Meditation Upon the Lords Prayer, Title page – To the reader
A MEditacion vponupon the Lordes Prayer, made by Thomas …euer, at Sayncte Mary-Wol churche in London.
Anno. M.D.Li.
To the Chriſtiā reader.
PRopter, laborem inopū, et gemitum pauperum, nunc exurgā dicit dominus. Pſal. xii.Surelye euen nowe in great ſcarſitie lack and dearth of meate, dryncke, clothing, and all other neceſſaries, the ſorowful ſighes of the poore and nedye, muſte either ſinke into the riche mennes hartes, and from theim procure relyue, and comforte, vntounto the nedye members of Chriſtes bodye: or els directlye aſcende vntounto the throne of Goddes Iuſtice, and from thence bryng downe indignacyon and vengeaunce, to deſtroye wycked worldelings, which being thē ſelfs in welth and aboundaunce, fele no gryete of their brothers diſtreſſe and miſery.
¶But if any man, eueryevery weke wil be content, to ſpare one meale of him ſelf, & beſtowe the price of that meale in Charitable Almoſe to relyue the pore, and the time of the ſame in godly meditacion and Praier, to diſpoſe his owne mynde deuoutly: then ſhal al ſuche feele and taſte, both of poore mennes honger, and of Godly comfort in abſtinēce and praier, yea, and many poore be much relyued, and no rich man any thynge charged, and ſo thereby Goddes vengaunce auoided and Gods grace procured, when as faſtyng and praier doeth plucke out of mennes hartes coueteouſnes which is the roote of all euil and the cauſe of all calamities that nowe dooe trouble, greue, and daunger al men: This meditacion therfore of the Lordes praier, ſhall be good comfortable ſpirituall fode, in that tyme of bodily abſtinence.