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…

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 ⟨p. 137⟩for want whereof the Church is in distress / or the turning away of that mischief which either approacheth / or which is already upon it: but to make those prayers which are for the present time and danger / ordinary and daily prayers / I can not hitherto see any / either scripture or example of the primitive church. And here for the simples sake I will set down after what sort this abuse crept into the church.

In the collect vpon the twelfth sonday after Trinitie sonday / and likewise in one of those whych are to be sayd after the Offertorie (as it is termed) is done / request is made / that God would geue those thyngs whych we for oure vnworthynes dare not aske / whych carieth wyth it still the note of the popishe seruile feare / and sauoureth not of that confidence and reuerēt familiaritie / that the children of God haue thorough Christ / wyth their heauenly father. For as we dare not wythout our sauioure Christ aske so much as a crumme of bread / so there is nothing whych in hys name we dare not aske / being needefull for vs / and if it be not needefull / why should we aske it? And if all the prayers were gathered together / and referred to these two heades of Gods glory / and of the thyngs whych pertaine to this present life / I can make no Geometricall and exact measure / but verely I beleue / there shalbe found more then a third part of the prayers whych are not psalmes and texts of scriptures / spent in praying for / and praying against the commodities / and incommodities of this life / whych is contrary to all the arguments or contents of the prayers of the churche / whych are sette downe in the scripture / and especially of our sauior Christes prayer / by the whych ours ought to be directed / which of .vij. petitions / bestoweth one only that wayes. And this / these foresayd prayers do / not only in generall words / but by deducting the commodities and incommodities of thys life into their particulare kindes / & we pray for the auoiding of those dangers which are nothyng neare vs / as from lightning and thundering in the midst of winter / from storme and tempest / when the weather is most faire / and the seas most calme. &c. It is true / that vpon some vrgent calamity / a prayer may and ought to be framed / whych may beg eyther the commodity