I DESIRE (my much honoured and entirely beloved Parishioners) so long as the Lord of life shall preserve me in the Land of the living, I desire to go on in promoting your spiritual edification every way that I can, privately, publicly, by prayer, by preaching, yea and by printing too. Behold here an evidence thereof. What privately I first digested in mine own meditation, and then publicly delivered by word of mouth, whereof in the open Church you heard your children and servants examined,1 and for a blessing whereupon many prayers by us all jointly and severally have been poured out before God, is now through Gods gracious providence so published as it may be reviewed so oft as you please. Well accept it: for it is A GUIDE TO GO TO GOD. God is the highest, and chiefest Good, below which we may not remain, beyond which we cannot attain. To place our rest in any thing before ⟨image 3⟩we come to God is dangerous.2 To attain to any rest beyond God is impossible. This therefore, is that proper place whether the soul well enlightened and rectified aspireth, as all hot light things aspire to the high hot Region. The means whereby we men on earth have access to God in Heaven, is Prayer. By Prayer we enter into the Court where God sitteth in his Majesty, and we present out selves before him speaking unto him as it were face to face. That therefore which instructeth us to pray aright, directeth us to God. This doth the Lords Prayer: And nothing can do it better. For this end, To teach us how to pray, it was first prescribed. It is not only a most absolute prayer in it self, but also a perfect pattern for other prayers. And in this respect the only way wherein we can go to God. Full of matter is this form of Prayer, but few the words thereof. Such fullness of matter in so few words make it to many as the prophecy of Christ was to Candaces Eunuch, whereof he said (to him that moved this question, Understandest thou what thou readest?) How can I except I had a guide? A guide therefore is needful for many to direct them in this way to go to God. Lo a Guide at hand. This Explanation of the Lords Prayer is offered to you for that purpose. But as a Guide that directeth a Traveller in his journey to the Kings Court, maketh not the way better, but showeth him how to order his travel in that way:
I DESIRE (my much honoured and entirely beloued Parishioners) so long as the Lord of life shall preserue mee in the Land of the liuing, I desire to goe on in promoting your spiritual edification euery way that I can, priuately, publikely, by prayer, by preaching, yea and by printing too. Behold here an euidence thereof. What priuately I first digested in mine owne meditation, and then publikely deliuered by word of mouth, whereof in the open Church you heard your children and seruants examined,1 and for a blessing whereupon many prayers by vs all ioyntly and seuerally haue beene poured out before God, is now thorow Gods gracious prouidence so published as it may be reuiewed so oft as you please. Well accept it: for it is A GVIDE TO GOE TO GOD. God is the highest, and chiefest Good, below which we may not remaine, beyond which we cannot attaine. To place our rest in any thing before ⟨image 3⟩we come to God is dangerous.2 To attaine to any rest beyond God is impossible. This therefore, is that proper place whether the soule well enlightened and rectified aspireth, as all hot light things aspire to the high hot Region. The meanes whereby wee men on earth haue accesse to God in Heauen, is Prayer. By Prayer we enter into the Court where God sitteth in his Maiestie, and wee present out selues before him speaking vnto him as it were face to face. That therefore which instructeth vs to pray aright, directeth vs to God. This doth the Lords Prayer: And nothing can doe it better. For this end, To teach vs how to pray, it was first prescribed. It is not onely a most absolute prayer in it selfe, but also a perfect patterne for other prayers. And in this respect the only way wherein we can goe to God. Full of matter is this forme of Prayer, but few the words thereof. Such fulnesse of matter in so few words make it to many as the prophesie of Christ was to Candaces Eunuch, whereof he said (to him that moued this question, Vnderstandest thou what thou readest?) How can I except I had a guide? A guide therefore is needfull for many to direct them in this way to goe to God. Loe a Guide at hand. This Explanation of the Lords Prayer is offered to you for that purpose. But as a Guide that directeth a Traueller in his iourney to the Kings Court, maketh not the way better, but sheweth him how to order his trauell in that way:
- 1Deus est nobis summum bonum. Neque infra remanendum nobis est, neque ultra quarendum. Alterum evim periculesum, alterum nullum est. Aug. de Mor. Eccl. Cath. l. 1. c. 8Deus est nobis summum bonum. Neque infra remanendum nobis est, neque vltra quarendum. Alterum euim periculesum, alterum nullum est. Aug. de Mor. Eccl. Cath. l. 1. c. 8
- 2Oratione intramus coelestem illam curiam in qua Rex regum stellato sedet solio &c. Bern. Serm. de 4. modis Orand. Oratione praesentamus nos quasi saci• ad faciem cum Deo loquentes. Ibid.
