you must note — that there are certain things which should precede the Meditation, and some which should come after and accompany it. For, first, before we enter upon the meditation, it is necessary (1) to prepare the heart for this holy exercise, as one would tune a guitar for playing on it.

After the preparation should follow (2) the reading of the passages on which we are to meditate upon that day, according to the distribution for the days of the week. This is certainly necessary at first, till we know (3) what we have to meditate upon. After the meditation may follow (4) a devout thanksgiving for benefits received. and (5) an offering of our whole life, and of that of our Saviour Christ, in acknowledgment of them. The last part is (6) the petition, rightly called Prayer, in which we ask for all that is needful for our salvation, as well as for that of our neighbours, and the whole Church. These six things will all help in the Prayer; and, with other advantages, they have, moreover, this : that -they give more abundant matter for meditation, setting before us different kinds of spiritual food, so that if we cannot partake of one, we may take another; and if on one point the thread of our Meditation should come to an end, one may soon enter upon another which may present something else for Meditation. I see, indeed, tha though neither all these divisions nor this arrangement may be always necessary, yet nevertheless it will help beginners by giving them some method and line of arrangement by which they may guide themselves in their first steps. Therefore I do not wish by anything said here to lay down any invariable law or rule. For it was not my intention to prescribe a law, but rather to give an introduction to those inexperienced in this practice, in which, after they have entered upon it, use and experience, and still more the Holy Spirit, will teach them all the rest.