An Exposition of the Lords Prayer, Commentary (3 of 4)
It is the will of God likewise, that Iudges,Administration of iustice Exod: 18▪ 21 2: Cro. 19. 6 and such as hauehave administration of iustice committed to them; as men of courage, fearing God, and dealing truelie, shoulde execute iudgemente, not as their iudgement, but as Gods iudgment, as it is indeed, and therfore they must deale therin, with a perfect heart. And doubtles the Magistrates in whome are these vertues, commended by Iethro and Iehosaphat, cannot but earnestlie indeuour, with such speede as they may, to dispatch the causes that are broughte before them. But I know not how it commeth to passe, that in many courts suits hang very long, poore mens causes go slowly forward; which fault cannot altogither bee imputed vntounto the obstinacye of the parties, who many times will rather follow the baddest shiftes that any wrangling lawyer can finde out, then they wil leese their vniust matter: but surely such as sit vponupon the bench might somwhat mend those thinges, if they durst for feare of great ones; or would shew themselues free frō corruption This is it that the prophet Amos cōplaineth of against the princes of the children of Israell, Ye hauehave (saith hee) turned iudgment into Amos. 6.gall, and the fruite of righteousnesse, into vvormwoode. Where he doth not finde fault only, because they oppressed and did wrong; but that euē if they did righte, yet it was with such delaies, and with so excessiue charges, as that the verie fruite of righteousnesse was bitter vntounto them; so that a wrong sentence or iudgemente with speede against them, woulde lesse hauehave hurte them, then the matter going on their side doth, being so dela…ed. If therefore we vponupon the earth, will doe the will of our heauenly Father as it is done in heauen: wee must then striue to doe it readily and with speede as doe the ministring spirits of God.
A third thing required in our obedience is faithfulnes, Faithfuln…which also the prophet Dauid seemeth to commend the Angels, for in these wordes Praise Psa: 103: 20the Lord yee his Angels that excell in strength, that doe his commaundement, in obeying the voice of his word. For following the prescript rule of gods worde, without mingling or mangling the same (which is heere ascribed vntounto the Angels) is toFaithfull obed…ence. deale faithfully, and according to the credit committed. It is required of the stewards (saith Saint Paule) that eve…y man be found faithfull. Faithfull 1: Cor: 4: 2: 1: Sam: 3. 20 Math: 25:Samuell was the Lords prophet. The faithfulnes of the seruants that gained by their talents is praised. The Apostle Saint Paule commending vntounto the Corinthians Timothy: and to the Ephesians1: Cor: 4: 17 Eph: 6▪ 21: Colos: 1: 7: Heb 3: 5: Tychichus: & to the Colossians Epaphras, giveth vntounto thē this praise, that they were faithfull. And it is said of Moses, that he was faithfull in all (Gods) house. Now wherein so euer wee wil serue God, let vsus do it faithfully and with a perfect heart, as Iehosaphat exhorted his Iudges. If thou be a Magistrate, and hauehave authority and government committed vntounto thee, be thou faithfull to God, who hath brought thee to that honor and to the people, to whom thou owest thy selfe, with that thou canst do. If thou be a teacher and minister of the word, to shewe light to them that sit in darknesse, sight to the blind, and knowledge to the ignorant: let thy care over thy flocke, thy diligence in thy ministery, thy painfulnes in thy thy calling, thy discretion in deviding aright the word of god, thy skill and courage in reiecting the traditions of men, thy travell in cutting downe sinne, thy striving for the truth, proclaime and testifie thy faithfulnes in thy function. If god hauehave committed to thee the talent of honour and ability, learn how Iob in like estate behavedued himselfe, that thou maiest faithfully occupy, vntil thy master come, or else cal thee to account. He therfore thus reporteth. I delivered the poore Iob: 29: 12:that cried, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish …me vponupon mee; and I caused the widdowes hart to reioyce. I put on iustice; and it covered me; my iudgment was as a robe, and a crowne. I vvas the eies to the blinde, and I was the feete to the lame▪ I was a father to the poore; and when I knew not the cause, I sought it out deligently. I brake also the chawes of the vnrighteous man; & pluck… the pray out of his teeth. God made him a mighty man; he faithfully imployed his might, to the benefite of them that stood in neede, by comforting the afflicted, by releeving the distressed, by resisting the cruell purposes of the wicked. Oh that in these our daies, we had among vsus many Iobs; I say many such, as could and would be patrones for the poore, against the violence of their oppressours. To bee short, subiects to their princes, inferiours to their superiours, seruants to their Masters, and eueryevery one of vsus in such offices or duties as wee owe to others, must shew our selues faithful, that the wil of our heauenly Father, who hath appointed to eueryevery one of vsus our calling, and after what sorte we should walke in the same, may be done of vsus in earth, willingly without▪ gruging, readily with out delaying, faithfully without corrupting as it is of the Angels in heauē. So shal we find y• fruitPro: 28: 20: of that promise, A faithfull mā shal abound in blessings. And thus much for the three first petitions, which in a māner wholy cōcern the glory of god, & wherein we should shew, what care we hauehave of his honour.
Hauing now shewed our selus zealous for him whose we are, we are come to our own wantes▪ & sue to hauehave thē supplied. And here we must learn to pray after another māner, & as it were to chāg our key, to aske with lesse feruency, I meane not of faith (for we must as assuredly look for performāce in these, as in the other) but of affectiō. The things that belong vntounto God, we must so craue, as that our praiers may testifie, that our heartes are wholy kindled with a feruent louelove to y• same, & that we are consumed & eaten vp with the zeale of him. We beg thē simply & without condition. But when we seeke to hauehave our necessities relie…ed, we must alwaies vnderstand this condition: If God will, & if it may stand with his glory and our good. For we should be so affected, that what soeuer becommeth of vsus, we regarde not, so that God may be hanored. Not our life, not our owne saluation, should be dearer to vsus, then gods glory. And therfore because the mercy of God towards the people of Israell, whom he had chosen for his inheritance, did much set forth his glory, Moses …ather desired to bee …ased out of the booke▪ (of life)Exod: 32. 3… which God had written, then that by the destructiō of that people, Gods glory should be diminished: and S. Paule in defence thereof was content, to hauehave been seperated from Christ. Which examplesRom: 9: 3: may teach vsus, how much greater earnestnes we may vse, in asking those thinges that concerne God, then the things that belong to our selues.
Nowe there are three petitions also that concern our selues. The first of them, concerneth the things that belong to this life: the other two pertaine to the life to come. The first craueth the bodies sustenāce, y• two last, the souls happines. But how cōmeth it to passe, that we are taught first to aske the things earthly? Are these trāsitory blessings, that belong only to this world, more excellent then the spirituall graces, which are helpes and furtherances to the life to come? Is the body more worth then the soule▪ or earth to be soughte for, before heauē? Not so. Our sauior Christ whē hee willeth vsus not to feare them that can kill theMat: 20: 28: body only, vut him that can destroy both body & soule: teacheth vsus that the soule should be espetially regarded. Yea he expressely chargeth vsus, first Matth 6: 33to seeke the kingdome of God, and his righteousnes, with this promise, that then All these (worldlie) thinges shall be ministred vntounto vsus. The principall thinge that we shoulde care for, is eternall life; such thinges as belong to the body are but accessories, & in comparison of the first, of no accoūt. And yet our heavenly teacher in this patterne of praier, directeth vsus first to aske Our, dailie bread, that is foode and rayment and other necessaries, for this present life, and afterwards to beg a supply, of the wants of our soule.
He seemeth heerein first to hauehave had a true considerationWhy wee heere aske bodily things first of our infirmities, and to hauehave trained and intised vsus forward by our owne affections. For as good and naturall mothers, when they will teach their children to goe, cast something before them y• they hauehave delite in, wherby they al lure them to presse forward after the same; and when they would hauehave them to reach foorth their hande, they houlde somewhat before their eies which may mooue them to take houlde thereof; not that the thinges whereby shee allureth her child, to do that shee would, are of any reckoning, but they are vsed to effect better matters: even so our Saviour Christ, knowing that the things that belong to our body, are for the most parte, more grievou…ly wanted, more hartely loued, and more earnestly sought for; teacheth vsus by exercising our selues to aske these things, to hauehave more will and skill, to craue the thinges that are better. So that when wee praye according to that forme of praier heere set downe, we are to cal to remembrance, how loath we are to lacke, & howe ready we are to seeke, for these thinges; and with all to accuse our selues, who in spirituall graces, are very little touched with very great wantes, litle feare great dangers, and seeke slackly and slowly, for eternall good things. And thus is this petition in the first place, not as most necessary, or as if tha… wee desire therein were most excellent; but as that which commonly wee fainest woulde hauehave.
Secondly we are heereby taught, to confesseGod giveth this▪ much more heavely thing… and acknowledge our owne great weaknesse, or rather vnhability, to attaine to the thinges that are heavenly. For if meate, drinke, and cloathes, which in the iudgment of man, may be gotten by industrie and travel, and are ordinarily had heere vppon earth (for the ground doth yeelde vsus our sustenaunce, and the beastes of the fielde, and the wormes themselues help vsus with cloathing) if I say these cōmō helps of our life cannot otherwise be had, but at the hand of our heavenly Father: then I pray you what madnes is it, if we that can not get sustenance for our life, or cleathes for our …arkesses, thinke we hauehave in our owne power the spirituall graces, and hepe that by our industrie & works we may obtain the same. For if …e cānot put fruitfulnes into the ground, or the nourishing power into our meate, …ut that it must come …rō God: how much lesse are we able, to make the fielde of our hearte f…t … fertil, and to s…ncti…y our selues, vntounto our LORD GOD? And thus should our hearte reason within vsus, when wee are taught to aske first of GOD our daylie bread.
Thirdly this also should worke in vsus a wonderfull comfort. For wee being by adoption theGod feedeth the body, much more the soule. children of God, and felio wheires with Christ of that everlasting inheritaunce, which by his bloud sheedings hath purchased for vsus; and seeing notwithstanding our hope and home is in heavē, yet he would hauehave vsus to aske, that he might give, these temporal blessings to vsus: We may be much more assuredly perswaded, that he shall not suffer vsus to want any thing, that may further vsus to eternall life. The consolation that wee are to gather out of this, standeth especially vponupon consideration of that our most happy estate, that we shal fully enioy in the life to come. For our GOD, Of his abundant merciemercy, hath he begottē vsus again, vntounto 1: Pet. 1: 3:a liuely hoppe, by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the deade; to an inheritance immortall, and vndefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for vsus, which are kept by the power of God, through faith vntounto salvation. To this ende hee hath made vsus kinges, to conquer all our enemies, and to subdue our rebellious affections: And Priestes, to offer vp our bodies a liuing sacrifice, holie, and Rom: 12: 1:acceptable vntounto GOD: and shall hee not furnish vsus with thinges necessary for these fūctions? Yes vndoubtedly, he that teacheth vsus to aske thinges necessary for the body, which is many times a hinderance to all our good purposes; doth even thereby assure vsus, that wee shall bee readilie hard, and easilie obtaine, if wee begge heavenlie thinges. And thus wee see howe our Saviour CHRIST, willing v… to beginne first with the supplie of our bodily wantes, lifteth vsus vp therby, vntounto an assured hope, of obtainng heavenly graces and benefits.
And thus much for the order. Now let vsus consider the petition it selfe. VntoUnto our heavenly Father wee say, Give vsus this day our daily bread. Are we not heereby taught, that whensoever wee woulde hauehave our praiers heard, or requestes graunted, wee must praie vntounto our heavenlie Father. Whether wee sue for thinges belonging to Gods glory, or that touch our selus; whether for temporall or eternall graces, it is God, to whom only we must pray, who only can heare, who only will giuegive, that wee stand in need of. In this petition this may evidently appeare, as also it is plaine in the rest. Who is it I pray you that ruleth the heauens and earth, that causeth the raine to fall from the firmament, and the clowdes to droppe their dewe in due season, giuing raine earely and late, the first and the latter raine? Euen the Father of raine, who giveth Iob: 38: 28: Iob: 5: 10: Iob: 36: 27:raine vponupon the earth, and povvreth vvater vponupon the streetes: who also restraineth the droppes of water, (whereby it commeth to passe that) the raine povvreth downe, by the vapour thereof. And that God, that saide at the first, Let the earth bud Gen: 1: 11:foorth the budde of the hearbe, that seedeth seede, the fruitfull tree, vvhichwhich beareth fruit according to his kinde: doeth euen at this day Make the Psa: 147. 8 9grasse to grovve vponupon the mounetaines, he giueth to be…stes their foode, and to the younge Ravens Mat. 6: 26: 30. Psa▪ 50: 10: 12:that crie. Hee feedeth the fowles of the heaven, & clo…theth the grasse of the fielde most gallantly. All the beastes of the forrest are his, a…d the ca…tell of a thousande mounetaines. Yea, The world is his, and all that therein is. Is it not then great reason that if we will hauehave vse of the creature, wee shoulde aske leaue of the Creator? If wee wil… inioy anie thing that belongeth to him, that wee begge it at his handes? Let then the sorrowes of them bee Psal: 16. 4:increased and multiplied that offer to another God (their praiers,) and seeke either to stockes and stones, or to the Saintes who they imagine are represented by their Images: but no doubt the lines shall fall vntounto vsus in pleasaunt places, yea wee shall hauehave a faire heritage, if wee with confidēce, prostrating our selues before the throne of grace, say as Christ heere teacheth vsus, GiueGive vsus this daie, our daily bread.
And because we are cōmanded to aske of godsEvill getting restrained. gift our daily bread, what can be more plaine, to represse in vsus all fraude and shifts, all violence and wrongs, or any other way of getting, but only by his blessing. If thou get by lying and forswearing, as Achab king of Israell, by the helpe of Iesabell his wife, got Nabothes vineyard: If1: King: 21: 10: 13: Iam: 2. 6: thou get by violence & oppression, as S. Iames saith the rich men of the worlde doe of the poore, of the which also the scriptures in many places, but namely that holy man Iob, & Esay the prophetIob: 24: 2▪ 3: 4: Esa: 10: 1: 2 do bitterly complain, as we also iustly may in our daies: If thou get by stealing and robbery expreslye against the eighth commaundemente: If thou get by defrauding thy brother (which is reprooued by Saint Paule) in any bargaining,1. Thes▪ 4. 6: buying, or selling: to bee shorte, if by might, wealth, wresting of Lawe, wrangling, vsery, briberie to hinder the good cause, if I saye by any evill meanes, directe, or indirecte, thou gette abundaunce of treasure, wherewith thou buildest many princelike palaces, farest dilicatelie, art appareled gorgeouslie, fillest thy cofers with golde and coyne▪ thou must not take these thy riches to bee GODS good gifte; but gotten by thine vnlawfull dealing, & therfore no blessing belongeth vntounto them: for the treasures of wickednes, profit nothing.Prov: 10: 2: How riches evil gotten come.
But some man will heere perhappes aske a question; if these riches come not by the gifte of God, how they then enioy them. Can they gette them whether God will or not? Not so. For heeDan: 6: 22: that did mouzel the mouthes, and stay the fierce nature, of the hungry Lions; & …ake the extremeDan▪ 3: 27: heate of the burning fire, so that it had no power to hurte: and destroy the craftie councell of subtill2: Sam: 17: 14 Ahitophel; and made the waters of Egypt and the earth also sundry waies barren for their obstinacy, as the story of Exodus sheweth: can if he will, and as he will, prevent all their pollicies, hinder all their purposes, frustrate all their labours, and with the breath of his mouth, bring to nothing, all the fruite of their travelles. Yea themseues also, (what account soever the world maketh of them) are in such subiection to his will, that they hauehave no strength, when hee wil weaken them, no authoritie, when hee will abase them, no excellencie, when he will humble them; as might be proved by many examples; so that as their driftes hauehave no good is…ue, so themselues hauehave no force, against the LORDES will. It is then Gods will …o giuegive so good a blessing, to so evill endevours, as to inrich men by so …ad meanes? Yea verely, …e may bee saide then to blesse them, when he encreaseth to them worldly wealth, to convince their owne consciences, to make them more inexcusable, to heape vp coales of fire vponupon their heade: not …or any louelove, he beareth to wrong, or delite that he hath in oppression. So then although he giveth …v…n such goods after a sort, because he giveth a kind of worldlie blessing to their s…r…; yet he is properly saide toHowe Go▪ giveth vsus blessinge…▪ give vsus those thinges, wherwith …e enricheth vsus by a happy increase, of our godly labours, in sōe lawfull calling. And that he will thus giuegive vntounto vsus things necessary for this life, we aske in this petition GiueGive vsus this day our daily bread.
Heere then we learne to depend vppon Gods providence, and to rest vppon his goodnes: Not that▪ we should in the meane time liue idly, with out calling, or without care, buty walking in our vocation, (which also must be such as may be necessary & profitable to y• cōmō wealth) we follow not gaine too greedily, we doe not carke and care too mistrustfully, we doe not seeke to increase by our industry and labours vnlawfully, or vnthākfully ascribe that vntounto the gifte of the creature, which wee receiue of the bountifull goodnes of the creatour. Wee heere praye that God will giuegive vsus some such place in the common wealth, as that we may therin be profitable to our selues and others. Then also that God will giuegive vntounto al our labours & paines good successe. Thirdly, that hee will increase our store in such sorte, that we may see and be forced to confesse, that theIoel: 2: 14: Lorde hath lefte a blessing behinde him. And lastly, that hee will giuegive power and vertue to these creatures, that they may bee profitable vntounto our vse and turne to our good, as God willing after shall be said.
And as in the beginning of this praier he taught vsus to say, Our father, that we might think of that communion of Saintes, and fellowship that weeOthers wāt to be thought vponupon hauehave one with another, and frame our affections accordingly: so here he teacheth vsus, not to thinke of our own wāts only, but also to pray for the supply of the wantes of others. And therefore hee willeth vsus to say, GiueGive ƲS OƲR breade, and not giuegive Mee MY breade. For if we be the members of IESVS CHRIST, in whome wee are coupled and knit togither into one body, and by whose spirit we are vnited, and made of one minde: we can no more bee without feeling of our brethrens miseries, then our bodie can be without griefe, if our hand, or foote, or any other member of the same, bee pinched & pained. The law it selfe that saith vntounto vsus▪ Thou shalt louelove Mat: 22: 37:thy neighbour as thy selfe, giueth vsus to vnderstand, that we should not be more vnmindfull of others, then of our selues. So that if wee knowe of any particular parson, that hath want of thinges necessary for this life, we learne here to be mindful of such. And because wee are sure that there are many vnknowne vntounto vsus, that stande in neede of meate for their bellies, and cloathing for their backes▪ we are here admonished, to hauehave a generall care for all our brethren and sisters, and doe here intreat God, to giuegive to such as lacke necessary maintenance for this life.
But when wee say GiueGive vsus this day our dailie bread, doth Christ by this word (vsus) meane onlie those who may truely and vndoubtedly, cal God their Father, as the words themselues seeme to import (for it seemeth by this praier, Our Father, GiueGive vsus our bread, that we are taught to be mindfull of our brethren only) or els must wee also thinke of the miseries of them, that as▪ yet do notWe must pray for supply of al mens wāts. call God their Father, no neither can they, because they know him not? This is a thinge most certaine and out of question, that our care must extend vntounto all men. And although they doe not shew themselues to bee our brethren, or to obey our Fathers, that either by security in vngodlinesse, and wickednes without remorse of conscience, or by seruing of Idols, the worke of mens hands, do pollute and dishonor the name of God: yet must wee be carefull to doe them good: First in respect of the excellency of their creation, and because they are the worke of his handes that made vsus. I… regard whereof also, we are bounde to pi…y the beasts and fowles, and must not mussellDeut: 25: 4: Deut: 22: 1: 2: 4: Exod: 20: 10 the mouth of the Oxe that laboureth for vsus, but help them out of the pit if they be in danger, and let them hauehave their due rest. Then also howsoeuer they seeme to bee vntounto vsus, yet the Lordes hand is not so tied, but that when he wil, be may draw them into his fold. For we know not, whether they be goates, or wandring sheepe. Therefore we must not cast away al care euen of them; but as occasion shall serue, commende them to Gods good prouidence, for their meat and maintenance: so shall we follow the Apostles councel, that willeth vsus to doe good to all men. But our especiallGal: 6: 10: care must be for our brethren (and al they are our brethren, that are partakers of our holie profession.) And for that cause, when that elect & chosen vessell▪ Saint Paule had warned the Galathians in the place before alleadged, that they should doe good to all, he by and by addeth, But specially vntounto thē which are of the houshold of faith.
It followeth giuegive vsus This day our daily bread. Because the nature of man is in these bodily things too too earnest, nether can easily keep any measure in seeking the same; therfore our Sauior Christ restraineth herein our greedy appetite, and tieth our desires to certaine lists and limits, y• they wāder not to far out of the way. Wheras therfore we hauehave naturaly, an earnest louelove to lay vp much store, for many yeares,▪ and with a greedy affection to gather goods; our Sauior Christ giueth vsus in these words a caveat, to correct that vice, & teacheth vsus, that our affectiō should reachPresent neede. no further, then the present day: giuegive vsus this daie our da…ly bread. Now what can be more absurde, then that we should desire of God, that knoweth the very thoughts of our hart; is a iust iudge; and hateth al dissumulation and hypocrisie; & shall punish the same▪ that he would giuegive vsus thinges necessary for this day, and yet we hauehave provided before hande, with excessiue care, for many yeares? Is not this to mocke God, and to deale deceitfully with him, from whose eies nothing can bee hidden. The Lorde therefore so restraine our corrupt affections, wandring after the wealth of this world, y• our owne harts neuer be witnesses against our tongues of lying, when wee say Give vsus this day our daily bread.
But is all providing before hande forbidden and vnlawfull? May not a man if his ability wil serue, keepe any thing for the better maintenanceWhether it is vnlawfull to provide before hād of his familie, and education of his children, and bestow his goods vponupon that, which afterwardes, may be profitable to them and theirs? Yes verely: and we are warranted therin, by the examples of the godly, and the word it selfe. Iacob went overGen 32: 10 Iordan to Mesopotamia, when hre fled from the wrath of his brother Esay, with his Staffe onelyonly, that is, poore & destitute. But God so blessed his labours & travel, vnderunder his vncle Laban, that he grew to great welth. For the man increased Gen: 30: 43exceedingly, and hade many flockes, and maide servants, and men servants, and camels, and asses. Now what did he with these things? did he leaue them behinde him, where he had gotten them? had he no care of the time to come? Yes: when hee returned home to his owne country, hee tooke all with him, that God had given him, as after in theChap: 32: & 33: Gen: 51: story of Genesis it appeareth. Ioseph foreseeing a dearth that should follow, laide vp provision of corne for sundry yeares. Neither was it vnlawfull for the people of God, to buy land one of another, and so to care for time to come; only this is provided, that one oppresse not another therein.Levit▪ 25: 14 15: 16: And in the story of Ruth we hauehave an exāple therof▪ For Boaz buyeth the lād that was Elimechs And our saviour Christ himselfe, every of whose actions serueth to vsus for an instruction, when he had fed about fiue thousand people with fiue barley loaves and two fishes, and that they were satisfied,Ioh: 6: 12: saide to his disciples: Gather vp the broken meat that remaineth, that no…hing bee lost. And the Apostle Saint Paule teacheth vsus, that fathers 2: Cor: 12. 1.ought to lay vp for their children, which hee would not hauehave done, if it hade beene vngodly. Nay on the contrary he saith expressely, that …f there be anie 1: Tim. 5: 8:that provideth not for his owne, and namely for them of his houshold, he denieth the faith▪ & is worse then an Infidell. But that these wordes, doe not so strictly forbid all care for to morow, or the time that followeth, that it should be vngodly to make any provision for the same; nature it selfe may teach vsus. For wee get in summer to liue vponupon in the winter. Yea wee gather in harvest that, wherewith we must bee nourished the yeare following. And the meaner sorte vppon the market day, provide for the weekes iustenance. And these things are not vnlawfully done, or otherwise thē becommeth good Christians, but well & wisely.
How shall we then so moderate our affectiōs, and walke in a midle way, that we neither break Christs commandement, Care not for the morow, Mat. 6. 3…or despise his aduise in this petition, GiueGive vsus This Day, our daily bread: neither yet on the other side, shew our selues too carelesse for our estate, and for the well-fare of our posteritie? Although it is very harde for vsus, who by our corruption are carried easilie, to an vnlawfull care for thinges of this life, to walke without staggering in the right pathe: yet there is a Christian and frugall regard, not lawfull onlie, but also necessarie, I saie not that may, but that must bee had, which but for our bad affections that pollute it, coulde hauehave no shewe of euill. First our greedye luste, must not so farre ouer rule vsus, as that in gettingGreedines forbidden. of thinges wee bee vniust, not caring by what wronge or wickednesse wee come by it, so that wee hauehave it. For wee must alwaies make this reckoning, that as a little before, out of Salomon I shewed, The treasures of vvickednesse (such are they that are wickedly gotten) profite Pro: 10: 2:nothing, they hauehave no promise of good, they shall not pleasure vsus, because they procure Gods wrath against vsus.
Then also, that which in lawe and conscience is honestly and truely come by, and in that respect wee may iustly claime to bee ours; yet is it not so ours as that we may vse it as we wil. ForGood vse of our goods. wee are but stewardes of our Masters goods, for the benefite of others. And although our Master will not be so hard with vsus, but that hee will be content, that we thriue vnderunder him, yea he is eueryevery way abundant in all goodnes towards vsus: yet would he not hauehave vsus carelesse of others; nay he will be angry with vsus, if wee be so greedie of inriching our selues, that wee neglect the distressed estate of the poore and afflicted. And as we must hauehave great care, that we maintaine not in any wise, the idle and vnprofitable life of the loose loiterers: so we must on the other side, hauehave a good regard, that the poore and needy bee competently relieued, and all godlie indeuours, well supplied. And this beeing perfourmed, why shoulde not that which remaineth bee our portion, to keepe against the time of need? Sicknesse may come vntounto vsus, and many other occasions there may fall out, whereby by our daily labour, we cannot helpe our selues. Doth godlines teach vsus, that then we may not hauehave any thing to sustaine our bodies withal? That wise man Salomon, teacheth vsus rather to learne of the Pissemire,Prove: 6▪ 6▪ in the summer of our youth, health, strēgth, and the time of such other good meanes, which God affordeth vsus to get by; that wee prouide for the winter of our age, sicknesse, weakenesse, & for such other casualties, that may bring vsus to wāt. Abraham, Isaac, Iacob, & many other good men were rich. Was that any offence against God, y• they abounded in wealth? God forbid: these worldly goods are Gods great blessing, if they be well vsed, they are given by him, and of his goodnes. If then to hauehave store be no fault. why must wee pray as if wee shoulde hauehave no more, but for this present time? To be short; by this we are admonished, not to spare our goods, when occasion shalbe offered to spend them to Gods glory, & theWee must not ioy in riches. Psal. 62. 10 Prov 11: 28 good of others. Then also that wee must not sett our delight vponupon them, if any remaine vntounto vsus. If riches increase, set not your hearts vppon them. For, he that trusteth in hi… riches shall fall. According to that which the Apostle Saint Paule willeth Timothe1: Tim. 6: 17 to giuegive charge of: saying: Charge them that are rich in this world, that they bee not high minded, and that they trust not in vncertaine riches. Therfore wee must not care mistrustfully for to morow, doubting whether God care for vsus or not; for that were to deny Gods providence, and to cal into question that abundant louelove, that he beareth to all his creatures. Neither must we care greedely; for that were to depēd vponupon our selues more then we should, as if Gods blessing vponupon our labour were not sufficient, vnlesse our greedy affection should watch over it, or rather control it. But we must care to doe our duty in our vocation, honestly, faithfully, & painfully, cōmitting the successe to God, to giuegive increase at his pleasure. We must care also with feare and trembling, to walke before him in holines & righteousnes, least by our vngodlines we should provok him, insteed of a blessing, to sēd a curse vpō vsus. And if we thus care for to morow, yea for al the daies of our life, although we be not altogither careles of worldly matters, but think of providing for time to cōe, yet we shal pray with the more comfort, Give vsus this day our daily bread. A…d thus we see, that although our Saviour Christ restraineth here our immoderate & greedy care, & correcteth the confidence that we hauehave in our diligence, & industry, yet it is not simply vnlawfull to provide for our selues, so that we hauehave a suff…cient care of others. But our fault is, that we commonly begin at the wrōg end, that is, we wil first serue our selues in al abundāce, before we hauehave any eie to our neighbours wants.
Furthermore our Saviour Christ instructingDaily▪ praier. vsus thus to pray, giuegive vsus This day, our daily bread; teacheth vsus that wee must dayly vse this exercise of our faith which is in praier. And therefore as our body needeth foode dayly, so must we also beg it dayly of him, that openeth his hand, and filleth Psa: 145. 16all things liuing with his good pleasure. Even so lōg as we hauehave a day to liue, we must say, giuegive vsus this day our daily bread. And thus we learn with one breath, what is our daily want▪ and what ought to be our daily duty. For Christ by the parableLuk: 18: 11: of y• vnrighteous Iudg, teacheth vsus to pray alwaies, and not to bee …aint. The Apostle Saint Paul exhorteth the Colessions to continue in praier, Colos. 4: 2: Rom. …2: 12 1▪ Thes: 5: 7and watch in the same with thank…giving. And also the Romans, and the Thessalomans, to praie alwaies. But because we are very flacke and sluggish, to offer vp these our spirituall sacrifices, (such is our dulues:) therfore it is amisse, that our owne wantes should ever as it were iogge vsus on the elbow, to put vsus in mind what we should do. For in this petition, we request no more but this daies bread; and therfore if to morow, and afterwardes we will be fed, we must make a new suit, and aske it againe.
But why do we aske for Our daily bread? If it bee ours, what neede wee to aske it? If wee hauehave it not, why doe wee call it ours? Not without greate cause doth that our heavenlie teacher, will vsus in this sorte to praye vntounto our GOD. First by this woorde ours, to signifie vntounto vsus (as I noted before) that compassion and fellowfeeling, that wee shoulde hauehave, for everie of our brethrens griefe. Heere therfore wee are taught to praye, not for our selues onelie, but to hauehave a supplie of such thinges, as others lacke. So that this woorde Ours, comprehendeth not onelyonly thinges necessary for our selues, but for our houshold also, to whom we owe that duty to be carefull for them: yea for all them that are of this brotherhoode, and that may say vntounto our God, Ovr father which art in heaven. Yea and in some respect for all Gods creatures, mankind especially, over whom, that wee should hauehave a conven…ent car…, there is great reason as is before declared.
But is this bread ours so, that none must hauehaveOurs but to bestow wel any portiō therof▪ HaueHave we it only to our selues? No: I hauehave said a litle before, that we are but stewards, as in truth we are, in al these things that we receiue of God. The talents are delivered to vsus not that we should keepe them▪ or vse them at our pleasure, but to occupy, that good may redound to others thereof. Therfore in this respect, this which we cal our bread, is none other, but that which God hath committed to our trust, that whereof he hath made vsus dealers, that we should as Esay exhorteth, Deale our bread vntounto the hungrie. Esa: 51▪ 7:Which Iob did as himselfe doth testifie abū…atly,Iob: 31: 16: 17: 18: 19: 20 in not restraining the desire of the poore or widdow, but filling their bellies with his morsels, & every way releiuing thē. But here we must vnderstād, y• this liberality towards the needy, is not required in like measure or plenty to be performed of every one, but according as God hath made th…m able. The poore widdow that gaueLuk: 21: 23: her two mites, was more commended, then all they that gaue more by much. Only this is required, that our heart without all hypocrisie or diss…mulation, being earnestly bent to do therein what we can, wee should with a Christian compassion, not pitty them onlie, but also helpe them that lacke. And they whose state is so meane, that they can spare nothing for others, if they hauehave yet a willing minde, to doe good when they can, euen this readinesse in them is acceptable vntounto God, for Christ his sake: who requireth not that of any, that he giueth not to them first. And this I speake to this ende, that none should faint in this petition or be discouraged, if they be not able to e…tend their goodnes vntounto the needie. They may also saie without feare giuegive vsus Our breade, because as they are able, they are well content, to imparte the same to other that neede sorer then they doe.
But in this word our sauior Christ especiallie teacheth vsus, to contente our selues with our owne. Our bread, that is, that which we get trulyTruly gottē by our labour, trauel, or painefulnes in our vocation. So that we hauehave here two things to bee considered. First that we take nothing that belōgeth to others. Then also, that we inioie not any thing, but that we may iustlie claime to bee our owne, by our true labouring in our calling for the same.
For the interpretation then of this petitiō, we must consider of the eight and ten commaundements, for the keeping whereof we are taught to praie. Namelie that we vse no subteltie, falshood or deceit; that we get not anie thing by picking & stealing; that wee wrong none by might or oppression; that we delight not in spoile and robberie; to be short that we may not for our own profit or gaine, vse anie vnlawful means to the hurt or hinderāce of another. And as we pray that our hands may be cleane and free from violence and wrongs: so also that our hearts and affections, & all our desires, may bee voide of coueting an evill Habak: 2: 9:covetousnesse, as the prophet speaketh, or from so much as wishing that, we hauehave no good righte vntounto.
Then also concerning our faithfulnesse in our vocation, that euerie one may therein doe that worke, that God hath appointed him vntounto, wee craue his assistance: As if we would saie. O Lord thou hast ordained to eueryevery one of vsus, our place & standing, thou hast giuē vsus some might & means, to bee profitable to our selues and others; thou wouldst also hauehave vsus keepe our standing carefullie▪ and to take paines in the same diligentlie: giuegive me▪ O Lord, skill and will, so to labor in my calling, that I eat not the bread of slouthfulnes, or giuegive my selfe over to idlenes, or the works that belong not to my vocatiō, or other exercises that may hinder the same; that wee may in some measure bee worthy of the breade that wee eate, and of the woorldlie blessinges that wee enioy: so that wee may with confidence call it Ours, seeing wee▪ travell to doe some duetie for the same. This petition therefore giveth to everie one of vsus a necessary instruction. Arte thou a Prince, and sittest in the throne of Maiestie?Princes must be vigilant It is the seate of government▪ Thy verie place teacheth thee, that it is looked for at thy hands, zealouslie to sette forwarde GODS trueth; to represse errours; to reforme anie thinge that is amisse in the Church or common wealth; to execute iudgment; to doe iustice; to be a comfort to the oppressed; a terrour to the oppressours; to bee a strength to the weake▪ and to be shorte, to hauehave a care, I say a great and continuall care, over all that are committed to thy charge. And sure heerein the Soveraigne authority, …s it is worthy of all honour and obedience, (for God hath set them over all other:) so yet they that are in it, are in some respect in a hard estate. For they must not onelyonly themselues, hauehave a fatherlie regard over their people: but also they must hauehave a vigilant eie, over the magistrates whome they place vnderunder them, that they abuse not their authority, to the hurte of any. For God shall require this duty of the higher powers, who are ordeined immediatly by him. The inferiour authority IMagistrats carefu…l to doe good. confesse also is of God, but appointed by the highest; who therefore are bound in duety and conscience, to hauehave good respect, that they doe as they ought, everie of them in their place. Which watchfulnes over their subiects, when Princes finde it to be in them, so that their conscience beareth them witnes, that they hauehave earnestly endevoured to doe this their worke: oh how sweetely may they pray, and with what great confidence may they say, giuegive vsus this day our daily bread.
And you al who are next vnderunder the highest power, as your Princes favour maketh you great; so yet God hath his worke in it. As the Prince giveth you a charge▪ so the Prince of al Princes, will require one day at your handes the performance thereof, and will hauehave an eie to your doings. You are not of the meanest servantes that God hath. He hath allowed you a liberal portion, that you might bee the better able to serue him sincerely. Bee so painfull to doe good every waye in your places. that at night when you goe to rest, your owne hearte finding comfort, that GOD by his spirite hath wroughte in you that day paste, abilitie and readinesse to walke in your vocations, and in the morning likewise, when you shall finde in you a willingnes to doe the like, you may with confidence assuraunce saie, GiueGive vsus this day our daily bread. Ours I saie, which by thy good grace, wee hauehave laboured for.
As for you my fellow labourers in the LordsMinisters must bee painefull. worke (and I pray God we maie be found laborers, not lotterers) it is pity if we take no paines that we should hauehave anie gaines. If we be shepheards,Esa. 56▪ 11: 10: what life more paineful? If we be watch men, who should be more vigilant▪ If we bee stewards, what calling should be more discreet and1. Cor: 4: 2: faithfull? It we be voices, what are we good for, but when we sound to the edifying of the people?Luk: 3 4. If we be light, wee must shine vntounto others. IfMat 5: 14: 13: wee bee salte, wee must season others. Is the shephearde that loytereth when hee shoulde labour, the watch man that sleepeth when hee shoulde watch, or the stewarde that regardeth not the housholde, but is absent, or otherwise occupied then about his his charge, worthie of meate and mainetenaunce? Wee thinke not so of our seruauntes. If wee bee not crying voices we doe little good. And the light vnderunder the bushell is vnprofitable, the salte that is vnsauourie, is good for nothing, but to bee cast out, and troden vnderunder feete of men. Therefore that wee may with an assured confidence aske Our bread, euen as seruantes that hauehave beene at worke, look for their meales, let vsus in our vocation bee discreet and diligent; let vsus I say be faithfull about our Masters busines.
And if wee goe through all estates of men, all kinde of callings, this commaundement is generall and belongeth vntounto all, euen from the highest to the lowest: Occup…e till I come, go about thy businesse, worke in thy calling, be not idle orLuk: 19. 13: slothfull. And it is also most certaine, that everie of vsus, shall one daie heare this dreadfull charge, GiueGive an accounte of thy stewardshippe, vnlesseLuk: 16: 2: by faithfull labour, wee wiselie prouide against that daie. Is there any one member of the bodie vnprofitable or without some office? Not the least or basest parte of the bodie can bee well spared, because it serueth to some vse. SoLoyterer: shoulde it be in eueryevery common wealth. The loytering life shoulde bee hated of all. Draco that great law-maker among the Athenians punished by death such as were found idle. The Iudges of Areopagus by Athens, curiously inquired, by what trade men liued, and grieuously corrected the slothfull persons. And the Massilians woulde not permit any to be a free man in their citty vnlesse hee had some honest trade to liue by. It is written that Renneth (I suppose the second) king of Scots, made lawes that fugitiues, vagabōds, and idle persons (marke howe they be marrowd) shoulde bee whipped, and burnte in the checke. And also if there were anie slouthfull husbandes among them, that would suffer their groūd to be come through weedes vnfruitfull, for the first offence he forfeited an Oxe, for the second fault tenne, for the thirde hee lost his lande. And Alexander the third… King there, commaunded that the Magistrates shoulde seuerelie punish all that neither had some good occupation to mainetaine them, nor some patrimonie. But infinite examples might be alleaged to this end. Saint Paule that willeth the Thessalonians to vvorke vvith their owne handes, that they might 1: Thes: 4: 5:behaue themselues honestlie tovvarde them that are vvithout, and that nothing bee lacking vntounto them: would also that such as hauehave not any handie labour, shoulde yet worke painefully in their calling, as may easilie appeare by the godly instructions and charges, that he giueth to Timothe and Ty…e.
There was somtime in France a king Lews by name, sonne to Charles the simple, who by reason of his sloathfulnesse or idlenesse, was surnamed Doe-nothing. We hauehave too manie inRob. Gagw li: 5: these our daies that full well deserue that name. For I pray you what are the exercises of manie of our gentlemen, and also of sundrie others? How do they profit the common wealth? doe theyDo nothings. not bestow the day, nay in a māner al their daies in hunting, hawking, wanton courting, dansing, or such vaine delights, which if they be wel look… into, wil perchance be found to be some waies as hurtful to the common wealth▪ as they are vnprofitable to them that vse thē? But doe they better imploy the night? Not much For euen then also they hauehave their carding, dising, and such other pastimes, to spende their thrift, and to wast good time. I speake not against some of these things, as if I woulde condemne them as simplie euill. But in the least euill of them, it were to bee wished that there were moderation vsed, and that wee woulde remember, that none of all these thinges, is a necessarie calling in a common wealth. And when any hauehave toiled themselues in these thinges daie and nighte, taking much more paines, then others hauehave done, that hauehave notwithstanding beene profitable to their country, then would I know of them, what comfort they hauehave in respect of all their labour, when they shoulde aske their meate at the hand of God, to say vntounto him, GiueGive vsus our bread? Howe hauehave they deserued it? Are these trauels such as God will accept of? No no, my dear brethrē: I am verely perswaded that among many great transgressions, wherby we hauehave prouoked the Lorde to anger, one of the greatest that procured the late long and grievous famine, not without other plagues of God also, is this common idle life, which a great number of the doe-nothings doe liue in these daies, as if they were borne but to goe vp and downe, take their pleasure, and cary their own cloathes. O let this then be speedely reformed. Let vsus apply our selues diligently, to serue God and our country in some good calling, that hauing in some good sorte done our duty, we may bouldly come to our Master and say, GiueGive vsus Our bread.
And thus I trust it appeareth, that wee may not iustly call it ours, vnles we come truly by it, or labour for it painfully. But by labour heere ILabours of divers sorts doe not vnderstand onelyonly that paines that the body taketh, handy craftes, or those that we cal day-labours. For the Prince laboureth, in taking care to governe well: the Councellours and nobles, in devising and advising, and executing orders necessary for the Church and common wealth. Ministers, by being in their calling, & amongst their flocke, discreet and diligent, the gentlemen in seeking by authority and councell, to prevent evill, betweene neighbours, & to doe good. And these labours, which are rather the worke of the hart, then of the hands, are far more painfull, then is the travel of the body. For when the labouring man hath done his day worke, he eateth his meat sweetly, and sleepeth soundly: Wheras they that sit in the highest places, feede many times with care and griefe, breake their sleep; and beat their braines, for others good. Are they not then well worthy, to hauehave a greater portion allowed for their maintenance? Yes verely. And I praye GOD that they and everie one of them, may so woorke in their places, that whatsoever it is that they hauehave, they may lawfully come by it, and take good paines for it, that when they say, Give vsus our bread, their owne hart may not aunswere, thou carest more for thy profit, pleasure, ease, estimation, preferment, then for the doing of thy duty to the good of others, therefore there is little or nothinge due to thee. For although the labourer Luk: 10: 7: 1: Cor: 9: 7▪is vvorthy of his wages; yet is there none of vsus, but if wee hyre men to woorke, and wee see they loyter when they should labour, we wil not onelyonly thinke their meate, drinke, and wages, evil bestowed vponupon them; but also iudge them to be… theeues and robbers, that take that they woorke not for.
Nowe because wee are willed to pray for our Daily bread, this woorde Daily may put vsus in minde of the frailety of our nature. For heereby we acknowledge & confesse, that vnlesse the Lord doe daily nourish, & as it were repaire our decaying bodies, they cannot continue. But the worde may perchaunce more aptly be expoūded, by thatProv: 30: 8 praier of Salomon, Feede mee with foode convenient for mee: or as the Syrian te…t readeth this petition, Give mee the bread that is necessary. And so this word teacheth vsus temperance and moderation,Temperāce and to content our selues with that meat and drinke, that may sufficiently strengthen our body, to cōtinue ye labour of every day. And therefore we cal it Daily bread, that is needfull for our daily sustenāce. Drūkards therfore & gluttons, &Drunkards and gluttōs such other Epicurs, as mak their belly their god, & hauehave their whole delite in quaffing & surfeting, who in excesse of their wickednes, will scoffingly speake of their daily bread, or daily drinke, hauehave heere so little defence of their prophance abuse, of Gods good creatures; or of their iesting at the word of God: y• it rather condēneth them, in that they take these thinges so excessiuely, which they should vse so soberly: & because by y• abuse of thē, they impoverish thēselues, weaken their bodies, wast their wits, & every way vnable themselues, to do good in their calling. Is it thē any marvell, though that iust revenger of wickednes, take frō godles wrethes, many tims their necessary maintenāce? Or if they aske & receiue not, because they Iam: 4: 3:aske amisse, that they might consume it on their lust? But let vsus crave as we ought to doe, that as God hath set vsus our taske, and appointed vsus our work; so he will relieue vsus in such sort, as that wee may be able well to endure his worke, and doe our duties daily.
But whether doe they that hauehave great store of al thinges, rich revenues, large possessions, & the world at wil, neede to make this petition▪ GiueGive The rich must pray thus as wel as the poore. Ezech▪ 5: 16vsus this day our daily bread? Yes verely as well as the meanest▪ For the Lord can if he will, breake the staffe of our bread, and bring a famine, because it shall not be able to nourish them that eate it, or doe them good. He can also, as by common experience we may learn, bring vntounto our stomakes such a loathsomenes, that we cannot abide to receiue any meate. Or he can so weaken vsus by sicknes, that when we hauehave eaten it shall not profite vsus. And so of his other creatures. Therfore that the thinges which God doth bestow vponupon vsus may be to our comfort, we intreat him in this petitiō, that as we daily receiue his blessings, so hee will blesse vsus vntounto them, and them vntounto vsus, that they may turne to our good, and bring daily nourishment to our bodies. And this is to be added to the causes before alledged, why we aske our Dailie bread, not onelyonly to correcte our care but also that though wee hauehave plenty, GOD may blesse our abundance, that it may bee profitable to vsus.What bread signifieth heere
But what is meante by this worde bread, and what are the things that here we sue for? First we aske in this petition, for those things that doe most neere concerne the body, that hee will giuegive vsus Gen: 28. 20 Foode▪ Cloathes.bread to eat, & clothes to put on, as Iacob going towards his vncle Laban, when he fled for feare of his brother Esau, desired of God. Of whom as it seemeth S. Paule learned that lesson, which hee also taught to Timothe, When wee hauehave foode and raiment, let vsus therewith be content. And because…. Tim. 6. 8: as it seemeth, our Sauiour Christ meant in this one word, to comprehend all things whatsoeuer we here stand in need of vntounto our sustenance and apparel, we may adde also, our house or habitation, with their appurtenaunces which may worthelieHouses. bee reckoned amongst Gods blessings. And therefore the prophet Moses, shewing howe God was manie waies gracious and good vntounto the people of Israell, declareth to them, that God gaue them citties vvhichwhich they builded not, houses De: 6: 10: 11full of all manner of goods vvhichwhich they filled not, vvelles digged vvhichwhich they digged not, vineyardes and Oliue trees, vvhichwhich they planted not. Now al such things we aske here of God, so farre forth as they may be necessarie for vsus. Neither let any of vsus deceiue our selues, because wee see that men ordinarilie by good husbandry thriue and waxe rich; let vsus not I say be brought therfore to imagine, that wee by our industry, can procure these things to our selues. The godly hauehave alwaies asked these things of God, acknowledging him to be the fountaine, from whence they must spring, as I said before of Iacob. The prophet Dauid saith: The eies of al wait vponupon thee (O Lord) thou givest Psa. 145. 15them their meat in …ue season. But this I hauehave touched in the beginning of this petition more largly. And as God giueth these thinges, so man hath no means of himselfe, that can help him any thing. And therfore to correct such thoughts in y• Israealits, Moses telleth them, that it is god, that Deut: 8: 1…▪giueth thē power to get substance. Then let vsus hūbly confesse, that it is Gods ful hand, that must increase our store, & therfore this bread, y• is, whatsoeuer this life needeth, let vsus craue of him.
But why doth our Sauiour Christ rather vnderunder the name of bread then of any thing els, teach vsus to praye to hauehave all our necessities relieued. Bread is a food nothing sumptuous, but very cōmon, and is for the most parte the poore mansContentednes with that God giueth: dish▪ We are therefore hereby taught, to content our selues with whatsoeuer, it shall please God to bestow vponupon vsus. If as we are taught we aske bread; shall we thinke much and murmur, if god bestow not vponupon vsus dainty fare, costly apparell, and sumptuous buildings? O let vsus carefully remember what wee begge, and let vsus compare it with that the most of vsus hauehave, either in foode, or in cloathing, and yet can scarcely bee content with it; and we shall see & must confesse, that although by our wordes, wee woulde make God beleeue (if we could deceive him) that any thing would please vsus, yet by our deeds, wee doe proclaime it, as by the sounde of a trumpet, that wee cannot bee satisfied with any thinge. But especially cōcerning apparell. For every new fashion,New fashions be it never so fond or vaine, pleaseth vsus for better thē y• old, be it never so comely. But what marvel is it though we louelove strāg fashiōs of apparel; since y• we seek to mak our body also as strāg as we can. Yea the very head of mā we is the principall mēber in the body, within this few yeares, how foolishly hath it beene disguised, both in the heire of the head, and also in the heard? How hath it bin altered, to howe many (I had almost saide mōstrous) forms, hath it bin changed: Although it is not vnlawful before God to weare costly apparel, (for good men & womē as we may read in scripturs hauehave alwaies dōe it) so yet there should be respect had, to the place and calling that men and weomen are of, which I suppose was never lesse respected in this our Realm, thē at this day. Wherby it is come to passe, that y• liuing which hath in times past, bin sufficient to fill many bellies, & cloath many backes; is now scarce able to disguise one body. For why should I not call it disguising, when they vtterly forget, not only the rules that the Apostle in many places giveth of comely attire, but also seeme in apparell to disguise all Christian modesty. Yea and this sinne aboūdeth in the house of Israel, I say in the houses of them, that will say in outward appearance as well as others, Give vsus this day our daily bread. The abuse also of other creatures of God, is to great. But I may not stay heere to speake of thē particularely. Only I pray the godly reader, by that which hath bin spoken, to iudge of the rest, and in every thing to examine himselfe, whether as he is content, to aske of our heavenly Father bread, that is, whatsoever it shal please GOD, be it never so meane, to supply his wante, whether I say by his doinges, hee finde himselfe to bee well content with the same. And let vsus frame our selues according to the godly councell of the Apostle which is this, HaueHave no care of the flesh to fulfill the lustes Rom: 13: 14thereof.
What then, doe I heere hould it vnlawfull,Whether all metings and mirth be forbidd… for friendes to meete and make mery togither in more abundant maner then ordinarily: Not altogether vnlawfull; but yet when I remember both times past & times present, I am verely perswaded, y• any great good cōmeth not therof; At the least I know these meetings are verie daungerous. Iob vnderstood so much, or els he wouldIob: 1: 5: never hauehave beene so carefull for his children as it appeareth he was, to sanctifie them, and after sacrifices, to make reconciliation, and to intreat God for them. And Salomon preferreth theEccles: 7: 4: house of mourning, before the house of feasting, doubtles because though it is les pleasāt, yet it is also lesse dāgerous. Therefore for feastinges & all such like pleasures wherein we delite, I woulde wish they should be more seldome, and not so ordinary; more moderate, and not excessiue, at the times of ioy, not in the daies of mourning; when God fawneth vponupon vsus, not when he threatneth, much lesse when he sharpely scourgeth vsus. And let vsus never so reioyce in the creatures, but that the more liberally wee take of them, wee may alwaies remember, that the more thankfull wee ought to be to our heavenly Father, by whose goodnes we hauehave receiued so good a portion. And thus, although this bread that we begge doth signify, but such sustenance as must of necessity bee had, for the preservation of our body: yet because that in this vale of misery, some recreatiō is some time needfull, to giuegive vsus as it were a breathing time from continual sorow and griefe, even this also the godly may aske, & be warranted by this petition. For if berad strengthen the hart of man, Psal: 104: 15as David teacheth vsus: and the hearts of such as feare the Lorde, are cast downe by many griefes and vexations, and so made faint and weake: then may they be bold to aske of their good God, who hath a tender care over them, not onelyonly for that bread that maintaineth the bodily life; but for y• also that may cherish and raise vp the very soule discomfited. But chose pleasures I say the godly may more boldly vse then other, because they are in lesse danger to abuse them, seeing their affections are in heaven, and they after a sort sequestredT…t: 1: 15: from these worldly delights. As for them that are defiled and vnbeleeving (that is to say wicked and vngodly men, because) their very mindes and consciences are defiled, & by that meanes are become, to everie good vvoorke reprobate, all thinges that they doe, all thinges that they hauehave are turned into sinne, and therefore their mirth shall ende with mourning, their ioy with weeping, their pleasure and delight with wo… and heavines.
Nowe there are other thinges also, which areOther things …ked o…ied for …e after some sort necessary for this life, without the which, we cānot wel do our duties to God or mā. As cōpetent ability for worldly goods. And therfore Salomō in his praier maketh request thus, Give me not poverty, nor riches. Why not poverty?Prov: 3 … Leaste I bee poore and steale, and take the name of my GOD in vaine. Health of bodie also. For as sicknes is among the plagues, which godLevi: 26: 25: Deut: 28: 21 22: threatneth to bring vponupon his people, when they are founde disobedient: so is health, amonge his good blessings, especially if it be wel vsed. But it is many times taken away, for, and by, abusing it Then also peace abroade, and quietnes at home, are vntounto the godly, sweet helps to the performāce of Christian duties: that the stumbling blocks of malice and mischiefe, discorde and debate, being remoued out of our way: wee being deliuered out of Luk: 1: 74: 75:the handes of our enemies, shoulde serue God without feare, al the daies of our life, in holines, and righteousnesse before him. All these thinges, and such like as appertain vntounto this life, we craue of God here vnderunder the name of daily bread.
But to what end doe we, or at the least shouldWhy wee aske these things. we, aske al these things of our heauenly Father? May we here only hauehave respect to our own pleasure or profite, or cherish any other of our worldly affections? As in the three first, we especiallie regard gods glory, but yet so also, as that it may be well with vsus, if we set forth the same: So in this, although we somewhat regarde our selues, yet the summe & substance of all is, that wee may the better walke in our calling, and serue god in the place or estate, that hee hath appointed vsus to liue in. So that if we beg riches, health of body, honour among men, authority, knowledge, wisedome, or any other such thing, wee must neither sue for these things to spend them vnthriftely for our selues, or hurtfullie against others, by suites and violences, but that we may bee the better able to set forth Gods honour in our vocations. And if God hauehave giuen vsus any portion of anie of these, we must remember whose stewards we are who hath bestowed them vponupon vsus, to what end, & that wee must bee called to an account for our vsing or abusing of them. Which meditations, if they could often and earnestly be thought vponupon, and enter deepely into our heartes: I doubt not, but it woulde readily ease vsus, not onlie of many our foolish, vaine, and vngodlie expences, but also reforme, sundrie our evill and outragious affections. And that wee ought especiallie to regarde this end in asking; & anne at this marke in spending or vsing al these worldly helpes, we may see in one or two examples, (for in so plaine a matter many neede not.) What was it I pray you that grieued Dauid, when hee was banished out of his countrie by the crueltie of Saule or other his enemies? Was it that he left his friends, his wife and familie, or that he wanted his goods or possessions? It was his absence from Gods house that most of all troubled him, as himselfe doeth plainlie testifie. O Lord of hostes (saith he) howe amiable Ps: 84▪ 1: 2:are thy dwellings? My soule longeth, yea and fainteth for the courtes of the Lord, my hart and my flesh reioice in the living God. Yea hee accounteth the birds happy, that may build their nests neere Gods altars, and the men blessed that dwel in his house. And this his earnest louelove to Gods house, he in another place doth testifie when he saith: I reioiced when they saide to me…, wee will goe into the Psal: 122: 1:house of the Lorde. Desireth he to be at home and inioy his goods, to liue at ease, in pleasure and delight, or to seeke his gaine greedely? No, but to praise god, in his holy house, with other. And that good king Hezethiah when hee was like to die,Esa: 38: 11: was grieued that hee should no more praise God among the liuing; but after hauing receiued promise of life, the chiefest thing that he thinketh vponupon, is to bee thankefull vntounto God for his goodnesse. Thus wee see why these godly kings desired either life or liuing. Euen to honor God in it, and by it. And thus much of the fourth petition, wherin we are taught to aske of God all thinges necessary for this present life, yea if neede bee for our honest delite therin, so that we vse them holily, and moderatly, and to Gods glory.
After wee hauehave begged that which any waie belongeth to the bodie: it nowe followeth, that wee shoulde with a much more earnest affection, sue for those thinges that belonge to the soule. Well saieth that auncient Father Cyprian, After a supplie of foode, pardon of sinnes is praied for, In orat: do: serm: 6that hee who is fedde of God, may liue in God: and not onlie this present and shorte life, may bee provided for, but also that which lasteth euer, to which we may come, if our offences be forgiuen vsus. And whereas there are two thinges necessary for vsus in this behalfe, sorrow for sins that are past, euen such sorrow as may driue vsus to craue at Gods hand pardon and forgiuenes; the other a purpose of amēdment in our life after; First we are taught to beginne with forgiuenes of the trespasses that wee hauehave committed, and then to craue a continuance in godlines, in the rest of our life.
To speake therefore of the first of these two, which is in number the fifte petition, it is not a simple petitiō, as are the other, but it hath a kind of limitation, or as the Lawyers speake, rather a stipulation and promise annexed to the same, Forgiue vsus, as vvee forgiue others. But let vsusForgiuenes necessary: first consider of the praier, which is, Forgiue vsus our trespasses. Which thing howe necessary it is that we should craue, it will easilie appear, if wee hauehave anie regarde either to this life, or to the life to come. For as Godlinesse is profitable to all thinges, vvhichwhich hath the promise of the 1: Tim: 4: 8:life presente, and of that that is to come: so on the other side, sinne and vngodlinesse, hindereth Gods blessings that they cannot in so abundant measure be bestowed vponupon vsus, as otherwise they should be, it depriueth vsus of our hope, seperateth vsus from God, and raseth out his image, according to which we were created. And as GodLevit 26: Deuter: 28. promiseth to blesse our store, our cattel, our fields our cities, our howses, the fruite of our bodie, and our selues also, if we serue and feare him: So on the contrary, he threatneth manie plagues to bee powred out against such as transgresse his laws, and breake his commandements. But that sinne procureth plagues, and provoketh Gods wrath, if we would doubt of it, the drowning of y• world,Gen: 7: Gen: 19: Exod▪ 7: 8▪ 9 10: 11: 14▪ the feareful destruction of Sodome, and al those cities of the plain, the plagues of Aegypt, the punishmēts of Gods owne people for their sinning against the Lord, as in sundrie places of the book of Iudges is described, the carying away of the ten tribes, the captivitie of Iuda, the destroying of Ierusalem, the vtter defacing and rasing of the temple, are so sufficient testimonies, & plaine demonstrations of it, that they who see it not, are too blinde, and they who feare not Gods heauie indignation against them for sin, when they look but vponupon themselues and what they deserue, are to secure and senselesse. By this therefore I trust it doth appeare, that they who are sinners, hauehave greate neede to aske forgiuenesse of their offences, and to saie as heere wee are taughte, Forgiue vsus our trespasses.
But now the question wil bee whether we be sinners or not; or at the least whether our sinnes be so great and grieuous, that they must procure (vnlesse they be forgiuen) the fearefull displeasure of God. For such is the corruption of ourIustifying our selues. nature, that we will seeke as much as we can to iustifie our selues, as did the most wicked and rebellious Iewes, who because the Temple of theIer: 7: 4: 10: Lord was among them, and they might therfore come and stand before the Lord; thought al was well with them, their sacrifices must needes bee acceptable to God, & they an holie and good people. Or els if our conscience will not suffer vsus so quietly to sleepe vponupon our sinnes, but that we are sometimes put in minde of them; then will wee extenuate them in our owne perswasion as much as we can, so that so bad as wee are, wee will not seeme to bee. We will either laie the faulte vponuponLaying the faulte on another. other, as Adam did vponupon Eue, The woman (saith he) which thou gavest to be with me, shee gaue me of the tree, and I did eate. Yea he doth not only laie the fault vponupon his wife, but some what also vponupon God, that gaue him that woman for his helpe, which was heerein his hinderance. And the woman being charged, blameth the serpent, The serpent Gen: 3: 12: Make it less in wordes.beguiled me, and I did eate. Or els perchaunce we wil in words mitigat the grieuousnes of our fac…, as Aaron did, when he had suffered the people to commit Idolatry to a golden calfe, nay had furthered them therein, in making them their calfe of their earings, wherewith when Moses charged him, marke I pray you, how as much as might be, he excuseth himselfe, making his faulte small. First he blameth the people, they were set on mischiefe, and would needes have Gods to go before them. Then (it followeth) I saide to them, y… Exo: 32: 22:hauehave gold, plucke it of: and they brought it mee, and I cast it into the fire, and thereof came this calfe. Who would now thinke by his wordes, that hee had made any great fault? And yet hee did not so much as disswade the people from their wickednes, which he ought to hauehave done. But hee called for their gold earings, fashioned them with a graving toole, and made it a molten calfe. Then he made an altar before it, and proclaimed an holiday for it. So that he who first yeelded to their Idolatrous affections, now is content to maintaine the same. And yet would he perswade Moses, as if it were all the peoples doing, and that calfe came without his helpe, to bee a golden calfe. We deceiue our selues also sometime by otherExample mens example. Yea and often wee doe wronge, because wee are ignorant, and knoweIgnorance: not howe to doe well, and yet even this our ignoraunce also is wilfull, because wee will not heare that wee mighte learne. With such figge tree leaues wee seeke to hide our sinnes, that wee cannot see them; and with such mistes wee dazell our owne eies, that wee cannot perceiue them as wee ought. And by that means we know not the necessitie of this petition, Forgiue vsus our trespasses.
Therefore that we may sweetly and sauourly say to our heauenly Father, Forgiue vsus our trespasses, Acknowleging of our sinne…. 1: Ioh: 1: 9:we must cōfesse that we are offendors. For if we so doe, we hauehave this comfort, If we acknoweledge our sinnes, hee is faithfull and iust, to forgiue vsus our sinnes, and to cleanse vsus from all vnrighteousnesse. Let vsus therefore consider what wee are by nature. Wee are the sinnefull seede of our disobedient Father Adam; conceiued and borne in sinne and iniquitie; our hearte and affections, prone and readie to euill; our minde and vnderstandinge ignoraunte and vnskilfull of that which is good. Out of this corrupt spring and filthy fountaine, what good or sweete water can be looked for? Verily this crabbe tree, bringeth foorth nothing but the sower crabs of breach of Gods law: in so much as the godlie themselues, who are in part become newe men, so farre forth as the spirit of sanctification hath regenerated them, yet are forced to complaine, that as Saint Paule of himselfe saieth, I see another lawe in my members rebelling against the lawe of my minde, and leading me captiue vntounto the law of sinne, which is in my members: euen so all the rest of vsus must needes say, as he also doth, that wee doe not the good thing which we would, but the evill, that we would not, that doe we. For alas what duties doe we omit, that God requireth of vsus? What works leaue we vndone, that we are commanded to do? For manie things which we should, we doe not, because we know them not. And not seldome we are like to seruauntes that knowe their Masters will, and doe it not, because of such draw-backes as we finde within our selues, which hinder vsus in our course of holie obedience. And as we leaue vndone many good things, so that good also that we doe, is done for the most part so coldly & negligently, so vnwillingly and without such delight as we ought to hauehave in it, to such wrong endes, & in such worldly respects, that if we hauehave any true feeling of our own affections, and a right knowledge of a good work, what it is, and how it must be perfected, wee shall finde that nothing can bee more cōfortable to vsus, then that we may boldlie say, Forgiue vsus our trespasses. Especially if wee adde to these considerations, a view of our sinnes which daily we doe commit, in thought worde & deede, against God, against man, priuily and opēlie, in iest, in earnest, in youth, in our age. Of these I meane not to speake particularly, but leaue eueryevery Christian man or woman to examine their owne hartes without hypocrisie, and their owne thoughts, without partialitie. Onlie this will IExamples a false rule. aduise all, that meane truely and sincerelie to trie themselues, that they doe not prooue their deeds; by the false rule or squire of mens examples, looking what other doe (for then we commonlie contente our selues that wee bee not so bad as the worst, and wee can finde none so good by farre, as wee shoulde bee, excepting onlye Christ) but Gods worde must bee the glasse by which wee shoulde dresse our selues, and the patterne that we ought to follow, by which if we be guided, we cannot do amisse.