D. So much the greater and more marvellous is the wisdom of our saviour Jesus Christ declared. And beside that, in setting ⟨p. 439⟩forth these things, he hath divided this whole form of prayer, into two parts, which do every of them contain three demands or petitions, which are six in the whole, the two parts being put together: of the which the three that are contained in the first part, are as it were the foundation and rule of the other three following, & do show to what end they ought to tend. For in the first place he hath set those which have regard directly to the glory of God, without any special consideration of our selves, or of any other creature: and afterward he addeth unto them, those which do concern more specially our persons: the which he will also that we do direct to God for the obtaining of the things that are contained in them, so far forth as shall be requisite to make them to serve to that which is contained in the first: god hath done even the like, when he gave that law which is called by the Hebrews, the ten words,1 following the Phrase of the speech of Moses, which did so name it, because that it did contain in sum ten commandments, ⟨p. 440⟩which ought to serve us in this respect, as the ten predicaments do serve the Logicians, for their part. Wherefore it is not so requisite that the scholars which study Logic, should know at the fingers ends their predicaments, as it is requisite that all those which will be accounted of the number of the people of God, do know this law, and the commandments contained in the same. For that same very cause is it also called by the Greeks the Decalogue, and by us the ten commandments of the law. For first, it doth contain in few words all that ever man is able to do, say, or think either of good or evil, and all that doth please or displease him, and that he doth allow or disallow in all the thoughts, affections, words and works of men: and also all that, which not only all the laws of man & all the volumes of the philosophers, Poets and Orators do contain, concerning the manner how to live well: but also all that is contained as well in the books of the prophets as of the Evangelists and Apostles, concerning the service of God, & the good manners, & the ⟨p. 441⟩order how to rule & lead his life according to his will.
D. So much the greater and more maruellous is the wysedome of our sauiour Iesus Christe declared. And besyde that, in setting ⟨p. 439⟩forth these thinges, hée hath deuided thys whole forme of prayer, into two partes, whych doe euery of them contayne thrée demaundes or peticions, whych are syxe in the whole, the two partes beyng put together: of the whych the thrée that are conteyned in the firste parte, are as it were the foundation and rule of the other thrée folowyng, & doe shew to what ende they oughte to tende. For in the fyrst place hée hath set those which haue regarde directlye to the glorye of God, wythoute anye speciall consyderation of oure selues, or of anye other creature: and afterwarde hée addeth vnto them, those whych doe concerne more specially oure persons: the whych hée wyll also that wée doe direct to God for the obtaynyng of the thynges that are contayned in them, so farre forthe as shal be requisite to make them to serue to that which is conteined in the first: god hath done euē the like, when he gaue that lawe which is called by ye Hebrewes, the ten words,1 folowyng the Phrase of the speache of Moyses, whych dyd so name it, bycause that it dyd contayne in summe ten commaundementes, ⟨p. 440⟩which ought to serue vs in this respect, as ye ten predicaments do serue ye Logiciens, for their part. Wherfore it is not so requisite that the scholers which studie Logique, should knowe at the fingers endes their predicaments, as it is requisite that all those which wil bée accompted of the number of the people of God, doe knowe this lawe, and the commaundementes conteyned in the same. For that same very cause is it also called by the Gréekes the Decalogue, and by vs ye ten commaundements of the law. For first, it doth containe in fewe wordes all that euer man is able to doe, say, or think either of good or euyll, and all that doth please or displease him, and that he doth alow or disalow in all ye thoughtes, affections, words and workes of men: and also al that, which not only al the lawes of man & al the volumes of ye philosophers, Poetes and Orators doe contayne, concerning the manner howe to lyue well: but also all that is contayned as well in the bookes of the prophetes as of the Euangelistes and Apostles, concerning ye seruice of God, & the good manners, & the ⟨p. 441⟩order howe to rule & leade his lyfe according to his will.
- 1Deu. 4.10.
