OF SIXE THINGES THAT MAIE concurre in the exercise of praier. CHAP. IV

THESE be, good Christian reader, the meditations in which thou maist exercise thy selfe, in all the daies of the weeke, that so thou want not matter, whereof to thinke. Bud here it is to be noted, that some things maie goe before this meditation, and som others follow after it, which be annexed vnto the former, and as it were neighbours vnto them.

For first, before we enter into meditation, it is requisite that we prepare our hart vnto this holie excercise, which is as to tune a viall, before we plaie vppon it.

After preparation foloweth the reading of that matter, which we be to meditate vppon that daie, according to the distribution of the daies of the weeke, as hath ben said before. Which reading is vndowtedlie necessarie for such, as ar beginners, vntill a man dooe know, what he owght to meditate vppon. After he maie proceede vnto meditation.

Next to meditation there maie folow out of hand a deuoute giuing of thankes for the benifits which we haue receaued, with an offering vp of al our life, and of the life of our Sauiour Christ, The last part is the Petition which is properlie called praier, in which we demaund all that, which is behoueful as wel for the saluation of our selus, as of our neighbours, and of al the whole Catholike churche.

These six things maie be exercised in praier, which things, emong other commodities and porfits, bring this also, that they yeeld vnto a man more plentie of matter, where vppon to meditate, setting before him all these diuersities of meats, that in case he can not eate of one, he maie eate of an other, and that when he hath made an end of meditation in one matter, he maie enter into an other; and there find other matter, wherein to continew his meditation.

I know right wel, that nether all these partes, nor this order is alwaies necessarie, yet this manner wil serue for nouices, and young beginners; that so they may haue som order, & direction wherby to gouerne them selues at the beginning. And therefore of anie thing that shalbe here treated, I would not that anie man should make a perpetual, or general rule: because my intent is not to make anie law, but to shew an introduction, thereby to direct nouices and beginners, and to put them in this waye: in which course after that they shalbe once entred, then the very vse and experience, and much more the holy ghost wil teach them the rest, that they haue to dooe herein.