A06743:143
[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.
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