Page:Deespirits.djvu/65

could do no good upon him, fuch was his confidence and violence upon this occafion, though otherwife a very moderate ingenuous man: And thus I found him more then once, or twice. Truly, I think God was very merciful unto him, that took him away in good time. But certainly this bufinefs of Prayer and praifing, is a bufinefs as of great comfort (the greateſt that mortal man is capable of upon earth) fo of much more danger and delufion, then many do believe. And if caution and circumfpection be to be uſed in any thing that belongs to Religion, I think it ought in Prayer, as much as any thing. And fince I have adventured to tell one flory upon mine own credit, I will tell one more upon better authority, which I have long defired (for the obfervablenefs of it) to con municate unto the world, and to that end, had once inferted it in a Treatife of mine, which I thought would have been Printed, but it was not: I will first give the English of it, that all men may reap the benefit, and then fet it down in the words of my Author (mine own Father Ifaac Cafauben, of b. m.) as I have it to fhew under his hand.

At a Confiftory in Geneva, upon a Friday, 18 July, 1589. The cafe of one Mr. Nicholas being there propofed to the Affembly to be confidered of, who was wont to infinuate himself into private Honfes, under pretence of praying, and made fmall congregations: The bufinefs was difliked by the Paftors; First, becaufe nothing in the Church of God ought to be done without order. Secondly, becaufe to turn fuch duties of Religion to matter of Traffick to get money onely, (without any other end or calling) was not lawful. Thirdly and lafily, his battalogy, (or vain repetition of words) was not to be fuffered: Then проп this occafion it was related by Mr. Beza, that the Saturday before, whileft that sharp conflict was, which we had before our eyes, (to wit, between the Genevians, and the Duke of Savoys Forces) that a certain Woman addreffed her felf to bim, faying, What Mr. Beza, will you make Prayers here? To which he had anfwered, No: What, do you think I do behold these things with mine eyes onely. and do not pray to God in my heart? Giving this reafon for his answer he bad mad: to the Woman: [It is not fo expreffèd in the Latine, that the following words were Beza's words, but the coherence of matter doth fo require it] That Prayer was certainly a holy thing, which it did not become any man to apply himself unto, (or to undertake) without due preparation: And that they were deceived, who thought it fo eafie a thing to pray rightly: And that care alfo fhould be taken left [under a colour of zeal and devotion] a way be made to fuperftition: The Latine words are thefe,