of desperacioÌ„ that as a scorpyon hath poyson in the ende of her tayle so I in the laste ende of my lyfe shulde reserue synne delytynge my selfe and takynge my pleasure with the entysementes of this worlde whiche seme beautyful and flateryng euen as a scorpyon doth in the face I desyre of the also o lorde the breed of Christes charite by the which he doth comunycate him selfe euen as breed vnto all men that I maye euer reioyce in thy sauynge helthe wylte thou geue me a stone that is to saye hardnes of herte God forbyd Why shall I then mystrust for to desyre and obteyne great thynges of the o lorde seynge thou sturryst me vp and byddest me aske and knocke euen tyl I seme importunate And what thyng can I aske whiche thou shalt be better coÌ„tente with all or els that sholde be more holsome for me then the thou sholdest make me reioyse in thy sonne our sauing helthe ¶ Now haue I tasted how swete the lord is how easy and pleasaunt his burthen is I remembre what peace and tranquilite of mynde I was in when I ioyed in god and reioysed in Christe my Lorde and sauyour therfore am I now in more sorow for I knowe what goodnes and commoditye I haue loste therfore wyll I crye more importunatlye Make me againe to reioyse in thy sauynge helth restore me agayne the thyng which my sinnes haue lost Restore me that whiche through my faute is perisshed in me Restore me I beseche the for his sake that euer is on thy ryghte hande and maketh intercession for vs thy gracyous fauoure that I maye perceyue that throughe hym thou arte pacefyed towardes me that it may be as a seale vpon my herte and that I maye saye with the Apostle Paule Galath ij I am crucyfyed with Christ I liue verely yet now not I but Christe lyueth in me But because my frailtye is greate strength me with a princypall spirite that no troubles or afflyccions maye seperate me frome Christe that no feare maye cause me to renye the and that no paynes maye make me slyde from the. My strenght is not suffycyent to resist and fyghte with that olde serpent and to preuayle agaynst hym Peter hath taught me how great our infyrmitye is he saw the with his bodely iyes Lord Iesu and was moste famylyarlye conuersaunt with the he tasted of thy glorye in the mountayne when thou wast transfigured he herde the fathers voyce he sawe thy manyfolde and wondrous workes yea and throughe thy power dyd hym selfe manye myracles He walked on his feate vpon the waters and herde dayly thy mighty a swete wordes he thought hym selfe most feruent hote in the faith sayde that he was ready to go with the both in to presoÌ„ vnto very death And when thou toldest hym that he sholdest denye the he beleued the not he trusted in his owne strenght and trusted more vnto him selfe beynge but a man then vnto the beynge very god But when the hande mayden sayde vnto hym Thou art of the same companye he was afrayde by and by and denied it There came an other mayde and sayde Surely thou art of the same folke And he denyed the agayne ¶ He coude not stonde before wemen how shulde he then haue stonde before kynges and tyrauntes And wheÌ„ he was yet ones more enquyred of the bystanders and was accused to be one of his disyples he began to curse to swere that he knewe the not what thynke you he sayde I suppose that he sware by god and by the lawe of Moyses that he knewe the not addynge such wordes Thynke you that I am the disciple of this Samaritane whiche deceyueth the people whiche is inspyred with the deuyl and destroyeth our lawe I am the discyple of Moyses and knowe not frome whence this felowe is Blyssed be God that they ceased enquiryng any further for els wold he neuer haue ceased denyenge the so that a thousande interogacyons wolde haue made a thousande flatre negations yea thousande curses and perâ—uryes yet were these interogations but wordes What wolde he haue done I praye the yf they had scourged hym and buffeted hym well Trulye he wolde haue sought and proued all meanes denyenge for swerynge cursyng and blasphemyng vntyll that he had escaped their handes But thou most meke Lorde lokedst backe vpon him by and by he knowleged his offence Neyther yet durste he leape in to the myddes of theym and confesse the to be the sonne of God for he was not yet strengthed with power frome aboue so that withoute doubte he wolde haue denyed the agayne yf he had sene ony ieoperdye at hande therfore as it was woste mete for hym he went forch wepte bytterly But thou after thi resurrecioÌ„ appearedst vnto hym coÌ„fortedst hym yet hyd he hym selfe for feare of the iewest he sawe the so gloryously ascendyng vnto heuen and was strengthed by the syghte and confort of angelles and yet durste he not go abrode for he had learned by experience to knowe his owne fragylite had proued his weakenesse Therfore dyd he ratye and wayte for the holy ghost whiche was promised WheÌ„ he was come and had filled Peters herte with grace then slepte he forthe then began he to speke and then with great power signes bare he witnes of thy resurrectioÌ„ TheÌ„ feared he neyther the hye preestes nether yet kynges but reioysed in tribulacions receiued the crosse with all myrthe and gladnes Therfore strengthen me lorde with a principal spirit that I may contynually reioyce in thy sauyng helthe or els can I not beare so manye assautes agaynst me The fleshe couereth contrarye to the spirite The worlde assayleth me on euery syde The deuyl slepeth not Geue me the strenghte of thy spirite that there maye fall by my syde a thousande and tenne thousande by my ryghte hande that I maye be a sure and stronge witnesse of thy faythe for yf Peter whom thou enduedste with so manye fauourable gyftes dyd fall so wretchedlye what â—hulde I do lorde which haue nether sens thy naturall presens nether haue tastede of thy glory in the mouÌ„tayne nether haue sene thy gracyous myracles yea and haue scarsely perceiued thy meruelous workes and haue neuer herde thy voyce but haue bene euer subdued vnder synne therfore strength me with a pryncypall spirite that I maye perseuer in thy seruyce and geue my lyfe for thy sake I wil instructe the wycked that they may knowe thy wayes and the vngodly shall be conuerted vnto the. Ascribe not this oh Lorde vnto presumsioÌ„ yf I go aboute to teache the vngodly thy wayes for I desyre not to teache them as I nowe am wycked vngodlye and vnder the bondes of synÌ„e but yf thou make me agayne to reioyce in thy sauyng healthe yf thou strengtheÌ„ me with a pryncipal spirit â–ª and yf also thou sette me free then shall I teach the vngodlye thy wayes Neither is this harde vnto the whiche of very stones
in al ieopardyes Kepe vs we humbly besech the that we may contynue thy louyng chyldren and not deserue to haue the moste mekest Father our terryble iudge nor suffre vs not to be thyn enemyes whiche ought to be thy chyldren and heyres Thou wylt also not only symply be called a father but that we with a comen voice shulde call the our Father And so with a special prayer of vnyte pray for euery man wherfore gyue vnto vs an agreynge brotherly loue so that we may perceiue euery one of vs that we are truly brothers susters and may pray to the as to our comen mercyfull father euery one for other euen as kynde chyldren entreate theyr father one for another Graunt â—hat none of vs seke that whiche is his owne or els forget other in thy lyght but that auoidynge all hate enuye and discention as it becometh the true chyldreÌ„ of god we may loue togyther with due fauour so that we may saye with a faythful herte not my father but our father Sythe truely thou art no bodely nor earthely father whome we may se in earth but art in Heuen our spirituall father whiche dyeth not neyther art changeable or incoÌ„stant or such which art not able to helpe thy selfe as is iÌ„ an erthely bodely father wherby it is euydent vnâ—o vs howe moche thou art a better father which teachest this temporal fatherhodes contrey frendes rychesse flesshe and blode to be despysed for the. Graunte vs to dere father that we maye be thy heuenly chyldren Teache vs to regarde none other thynge then our soule helth and the euerlastynge herytage so thaâ— this temporall contrey and worldly herytage whiche entangleth and combreth vs labourynge to make vs erthely and lyke vnto it selfe deceyue vs not so that we maye saye truely and with a faythfull herte O our heuenly Father gyue vs thy grace that we may be thy heuenly chyldren ¶ The fyrste peticion Thy name be halowed ¶ O god almyghty our most dere heuenly father thy godly name euen nowe in this tyme in this vale of misery alas for shame so many waies is dishonoured miserabâ—y blasphemed applied to many thyngê wherin stondeth not thy honour and glorye ye and many abuse it to theyr greate confusyon whiche thynge is so comen and often vsed that this fylthy lyfe may well be called a sclauÌ„der dishonestynge of thy moste gloryous name Therefore endue vs with thy godly grace that we may auoyde suche thyngê as are agaynst the honour prayse of thy moste holy name Make thou all wytchecraftes and false charmes sâ—ortly to decay Cause all coÌ„iurynges by the whiche Sathan or other creatures are enchauÌ„ted to ceasse by thy blessed name Make that all false fayth by that whiche either we mystruste the or put more confydence in other then is nedefull maye quyckly be destroyed Made that all heresyes and false doctryne which pretende a colour of thy name may sodeynly vanyshe awey Make that al hyprocrysy or faynynge of truthe ryghtuousnes or holynes deceyue no man Make that noman swere by thy name lye or deceyue Kepe vs from all false hope whiche vnder colour of thy blessed name oâ—fereth iâ— sâ—lâ—e vnto vs. Kepe vs from spirituall pryde from the vayne honour of worldly gory name Graunte vs that in al parelles and hurâ—e we may cal vpoÌ„ this thy holy name Graunt that in the straytnesse oâ— coÌ„science and ieopardy of death we neuer forget thy blessed name Graunte that in our goode wordes and workes we may only prayse and magnyfy the so that we nether seke nor calenge to our selfe any name or honor but to the only whose alone are all thynges Kepe vs from the most daÌ„nable synne of vnkyndnes Graunt that by our lyfe goode workes all other may be moued to good and that they honour and praise not vs but thy name GrauÌ„te that by our euyl workes and synnes noman may take occasion to sclaunder thy name or dymynyshe thy prayse kepe vs that we desire nothyng eyther transitorye or euerlastynge whiche shulde not retorne to the honour prayse of thy name And yf we aske any such here thou not our folyshenes Make that our lyfe be suche that we may truly be founde thy chyldren so that this thy name father be not called in vayne or falsely in vs. ¶ To this parte of prayer spiritually appertayne all psalmes prayers with whiche we prayse worshype synge gyue thankes to god fynall all the prayse of god ¶ The secounde petition Let thy kyngdome come ¶ This wretched lyfe is the kyngdome of all synnes and myschief whose lorde is the wycked spirite chief author and grounde of all malice and synne but thy kyngdome is the kyngdome of all grace and vertue whose Lorde is thy beste beloued Sonne Iesus Christe the hed and beginnynge of all grace vertue wherfore helpe vs most dyre Father and take vs agaynâ— in to thy fauour Gyue vs before all thynges true constaunt fayth in Christe hope without feare in thy mercy agaynste al infirmities of our weake conscyence and pure loue towardes the and all men Kepe vs from in fidelyte desperacyon and malyce whiche at the last myght be the cause of our destruction Make vs to auoide the foule desyre of lechery Gyue vs loue to virginyte and to all clennesse Delyuer vs from dyssentions batelles dyscorde and stryfe Make the vertues of thy kyngdome to come reygne within vs. Gyue vs peace concorde and tranquilyte so that wrathe or ony other bytternes haue not his kyngedome in vs but rather through thy grace the symple swetnes brotherly behaueour all kynde of frendshyp good maner gentylnes and kyndnes Graunte vs that the inordynate anguyshe and heuynes of mynde haue no place in vs. But make that reioysyng and plesure in thy grace and mercy rule haue dominion And to be shorte that all synne may be alyenate from vs and that we replenished with thy grace vertue and good workes may be made thy kyngdome that all our herte mynde and wyttes with all our strenght inward outwarde may suffre them selfe to be ruled by the to serue the thy coÌ„maundementes thy wyl not them selfe or the flesshe the worlde or the deuyll Make that this thy kyngdome ones in vs begone may be encreased go forward dayly and growe Leaste the subtyle malyce or slewth that we haue to goodnes oppresse vs leste we loke backe againe and fal in to â—ynne Geue vs a stable purpose strenght not only to begynne this good lyfe but rather to procede â—oldly in it and â—o perâ—oâ—me it as 〈◊〉 sayâ—e Lyghten myn lyes leâ—â—te I slepe or be wery in the good lyfe ones begone and so myn enemy â—o bryng me agayne in to his power Graunt that we may so contynue And that thy kyngdom which shall come may fynyshe performe this kyngdome which â—s begonne by the. Delyuer vs from this perilous and synful lyfe whan it shall please the. Make vs desyre
neyther yet in my selfe not in my power lernynge scyence ryches wysdome or what thynge soeuer it be that I haue or possesse I put no confydence in any creature whether it be in Heuen or in Erthe But I put my sure trust in only in one God whiche can not be seen with mans iye whiche can not be comprehended with mans wytte whiche made Heuen and Erthe and alone ruleth all creatures To hym hooly I submytte any selfe nothyng fearyng nor regardyng the malyce of the deuyll and his felowes for my god is aboue theÌ„ all Neyter wolde I put the lesse confidence in god thoughe all men dyd forsake me and persecute me Neyther wyll I truste hym the lesse because I am wretched and poore because I am rude and vnlearned because I am despysed and lack possessyons Nother yet the lesse because I am a synner for this my fayth doth farre passe all thynges as it is necessary and oughte to do what so euer eyther be or be not bothe synnes and vertues and to be shorte al thynges So that she doth puerely and hooly fyxe her self in god only as the fyrste coÌ„maundement teacheth and compelleth me Neyther I desyre any signe to tempte hym I trust faythfully vnto hym although he differre and tary at his pleasure I wyll not set or prescrybe to hym any ende any tyme measure or reason but I coÌ„mytte all to his wyll with a pure fayth and a stable for he is almyghty what can I lacke that he can not gyue and do vnto me For he is the maker of HeueÌ„ Erthe lord of al thyngê what thynge can hyndre me or hurt me Howe may it be that al thingê shal not turne to myn vse proffet when he to whome all these thyngê are subyect and obedient fauoreth me and loueth me Nowe syth he is god he knoweth wherunto he hathe ordeyned me and how euery thynge shal be best for me and that whiche he knoweth he may do and seyng he is my father it is sure that he wyll see the best for me and that for the fatherly loue that he hath vnto me When I doubte not hereof and haue such trust in hym then no doubte I am his seruauÌ„t his Sonne and his heyre for euer And euen as I beleue so shall it be vnto me ¶ The secounde parte of the belefe And in Iesu Chryste his only sonne our lorde which was coÌ„ceyued by the holy ghost Borne of Mary the virgyne suffred vndre Pontius Pilatus crucified deed buried desceÌ„ded to hel the thyrde day rose agayne from death Ascended to heuen syttyth on the ryght haÌ„de of god the father almyghty from thense he shall come to iudge quycke and deade ¶ That is I do not only beleue that Iesu Christe is the true only sonne of god by euerlastinge and godly nature and beynge from the begynnyng euer begoten but also that all thyngê are subdued vndre hym and that he is my lorde and the lorde of al creatures made ruler of them beyng man whiche he hym selfe with the father in his diuinyte dyd make ¶ I beleue that nomaÌ„ may beleue in god the father or may come vnto the father neyther by science and learnynge neyther by workes neyther by theyr owne reason and wytte or by what thyng so euer may be named in Heuen or Erth. But by this and in this Iesu Christe his only sonne that is to say by the fayth in the name and power of Iesu Christ. I beleue vnfaynedly and surely that he was conceyued for my profet by the holy ghoste without all mans carnall worke without a bodely father or mannes sede and that to puryfy and make spiritual my fynful flesshly vnclene and damnable conceptyon and all theyrs that beleue in hym moued to this mercy of his owne and fre wyll the wyll of the almyghty father ¶ I beleue that he was begotten of the virgyne Mary without the losse of her pure and incorrupte virginite so that accordynge to the prouidence of the mercyfull father he sholde blysse and clense the synnes and damnable byrth of all that beleue in hym that after it myght do no hurte ¶ I beleue that he suffred passion death for my synnes and all theyrs that beleue in hym and that he therby blyssed all passyons crosses deathes so that after they might not hurte but be both holsome and merytoryous ¶ I beleue that he was dede and buryed to mortyfy and bury my synne all synnes of them that beleue Fynally that all bodely death by his death was destroyed so that it is no power to hurte but is rather made holsome and profytable ¶ I beleue that he went downe to hell to subdue and make captyue to me and to al that beleue the deuyll with al his impery subtilete and malyce to delyuer me from hell wherunto I was condemned in my fyrste father Adam takynge awey all his power that he myght not hurte me But sholde rather as by occasion be proffytable vnto me ¶ I beleue that in the thyrde day he rose agayne from deth to brynge me all that beleue into a newe lyfe that by this dede he raysed me with hym in grace and spirit not to synne after but that I endowed with all kyndes of grace and vertue myght serue hym so fulfylle his coÌ„maundementes ¶ I beleue that he ascended into Heuen that he hath receyued of the Father rule and honour aboue al Aungellê creatures And that he now sytteth on the ryght haÌ„d of the Father that is that he is kynge and lorde ouer all the goodes of his Father in Heuen Hel and Earth wherfore he may helpe me and them that beleue in all maner of aduersytes agaynst all our aduersaryes and enemyes ¶ I beleue that from thense he shall returne the laste day to iudge quycke whome he then shal fynde alyue and deade which before were buryed And that he shall cause al men aungelles good euyl to come before the seate of his iudgement whome they shall se bodely to delyuer me and all faythfull from bodely death from all euyll and synnes And to punyshe with eternall iudgement his enemyes and aduersaryes so that we shall be delyuered froÌ„ theyr power for euer ¶ The .iij. parte of the belefe I beleue in the holy ghoste the holy christen churche the communyon of sayntes the forgyuenesse of synne the rysynge of flesshe and euerlastynge lyfe Amen ¶ That is to say I do not only beleue that the holy ghost is very god with the father and the sonne But also that noman can come to the father by Christe by his lyfe passion death what so euer was spoken of Christ or opteyne any of these thynges without the worke of this spirite with the whiche spirite I desyre the father and the sonne to touche me all faythful to sturre me vp to call to drawe and by Christ in Christe to quycken me to make me holy spirituall
so to brynge me to the Father for it is he which with the father by Christe iÌ„ Christ worketh quickeneth al thyngê ¶ I beleue that in al the world be it neuer so greate there is but one comeÌ„ ChristeÌ„ churche which is none other thing but the coÌ„gregatioÌ„ coÌ„munyoÌ„ of holy men that is of rightuous faythfull men on the earth that this churche by this holy spirit is gadered and maynteyneth thorough whome also it is gouerned encreased dayly by the sacramentes and worde of god ¶ I beleue that noman can euer be saued which is not founde agreable and consentynge with this coÌ„gregation in one faith in one worde in one sorte of sacramentes hope charyte And that none of the Iewes or Gentilê can be saued with this church except they reconcyle them selfe vnto it come in fauour with it conformyng them selues in all pointes therunto ¶ I beleue that in this coÌ„munyon or christente all the prayers and goode workes of this congregation do necessaryly helpe me weigh on my syde and conforte me in all tymes of lyfe and deathe ¶ I beleue that in this congregation and comen welth and in none other place is forgyuenes of synnes And that without this all great good workes how many soeuer there be of them do nothyng profet to forgyuenes of synne And contrarywyse in this coÌ„gregation the multitude greatnes and often coÌ„mytting of synnes do no thynge hurte nether let the forgyuenes of synne But that this forgyuenes doeth cotynue whersoeuer and how longe this excellent churche doth endure To whome also Christ gyueth his keys sayth Mat. 18. What so euer ye lose vpon Erth it shal be losed in HeueÌ„ Lykewyse Math. 16. he sayth to Peter alone In the name stede of this only church what so euer thou lose vpon Earth it shall be losed in heuen ¶ I beleue that there shall be a rysynge of them that are deade in the whiche rysyng the holy ghost shal sturre vp al flesshe that is all men concernyng the body and flesshe good and euyll so that the veray flesshe whiche was deade buried and consumed or by other wayes destroyed shall returne and lyue agayne ¶ I beleue that after this resurrâ—ction I my selfe and all true Christen people shall haue euerlastynge lyfe of god the Father in the kyngdome of his welbeloue sonne not for by nor through the workê of ryghtwisnes that we haue downe for all passions and martyrdomes that maye be suffred in this world are not countreuaylable to the glorye to come whiche shall be shewed in vs but by the grace and mercy of God by the redemption which is in Christ Iesu that is to saye by his precyous death and most paynfull passyon for truly the guerdon reward stipend of synne wherwith we all are manyfolde wayes poluted by spotted and defyled is death yea that euerlasting but by the grace of god it is that we repentynge of our synnes and belyuynâ—e stedfastly â—is promesâ—es shall haue euerlastynge lyfe in Iesu Christe our lorde ¶ Amen that signifieth that in good ernest wiâ—hout doubt al these thynges be true The prayer of the lorde called the pater noster OUr father whiche arte in heuen halowed be thy name Let thy kyngdome come Thy wyll be fulfylled as well in earthe as it is in heuen Gyue vs this dat our dayly breade And forgyue vs our trespasses euen as we forgyue theym whiche trespasse agaynste vs. And leade vs not in to temptation But delyuer vs from euyll So be it A goodly interpretation or declaration of the pater noster OUr Father whiche arte in heuens looke mercyfullye vpon vs thy wretched children heare in earth gyue vs thy grace that bothe thy holy name among vs and alâ—o thrughout the hole worlde maye be sanctyfyed and praysed thrughe the true pure preachynge of the worde of god and also that synnefull maner of lyuynge and all wicked and erroneouse doctrynes may cease for by these thynges thy name is dishonoured and blasphemed Cause that thy kyngedoÌ„ may come and be encreased that all synners and all those whiche beynge blynded thorugh ygnoraunce leue in the kyngedom of satan may come to the knowledge of fayth in Iesu Christe that by suche meane thy churche may increas and waxe more and more full of people Cause also that the holy ghoste do confyrme and establesshe vs that we may obay thy wyll and plesure and sustayne beare the crosse as wel in lyfe as in death as wel in prosperyte as in aduersite that we may mortyfy our owne wyll and offer it to god as a sacrifice Geue to vs our dayly brede Take from vs couetuosnes rare for the belye that we may loke for all good thynges from the that we may receyue them of the. Forgyue vs our trespaces as we do forgyue them that trespasse agaynste vs that our herte may be quiete and carelesse and our coÌ„science not fered with the syght of our synnes Lede vs not in to temptation But helpe vs by thy spirite in mortyfienge and subduynge or ramynge of our flesshe that we may learne to despyse the worlde with al the desyres studies and exercyses belongynge vnto it and that we may vanqueshe and ouercome the crafty gyles of sathan Fynally delyuer vs o almyghty father from all euyll aswell temporall or transytory as euerlastynge as well of body as of soule who so euer coueteth desyrith these thynges vnfaynedly and hertely let them say Amen ¶ And let theÌ„ beleue without ony doubte that god hath graunted al these thynges and that theyr prayer is harde all redy accordynge to the promysse of Christe when he sayde what so euer thyngê ye aske and desyre by prayer beleue that ye do receyue it and ye shall haue it ¶ The prayer of the lorde called the Pater noster where in are conteyned .vij. peticions ¶ The preface and introduction to aske these .vij. peticions is conteyned in these wordes Our father whiche arte in heuen ¶ The vnderstondyng of the wordes ALmyghty God syth thou of thyne infinite beneuolence and mercy hast not only admitted vs but also taught yea and coÌ„mauÌ„ded by thy only and dere sonne Iesu Christ that we trustynge in his merytes and protection he beynge our inâ—ercessor shulde beleue that thou were a louynge father vnto vs. And that we shulde also call the father though worthely and by greate ryght thou myghtyste haue ben an angry and greuous iudge agaynste vs synners whiche so ofte and abhomynable haue done agaynste thy godly and moste holy wyll and haue gyuen the occasyon of displeasure agaynst vs. Gyue vs we beseche the by the same beneuolence mercy that we may haue in our hertes sure trust without feare of thy fatherly loue And make vs fele this acceptable smell swetnes whiche the moste sure chyldly truste doth get vnto vs that we may with glade mynde call the father knowlege the loue the and crye on the