A01975:1401
A guide to go to GodA guide to goe to God
A guide to go to God: or, An explanation of the perfect pattern of prayer, the Lords prayer. By William Gouge, B. in D. and minister of Gods Word in Black-Friars LondonA guide to goe to God: or, An explanation of the perfect patterne of prayer, the Lords prayer. By William Gouge, B. in D. and minister of Gods Word in Black-Friers London
London: printed by G. Miller for Edward Brewster, 1626
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
A. No. For it hath relation to our assurance of Gods forgiving us, not to the act of forgiving, as it is in God himself: as if more amply we should say, Lord, by that readiness which thy Spirit hath wrought in us to forgive our debtors, we have an evidence of thy readiness to forgive us, in faith therefore we crave forgiveness of thee. After this manner reasoneth the Apostle in these words,1 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of hit Spirit.
A. No. For it hath relation to our assurance of Gods forgiuing vs, not to the act of forgiuing, as it is in God himselfe: as if more amply we should say, Lord, by that readinesse which thy Spirit hath wrought in vs to forgiue our debters, wee haue an euidence of thy readinesse to forgiue vs, in faith therefore we craue forgiuenesse of thee. After this manner reasoneth the Apostle in these words,1 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and hee in vs, because he hath giuen vs of hit Spirit.
To forgive our brother is a fruit of brotherly love. Brotherly love sprouteth from our love of God.1 But we love God, because he loved us first. Gods love therefore goeth before our love. And God forgiveth us, before we forgive our brother. But as the life of a tree which causeth the fruit thereof, is discerned by the fruit, so Gods love in forgiving us, which causeth us to forgive our brother, is by our forgiving of our brother discerned, and thereby also we come to have assurance thereof.