A Learned and Fruitful Exposition Upon the Lords Prayer, Title page – Printer to the reader
A LEARNED AND FRVITFVL EXPOSITION vponupon the Lords PRAYER.
By Arthur Dent, ſometime Miniſter of the Word of God at South-Suberry, in Eſſex.
LVKE 11.2.
When you pray, ſay, Our Father which art in heauen, &c.
LONDON: Printed for Nicholas Bourne, and are to be ſould at the entring into the Royall Exchange. 1613.
THE PRINTER, TO the READER.
COurteous Reader, foraſmuch as deuoute Chriſtians, when they hauehave found comfort in the labours of any learned man, it cauſeth in them a further deſire, not onelyonly to reuiew what they hauehave read, but alſo to hauehave a longing, as it were, after their further paines, vponupon any other ſubiect. I doubt not, but am verily perſwaded, that this Expoſition of that Prayer, which our Lord and Sauiour Chriſt Ieſus taught his diſciples; penned by one that hath ſo well deſerued of the Church of God; by publiſhing ſo many good & profitable Treatiſes, ſhal finde ſome place among thy heauenly meditations, although it be not as I thinke ſo perfect, as the Author intended it if hee had not beene preuented by death. For what wilt thou doe, either for all the benefits that thou haſt receiued, or for thoſe things that are required for thy vſe, or to preuent any dangers, that may be feared? I ſay, what wilt thou doe, if thou wilt not imitate the holy Prophet, and call vponupon the name of the Lord? and how canſt thou better call vponupon it, then as the Lord hath appointed? and what profit ſhalt thou hauehave by calling vponupon him after that manner, except thou knoweſt the meaning of the ſpirit, in thoſe words which thou poureſt out before him? Wherefore ſeeing (as an auncient Father ſaith) when thou prayeſt for thy ſelfe, neceſſity enforceth thee; and Charity bindeth thee to pray for others: and ſeeing the holy one of God hath giuen thee in charge, after this manner, pray ye; this ſeruant of God ſhall ſo inſtruct thee, that according to the practiſe of the holy Apoſtle, thou ſhalt pray with the ſpirit, & with vnderſtanding alſo, and this one thing is neceſſary: For all the commandements of the Lord, are ſo full of counſell, that euerie word hath his weight, yea eueryevery ſillable containes a ſecret, ſo that we may all ſay with the Eunuch, Act. 8. How can I vnderstand, except ſome man ſhould guide me? And albeit I am perſwaded that thou art full of goodnes, filled with knowledge, able alſo to admoniſh others: yet thou maieſt be content with skilfull Apollos, ſo eloquent in ſpeach, mightie in the ſcriptures, and feruent in ſpirit, Acts 18. to hauehave the way of God expounded vntounto thee by another man more perfectly. And this is that which I offer to thy Chriſtian deuotion. Vſe it then as becommeth thee, with holineſſe. Peruſe it often. I hope I am truely informed of the Author, I am but the Miniſter to publiſh it for thy good. GiueGive thankes to GOD, that hath brought it to light. And the GOD of all power, when thou prayeſt, graunt thee thy harts deſire, and fulfill all thy minde. Amen.
S. T.