Also we may easily withstand temptation and sin, if we believe truly, and pray earnestly. For we have learned in the doctrine of faith, that we can not be righteous pure and holy of our selves, but the holy ⟨p. cxcix⟩ghost doth purify cleanse and hallow us. And if we believe this steadfastly, then we ought to pray with a fervent spirit, and say thus. Lord our heavenly father, we be seche the suffer us not to be led into temptation. And if we thus pray, then God will hear us, and will give us strength against him that tempteth us, and against his temptation. For a Christen mans life, is a continual war upon earth, & so long as we live in this world, we may not look to have peace or quietness, but as in the sea one wave cometh after an other, so in this world one temptation followeth an other. So that, when we have overcome one temptation, by and by, an other is at hand, peradventure greater then the first. Wherefore in this sixth petition, we do not pray thus. O heavenly father, ⟨image 222⟩grant that we may have no temptations, but we say thus. O heavenly father suffer us not to be led into temptation. To be led into temptation, is when God suffereth, the greatness of temptation so to grow, that we be not able to overcome the same, but be so deceived & blinded by the devil, that sin is pleasant unto us, and we see nothing in the same but pleasure and profit, and consider not the anger of God due for sin, nor the poison that lieth hid in the same, nor the pain that shall follow thereof, and so we persuade our selves, that we have no more need to watch or fight against sin, but do consent to temptation, and yield our selves into the hands of our enemies. This Christ calleth to be led into temptation, as in our common speech we are wont to say. This ⟨p. cc⟩lead me, or this brought me, in to this mischief. And that we be not led into temptation, it is our part, earnestly to pray to God, as Christ hath taught and commaū dead us.
Also we maye easely withstande temptation and sinne, if we beleue truly, and praye ernestly. For we haue lerned in ye doctrine of faith, that we cā not be rightuous pure and holy of our selues, but ye holy ⟨p. cxcix⟩gost doth purify clense and halow vs. And yf we beleaue this stedfastly, then we ought to pray with a feruent spirite, and saye thus. Lorde our heuenly father, we be seche the suffer vs not to be led into temptation. And yf we thus praye, then God wil heare vs, and wil gyue vs strength against him that tempteth vs, and against his temptacion. For a Christen mans life, is a cōtinual warre vpō earth, & so long as we liue in this world, we maye not loke to haue peace or quietnes, but as in ye sea one wawe commeth after an other, so in this worlde one temptation foloweth an other. So that, when we haue ouercome one temptation, by and by, an other is at hande, paraduē ture greater then the first. Wherfore in this sixt petition, we do not praye thus. O heauenly father, ⟨image 222⟩graunt that we may haue no tēptations, but we say thus. O heuē ly father suffer vs not to be led into tēptation. To be led into temptation, is when God suffereth, the greatnes of temptatiō so to grow, that we be not able to ouercome ye same, but be so deceaued & blynded by ye deuel, that synne is pleasant vnto vs, and we see nothyng in the same but pleasure and profit, and consyder not the anger of God due for synne, nor the poysen that lyeth hyd in the same, nor the payne that shal folow therof, and so we perswade oure selues, yt we haue no more nede to watche or fyght against synne, but do consent to temptation, and yelde oure selues into the handes of our enemies. This Christ calleth to be led into temptation, as in oure comen speache we are wont to saye. This ⟨p. cc⟩leadde me, or this broūght me, in to this myschiefe. And that we be not led into temptation, it is oure part, ernestly to praye to God, as Christ hath taught and commaū ded vs.
