Master Bezaes household prayers translated out of French into EnglishMaister Bezaes houshold prayers translated out of French into English

O GOD my God and FATHER, justly was man, thy creature, when by sin he had turned from thee (who art the life) cast headlong into the curse ⟨image 181⟩both of temporal and eternal death: for thy Majesty being infinitely offended, ought also in justice to require a punishment without end, which beginneth even in this life in many miseries, and is perpetuated hell, whereto death is as it were the gate. O Lord! The cause of so lamentable a mishap is in our nature: But in thee is pity and compassion, O merciful Father, who after thy unspeakable goodness, makest the ⟨image 181⟩temporal death, which to all men is inevitable, and to the reprobate an entry into hell, to change his quality concerning the Elect, being unto them a joyful passage to that happiness which is in heaven: For Jesus Christ thy eternal Son, to purchase us this benefit, did put on our flesh, and therein healed the wound of sin by his righteousness: and by his oblation satisfied for our debt, triumphing by his resurrection, over ⟨image 182⟩Death, Satan, and Hell, for the salvation of those to whom thou givest grace to believe in his name. Now then, my God, sith it hath pleased thee of thy great love, thus to accomplish the high mystery of our redemption, I beseech thee, grant me to feel the fruit and efficacy thereof, through the virtue of thy spirit, even to the last gasp of my life, that then I may render to thee my soul in peace. For I am baptized ⟨image 182⟩in the name of Christ, I believe his holy gospel, and am fed with his body and blood in the holy Church. True it is O Lord, that the remembrance of my sins, whereof my conscience doeth accuse me doeth greatly trouble me; for the darkness of my understanding hath kept me from knowing thee aright, and the corruption of my heart from worshipping thee in spirit, and truth, according to thy word; I have neglected ⟨image 183⟩this precious treasure, even the voice of my Redeemer, and by my slackness, made the seed thereof unfruitful in my soul, many times preferring the love of my self and the vanities of the world, before the love that I owe unto thee (my Creator) and my neighbour for thy sake. I have not affected the cross of thy Son, that I might cheerfully carry mine after him, in renouncing all my concupiscences: neither