There is one thing, for the which I desire thee to pray the LORD for thy servant, that when my master goeth into the Temple of Remmon for to worship, and he leaning upon mine arm, if I do worship also, that the LORD will be merciful unto his servant, because of this thing. These words declare evidently, that he did know, that he could not without offence, from thence forth bow his knee in the Temple of Remmon: no, not for the service of the King his master, inasmuch as he had protested before to worship none other, but the one only true GOD of Israel: and therefore he desired the Prophet, that he would pray to God for him. He did not as then thoroughly purpose and determine with him self to do so:1 that is, to worship in the Temple, but fearing, lest he should not be suffered to exempt him self from his office, he said not, I will worship: but, if I do worship in the Temple of Remmon, that is to say: if I cannot relinquish and forsake mine office. Also I understand this service of his to be an inclination and submission ⟨image 52⟩that he used towards the King, and not a service that he purposed to do unto strange Gods: which thing is easy to be understanded by the circumstance of the text, for he did not say absolutely, if I do worship in the Ten ple of Remmon: but, when that my Lord the King doeth enter for to worship, etc. The Hebrew word, which we call (worship) signifieth properly, to incline and bow the knee. This good faithful man had now no desire to worship any more the God Remmon, but forasmuch as he knew that it was not sufficient, to abstain only from the worshipping of strange Gods in his heart, onelesse he did also abstain from all outward appearance of adoration; therefore he asketh pardon of the same, praying that the Lord would dispense with him in his fact. These things are so manifest in this history, that every one that readeth it, doeth forthwith perceive it, except it be the Nicodemistes. Now I pray thee, Temporiser, what thing is there herein that may serve for thy defence, and other thy fellows?
There is one thing, for the which I desyre thee to praye the LORDE for thy seruaunte, that when my mayster goeth into the Temple of Remmon for to worshippe, and he leaninge vpon myne arme, yf I doe worshyppe also, that the LORDE wyll be mercyfull vnto his seruaunt, because of this thing. These wordes declare euydentlye, that he dyd knowe, that he coulde not wythoute offence, from thence forthe bowe hys knee in the Temple of Remmon: no, not for the seruyce of the Kynge hys mayster, in asmuche as he had protested before to worshyppe none other, but the one onely trew GOD of Israel: and therefore he desyred the Prophete, that he woulde praye to God for him. He did not as then thorowly purpose and determyne wyth him selfe to doe so:1 that is, to worshyppe in the Temple, but fearinge, leaste he shoulde not be suffered to exempte hym selfe from hys offyce, he sayd not, I wyll worshyppe: but, yf I doe worshyppe in the Temple of Remmon, that is to saye: yf I cannot relinquisshe and forsake myne offyce. Also I vnderstande thys seruice of hys to bee an inclynacion and submission ⟨image 52⟩that he vsed towardes the Kinge, and not a seruyce that he purposed to doe vnto straunge Goddes: which thing is easye to be vnderstanded by the circumstaunce of the text, for he did not saye absolutely, yf I do worship in the Tē ple of Remmon: but, when that my Lorde the Kyng doeth entre for to worship, etc. The Ebrew worde, which we call (worshippe) signifyeth properlye, to inclyne and bowe the knee. This good faythful man had now no desyre to worship any more the God Remmon, but for asmuche as he knew that it was not sufficient, to abstayne onelye from the worshippinge of straunge Goddes in his harte, onelesse he dyd also abstayne from all outwarde appearaunce of adoration; therefore he asketh pardon of the same, praying that the Lorde would dispence with him in his facte. These thinges are so manifest in this hystorie, that euery one that readeth it, doeth forthwith perceyue it, excepte it be the Nicodemistes. Now I pray thee, Temporisour, what thing is there herein that maye serue for thy defence, and other thy felowes?
- 1Nota.
