An Exposition of the Lords Prayer, Title page – Dedication
AN EXPOSITION OF THE LORDES PRAIer, wherein are delivered necessary lessons for all Christians to learne and practise when they will pray: By FRAVNCES BVNNY sometime fellow of Magdalen colledge in Oxforde.
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting vp pure hands without wrath, or doubting.
1. Tim. 2. 8.
AT OXFORD, Printed by JOSEPH BARNES, and are to be sold in Pauls Churchyard by Iohn Barnes. 1602.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPfull Mistresse FRANCES MATTHEW, wife to the Right Reverende Father in God, TOBY Lord Bishop of Durham, FRANCES BVNNY wisheth grace and peace in the authour of all grace and peace.
MAny are the miseries that are common to all mankinde, as the dangers wherto this life is subiect, and the vnpleasaunt sauces of sorrow, sickenes, wants, troubles, and such other grievaunces, wherewith our life is sowred, doe plainely teach vsus. There were amongst the Heathen that in consideration hereof vsed to weep, when their friendes were borne, and to reioice, when they died: by this custome acknowledging, that the birth is an entrance into sorrow & the vale of miserie, from which by death they were deliuered. Well writethDe civitate Dei lib. 21: cap: 14▪ Saint Augustine, that this whole life, is but a punishment. And the Sonne of Sirach notably describeth and setteth out before our eies, the misery that belongeth to this life. Great travell is created for all Eccle: 40: 1▪men (saith hee) and a heavy yoke vponupon the sonnes of Adam, from the day they goe out of their mothers wombe, till the day they returne to the mother of all things. Then after hee sheweth how diuersly men are afflicted, and that this estate of life, befalleth euen to him that sitteth vponupon the throne, aswell as to the poore, that lieth in ashes, so that none can claime in▪ this, any priviledge or prerogatiue.
And as all men hauehave their part of these common annoyances; so the godly hauehave besids these, their peculiar vexatiōs, in respect of sinne that is too rife in our selues and others; whereby we are grieved to see Gods glory defaced, his name prophaned, his word reiected, our most holy profession slaundered, and our selues drawen often times vntounto sinne, against which wee striue, and shoulde striue euen vntounto death.
Many also are the comfortes that God affordeth vsus his children, that we shoulde not in this place of our painefull pilgrimage, bee altogither oppressed with sorrow and griefe, and overcome with carefull cogitations. Such comfortes are the company of our friendes and such as wee delight in▪ the vse of Gods good creatures to supply all our wantes, and such other helpes as hee blesseth vsus withall. But among them all, there is not any like vntounto that consolation, which we finde in resorting to our good God, and making our moane to him, who is a Father, to the fatherlesse, a husbande, to the widdowe, a helpe, to the helplesse, and a strong towre, to the distressed, comfort, to the comfortlesse, to the sicke, medicine.
Now wee cannot come vntounto him, but by faith, nor speake vntounto him, as suters to be deliuered from the evil, we feare, or inriched with the good graces, that wee desire, but by praier: which is a deuoute lifting vp not of the hands only, but especially of the hart, vntounto the God of all grace, the founetaine of all goodnes. So that the necessitie of praier hereby appeareth, and that wee hauehave continuall occasions that may force vsus to make our requestes to God.
And least the burden of our sins should presse vsus down to heauily, or we through our corruption or ignorance, should pray for other thinges, or in other sorte, then we ought: our Sauiour Christ hath set vsus down a forme or patterne which we must follow, wherein wee may learne, as with boldnesse to come before the throne of grace, nothing doubting, but that our heavenly Father, will heare the sighes and groanes of vsus his children: so also, how to frame our praiers in such sort, as that wee may be hard, and our requests granted, as in this little treatise I trust it will appeare. For though our heauenly Master promiseth that we shall finde, if we seeke, hauehave, if we aske, and the dore shalbee opened, if we knocke: yet we know that Saint Iames telleth some, that they aske, and hauehave not, Iac: 4: 3:because they aske amisse, that they might bestow or consume it on their lusts. Therfore it behoueth vsus to pray with feeling of our wants, that we may pray fervently, and to follow the godly advice of Saint Iames in another place, who will hauehave vsus to aske in Iacob 1: 6:faith, or faithfully, and without doubting. Nowe to come with such confidence it1: Tim: 2. 8: much availeth, that wee not only lift vp pure handes, in testimony of an vprighte conscience, as Saint Paule admonisheth2: Tim: 2: 22 vsus: but also that we cal vponupon the Lord with a pure heart, as the same Apostle elswhere adviseth vsus. For let every one that calleth vers: 19:on the name of Christ, depart from iniquitie, everie one I say that professeth Christ Iesus, much more then such as seeke for his helpe, in their praiers. These and such like cautions or admonitions, are necessary for them that seeke and sue vntounto that most mighty God, who punisheth sinne, and hateth wickednes, least that with idle words we beat the aire, and hauehave our praier turned into sinne.
To this end therefore especially in this litle treatise vponupon the Lords praier, hauehave I bent my selfe, & directed my course, that I might instruct the ignorant, not onelyonly what to aske, nor whereof they stand in neede; (though that be not altogither neglected) for our owne wantes, (if we hauehave any right feeling of our owne estate) wilbe a good schole▪ master to teach vsus that lesson: but especially, howe we should frame and prepare our selues, in these our praiers to come before our heavenlie Father; and what manner of men we ought to be, that beg such things at the hande of God. So that in this glasse we may see, not only what, or how to aske & pray, but also how to liue, and by what rule wee must direct our conversation. Yea magistrates and privat persons, princes & subiects, pastours, and their flocke, and al others whatsoever, may hereby be put in mind of some peece of duty; and that they cannot pray hartely and earnestly for that, which themselues by such meanes as God affoordeth do not also striue to advaunce and maintaine. For how absurd a thing is it, that wee say with our lippes, Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdome come, thy will be done: and yet God having given vntounto vsus many good meanes, to glorifie him, and set forth his praise, advaunce his kingdome, & bring men vntounto some reasonable obedience vntounto his holie wil: we never set our hand to that plough, or apply our selues vntounto that service, or at the least, we doe it to coldly, & to seldōe? Is not this to aske, that we care not for, & to pray for that we mind not, and to make a shewe to desire that we louelove not? Is not this to dissemble with God, as if we were carefull of the things, that litle or nothing trouble vsus?
This and such like faultes wee may find with our selues, which also we ought to reforme, vnlesse we will …ast of Gods heavy wrath: and we may in some good measure learne to amēd thē, if we carefully regard, even those rules of life, which out of this form of praier we should gather, as to the godly reader I trust it will appeare.
Now this treatise hauehave I thought good to present vntounto your worship as to one vntounto whome I confesse my selfe many waies indebted, and by divers bondes of curtesie very much bound: And that the rather, because amonge many losses of friendes, much sickenes and want of health, & many other crosses and griefes, whereof for some yeares you hauehave had no small portion: I doubt not but your chiefest, your quie…est and safest refuge hath beene, earnest praier to the God of all grace, and a reposing of your selfe in his goodnes, who in a tender louelove pitieth his, and keepeth even their very teares in his botle, and heereth their cries in the needeful time of trouble. Take I pray you in good parte, this simple token of my vnfeaned good will. Regarde it not according to the woorth thereof in price, but thinke what profit it may bring to a Christian. And as often as you call vppon our heavenly Father (which no doubt you doe verie often) thinke what manner of men we ought to be, that dare approch before him, and come into his presence, and how we should frame our selues so to intreat him, that hee may heare vsus in this vale of misery, and comforte vsus in all our griefs even vntill he bring vsus to that happy place of endlesse ioy and perfect felicity: which the Lord God in mercy giuegive to you, and al them that vnfeanedly louelove the Lord Iesus Christ: Amen.