A16580:339
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.
But now to the third thing, that is, whether gods precepts requiring that which is not in our powers, be frustrate or no, although all things are done of necessity and by God's providence. To the understanding hereof .ii. things are to be considered. First that we must think of god, not as he is in him self, but as by his ⟨image 121⟩word he teacheth us. Secondly, the state of man before his fall is to be compared with the state of man presently, as he is now brought into this world. For the first, although it be most true that to god all things are so certain as before is spoken: yet in that god hath opened to us by his word so much of his will as we should with diligence search and observe, we may not think otherwise, but that whatsoever is done against that word, y• same is sin & evil in him whosoever he be y• doth there against: although the same transgression god doth & can use to serve his providence accordingly. Of which providence we may not otherwise judge, then his word giveth us leave, y• is, we must do nothing to serve it, but as his word teacheth. If Adam had ben ruled hereby, then he had not eaten y• apple: for in that he obeyed not the word of god, which he knew, easily we may perceive, that he did not eat the apple to obey gods providence which he knew not. So that evident it is, Adams fall to be sin and ⟨image 121⟩evil, and he him self with the serpent to be the author thereof, god not allowing or approving the evil. which is to be construed according to the will of the doer, which will in Adam was naught, although the action god turned to serve his providence, thereby setting forth his wonderful wisdom, power, & goodness: whereat we ought rather with reverence to wonder, then by wandering further then beseemeth us, to call into question, why god did so. Which why, no man is able to understand, & therefore we should bid our busy brain sit down, and not to covet again to be like to god as Adam did, and therefore he fell so foul as he did.
But now to the third thing, that is, whether gods precepts requiring that which is not in our powers, be frustrate or no, although al thinges are done of necessitie and by goddes prouidence. To the vnderstandinge hereof .ii. things are to be cōsidered. First yt we must thinke of god, not as he is in hym selfe, but as by hys