A16580:214
Godly meditations upon the Lords prayer, the belief, and ten commandments with other comfortable…Godlie meditations vpon the Lordes prayer, the beleefe, and ten commaundementes with other comfortable…
Godly meditations upon the Lords prayer, the belief, and ten commandments with other comfortable meditations, prayers and exercises. Whereunto is annexed a defence of the doctrine of gods eternal election and predestination, gathered by the constant martyr of God John Bradford in the time of his imprisonment. The contents whereof appear in the page next following.Godlie meditations vpon the Lordes prayer, the beleefe, and ten commaundementes with other comfortable meditations, praiers and exercises. Whereunto is annexed a defence of the doctrine of gods eternall election and predestination, gathered by the constant martyr of God Iohn Bradford in the tyme of his imprisonment. The contentes wherof appeare in the page nexte folovvyng.
London : Now first printed by Rouland Hall, dwelling in gutter lane at the sign of the half Eagle and key, the .12. of October 1562London : Nowe fyrst prynted by Rouland Hall, dwellyng in gutter lane at the signe of the halfe Egle and key, the .12. of October 1562
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now though thy children do know that thy will cannot but be done, and nothing can be done but that thou of thine own will hast determined to do, although no man should desire the same, yet are they earnest and frequent in prayer: first to render obedience to thee, which requirest prayer as a spiritual service to thee: secondly because thou hast ordained prayer to be as an instrument and mean, by the which thou workest things with thee already decreed & determined. Thy children do use prayer to offer thee their service, if it shall please the to use the same. As they do eat and drink, which is a mean ordained of thee for the conservation of their life, not looking hereby to lengthen their days above ⟨image 75⟩their bounds which already thou hast appointed, but as becometh them, to use thy means which thou hast ordained to serve thy providence: So do they (herein as men not curious to know thy providence further then thou revai•est it) use prayer as a mean by y• which thou art accustomed to work many of thy children's •e•re, that according to thy good will thou mayest use the same: they do not think a mutability in thee (for y• art god & art not changed, with thee there is no variableness) and therefore they pray, not as men which would have thy determinations and ordinances, which are in most wisdom and mercy, to be altered, but rather that they might submit their wills to shine, & make them more able to bear thy will and pleasure. They know thou haste promised to help them calling upon thee, wherefore they doubt not but thou so wilt do and therefore pray accordingly. They love thee heartily, and therefore they cannot but desire much •s talk with thee, that is to pray, ⟨image 76⟩even as a well mannered and loving wife will not take upon her to ask any thing of her husband at all but that, she hopeth he would take in good part and do of his own free will, although she had spoken nothing thereof. When she knoweth what her husband's will is in things, she gladly talketh with him thereof, and accordingly as she seeth he is purposed to do, she will often desire him to do it: