for all that we haue of hym must we hange in hym must we caste our hole hope and truste that he shal sende vs sufficient and in noo wyse mystruste hym For yf he prouyde sufficiently for all fysshes and byrdes and other creatures whiche laboure not for theyr lyuynge as we doo howe moche more oughte we beynge his owne chyldren and also vsynge all labour and diligence to get our lyuynges to trust that our father whiche hathe all thynges in his disposition wyll se vnto vs that we shall lacke nothyng necessarie And as the husbande man tylleth and soweth his grounde wedeth it and kepeth it from destroyenge and yet he prayeth to god for thencrease and putteth all his truste in hym to sende hym more or lesse at his pleasure Euen soo besydes our owne diligence policie labour trauayle we must also pray dayly to god to sende vs sufficient we muste take thankfully at his handes all that is sent and be no further carefull but put our hole confidence and truste in hym For our sauyoure Christe saythe in the gospell Matt ix I saye to you be not carefull for your lyuynge what you shall eate ne what clothes you shall weare Is not lyfe better than your meate and youre bodye better than your clothynge Loke vpon the byrdes of the ayre they sowe not they reape not they brynge nothynge into the barne but your heuenly father feadeth them Be not you of more price then they Loke vpon the lillies in the fyelde they labour not they spynne not and yet I tell you that Salomon in all his precious and royall apparell was not soo clothed as one of them Therfore care you not for these thynges Leaue this care to them that knowe not god You re heuenly father knoweth that you haue nede of all these thynges but seke you fyrst the kyngdome of god and his ryghtuousnes than god shall cast all these thynges vnto you These be the wordes of Christe full of good and comfortable lessons that we shulde not care ne sette our hartes to moche vpon these worldly thynges ne care soo moche for to morowe that we shall seme to mystruste our lorde And that we shulde sequester this care frome vs and seeke for the kyngedome of god and employe our selfes holly to the gettynge therof and than he maketh a comfortable promyse that we shall not lacke thynges necessary for vs. And althoughe our lorde hath soo prouyded for some that they haue all redy sufficient and plentie for many days or yeres yet that not withstandynge they ought to make this petition to god and say Gyue vs this daye our dayly breade For asmoche as theyr substaunce thoughe it be neuer so great lyke as it coulde not haue ben gotten without god hadde sent it so it can not prospere and contynue excepte god preserue it For howe many great ryche men haue we knowen sodeynly made pore some by fyre some by water some by thefte some by exchete and many other wayes Was not Iob the one daye the rychest man that was in all the Estlande and the morowe after had vtterly nothynge It is therfore as nedefull to pray our lorde to preserue that he hath gyuen vs as to praye hym to gyue it For yf he gyue it and doo not preserue it we shall haue no vse of it ¶ Fourthely that by this breade whiche oure sauyoure teacheth vs to aske in this petytyon is pryncypally mente the worde of god whiche is the spirituall breade that fedeth the soule For as the body is nourysshed broughte vp groweth and fedeth with breade and meate soo nedeth the soule euen from our youth to be nourisshed brought vp with the worde of god and to be fed dayly with it And lyke as the body wol faynte and decay yf it be not from tyme to tyme releued and refresshed with bodyly sustenaunce euen so the soule waxeth feble and weake towardes god oneles the same be contynually cherysshed Mat. iiii refresshed kepte vp with the worde of god accordynge to the sayinge of Christe A man lyueth not with meate only but by euery word that procedeth from the mouth of god And surely there is no other thynge that can fede and comforte the soule but onely this breade of the worde of god For if we haue aduersitie in this worlde as pouertie sycknes imprisonment and suche other myseries where shulde we seke for comforte but at goddis wordes yf we thynke our selfe so holy that we be without synne where shuld we fynd a glasse to se our synnes in but in the worde of god If we be so ful of synnes that we be lyke to fall in to desperation where canne we haue comforte and lerne to knowe the mercy of god but onely in goddes worde Where shall we haue armure to fyght agaynste our thre great ennemies the worlde the flesshe and the dyuell where shall we haue strengthe and power to withstande them but onely as Christe dyd in and by the worde of god And fynally if we haue any maner of sicknes or disease in oure sowles what medicine or remedy can we haue but onely the worde of god So that the worde of god is the veray breade of the soule And therfore as well for this breade of the soule as also for the breade and dayly sustenaunce of the body oure sauyoure Christe teacheth vs to praye in this fourthe petition ¶ The sense and interpretation of the fyfthe petition OVr heuenly father loo we wretched synners knowlegynge and confessynge vnto the our moost mercyfull father the great and manyfolde synnes wherwith our conscience is contynually combred and hauynge none other refuge but vnto thy mercy we moost humbly beseche the comforte our conscience bothe now and in the howre of our dethe whiche is nowe abasshed asshamed to loke vpon our synne iniquitie and than also shall be more asshamed afrayde remembrynge thy harde and strayte iugement whiche shall than be at hande Gyue vs thy peace in our hartes that we to our comforte maye loke for thy iugement Entre not into iugement agaynste vs with the strayte extremitie of thy iustice Psal xxx for in thy syght noo man shall be founde innocente or ryghtuous but manyfolde wayes to haue synned agaynste the. Gyue vs grace dere father not to stycke stay or grounde our selfes in our owne good workes or deseruynges but to gyue and submyt our selfes playnly and faythfully to thyne infynyte and incomparable mercy Helpe and comforte all mennes conscience whiche in poynte of deathe or in any suche other temptation are vexed with desperation Forgyue bothe them and vs our offences comforte vs refresshe vs and be reconciled vnto vs. Iudge vs nat after the accusation of the dyuell and our wretched consciences neyther here the voyce of our ennemyes whiche accuse vs daye and nyght before the. But like as we forgyue them hartely which trespasse agaynste vs Euen so we beseche the forgyue vs the manyfolde synnes
his sayde churche that is to saye to be the onely patrone and aduocate and thonely mediatour betwene god and mankynde and the onely intercessor for the synnes of all them that ryghtfully beleue in hym And I beleue that accordynge therunto our sauiour Iesu Christ is of his owne goodnes not onely more redy alwayes than any other creature in the worlde is to helpe me by his mediacyon and intercession but also that whan so euer I do inuocate and calle vpon hym in ryght fayth and hope with full intent and purpose to amende and retourne from my noughty lyfe he presenteth and exhibiteth vnto the sight of his father his moste blessed body as it was wounded crucified and offred vp in sacrifyce for the redemption of mankynde and so from tyme to tyme maketh continuall request and intercession vnto god his father for the remission of all my synnes and for my reconciliation vnto his fauour and finally doth obteyne that god so reconciled woll vouchsafe to sende downe his holy spyrite to dwell within my harte there to rule to gouerne and to sanctifie me with all my thoughtes and dedes and to comforte and strengthe me with all spirituall gyftes necessary to the attaynynge of euerlastynge lyfe And therfore sithe my heed and my sauiour Iesu Christ ascended vp into heuen and sytteth there vpon the ryght hand of his father and maketh there continuall intercession for me I shall neuer from hens forthe by the grace of god seke nor set my felicitie in any worldly thynge but shall alwayes vse the creatures and ordynaunces of this worlde and all worldly thynges as a passynger or a pylgrime vseth the commodities of a straunge countrey wherin he intendeth not to tary but to passe forthe vntyll he shall come vnto his owne dwellynge place And I shall conuerte my hole cure desyre and study from these erthely pleasures to the attaynynge of that heuenly and euerlastynge life whiche is prepared and ordeyned for me And beinge assured of so good so louynge and therwith so myghty a gouernour mediatour and aduocate in heuen as Chryst is I woll by the helpe of his grace from hens forth continue styll perseuer vnder his kyngedome his tuicion and his gouernaunce and so being I woll accompt my selfe safe and sure in all maner aduersities and agaynst all maner aduersaries and enmyes And I woll neuer by the helpe and grace of god seke other gouernour or mediatour nor all the displeasures iniuries or aduersities in the worlde nor all the malyce crafte and subtilitie of the dyuell nor all the multitude or burden of my sinnes shall cause me to distruste or dispayre of helpe at his handes nor yet shall make me afrayde to prosecute this my said desyre and purpose or cause me to desyst from the same The sence and interpretation of the seuenth Artycle I Beleue assuredly and constanly do professe that our sauiour Iesu Christ beyng thus ascended in to heuen sette there on the right hand of almighty god his father shall at the laste ende of the worlde whiche we call Domesday retourne ones ageyne and come from heuen and appere vnto all the people of the worlde both quicke and deed in his perfyte manhode and in the selfe same body wherin he ascended to the inestimable comforte and reioyce of the good and to the extreme terrour confusyon of the wycked And although our sauiour Iesu Christ at his fyrst aduent or commyng into the world which was whan he came to be incarnate appered in the habyte and fourme of a very lowe seruaunt and of an abiecte person in all humblenes pouertie affliction and myserie and suffred him selfe to be iniustly iudged and condempned to dethe by others and although he hath euer syth that tyme and euer shal vntyl Domesday vse his mercy and longe pacience and suffrance towardes the wretched synners of the worlde inuitinge alwayes and callynge them from tyme to tyme to repentance yet I beleue assuredly that at his seconde aduent or commynge he shall appere in the high and almighty power glorie and maiestie of his kyngedome and beinge accompanyed with all the orders of aungelles waytinge vpon hym as his ministres Matth. xxv Apoc. i. he shall sytte openly in the clowdes of the ayre and shall iudge all the worlde quicke and deed and that straitely accordynge to trouthe and iustice and accordynge as he hathe promysed and thretned to do by his holy worde expressed in scripture that is to say accordynge to euery mannes owne workes and dedes done by hym while he lyued in the world without sparyng or fauourynge or shewynge of mercy vnto any whiche haue not deserued the same in theyr lyfe tyme. And I beleue assuredly that at this day whan Christ shal thus sytte in the seate or throne of his iudgement all the people of the worlde quicke dead that is to saye aswell al those whiche shall be founde on lyfe in the worlde at the daye of this seconde aduent or commynge of Christ as also al those whiche euer sythe the creation of Adam lyued here in this worlde and dyed before that daye shall come and appere before the presence of Christe in theyr very bodyes and sowles And whan they shal be so gathered and assembled togyther our sauiour Iesu Christe shall pronounce the extreme or fynall sentence and iudgement of euerlastynge saluation vpon all those persones Ro. ii whiche in theyr lyfe tyme obeyed and conformed them selfe vnto the wylle of god and exercysed the workes of ryght belefe and charytie and so perseuerynge in well doynge soughte in theyr hartes and dedes the honoure and glorye of god and lyfe immortall And contrarye vppon all those whiche in theyr lyfetyme were contentious and dyd repugne agaynst the wyll of god and folowed iniustice and iniquitie rather than trouthe and vertue our sauyour Christe shall than and there pronounce the sentence of euerlastynge punyshement and dampnation And I beleue that our sauyour Iesu Christe shall also than and there calle a parte and make a perfyte separation or diuysyon betwene these two sortes of people that is to saye betwene the shepe and the gootes the corne and the chaffe the good and the bad the blessed and the cursed the membres of his bodye and the membres of the dyuell And so settynge the good and the blessed vppon his ryght hande he shall cleerely and perfytely rydde delyuer and redeme them for euer from the power and malyce of the wycked and from all paynes and euyll and so take them all vp with hym into heuen there to be crowned and rewarded in body and sowle with honour glorie and euerlastynge ioye and peace whiche was prepared for them from the begynnynge of the worlde And contrary he shall sette all the other whiche shall be iuged to euerlastynge peyne and death vpon his lefte hande and so shall sende them downe into hell there to be punysshed in body and soule eternally with fyre that neuer shall haue ende whiche was
that the guerdon rewarde and stypende of synne wherwith we be all manifolde wayes polluted bespotted and defyled is deathe yea and that euerlastynge And that it is by the onely grace and mercy of god that we repentynge vs of our synnes and beleuynge stedfastely in his promyses shall haue euelastynge lyfe in Iesu Christe our lorde Amen⸫ HERE FOLOVVE CERTAYNE NOTES and obseruations necessary to be taught vnto the people for the better inducynge of them vnto the ryght vnderstandynge of the foresayde Crede FIrste it is to be noted that all and synguler the .xii. Artycles cōteyned in this Crede be so necessarie to be beleued for mans saluation that who so euer beynge ones taughte wol not constātly beleue them or wol obstinatly affirme the cōtrary of them he or they can not be the veray membres of Christe and his espouse the churche but be very infydelles or heretyques and membres of the dyuell with whom they shall perpetually be dampned Seconde it is to be noted that all true chrysten men ought and must most constantly beleue maynteyne and defende all those thynges to be true not onely whiche be comprehended in this Crede and in the other two symboles or Credes wherof the one was made in the councell of Nece the other was made by that holy man Athanasius but also all other thynges whiche be comprehended in the hole body and canon of the Bible Thyrdely that al true christen men ought must not only repute take and holde all the same thynges for the mooste holy moste sure and moste certayne and infallible wordes of god and suche as neyther ought ne can be altered or conuelled by any contrary opinion or auctoritie but also muste take and interpretate all the same thynges accordynge to the selfe same sentence and interpretation whiche the wordes of scrypture do purporte and sygnyfye and the holy approued doctours of the churche do intreate defende the same Fourthely that all true chrysten men ought and muste vtterly refuse and condempne all those opinions contrarye to the sayde .xii. Artycles of our Crede whiche were of longe tyme paste condempned in the foure holy councelles that is to saye in the councell of Nece Constantinople Ephesis and Calcidonense and all other sithe that tyme in any pointe consonant to the same The notes of the fyrste Article In the fyrst artycle of this Crede two thynges be also specially to be noted The fyrste is that herin is declared the infinite goodnes of god towardes mankynde in that he created this hole worlde for mans sake onely therby dystributed suche parte of his felicite vnto man as was conuenient for him to receyue The belefe and knowlege wherof is the fyrst entre to knowe that god is a spirituall an inuisible substance or nature of infinite power and eternall without beginning or endynge and of incomprehensyble knowlege wysedom goodnes iustice and mercy c. For surely that worke of creation is so marueylous that nothynge in the worlde neither man nor aungell coude performe or accomplyshe the same but onely such a substāce or nature as is before rehersed whiche is god hym selfe By this belefe also and knowlege we be stired to fere and drede god and to loue and praise god with all our hartis considering that he did create vs euen lyke vnto his owne image similitude and endewed vs with all perfections bothe in soule body whiche were necessary for vs to haue and dyd put vs in the most excellent state of beinge hauyng all other creatures subiecte and obedient vnto vs. And so by this Article we be taught not onely what is the diuine essence and beinge of god the father what is his wyll what is his power and what is his worke and operation the knowlege wherof distroyeth infinite errours and heresies but also what fayth loue drede honour laude praise and thankes he requireth that all christen men shuld at all tymes as well in prosperite as in aduersitie gyue vnto hym for the manifolde and excellent gyftes whiche they receyue dayly and howrely at his handes And surely yf all christen men wolde oftimes call this article to theyr remembrance wold busily exercise theyr meditations therin and wold vnfaynedly and with all theyr hartes professe the same no doubte but theyr hartes wolde waxe warme and wolde be inflamed to loue god and wolde be prompt redye glad and wyllyng to serue hym and to fulfyll his wyll and commandementes to theyr possyble powers and wolde take in good parte without grutchynge or malygnynge all syckenesse and aduersyties and what so euer state of lyfe god sendeth vnto them and wolde gyue hym thankes and prayse therfore and wolde vse all goddes creatures and spende the gyftes whiche he hath giuen vnto them to his honour and glorie and fynally they wolde abhorre and deteste in theyr hartes all superstytion and ydolatrie all charmes wytchecraftes and sorceries all blasphemie and desperation pryde and arrogancie all couetousenes and ambicion all desyre of reuengynge and malyce and all other vices whiche reygne nowe in the worlde For surely who so euer beleueth inwardely with his hart that god is his father and reputeth hym as his sonne and that the same god is of infynyte myght and power of infynite knowlege and wysedom of infinite mercy goodnes of infynite trouth and iustyce as he is in dede no doubt that person woll be very lothe and a frayde to contrary or resyst his wyll in any thyng or to haue any thyng for his god and his father besyde or without hym or to loue or preferre money or any thynge elles in the worlde before hym or to put affiaunce truste delectacion or pleasure in any thynge more than in hym or besyde hym Neyther woll he gladly seeke helpe at the dyuelles handes by any meane of wytchecraftes or sorcerye or any suche other craftes inuented by the dyuell Neyther woll he commytte those thynges in the syghte of God whiche he is ashamed to commytte in the presence of men Neyther woll he murmure agaynste god nor muse for that he sendeth to some one man helthe chyldern ryches and other the felicities of this worlde and vnto hym or some other man he sendeth syckenes pouertie and other aduersyties Neyther woll he despayre of remyssyon of his synnes and so go peraduenture and murder hym selfe Neyther wolle he reioyce defyte or glorye in his malyce and euyll lyuynge but woll ratherlyue in feare and drede of euerlastynge deathe whiche is due vnto all them whiche seruynge the dyuell the worlde and the flesshe lyueth in securitie without feare and repentaunce And fynally to conclude surely who so euer beleueth in his harte that god dyd create this hole worlde and all thynges that be therin onely for mannes sake and for his vse and commoditie noo doubte he coulde tourne his eyes no where but he shulde incontynently be stirred and rauisshed in his harte to honour to praise and to laude the infynite
goodnes of almyghty god shewed vnto hym and all mankind in that partie and shuld also be afraide to vse the thynges created by god otherwyse than vnto his glory But it is to be feared least the mooste parte of them whiche pronounce and speke dayly this Article with theyr mouthe do not beleue the same with theyr hartes or yf they do beleue it that theyr belefe is but faynt and a colde belefe For we see no doubte the moste parte of christen people lyue in maruelous darkenes and blyndenes declarynge by theyr outwarde factes and dedes that they haue no respecte in the worlde to god nor that they knowlege hym to be theyr creatour or at the leaste they gyue vnto hym no suche feare and reuerence as is due vnto a lorde and maker nor no suche honoure and obedience as is dewe vnto a father Malac. i. nor no suche prayse and thankes as his sondrye benefytes and goodnes towardes vs do requyre All whiche thynges no doubte procede for that we haue not the ryght and harty feyth in god the father whiche is requyred in this fyrste artycle of our Crede The second thinge to be noted in this fyrst article is this maner of speakynge I beleue in God For therby no doubte is sygnifyed that we must not onely beleue stedfastly that god is and that he is true in all his wordes and promyses and that he is omnipotent and creatour of heuen and erthe and so forthe but we muste also with this beleue goo into god by loue and adhere onely vnto hym and that with all our harte and power and so continue and dwell styll in hym by loue It sygnyfyeth also that we muste obeye vnto his wyll and expresse the same our obedience as well in all our inwarde thoughtes and affectyons as also in all our outwarde actes and dedes and that we muste abhorre all tyranny and vyce and wysshe or desyre of god noo vayne or vngodlye thyng It sygnyfieth also that we must constantly and boldly betake and commytte our selfes and all ours holly vnto god and fyxe all our hole hope trust and confidence in hym and quyet our selfes in hym beleuynge perfytely and assuredly that he woll in dede shewe no lesse goodnesse loue mercy and fauour vnto vs than he promyseth by his worde to do and knowynge also for certayne that we and all the creatures in the worlde be conserued by his onely goodnes and hyghe prouydence and that without his specyall grace we shulde not be able to contynue on lyue the space of one mynute of an howre This maner of belefe we oughte to haue in no creature of god be it neuer so excellent but in god onely and therfore in this crede the sayde maner of speakynge is vsed onely in the thre Artycles whiche concerne the thre persons in Trinitie that is to say the father the sonne and the holy goost In the thyrde Article it is to be noted that the cause The notes of the thyrde Article why it was ordeyned by god that our sauiour Iesu Christ shulde be borne of a virgine and conceyued by thonly operation of the holy gooste whose worke is euer without all maner of synne was for that he was ordeyned and appoynted by god to come and delyuer mankynde from the captyuitie of the dyuell and the malediction whiche man was in and to redeme hym cleare from all synne deathe and damnation and to restore hym ageyne to the veray blessynge of god that is to say to Iustyce ryghtuousnes helth lyfe euerlastynge and all other the gyftes and graces of the holy gooste And for as moche as it was necessarye that he whiche shoulde worke this effecte shuld be hym selfe al blyssed al innocent all ryghtuouse all voyde and pure from synne and vtterly free and clere from the yocke and power of the dyuell therfore was it ordeyned by god that this chylde Iesu Christe shulde be so conceyued and borne as was sayde before For surely yf Christe shulde haue bene otherwyse borne or conceyued that is to saye of the seede of man and woman and by thacte of generation whiche is done betwene them he shulde haue ben borne in lyke synne in lyke fylthynes and iniquitie as all other the chyldren of men that euer was sith Adam or euer shal be be borne and conceyued But surely neyther was it cōuenient neither the wyll of god that Christ shulde by suche generation contracte any spotte of synne or shulde be subiecte to any parte of that malediction whiche was inflycted vnto Adam The notes of the .iiii. Article In the fourthe Article it is to be noted that the same dothe folowe vpon the seconde and the thyrde Articles For surely the cause why Christ was thus made man and borne of his mother was for that he shulde in the same nature of man not onely be conuersaunt in the worlde with other people and so partly by the example of his moste godlie and moste innocent and perfyte lyfe and partely by his meruaylous workes and miracles and partly by the heuenly doctrine of his gospell shulde induce the worlde vnto the ryght knowlege of the wyll of god his father and shulde declare vnto them his infinite mercy and goodnes towardes mankinde but also that he myght in the same nature whiche was mortall suffre deathe and so offre vppe the same his corporall deathe and his bloude in sacrifice vnto god his father as the sufficient hoste oblation or expiation and as the verye iuste price and valoure for the whiche god the father shulde holde hym selfe satisfied for all our synnes and offences and shulde remytte and forgeue vs the same and receyue vs agayne into his grace and fauour Whiche sacrifice and oblation Christe coulde not haue made by his deathe and by his bloude yf he shulde haue continued styll only god and shuld not haue taken also this our nature of man vpon hym In the fourthe Article it is also to be noted that it is the the wyll of god our father that we his sonnes and his children shulde in this worlde folowe our heed Christe in pacience and humilite and that we shulde beare our own crosse as Christe dyd his And that we shulde also hate and abhorre all synne knowynge for suretie that who so euer dothe not in his herte hate and abhorre synne but rather accompteth the breache and violation of goddis commaundement but as a lyght matter and of small weight and importaunce he estemeth not the price and valour of this passyon of Christe accordynge to the dignitie and worthynes therof but rather semeth to consent and as moche as in hym is to go aboute to cause Chryste to be crucified ageyne In the .v. article it is to be noted The notes of the fyfth Artycle Ro. x. that therin is included and conteyned the groundes and foundations of the greattest parte of all the misteries of our catholyque faythe In so moche that saynt Paule sayth that whosoeuer beleueth in his
heuenly father whiche of thyne infinite beneuolence and onely mercy hast taught and commaunded vs by thy onely and dere beloued sonne Iesu Christe to beleue constantely that for his sake thou haste admytted vs into the nombre of thy chyldren and made vs the veray inherytours of thy kyngedome where as in dede thou myghtest of iustyce and good ryght haue vtterly renounced and refused vs for thy chyldren and haue ben a strayt and a greuous Iudge agaynst vs synners for as moche as we haue so ofte and so abhomynably offended and transgressed thy godly and most holy wyll and haue gyuen the soo iuste occasyon of dyspleasure ageynste vs Lo here we nowe thy chyldren hauynge conceyued in our hartes ferme and stedfaste truste of thy fatherly loue towardes vs and lamentynge in our hartes to see howe many wayes thy godly name is dyshonoured and blasphemed here in this vale of myserie We moost humbly and euen frome the rote and botome of oure hartes beseche and praye the that thy name maye be halowed honoured praysed and glorified amonge vs here in this worlde Make we beseche the that al wytchecraftes and false charmes may be vtterly abolisshe amonge vs. Cause all coniurations by the whiche Satan or other creatures be enchaunted to cesse by thy blessed name Make that all false fayth by the whiche men eyther mystrust the or put theyr confydence in any other thynge than in the may be destroyed Make that all heresies and false doctrines maye vanysshe awaye and that thy worde may be trewely taught and set forthe vnto all the worlde and that all infidels maye receyue the same and be conuerted vnto the ryght catholyke fayth Make that we be not deceyued by hypocrisie or counterfaytyng of trouthe of rightuousnes or of holynes Make that no man swere in vayne by thy name or abuse thy name to lye or to deceyue his neyghboure Kepe vs from pryde and from the vayne ambition and desyre of worldely glorye and fame Kepe vs frome all enuy malyce couetousnes adultery gloteny slouthe frome backbytynge and sclaunderynge of oure neyghbours and frome all other yuell and wycked thoughtes and dedes wherby thy name maye be dyshonoured and blasphemed Graunt vs that in all peryls and daungers we may runne vnto the as vnto our onely refuge and calle vpon thy holy name Graunt that in our good wordes and workes we may only please and magnifie the. Kepe vs frome the moost dampnable synne of vnkyndenes towardes the. Graunte that we whiche do alredy professe thy ryghte faythe maye styll contynue in the same and may declare and expresse the same as wel in our outwarde cōuersation as in professynge the same with our mouthe Graunt that by our good lyfe and our good workes all other maye be moued to good and that by our yuell workes and synnes no man may take occasyon to sclaunder thy name or diminisshe thy laude prayse kepe vs that we desyre nothynge whiche shulde not retourne to the honour prayse of thy name And yf we aske any suche thynge heare not our folysshnes Make that our lyfe be suche that we maye be truely founde thy chyldren in dede and that we shall not in vayne call the our father but that in all thynges we may study and seke for the honoure glory of thy name ¶ For the better and more ample declaratyon of this fyrst petition we thynke it conuenyent that al bysshoppes and preachers shal instructe and teache the people cōmitted vnto theyr spirituall charge Fyrste that our sauyour Iesu Christ was the auctour and maker of the Pater noster And that therfore lyke as he was of infinite wysedome and of infinite loue charytie towardes vs Euen soo all chrysten men oughte to thynke and beleue that the same prayer is the most excellent and the moost sufficient and moost perfite of all others And surely so it is in veray dede For neyther there is any thyng in this prayer superfluous neyther there wanteth any petition suite or request whiche may be necessary for our iourney and passage in this worlde or for our furtheraunce to the attaynynge of the lyfe and glorie euerlastynge Psal ix Psal c. xvii et Psal c. xxxvii et Pro. iii. Sa. viii Mat. vii ¶ Seconde that euery good chrysten man maye be assured to attayne his requestes made in this prayer yf he shall enforce hym selfe and applie his hole harte and wyll to the wyll and grace of hym vnto whom this prayer is made and also yf he shall vtter and offer the sayde petitions inwardely with his harte and with suche confidence and truste in god as he requireth For surely no prayer is thankefull vnto god but that whiche spryngeth frome the harte And therfore the prophete Dauid cryeth to our lorde with all his harte And Moyses is noted to crie out alowde whan he spake no worde with his mouthe but he spake alowde in his harte Esai xxix Mat. xv And our lorde by his prophete noteth that some praye with theyr lyppes and in theyr harte mynde nothynge lesse than that whiche they praye for And therfore who so euer entendeth by sayeng of this Pater noster to attayn that he desyreth in the same he muste fyrst here hym selfe and vnderstande what he sayth and so conioyne the worde of his mouth with the same worde in his harte and say as the prophete Dauid sayd Psal lxx et Cxviii The hymnes and praysynges whiche I shall yelde to the good lorde shall yssue out frome the inwarde lyppes of my harte to the lyppes of my mouthe whan I shall synge lawdes and prayses vnto the. Thyrdely that all christen men ought to conceyue great comforte and ioye in that they be taught and cōmaunded in this prayer to take almyghty god for theyr father and so to calle hym If our soueraygne lorde the kynge wolde saye to any of vs take me for your father and so calle me what ioye in harte what comforte what confidence wolde we conceyue of so fauourable and gracious wordes Moche more than incomparably haue we cause to reioyse that the kynge and prince of al princes sheweth vnto vs this grace and goodnes to make vs his chyldren And surely as the naturall sonne may assuredly trust that his father wol do for hym al thynges that may be for his settynge forthe and auauncement euen so we maye vndoubtedly assure our selfes that hauyng almyghty god to our father we shall lacke nothyng neyther in this worlde nor in the worlde to come whiche may be profytable and expedyent for vs towardes the euerlastyng enheritaunce whiche our heuenly father hath prepared for vs. Fourthely that lyke as this worde Father declareth the great beneuolence mercy loue of god towardes vs soo it admonyssheth vs agayn of our duetie towardes hym howe we be bounde to shewe agayn vnto him our hole harty loue and our obedyence and redynes to fulfyll all his preceptes and commaundementes with al gladnes and humilitie
wherby from our youthe we haue prouoked thy dyspleasure and wrathe agaynste vs and dayly do prouoke it by doynge that is yuell and omyttynge that is good And so wasshe our synnes dayly more and more throughe the bloode of thy sonne and our sauyoure Iesu Christe And for asmoche as it is al repugnant contrary vnto our frayle and corrupte nature to loue them whiche hate vs or to forgyue them without reuengynge whiche do hurte or offende vs gyue vs we beseche the this heuenly grace and make thou our hartes soo meke and gentyll that we maye gladly and vnfaynedly forgyue them whiche haue hated or hurted vs in worde or in deade and that we maye behaue our selfe vnto all men frendes and foes with suche mercy gentylnes and kyndenes as we wolde desyre not onely that they but also that thou good lorde shuldest vse vnto vs. For we can not other wyse truste or loke for any forgyuenes or remyssion of our trespasses at thy handes oneles we shall accordyng to thy commaundement forgyue all them that haue trespassed in any wyse agaynste vs. ¶ For the better vnderstandynge of this fyfte Petition we thynke it conuenyent that all bysshoppes and preachers shal instructe and teache the people commytted vnto theyr spirituall charge that no manne oughte to glorye in hym selfe as though he were innocent and without synne but rather that euery good christen man without exception ought to knowledge hym selfe to be a synner and that he hath nede to aske forgyuenes of god for his synnes and to requyre hym of his mercy For doubtles he dayely commytteth synne whiche is commaunded dayely to aske remyssyon of his synnes i. Ioan. i. And saynt Iohn̄ sayth in his epistle If we say that we be without synne we deceyue our selfes and trouth is not in vs. ¶ Seconde that god woll not forgyue vs oure synnes but vppon condicion that we shall lykewyse forgyue all theym whiche trespasse ageynst vs and that not in tongue onely but also in our hartes And that this is a certayne sure lawe and decree of god Christe declareth in sondry places of the gospell Mat. vi For fyrste by expresse wordes Christe saythe If you forgyue men theyr offences done ageynste you your heuenly father woll forgyue you your offences And yf you woll not forgyue them that offende you be you assured youre father woll not forgyue you your offences And in an other place whan Peter came to our lorde Mat. xviii and demaunded of hym howe ofte he shulde forgyue his brother whiche had offended hym and whether it were not sufficient to forgyue hym seuen tymes Our lorde answered hym and sayde I telle the Peter that thou oughtest to forgyue hym not onely seuen tymes but seuenty tymes seuen tymes meanynge therby that from tyme to tyme we must contynuallye forgyue our brother or neyghbour althoughe he trespasse agaynst vs neuer so often And Christe also declareth the same by a Parabole Mat. xviii There was sayth Christe a kynge whiche callyng his seruauntes vnto an accompte fyndynge that one of them shulde owe vnto hym the somme of .x. M. talentes because he had it not to pay commaunded that the sayd dettoure his wyfe and his chyldren and all that he had shulde be solde But whan this dettour came vnto the kynge and prayed hym on his knees to haue pacience with hym promysynge hym to paye all the kynge had pytie of hym and forgaue hym the hole dette It fortuned afterwarde that this man being thus acquited met with an other of his felowes that ought hym but an hundred pence and with violence almoost strangled hym and sayd to hym Pay me my money And the sayd seruaunt his felowe fel vpon his knees and prayde hym to haue pacience promysyng to pay al. albe it he wolde not but cast hym into prison vntyll all was payde And whan the rest of theyr felowes seynge this crueltie had tolde the kynge therof the kynge forthwith sent for this cruell felowe and sayd to hym O wycked man I forgaue the thy hole det at thy suite and request It shulde therfore haue besemed the to haue shewed lyke compassyon to thy felowe as I had shewed to the. And the kynge beynge sore displeased with this crueltie commytted hym to tourmentours that shulde roughly and straytly handell hym in pryson tyll he had payde the hole det Vpon this parabole Christ inferreth and sayth Euen so shall your heuenly father doo with you yf you woll not forgyue euery one of you his brother euen from the harte Thus it appereth playnly that yf we woll be forgyuen if we woll escape euerlastynge damnation we must hartily forgyue those whiche haue trespassed and offended agaynst vs. No man can offende vs soo moche as we offende god and yet he is alwaye redy to forgyue vs. What ingratitude is it than what hardenes of harte what cruelnes is in vs yf we for his sake woll not forgyue one an nother There is none offence great that man dothe to man yf it be compared to our offences agaynst god And therfore we maye be well accompted to haue lyttell respecte and consyderation vnto our owne benefyte yf we wol not remitte and forgyue smal fautes done vnto vs that we maye haue pardone and forgyuenes of so many thousandes of greatte offences whiche we haue committed agaynst god And if any peraduenture wol thynke it to be a harde thynge to suffre and forgiue his ennemie whiche in worde and dede hath done hym many dyspleasures lette hym consyder agayne howe many harde stormes our sauiour Christe suffred and abode for vs. What were we whan he gaue his moste precyouse lyfe and blode for vs but horrible synners and his ennemyes Howe mekely toke he for our sake all rebukes mockes byndyng beatynge crownynge with thorne and the moste opprobrious deathe Why do we boste vs to be chrysten men yf we care not for Christe of whom we be soo named yf we endeuoure not our selfe to take example at him we be not worthy to haue the name of the membres yf we folowe not the heed And if any wol say that his ennemie is not worthy to be forgyuen let hym consyder and thynke that no more is he worthy to haue forgiuenes of god And by what equitie or iustyce can we requyre that god shulde be mercyfull vnto vs yf we woll shewe noo mercy but extremytie vnto our neyghbour and brother Is it a great matter for one synner to forgiue an other seing that Christe forgaue them that crucified hym And althoughe thy ennemie be not worthy to be forgyuen yet we be worthye to forgyue And Christe is worthye that for his sake we shulde forgyue But surely it is aboue our frayle and corrupte nature to loue our ennemies that doo hate vs and to forgyue them that do hurte and offende vs. Thus to do is a greatter grace thā can come of our selfes Therfore our sauiour Christ teacheth vs to aske this heuenly gyfte of