e prayers and holy
thoughts, and a clear mind about GOD, and GOD'S deeds; these and others
like them will allow of little rest, if they be well (done). Prayer is a
sacrifice that greatly pleases GOD, if it be made in the manner it ought
to be: therefore GOD asks it of us as a debt, when He says this:--"GOD
created the peoples for His praise and His glory"; and "the Sacrifice of
praise shall honour Me." And the Apostle, "we ought always to pray and
not to faint." Therefore, it behoves man ever to pray and never to fail.
He is ever praying, who is doing good. And certainly men of religion are
bound to worship GOD with prayer, and men of Holy Church; for they live
by alms and tenths: for all the world labours to bring them what they
need close at hand, so that they may serve GOD in rest, and with their
holy prayers make reconciliation between GOD and man. And also maidens
and widows who have taken the oath of chastity, all these, more than
others, are bound to pray. He that will please GOD with prayer will
offer it to GOD with a free will and loving heart, and will prepare
himself before, as Solomon counsels: "Before prayer, prepare thy soul,
and be not as one that tempteth GOD." He tempts GOD who yearns not to
win that for which he prays: or despairs to speed well therein; and who
makes sin and evil life: such a man thinks not he loves. Of such S.
Gregory speaks:--"What wonder if tardily our prayers are heard by the
Lord, when we tardily or not at all hear the Lord when He commands?" And
Isidore:--"He cannot have assured confidence in his prayers who even
thus far in the commands of GOD is slothful, and whom the remembrance of
sinful doing delights." Whoever will speed of his prayer, let him do
what good he can; flee sin, call his heart from the world, and keep it
at home as the Gospel teaches; "When thou prayest, enter into thy
closet, and shut thy door, and pray to thy Father." "Enter," he says,
"thy bed," that is, "call thine heart home," and "then fasten thy door";
i.e., "hold thy wits in thee, that none go out." For it is but folly to
pray to GOD to come to us, poor needy wretches, to give us alms of His
dear-worthy grace, and not abide His coming, but turn our back on Him.
S. Isidore says that the soul must be cleansed from the stain of sin,
and the heart be withdrawn from the provocations of the world, in order
that prayer may rise without hindrance to GOD. For far is that man from
GOD, pray he never so much, whose p