A06743:163
[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.
O Almighty and everlasting God,1 thy holy word teacheth us, that thou art not only a father, but also a Lord, not only a forgiver, but also a revenger, not only a saviour, but also a Judge. And as thou being a father, a forgiver a saviour dost pardon & show mercy, so thou being a Lord a revenger, a Judge punishest and condemnest. Neither doth thy holy scripture only set fourth unto us a gospel, which comforteth us, quickeneth us, showeth us merry tidings, forgiveth our sins ⟨p. lxxxiiii⟩quieteth our conscience, and brim geth unto us everlasting life, but also a law, which reproveth accuseth, condemneth us,2 woundeth and slayeth our conscience, yea and throweth us down headlong into the deep dungeon of hell. And as the Gospel lifteth us up, and maketh us merry with the hope of remission and forgiveness of our sins: so doth the law pluck us down and almost drive us unto desperation, for fear of the plagues and everlasting punishments, which thou haste prepared for them that despise thy holy ordinances, so that we may not only love thee as a father, a forgiver a saviour, but also fear thee as a Lord, a revenger a judge. Forasmuch therefore (O most gentle saviour and most righteous judge) as nothing doeth so mightily put away, sin, ⟨image 100⟩and maketh us to walk in the way of thy commandments,3 as reverently to fear the to stand in awe of thy judgement and heavy displeasure, we most entirely pray the to give us that fear, which thou requirest of us in thy holy scriptures,4 and whereunto thou haste promised so many large & bounteous benefits that we may not only love thee as a saviour, honour thee as a father, but also reverence thee as a Lord, fear thee as a judge. O Lord all things are open unto thy eyes, neither is any thing hid from the which seest the very secretes & most inward thoughts of our hearts, give us therefore grace that in all our enterprises,5 we ever set thy fear before our eyes, & so stand in awe of thee and of thy righteous judgements, that we attempt nothing whereby we should provoke thy heavy ⟨p. lxxxv⟩displeasure against us, but so walk in thy fear and in thy holy ordinances, that we may at all times love thee as a saviour, honour thee as a father, reverence y• as a Lord, fear thee as a judge. So shall it come to pass:
O Almighty and euerlastynge God,1 thi holi worde teacheth vs, that thou arte not onlie a father, but also a Lorde, not onlye a forgeuer, but also a reuenger, not onlye a sauioure, but also a Iudge. And as thou beeinge a father, a forgiuer a sauiour dost pardon & shew mercye, so thou beinge a Lord a reuenger, a Iudge punysheste and condempneste. Neyther dothe thy holye scripture onelye set fourth vnto vs a gospelle, whyche comforteth vs, quyckenethe vs, sheweth vs mery tidings, forgiueth our sinnes ⟨p. lxxxiiii⟩quyeteth our conscience, and brī geth vnto vs euerlastynge lyfe, but also a lawe, whych reproueth accuseth, condemneth vs,2 woundeth and sleath oure conscyence, yea and throweth vs down headlonge into the deepe dongeon of helle. And as the Gospell lyfteth vs vp, and maketh vs merie with the hope of remissiō and forgiuenes of our sīnes: so doth the law plucke vs down and almost driue vs vnto desperacyon, for feare of the plages and euerlastynge punishementes, whyche thou haste prepared for them that despise thi holy ordynances, so that we may not onelye loue the as a father, a forgeuer a sauioure, but also fere the as a Lord, a reuēger a iudge. Forasmuche therefore (O moost gentel sauyoure and moost righteous iudge) as nothynge doeth so myghtelye put awaye, synne, ⟨image 100⟩and maketh vs to walke in ye wai of thy cōmaundements,3 as reuerentelye to feare the to stande in awe of thy iudgement and heuye displeasure, we most entirly pray the to geue vs that feare, whyche thou requireste of vs in thy holye scriptures,4 and whereunto thou haste promysed so manye large & boūteous benefites that we may not only loue the as a sauiour, honor the as a father, but also reuerence the as a Lord, fear the as a iudge. O Lord all thynges are open vnto thy eyes, neyther is any thynge hid from the which seeste the verie secretes & most inward thoughtes of oure heartes, geue vs therfore grace that in all oure enterprises,5 we euer set thy feare before our eies, & so stand in awe of the and of thy righteous iudgements, that we attempt nothing wherby we shuld prouoke thi heauie ⟨p. lxxxv⟩
that we reverently fearing thee as the child doth his father, shall not only avoid all such evils as might make the our heavy Lord and fierce judge, but also embrace those virtues, which shall both evidently declare our faithful love, true honour, unfeigned reverence, and humble fear toward thee, and also make the our loving father and most merciful saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
that we reuerentelye fearynge the as the chylde dothe his father, shall not onlye auoide all suche euilles as might make the oure heauy Lord and ferce iudge, but also embrace those vertues, whyche shall both euidentelie declare oure faithfull loue, true honour, vnfained reuerence, and humble feare towarde the, and also make the our louing father and moost mercyfull sauioure thorowe Iesu Christe oure Lord. Amen.
We are taught by thy holy Apostle (O most loving1 saviour) that what soever ⟨image 101⟩is not of faith, is sin, and that, it is impossible to please the with out faith,2 and therefore they that come unto thee, must believe, that thou art God, yea and such a God as is both able and also will abundantly reward all them, that with true faith seek thee.3 For thy eyes O Lord, look upon faith and thou doest appear and show thy self unto them,4 that have faith in thee,5 yea through faith thou being the king of glory art married to the souls of the faithful, and makest them partakers of thy divine nature through the wonderful working of thy blessed spirit, Through faith so many as believe are justified,6 made the sons and heirs of God, & have everlasting life. By faith we obtain of god all good things, even whatsoever we axe in thy name. Seeing y• faith is so precious a jewel in the sight, that with out ⟨p. lxxxvi⟩it nothing is acceptable unto thy divine majesty, and we of our own nature can not have this most singular treasure except thou givest it unto us from above, and doest breath it into our hearts by thy holy spirit (for we of our selves are blind, ignorant, foolish,7 & by no means can perceive the things that pertain to the spirit of God) we most heartily beseech the to take away from us all infidelity & unfaithfulness, which we received of old Adam, & to plant in us true faith and undoubted belief that we may be thoroughly persuaded that thou art the son of the living God,8
Suffer us not to doubt neither of God thy heavenly father, nor of the god his son, nor of God the holy ghost, but earnestly to believe, that you being three distinct persons in the de••ye, are not withstanding one very ⟨p. lxxxvii⟩God, besides whom there is no God neither in heaven nor in earth.1 Grant also that we may assuredly believe whatsoever is contained in the holy scriptures, and by no means suffer our selves to be plucked from the verity thereof, but mainly and steadfastly abide in the same •uē unto death, rage world, roar devil. And this faith (O sweet Jesus) increase thou daily in us more and more,2 that at the last through thy goodness we may be made perfect & strong men in thy holy religion, and show our selves both before the & the world truly faithful, by bringing forth plenty of good works unto the glory and honour of thy name, which with God the father and God the holy ghost livest and reignest true God worlds without end. Amen.
Suffer vs not to dout neyther of God thy heauenlye father, nor of the god his sonne, nor of God the holye ghoste, but earnes•elye to beleue, that you being three dys•yncte persons in the de••ye, are not withstanding one verye ⟨p. lxxxvii⟩God, besides whome there is no God neither in heauen nor in earth.1 Graunt also that we may assuredli beleue whatsoeuer is cō tained in the holi scriptures, and by no meanes suffer our selfs to be plucked from the verity thereof, but maynely and stedfastly abyde in the same •uē vnto death, rage worlde, rore deuyl. And this fayth (O sweete Iesu) encrese yu dayly in vs more and more,2
Thy holy Apostle writeth (O most gentle saviour) that the end of the commandment is love,1 that cometh of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned. For he that loveth the his Lord God with all his heart,2 withal his soul, with all his mind, withal his strength, and his neighbour as himself fulfilleth the whole law. For all the law and the prophets require no more of us but love, even to love y• our Lord God above all things. and our neighbour as our self. Without this love all that we do seemeth it never so much praise worthy in the sight of men is abominable before y•. Yea as thy blessed Apostle saith: though I spake with the tongues of men and an gels, and yet had no love, I were even as a sounding bras,3 or as a tinkling cymbal.
THy holye Apostle wryteth (O mooste gentle sauioure) that the ende of the commaundemente is loue,1 that commeth of a pure heart and of a good conscyence and of faithe vnfained. For he that loueth the his Lord God with al hys heart,2 wtal hys soule, wt al his minde, wtal his strēgth, and his neighboure as hymself fulfilleth the whole law. For al ye law and the prophets requyre no more of vs but loue, euē to loue y• our Lord God aboue al thynges. and our neyghbour as our selfe. Without this loue all that we do semeth it neuer so muche prayse worthy in ye sight of men is abhominable before y•. Yea as thi blessed Apostle saith: though I spake wyth the tonges of men and aū gels, and yet had no loue, I were euen as a soundynge bras,3 or as a tynklyng cymbal.
And though I could prophecy and understand all secrets and all knowledge, yea if I had all faith so that I could move mountains out of their places, & yet had no love. I were nothing. And though I bestowed all mi goods to feed the pore, and though I gave my body even that I burned, & yet had no love: it profiteth me nothing. For by love are we known to be thy disciples,1 even as the devils imps are known by hatred & maliciousness. And the love, O lord, that thou requirest of us is no worldly nor fleshly love (for if any man loveth the world,2 the love of the father is not in him. And whosoever will be a friend of the world,3 is made the enemy of God) but godly, spiritual, sincere, true & pure love: even such love, as suffereth long, is courteous, envieth not, doth not frowardly, swelleth not,4 dealeth not ⟨image 104⟩dishonestly, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh not evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity▪ but rejoiceth in the truth, suffereth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things. This godly love, this Christen charity, give thou unto us, o good Lord that we may unfeignedly & with all our heart, love the our Lord God, which so dearly lovest us, that thou gavest thy self for us an offering & a sacrifice of a sweet savour to God.5 Take away from us the love of worldly things, which though they appear never so pleasant and beautiful, are not withstanding mere vanity, and give us grace so to use this world as though we use it not. For the fashion of this world passeth away.
And thoughe I coulde prophecye and vnderstand al secrets and al knowledge, yea if I had al fayth so that I coulde moue moūtains oute of theyr places, & yet had no loue. I wer nothīg. And though I bestowed al mi goods to fede ye pore, and thoughe I gaue my bodye euen that I burned, & yet had no loue: it profiteth me nothyng. For by loue are we knowen to be thy dysciples,
Make us also to abhor the filthy & beastlike pleasures of the stinking flesh,1 and by no means to ⟨p. lxxxix⟩be entangled with the love of them, the end whereof is dishonour, shame, corruption, destruction, dam nation, and kindle our hearts so fervently with thy love▪ that no thing may delight and please us, but only thou▪ and whatsoever may make unto thy glory, & is agreeable to thy blessed commandment, so that thou only mayest be our love, our delight our joy, our mirth, our solace, and whatsoever is without thee, and estranged from thy love, let it be counted of us more vain then vanity it self, and more fill thy then the very dung, Grant also that from this our love toward thee, there may issue out a vehement and burning love to ward our neighbours, yea toward our very enemies, that we may love them from the very heart, yea, even as our selves, pray for ⟨image 105⟩them▪ give them good counsel, help them, defend them, succour them, provide for their necessities,2 and deal with them in all things, as we wish to be dealt with all. O Lord God, thou art love, and he that dwelleth in love,3 dwelleth in thee, and thou in him. Grant that in this world we may so dwell together through love, thou in us by thy holy spirit, and we in the by faith that after our departure from this vale of miseri, we may be placed with the in thy heavenly mansion, & so continue with the in glory for ever and ever. Amen,
Make vs also to abhor the filthy & beastlyke pleasures of the stinckyng flesh,1 and by no meanes to ⟨p. lxxxix⟩be entāgled with the loue of thē, the ende wherof is dyshonoure, shame, corrupcyō, destrucciō, dā nacyon, and kyndle our herts so feruentlye wyth thy loue that no thynge maye delyght and please vs, but only thou and whatsoeuer maye make vnto thy glorye, & is agreable to thy blessed commaundement, so that thou only mayest be oure loue, our delyght our ioy, oure myrthe, oure solace, and whatsoeuer is without the, and estranged from thy loue, let it be counted of vs more vayne then vanitie it selfe, and more fil thye then the very dōge, Graunt also that from this oure loue towarde the, there may issue oute a vehemēt and brenninge loue to ward our neighburs, yea toward our very enemyes, that we maye loue them from the very hearte, yea, euen as our selues, praye for
IT greatly grieveth us (O merciful father and ever lasting God) that we through the grievous & continual assaults of our enemies are not able to pas over our years of this world with such purity of ⟨p. xc⟩life, as we ought, and as thou requirest of us. Verily we are on every part so besieged and compas, sed round about of our adversaries, that scarcely at any time we can be free from their pestiferous and deadly darts, nor yet have so much respite as once to breath toward true godliness. Oh most loving Lord, thou art our father, and we thy children, convenient therefore is it that we thy children represent and openly declare in our conversation the manners of the our father. Thou art good, gentle, loving, charitable, merciful, patient, long suffering, holy, righteous, faithful. &c. It therefore becometh us thy children in our living to practise goodness, gentleness, love, charity, mercy, patience longsuffering, holiness, ryghteousenes, fayeth. et ce.
IT greatly greueth vs (O merciful father and euer lastynge God) that wee thorowe the greuous & continual assaultes of our ennemies are not able to pas ouer our yeres of thys world wyth such purytye of ⟨p. xc⟩lyfe, as we ought, and as thou requirest of vs. Uerely we are on euery part so beseged and compas, sed round about of our aduersaries, that scarcely at any time we can be fre from their pestiferous and deadly darts, nor yet haue so muche respyte as once to breath towarde true godlynesse. Oh mooste louinge Lorde, thou arte oure father, and we thy chyldren, conuenient therfore is it that we thy children represent and openli declare in our conuersacyon the māners of the our father. Thou arte good, gentel, louynge, charitable, mercyfull, pacyente, longe sufferyng, holy, righteous, faithfull. &c. It therefore becommeth vs thy chyldren in oure lyuing to practyse goodnesse, gentlenesse, loue, charytye, mercye, pacyence longesufferyng, holynes, ryghteousenes, fayeth. et ce.
Thou hast given us an example that even as thou hast done,1 so we like wise should do. If we say we dwell in thee, we ought to walk, as thou haste walked.2 For thou hast called us▪ not to uncleanness, but unto holiness.3 Thou haste delivered us from thee power of our enemies,4 that we being without fear, should serve the in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life. The blood of thy son Jesus Christ hathe clē sed us from all sin, not that we should continue in darkness,5 but rather walk in the light as thou art in the light. Thy loving kindness hath appeared unto all men,6 not that we should follow ungodliness, and worldly lusts but that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. Thou diddest chose us in Christ,7 before the foundations ⟨p. xci⟩of the world were laid, that we should be holy and without blame before the through him.8 We are thy workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which thou ordainest afore, that we should walk in them, Foras much then as all the benefits which y• hast bestowed upon us, are given us unto this end, that we should walk worthy of thy kindness, represent thy manners in our conversation, mortify the flesh, & the lusts thereof, have nothing to do with satan, nor the world, but lead a good life, garnished full of good works, and in all points fashioned after the rule of thy blessed word, we most heartily pray y• to indue us with thy holy spirit,
For the true knowledge of the consisteth not in talking,1 but in working, not in ⟨p. xcii⟩favouring, but in following, not in loving, but in living.2 To promise the by mouth, that we will work in thy vineyard, & yet work nothing at all, declare not us to be thy sons, but rather bastards▪ to brag of the justification of faith, & not to bring forth the fruits thereof, to glory in the merits of thy son Christ, in his blood, death & passion, & not to live worthy of his kindness,3 to proofs thy holy gospel, & not to walk according to the doctrine thereof, to be baptised in thy name & not to mortify our members which are of the earth nor to walk in a new life to be per takers of thy divine mysteries,4 & not to be made one spirit with thee, what availeth it? we are thy friends if we do those thing that thou command didst us. We are thy servants,5 if we be obedient to thy will. We are thy sons, if we honour and reverence the according to thy word. ⟨image 108⟩We seek thy glory if we attempt nothing, whereof thou shouldest be dishonoured.6 Leading a life conformable to thy blessed will we shall provoke the very enemies or thy truth to praise thee, but contrary wise, thou shalt be evil spoken of. Grant therefore we beseech thee, that our life may answer to our profession,7 and that the light of our good works may so shine be fore men, that they seeing our godly conversation may glorify the our heavenly father. Amen.
For ye true knowledg of ye cōsisteth not in talking,
VUe are taughte by thy holye Apostle (O mooste louynge1 sauioure) that what soeuer ⟨image 101⟩is not of faith, is synne, and that, it is impossible to please the with oute fayth,2 and therfore they that come vnto the, must beleue, that thou art God, yea and such a God as is both able and also wil abundauntelye rewarde all them, that with true faieth seke the.3 For thy eyes O Lorde, looke vpon faythe and thou doest appere and shewthi selfvnto them,4 that haue faith in the,5 yea thorowe fayeth thou beinge the kinge of glory art maryed to the souls of the faithful, and makest them partakers of thy deuine nature thorow the wonderful working of thy blessed spirite, Thorow faith so many as beleue ar iustified,6 made the sonnes and heirs of God, & haue euerlasting lyfe. By faith we obtein of god al good thīgs, euen whatsoeuer we axe ī thy name. Seīg y• faith is so precyous a iewel in the sight, yt wt out ⟨p. lxxxvi⟩it nothing is acceptable vnto thy deuyne maiestye, and we of oure owne nature can not haue thys moost synguler treasure excepte thou geuest it vnto vs frō aboue, and doest breath it into our herts by thy holie spirite (for we of oure selfs are blynd, ignorant, folysh,7 & by no meanes can perceiue the thinges yt perteine to the spirit of God) we moost hertely besech the to take awai frō vs al infideliti & vnfaythfulnes, whiche we receyued of old Adam, & to plant in vs true faith and vndoubted belefe yt we may be thorowli perswaded that thou arte the sonne of the lyuynge God,8 9verye God and verie manne, our alone swete smelling sacryfyce, our alone Medyatour,10 aduocate and intercessoure, oure alone wysdome, ryghteousnesse,11 sanctificacyon and redempcyon, by whome alone and for whose ⟨image 102⟩sake only thy heauenly father is well pleased wyth vs, our sinnes are remytted, grace and euerlastyng lyfe are frely geuen vnto vs. O Lord God, suffer vs not to lene to our own wisdō, nor to beleue, as blynd flesh fansyeth, nor to seke saluaciō wher supersticiō dreameth, but lette our fayth onlye be groūded on thy worde, and geue vs grace trulye to beleue in the, with all our hert to putte our trust in thee, to looke for all good thynges of thee,12 to call vpon thy blessed name in aduersity, and wt ioyfull voyces and more merye hertes to praise and magnify it in prosperity.
Thou hast geuen vs an example that euē as thou hast done,1 so we lyke wyse shuld do. If we say we dwel in the, we ought to walke, as thou haste walcked.2 For thou hast called vs▪ not to vnclennes, but vnto holynesse.3 Thou haste deliuered vs from thee power of our ennemyes,4 that wee beynge wythout feare, shuld serue the in holynes and ryghteousnesse al ye dayes of oure life. The bloude of thy sonne Iesus Christ hathe clē sed vs from al sinne, not that we shuld continue in darcknes,5 but rather walke in the light as thou art in the light. Thy louing kindnes hath appeared vnto al men,6 not that wee shoulde folowe vngodlines, and worldly lustes but that we shulde lyue soberly, righteouslye, and godlye in thys presente world. Thou dyddest chose vs in Christe,7 before the foūdacions ⟨p. xci⟩of the worlde were layd, that we shulde be holye and wythout blame before ye thorow hym.8 We are thy workmanship created in Christ Iesu vnto good workes, whych thou ordeynest afore, that we shoulde walke in them, Foras much thē as al the benefits whiche y• hast bestowed vpon vs, are geuen vs vnto thys end, that we shuld walk worthy of thy kyndenes, represēt thy maners in our conuersacion, mortifi the flesh, & the lustes therof, haue nothīg to do with sathā, nor the world, but lead a good lyfe, garnished ful of good workes, and in al poyntes fashioned after ye rule of thi blessed word, we most hertely pray y• to indue vs wyth thy holy spirit,9 which may take away our stonye hert, & geue vs a new fleshy, and soft herte,10 kyl that old man in vs which is corrupt thorow deceyuable ⟨image 107⟩lustes, & fassion in vs ye newe man, whiche is made after thy Image & likenes in righteousnes & true holines Suffer vs not to giue ouer our selfes agayn vnto our old lusts and cōcupiscences, wherwt we wer led whē we knew not the nor thy sō Christ,11 but euē as thou which hast called vs arte holy, so likewise graunt that we may be holy in al oure conuersacion. O merciful God, not the herers of thi law but ye fulfillers of it shalbe iustified before the.12 Neither shal euery one yt saithe vnto the:13 Lord lord: enter into ye kingdō of heauen, but thei that do the wyl of thee our father,14 which art in heauen. To confes thee wyth our mouth, and to deny the with oure dedes, worketh rather oure damnacion then saluaciō.
