A06743:92
[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 the unmarried,
A prayer for the vnmaryed,
Albeit most merciful father, marriage is honourable among all persons and the bed undefiled,1 yet for as much as some thou ⟨p. xxxv⟩thine exceeding & above natural gift (for no man can hue chaste,2 except y• give him the gift) live free fro• the sweet yoke of m• trimony, some again for the ten dernes of age are not apt for holy wedlock: we most heartily p•aie thee, that they which have received of thee, the gift of continency, may so train their life in godly exercises, that thou mayest goo forth to continue and increase that thy gift in them,3 that they may the more freely and quietly serve thee, and care for those things that pertain unto thy glory: Again, that the other passing over the time of their young age in thy fear, in godly travails, and virtuous labours, may eschew all evil, wicked, riotous, and wanton company, that when they shall take on them the holy and honourable order of blessed wedlock, ⟨image 51⟩they may bring with them […] and undefiled bodies, & so live in that godly state of matrimony avoiding all fornication, whoredom, and uncleanness all distention, strife & debate that thou mayest bless them,