Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

86 That we muff not pray with wandring thoughts; God; and to utter nothing but that which the mind loth indite. And therefore we mull take heed that the fpeech of the mouth do not go before but al- wayes follow the conceit of the mind. For many times it cometh to paffe, that as the muficians fin-. gers will run over a Fong which he hath been ufed to play although his mind be otherwife occupied, fo in prayer the tongue will run over that form of words which it hath been ufed to utter, though the mind be roving about other matters. But this ought not fo to be: for howfoever the Schoolmen do not require an aCtuall intention of the mind in pray- er, but onely a purpofe to pray in the beginning ( therein framing their doarine to their prahice, and not their practice to Gods word) yet feeing this kind of prayer proceedeth from the mouth and not from the heart , it is but lip- labour in the fight of God. For as Cyprian faith, auje eft seam. de 0- enirn fignitia abalienari er capi ineptis cogitationi- ra. vomini. bus b profanis cúm Deum deprecaris quaff fit aliud quodmagás debeas cogitare, quoin; quod cum Deo loquaris? 9,uomodo teaudiri i Deopoflulas,cUrn teipf non audi4c? Yis enim Deum memorem tui cúm ragas, ctim to ipfe mema, tui non fis ? that is, What a negli- gent (loth is this, to be alienated and carried away with foolifh cogitations and profane when thou pray& unto God, as though there were fomething elfe which thou oughtefl rather to think on then of that whereof thou fpeakeft with God,: How doff thou defire that God fhould heare thee, when as thou doll not heare thy felf r For wilt thou have od mindful" of thee when thou.askett,feeing thou art