A04917:67
A godly letter sent too the faithful in London, Newcastle, Berwick, and to all…A godly letter sent too the fayethfull in London, Newcastell, Barwyke, and to all…
A godly letter sent too the faithful in London, Newcastle, Berwick, and to all other within the realm off England, that love the co[m]minge of our Lord Jesus by John KnoxA godly letter sent too the fayethfull in London, Newcastell, Barwyke, and to all other within the realme off Englande, that loue the co[m]minge of oure Lorde Iesus by Ihon Knox
Rome: printed by J. Lambrecht? for H. Singleton, 1554
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
¶Why we should pray / and also understand what we do pray.
¶Why we should pray / and also vnderstande what we do praye.
Objection But some will object & say: albeit / we understand not what we do pray / ye God understandeth / who knoweth the secret of our hearts / knoweth also what we need / ⟨image 32⟩although we expound not or declare our necessities unto him. Such men verily declareth them selves / never to have understanding / what profit prayer meant / nor too what end Jesus Christ commandeth us to pray. Which is first that our hearts may be inflamed with continual fear / honour & love of God / to whom we run for support & help / when soever danger or necessity requireth / that we so learning to notify our desires in his presence / may teach us what is earnestly to be axed / & what not. Secondarily that we knowing our petitions to be granted by God / to him alone we must refer & give land and praise. And that we ever having his infinite goodness / fixed in our minds / may constantly abide to receive that / which with fervent prayers we desire / 1for sometime God defereth or prolongeth to grant our petitions / for the excercision & trial of our faith / & not that he sleepeth / or is absent from us at any time / but that with more gladness we might receive that / which with long expectation we have abidden / that thereby we assured of his eternal providence / (so far as the infirmity of our corruptie & most wicked nature will permit) doubt not / but his merciful hand shall relieve us in most urgent necessity & extreme tribulation. Therefore such men as teacheth us / that necessarily it is not required that we understand not what we pray / because God knoweth what we need would also teach us / that neither we honour God nor yet refer / or give unto him thanks for benefits