The Ministry of the Church of England, Notes
Some notes towching that formé of prayer commonly called the Lords prayer.
FIrst it is certayne, that the treasures of wisdome and knowledg being him in Iesus Christ who set it down▪ it is a most perfit forme and rule of …: vntounto which nothing can be added, and from which nothing can be taken away. Col. 2. 3. Mat. 6. 9. 13. Rev, 22. 18. 19.
2. Therefore also no Angels or Men (who whatsoever they have, receive it of his fulnes) are ever able to atteyne to the setting down of the like Ioh. 1. 16. 1 Cor. 13. 9. Heb. 1. 6. 7.
3. If they do or shall set down any other forme, we must not regard or follow it, but keep our selves onelyonly to this rule which Christ our Lord hath prescribed. Mat. 6. 9—13. and 15. 9. and 28. 20. vvith Gal 1. 8. 9.
4. In this, Christ hath taught vsus, 1. to vvhom to pray, that is, to God onelyonly and not to any Angell or Saint whatsoever: 2. with vvhat affection, that is, with faith and confidence ofaLuk. 11. 11. 13. his willingnes to heare and help vsus as being our Father, and ofbPsal. 115 3. Eccle. 5. 1. his ability therevnto (together with due regard of his Maiesty) as being in heauen, and therefore full of glory and able to do whatsoever he will: 3. For vvhat things, whether they concerne Gods glory or ourown benefit, according to the severall occasions ād necessityes which God ministreth and layeth vponupon vsus: 4. VVhat difference we should make of the things and of our desier after them, according to theyr severall natures: 5. The end of all, that God in and over all may be glorifyed.
All which directions are here comprised in few words, but such as fulls and plainely teach and comprehend them all, even whatsoever is needfull to be knowen and observed in calling vponupon the Name of God, Herevpon it is that all the prayers recorded in the Scriptures which the men of God vponupon …o many severall occasions have offred vp vntounto him are comprised in and may be reduced to this forme of prayer, although they did not vse the very syllables and frame of words here set down. By which also may be gathered, both that this is a most absolute forme and …le of prayer, and that the *Of this iudgment is Mr Calvin, Beza, Vrsinus, Piscator and those of our ovvn nation vvhichwhich trāslated the Bible into English at Geneva: As may be seen in theyr notes, commē taryes, and expositions of this forme of prayer, Mat. 6. 9—13.right vse of it is to conceyve and frame all our prayers according to this rule, and not to be bound to vse this number of words, as many now a dayes in theyr ignorance and superstition do imagine.
If it be obiected, that ChristdLuk. 11. 2 said, VVhen ye pray, say, Our Father &c. and therefore that we ought in prayer to repeat these words: I aunswer first that the Scripture showeth his meaning was not at all to bynd vsus to the vse of these syllables, but that in prayer and thanks giving we should follow this direction and patterne which he gave. So we read ineMat. 6. 9. Mathew that Christ said, After this maner pray ye, and not (as men now would habeit) Say ouer these vvords.
2. Secondly, seing this is an absolute forme of prayer wherein is no want or vayne repetition, if Christs meaning were to bynd vsus to the vse of these vvords, why then should we vse any other? why should we not allway vse these, and these onelyonly? Yea what els were it but vayne bavling and intolerable presumption to put other prayers in stead of this which is so absolute and perfit?
3. Thirdly, it is to be mynded that this forme of prayer being reco… ded infMat. 6. 9. 13. Luk. 11. 1. 4. two places of the Scripture, there neyther is all the same worde, nor the same number of words mentioned in both places. Now then, according to which of these two must we say it? If according to Luke his recording of it, then shall we offend against that of Mathevv: and contraily: if we … t…ed to the number and order of the words, as they are set down.
4. As God in giving the Morall law (albeit he did fully and shortly …eclare his will in thosegExod. 20. 1…—17. Deuter 5. 6—21. ten Commaundements, yet) did not dynd the Prophets and Priests in theyr Ministery to vse those very words, but as occasion required according vntounto them to show the people what then ought to do or leave vndone: so Christ also giving this foune of prayer (a…beit therein he hath fully and shortly taught vsus all things needfull for prayer, yet) hath not bound vsus in calling vponupon GOD to vse these vvords, but in all things according to this rule to make our requests vntounto God, with giving of thanks.
5. It is without question, that the Apostles (vntounto whom this rule first was given) were carefull to keep it according to the true meaning of Christ But they neyther tyediAct. 1. 2… and 4. 24. Mat. 14. 30. 2. Cor. 12. 8. Eph. 3. 14. 21 Phil. 1. 9. 10. 11 Rev. 22. 20. themselves to the sevvords but alway prayed as they had severall occasions according to this rule, neyther whē they wrote vntountokPhil. 4. 6. Eph. 6. 18. 1 Thes. 5. 17. 18. Rom. 15. 30 31. 3… 2 Thes. 3, 1. 2 1 Ti. 2. 1. 2. 3. la…. 1. 5. 6. and 5. 13. 1 Pet. 4. 7. 1 Ioh. 5. 14. 15. Iude, ver. 20. others concerning prayer, did they ever teach them to say over the Lords prayer (which doubtles they would have done if they had so taken the will of Christ to be) but they taught and exhorted them still according to theyr necessityes and occasions in all things to show theyr requests vntounto God in all maner prayer ād supplication in the spirit with giving of thanks, and herevnto to watch with all perseverance: because this is the vvill of God in Christ Iesus.
6. If the Apostles had ben bound or might have tyed themselves to these or any other set forme of words, then had they not given a sufficient reason who (in this respect with other) it was not meet they should attend vntounto the Deacons office, because they wouldlAct. 6. 2. 4. give themselves [as to the ministration of the word so also] vntounto Prayer: For it had ben easy for them eyther to have said by rote or to have red o…t of a book this or any other set forme of prayer.
7. They which think Christ hath tyed vsus to say these vvords, and that such saying of the words is true prayer, must reconcile herewith the Apostles speach when hemRom. 8. 6. saith, VVe knovv not vvhat to pray as vve ought, but the spirit it self maketh request for vsus vvith grones that can not be expressed. These men (it seemeth) would aunswer, Yes we know what to pray, to witt, the Lords prayer, which conteyneth whatsoever we need to aske: And what then need the Spirit to teach vsus what to pray as we ought?
8. The Apostle (speaking of prayer in a stra…nge tongue) saithn1 Cor. 14. 16. thus, VVhen thou blessest, hovv shall he that occupyeth the roome of the vnlearned say Amen, at thy giving of thanks, seing he knovveth not vvhat thou speakest? Now if they had bē tyed to the vse of the words of the Lords prayer or to any other set sunted words, they might have aunswered, Yes we know what he saith when he prayeth or giveth thanks, It is the Lords prayer, or some stinted prescribed prayer which we know aforehand, and therefore vntounto it though it … spoken in a straunge tong…e we can say Amen.
9 If the saying over of these or of any friend words were true prayer, then might a man have his prayers by rote, or carry them in his pocket, or …y them at the book bynders shop etc. Which were straunge to imagine of true prayer, which is theoRom. 8. 26. 27. Eph. 6. 18. Iude, ver. 20 1 Sam. 1. 12. 15. lam. 1. 5. and 5. 13. 1 Pet. 2. 5. work of Gods spirit in our hearts, teaching and enabling vsus to powre out our soules vntounto God in all necessityes and occasions, and so to offer vp spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God through Iesus Christ.
10. Whenas Christ promiseth that our heavenly father will give the holy Ghost to them thatpLuk. 11. 13. aske it of him: And els where speaking of the destruction of IerusalemqMat. 24. 2…. saith, Pray that your slight be not in the …, and the like: these things being to be prayed for, a…d yet these words not set down in that forme of prayer, showeth that Christ hath not tyed v… to repeat over those words, but to pray after that rule according to our wants and occasions.
11 The words are so generall, as vnles they be some way opened and particularl… applyed, divers men will diversly vnderstand them. For example if these words (Thy kingdome come) be vsed onelyonly in generall without any explication, the Papist vnderstandeth them of the advauncement of Gods kingdome in and by theyr religion, the Protestant vnderstandeth and intendeth them of the cleane contrary: And so in the rest. Neyther can any man for himself vse them aright without some speciall application to his particular estate and occasion: because no one mans faith and vnderstanding can atteyne vntounto all things needfull for all occasioins tymes and persons, as those words do comprehend.
12. If these words (Say yee &c): must be taken and pressed according to the letter, then would follow that in prayer we should alway speak with the tongue: Whereas there is prayer often in the spirit alone without any words or dis…inet voyce at all: As werExod. 14. 15. Esa. 38. 14. Neh. 2. 4. 1 Sam. 1. 13. Rom. 8. 26. 27. read that Moses, …ezekiah, Nehemiah, Annah, and others have so prayed and ben accepted of God.
13. Christ hath given ansLuk. 11. 2 expresse commaundement (VVhen ye pray say, Our father &c.) wherevpon I reason thus: The commaundements of Christ are to be kept, otherwise it is sinne: therefore if Christ have here commaunded to vse these words in that number and order, then whosoever pray at any tyme, and vse not these words, they sinne. But already we have seen that the Apostles prayed and vsed not these words, and yet sinned not. And so no doubt do other the servants of God daily according to theyr divers occasions and conditions: Not to speak here of the prayers which the preachers vse before and after theyr sermons, neyther of theyr collects and other prayers (besides this) prescribed in theyr books. Otherwise also every man that blesseth his table, or sayth to another, God be with you, God blesse you, God recover you, good morrow, good night, or the like, should sinne in this, because he prayeth and yet saith not, Our father etc.
14. Yet I doubt not but we may vse any of these aswell as other words, applying them to our speciall case and necessity: As we see that Christ prayed tIoh. 12. 28.saying, Father glorify thy Name, AndvMat. 26 42. agayn, O my Father if this cup can not passe from me but that I must drink it, thy vvill be done, Where we may learne by Christ who gave the rule, how to vse it, to witt, not in a superstitious saying over these words, but in praying according to this rule as our special necessities shall be, whether we vse any of these words or other, or pray with sighs that cannot be expressed.
15. Finally therefore all such as have framed or receyved any other forme of Prayer but this onelyonly which Christ hath taught, offend against this rule and commaundement of Christ. And thus (not we, but) they who have devised and follow other formes and books of prayer, are those which deny and (as much as lyeth in them) disanull the Lords prayer.