A06743:242
[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.
Many other notable works also compiled by thy faithful servants for the advancement of thy glory and for bringing of the simple people unto the ⟨image 157⟩knowledge of thy truth, they cruelly burnt and destroyed after the examples of the wicked kings, Joachim and Antiochus.1 And as for the authors of them, some those bloody Edomites burnt,2 some they murdered privily some they imprisoned, flocked, chained & put to shame, all, even so many as they could get, they cruelly and most tirantlike entreated after the exam ple of their predecessors the high priests of Jewry,3 which sought all means possible both with tyranny and bribes, to keep down thy son Christ and his glorious gospel, that they alone might reign: O most gentle god, when these bellied hypocrites & chaplains of Baal, had burnt thy holy Bible, so that we the simple people might not read the word of our soul health, in our own mother tongue, again when these false anointed shavelings ⟨p. cxlii⟩had killed & put to flight thy true ministers and godly preachers,4 then made they us to believe as they would, to walk, to do, to speak as they lusted, to honour & worship thee,5 not after thy holy law, but after the traditions and doctrines of men, to do works not commanded of thee, but such as their idle brains fancied without authority of thy word. O Lord thou long suffering God, with how great blindness were we overwhelmed of these antichristian monsters when they taught to run a Pilgrimage to this and that Idol, to paint this tabernacle, and to gild that Mamet, to pray to this he Saint and to that she Saint, to buy other mens merits, and to seek salvation in them, to put our trust in water, salt, bread, palms, ashes, wax, oil, cream, bells, pardons, rotten ⟨image 158⟩relics & such other pelting pedlary, to believe that our souls after this present life should be boiled & parboiled in antichrists furnace, there to lie piteously yelling, puling & crying till they were redeemed with Diriges, Masses, trentals, ladies Psalters▪ &c. to believe that our sins could not be forgiven till we had whispered our since into the Priests ear, and to receive absolution at his hand:
Many other notable workes also cōpiled by thy faythfull seruauntes for the auauncement of thy glorye and for bryngyng of the simple people vnto the ⟨image 157⟩knowledge of thy truth, they cru•llye burnte and destroyed after the exāples of the wycked kyngs, Ioachim and Antiochus.1 And as for the authors of thē, some those bloudy Edomits brent,2 some thei murthered preuely some thei emprisoned, flocked, cheyned & putte to shame, al, euen so mani as thei could get, they cruelly and moost tirantlike entreated after the exā ple of their predecessors the high priests of Iewry,3 which sought al meanes possible both wyth tyrany and brybes, to kepe downe thy sonne Christe and hys gloryous gospel, yt thei alone might reygn: O most gētle god, whē these belly•d hipocrites & chaplens of Baal, had brent thy holye Bible, so yt we the simple people might not read the word of oure soule healthe, in our owne mother tonge, agayne whē these false annointed shauelinges ⟨p. cxlii⟩had killed & put to flyghte thy true ministers and godly prechers,4 thē made they vs to beleue as they woulde, to walke, to do, to speke as they lusted, to honoure & worshippe the,5 not after thy holye law, but after the tradycions and doctrins of men, to do works not commaunded of the, but suche as their idle braines fāsied wythout authority of thy worde. O Lorde thou longe sufferynge God, with how greate blyndenesse were we ouerwhelmed of these antichristian monstures when they taught to run a Pilgrimage to thys and that Idol, to paynt thys tabernacle, and to gyld that Maumet, to pray to this he Saint and to that she Sainte, to bie other mennes merites, and to seke saluacion in them, to put our truste in water, salte, breade, palmes, ashes, wax, oile, creme, bels, pardons, rotten ⟨image 158⟩reliques & such other peltīg pedlarye, to beleue that our souls after this present life shuld be boiled & perboiled in antichristes fornace, ther to lie piteously yellīg, puling & crying til they were redemed wt Diriges, Masses, trētals, ladyes Psalters &c. to beleue yt our sins could not be forgeuen tyl we had whyspered oure synnes into the Priests eare, and to receiue absolucion at his hand:
to believe that after the words of consecration, as they call them, there remain no more bread nor no more wine in the sacrament of Christs body and blood, but that the bread is changed into the natural flesh of thy dear son Christ Jesus, and the wine into his most precious blood,1 that was shed for our sins upon the altar of the cross when notwithstanding the Papists them selves do many times ⟨p. cxliii⟩keep the bread so long, that it both mouldeth, stinketh and breedeth full of worms, and afterward they burn it according to their own law. Ah Lord, thus were we to much wretchedly mocked and led captive of antichrist and his disciples. The darknesses wherein we walked were so great, that they might be felt.2 But thanks be unto the (o most merciful father) which haste called us out of the darkness of mens traditions into the glorious light of thy gospel. We have now learned, that Antichrist and his members have long deceived us, & taught us their own drowsy dreams in stead of thy blessed word. We now know, that thou requirest not of us, that we should run gadding to stocks and stones,3 but that we should visit such as are sick and in prison and comfort them. We ⟨image 159⟩now know, that thy will is not that we should paint tabernacles and gild images, but rather that we should cloth the pore and help the needy.4 We now know that it is vain to pray to this or to the saint seeing they nether here us nor yet can help us. We have learned of thy blessed word,5 that Christ the son is our alone intercessor mediator and advocate. We now know,6 that no salvation is to be looked for in any ceremonies, but only in thy great mercies set forth freely to all penitent sinners through faith in Christs blood. We now know that, Christs blood is the alone Purgatory of our souls,
We now know that the Mass mongers have without all shame lied unto us, when they taught us to believe, that the Mas, which they mumbled, was a propitiatory sacrifice, & of as great virtue, strength & power, as the glorious passion of our saviour Jesus Christ, and that it was necessary both for the quick and dead. Ad salutem. We now know also, that the sacrament of Christs body and blood is not the very self real and natural body and blood of Christ, but an holy sign,1 figure and token of his blessed ⟨image 160⟩body and precious blood. For this word sacrament is as much to say as a sign of an holy thing. Now that which is the sign of a thing, cannot be the thing it self. And though thy son called the bread his body, and the wine his blood, because the disciples should the better remember the breaking of his body and the shedding of his blood (as he likewise called him self a vine a door,2 a rock, when not with standing he was nether natural vine,3 4material door or stony rock, but only likened unto them for certain properties, which he hath with the vine, door▪ and rock) yet is neither the bread his natural body, nor the wine his natural blood, as divers of the ancient Doctors do declare and prove but only a figure of his body and blood.5 The bread is called ⟨p. cxlv⟩Christs body, because it visibly preacheth & bringeth to our remembrance the breaking of Christs body. The wine also is called Christs blood, because it putteth us in remembrance of the shedding of Christs blood. Of such phrases and manners of speaking thy holy scriptures are full. But as in many other things so likewise in this blessed sacrament have the Papists for the maintenance of their Idle and beastly life most foully deceived us, making us to worship a wafer cake and a spoonful of wine mingled with water, in stead of our saviour Jesus Christ God and man. And this Idolatrous error is yet so rustered and cankered in the hearts of many both learned & unlearned (whose minds,
O lord, these bread christians may well be resē bled to the men of Babylon, which would not be persuaded by any means but that Bell & the great Dragon, whom they daily worshipped and offered unto,1 were living gods, and therefore sought they all means possible to destroy both Daniel and the king, because they taught the contrary, and burst tho•e Idols, giving commandment that the living God alone, which thou art, should be honoured & worshipped of all nations in the world. But we, O Lord, to whom thou haste revealed the mysteries of ⟨p. cxlvi⟩thy godly truth; and delivered out of the kingdom of darkness, confess our selves to be great lye bounden unto thee for thy merciful benefit. We therefore beseech the to give us grace, so to walk in this glorious light of thy holy Gospel, as it becometh the children of light in all goodness,2 righteousness and truth. Thou haste delivered us from stinking Sodom, suffer us no more to look back toward it.3 Thou hast brought us home again from Babylon, y• land of bondage, unto the new Jerusalem. Grant that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies may serve the in holiness & righteousness all the dais of our life.4 5We have seen Christ thy son and our king, suffer us no more to return unto wicked King Herod.6 We have put our hand to the plough, grant that ⟨image 162⟩
The dog is turned to his •omit again,1 and the sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire. Grant therefore we most humbly pray thee, that according to our knowledge we may lead an honest conversation among all men,2 that they which backbite us as evil doers, may see our good works, and glorify the our heavenly father in the day of visitation. Amen.
The dog is turned to hys •omit agayne,1 and the sowe that was washed, to her walowīg in ye myre. Graunte therfore we moste humbly pray the, that accordynge to oure knowledge we may leade an honest conuersaciō among all menne,2 that they which backbyte vs as euyll doers, maye see oure good worckes, and glorifie the our heauenly father in the day of visitacion. Amen.
VE most heartily thank the (O LORD God our heavenly father) for thy manifold ⟨image 163⟩and inestimable benefits, which thou haste given unto us both for our body and soul, yea and freely even of thine own goodness without our desert. We thank the that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercy first to create & make us according to thine own image and likeness,1 & to place us in joyful paradise,2 where we should continually have remained in a blessed & quiet state, if through the subtle and deceitful suggestions of of Satan our old enemy,3 we had not transgressed thy holy commandment. We thank the also (O most gentle father) for thy loving kindness, which thou showedst unto us, when we all were perished & lost through the sin of our first father Adam. For when thou mightest justly have condemned us and cast us into perpetual dā nation, ⟨p. cxlviii⟩thou like a father of singular great love haddest pity on us, and savedst us by the death and passion of thy well-beloved son our Lord & saviour Jesus Christ,4 which gave him self a ransom for all our since, and payed a sufficient price by his precious blood, for all the wickedness that we at any time heretofore have committed,5 or hereafter shall commit through our frailty & weakness, so that we repent, believe & amend. Neither wast thou thus contented, that he only should dye for our sins, but thou also didst raise him up again for our justification,6 and to make us righteous in thy sight. Moreover after that he had showed him self unfeigned lye alive to his Apostles by manifest and evident tokens, certain days after his resurrection,7 through the power of his godhead, he
For those thy most bounteous gifts and for all other thy benefits, which thou daily givest unto us of thy great mercy both for our body and soul, we most humbly thank thee, most gentle and merciful father, beseeching the that thou wilt give us grace through thy holy ⟨p. cxlix⟩spirit not to be unthankful, but to walk worthy of this thy kindness and so to behave ourselves all our life time in this wretched world according to thy holy will, that at the last day we may be found in the number of them, to whom thy only begotten son, shall say:1 come ye blessed of my father, po•ses the kingdom, which was prepared for you from the beginning of the world. Lord let it so come to pass
For those thy moost bounteous gyftes and for al other thy benefites, whiche thou dayly geuest vnto vs of thy great mercy both for oure bodye and soule, we most hūbly thanke the, mooste gentle and mercyfull father, besechynge the that thou wilt giue vs grace thorow thi holie ⟨p. cxlix⟩spyrit not to be vnthākful, but to walke worthy of this thi kindnes and so to behaue ourselfs all our life time in this wretched worlde according to thy holye wyll, that at the last day we may be foūd in ye number of them, to whō thy only begotten sonne, shal say:1 come ye blessed of my father, po•ses the kyngdome, whiche was prepared for you from the beginninge of ye world. Lord let it so come to passe
O Jesus the alone saviour of the world, and the only true Physician both of body and soul, we are come together at this present before the thorn of thy godly Majesty to offer our humble prayers unto thee for our sick and weak brother whom thou haste visited with thy loving rod of correction, whereby thou offerest ⟨image 165⟩thyself unto him as a most gentle father to his dear son, and by temporal punishment •uttest away eternal pains, which both he and all we through our sinful living have most righteously deserved and by making the outward man weak, thou comfortest and makest strong the inward man, which is made like to thy glorious image. We most entirely beseech thee, mercifully to behold this our weak brother, and as that pitiful Samaritan to pour wine and oil into his wounds & to bind them up, that is, to relieve him, & to comfort him, and to cherish him with thy holy spirit, to make him strong in his inward man that in the midst of his sickness, he may not only •ere the cross, that thou haste laid on him patiently, and so show him self conformable to thy blessed will, but also ⟨p. cl⟩thankfully praise thy holy name for thy fatherly correction, & with unfeigned and strong faith, say: The lord gave me my health, the Lord hath taken it away again. As it hath pleased the lord, so it is come to pass, now blessed be the the name of the Lord. Oh it is for my great profit, that the lord hath thus visited me, even that I should learn to forsake mine own will, and to walk in his holy ordinances. I am his creature, & a sheep of his pasture, let him deal with me, as seemeth good in his godly sight. For whither I live or dye, I am the Lords. His will therefore be done and not mine. Give him grace (O sweet Jesus) thus to be persuaded of thy good will toward him even in the midst of his most bitter agonies, that he faint not under the cross, but patiently and thankfully ⟨image 166⟩abide thy good pleasure, and with earnest faith call on thy blessed name, which is a strong tower for all them that flee unto it.
O Iesu the alone sauyoure of the world, and the onely true Phisicion bothe of body and soul, we ar come together at this presente before the thorne of thy godly Maiestie to offer our humble prayers vnto the for our sicke and weake brother whome thou haste visited wyth thy louing rod of correcciō, wherby thou offerest
Moreover forasmuch, O Lord as it is not thy property alway, to chide, alway to be angry alway to punish, neither to deal with us according to our sins, nor yet to reward us after our iniquities, but as thou takest away, so givest thou again, as thou bringest down to the grave, so liftest thou up again, as thou makest weak, so makest thou strong again: We most humbly beseech thee, if it be thy godly pleasure the rather at the contemplation of these our prayers to restore unto our weak brother after this his long sickness the comfortable benefit of joyful health. And as thou haste brought him low with la• ing thy heavy cross on him, so ⟨p. cii⟩we most heartily beseech thee, if it be thy godly will, raise him up again by restoring unto him his former health, that he may live and continue here among us unto the glory of thy name and the comfort of us his neighbours.
Moreouer forasmuch, O Lord as it is not thy property alway, to chyde, alway to be angry alwaye to punyshe, neither to deale wyth vs accordyng to oure sinnes, nor yet to reward vs after our iniquities, but as thou takest awaye, so geuest thou againe, as thou bryngest downe to the graue, so liftest thou vp agayne, as thou makest weake, so makest thou stronge agayne: We most humbly beseche the, if it be thy godly pleasure the rather at the contēplaciō of these oure prayers to restore vnto oure weake brother after this his long sicknes the confortable benefyte of ioyfull healthe. And as thou haste broughte him low wyth la• ing thy heauye crosse on hym, so ⟨p. cii⟩we moste hartely beseche the, if it be thy godly wyll, rayse hym vp agayne by restoryng vnto hym his former healthe, that he may lyue and contynue here among vs vnto the glorye of thy name and the comfort of vs hys neyghbours.
But if thy godly pleasure have otherwise determined, that by this his sickness thou wilt call him from this vale of miseri and place him in thy glorious kingdom, which alone is the true, joyful and greatly longed for country of all thy chosen and faithful people: we most entirely pray the in the mean while to give him grace patiently and thankfully to bear his cross, diligently to call on thy holy name, valiantly to fight against all the tentations of the devil, the flesh and the world, and faithfully to believe, that the merits of thy blessed passion & precious ⟨image 167⟩blood are the full satisfaction for all his since, and have made a perfect atonement and friendly reconciliation between god the father and him. Grant O most merciful saviour, that his whole hart and mind may so be set upon thee, that at what soever hour thou callest him out of this wretched world, he may be willing and glad to depart from it, and to cone unto thee. O let the remembrance of the joys of heaven be so fervent in his breast, that all worldly things may wax vile in him, and a perfect desire found in him to be loosened out of this body, and to be with y• in glory. And when the time cometh, that he shall give over to nature, and depart out of this miserable world, though the pains of death take away the use of his tongue and speech, yet grant that his heart may cry unto ⟨p. ciii⟩thee and say: O Lord, I commend my soul into thy hands. Lord Jesus take my spirit unto thee. Grant also most loving Lord that when death hath shut up the eyes of his body, he may with the eyes of his soul, behold and look upon thy glorious majesty in thy heavenly kingdom, where thou with the father and the holy Ghost livest and reignest one true and everlasting God in all honour and glory worlds without end.
But if thy godly pleasure haue otherwyse determyned, that by thys hys sycknes thou wylte call hym from this vale of miseri and place hym in thy gloryous kyngdome, which alone is the true, ioyful and greatly longed for contre of al thy chosen and faythful people: we most entierly pray the in ye meane whyle to geue hym grace paciently and thankfully to beare hys crosse, diligently to cal on thy holy name, valeauntly to fight agaynst al the tentacions of the deuyll, the flesh and the worlde, and faithfullye to beleue, that the merits of thi blessed passiō & precious ⟨image 167⟩
Amen.
O Most loving Saviour and gentle redeemer, which cammest into this world to call sinners unto repentance, & to seek up that was lost, thou seest in what case this our brother lieth here: visited with thy merciful ⟨image 168⟩hand all weak, feeble, sick and ready to yield up his soul into thy holy hands. O look upon him (most gentle saviour) with thy merciful eye, pity him and be favourable unto him. He is thy workmanship, despise not therefore the work of thine own hands. Thou sufferedst thy blessed body & thy precious blood to be shed for his sins, and to bring him unto the glory of thy heavenly father, let it not therefore come to pass, that thou shouldest suffer so great pains for him in vain. He was baptised in thy name, and gave himself wholly to be thy servant, forsaking the devil, the world and the flesh, confess him therefore before thy heavenly father and his blessed angels to be thy servant.1 His since, we confess, are great (for who is able to say, mi heart is clean and I am free from sin) but thy ⟨p. cli⟩mercies, o Lord, are much greater.2 And thou cammest not to call y• righteous, but sinners unto repentance.3 To them that are diseased and overladen with the burden of sin dost thou promise ease. Thou art that god,4 which willest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn & live. Thou art the saviour which wishest all men to be saved,5 and to come to the knowledge of thy truth Withdraw not therefore thy mercy from him because of his sins, but rather lay upon him thy saving health, that thou mayest show thy self toward him to be a saviour. What greater praise can there be to a physician, than to heel the sick? Nether can th•r be a gr•ter glory, to the being a saviour then to save sinners save him therefore, o lord for thy name sake Again let the law b o orsiffe to his conscience but rather give him
Moreover thou hast conquered him that had rule of death, even satan,1 suffer him not therefore to exercise his tyranny upon this our sick brother, nor to disquiet his conscience with the errors of sin and pains of hell.2 3Let not Satan nor his infernal army tempt him further than he is able to bear but evermore give him grace even unto his last breath valiantly to fight against the devil with a strong faith in thy precious ⟨p. clii⟩blood that he may fight a good fight and finish his course with joy unto the to glory of thy name, and the health of his soul. O lord so work in him by thy holy spirit, that he with all his heart may contemn & despise all worldly things, and set his mind wholly upon heavenly things, hoping for them with a strong & undoubted faith. Again let it not grieve him o sweat saviour to be loosened from this vile & wretched carcass, which is now so full of sorrow, trouble, anguish sickness, and pain: but rather let h•m have a bent and ready will, through thy goodness to put it of, yea and that with this faith▪ that he. at the last day, shall receive it again in a much better state then it is now or ever was from the day of his birth,4 even a body uncorruptible, immortal and like to thy glorious body. Let his whole heart ⟨image 170⟩and mind be set only upon the· Let the remembrance of the joys of heaven be so fervent in his breast that he may both patiently and thankfully take his death,5 and ever wish to be with the in glory. And when the time cometh, that he shall give over to nature and depart from this miserable world vouchsafe we most humbly beseech thee, O Lord Jesus to take his soul into thy hands, and to place it among the glorious company of thy holy angels and blessed Saints, and to keep it unto that most joyful day of the general resurrection, that both his body and soul through thine almighty power being knit again together at that day, he may for ever and ever enjoy thy glorious kingdom and sing perpetual praises to thy blessed name. Amen.
to beleue that after the wordes of cōsecracion, as they cal them, ther remain no more breade nor nomore wine in the sacrament of Christes bodye and bloude, but that the breade is changed into the natural flesh of thy deare sonne Christ Iesu, and the wyne into his moste precious bloude,1 that was shedde for oure sins vpon the aulter of the crosse when notwithstandinge the Papistes them selfs do many tymes ⟨p. cxliii⟩keepe the breade so longe, that it both mouldeth, stynketh and bredeth ful of worms, and afterward they burne it accordynge to theyr owne law. Ah Lord, thus wer we to much wretchedly mocked and led captiue of antichriste and hys disciples. The darknesses wherin we walked wer so gret, that they mighte be felte.2 But thanckes be vnto the (o most merciful father) which haste called vs oute of the darcknes of mennes tradycyons into the glorious light of thy gospell. We haue nowe learned, that Antichriste and his mēbers haue longe deceyued vs, & taughte vs theyr owne drowesye dreames in stede of thi blessed word. We now know, that thou requireste not of vs, that we shuld runne gadding to stocks and stones,3 but that we shuld visit suche as are sicke and in prysonne and comfort thē. We ⟨image 159⟩nowe knowe, that thy wyll is not that we shuld paynt tabernacles and gyld ymages, but rather that we shuld cloth the pore and helpe the nedi.4 We now know that it is vaine to pray to this or to ye saynt seyng they nether here vs nor yet canne helpe vs. We haue lerned of thy blessed word,5 that Christ the son is our alone intercessour mediatour and aduocate. We nowe knowe,6 yt no saluacion is to be loked for in any ceremonys, but only in thy great mercies set forthe frely to al penitente sinners thorow faith in Christs bloude. We now know that, Christes bloude is the alone Purgatorye of oure soules,7 whiche purgeth & maketh vs clene from all sinne. We now know, that whē soeuer we repent confesse our sinnes vnto the, and beleue to haue remission of al our synnes,8 thorow Christes bloude, ⟨p. cxliiii⟩we shall surely be forgeuen. Yet despise we not but rather hertely de•yre the counsell of godlye and learned preachers,9 whiche with ye comfortable words of the gospel may raise vp, strengthen and confirme our weke cōscience against Satan, sinne, death, hel and desperacion.
We now knowe that ye Masse mongers haue without al shame lyed vnto vs, when they taught vs to beleue, that ye Mas, which they mumbled, was a propiciatorye sacrifice, & of as greate vertue, strengthe & power, as the gloryous passion of our sauioure Iesu Christe, and that it was necessarye bothe for the quycke and dead. Ad salutem. We nowe knowe also, that ye sacrament of Christs bodye and bloude is not the very selfe real and naturall bodye and bloude of Christe, but an holye signe,1 figure and tokē of his blessed ⟨image 160⟩bodye and precyouse bloude. For thys worde sacramente is as muche to say as a signe of an holye thynge. Nowe that whyche is the signe of a thyng, cānot be the thynge it selfe. And thoughe thy sonne called the bread hys bodie, and the wine his bloude, because the disciples should the better remēber the breaking of hys bodye and the sheddynge of hys bloude (as he likewise called him selfe a vine a dore,2 a rock, whē not with standing he was nether naturall vine,3 4material dore or stony rock, but onlye lykened vnto them for certain properties, which he hath with the vine, dore▪ and rocke) yet is neyther the bread hys naturall bodye, nor the wyne hys naturall bloud, as diuers of the aunciente Doctours doe declare and proue but onelye a fygure of hys bodye and bloude.5 The breade is called ⟨p. cxlv⟩Christes body, because it visibly• preacheth & bryngeth to oure remēbrance the brekīg of Christes bodye. The wyne also is called Christes bloud, because it putteth vs in remēbrance of the sheddīg of Christes bloude. Of such phrases and manners of speakynge thy holye scriptures are full. But as in many other thyngs so lykewise ī this blessed sacramēt haue the Papistes for the mayntenāce of their Idle and beastli life most foulye deceyued vs, makynge vs to worshyppe a wafer cake and a sponeful of wyne myngled wyth water, in stead of our sauiour Iesu Christe God and manne. And thys Idolatrus erroure is yet so rustered and cākered in ye hertes of many bothe learned & vnlearned (whose myndes,6 iudgements senses and wyts the God of thys world, euē the deuil, hath blinded) ⟨image 161⟩that the light of ye glorius gospell of christ shuld not shine vnto thē, yt they cast away thys doctryne as heresye, & go forth stil of an obstynate and froward minde to worshyp ye bread & wine as god, & condēne al other for heretikes, whyche hold ye contrarie.
O lord, these bread christians may wel be resē bled to the men of Babilō, which would not be perswaded by anye meanes but that Bell & the great Dragon, whō they dayly worshipped and offred vnto,1 were liuyng godds, and therefore sought they al meanes possible to destroy both Daniel and the king, because thei taughte the contrarye, and braste tho•e Idols, geuing commandement that the liuyng God alone, which thou art, shuld be honored & worshipped of al nacions in the worlde. But we, O Lord, to whō thou haste reueled the misteris of ⟨p. cxlvi⟩thy godlye truthe; and delyuered out of the kyngedome of darckenesse, confes our selfs to be great lye bounden vnto the for thy mercyful benefyte. We therefore beseche the to gyue vs grace, so to walk in this glorious light of thy holye Gospel, as it becommeth ye chyldren of light in al goodnesse,2 ryghteousnesse and truth. Thou haste deliuered vs from stinking Sodome, suffer vs no more to loke backe toward it.3 Thou hast brought vs home againe frō Babylō, y• land of bondage, vnto the newe Ierusalē. Grant yt we beīg delyuered oute of the handes of our enemis may serue the in holines & righteousnes al the dais of our lyfe.4 5We haue sene Christ thy sonne and oure kynge, suffer vs no more to returne vnto wycked Kyng Herode.6 We haue put oure hande to the ploughe, grante that ⟨image 162⟩we neuer loke backe agayne, but perseuer contynew & go forward vnto the end. Let it be neuer sayed to vs, as thy sonne sayde vnto the Iewes:7 the kyngdom of God shal be taken frō you, & shalbe geuen to a people, which shal bringe forthe the fruites of it. Make vs fruteful fig trees. Giue vs grace, to be ryche and plenteouse in all good workes, As we confesse the with oure words: so let vs expres the wt our workes. As we fauour and loue thy Gospell, so lette vs folowe and loue thy gospel. For that seruant whiche knoweeth hys masters wyll and doeth it not, shalbe beatē wt mani stripes. If after we haue escaped frō the filthynesse of the worlde thorowe the knowledge of the,8 and of our sauiour Iesu Christ, we are tangled again therin and ouercome,9 then is the latter ende worse wt ⟨p. cxlvii⟩vs then the beginning. For it had ben better for vs not to haue knowen the wai of righteousnes, thē after we haue knowē it, to turne from the holy cōmaundement geuē vnto vs. So might it be sayde of vs accordynge to the true prouerbe.10
VE mooste heartelye thancke the (O LORDE God oure heauenly father) for thy mamanyfolde ⟨image 163⟩and inestimable benefites, whiche thou haste geuen vnto vs bothe for oure body and soule, yea and freely euē of thine owne goodnesse wythoute oure desearte. We thancke the that it hathe pleased thee of thy greate mercie fyrste to create & make vs accordynge to thyne own image and lykenes,1 & to place vs in ioyful paradyse,2 wher we shuld continually haue remained in a blessed & quiet state, if thorow ye subtil and deceitefull suggestions of of Satan our old enemy,3 we had not transgressed thy holy cōmandement. We thancke the also (O most gentle father) for thy louing kindnes, whiche thou shewedst vnto vs, when we all were perished & lost thorow the sinne of oure firste father Adam. For whē thou mightest iustly haue condemned vs and cast vs into perpetuall dā naciō, ⟨p. cxlviii⟩thou like a father of singuler great loue haddest pity on vs, and sauedst vs by the deathe and passyon of thy welbeloued sonne our Lord & sauiour Iesu Christe,4 which gaue him self a raunsome for all oure synnes, and payed a sufficiente price by hys precious bloud, for all the wyckednes that we at anye tyme heretofore haue commytted,5 or hereafter shall cō mit thorow our frailtye & weakenesse, so that we repente, beleue & amende. Neither wast thou thus contented, that he only shuld dye for our sinnes, but thou also didst raise him vp again for our iustificacion,6 and to make vs ryghtous in thy sight. Moreouer after that he had shewed him self vnfained lye alyue to hys Apostles by manifest and euident tokēs, certain dayes after his resurreccion,7 thorow the power of his godhead, he ⟨image 164⟩ascended vp into heauē, perfecte God and perfecte man,8 where he nowe sitteth on the ryghte hande and maketh intercessiō for vs,9 being our alone mediatour and aduocate.10 From thēce we looke for hym to come again at the daie of iudgement,11 12not as a cruell iudge to condemne and caste vs away, but as a moste louinge Lord and gentle sauioure,13 to cary vs wyth hym vnto euerlastyng glory,14 ther worldes without end to remaine in such ioyes as eie haue not sene nor eare hathe hearde,15 16nor yet is any hert able to thinke.
O Moste louynge Sauioure and gentle redemer, whyche cammest into this world to call synners vnto repentance, & to seke vp yt was loste, thou seest in what case thys oure brother lyeth here: visited with thy mercyful ⟨image 168⟩hand al weake, feble, sick and ready to yeld vp his soule into thi holi hands. O loke vpō him (most gentle sauiour) with thy merciful eie, pitie him and be fauorable vnto him. He is thy workmanshippe, despise not therefore the work of thine owne handes. Thou sufferedst thy blessed body & thy precyous bloud to be shed for his sins, and to bring hym vnto the glory of thy heauenlye father, let it not therefore come to passe, that thou shuldest suffer so great pains for him in vaine. He was baptised in thi name, and gaue himself wholy to be thy seruaunt, forsakynge the deuyl, the world and the flesh, confesse hym therefore before thy heauenlye father and hys blessed aungels to be thy seruaunt.1 Hys synnes, we confesse, ar great (for who is able to sai, mi hert is clene and I am fre from synne) but thy ⟨p. cli⟩mercyes, o Lord, are much greater.2 And thou cāmest not to cal y• ryghteous, but synners vnto repentance.3 To them that are disesed and ouerladen wyth the burdē of sin doste thou promyse ease. Thou art that god,4 which willest not the death of a synner, but rather that he shoulde turne & lyue. Thou art the sauioure which wishest all men to be saued,5 and to come to the knoledge of thy truth Withdraw not therfore thy merci frō him because of his sins, but rather lay vpon hym thy sauynge health, that thou maist shewe thy self toward hym to be a sauioure. What greter praise cā ther be to a phisiciō, thē to hele ye sick? Nether cā th•r be a gr•ter glori, to the being a •auiour then to saue siners saue hī therfore, o lord for thi nāe sake Agaī let ye law b• •o •orsiffe to his consciēce but rather giue hī ⟨image 169⟩grace euen in this extreme agoni & cōflict of deth to be fully persuaded that thou by thy death hast takē away al his sīs,6 fulfilled ye law for him & bi this means deliuered hym from the cursse of the lawe,7 and paied his ransome: yt he thus being fully perswaded may haue a quiet herte, a fre conscience, & a glad wil to forsake this wretched world: and to go vnto ye his lorde god.
Moreouer thou hast conquered him that hadde rule of death, euē satā,1 suffer him not therfore to exercise hys tirranny vpō this our sycke brother, nor to disquiet his cōsciēce with ye errours of sin and pains of hell.2 3Lette not Satan nor his infernall army tempt him further thē he is able to bear but euermore gyue hym grace euen vnto his last breath valeantly to fight against the deuil witha a stronge fayeth in thy precyouse ⟨p. clii⟩bloud yt he may fyght a good fight and finish his course with ioy vn the to glorye of thi name, and the health of his soul. O lord so work in him by thy holy spirite, that he wyth al his hert may contempne & dispise al worldly thyng•s, and set his minde who•ly vpon heauē ly thynges, hopyng for thē with a strong & vndouted fayth. Agayn let it not greue him o swet sauior to be lo•oned frō this vile & wretched carcase, which is now so full of sorowe, trouble, anguysh sickenes, and paine: but rather let h•m haue abent and readye wyll, thorowe thy goodnesse to putte it of, yea and that wyth this faith▪ that he. at the last daye, shall receyue it agayn in a much better state then it is now or euer was frō the daie of hys byrthe,4 euen a bodye vncorruptible, immortal and like to thy glorious body. Let hys whol hert ⟨image 170⟩and mynde be set only vppon the· Let the remēbraunce of the ioies of heauē be so feruent in his brest that he may bothe pacientlye and thanckfully take his deathe,5 and euer wish to be with the in glory. And when the time cōmeth, that he shall gyue ouer to nature and depart from this miserable world vouchesafe we most humblye beseche the, O Lorde Iesu to take his soule into thy handes, and to place it among the glorious company of thy holy angels and blessed Saynctes, and to kepe it vnto that mooste ioyfull daye of the general resurrecciō, that both his bodye and soule thorow thyne almyghty power being knit againe togither at that daye, he maye for euer and euer enioy thy glorious kindom and sing perpetuall praises to thy blessed name. Amen.
