For albeit in the Gospel we be free from the rigour & punishment of the Law, yet nevertheless, the rule of piety and holy life contained in the Decalogue, abideth with us, as a perpetual pattern, whereby to frame our temporal course of life. And accordingly we do also consider of it in two parts, according as it ⟨image 36⟩pleased thee, O Lord, to write it with thy finger, and to deliver it unto Moses, in two tables of stone, for thy people, whereof the first containeth four Commandments, of our duty towards thee, and the second, six, of that which we owe to our neighbours: Also the sum & fulfilling of all these holy precepts importeth that we love thee, (O only true GOD) with our whole heart, soul, and thought, and then all other ⟨image 37⟩men, (especially the household of faith) as our selves. But O Lord, such is the weakness of all flesh, that there is no man able to attain to the perfection of thy Law: and yet thou willest, that here in, thy children should comfort themselves, that there is left unto them, some measure to approach thereunto, and so to be acceptable unto thee; namely when with their whole strength, prevented by thy grace, they study to attain the ⟨image 37⟩end of thy word, walking & going forward by the steps thereof, & still with sighing for their infirmities. For all the faithful may so believe, that with thee their Father there is mercy for them, in thy well beloved son Jesus Christ. I beseech thee therefore, O my God, to cast upon me, the eye of thy clemency, and goodness, thereby through the effects of thy spirit, to restore in my soul, the breaches of sin, to illuminate my understanding, ⟨image 38⟩and to possess my hart with the love of thy truth, to the end that in all knowledge and obedience of faith, I may constantly walk in the paths of thy law; so that I may worship, scare, & love thee, as the Lord, to whom I wholly owe my self: for thou hast created me, and which is more, redeemed me from eternal death, whence I do also learn to love all men in thee, & for thy sake, because they bear thy image, so that ⟨image 38⟩persevering thus in the duty of my vocation, I may so much the rather feel thy peace in my conscience, and thy blessing upon all the works of my hands; that filled with days, I leave my life, to enjoy rest eternally. Amen.
For albeit in the Gospel wee be free from the rigor & punishment of the Law, yet neuertheles, the rule of pietie and holie life contained in the Decalogue, abideth with vs, as a perpetuall patterne, whereby to frame our temporall course of life. And accordingly we do also consider of it in two partes, according as it ⟨image 36⟩pleased thee, O Lord, to write it with thy finger, and to deliuer it vnto Moses, in two tables of stone, for thy people, whereof the first containeth foure Commandements, of our duetie towardes thee, and the second, sixe, of that which wee owe to our neighbors: Also the summe & fulfilling of all these holy precepts importeth that wee loue thee, (O onely true GOD) with our whole heart, soule, and thought, and then all other ⟨image 37⟩men, (especially the houshold of faith) as our selues. But O Lord, such is the weakenesse of all flesh, that there is no man able to attain to the perfection of thy Law: and yet thou willest, that here in, thy children shoulde comfort themselues, that there is left vnto them, some measure to approach thervnto, and so to bee acceptable vnto thee; namely when with their whole strength, preuented by thy grace, they studie to attaine the ⟨image 37⟩end of thy word, walking & going forward by the steps thereof, & still with sighing for their infirmities. For al the faithfull may so belieue, that with thee their Father there is mercy for them, in thy welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ. I beseech thee therfore, O my God, to cast vpon me, the eye of thy clemencie, and goodnes, therby throgh th'effects of thy spirit, to restore in my soule, the breaches of sinne, to illuminate my vnderstanding, ⟨image 38⟩and to possesse my hart with the loue of thy truth, to the end that in all knowledge and obedience of faith, I may constantly walke in the paths of thy lawe; so that I may worship, scare, & loue thee, as the Lord, to whome I wholy owe my selfe: for thou hast created mee, and which is more, redeemed mee from eternall death, whence I do also learne to loue all men in thee, & for thy sake, because they beare thy image, so that ⟨image 38⟩perseuering thus in the duty of my vocation, I may so much the rather feele thy peace in my conscience, and thy blessing vppon all the workes of my hands; that filled with dayes, I leaue my life, to enioy rest eternally. Amen.
