29. Nor was it only in words, but in deeds also, that the Lord taught us to pray, Himself praying frequently and beseeching, and thus showing us, by the testimony of His example, what it behoved us to do, as it is written, “But Himself departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”79 Luke v. 16. And again: “He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”80 Luke vi. 12. But if He prayed who was without sin, how much more ought sinners to pray; and if He prayed continually, watching through the whole night in uninterrupted petitions, how much more ought we to watch81 [Such was the example of Cotton Mather. Magnalia, i. 35.] nightly in constantly repeated prayer!
XXIX. Nec verbis tantum, sed et factis Dominus 0538C orare nos docuit, ipse orans frequenter et deprecans, et quid facere nos oporteret exempli sui contestatione demonstrans, sicut scriptum est: Ipse autem fuit secedens in solitudinem et adorans (Luc. V, 16). Et iterum: Exivit in monte orare, et fuit pernoctans in oratione Dei (Luc. VI, 12). Quod si ille orabat qui sine peccato erat, quanto magis peccatores oportet orare? Et si ille per totam noctem jugiter vigilans continuis precibus orabat, quanto nos magis in frequentanda oratione debemus nocte vigilare?