A06743:141
[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.
IT is truly said of thine holy Apostle. O most merciful saviour, that the natural man perceiveth not the things that pertain unto the spirit of God.1 For they are but foolishness unto him, neither can he perceive them, because they are spiritually examined. Thus to be true in the most part of men, specially in the wise and prudent of this world (from whom the heavenly father is wont too hide his heavenly mysteries,2 and to show them to the humble, and lowly) daily experience ⟨p. lxvii⟩teacheth us. For while the wise worldlings seek praise one of another,3 they can not love the glory of god. While they cleave to their own fleshly wisdom they can not abide the wisdom of God, which is counted foolishness in their sight. While they go about to maintain old crooked costumes, superstitious ceremonies the trifling traditions of men, they cannot away with the light of thine heavenly truth. While they magnify them selves, shame to be taught, and by no means will confess their ignorance, and error but persuade them selves, that they are in the truth,4 when in deed they are under the father of lies, and that they walk in the light, when they are most of all wrapped about, yea & overwhelmed with the misty clouds of mens inventions, while also they abhor ⟨image 83⟩to hear the preachers of thy word, and judge whatsoever they speak, new, erroneous & false doctrine, it cometh to pas y• they hate, persecute, banish and condemn both thy blessed word and all the favourers thereof▪ thinking them selves to do the high service,5 when they •lea such as unfeignedly profess thy Gospel. And forasmuch as this hath conceived against thy holy word, and this cruelty against thy servants cometh from the wise of this world, the simple and ignorant people also for lack of knowledge yieldeth them selves unto the fancies of the wily worldlings and the dreams of the bellied Hypocrites, approving what they approve, condemning what they condemn, and believing what they believe. By this means is it come to pass, that the adversaries of thy blessed ⟨p. lxviii⟩word are wonderful many in nun ber, and very few are they which sincerely, purely, and even with the heart embrace and follow thy heavenly doctrine. No marvel:6 For little is thy flock. O Lord, to whom it hath pleased thy father to give the kingdom of heaven, and although many be made, yet few shall be saved.
IT is trulye sayde of thyne holy Apostle. O mooste mercifull sauiour, that the naturall manne perceyueth not the thynges that parteyne vnto the spirite of God.1 For they are but folishenes vnto hym, neyther canne hee perceyue them, because they are spiritually examined. Thus to be true in the most part of men, specially in the wyse and prudent of thys worlde (from whom the heauenly father is wonte too hyde hys heauenlye mysteries,2 and to shewe them to the humble, and lowely) dayly experience ⟨p. lxvii⟩teacheth vs. For whyle the wyse worldlinges seke praise one of another,3 they can not loue the glory of god. While they cleue to theyr owne fleshelye wisdome they cā not abide the wisdome of God, which is counted folishnes in their sighte. Whyle they go about to mayntain olde croked costumes, supersticious ceremonis the trifling tradiciōs of mē, they cannot away wyth the lyghte of thyne heauēly truth. While thei magnify them selfs, shame to be taught, and bi no menes wil confesse theyr ignorance, and errour but perswade thē selfs, that they are in the truthe,4 whan in deede they are vnder the father of lyes, and that they walke in the lyght, when they are moost of all wrapped about, yea & ouerwhealmed wyth the mystye clouds of mens inuencyons, whyle also they abhorre ⟨image 83⟩to heare the prechers of thy word, and iudge whatsoeuer thei speak, new, erroneous & fals doctrine, it cometh to pas y• thei hate, persecute, banysh and cōdempne both thy blessed worde and al the fauourers therof▪ thynckyng thē selfs to do the high seruice,5 when thei •lea suche as vnfainedly professe thy Gospel. And forasmuch as thys hath conceyued agaynste thy holye word, and thys cruelty againste thy seruantes commeth from the wyse of thys worlde, the symple and ignoraunt people also for lack of knowledge yeldeth them selfs vnto the fancys of the wily worldlings and the dreams of the bellyed Hypocrites, approuing what they approue, condemning what they condempne, and beleuynge what they beleue. By thys meanes is it come to passe, that ye aduersaries of thy blessed
For many are called, but few are chosen,1 so that the true lovers of thy word are few but the enemies thereof are many But O Lord this comforteth us well, that although the adversaries of thy truth be innumerable, and albeit the powers of this world stand up and come together hurly burly never so much against the Lord & his anointed,2 and by no means will submit them selves to the yoke of thy blessed law, but seek all means possible to break it, and to caste it away ⟨image 84⟩from them, yet shall they not prevail, their imaginations their counsels and devises shall come to nought.3 For there is no wisdom▪ no forecast no counsel that can prevail against the Lord. Thou that dwellest in heaven,4 mockest their vain enterprises, and laughest both them and all their most subtle devises to scorn.5 For thou art that rock, against whom the gates of hell shall not prevail.6 Thou art that stone, upon whom whosoever falleth, he shall be crushed in peaces, but upon whom so ever it falleth, it shall grind him all to powder. Thou art that prick, against whom it is hard to spurn.7 Thou art that most victorious, and triumphant Lyon of the tribe of Judah, against whom no flesh can prevail. Thou art that Lord, which bringest to nought ⟨p. lxix⟩
so are they vain and of no force, and shall surely be brought to nought at the time of the to fore appointed (for every plant that thy heavenly father hath not planted,1 shall be plucked up by the roots) it may please thee, ⟨image 85⟩which madest Saul of a wolf,2 a lamb, of a persecutor a preacher, of a tyrant an Apostle to bring these adversaries of thy truth unto the knowledge of their error, that they may repent, believe and amend, O Lord they are thy creatures, & thou haste no pleasure in the death of a sinner but rather that he should turn and live,3 have mercy on them▪ suffer them not to perish, make them of the vessels of wrath, the vessels of mercy, of the enemies of thy truth, lovers and embraces of thy truth. Take away from them their hard and stony heart, and give them a fleshy, soft, and gentle heart. Replenish them with thy holy spirit, and with the graces thereof, that as they are thy creatures with us, so they may be saved with us. For we are taught that thou hatest none of all those ⟨p. lxx⟩things that thou hast made, and that thou dissemblest the since of men for repentance sake,4 and art ready to have mercy on all men, that repent, believe, and amend.5 Again, seeing the no man can come unto the except thy father draweth him, we most heartily beseech thee,6 which alone art our only mediator and advocate, to pray unto thy heavenly father, that he may have mercy upon the enemies of thy word, turn away his wrath from them, lighten his loving countenance upon them,7 give them a good spirit, and make them thy true and unfeigned disciples, Grant also (O sweet Saviour) which willest all men to be saved,
So shall it come to pass, that they which now are not thy people, shall be thy people and they which now abhor and deface the glory of thy word, shall be the valiant promoters and defenders of the same and all such as heretofore have walked through ignorance in all kind of superstition and ungodliness, shall from henceforth walk in the glorious light of thy Gospel, praise thee, and magnify thee, obey thee, and serve the in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life,1 unto the glory of thy blessed name. Amen.
So shal it come to passe, that they whych now are not thy people, shall be thy people and they which now abhorre and deface the glorye of thy woorde, shall bee the valeaunte promoutours and defenders of the same and all suche as heretofore haue walked thorow ignoraunce in all kynde of supersticion and vngodlynesse, shall from hencefourthe walke in the gloryous light of thi Gospel, prayse the, and magnyfye the, obey the, and serue the in holynes and ryghteousnesse all the days of theyr lyfe,1 vnto the glory of thy blessed name. Amen.
IN thy last and most sweet sermon, which thou madest a little before thy passion (o Christ thou son of the living God) thou gavest thy peace unto thy disciples,1 and willedst them diligently to keep and maintain the same among them unto the •nd. This peace is the quietness of con science, the rest of the mind, and the perfect consent and whole agreement among the faithful in matters of thy holy religion. In the prayer also made unto thy heavenly father thou desirest,2 that as thou and thy father are one, so thy disciples may be one, that is to say knit together in one mind, in one judgment, in one meaning concerning matters of Christen faith,3 that they may all speak one thing, preach and writ one ⟨image 87⟩thing, and by no means dissent one from another. This peace, this unity, this perfect consent in faith and religion is almost banished from among us in these our days,4 while every man laboureth to establish the inventions and dreams of his own heart, while every man sweateth to imagine a new kind of religion and to maintain the same, while every man seeketh to worship thee, not after the rule of thy blessed word, but after his own fleshly fancy and idle imagination. Thy holy Apostle, O Lord, could not abide, that there should be sects among the Corinthians, nor that one should hold of Apollo,5 another of Paul, the third of Cephas, but that they only should embrace thee, which alone by thy blessed passion broughtest unto them everlasting life, forasmuch ⟨p. lxxii⟩as thou and none other were crucified for them. If that thy blessed Apostle had lived in this our time, oh Lord how heavily would he have taken the sects that are now among the children of men, sprung out of hell and thrust in by Satan, yea and that is most to be lamented, among them that profess thy holy name. Instead of Apollo, Paul, and Cephas, we have Benet, Bernard, Francis, Augustine,
besides the disordered orders of the Camaldulenses, the Cistertienses, the Basilyenses, the Hieronimites, the Tertiaris, the servants of saint Mary, the Lazarytes, the Magdalenytes, the Whylhelmites, the Ambrosians, ⟨image 88⟩the Specularis, the Chalomerians, the Johannites, the Celestines, the brothers of purgatory, the brothers of the holy cross, the brothers of the vale of Josophat, the Carmelites, the Carthusians, the Hierosolimites, the Indians the Ninevites, the Constantinopolitans with an innumerable rabble of Hypocrites more, papists, Heretics, Schismatics, Anabaptists, Sacramentaries Libertines, & such other dunghills of Satan, which to much wretchedly have divided, rent & torn in pieces the quiet unity and friendly concord of thy holy religion, while they have imagined and taken upon them new sects, and new orders, and by thee trifling observances of them, seek justification, remission of since, and everlasting life, forsaking thee, which art the fountain ⟨p. lxxiii⟩of lively water, & digging them miry and dirty puddles that are able to hold no water.1 O Lord, as this division nourisheth continual discord and enmity among the professors of thy name: so do they that unfeignedly cleave to thy blessed word, sorrowfully lament, that thy glory, thy truth, thy word, thy passion, thy blood, thy death, is through these idolatrous imaginations defaced, obscured, and almost utterly quenched, in so much that if thou haddest not reserved unto the a remnant,2 which have not bowed their knees to Baal, we all had ben as Sodom, and might justly have been likened to Gomorrah. O blessed Lord, let very pity move the to have compassion upon thy poor troubled flock. Let the zeal of thy glory provoke the to tread under thy foot all these ⟨image 89⟩Sectaries, and Antichrists, that thou alone mayest be known among all nations to be the only true and living God. Ah most gentle saviour,3 there is but one lord one faith one baptism, one God, one father▪ one master, one body, one spirit, one hope, one truth, one gospel how unseemly then is it for us that profess this unity to be divided in religion one to be of this order, another to be of that, one to maintain this doctrine, another the contrary.
Destroy therefore, O lord, this work of Satan, even the bringing in of these damnable sects, & diversities of opinions, and restore unto us that most sweet and comfortable unity of thy holy and pure religion, that as we profess one God one baptism,1 so we may maintain one truth, & one religion. Thou callest thy self a jealous ⟨p. lxxiiii⟩God, and a Lord that wilt not give thy glory to another, suffer then thy honour and glory,2 thy praise and worship no longer to be given unto creatures. Thou art that God of peace which haste promised to tread Satan the sower of discord under our feet shortly.3 Fulfil thy promise, O Lord, for it is time, seeing that not only the wily Hypocrites,4 those p•inted sepulchres outwardly appearing beautiful, and full of holiness, but inwardly full of dead bones, and of all filthiness, of ravening and wickedness, of bribri & excess, take part against thy holy word, maintaining false opinions against thy heavenly doctrine, but also many of the temporal rulers & wise worldlings agree unto them, defending with great violence both the beastly hypocrites, & all their devilish traditions, crooked ceremonies, ⟨image 90⟩false religions, although manifestly contrary to the truth of thy blessed law. Notwithstanding remember thy old mercies, and for the glory of thy name, be favourably unto them, give them grace to repent and to know the truth,5 that they may escape out of the snares of the devil, and become the children of liberty and everlasting salvation. Gather together all such as are dispersed, & make of them with us one flock. Call home again them that are run astray after strange gods,6 that they may glorify the alone. Deliver thy people out of Egypt that land of servitude and bondage, and bring them into the land that floweth with milk and honey. Let the babbling Babylonians keep thy servants no longer in captivity but restore them home again unto that Jerusalem,
Take away from us all heresies, and diversities of opinions, & work in our hearts an unfeigned concord in matters of religion, even such a concord as is in all points agreeable to thy blessed word. Grant also most loving saviour, that this godly concord may remain continually in thy church. So shall it come to pass, that all sects and heresies, all divisions & Schisms, being rotted out of thy holy congregation, and a perfect agreement established among us ⟨image 91⟩according to thy blessed word, we shall from the very heart both knowledge thee,1 the worker thereof, which alone art the author of all goodness, and also sing continual praises to the our Lord God, which with God thy father and God the holy ghost livest and reignest true & everlasting God worlds without end. Amen.
Take away from vs all heresies, and diuersities of opinions, & worke in oure hertes an vnfained concord in matters of religiō, euen such a concord as is in al poynts agreable to thy blessed worde. Graunte also mooste louyng sauyour, that thys godlye concord may remain continuallye in thy churche. So shal it come to passe, that al sects and heresies, al diuisions & Sismes, beinge roted oute of thy holy congregacion, and a perfect agrement established amonge vs ⟨image 91⟩according to thy blessed word, we shal frō the very hert both knowledge the,1 the worker therof, whiche alone art ye author of al goodnes, and also sing continual praises to the our Lorde God, whiche with God thy father and God the holy gost liuest and reignest true & euerlasting God worldes without ende. Amen.
Howe necessary, O Lord peace and quietness is for the conversation of realms and all public weals, the holy scripture declareth in divers places: the psalmograph exhorteth all the faithful Israelites to pray for those things that make unto the quietness of Jerusalem,1 that there may be peace, wealth and abū dance both in it and all the coasts round about.
HOwe necessarye, O Lorde peace and quietnes is for the conuersacion of realms and al publique weales, the holy scripture declareth in diuers places: the psalmograph exhorteth al the faithefull Israelites to praye for those things that make vnto the quietnes of Ierusalem,1 that ther maye be peace, wealthe and abū daunce both in it and all the coastes rounde aboute.
When the Jews for their since and disobedience against thy divine majesty were led away captive, by king Nebuchadnezzar from Jerusalem unto Babylon, and there compelled to live under the ungodly, and uncircumcised gentiles, the prophet Jeremiah wrote an Epistle unto them, wherein among other things he exhorted them to pray for the public weal of Babylon, and for the Magistrates thereof, saying:1 Seek the peace of the city, wherein ye be prisoners, and pray for it unto the Lord. For in the peace thereof, shall your peace be.
When the Iewes for theyr syns and disobedience against thy diuine maiesty were led away captiue, by kīg Nabuchodonozor frō Ierusalem vnto Babylon, and ther cōpelled to lyue vnder ye vngodly, and vncircūcy•ed gentils, the prophet Ieremy wrote an Epistle vnto them, wherin among other things he exhorted them to praye for the publyque weale of Babilō, and for the Magi•trates thereof, sayinge:1 Seeke the peace of the citye, wherein ye bee prisoners, and praye for it vnto the Lorde. For in the peace thereof, shall youre peace be.
Thy servant Baruch also wrote a book unto thy people in their captivity,1 commanding them to pray for the prosperity of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, & for the welfare ⟨image 92⟩of Baltaser his son, that their days may be upon earth as the days of heaven. &c. Again thy holy Apostle warneth, that above all things prayers, supplications intercessions,2 and giving of than kes be had for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may live a quiet & peaceable life with all godliness and honesty. Hereof learn we, O most merciful saviour, how necessary peace, quietness, & concord is for all realms & con mom wealths. For that bearing rule, thy glory is sought, thy holy word is preached, the Magistrates are obeyed, thy preachers are reverenced, good letters flourish, charity resteth in mens hearts, good works are exercised, every man liveth according to his calling, virtue is advanced, vice is expelled, wealth and abundance of all things dwelleth among us, battle with ⟨p. lxxvi⟩all the pestilences thereof is banished, a figure of that heavenly Jerusalem is here found among the children of men, when contrariwise if battle or discord occupieth kingdoms or cities, all goeth to havoc, nothing but cruel barbarie & lionlike fierceness beareth rule. How blessed a thing christen charity, godly peace, friendly quietness, and brotherly concord is in a common weal: thy servant David king and prophet having in his own realm experience there of, declareth in this his Psalm. Beholde, sayth de,3 how good and joyful a thing it is, brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like a precious ointment upon the head that ran down unto the beard even unto Aaron's beard, & went down unto the skirts of his clothing. Like the dew of Hermon, which fell upon the hill of Zion. ⟨image 93⟩For there thou lord promised his blessing & life for ever.
Thy seruant Baruch also wrot a boke vnto thi people in their captiuite,
Seeing (o almighty & everlasting God) it is a good pleasant & joyful thing, brethren to dwell together in unity, vouchsafe to give unto all realms, specially unto such as the inhabitants whereof proofs thy holy name, this treasure & jewel this pleasure & joy that they may live together in unity quietness & concord o lord so many of us as believe in the, are brethren, & have one father, even thy heavenly father, & by him we have y• also our brother, & by y• we be his sons & heirs yea & fellow heirs with the of eternal glory,1 grant therefore that we all may be of one heart of one mind, seeing that nothing garnisheth & becometh the name of brethren better than brotherly love, true peace, friendly quietness, & amiable concord. This Christen unity and brotherly concord must needs be an excellent treasure in a common ⟨p. lxxvii⟩weal, seeing thy holy Prophet compareth it to a most precious ointment & to the most pleasant dew, the sweat smells where of cannot be expressed. Lord give us this precious ointment of mutual love whatsoever we attempt among that us may have a sweet smelling savour both before the & all good men. Give us also that the most pleasant dew, even the dew of thy heaven lye grace, which may cause us through thy holy spirit to flourish with the abundance of all good works, & provoke every one of us quietly and peaceably to do our own business, & to live according to our calling,2 the magistrate godly to govern, the subject humbly to obey,3 the preachers of thy word diligently to attend upon his office.4 So shall it come to pass, that we as brethren quietly dwelling together in this unity and concord, ⟨image 94⟩shall have that thou haste promised, even thy blessing, that is in this world abundance of all good things pertaining ether to the body or to the soul, and after our departure from this vale of misery everlasting life. Lord let it so cone to pass. Amen.
For many are called, but few are chosen,1 so that ye true louers of thy word are few but the enemies therof are many But O Lord this comforteth vs well, that althoughe the aduersarys of thy truth be innumerable, and albeit ye powers of this world stād vp and come together hurlye burly neuer so much agaynst the Lord & his annointed,2 and by no means wil submitte them selfes to the yocke of thy blessed lawe, but seeke all meanes possyble to breake it, and to caste it awaye ⟨image 84⟩from theim, yet shall they not preuayle, theyr imaginacions their counsels and deuises shall come to noughte.3 For there is no wisedome▪ no forecast no counsel that can preuayle agaynst the Lorde. Thou that dwellest in heuē,4 mockeste theyr vayn entreprises, and laughest both theym and all theyr mooste subtyle deuises to scorne.5 For thou art that rocke, agaynste whom the gates of hell shall not preuayle.6 Thou arte that stonne, vpon whome whosoeuer falleth, he shall be crushed in peaces, but vpon whome so euer it falleth, it shal grynd hym all to poulder. Thou arte that prycke, agaynste whom it is hard to spurne.7 Thou art that mooste vyctoryous, and tryumphaunte Lyon of the tribe of Iuda, against whom no fleshe canne preuayle. Thou arte that Lord, which bryngest to noughte ⟨p. lxix⟩the councels of the vngodly, and reprouest the thoughts of the people,8 yea thou makest of no force al the counsels, deuises and imaginacions of Princes, establishing thyne owne coūcel,9 and makinge the thoughtes of thyne own hert to abide certain and sure for euer and euer. And as thou art a Lord of moste stronge puisaunce, so is thy blessed word of mooste mightye force. For it is a twybelle that cleaueth the hard stonnye rocke a sunder.10 It is a consumynge fyre deuouring al ye aduersaries therof. Seing thē that as the deuises of wyse worldlinges are wicked:
so are they vaine and of no force, and shall surelye be broughte to noughte at the tyme of the to fore appoyncted (for euerye plante that thy heauenlye father hathe not planted,1 shall be plucked vp by the rootes) it maye please the, ⟨image 85⟩which madest Saule of a wolfe,2 a lambe, of a persecutoure a preacher, of a tyraunte an Apostle to brīg these aduersaris of thi truth vnto the knoweledge of theyr erroure, that they maye repente, beleue and amende, O Lorde they are thy creatures, & thou haste no pleasure in the deathe of a sinner but rather that he shoulde turne and liue,3 haue merci on them▪ suffer them not to perish, make them of the vesselles of wrathe, the vessels of merci, of the enemis of thi truth, louers and imbraces of thy truth. Take away from thē their harde and stony hearte, and geue theym a fteshye, softe, and gentle hearte. Replenysh them with thy holye spirite, and with the graces thereof, that as they are thy creatures wyth vs, so they maye be saued wyth vs. For we are taughte that thou hateste none of al those ⟨p. lxx⟩thinges that thou hast made, and that thou dissemblest the synnes of menne for repentaunce sake,4 and art readye to haue mercye on all menne, that repente, beleue, and amende.5 Agayn, seyng ye nomanne can come vnto the except thy father draweth hym, we most heartelye beseche the,6 whyche alone arte oure onelye medyatour and aduocate, to praye vnto thy heauenlye father, that he maye haue mercye vpon the ennemies of thy worde, tourne awaye hys wrathe from them, lyghten hys louynge countenance vpō them,7 geue thē a good spirite, and make them thy true and vnfayned dysciples, Graunt also (O swete Sauyoure) which willeste all men to be saued,8 and to come to the knoledge of the truthe, that all suche as walke in ignorance, blyndnes and erroure for lacke of doctryne ⟨image 86⟩maye haue faythfull Preachers sente vnto them, whyche maye instructe them wyth thy heauenlye word, brynge them out of darckenes into lyght, delyuer them frō the bondage of mans tradicions and place them in the swete lybertye of the spirite.
IN thy laste and mooste sweete sermon, whyche thou madest a litle before thy passion (o Christ thou sonne of the lyuynge God) thou gaueste thy peace vnto thy disciples,1 and willedst them diligently to kepe and maintain the same among them vnto the •nd. This peace is the quietnes of cō science, the reast of the mind, and the perfect consent and whole agrement among the faithfull in matters of thy holy religion. In the praier also made vnto thy heuēly father thou desirest,2 that as thou and thy father ar one, so thy disciples mai be one, that is to sai knytte together in one mynde, in one iudgmente, in one meaning concernyng matters of Christen faythe,3 that they maye all speake one thynge, preach and wryt one ⟨image 87⟩thyng, and by no meanes dissent one frome another. Thys peace, thys vnyty, thys perfect consent in faith and religion is almost banyshed from amonge vs in these oure dayes,4 whyle euery manne laboureth to establysh the inuencyons and dreames of hys owne hert, whyle euery man sweateth to imagine a newe kinde of religion and to maintaine the same, whyle euery man seketh to worshyp the, not after the rule of thy blessed worde, but after his own fleshlye fansy and idle imaginacyon. Thy holy Apostle, O Lord, coulde not abyde, that ther shuld be sectes amonge the Corinthyans, nor that one should holde of Apollo,5 another of Paule, the thyrd of Cephas, but that thei only shuld embrace the, which alone by thy blessed passion broughtest vnto theim euerlastinge lyfe, forasmuche ⟨p. lxxii⟩as thou and none other were crucified for them. If yt thy blessed Apostle had liued in thys oure tyme, oh Lorde howe heuelye wolde he haue taken the sects that are now among the chyldrē of menne, spronge out of hel and thrust in by Satan, yea and that is moost to be lamented, among them that professe thi holy name. Insteade of Apollo, Paule, and Cephas, we haue Benette, Barnarde, Fraunces, Augustine,6 Anthonye, Dominycke, Rufus, Honofrius, Iacob, Ioseph, Gylbert, Gregorye, Brygyde, Clare, Helene, Sophye, Pope, Cardynall. &c.
besydes the dysordered orders of the Camaldulenses, the Cistertienses, the Basilyenses, ye Hieronimites, the Tertiaris, the seruauntes of sayncte Mary, the Lazarytes, the Magdalenytes, the Whylhelmites, the Ambrosians, ⟨image 88⟩the Specularis, the Chalomerians, the Iohannites, ye Scelistines, the brothers of purgatorye, the brothers of the holy cros, the brothers of the vale of Iosophat, the Carmelites, the Chartusians, the Hierosolimites, the Indians the Niniu•ts, the Constātinopolitans with an innumerable rable of Hypocrites mo, papistes, Heretikes, Scismatikes, Anabaptistes, Sacramentaries Libertines, & such other dongehylles of Satan, whych to much wretchedly haue deuided, rent & torne in peces the quiet vniti and frendelye concorde of thi holy religion, while thei haue imagined and taken vpon them new sects, and newe orders, and by thee tryfelinge obseruances of them, seeke iustificacion, remission of synnes, and euerlastynge lyfe, forsaking the, which art the foū taine ⟨p. lxxiii⟩of liuely water, & digginge them myrye and durtye puddles that are able to hold no water.1 O Lord, as thys deuysion norisheth continuall discorde and enmity a mōg the professours of thi name: so do they that vnfaynedly cleue to thy blessed word, sorowfully lament, that thy glorye, thy truthe, thy worde, thy passion, thy bloud, thy deathe, is thorow these idolatrous imaginacions defaced, obscured, and almoost vtterly quenched, in so much that if thou haddest not reserued vnto the a remnaunte,2 whyche haue not bowed their knees to Baal, we al hadde ben as Sodom, and might iustly haue bene lykened to Gomorre. O blessed Lorde, lette very pytye moue the to haue compassion vpon thy poore troubled flocke. Let the zeale of thy glory prouoke the to treade vnder thy foote al these ⟨image 89⟩Sectaries, and Antichrists, that thou alone mayest be knowen amonge all nacions to be the onlie true and lyuynge God. Ah moste gentle sauioure,3 there is but one lord one faith one baptisme, one God, one father▪ one maister, one bodye, one spirit•, one hope, one truth, one gospel▪ how vnsemelie thē is it for vs yt professe this vnitye to be deuid•d in religion▪ one to be of thys order, another to be of yt, one to mainetayne thys doctrine, another the contrarie.
Destroy therfore, O lord, this worke of Satan, euen the bryngyng in of these damnable sects, & diuersities of opinions, and restore vnto vs that moost sweete and comfortable vnytye of thy holye and pure religion, that as we professe one God one baptysme,1 so wee may maintain one truth, & one religion. Thou callest thy selfe a gelous ⟨p. lxxiiii⟩God, and a Lord that wylte not geue thi glory to another, suffer then thy honoure and glorie,2 thy praise and worship no longer to be geuē vnto creatures. Thou art that God of peace which haste promysed to treade Sathan the sower of discorde vnder our fete shortelye.3 Fulfill thy promise, O Lord, for it is time, seing that not onlye the wilie Hipocrites,4 those p•inted sepulchres outwardli appearing beutifull, and ful of holynes, but inwardlie ful of dead bones, and of al filthinesse, of rauening and wickednesse, of bribri & excesse, take part against thi holye word, maintaining false opiniōs agaynst thy heauēly doctrin, but also many of the tēporal rulers & wise worldlīgs agre vnto thē, defending wt great violēce both the beastly hipocrites, & al their deuelish tradiciōs, croked ceremonis, ⟨image 90⟩false religiōs, although manifestlye contrarye to the truthe of thy blessed lawe. Notwythstandinge remember thy olde mercyes, and for the glorye of thy name, be fauourablye vnto them, gyue them grace to repent and to know the truth,5 that they maye escape out of the snares of the deuill, and become the children of libertye and euerlasting saluacion. Gather together al such as are dispersed, & make of them with vs one flock. Cal home agayne theym that are runne astray after strang gods,6 that they may gloryfye the alone. Deliuer thy people out of Egypte that lande of seruitude and bondage, and bring thē into the land that floweth wyth mylke and honye. Lette the babling Babilonians kepe thy seruauntes no longer in captiuity but restore theim home agayne vnto that Ierusalem, ⟨p. lxxv⟩wher thy holy name is called vpon, thanked and praysed, wher thy heauenly doctrine is purelye taughte, where thy blessed sacramentes are truelye and faithfully ministred, where the works of Christen charitie are continually exercysed, that wyth one mouthe and one herte we may praise and glorify thy blessed name.
Seinge (o almighty & euerlasting God) it is a good plesāt & ioiful thing, brethrē to dwel together in vnity, vouchsafe to geue vnto al relmes, specially vnto such as ye inhabitaunts wherof profes thi holi name, this tresure & iewel this plesure & ioy yt they may liue together in vnity quietnes & cōcord o lord so many of vs as beleue in ye, are brethrē, & haue one father, euē thy heauēly father, & by hym wee haue y• also our brother, & bi y• we be his sons & heires yea & fellow heirs wt the of eternal glory,1 grant therfore yt we al may be of one heart of one mind, seing that nothing garnisheth & becometh the name of brethrē better thē brotherli loue, tru peace, frēdly quietnes, & amiable co•cord. This Christē vnity and brotherly concorde muste nedes be an excellent tresure in a common ⟨p. lxxvii⟩weale, seinge thy holy Prophet compareth it to a moost preous ointment & to ye most plesaūt dew, ye swet smels wher of cānot be expressed. Lorde geue vs thys precious ointmēt of mutual loue whatsoeuer we attempt amonge yt vs may haue a swete smellyng sauour both before the & all good men. Giue vs also yt the most plesaunt dew, euē ye dew of thy heuē lye grace, which may cause vs thorow thi holi spirit to florish wt the abundaunce of al good works, & prouoke euery one of vs quietlye and peaceably to do our own besines, & to liue according to oure calling,2 ye magistrate godly to gouern, the subiect humbly to obey,3 the preachers of thy word diligētly to attend vpon hys offyce.4 So shall it come to passe, that wee as brethren quietly dwellyng together in this vnitie and concorde, ⟨image 94⟩shal haue that thou haste promysed, euen thy blessinge, that is in this world abūdaunce of all good things pertaining ether to the body or to the soul, and after our departure from thys vale of misery euerlasting life. Lord let it so cōe to passe. Amen.
