Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

of the quantity of our prayers; frequencie, thou mayefl ufe moderation and make thy prayers with much skill. Agreeable to which advice was the praetice of the faithfull in Egypt; of whom Augufline, Dieun- turfratres in e/E ro pto crebras quidem habere orationes, fed eas tarnen brevifsir as & raptim quodammodo f acula. tas, n'e ilia vigilanter erecla ( qux oranti plurirnúm ne- cellaria ell) per producliores morns evarnefcat at que hebe- te.tur intentio: The brethren in Egypt are reported to have made many prayers, but withall fuch as were very brief, and in a manner fuddenly darted, left that intention vigilantly railed ( which is very neceffary to him that prayeth) íhould by long con- tinuance vanifh and be blunted. And herein our Sa- viour Chrifi bath given us a precedent, Matth. 26. 3942,44. Wherefore howfoever fome do carp at the fhort prayers in our Liturgie, calling them fhreds, and wifhing that in one continued prayer all our requefis fhould be joyned; notwithfianding the wifdome of thofe learned and godly men who out of the moll ancient Liturgies compiled ours is to be commended,who confidering that our long con- tinued prayer would to the greatefi fort feem tedi- ous and breed difiration and wandring thoughts, have fet forth many fhort prayers to avoid weari- fomeneffe, and to keep the mind of the people at- tentive. CHAP.