A briefe instruction for all Families, to be brought vp in the knowledge of their duetie to God, and one to another: and to be taught in the hope of saluation in Christe Iesus.
¶ Imprented at London, for William Ponsonby. 1583.
To the Church of God, in Walsingham, beloued in Christe, and called to be Saints: grace, mercy, and the hope of saluation, from God the Father, thorough Christ Iesus his Sonne, be multiplyed vnto you.
AS your place hath beene before (my brethren) famous▪ or rather for Idolatry infamous: non tam nobilis, quàm nota, not so noble as notorious: so woulde I nowe, (if I were able) perswade you, to redeeme, and purchase a new the losse of that long time so euilly spent: with the gain of greater knowledge, and more conscionable practise, in old and young of that glorious Gospell, which now thorough Gods mercies hath driuen away ignoraunce, enlightened your heartes, beegotten you to GOD, taught you his feare, and whereof you haue no farder hold, then at the Mat. 21. 33. will of the Lord. If Ephesus must redeeme the time spente in the honour of Diana, and Acts. 19. 28. dishonour of God, which walking now in the Ephe. 5. 17. knowledge of his will: what price thinke you of repentaunce must VValsingham lay downe, to recouer the losse of those daies, in the worship of an Idoll▪ and neglect of Gods seruice? If Adam be Gene. 3. 17▪ curssed, for pleasing his owne fancie, and displeasing God: how sharpe a cursse thinke you, deserued that serpent, that first Gene. 3. 4. enticed him herunto? If Israel did smart for Idolatrie, by whoring at 1. King. 12. Bethel: shall H [...]eroboam goe free, that moued them to sinne? If the dayes of Iosiah must 2. King. 23. mourne, for the time of his Fathers: what [Page] teares must Manasses shed that caused them to erre? And if all places in this land had neede to lament the filthie Idolatries of the former ages: how much more oughtest thou (VValsingham) bewaile, that hast reached foorth that Cup of poyson to infect them with all? The brasen Serpent was ( [...]. King. 18. 4.) pouldred to dust, as the instrument of the peoples fall: feare least God in iudgement make thee as dust, whiche hast caused many to slumber in their sinnes. The Temple, and house of that Idoll Baal was ( [...]. King. 10. 27) broken downe, and the Lord in his hoate displeasure made thereof a place of vile vse: thou hast been the seat and throne of many Balimes. Feare thou, and repent: least the Lord in his firie wrath, make of thy proude shrine of Satan, a poore and miserable cottage. Thou hast shaken the state, and enchaunted the mindes of kings, and princes, with the banefull dregges of mens inuentions: Nowe nourishe the soules of thy children that are in thee, with that (Pet. 2. 2.) sincere milke of Gods holy worde: thou hast been the puddle to defile thousandes, now become that same Bethesda (hn. 5. 2.) to heale thy selfe: thou hast beene to Englande as the waters of ( [...]od. 15. 23.) Marah to Israel, now sweeten thy selfe with the tree of life: thou hast been to all inhabitants as the vnfruitfull water of (Kings. 2. 19.) Hiericho, now become seasoned with the salt of grace: thou hast by thy former filthinesse, drawne many to Hel: repent thee of that, and now let thy (atth. 5. 16.) light shine foorth, to call many to God. To conclude, thou hast been the very ( [...]ue. 16. 2.) foule cage of all hatefull and vglie birdes: now pray and labour that thou maiest become the happie hauen, & safe harborough of all godlinesse, and integritie of life.
A briefe instruction for Families.
VVHo made you?
A. God. Ge. 1. 27. Psa. 95. 7.
Q. What is God?
A. He is an heauenly spirit, almighty, & incōprehēsible. Apoc. 18. Ioh. 4. 24.
Q. How many gods are there?
A. There is but one God. Ephe. 4. 6. Esay 44. 6.
Q. What are those then that are set vp by men?
A. They are no Gods but vaine Idols, Psal. 96. 5. 115. 4.
Q. How manie persons are there?
A. Three. 1. Ioh. 5. 7. Ioh. 14. 26.
Q. By what name doe you call them?
A. God the father, God the sonne, and God the holy Ghost. Mat. 28. 19.
Q. How are these one God, and yet three persons?
A. They are one in substance, and three in persons.
Q. What is the sonne?
A. Iesus▪ Christ both God and man. Ioh. 1. 1. 14.
Q. What is the holy Ghost?
[Page] A. A diuine substance proceeding from the Father, & the Son. Ioh. 14. 26. Act. 5. 4.
Q. What doe you attribute to the father?
A. The creation of me, and all the worlde. Math. 10. 29. Iohn. 5. 17.
Q. What vnto God the Sonne?
A. The redemption of me, and all mankinde. 1. Pet. 1. 18. 19.
Q. What vnto the holy Ghoste?
A. The dayly worke of holynesse in mee. 1. Cor. 12. 3.
Q. Wherefore were you made?
A. To glorifie God, by doing of his will. Ephe. 2. 10.
Q. What briefe contents haue you of his will?
A. The ten Commandements. Mat. 19. 17
Q. Rehearse them.
A. God spake these words, &c.
Q. What meaneth this preface?
A. I [...] she weth me, yt these are the lawes of the eternal God, who both for his maiesty, & his mercy, ought to be obeied. De. 28. 1. 15. Q. What is the meaning of this first cōmandemēt: Thou shalt haue, &c? Herein doth God charg me, yt in no maner of way, I esteeme more of any thing, [Page] then of him, or set by any so much, as by him. Hier. 17. 5. Leu. 14. 26.
Q. What is the meaning of this second commandement? Thou shalt not, &c.
A. Herein I am forbidden, to make ye likenes of any creature that is in any place, either to worshippe it, or God in it, or so much as to thinke the incomprehensible maiestie of the euerliuing GOD to be like vnto it. Deut. 4. 15. 16. 17. 18. Rom. 1. 22. 23. Esa. 40. 18. 25.
Q. What is the meaning of these words? Thou shalt not bow. &c.
A. Here am I forbidden to worship, or in any religious manner to serue the work of other mens handes, or any of the creatures of God, though that I my self neuer made thē. Exo. 23. 24. 25. Hie. 10. 5.
Q. What is the meaning of these words, For I the Lord thy God, &c.
A. Herein he threatneth punishment to the obstinate, and mercy to the obedient. Deu. 29. 19. 20 Esai. 1. 19.
Q. What is the meaning of this third cō mandement: Thou shalt not take, &c.
A. Herein am I straitly charged, yt I doe not any way abuse ye glorious maiesty of God, either in my cōmon talke, by swearing, [Page] cursing, or testing, or in wicked practises: as cō [...]uring, witching, enchaūting, and such like. Zach. 5. 3. 4. Leuit. 24. 14. 15. 16. Rom. 12. 14. Ephe. 4. Apoc. 21, 8.
Q. What is the meaning of this fourth commandement, Remēber thou keep?
A. Herein am I charged ye the day which ye Lord hath appointed for his seruice to be kept holy, be not by me either in ordinary busines, & works, or in idle places & pastimes prophaned: but ye therein I bee occupied in prayer, giuing of thāks, hearing of his word & the due receiuing of his sacramēts, & alwayes to rest frō sinne. Hier. 17. 21. 22. Ro. 12. 12. 1. Thes 5. 18 Esay. 58. 13. Act. 20. 7. Heb. 4 10.
Q. What is the meaning of this fift commandement, Honor thy father, &c.
A. Herein doth God straightly charge, ye all subiects to their gouernours, people to their ministers, childrē to parents, seruants to masters pupilles to their tutors, & other to their superiours, giue all reuerence, obediēce, & duty: & these again in their callings to their inferiours, as by Gods worde they are bound. Leuit. 19. 32. Ro, 12. 7. 1. pet. 2. 13. 14. 17. 18. Col. 4. 1.
Q. What is the meaning of this sixt commandement, [Page] Thou shalt not kill?
A. Herein God straightly forbiddeth all kind of murder & hurt, either in hart, tong, or deed. Deu. 19. 6. Mat. 5. 22. Psa. 109. 17. Deu. 19. 11. 12. 13. & cōmandeth that in all these three, we preserue ye life & good name of our neighbour. Pro. 31. 8, Psal. 7. 4.
Q. What is the meaning of this seuenth commandement. Thou shalt not?
A. Herein god forbiddeth al kind of filthines, either in thoght, word, or deed. 1. The. 4. 5. Col. 3. 8. Eph. 5. 5. and commandeth in all these three to liue vnspotted. 1. Thes. 4. 4.
Q. What is the meaning of this eight commandement: Thou shalt not &c?
A. Herein god forbiddeth all wrōgful possessiō, or hindering of other mens goods by any means. Le. 19. 11. Pr. 20. 23. & cōmādeth euery one to preserue to the proper vse of ye owner: and euery one to bee content with his estate. Exod. 23. 4. 5. Phil. 4. 11.
Q. What is the meaning of this nienth commandment: Thou shalt not beare &c?
A. Heerin God forbideth al lying, and dissēbling: Pro. 19. 5. 9. & cōmādeth euery one to speake ye truth frō his heart. Eph. 4. 25.
Q. What is the meaning of this tenth commandement: Thou shalt couet?
[Page]A. Heerein God forbiddeth euen the first beginnings & motions vnto sinne: Act. 8. 22. Pro. 6. 18. and commaundeth al puritie & vprighnes of ye heart. Deut. 10. 16.
Q. What are you briefly taught in al these?
A. My dutie to God, and to my neighbor, Luke. 10. 27.
Q. Are you not straightly bounde to doe the same'▪
A. Yes, most straightly. Deut. 8. 1. Mat. 7. 12.
Q. And are you able of your self so to do?
A. No, not any way. Rom. 7. 18.
Q. What is then the punishment for breaking of them?
A. Euerlasting condemnation in hell fire: Deut. 27. 26. Mat. 5. 19.
Q. Why then, are all condemned?
A. No, a remnāt are saued. Mat. 7. 21. Ro. 11. 6.
Q. By whome?
A. By Iesus Christ. Ioh. 3. 16. 1, Tim. 1. 15
Q. How hath he saued you?
A. In that he fulfilled the law. Ioh. 19. 30. and was put to death for mee. Ro. 5. 10.
Q. Who are those remnant that shall bee saued?
[Page]A. They that truely repent and beleeue in him. Ioh. 3. 18.
Q. What is a true repentance?
A. It is a heartie sorrowing for sinnes passed, with a hope of pardon, and an earnest purpose of amendment. Mat. 3. 8. 9. Ioel 23.
Q. What is a true beliefe?
A. It is a full assurance, and heartie perswasion, grounded on the promises of God, that Christ Iesus is wholy mine, & I his. Heb. 11. 1. Gal. 3. 7. 8.
Q. Rehearse the principles of your beliefe?
A. I beleeue in God, the father almightie, &c.
Q. What is ye meaning of this: I beleeue in God &c.
A. I doe heerein assure my self, that ye god of all power, and creator of all things, is vnto me a prouident father. Psa. 100. 2. & 23. 1. Act. 17. 28.
Q. What of this: and in Iesus Christe his only sonne our Lorde?
A. I doe heerein assure my self, that Iesus Christ is very God of his father, Ioh 1. 14. 1. Cor. 8. 6. & that he hath redeemed [Page] vs to be a people peculiar to himself. 2. Tit. 14. Act. 20. 28.
Q. What is the meaning of this: Which was conceaued by, &c.
A. Herein I assure my selfe that Christ Iesus being conceiued not by mā which is sinfull, but by the holy Ghost, is free frō sinne. Ioh. 3. 6.
Q. What of this: Borne of the virgine Mary?
A. Heerein I beeleeue that Iesus Christe is very man, and toke that flesh of Mary, and yet she a pure virgin. Esay, 7. 14. Gal 4. 4. Rom. 1. 3. Ioh. 1. 14.
Q. What meane you by this: Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate?
A. Herein I beleeue that Iesus Christ suffered many thinges at the handes of the Iewes, that man Pontius Pilat beeing 1. Pet. 2. 32. Mat. 27. 18.
Q. What meane you by this: Crucified, dead, and buried?
A. In this I doe beleeue, that he was nayled on a crosse, and thereupon died, and in token of his death, he also was buried in the earth. Ioh. 19. 18. 30. 42. and all this was done, that he might deliuer mee [Page] from the curse of God, and euerlasting death. Gal. 3. 13. Rom. 8. 32.
Q. What meane you by this: Descended into Hell?
A. I doe beleeue heerein that he suffered all the torments of Hell, which were due to me for sinne, and also was holden downe of the same death for ye space of 2. daies, that he might get the victorie ouer it for euer. Psal. 18. 5. 4. Act. 2. 24.
Q. What is ye meaning of this: The third day he rose againe from &c?
A. I beleeue herein that Iesus Christ hath ouercome death, and hell, and in token thereof did rise out of the graue the third day after his passion, who also is the first fruites of our resurrection: Mat. 28. 6. Col. 2. 13. 15. 1. Cor. 15. 4. 20.
Q. What is the meaning of this: Ascended vp into heauen?
A. Heerin I beleeue, that Iesus Christ after he rose from death, did in the sight of men go up into heauen, that through him wee also which are his members, might ascend thyther. Mar. 16. 19. Ioh. 14. 19. and 2. 3.
[Page]Q. What meane you by this: sitteth on the right hand of God?
A. I beleeue in this, that he now beeing in heauen, hath all glory, power and dominion giuen vnto him ouer all thinges: which is meant by sitting at the right hand, Mark 16. 19. Ro. 8. 3. 4. Phil. 2. 9. 10. 11.
Q. What is the meaning of this: frō thēce he shall come to iudge &c.
Q. I beleeue in this, that Christ Iesus shal come againe in bodie at the ende of the world, & shal cal to iudgemēt euery work bee it good or bad, both of those which shall be liuing at his comming, & which shall bee dead before: Eccle. 12. 14. 2, Tim. 4. 1 Ioh. 5. 25.
Q. What beleeue you in this: I beleeue in the holy ghost, &c.
A. Herein I beleeue, that the third person in trinitie (the holy Ghoste is God) and that hee is the worker of all the graces of God, in men, and sanctifieth vs vnto all goodnes. Mat. 28. 19, Actes. 5. 3. 4. 1 Cor. 12. 3. 13.
Q. What do you meane by this: the holy Catholike Church:
[Page]A. I beleeue in this, that God by Christ Iesus hath purchased to himselfe, a congre gation, or flocke, professing faith in his name, holy, and vnspotted, which church is not now only included within ye boū [...]s of Iurie as afore time, but is general of euery nation and place whatsoeuer. Eph. 5. 25, 26. 27▪ Gal. 3. 28. Ephe. 2. 12.
Q. What meane you by this: Communiō of saints?
A. I beleeue herein, that there is & ought to bee a mutuall communicating in this holy fellowship, of suche thinges as they haue receiued from God, to the help one of another. Esay. 2. 3. 1 Pet. 4. 10.
Q. What by this: forgiuenes of sinnes?
A. I doe beleeue, that vnto them which are of this holy fellowship, there is through Iesus Christe for all sinnes forgiuenes to the repentante. Psal. 103. 3. Actes. 10. 43.
Q. What meane you by this the resurrection of the bodie?
A. I beleeue heerein, that my bodye which shall turne into dust from whence it was taken: shall againe at the cōming of Christ, through him bee raised out of [Page] the graue, & ioyned with my soule. Ioh. 6. 39. 40.
Q. What is this: The life euerlasting?
A. Herein I beleeue, that after this life, as many as die in the faith of Christe, shall rise again to an eternall and happy life, whose ioyes no tongue can expres. Ioh. 3. 16. 1. Cor. 2. 9.
Q. Howe come you by this faith?
A. It is Gods gift. Ephe▪ 2. 8. Ioh. 6. 24.
Q. By what ordinarie meanes doth he giue it?
A. By the preaching of his most holy word Rom. 10. 17. Ioh. 8. 47
Q. What call you the word of God?
A. The Lawe, the preaching of the Prophets, the gospel of Christ, and doctrine of the Apostles, conteined in the old and new Testament: Heb. 1. 1. Iohn. 6. 68 1. Pet. 1. 25.
Q. How is that faith sealed vp in you?
A. By the due receiuing of the sacraments. 1 Cor. 11. 26. Act. 2. 41.
Q. What is a Sacrament?
A. It is an institution of the Lord, hauing an outwarde, and uisible substaunce, representing an inuisible grace vnderstood [...]
[Page] Q. How did God deliuer this lawe vnto his seruant Moses?
A. Written in two tables of stone.
Q. How many cōmandements are there in the first table?
A. Foure Commandements.
Q. What doo these foure cōmandements teach vs?
A. Our dutie towards God.
Q. How many Commandements are in the second table?
A. Sixe Commandements.
Q. What doo these sixe commandements teach vs?
A. Our dutie to our neighbour.
Q. VVhy is the dutie to God, set before the dutie to our neighbour?
A. Because wee should serue him aboue all things.
Q. And why art thou taught thy dutie to thy neighbour?
A. That it might be knowen whether I doe my dutie to God, or no.
Q. How many Cōmandemēts be there?
A. Ten.
Q. Which be they?
A. God spake these wordes and sayd.
[Page] Q. Is this a commandement?
A. No. but a preface vnto them.
Q. What learnest thou by these wordes then?
A. I learne that God was the author of them.
Q. So, then I perceiue thou doest confesse it to be Gods word?
A. Yea that doe I.
Q. VVhat doest thou gather in those wordes? I am the Lord.
A. By this word, Lord, I gather that he is of power to punish the offenders.
Q. What comfort haue wee in these? which brought thée out of the lande of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
A. I gather this comfort, that God is the deliuerer of me and all the faithfull from hell, as he deliuered Israel from Egypt.
Q. What doest thou learne by this commandement? Thou shalt haue none other Gods but me.
A. I learne hereby to reioyce onely in the Lorde God, and to rest in him onelye.
Q. What shall we say of those that trust [Page] in Saintes and Angels, and make them as intercessors to God for them? doe they fulfill this commandement?
A. They can not.
Q. How so?
A. Because they rest not onely in Iesus Christ.
Q. In the second commandement why doth God forbid the making of Images, and the likenesse of any other thing?
A. Because they dishonour him.
Q. In that he forbiddeth vs to knéele before them or to worship them: what would he haue vs to do?
A. To worship the Lord God onely and serue him.
Q. How should he be worshipped?
A. In spirite and in trueth.
Q. VVhy doth God call himselfe a gealous God visiting the sinnes of the fathers?
A. To shew his anger against Idolaters
Q. What call you Idolaters?
A. Those which maintaine superstitious doctrine.
Q. How doth the Lord promise to shewe [Page] himselfe to such as loue him, and endeuour themselues to kéepe his commandements?
A. He will be mercifull to such.
Q. What art thou commanded in the third commandement?
A. I am commanded reuerently to vse the name of God, in all my doings that I goe about.
Q. What are you forbidden to doe?
A. All swearing, cursing and banning of any thing that he hath made.
Q. If a man or woman, whether it be, call God to record in a false matter: doth he vse Gods name reuerently?
A. No, but calleth him to be his condēnor.
Q. How is the Sabboth day kept holy?
A. In hearing & learning the holy word of God.
Q. It is apparant that in this fourth cō mandement is expressed to kinds of labour, the one of the bodie, the other of the minde, the one earthly the other heauenly, are both these labours forbidden in this commandement?
A. No, but the one.
Q. VVhich is forbidden?
[Page] A. The bodely labour.
Q. Then thou confessest that the spirituall & heauenly labour ought to be done: what should wee séeke for in this heauenly labour?
A. The kingdom of heauen and the righteousnesse thereof.
Q. What shall we say of those that will not come at the Church to learne the way to heauen and to vnderstande the right pointes of Gods lawe?
A. Such regarde not Gods commandement.
Q. In the fift cōmandement what meaneth this word honor?
A. To honour, is to obey, feare, relieue and serue.
Q. What meaneth this worde? father and mother.
A. By father and mother I vnderstande all that haue any office or authoritie ouer vs.
Q. As how for example?
A. As the Prince ouer the people, the maiestrates ouer the places where they rule, the ministers ouer their charge or parish, the maisters and dames ouer [Page] their seruants, fathers and mothers ouer their children.
Q. Doest thou hereby acknowledge that those that are ouer others, should teach them that are vnder them?
A. They ought to learne Gods word to ye end they might teach others ye same.
Q. Ought not the subiects, townesmen, seruants, and children to be diligent in learning of Gods word?
A. Yea, if not, they disobey Gods commandemet.
Q. VVhy is the promise of long life added to this commandement?
A. To encourage vs vnto the better performance of our dutie in obeying.
Q. In this sixt commaundement, Thou shalt doe no murther, doth God onely forbid the outward act of murther, and not also the consent vnto murther?
A. Yea, he forbiddeth the consent vnto murther.
Q. Doth it forbid nothing else?
A. It also forbiddeth vs anger & malice.
Q. What doe those that reuile, mocke & despise others be they neuer so simple?
A. Such doe also against this commandement.
[Page] Q. What say you of pride, surfetting and dronkennes, whether be they murther or not?
A. They be ye greatest kind of murther.
Q. How so?
A. Because they hurt the soule and doe great dishonor to God which made vs to set forth his glorie.
Q. In the vij. commandement, Thou shalt not commit adulterie, what doth the Lord require at our hands?
A. To kéepe our bodies as fit vessels for the holy Ghost to dwell in.
Q. Doth he only forbid the outward fact of whoredome and adulterie?
A. He forbiddeth vs the very thought and enticement to such lewdnes, as well as the outward fact.
Q. What meaneth this eight commandement, Thou shalt not steale.
A. That I should refraine from hurting any, by taking from them that which is theires.
Q. Doth this worde steale signify nothing but taking away and robbing?
A. Yea: if I kéepe from another that [Page] which he hath laboured for, I steale because I giue him not his duetie.
Q. What are we commanded?
A. To liue a contented life.
Q. What shal we say of those that kéepe the knowledge of Gods worde from the simple and ignorant, which Christ would haue to be taught?
A. Such also steale, because they doe withhold the truth. Ioh. 10. 10.
Q. What art thou taught by this ninth commandement, Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour?
A. I am taught to speake nothing but truth, neither for the loue nor hatred of any.
Q. What doe you say of lyers, slaunderers, and such as are busie bodies, medling of such thinges as they haue nothing to do withall.
A. Such regarde not this law of God.
Q. What is this tenth commandement, Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house, wife, goodes, seruant, nor any thing els which is his?
A. It is a bridle vnto my minde.
Q. What learnest thou to doe by it?
[Page] A. To refraine from wishing any thing at all to my neighbours hurt or hinderance, be it neuer so small.
Q. VVhat is the short sunune and effect of the terme Commandements?
A. To loue God aboue all thinges, and my neighbour as my selfe..
Q. Art thou able to kéepe these commandements of thy selfe?
A. Of my selfe I am not able to kéepe the least of the tenne, if I could tell which it were▪
Q. How shall we then satisfie the lawe?
A. By Christ, for he hath fulfilled it fo [...] vs.
Q. Should we liue careles because Christ hath fulfilled the lawe?
A. God forbid.
Q. VVhat must we doe then?
A. Learne to pray vnto the Lord God in the only name of his sonne Christ Iesus our Lord.
Q. How must it be then that we pray?
A. Thus, Our father which art in heauen, &c.
Q. Why doest thou call God father?
A. Because by faith in Christ we be chosen [Page] for the children of God. Iohn. 1. 12.
Q. Why sayest thou our father, and not my father.
A. Because he is not only my father, but also the father of all the faithfull.
Q. Is God no where but in heauen?
A. Yes, he is in all places at once, and therefore in our Créede, we call him almightie.
Q. VVhy doth our maister Christ teach vs to say heauen?
A. Because in praying we should lift vp our mindes to heauen whether hee is gone before.
Q. VVhat desire you in this petition? Hallowed be thy name.
A. Here we desire God to giue vs grace that we may reuerently estéeme of his holy word which teacheth him vnto vs.
Q. What more doe we pray for?
A. That we might liue a holy life agréeable to his word.
Q. VVhat doth Christ teach vs to pray for, in this petition? Thy kingdome come.
A. That the loue of God might be amōg vs, and that his worde which teacheth [Page] him vnto vs, might fréely of vs be receaued.
Q. How should this bee knowen, that Gods loue is among vs?
A. By this, if we haue loue one to an other.
Q. VVhat more are we taught?
A. VVe are also taught to pray for a patient wayting for of his comming to iudgment.
Q. Are we not also in this petitiō taught to pray for the encrease of faith?
A. Yea, for the more that our faith encreaseth, the more doth Gods kingdom encrease.
Q. In that Christ teacheth vs to pray that Gods will may be done, in earth as it is in heauen: what doth he séeme to forbid?
A. In teaching vs so to pray, hee woulde not haue vs to séeke our owne wils, or to sticke to our owne wisedom.
Q. Then it foloweth yt we pray against pride, couetousnes, extortion, vsury, bribery, excesse, dronkennes, whoredome, theft, lying & such like vices, for these be the will of man, & contrarie to the will [Page] of God.
A. VVe doe so I confesse.
Q. If we pray against those sinners, and to be endewed with righteousnesse, and yet take a delight in them: what doe we?
A. Euen mocke with God, and so doe heape punishment vpon our selues for it.
Q. Because I sée this to be against mee, should I not therefore pray?
A. If we should not pray, we were the despisers of his commandement. Mark. 14. 38.
Q. VVhat are we here taught to aske? giue vs this day our daily bread.
A. All thinges necessarie to this present life.
Q. Why doth he teach vs to pray dayly for dayly bread?
A. Because without his dayly blessing our food could giue small nourishment vnto vs.
Q. What desire ye in this petition: Forgiue vs our trespasses.
A. Here I desire his mercy: for vnlesse he be pitifull vnto vs, we are readie to [Page] fall into vtter destruction.
Q. What meaneth the condition? As we forgiue them that trespasse against vs.
A. Here we desire, that it may bee his pleasure to giue vs grace that we may be ready to pardon those that haue offended vs.
Q. Why doe you say? Leade vs not into temptation?
A. Here we pray that God will not suffer vs to be ouercome of temptation: but that being for our profit or tryall, we might boldly bee strengthened in him to abide that which his pleasure is to lay vpon vs.
Q. Why is this added? For thine is the kingdome, the power and the glory for euer.
A. This doth teach vs to confesse that all rule and authoritie doth come from God, and ruleth all thinges according to his will.
A. VVhy sayest thou, Amen, in the latter end of the prayer?
A. By that word I desire the Lord God to grannt all thinges which before I [Page] prayed for.
Q. Tell me the effect in few wordes of all that thou hast saide vpon the Lordes Prayer?
A. I desire Gods grace to doe his will, and thinges necessarie both to body and soule.
A Prayer.
THe Lord giue vs grace to lay these thinges vp déepely in our harts, and alwaies to be mindfull of them, as it behooueth his true and faithfull Children in Christ Iesus. So be it.