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
William Gouge 1578–1653London: printed by G. Miller for Edward Brewster, 1626
[18], 276, 279-340, [8] p. · 125k words · STC 12117 · ESTC S103286
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. All manner of temporal blessings.1 For bread in his most usual and proper acceptation signifieth an especial kind of food whereby our bodies are nourished.2 Yet so as by a Synecdoche 1. One kind of food is put for all other kinds: 2. One means of refreshing our bodies for all other means: 3. One temporal blessing for all sorts of temporal blessings. For there are so many temporal blessings whereof in this world we stand in need, as it would have been too tedious to have reckoned up every particular by name. Wherefore Christ contents himself to mention only one kind (Bread) which is of all the most usual. Every one, poor and rich, in all places, use bread: and so have they done in all ages, whether they live on flesh,
fish, butter, cheese, roots, herbs, or any thing else, they must withal have bread. Nothing can be less spared. For as food, of all other temporal things is the most necessary, so bread, of all other kinds of food. Where
even for preserving, or recovering the health and strength of them: and such a competent estate also, as is meet for the place wherein God hath set us, for the charge of children and others which he hath committed to us, and for that function and work which he hath appointed for us: together with peace, and all manner of prosperity. In a word, whatsoever▪ is needful and useful for mans temporal estate in this world, is here comprised under this one particle BREAD. And
A. All manner of temporall blessings.1 For bread in his most vsuall and proper acceptation signifieth an especiall kind of foode whereby our bodies are nourished.2 Yet so as by a Synecdoche 1. One kinde of foode is put for all other kindes: 2. One meanes of refreshing our bodies for all other meanes: 3. One temporall blessing for all sorts of temporall blessings. For there are so many temporall blessings whereof in this world we stand in need, as it would haue bene too tedious to haue reckoned vp euery particular by name. Wherefore Christ contents himselfe to mention onely one kind (Bread) which is of all the most vsuall. Euery one, poore and rich, in all places, vse bread: and so haue they done in all ages, whether they liue on flesh,3 fish, butter, cheese, rootes, herbes, or any thing else, they must withall haue bread. Nothing can be lesse spared. For as foode, of all other temporall things is the most necessarie, so bread, of all other kinds of foode. Wherea other things refresh a man, this strengthens him: and hath therefore very fitly the stile ofb staffe attributed to it. The want of no temporall thing ⟨p. 99⟩brings a man to such distresse as the want of Bread:c which especially causeth famine, wherupon by a kind of property it is calledd a famine of Bread. Vnder this title, Bread, are comprised meate and drinke; yea, food, raiment, sleepe, physicke, and other things needfull for our bodies,8 euen for preseruing, or recouering the health and strength of them: and such a competent estate also, as is meete for the place wherein God hath set vs, for the charge of children and others which hee hath committed to vs, and for that function and worke which hee hath appointed for vs: together with peace, and all manner of prosperitie. In a word, whatsoeue▪ is needfull and vseful for mans temporall estate in this world, is here comprised vnder this one particle BREAD. And* most vsually in Scripture is it put for10 temporall blessings.b If at any time it bee put for Spirituall food,12 there is some circumstance or other that necessarily implyeth as much,13 and plainely demonstrateth that there it can not be meant of corporall food.14 But there being no such circumstance in this Petition,15 it is safest to take it in the literall, vsuall, and proper sence. If it be not here so taken, this forme of Prayer is defectiue,16 and compriseth not in it all things requisite to bee prayed for.17
1Under bread all temporal blessings.Vnder bread all temporall blessings.
2Quandorogamus panem quotidianum, quicquid nobis propter carnem nostram in terris necessarium est postulamus. Aug. H•m. 42 in l. 50. Hom. Why bread is put for all temporal blessings.Quandorogamus panem quotidianum, quicquid nobis propter carnem nostram in terris necessarium est postulamus. Aug. H•m. 42 in l. 50. Hom. Why bread is put for all temporall blessings.
3P•ae•ibis omnibus cor homin•• confirmat panis. Bern. Serm. in can. dom.
They certainly mistake the meaning of this Petition, who in this place apply this title BREAD to Christ Jesus the Spiritual Manna, which is thata Bread of God that cometh down from Heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Though in the sixth of John, Bread be taken in that mystical sense; yet is it not in that place singly and simply used, but with such a description as plainly pointeth out the mystical meaning of it, as bBread of God, cBread from heaven, dBread of life, eLiving Bread, fBread that giveth life to the world, which Christ expressly applying to himself, saith,g I am the Bread of life. In that place therefore it cannot but be mystically meant. But here in ⟨p. 100⟩this Petition there is no such circumstance to point out any such mystery.8
THey certainely mistake the meaning of this Petition, who in this place apply this title BREAD to Christ Iesus the Spirituall Manna, which is thata Bread of God that commeth downe from Heauen, and giueth life vnto the world. Though in the sixt of Iohn, Bread be taken in that mysticall sence; yet is it not in that place singly and simply vsed, but with such a description as plainely pointeth out the mysticall meaning of it, as bBread of God, cBread from heauen, dBread of life, eLiuing Bread, fBread that giueth life to the world, which Christ expresly applying to himselfe, sayth,g I am the Bread of life. In that place therefore it cannot but be mystically meant. But here in ⟨p. 100⟩this Petition there is no such circumstance to point out any such mysterie.8
8Of the attribute [Greek or Hebrew], whereby some think that more then ordinary earthly bread is meant, See §. 86. Where the double article [Greek or Hebrew] is pressed to prove as much, It is well known that such articles do oft redound: or are used merely for grace of speech. But it may be granted, that here it implieth some emphasis, and yet no such mystery as is pretended to be included therein. Of the order in placing it before justification and sanctification See §. 97.Of the attribute 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, whereby some thinke that more then ordinary earthly bread is meant, See §. 86. Where the double article 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 is pressed to prooue as much, It is well knowne that such articles do oft redound: or are vsed meerely for grace of speech. But it may be granted, that here it implieth some emphasis, and yet no such mysterie as is pretended to be included therein. Of the order in placing it before iustification and sanctification See §. 97.
Answ. 1. Christ as the very foundation, and root of every good thing, is included in the first clause of this prayer. For in Christ is God our Father.1
Answ. 1. Christ as the very foundation, and roote of euery good thing, is included in the first clause of this prayer. For in Christ is God our Father.1
Answ. That followeth not. So they be not preferred before the kingdom of God and his righteousness, they may expressly by for name be prayed for. Beside the warrantable practise ofk Jacob, lAgur, and other Saints, the Apostle commandeth tom pray for such as are sick, that they may be healed.
Answ. That followeth not. So they be not preferd before the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse, they may expresly by for name be prayed for. Beside the warrantable practise ofk Iaakob, lAgur, and other Saints, the Apostle commandeth tom pray for such as are sicke, that they may be healed.
Others observing that temporal blessings may not be excluded, apply this title Bread, 1both to spiritual and also to corporal food.2 But this is to confound things of far different kinds in a form where Christ doth very accurately distinguish things that differ one from another.
Others obseruing that temporall blessings may not be excluded, apply this title Bread, 1both to spirituall and also to corporall foode.2 But this is to confound things of far different kinds in a forme where Christ doth very accuratly distinguish things that differ one from another.
As for Papists who apply this to the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ,1 they infer thereby that the Lord should teach his disciples to pray for that which was not then instituted,2 and whereof they were utterly ignorant.
As for Papists who apply this to the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ,1 they inferre thereby that the Lord should teach his disciples to pray for that which was not then instituted,2 and whereof they were vtterly ignorant.
