HERE BEGINNETH THE SEVEN AND THIRTIETH CHAPTER
Of the special prayers of them that be continual workers in the word of this
book
AND right as the meditations of them that continually work in this grace and in
this work rise suddenly without any means, right so do their prayers. I mean of
their special prayers, not of those prayers that be ordained of Holy Church. For
they that be true workers in this work, they worship no prayer so much: and
therefore they do them, in the form and in the statute that they be ordained of
holy fathers before us. But their special prayers rise evermore suddenly unto
God, without any means or any premeditation in special coming before,
or going therewith.
And if they be in words, as they be but seldom, then be they but in full few
words: yea, and in ever the fewer the better. Yea, and if it be but a little
word of one syllable, me think it better than of two: and more, too, according
to the work of the spirit, since it so is that a ghostly worker in this work
should evermore be in the highest and the sovereignest point of the spirit. That
this be sooth, see by ensample in the course of nature. A man or a woman, afraid
with any sudden chance of fire or of man's death or what else that it be,
suddenly in the height of his spirit, he is driven upon haste and upon need for
to cry or for to pray after help. Yea, how? Surely, not in many words, nor yet
in one word of two syllables. And why is that? For him thinketh it over long
tarrying for to declare the need and the work of his spirit. And therefore he
bursteth up hideously with a great spirit, and cryeth a little word,
but of one syllable: as is this word "fire," or this word "out!"
And right as this little word "fire" stirreth rather and pierceth more hastily
the ears of the hearers, so doth a little word of one syllable when it is not
only spoken or thought, but privily meant in the deepness of spirit; the which
is the height, for in ghostliness all is one, height and deepness, length and
breadth. And rather it pierceth the ears of Almighty God than doth any long
psalter unmindfully mumbled in the teeth. And herefore it is written, that short
prayer pierceth heaven..
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