Part II — Preces Quotidianae
§39 *Ante Concionem Cautela cum Precatione ex Fulgentii l. i. ad Mon.*
Printed 381
1tionis suæ internam suavioremque doctrinam docere
2dignetur; quæ sic proponam, sic asseram, ut in pro-
3positionibus et assertionibus meis, veritati semper in-
4hæream: ab hac ipsissima veritate postulo, doceri multo
5plura quæ nescio, a quo accepi pauca quæ scio.
6Ipsam rogo ut (præveniente ac subsequente misericordia)
7quæcunque salubriter scienda nescio, doceat me; in
8his, quæ vera novi, custodiat me; in quibus, ut homo
9fallor, corrigat me; in quibus veris titubo, confirmet
10me, et a falsis et noxiis eripiat me, et ea faciat de
11ore meo procedere, quæ sunt coram ipsa veritate
12principaliter grata, sic fiant fidelibus cunctis accepta,
13per Jesum Christum, Dominum ac Servatorem nostrum.
14Ἀφορμαὶ Meditationum ante Preces Pœnitentiales.
15Luc. x. 41.Μεριμνᾷς περὶ πολλὰ, ἑνὸς δέ ἐστι χρεία.
16Act. vi. 4.Ἡμεῖς δὲ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ διακονίᾳ τοῦ
17λόγου προσκαρτερήσομεν.
18Luc. xxi. 36.Ἀγρυπνεῖτε ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ, δεόμενοι ἵνα
19καταξιωθῆτε ἐκφυγεῖν τὰ μέλλοντα γίνεσθαι.
20Ecclus. xiii. 14.Per omnem vitam tuam dilige Deum,
21et invoca Eum pro salute tua.
22Ecclus. vii. 17.Humilia valde spiritum tuum: quoniam
23vindicta carnis impii, ignis et vermis.
24Jo. iii. 27.Οὐ δύναται ἄνθρωπος λαμβάνειν οὐδὲν, ἐὰν
25μὴ ᾖ δεδομένον.
26Cyprian.Si Ille orabat qui sine peccato erat, quanto
27magis peccatorem orare oportet.
28Idem.Deus autem non vocis, sed cordis, auditor est.
29August.Plus gemitibus, quam sermonibus agitur.
English
1the inward and sweeter teaching of his own inspiration — which I may so set forth and so affirm that in my propositions and affirmations I may cleave alway to the truth: of this very Truth I ask to be taught the many things I know not, of whom I received the few things I know.
2Her I entreat that (by mercy going before me and following after) she would teach me whatsoever I know not that is needful to be known; keep me in those things which I truly know; correct me in those wherein, being a man, I am deceived; confirm me in those truths wherein I stagger, and deliver me from what is false and hurtful; and make those things to proceed out of my mouth which are chiefly pleasing before the Truth herself, that so they may be acceptable to all the faithful, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
3OCCASIONS of Meditation before the Penitential Prayers.
4Luke x. 41.Thou art careful about many things, but one thing is needful.
5Acts vi. 4.But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the
6ministry of the word.
7Luke xxi. 36.Watch ye at every season, praying that ye may be
8accounted worthy to escape the things that shall come to pass.
9Ecclus. xiii. 14.Through thy whole life love God,
10and call upon him for thy salvation.
11Ecclus. vii. 17.Humble thy spirit greatly: for the vengeance
12of the ungodly man's flesh is fire and worms.
13John iii. 27.A man can receive nothing, except
14it be given him.
15Cyprian.If He prayed who was without sin, how much
16more ought a sinner to pray.
17The same.But God is a hearer, not of the voice, but of the heart.
18Augustine.More is wrought by groanings than by speeches.