St Barnabas the Apostle – June 11

A Caution and a Prayer Before Preaching

LANCELOT ANDREWES

Let the preacher labour to be heard intelligently, willingly, obediently. And let him not doubt that he will accomplish this rather by the piety of his prayers than by the eloquence of his speech. By praying for himself, and those whom he is to address, let him be their beadsman before he becomes their teacher; and approaching God with devotion let him first raise to Him a thirsting heart before he speaks of Him with his tongue; that he may speak what he hath been taught and pour out what hath been poured in.

I cease not therefore to ask from our Lord and Master, that He may, either by the utterances of His Scriptures or the conversations of my brethren, or the internal and sweeter doctrine of His own inspiration, deign to teach me things so to be set forth and asserted, that in what is set forth and asserted I may ever hold me fast to the Truth; from this very Truth I desire to be taught the many things I know not, by Him from whom I have received the few I know.

I beseech this Truth that mercy preventing and following me, He would teach me the wholesome things that I know not; keep me in the true things I know; correct me wherein I am (which is human) in error, confirm me wherein I waver; preserve me from false and baneful things, and make that to proceed from my mouth which, as it shall be chiefly pleasing to the Truth Himself, so it may be accepted by all the faithful, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From: The Private Prayers of Lancelot Andrewes