Needs reviewMost quotes start here until readers rate them or add a source — you can help.

Prayer, after the common definition of the doctors, is a lifting up of a pure mind to God, wherein we ask somewhat of him. This definition of prayer seemeth unto me so godly, and in every part agreeable to the holy scriptures, that I think it my bounden duty to search out every word of it in order, and to compare it with the most sacred scriptures and the sayings of the ancient doctors. First, it teacheth us that "prayer is a lifting up of a pure mind." Note, first of all, that it saith, "a lifting up." What other thing meaneth this word, "lifting up," than to shew that whosoever intendeth to pray must utterly seclude and put out of his heart all vain cogitations and worldly thoughts, all carnal fantasies, all ungodly imaginations; to conclude, all such things as might make the heart of him that prayeth to creep upon the ground, to alienate and estrange his mind from the meditation of celestial and divine matters?

Thomas Becon — The Early Works of Thomas Becon, S.T.P., Chaplain to Archbishop Cranmer, Prebendary of Canterbury, &c., being the Treatises published by him in the Reign of King Henry VIII, edited for the Parker Society by Rev. John Ayre (Cambridge: Printed at the University Press, 1843), "The Pathway unto Prayer," chapter 1, "What Prayer Is," p. 130

Added by Postmilstill archive · 1h ago

Citation look off? Sign in to suggest a source or rate accuracy.

Where this is from

Work title, edition, or primary text used to cite this quote.

The Early Works of Thomas Becon, S.T.P., Chaplain to Archbishop Cranmer, Prebendary of Canterbury, &c., being the Treatises published by him in the Reign of King Henry VIII, edited for the Parker Society by Rev. John Ayre (Cambridge: Printed at the University Press, 1843), "The Pathway unto Prayer," chapter 1, "What Prayer Is," p. 130

Thomas Becon, The Early Works of Thomas Becon, S.T.P., Chaplain to Archbishop Cranmer, Prebendary of Canterbury, &c., being the Treatises published by him in the Reign of King Henry VIII, edited for the Parker Society by Rev. John Ayre (Cambridge: Printed at the University Press, 1843), "The Pathway unto Prayer," chapter 1, "What Prayer Is," p. 130 (archive.org) - The Early Works of Thomas Becon, S.T.P., Chaplain to Archbishop Cranmer, Prebendary of Canterbury, &c., being the Treatises published by him in the Reign of King Henry VIII, edited for the Parker Society by Rev. John Ayre (Cambridge: Printed at the University Press, 1843), "The Pathway unto Prayer," chapter 1, "What Prayer Is," p. 130

Open source text

Margin notes

Discussion

Share context, ask questions, or discuss this quote. Comments are separate from source proposals and verification ratings.

All discussions →

No comments yet.

Loading…