A06743:117
[The flour of godly prayers] [most worthy to be used in these our days…[The flour of godly praiers] [most worthy to be vsed in these our daies…
[The flour of godly prayers] [most worthy to be used in these our days for the safeguard, health, and comfort of all degrees, and estates / newly made by Thomas Becon].[The flour of godly praiers] [most worthy to be vsed in these our daies for the sauegard, health, and comforte of all degrees, and estates / newlie made by Thomas Becon].
London: printed by John Day, 1550London: printed by Ihon Day, 1550
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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 prayer for Soldiers.
¶ A prayer for Souldioures.
IN the whole body of the holy scripture (O Jesus▪ thou son of the living God (there is nothing more commended and set forth unto us then peace, unity, quietness and concord. Unto this Moses and the Prophets, thou and thine Apostles do diligently exhort,1 and contrariwise vehemently dissuade from discord, ē mitie, malice, war &c. For what is ⟨image 67⟩more seemly for man, then to embrace amiable peace,2 friendly concord, and quiet amity? The creation, the shape, the birth of man proveth evidently, man to be formed and made unto peace.3 But Satan that old enemy of mankind, which goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, sweateth & with all main laboureth to banish peace from the children of men, and in the stead thereof violently to thrust in discord, tumults, seditions, wars blood shedding, manslaughter, destruction of realms & countries, by this means intending to make havoc of altogether, so y• he furiously raging in his members, provoketh many times thy servants, for the defence of their country & the safeguard of their people, to wage battle with their enemies. We therefore most humbly beseech ⟨p. lii⟩the to assist all such as justly attempt any wars against their enemies, and mightily to defend them against their adversaries, that they may receive through thy puissance a glorious victory and noble triumph.