of hys owne brayne forge hym a god as he him selfe lusteth but seketh the knowledge of y â— true god euen at god hym selfe and taketh him to be none other thaÌ„ suche as he sheweth and declareth him selfe to be What we ought to knowe of God SYth the very maiestie of god passeth y â— capacite of mans vnderstandyng so farre that it is impossible for him to coÌ„ceyue it it is expedient for vs to honour rather his hyghnes then rashely to serche it least of suche incomprehensible lyght we be vtterly stryken downe For this cause then god muste be sought and searched out in his workes as by certayne foresteppes for Goddes workes in scripture be called the shewes of thinges inuisible for as muche as they represente before our eyes suche thynges concernyng y â— lorde as other wayes coulde nat be seye This I saye not that god wold kepe our myndes in doubte by vayne and voyde speculations but that it is ynoughe for vs to knowe y â— true religion I meane faithe coupled with the feare of god and that the same is fyrste breathed into vs nourished and strengthened only by god for in this vniuersall ordre and coursâ— of thynges we beholde the immortalitie of our god froÌ„ whom all thynges flowe haue theyâ— begyÌ„ning we se also his myght in that he made such a worke vpholdeth y â— same his wysdom in that he hathe set in so goodly ordre suche an infinite dyuersitie of creatures keapeth theÌ„ alwayes in the same to the eschewyng of coÌ„fusioÌ„ We marke also hys goodnes whiche was the very cause bothe that these workes were made and that nowe also they stande sure and stroÌ„ge his rightwysnes in that so woÌ„derfully he declareth hym selfe in defendyng the godly and punishing the vngodly we perceiue also hys hyghe mercy in that so gentylly he suffreth our wyckednes to y â— inteÌ„t we shulde returne as his mercy giueth vs occasion to do Here vpoÌ„ myght we at large be enformed as muche as were sufficieÌ„t for vs of Gods maiestie and goodnesse and what he is but y â— our dulnes is so greate the eyesyght of our mynde so blount and daselyng at so open a lyght Neyther is it onely a blyndnes that thus causeth vs to stomble but there is also suche a frowarde and cankred opinioÌ„ in vs as in ponderyng the workes of God taketh euery thyng a mysse and cleane out of course yea tourneth vp set downe all y e heuenly wysoome so eudiently apparaunt in creatures We muste therfore nedes come to Goddes worde for in it by it I meane in the holy scriptures God is by his workes wonderous wel descrybed vnto vs where the workes theÌ„ selfes be weyed and estemed not after our frowarde iudgement but by the rule of the euerlasting truth Here thaÌ„ we learne that our God is the only and euerlasting fountayne of all lyfe ryghtwysenes wysdome power goodnes mercy from whom lyke as without exception al goodnes dothe come so all prayse ought worthely to be rendred to him as his owne And by this meanes all thyngê though they euidently appeare in euery seuerall parte bothe of heauen and earthe yet to what purpose they serue what they maye do and vnto what vse we muste vnderstande theÌ„ we shall easely espye wheÌ„ we step downe to our selues consyder howe god setteth forth his owne lyfe wysdome and power in vs and howe he practiseth his ryghtewysenes goodnesse and mercy towardes vs. Of man MAn was fyrste made to the ymage lykenesse of God that in all hys ornamentes and iewelles wher w t he was rychly decked of god he shulde honour the maker of the same and worshyp hym with suche kyndenes as became him But forasmuch as he trustyng so muche vpon the excellencye of hys owne nature that he had quyte forgoten whence he came and wherby he was mainteyned attempted to auaunce hym selfe aboue god it was necessary he shulde be spoyled of all goddes benefites wheron he was so folyshely proude to the entent that wheras he that was so rychely endowed of Goddes bounteousnesse thought scorne to know his maker in hys felicitie shulde nowe beyng naked and destitute of all his wealthe learne to knowe h yÌ„ in hys mysery Wherfore so many of vs as be spronge of the sede of Adam be borne very fleshe of fleshe y e lykenee of God vtterly abolyshed and extincte in vs so that nowe vpon what parte so euer of man we cast our eye we can se nothyng but that is vnpure vnhalowed and abominable afore god For y e wysdome of man being blynded and wrapte in infinite errours with standeth alwayes the wysdome of god his forwarde wyl full of corrupte affections hateth nothynge worse then gods ryghtwysnes his powers vntoward to all good workes run hedlong vpon all wyckednes Of free Wyll SCriptures euery where wytnesse that man is the seruaunt of syn wherby is meant that his disposicion is so tourned from the ryghtwysenes of God as he can neyther thynke luste nor employe hym to any thyng but y â— is vngodly croked nawty and vnpure for the harte beyng so in the inner partes enuenomed with y e poyson of syn can breathe nothyng but the fruites of synne Yet it may nat be so taken that man is forsed to synne as by vrgent necessitie for he synneth of hys propre and most ready wyl But forasmuche as his affectioÌ„s be corrupte he vtterly abhorreth al ryghtwysenes of God and gredely renneth vpon all kynde of wickednes And so he is clene shut out from the free power to chose good from badde whiche they call free wyll Of synne and deathe SYnne in scriptâ—â—e is called not so muche the corruption of nature whiche indede is the heade spryng of al vyce as y e ragyng lustes that spryng therof yea the heynous abominacions that brast out of these lustes as murther thefte aduoutry and other lyke Wetherfore syÌ„ners euen from our mothers wombe be all borne to the wrathe and vengeaunce of God and euer the elder we waxe the more greuous iudgement we heape vpoÌ„ vs so that all our lyfe longe we go forwarde vnto deathe for sythe it is no doubte but all iniquitie is cursed of goddes ryght wysnes what shall we wretches loke for at hys hande but very confusion for that bryngeth his displeasure with it for asmuche as we be pressed with so greuouse a burden of synnes and corrupted with so infinite drosse of vnclennes Thys thought thoughe it be hable to ouerthrowe a maÌ„ with the fear therof euen dryue him downe with despayre yet to vs it is necessary that we beyng thus striped of our owne ryght wysnes destitute of all trustynge in our owne power and put backe froÌ„ all hope of lyfe maye learne to fall downe lowe afore the lorde knowyng howe beggarly we be of our selues howe miserable and very villaynes and thus knowyng our owne wickednes dishabilitye fal that we maye gyue him all the prayse of
agayne vnto y e Lordes waye Nowe Chryste because he is not the ministre of synne dothe washe away our synnes and decke vs wyth hys ryghtwysnes to the intent we shulde not stayne thys hys grace wyth new fylthynes agayne but ones chosen to be gods sonnes shulde consecrate and direct al our lyfe from hensforth to the glory of our father Thys worke of repentauÌ„ce haÌ„geth on our newe byrth whych new byrth standeth vpon two partes the sleynge of our flesh I meane of thys corruption naturally spronge in vs and a spirituall quyckenynge wherby y e nature of mans is restored to her clennes wherfore vpoÌ„ thys meditation we muste laboure employ our selues al oure lyue loÌ„ge that we ones deed to sinne and to our selues maye lyue to Christe to his ryghtuousnes And wheras this new byrth caÌ„ neuer be perfect so longe as we lyue in the pryson of thys mortall body it muste nedes be that this same mynd and study of repentauÌ„ce ought styl to continue in vs euen vnto death Howe ryghtwysnesse of good workes and of faythe maye stande togither GOod workes that come of suche a purenes of conscience doubtles be stronge and allowed before god For sythe god seeth his owne ryghtuousnesse in them he can not but allowe them yet must we take hede least we beare oure self so hault in the vayne affiauÌ„ce and trust of our good workes that we forget not how we be iustifyed by the fayth in Christ alonely For there is no righteousnes of workes afore God except it answereth to his rightousnes so y t who so goeth about to be iustifyed by his owne workes it is not ynoughe for hym to brynge out one good dede or two but he must shewe forth a perfecte obedience of the lawe whyche thyng is farre awey yea frome those that seme moost of all to haue profyted gone forwarde afore other in the Lordes law Besyde thys although y â— ryghtuousnes of god coulde be content and pleased with one good dede only and no mo yet shulde not god fynde so muche as one good dede in all hys sayntes y t worthely eueÌ„ of the self workes deseruynge he myghte prayse and commende as rightwyse For this is y e very trouth seme it neuer so great a meruel that no worke we do is perfect on euery syde but is blemyshed w t some wart eyther in one parte or other Wherfore syth we be synners foyled with many remnauntes of vyces we muste nedes be iustified an other waye thaÌ„ by our selfe Now certeinly we haue alwaye greate nede of Christe that by hys perfectnes oure vnperfectnesse maye be couered by hys purenes oure vnclennes maye be washed by his obedieÌ„ce our iniquitie maie be blotted out fynally y t for his rightousnesse we maie befreely taken as rightuouse w tout any respect of our workes whyche in no wyse can be of suche valoure to stande in the iudgemeÌ„t of God Thys notwythstandynge so longe as these our spottes whyche other wayes myght blemyshe stayne oure workê before God be thus hyd and kepte close the Lorde consydereth in them nothynge but hyghe purenesse and holynesse where vpon he vouchesaueth to gyue them hyghe tytles of prayses for he calleth and also estemeth them euen ryghtousnesses yea and promyseth vnto theÌ„ large rewardes So maye we then shortly conclude that oure felowshyp wyth Christe is of such strength force that for it we be not onely freely reputed ryghtuous but also our workes be reckened vs for iustice and ryghtuousnesse and be aboundantly recompensed wyth an euerlastyng rewarde The Symbole of fayth or Christen Crede WE tolde you heretofore what profyte we take by our fayth in Christ nowe shall ye heare what our faith ought to beholde in Christ what to conceyue of him to the stablyshment and confermynge of it Certaynely thys is declared in the Simbole or ChristeÌ„ Crede as howe Christe is made vnto vs by his father our wysdome raunsome lyfe ryghtwysnes and holynes Nowe it maketh no greate matter who was the maker of this Symboll or by what personê this abrydgenieÌ„t of faith was set forthe whiche in it hath no humane doctrine but is gathered of most certain recordes of scripture And because no man shulde muse why we knowledge our selues to beleue in the father the sonne the holy ghoste we woli some what speake hereof afore we entre into the Crede When we name the father the sonne and the holy holy ghost we make vs nat thre goddes but in most symple and pure vnite of God aswel the scripture as the very experieÌ„ce of godlynes shewe vs God the father hys sonne and the spirite so y t our vnderstanding caÌ„ not conceyue the father but it must also coÌ„pryse aswell the sonne in whome shyneth y e fathers lyuely ymage the spirite in whom his power and might is opened In one God therfore let vs fyxe the hole thought of our mynd and yet in the mean season coÌ„sider y â— father w t y e soÌ„ne and his holy gost I beleue in one God the father almyghty maker of heauen and earth By these wordê we be taught to beleue not nakedly that there is a God but also to know that he is our God and to trust that we be of the noÌ„ber of those whom he promyseth to be their God whome also he taketh for his owne people Thys God is called almighty wherby is meaned that by his prouidence he disposeth al thinges and at his pleasure gouerneth through his power and myght ordereth them when we cal him maker of heauen and earthe we muste therwith vnderstande y t he coÌ„tinually nourisheth susteyneth and quyckeneth whatsoeuer ones he made And in Iesus Christ hys onely sonne our Lorde WHere aboue we sayd that Christ is he euerlastyng butte of our fayth thys is easy to se for asâ—â—ch as all y e partes of our heâ— be here represented in hym 〈◊〉 call hym Iesus which 〈◊〉 was gyuen hym from heauen because he was sent to saue hys people frome theyr synnes And therfore the scripture sayth y t there is none other name gyuen vnto men wherby they myght be saued This additioÌ„ or surname christ betokeneth y t he was aÌ„noynted and throughly endowed wyth all the graces of the holy ghost whiche in scripture be rehersed vnder the name of oyle because wythout theÌ„ through drought and barennesse we wyther and dekaye Throughe this annoin tynge of the father â—as he first made kyng subduâ—â—â— vnto him selfe all power in heauen and in earth that in hym we mought also be kynges hauyng power ouer the deuyll synne deathe hell So theÌ„ was he coÌ„secrated prest that through his sacrifice he myght pacifye the father bryng vs in fauour agayn with hym to y e inteÌ„t that in him we also myght be preestes offryng vnto the father prayers thankes our selues and all ours by thys same Christe our mediatour and reconcyler Furthermore he is called y â— son of God
no lesse then yf he stode euen personally present to be sene as he is in his maiestie with our eyes to be felte with our handes yea and that with suche power and myght that not onely he bryngeth to our soules an vndoubted truste of euerlastynge lyfe but maketh vs sure also of the immortalitie of our flesh beyng quyckened of his immortall fleshe after a maner takynge part of his immortalitie Wherfore vnder the sygnes of bread and wyne be presented and ministred vnto vs the body and bloude to thintent we myghte lerne y â— they be not onely ours but also serue vnto vs for lyfe and nourysshyng Thus when we se this most sacred and mysticall bread anone we must coÌ„ceyue this similitude that lyke as breade nourysheth susteyneth and preserueth the lyfe of our natural body so is the body of Chryste the fode comfort and defence of our gostly lyfe When we se the forme of wine loke what profyte wyne bryngeth to mans bodye the same muste we recken spyritually to be brought vnto vs in Chrystes bloude Now this mystery as it is a proufe and declaratioÌ„ of the great bounty of God towardes vs so it ought to monysshe vs that we be not vnkynd for the same his goodnes and excedyng liberalitie shewed vnto vs but rather as oure duetie is auaunce the same w t prayses and magnifye it with thankesgyuyng And furthermore that we shulde embrace one of vs an other with suche an vnite as we se the membres of one body knyt and fastened amonges theym selues For there can be no quycker spurre to sturre brotherly loue amonges vs then whiles Chryste thus gyuynge hym selfe to vs doth not onely allure vs by his exemple euery one of vs frely to yelde and gyue hym selfe to other but also lyke as he maketh hym selfe commune amonges vs all so in hym he maketh vs all to be as one But wolde god we wolde lerne to measure to contemplate in our mynde the greatnes of this so hyghe a sacrament gyuen vs of god wolde god I saye we consydered howe fowle a synne ingratytude is how horrible peynes and punishemeÌ„tes do ensue of the vnreuerent handlynge and ê“hanation of this sacrameÌ„t Neither is it to be thought y â— those moste graue thretninges y â— s. Paule pronounceth be frustrat voyd For thus he saith Wherfore who so euer eateth this bread and dryncketh the cuppe of the lorde vnworthely shall be gyltie of the body and bloude of the lorde Let a man therfore examine hym selfe and so let hym eate of that breade dryncke of that cuppe For he that eateth and dryncketh vnworthyly eateth and dryncketh his owne damnation not decernynge the body of the lorde Of the Pastors and herdmen of the churche and of theyr power FOr as moche as the lorde wyll that bothe his worde and the Sacramentes be ministred by men vnto vs it behoueth Curates or herdmen to be set in offyce ouer the church which with pure doctrine may enforme the people bothe pryuely and apertly ministre Sacramentes and with good exemple instruct men vnto holynes and purenes of lyfe Who so despiceth this institution this order be vnruely and disobedient not agaynst men but agaynst god in that they factiously withdrawe them selues from the felowshyp of the churche which without this ministerie by no meanes can stande for that hath no lytell authoritie that the Lorde ones witnessed sayenge that he hym selfe is receyued when they be receyued and that he is caste oute when they be caste out And to thintent theyr office shulde be no vyle thynge ne vnregarded they be endowed with a special commaundement of byndynge and loosynge hauynge therto a promesse that what so euer in earthe they bynde or loose the same is bounde and loosed in heauen And Chryst hym self expounynge his worde declareth that to bynde is to holde synnes and to loose is to release them Nowe by what fasshyon they loose the apostle expouneth when he saythe that the gospell is a power to saue euery beleuer Agayne what waye they bynde he declareth when he saith that the Apostles haue a redy vengeauÌ„ce against all disobedieÌ„ce For the summe of the gospell is that we be iÌ„eruauntes of synne and death that we be losed and made free through the raunsome whiche is in Chryst Iesu and as many as do not receyue hym for their redemer be bounde with newe bondes of a greater condemnation But we muste remembre that all this power which scripture gyueth to pastours and byshoppes is conteyned within the mynistery of the worde for Chryst gaue not properly this power to men but to his word ordeynynge men onely the mynisters thereof Wherefore in goddes worde whereof they be made disposers layers out boldely let them ieoparde euen all thynges and constreyne all the power glory and pryde of the worlde to stowpe and obeye vnto it by it let them coÌ„maund all men from the hyghest to the loweste let them buylde Chrystes house pull down Satans kyngdom fede the shepe staye the wolues teache and exhorte those that wyll lerne reproue the stubberne but all togyther in the worde from whiche word yf they swarue to theyr owne dreames and fanses they be no longer estemed for pastours and shepeherdes but rather for asmoche as they be pestileÌ„ wolues ought to be dryuen awaye and deposed For Chryste commaundeth none other to be hearde then suche as teache vs the thynges that they haue taken of his worde Of mens traditions SIthe we haue a generall sentence of Paule y t all thynges in thassembles churches should be done comely in good order ciuile ordinauÌ„ces wherby as with bondes an order and comly fasshyon is kepte in the companye of the Christians and a concorde thereby conserued ought not to be reckened amonges mens traditions but must rather be referred vnto the rule of the Apostle so that they be not beleued as thinges necessary to our saluation nor bynd the consciences to any superstition through them nor be kept as any worshyppynge of god nor that any holynes be reposed in them But such ordinauÌ„ces as vnder a tytle of spirituall lawes be thruste vpon vs to bynde oure consciences as thynges necessary to gods honour all suche lawes I saye ought we earnestly to resyste for they do not only ouerthrow the libertie whiche Christ purchased vs but also dymme the true relygion and defile gods maiesty who alone wol raygne in our consciences by his word Let this then abyde for a sure gronÌ„d that all thinges be ours and we Chrystes and that god in vayne is worshypped where be taught doctrines the commaundementes of men Of excommunication EXcoÌ„munication is wherby notable horemongers aduouterers vsurers extortioners spoylers rouers pyrates brallers ryoters dronkardes seditious persons wasters after they haue ben admonished and do not amende be reiecte and banysshed from the company of the faythfull accordynge to the lordes coÌ„maundement not that the churche
not as other faythfull men be by election onely and fauoure but that he is the verye true natural sonne therfore is he named y e only because he myght be knowen frome the rest He is also oure Lord not onely by hys godheade whyche he had euermore the selfe same wyth the father but also in that selfe fleshe wherin he was exhâ—â—ited vnto us For there is but one God of whom be al thinges as Paule sayth and one Lorde Iesus Chryst through whom be all togither Which was conceiued by the holy ghost borne of the virgine Marye HEre we lerne by what maner y â— soÌ„ne of God became our Iesus that is our sauiour and our Christ that is to saye the annointed kynge to defende vs and preeste to brynge vs in fauoure with the father for he put vpoÌ„ him our fleshe to thys intente that he nowe made the sonne of man shoulde make vs the sonnes of God wyth hym takyng vpoÌ„ hym oure pouertie to aduaunce vs vnto hys rychesse bearynge our weakenes to strengthen vs by his power receyuynge our mortalitie to gyue vs his immortalitie commynge downe vpon the erth to exalt vs vnto heaueÌ„ Borne he was of the virgine Mary euen because he might be knoweÌ„ the very sonne of AbrahaÌ„ and Dauid whyche was promysed in the lawe and Prophetes a very maÌ„ like vnto vs in euery point onely synne excepted he was tempted wyth our infirmityes to thintent he myght lerne to haue compassion and beare w t vs. Thys same Iesus was coÌ„ceyued in the woÌ„be of y â— virgine by a wonderfull vnspeakable power of y â— holy goste to thinteÌ„t he myght be borne not defyled with any fleshy corruption but be sanctified in most hyghe and perfecte purenesse Suffered vnder Ponce Pylate was crucyfyed dead buryed and desceÌ„ded vnto hell IN these wordê we be taught after what sort Iesus paied our raunsome for thys was cause why he was borne a mortal maÌ„ For verely where as god was ê“uoked to wrath through the disobedience of man Iesus through his obedience put it awaye shewynge him obedieÌ„t to hys father euen vnto deathe And so iÌ„ his deth he offred him selfe a sacrifyce to the father wherby hys ryghtwysnes myght ones â—or euer be appeased wherby y â— faithful mought be halowed for euermore wherby also the euerlastynge satisfactioÌ„ mought be fully wrough and fynyshed He shed hys holy bloud for the pryce of our raunsome to thintent both the fury of God whyche was kyndled agaynst vs myght be qwenched and also our wyckednes purged There is no parte of hys deth that lacketh a misterye He suffred vnder Ponce Pilate that is to wyt he was condemned by sentence of a iudge for a felon and euyldoer for this purpose y t we throughe hym thus condemned myght be quyte at the barre of the hygh iudge he was crucified that in the crosse whych by Gods lawe was cursed he shuld susteyne our curse whyche curse oure synnes dyd deserue he dyed that throughe hys deth he myghte ouercome deathe that gaped vpoÌ„ vs and henge ouer our heddes and y â— he myght swalowe vp y t same death whyche elles had not he bene shuld haue swalowed vs vp He was buryed to thynteÌ„t we hys felowes by the vertue of hys deathe shulde be buryed to synne enfraunchyshed from the dominion of the deuyll and of deathe And where we saye he wente downe into hell it is meaÌ„t he was extremely haÌ„dled of God that he felte the horryble sharpenesse of gods iudgement in that he dyd put hym self betwene vs Gods wrath and on our behalfe satisfied the rygoure and sharpe iudgement of God so dyd he paye suffer the due paynes not for his own iniquite for he hadde none in hym but for our wyckednes Not that y â— father was at any tyme angry agaynst hym for howe coulde he be angrye with hys most deare sonne in whom is all hys delyte and pleasure or howe coulde he be pacyfyed wyth hys prayer wyth whome he were displeased but in this sense we say he bare the weight of goddes rygorousnes because beynge thus strycken and as it were scourged by the hande of God he felte all the tokens and sygnes wherwythe god in hys fume is wonte to punysshe synners in so moche that when the Passion waxed stronge ouer hym he was constreyned streyned to crye my God my God why hast y u forsaken me And the thyrde daye he rose agayne frome death he ascended into heauen and sytteth on the ryght hande of God the father almyghty frome thence he shall come to iudge the quycke and the deed OF Christes rysynge agayn we maye gather a sure trust of victorye that we shall ouercome death for lyke as he coulde not be holden downe by al y â— panges of death but mightely dyd brast forth beyonde all deathes power so dyd he represse and quenche all hys stinges and that in suche wyse as he is nat hable to styng vs now any more at leaste waye to our destruction So then his rising agayne is fyrst a ryght certayn trueth and euen the grounde of our rysyng to come and also of this our presente quickenyng wherby we be raysed vp vnto a newnesse of lyfe By his asceÌ„sion or mounting vp vnto heauen he opened vs the way vnto the kyngedome of heauen whiche in Adam was agaynste all men shut for he ascended in to heaueÌ„ in our fleshe as it were in our name to the intente that euen nowe in hym by hope we may possesse heauen and after a maner syt euen amonges the heaueÌ„ly sprites And assuredly he is not there w tout our hygh profyte for accordyng to the office of his euerlastyng presthod he weÌ„t into the saÌ„ctuary of god not made of mans hande and there he laboureth as a continual attourney and mediatour for vs afore the father where we saye he sytteth on the ryght hande of god the father it meaneth that he is crouned proclaymed kynge iudge Lorde ouer al thinges y t by his power he myght coÌ„serue and gouerne vs that his kyngdome and glory maye be our strength power and boaste against hel It signifieth also that he hath receyued to dispose at his pleasure al the maye be made perfyte and fylled that is to wytte that his iudgement moughte be manifested in whiche daye he alone shall be sette vp on hyghe and shall be all togyther in all men gatherynge and receyuyng his faythfull into glorye when satans kingdom shal be brought to confusyon vtterly throwe doune The thyrde Thy wyll be done in earthe as it is in heauen IN this petition we desyre of god that as he is wonte in heauen so in erth he wovouchsaue to order and dispose all thinges as his gracious pleasure shalbe to bring euery thyng to passe as shall lyke his wisdom best to vse al creatures at his own pleasure and to
subdue all wylles vnto his And thus requyrynge we vtterly refuse and abandon all our owne desyres renouncynge and gyuynge vp vnto the Lorde what so euer affection wyl or lust is in vs desyrynge his graciouse maiestie that he suffer not the worlde to passe with vs as we our selues wolde haue it but that he cause all our matters so to go forwarde with vs as he knoweth afore forseeth beste for vs and as he hath appoynted the same to be Nor we do not onely here aske that god wolde make our owne desyre voyde and of no effecte euen so many as be contrarye and repugnant to his wyll but also that he extinguyshinge these our affections wolde shape in vs new thoughtes newe myndes and newe ententes so that none other motion or luste be felt in vs then a pure consente and ful agremeÌ„t with his wil and for a conclusion that we woll nothinge of our selfe but as the holy spirite woi in vs by whose secrete instruction teachinge we maye lerne to loue those thinges that be pleasauÌ„t to hym and to hate abhorre wors then deathe what so euer displease him Nowe assured we are that displeaseth hym y â— is contrary to his worde and institucion Gyue vs thys daye oure dayely breade HEre in generall we aske of god all thynges necessary to the behouf of our bodyes vnder the clementes of this worlde not onely to be fed and clothed but also what so euer thing he forseeth to be expedient for vs to thintent ws mought eat our bread in peax In this petition with few wordes we betake our selues into his kepynge and commit vs to his diuine prouidence that he wolde fede nouryshe and preserue vs for y â— moste graciouse and tender father doth not disdayne to take vnto his kepyng and tuicioÌ„ also this our bodie y â— he myghte exercise our fayth in these same lytell small thynges whiles we loke to receyue at his hande all thynges what so euer we haue nede of euen to a crumme of bread and a drop of water Where we say Dayly and this daye it meaneth that we ought onely to aske thinges sufficieÌ„t for our nede euen as it were for no more but this day With this assured confidence that oure father after that he hath nouryshed vs this daye woll not fayle vs to morowe Now how moch aboundaunce so euer of goodes through his benefite we haue yet it behoueth vs to aske our daily bread thynkyng on this wyse that all our substaunce is nothyng but so farforth as god by powryng forth his blessynge shall prospere and encrease that which is in our haÌ„des is none of ours but so farforth as god bestoweth it vnto vs and suffreth the vse therof in our handes frome tyme to tyme. In that we saye Our bread is hyghly declared the bouÌ„tyousnes of god which maketh y â— to be ours which by no reason was dewe vnto vs. Finally in that we desyre it to be gyuen vs it is meant that it is the pure free gyfte of god frome whense so euer it come to vs thoughe it seme neuer soo moche to be gotten by our scyence and propre industrye The fyfthe And forgyue vs oure trespasses as we forgyue theym that trespasse agaynste vs. IN this petition we aske release pardon and forgiuenesse of synnes to be receyued at goddes handes a thyng doubtles right necessary to all men and women without exception And we call them dettes for so signifieth the greke and also the latine worde bycause we owe god a punyshement for them as a pryce or peny worth due for the same But by noo meanes can we make this payment good oneles we be discharged by this forgyuenesse whiche is the free pardone of his mercy We aske this pardone to be gyuen vs euen as we forgyue our detters that is as we spare them and forgyue them of whome we haue bene in any thynge eyther harmed sharpely handled or contumeliously checked This condition is here added not that by our forgyuynge of other mens trespasses agaynst vs we may or can deserue goddes pardon but it is here put for a â—ygne token to acertayne vs that so truely our synnes be pardoned vs of god as we semblably in our owne consciences forgyue other in case our hart be cleane purged and voyd of all hatred enuye and vengeauÌ„ce On the contrary parte we be warned that they be shakeÌ„ of and expulsed frome the nombre of gods chyldren so many as be redy to reuenge harde to forgyue and that styffely beare malice in their hartes ayenst their neyghbours For all suche are hereby monyshed not to be ones so hardy as to call god theyr father nor pray to escape gods wrath lyth in theyr own stomake they beare wrath and displeasure agaynste other yea Chryste expressely sayth that onles we for gyue men theyr offences the father wol neuer forgiue vs ours Which thyng he also teacheth by the parable of the kyng and his seruauntes Finally he wol haue forgiue vs our neighbour not ones or twyse no not seuen tymes only but seuenty tymes seuen tymes meanynge herby we oughte contynually frome tyme to tyme to forgyue oure brother The syxte And let vs not be led into temptation but delyuer vs from euyll Amen IN this demauÌ„d we do not requyre that we shulde neuer fele temptations for by them rather it is our profyte to be styrred and rubbed on the backe lest through ouermoche rest we mought waxe sloggardes for the lorde tempteth his chosen dayly chastysyng them by reproche pouertie trouble and other kyndes of crucyfyenge But this oure prayer is that with the temptatioÌ„ he wol make vs a waye out so as we be not ouercome and pressed downe of any temptations but that by his powre enstrengthened we may stand sure agaynst all the power of our aduersaries wherwith they assaulte vs. Also that we taken to his gouernaunce halowed by his spirituall graces and fensed with his protectioÌ„ may stande styffe agaynste the deuyll death hell gates and the hole kyngdome of the deuyll and this is to be deliuered from euyll We must marke also howe God wol that our prayers be shapen Truely we muste shape them after the rule of charitie for so hathe he taught vs to praye not for our owne behoufe without any regarde of our bretherne but he commauÌ„deth vs to be euen as busye for theyr coÌ„moditie edificatyon and profyte as we wold be for our owne Continuance of prayer THis then it behoueth vs to loke vpon that we go not about to bynd god to any circumstancies lyke as we be taught in this prayer nor to assigne him any law or apoynt hym any condycyon For afore we conceyue any prayer for vs we fyrste requyre and forespeke that his wyll be done whereby nowe we subdue oure wylle to his that as with a brydell nowe restreyned it shulde not pÌ„sume to force god to a course or trade If our myndes ones