14 IZAAK WALTON AND HIS FRIENDS 



" What ! Prayer by the Book ? and Common ? Yes ; why not ? 

 The spirit of grace 

 And supplication 

 Is not left free alone 

 For time and place, 



But manner too : to read, or speak by rote 

 Is all alike to him that prays 

 In's heart, what with his mouth he says. 



" They that in private, by themselves alone, 

 Do pray, may take 

 What liberty they please, 

 In choosing of the ways 

 Wherein to make 



Their soul's most intimate affections known 

 To Him that sees in secret, when 

 Th' are most conceal'd from other men. 



" But he that unto others leads the way 

 In public prayer 

 Should do it so 

 As all that hear may know 

 They need not fear 



To tune their hearts unto his tongue, and say 

 Amen ! not doubt they were betrayed 

 To blaspheme, when they meant to have prayed. 



" Devotion wiU add life unto the letter : 

 And why should not 

 That which authority 

 Prescribes esteemed be 

 Advantage got % 



If th' prayer be good, the commoner the better, 

 Prayer in the Church's words as well 

 As sense, of all prayers bears the bell." 



Excepting the prayers in the Liturgy, many 

 regard Dr Jeremy Taylor's to be superior to all 



