An exposition of the Lords prayer in the way of catechism By William PerkinsAn exposition of the Lords praier in the way of catechisme By William Perkins

1. First, whereas we are taught to come to God, as to a father, and therefore in the name of his Son our Saviour Christ, we learn to lay the first ground of all our prayers, in the holding & maintaining of the union and distinction of the three persons in Trinity. This being the lowest and the first foundation of prayer, it is requisite that all which would pray aright, should have this knowledge, rightly to believe of the Trinity, & to know how the three persons agree, and ⟨image 16⟩how they are distinguished: & the order of them, how the Father is the first, the Son the second, the holy Ghost the third: and therefore, how the father is to be called upon in the name of the Son, by the holy Ghost. Hence it is manifest, that ignorant and silly people which do not so much as dream of the union, distinction and order of the persons in Trinity, make but cold and slender kind of praying.

1. First, whereas we are taught to com to God, as to a father, and therefore in the name of his Son our Sauiour Christ, wee learne to lay the first ground of all our praiers, in the holding & maintaining of the vnion and distinction of the three persons in Trinitie. This being the lowest and the first foundation of praier, it is requisite that al which woulde pray aright, should haue this knowledge, rightly to beleeue of the Trinitie, & to know how the three persons agree, and ⟨image 16⟩how they are distinguished: & the order of them, how the Father is the first, the Sonne the second, the holy Ghost the third: and therefore, how the father is to be called vpon in the name of the Sonne, by the holy Ghost. Hence it is manifest, that ignorant and sillie people which do not so much as dreame of the vnion, distinction and order of the persons in Trinitie, mak but cold and slender kind of praying.

2. Secondly, we may learn hereby, that we are not in any wise to invocate Saints and Angels, but only the true Jehovah. The reason stands thus. This prayer is either a perfect platform for all prayers▪ or not: to say it were not, were an injury to our Saviour Christ: to say it is so, is also to grant, that it doth fully set down, to whom all prayers are to be made. Papists that are the great patrons of invocation of Saints, in their reformed breviaries