’To be sure that no day pass without calling upon God in a solemn, fervent prayer, seven times within the compass thereof.  That is, in the morning, and at night, and five times between.  Taken up long ago from the example of David and Daniel, and a compunction and shame that I had omitted it so long, when I heedfully read of the custom of the Mahometans to pray five times in the day.

’To pray and magnify God in the night, and in my dark bed, when I cannot sleep; to have short ejaculations whenever I awake, and when the four o’clock bell awakens me; or on my first discovery of the light, to say this collect of our liturgy, Eternal God, who hast safely brought me to the beginning of this day. . . .

’To pray in all places where privacy inviteth:  in any house, highway, or street:  and to know no street or passage in this city which may not witness that I have not forgot God and my Saviour in it; and that no parish or town where I have been may not say the like.

’To take occasion of praying upon the sight of any church which I see or pass by as I ride about.

’Since the necessities of the sick, and unavoidable diversions of my profession, keep me often from church; yet to take all possible care that I might never miss sacraments upon their accustomed days.

’To pray daily and particularly for sick patients, and in general for others, wheresoever, howsoever, under whose care soever; and at the entrance into the house of the sick, to say, The peace and mercy of God be in this place.

’After a sermon, to make a thanksgiving, and desire a blessing, and to pray for the minister.

’In tempestuous weather, lightning, and thunder, either night or day, to pray for God’s merciful protection upon all men, and His mercy upon their souls, bodies, and goods.

’Upon sight of beautiful persons, to bless God for His creatures:  to pray for the beauty of their souls, and that He would enrich them with inward grace to be answerable to the outward.  Upon sight of deformed persons, to pray Him to send them inward graces, and to enrich their souls, and give them the beauty of the resurrection.’

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‘But the greatest of these is charity.’  Charity is greater than great talents.  Charity is greater than great industry.  Charity is greater than great learning and great literature.  Charity is greater than great faith.  Charity is greater than great prayer.  For charity is nothing less than the Divine Nature Itself in the heart of man.  In all English literature two books stand out beside one another and are alone in this supreme respect of charity:  William Law’s Spirit of Love, and Sir Thomas Browne’s Religio Medici.

SELECTED PASSAGES

SIR THOMAS ON HIMSELF