A06743:82
[The flour of godly prayers] [most worthy to be used in these our days…[The flour of godly praiers] [most worthy to be vsed in these our daies…
[The flour of godly prayers] [most worthy to be used in these our days for the safeguard, health, and comfort of all degrees, and estates / newly made by Thomas Becon].[The flour of godly praiers] [most worthy to be vsed in these our daies for the sauegard, health, and comforte of all degrees, and estates / newlie made by Thomas Becon].
London: printed by John Day, 1550London: printed by Ihon Day, 1550
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
¶A Prayer for Lawyers.
1WE know, o Lord, that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully, given of thee as a singular gift unto the children of men for maintenance of godly orders, for putting away of iniquities and wrongs, for restoring of men unto their right, for the advancement of virtue & punishment of vice: we most heartily pray thee, which art the law giver,2 which alone is able to save & to destroy,3 from whom also cometh ⟨p. xxxi⟩all wisdom, prudence, and knowledge, so to rule through the governance of thy holy spirit the harts of all lawyers, that they hearing mens causes, being in controversy, with discretion, & indifferency, and weighing them justly and truly according to the tenor & equity of the law, may without partiality both faithfully give counsel, and also indifferently pronounce of all such causes as be brought unto them, & by no means suffer them selves to be corrupted with bribes and gifts,4 which blind the eyes of the wise, and subvert true judgment, but walk so uprightly in all mens matters, that they seeking with godly travels a quietness among men in this world, may after their departure from this troublous vale of misery enjoy everlasting rest & quietness in the heavenly man sion, through Jesus Christ our lord.
1WE know, o Lord, that the lawe is good, if a manne vse it lawfully, geuen of the as a singuler gyft vnto ye children of men for mayntenance of godly orders, for puttynge away of iniquities and wrongs, for restoryng of men vnto their right, for the auauncement of vertue & punishmēt of vice: we most hertely pray the, which art ye lawe geuer,