s if there could be one God who could help
the body, and another God who could help the soul; or as if we would
help ourselves in spiritual need, although it really is greater than
the bodily need. Such plan and counsel is of the devil.

Not so, my good man! If you wish to be cured of sin, you must not
withdraw from God, but run to Him, and pray with much more confidence
than if a bodily need had overtaken you. God is not hostile to sinners,
but only to unbelievers, that is, to such as do not recognize and
lament their sin, nor seek help against it from God, but in their own
presumption wish first to purify themselves, are unwilling to be in
need of His grace, and will not suffer Him to be a God Who gives to
everyone and takes nothing in return.

XI. All this has been said of prayer for personal needs, and of prayer
in general. But the prayer which really belongs to this Commandment and
is called a work of the Holy Day, is far better and greater, and is to
be made for all Christendom, for all the need of all men, of foe and
friend, especially for those who belong to the parish or bishopric.

Thus St. Paul commanded his disciple Timothy: "exhort thee, that thou
see to it, that prayers and intercessions be made for all men, for
kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and
acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour." For this reason Jeremiah,
chapter xxix, commanded the people of Israel to pray for the city and
land of Babylon, because in the peace thereof they should have peace.
And Baruch i: "Pray for the life of the king of Babylon and for the
life of his son, that we may live in peace under their rule."

This common prayer is precious and the most powerful, and it is for its
sake that we come together. For this reason also the Church is called a
House of Prayer, because in it we are as a congregation with one accord
to consider our need and the needs of all men, present them before God,
and call upon Him for mercy. But this must be done with heart-felt
emotion and sincerity, so that we feel in our hearts the need of all
men, and that we pray with true sympathy for them, in true faith and
confidence. Where such prayers are not made in the mass, it were better
to omit the mass. For what sense is there in our coming together into a
House of Prayer, which coming together shows that we should make common
prayer and petition for t