the words of those that pray, yet St. Bernard is far of another
opinion, where he saith, "God heareth not the words of one that
prayeth, unless he that prayeth heareth them first himself." The
Pope is a mere tormentor of the conscience. The assembly of his
greased and religious crew in praying was altogether like the
croaking of frogs, which edified nothing at all. It was mere
sophistry, and deceiving, fruitless, and unprofitable.

Prayer is a strong wall, and a fort of the church; it is a godly
Christian's weapon, which no man knoweth nor findeth, but only he
who hath the spirit of grace and of prayer.

The three first petitions in our Lord's prayer do comprehend such
great and celestial things, that no heart is able to search them
out. The fourth petition containeth the whole policy and economy,
or the temporal and house-government, and all things necessary for
this life. The fifth prayer striveth and fighteth against our own
evil consciences, against original and actual sins, which trouble
the same, etc. Truly they were penned by wisdom itself; none but
God could have done the like.

We cannot pray without faith in Christ the Mediator. The Turks, the
Jews, and the ungodly may rehearse and speak the words of prayer
after one, but they cannot pray. And although the Apostles were
taught this prayer by Christ, and prayed often, yet they prayed not
as they should have prayed: for Christ saith, "Hitherto ye have not
prayed in my name;" whereas, doubtless, they had prayed much, and
spoken the words. But when the Holy Ghost came, then they prayed
aright in the name of Christ. If praying and reading of prayer be
but only a bare work, as the Papists hold it to be, then the