A reply to an answer made of M. Doctor Whitgifte Against the admonition to…A replye to an ansvvere made of M. Doctor VVhitgifte Against the admonition to…

Now / for as much as there is no promise in the scripture / that we should be free from all adversity / and that evermore / it seemeth that this prayer might have been better conceived / being no prayer of faith / or of the which we can assure our selves that we shall obtain it. For if it be said that by the word (adversity) is meant all evil / we know that it hath no such signification / neither in this tongue of ours / neither in other tongues which use the same word in common with us / but that it signifieth trouble / vexation / and calamity / from all the which we may not desire always to be delivered. And whatsoever can be alleged for the defence of it / yet every one that is not contentious / may see that it needeth some caution or exception.

Now / for as much as there is no promise in the scripture / that we should be free from all aduersity / and that euermore / it semeth that this prayer might haue bene better conceiued / being no prayer of faith / or of the whych we can assure our selues that we shall obtaine it. For if it be sayd that by the worde (aduersity) is meant all euill / we know that it hath no such signification / neither in this tongue of oures / neyther in other tongues whych vse the same worde in common wyth vs / but that it signifieth trouble / vexation / and calamitye / from all the whych we may not desire alwayes to be deliuered. And whatsoeuer can be alledged for the defence of it / yet euery one that is not contentious / may see that it needeth some caution or exception.

In the collect upon the twelfth sunday after Trinity sunday / and likewise in one of those which are to be said after the Offertory (as it is termed) is done / request is made / that God would give those things which we for our unworthiness dare not ask / which carieth with it still the note of the popish servile fear / and savoureth not of that confidence and reverent familiarity / that the children of God have thorough Christ / with their heavenly father. For as we dare not without our saviour Christ ask so much as a crumb of bread / so there is nothing which in his name we dare not ask / being needful for us / and if it be not needful / why should we ask it? And if all the prayers were gathered together / and referred to these two heads of Gods glory / and of the things which pertain to this present life / I can make no Geometrical and exact measure / but verily I believe / there shall be found more then a third part of the prayers which are not psalms and texts of scriptures / spent in praying for / and praying against the commodities / and incommodities of this life / which is contrary to all the arguments or contents of the prayers of the church / which are set down in the scripture / and especially of our saviour Christs prayer / by the which ours ought to be directed / which of .vij. petitions / bestoweth one only that ways. And this / these foresaid prayers do / not only in general words / but by deducting the commodities and incommodities of this life into their particular kinds / & we pray for the avoiding of those dangers which are nothing near us / as from lightning and thundering in the midst of winter / from storm and tempest / when the weather is most fair / and the seas most calm. &c. It is true / that upon some urgent calamity / a prayer may and ought to be framed / which may beg either the commodity