Tertullian,
On Prayer
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Chapter i.—general introduction.
Chapter iii.—the second clause.
Chapter vii.—the sixth clause.
Chapter viii.—the seventh or final clause.
Chapter x.—we may superadd prayers of our own to the lord’s prayer.
Chapter xi.—when praying the father, you are not to be angry with a brother.
Chapter xii.—we must be free likewise from all mental perturbation.
Chapter xiii.—of washing the hands.
Chapter xv.—of putting off cloaks.
Chapter xvi.—of sitting after prayer.
Chapter xvii.—of elevated hands.
Chapter xviii.—of the kiss of peace.
Chapter xxii.—answer to the foregoing arguments.
Chapter xxiv.—of place for prayer.
Chapter xxv.—of time for prayer.
Chapter xxvi.—of the parting of brethren.
Chapter xxvii.—of subjoining a psalm.
Chapter XII.—We Must Be Free Likewise from All Mental Perturbation.
Nor merely from anger, but altogether from all perturbation of mind, ought the exercise of prayer to be free, uttered from a spirit such as the Spirit unto whom it is sent. For a defiled spirit cannot be acknowledged by a holy Spirit,79 Eph. iv. 30. nor a sad by a joyful,80 John xvii. 14; Rom. xiv. 17. nor a fettered by a free.81 Ps. li. 12. No one grants reception to his adversary: no one grants admittance except to his compeer.
CAPUT XII .
Nec ab ira solummodo, sed omni omnino confusione animi libera debet esse orationis intentio, de tali spiritu emissa, qualis est spiritus, ad quem mittitur. Neque enim agnosci poterit a Spiritu Sancto spiritus inquinatus; aut tristis a laeto, aut impeditus a libero. Nemo adversarium recipit; nemo nisi comparem suum admittit.