The Function of Praise

At the beginning of Convent of Pleasure, Lady Happy opines, "I believe, the gods are better pleased with Praises then Fasting" because fasting makes people too dull of mind and spirit to praise the gods with enthusiasm (I.ii.).  As others have noted already, a few lines later we learn that Happy wants to "incloister" herself so as to enjoy more thoroughly and selectively her pleasures.  This reflects her earlier comment that, "neither do Men any thing for the gods but their own sake" (I.ii.).  In comparison, Lady Victoria in Bell in Campo commands her army to prayer every morning because, "that Ceremony strikes a reverence and respect into every breast, raising up a devotion in every heart, and devotion makes obedience, and obedience keeps order" (III. 11).  This presents the act of prayer as the first step into being manipulated by the "ceremony" of religion and, therefore, being trained by this praising to value obedience -- a very clever assertion by this would-be Generalless.  How do these two versions of the meaning and uses of worship complicate earlier readings of religion in plays of this time?  Also, can we see them functioning with or against each other in these two plays?  Can we consider the questions surrounding the sea-gods with this in mind?