Christian prayers & godly meditations upon the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romans, briefly containing the sum of every Chapter orderly, worthy to be used of all the faithful in this wretched and sinful time, translated out of Italian into English.  
Imprinted at London by William Gryffith.   

¶ To my right hearty friend, master T. M. Thomas Beacon, wisheth grace and peace from God in Christ jesus.  
OF how great efficacy, virtue, strength & power christian prayer is, both the sentences, and histories, of the holy scripture do abundantly declare. For where at any time have the faithful desired of god by hearty prayer, wherein he hath suffered a repulse? Prayer giveth victory over enemies, delivereth out of prison, preserveth in dangers, keepeth safe in fire, mitigateth the wrath of God, obtaineth remission of sins, getteth everlasting life, and purchaseth for us of God all good things, whether we respect the body or the mind. Every true Christian therefore can none otherwise than highly delight in such and so great a treasure, whereof spring so many both necessary and profitable commodities to the user thereof. And albeit there are already many godly prayers set forth in our English tongue worthy to be frequented at all times of the faithful Christians, yet when I had perused these prayers & diligently considered the profit of them, I thought it unseming to defraud my countrymen of so precious a jewel. For in them they shall not only learn to pray truly and according to the will of God: but also by the exercise of them they shall learn and commend to memory the whole sum of S. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, which Epistle in my judgement is the principal part of all the divine scripture, forasmuch as it containeth in a goodly order, yea & that briefly, what soever is taught in the whole body of the sacred Bible necessary for the instruction and edifying of a Christian man: so that whosoever hath that Epistle & understandeth the same, hath obtained the knowledge of the most necessary and principal parts of Christian religion.  
Now to come by this thing, I mean, to get the knowledge of this so goodly and profitable Epistle, these prayers made upon the same Epistle (which I have caused to be imprinted for the profit of the readers) shall greatly help: so that they which exercise them shall get double profit by them. And would God some godly learned man would take the like labour in making and setting forth prayers upon other parts of the holy scripture, as this author hath done in this behalf. For although I discommend not the prayers made by good and devout men (so that they be not contrary to the word of God) yet those prayers which are made upon the holy scriptures are most to be allowed and used of the godly Christians. For god can not disallow that whereof his holy spirit is the Author.  
These Christian prayers & godly meditations I send unto you as a pledge and memorial of our friendship, nothing doubting but that, according to your accustomed gentleness, you will take them in good part. Thus with right hearty thanks for your most hearty good will toward me, I wish you well to do. From Shene the xii. day of February in the year of our Lord. 1550.   

¶ Godly and Christian Meditations and prayers made upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans.  

¶ Upon the first Chapter.  
O jesus Christ, redeemer of the world, I thank God through thee for all his benefits, and specially for the great gift of our redemption by thee, which wast borne of the seed of David after the flesh, and are known the Son of God by the divine power which thou hast declared to the whole world, healing the bodies and sanctifiing the souls of the faithful with thy spirit, the which thou hast communicated abundantly to man's generation, after that destroying our death with thy death, thou art returned unto life for to be everlasting life of whosoever accepteth thee for their only Saviour.  
O my Lord, grant me so much of thy grace, that I always may be in the number of those. O Lord, the only hope of my soul, cause me to know and to perceive in the deepness of my heart, this thy unspeakable benefit. Exercise in me thy healthful power, so that I may know thee always, as well the Son of God, as the son of man. heal the senses of my body to th'intent that to my eyes, ears, smelling, taste and touching, all those things may be abhorred which be contrary to thy holy law. Sanctify my soul and my spirit, that they may be a worthy habitacle of thy spirit. Make me, my Lord, to understand effectually the virtue of thy wonderful resurrection, reviving me from day to day, and causing me to live as dead to the world, and living to God: to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be glory.  
Lord God grant us so great love of our salvation that always we may remember thee & none other in our prayers. give us so great desire of thy glory that our soul may rejoice and render thee thanks through jesus Christ, when the faith of the elects is seen in this darkness of the world. give us such perfection, that every one of us may serve thee with faith, and our neighbour with charity in our vocation. Grant us such a taste of the fellowship of true christians, that nothing may delight us more, than to comfort ourselves with them by mutual faith. Grant us such light of thy spirit that we may understand ourselves to be debteours for to distribute freely to other the graces which by thee be given us. Grant us so much strength of spirit that we be not ashamed of the Gospel of thy only begotten Son: the which doctrine is accounted foolishness to the wisdom of the flesh, but in verity it is thy saving power to every faithful person. For by it is revealed and communicated thy justice, with faith coming between, the which is planted by thy spirit in the hearts of the elects, & increaseth always, & bringeth forth most sweet fruits of charity. O father of mercies, grant us all these graces, that we may always be knit in one spirit of faith and of charity with jesus Christ our head & thy Son, which with thee liveth and reigneth.  
I see my Lord, by the grace that thou givest me, that the knowledge of thee which is gathered by the means of natural perseverance, is not enough of itself to make us good, sith it is so that men by the contemplation of visible things created from the beginning, come into the knowledge of the everlasting power & divinity invisible, have not glorified thee as God, neither were thankful to thee, but vainly wandering in their own imaginations and making profession of wisdom, became most foolish, in somuch that they worshipped the creatures in stead of the creator. Whereupon thy justice, for to punish their unthankfulness death deprave them of all good judgement, in such wise that they embrace evil for good, & sewer for sweet. They have defiled their bodies & souls with all abominable vices and uncleanness.  
O Lord god of my salvation, keep me and all thy faithful servants from so great abomination, and from such great blindness. Grant us O father of lights, in stead of the dark light of our understanding, the clear light of faith, that we may acknowledge thee truly, and knowing thee every one of us, to love thee, fear thee, and glorify thee, putting all the hope of our salvation in thy mercy through jesus Christ our Lord.   

¶ Upon the ij. Chapter.  
O How great gods justice and mercy is, we are very ready to judge, & condemn other, not perceiving that then we condemn our own selves, for because that now with will and now in deed, we do those things that becondemned by us in our neighbour, and plainly we know that after thy most just judgement, whosoever sinneth is worthy of death, and certainly we wear already all condemned to death everlasting if thy mercy & patience were not, the which forbeareth us and calleth us to repentance.  
Grant us perseverance, O Lord, to understand so great a benefit, and mollify our hearts with thy grace, to the end that our hardness and unrepentance do not increase towards us so much the greater wrath in the day of anger when thy just judgement shallbe revealed, in the which thou wilt tender to every person according to his doings that is, eternal death to those which continuing in evil works & resisting the truth, do provoke against them thy furor. O lord suffer not that we, whom thy holy name is called upon, be numbered among those, but for thy glory give us thy spirit, the which may teach us to do thy will, and lead us in the way of thy most holy precepes, to glory honour & peace everlasting, through jesus Christ.  
When jesus Christ shall come to judge the quick and the dead, no body shallbe able to excuse his unrighteousness with the pretence of ignorance, because that they which have not had the light of the law written, have not lacked the knowledge of good and evil by the law of nature: as clearly the conscience of every on showeth, the which alloweth that is good, and reproveth that is evil. But I know my Lord, that the knowledge of the law without thy grace can nothing profit a man, because he is not just by the law. But who can observe the same? & our nature is so corrupt and perverse, that it seeth the better and taketh the worse: whereby it cometh to pass that many do know thy will and make profession to rule the blind, to lighten those that be in darkness, to instruct the ignorant, and to understand thy doctrine and the verity of thy law, and yet nevertheless teaching others they teach not themselves: they forbidden theft and adulthy, and be thieves & adulterers, they speak against Idols, and be Idolaters, they glory of the law, & be transgressors of the law, and slander thy holy name, and cause it to be evil spoken of amongst the wicked. Therefore to the end that we run not into so great wickedness, and that the knowledge of the law be not to us an occasion of greater damnation: writ the same (O Lord) in our hearts by faith, and grant us such grace that nothing may appear to us either so good or so profitable or so delectable, as the observation of thy commandments: that having our hearts circumcised, we may be thy true people, that our light may shine after such a sort in the sight of men that seeing our good works every one of them may glorify thee O heavenly father, through jesus Christ our Lord   

¶ Upon the iij. Chapter.  
MY Lord, like as the naughtiness of the jews was not sufficient to make void thy faith of the noble promises made by thee unto that people, because that thou art true and all men liares: semblably our iniquity can never be able to disannul the faith of thy promises which thy only Son hath made to his faithful congregation, saying to the same: I am with you even to the consummation of the world. Therefore although I see the same altogether vexed, deformed, and as a little ship in the midst of the sea beaten of furious winds, notwithstanding I am sure that she can not perish because that jesus Christ, according to his promise, ruleth and governeth her, and bringeth her at the length to the port of eternal salvation. And how much greater our unrighteousness is, so much more commendable is his justice the which forsaketh us not for our deserts, but defendeth us for his promise sake.  
Ought we therefore to continue in sin to th'intent that our unrighteousness may commend the justice of Christ? nay, above all other things we should abhor sin, as that which of his own nature dishonoureth Christ, and yet he by his goodness & wisdom, of so evil seed gathereth the fruit of his glory. Deliver therefore, lord jesus, thy Church from all slanders and from all iniquities, so that like as now by our sins thou settest forth the faith of thy promises, so in time to come by our salvation we may glorify thy holy name.  
My Lord, when thou gavest thy holy law to the people of Israel, they promised earnestly to observe the same but afterward coming to the performance, they wanted so much of their promise, that one of the Prophets speaking of them, saith: that there is not one just, or wise, neither that seeketh after god. By the which thing it is requisite that all mouths be shut, and all the world confess to be guilty and to be thy debtor, because that none shallbe pronounced just by the works of the law in thy judgement, sith it is so that the law doth not justify, but doth us to understand sin: the which known leadeth a man to desperation if thy grace comforteth him not. Therefore we thank thee (O my Lord) with all our heart, for thy justice, the which to put away our unrighteousness, thou hast manifested to the world, besides the law I mean the justice which thou dost communicate by the faith of jesus Christ, to all them that believe, of all nations, for that without exception every one hath sinned and is destitute of thy glory, and whosoever is justified, receiveth without any deserving, the justice of thy grace, through the redemption wrought by Christ jesus, whom from everlasting thou hast determined to be by the meditation of faith, the propitiation of the world through his blood, meaning to set forth thy justice by the remission of sins past, the which thou hast suffered for to show thy justice in the time of grace, to th'intent that every one might know that thou art just and the justifier of every one that believeth in jesus Christ, the which with thee liveth & reigneth world without end.  
My Lord, when thy saints do say that we be justified freely by the means of faith, many believe that by the preaching of faith thy holy law is destroyed: but I through experience that thou givest me of myself, am constrained to say the contrary, that thy law is confirmed and established by faith, sith it is so that the man which is not justified through faith, doth fear thee as a sharp and rigorous judge, where as he that is justified by faith, loveth thee & worshippeth thee as a father: the one as a most vile slave serveth thee for fear: the other as a right loving son serveth thee for love. Whereupon to the one thy commandments do appear very grievous, and unto the other they be very pleasant. The one having thespirite of the world through the wisdom of the flesh loveth himself and the world: the other having thy spirit by faith loveth thee and his neighbour for thy sake: and the more faith increaseth, so much the more groweth charity in that which consists all the observation of the law. Therefore my Lord, increase in us faith, so that in us may be established and fulfilled thy holy law, to thy honour and glory.   

¶ Upon the iiij. Chapter.  
O My Lord, if that noble Abraham could not glory in thy sight that he was justified by his works, what ought I unhappy sinner to hope of my works? Wherefore, like as he believing thy promises was fréele justified by faith: so I beseech thee, that I may obtain from thy mercy the free remission of my sins, believing on jesus Christ. And like as Abraham received the circumcision of the flesh for a token of the justice of faith, semblably let me receive from thy spirit the circumcision of the heart, to th'intent that I may serve thee in holiness and in justice all the days of my life. And even as Abraham receiving the promise of posterity innumerable as the stars, he doubted not through infidelity, neither be considered his body unable to procreation by age, neither his wife which was barren by nature, but being strengthened by faith and trusting through thy word, for that which he could not look for by his natural reason, he believed that he should be the father of many nations, and giving glory to thee, believed assuredly that thou wast able to perform that which thou hadst promised, which raisest up the dead, and with thy word givest being to things which as yet be not: likewise promising me (my Lord) by thy mercy the remission of sins and to take me for thy son & also to give me everlasting life: grant me grace that I thereof may not doubt through unfaithfulness, neither permit me to behold so much my unworthiness, that I should not fasten the eyes of my mind always steadfastly upon thy verity, the which is more able to save me, than my iniquity to damn me, and give me a faith so strong that hoping through thy promise for that which I could not trust for by my sins, I may believe by the merits of thy only begotten son, to become of the child of wrath, the child of grace and inheritor of eternal life, and that I may render thee due glory, believing steadfastly that nothing is impossible to thee, whom, though I be dead in sin, thou canst revive with thy justice. If my soul be brought in a manner to nothing through iniquity, thou hast power to give it a being most noble and immortal, restoring in it thy image. The which grace my Lord I beseech thee that thou wilt grant unto me and to all other thy elects, through jesus Christ our Lord, the which by thy ordinance died upon the cross for our sins, and rose again for our justice.   

¶ Upon the v. Chapter.  
MY Lord, we are justified through the lively faith which thou hast given us, and be reconciled unto thee, through jesus Christ our redeemer, which hath brought us unto his kingdom by the means of faith. Grant us O Lord, grace to continue in thy grace, and augment in us faith in such wise, that our soul may rejoice and glory, not only in hope of eternal glory, but also in the tribulations of this present life, knowing for a surety that tribulation worketh patience, and patience probation, & probation hope, which deceiveth not, by thy incredible love that thou hear bearest us (whereof the holy ghost rendereth a most certain testimony, which is given unto our spirit) and the passion of thy only begotten son, the which, to obey thy will, died upon the cross for us miserable sinners and thy enemies, where as scarce might be found one that would die for his friend either for one just & virtuous man. If therefore thy charity toward us hath been so great that while we were evil and wicked, Christ died for us, much more now that we are justified through his blood, we shallbe saved from thy anger by him: because that being thy enemies he hath brought us in favour with thee by his death, much more now being reconciled we shallbe saved through his life. O Lord God, writ these most sweet thoughts with thy finger in our hearts, that being crucified by thy grace, we may here glory that thou art our God and our father, through jesus christ thy son & our redeemer. Amen.  
My Lord God, man was by thee created unto thy image & similitude, that is, most holy, just, and Lord of the world: but he through his disobedience became unjust, ungodly, deceitful and servant of the Devil, neither should this our misierie ever have had an end, if thy mercy had not ordained it from everlasting that thy only begotten should be the beginning, the midst, and th'end of our salvation. Therefore we can not so much be sorry for the sin of Adam, as we ought to be thankful unto thee for thy benefits, because that, like as by Adam sin entered into the world and so death, even so through jesus Christ is come unto us life, justice and grace, a great deal more and of more force (which we have received from thy kindness by jesus Christ) than the hurt that Adam hath done us through his transgression, because that one sin alone hath condemned us, and the grace of Christ doth deliver us from many sins. And if by the sin of Adam death hath reigned in the world, much more through jesus Christ life shall reign in those that receive the abundance of grace and of justice which he giveth to the faithful. Therefore like as the disobedience of our first parents made us sinners & worthy of eternal death, so the obedience of thy son maketh us just and worthy of eternal life: And if afterward the law taking place sin did abound, the Gospel coming after the law, grace hath much more abounded, to th'end that like as sin hath reigned which leadeth to death, so now grace may reign that justifieth & guideth such as believe unto eternal life, through jesus Christ thy son and our redeemer.   

¶ Upon the vj. Chapter,  
O jesus Christ my Lord, we are dead and buried in baptism and be risen again with thee as thy true members. Therefore my lord with thy spirit mortify our flesh and quicken our spirit, that we may lively perceive the virtue of thy death and of thy resurrection. If our old man be crucified with thee, to th'intent we might walk toward heaven in the newness of life, why in us as yet do live the lusts of the flesh which do draw us unto the earth? Why do they not suffer us to work all that which the spirit desireth? O our Saviour, hear our lamentations and help us for the glory of thy holy name sake: and if we be verily thine, make us in deed conformable unto thy image. And like as death after thy glorious resurrection hath no more power over thee, but being destroyed by thee thou livest eternally with God, semblably we all being relieved by thy grace, permit not (my Lord) that we be any longer mastered of sin which is the death of our soul, but grant us grace to live always to thee, and to sanctify our souls & bodies to thy service, to th'end that unto thy honour may be set upon the earth a resemblance of that holy and blessed life which we shall live in heaven after the last resurrection.   

¶ Upon the seven. Chapter.  
MY Lord, when I consider the great corruption of man's nature, on me cometh a horror and incredible fear of myself, sithence it is so that while thou leavest man in his darkness and in his ignorance, he hath never true fear of thee, nor true knowledge of thy law, but may be well compared unto foolish beasts, & is verily like unto them, and now thinketh that sin which reigneth in him is dead, and it liveth. But when thou givest him such perseverance that he is able to see and to consider to what thing the law bindeth him, than sin showing forth his force declareth itself alive, horrible and very mighty, and man is known to be most weak and worthy of death, because that the law is spiritual and requireth the purity of the heart, and man is carnal and full of affections and of unclean desires. The law commandeth that a man should love thee with all his soul, with all his heart, and with all his powers, that he put all his hope in thy mercy, and that he direct all his doings to thy honour: but man loveth himself above all things, he dependeth upon creatures, and is most desirous of glory, and for every little trifle he is angry with his neighbour, and (as much as he can) persecuteth him, whereas the law commandeth him that he should love him as himself. Finally the the law forbiddeth the desire of the flesh, & the more it is forbidden, so much more it waxeth fierce, & bringing forth fruit to death, increaseth damnation. Likewise sin which dwelleth in man, taking an occasion by the law that is holy and just, becometh more mighty and more pernicious, and by the law, in which is set forth justice & life, is gendered in man death and unrighteousness. And while the power of the law lasteth there continueth enmity of man with thee and with the law. Let therefore (my lord) thy mercy be blessed the which hath brought us from most grievous bondage of the law unto the most pleasant liberty of the gospel, and to the kingdom of grace, and in the stead of the face of Moses, which feareth, threateneth, curseth and condemneth, serveth us the face of Christ which assureth, blesseth, and saveth us, giving unto the faithful the holy ghost, the which delivering them from the yoke of the law, maketh them in love with thee and with the law, that living justly and holily upon the earth, we may live in Paradise eternally, through jesus Christ our Lord. We beseech thee my Lord, when that day shall come, and when this most grievous battle shall end, that the spirit may not desire against the flesh, & that the flesh likewise may not desire against the spirit: which eftsoons maketh my life very bitter, because I do not that which I would, but I do that which displeaseth me. Albeit, it is not I that any longer in this wise do work, but the sin that dwelleth in me, for that I know there dwelleth not in me, that is, in my flesh, any goodness. Then it is so that I have a good will, but I can not do that good which I desire. Wherefore I do not that good which I would, but that evil which I would not. And if I do that evil which I would not, it is but the sin that remaineth in me. This I say because thy holy law delighteth me as touching the inward man, that is, as concerning the spirit, the which is prone and bend to serve thee and to live after the order of thy law. But I see an other law in my flesh, that is, an other inclination that striveth continually against the inclination of my spirit, & maketh me prisoner and servant of the tyrannous law of sin, the which is directly contrary to thy holy law. Whereby it cometh to pass, that like as my spirit is wholly given unto justice & to holiness, and desireth the death of the body for to live with Christ, far from the grievances of the flesh: even so my flesh is delighted with iniquity, it feareth nor loveth thee my Lord, neither giveth credit to thy promises: it loveth the enticements of the appetites & the pomps of the world, neither wisheth ever to come to an end of this mortal life. Unhappy person that I am, who shall deliver me from this defiled and sinful flesh? from this mortal clod of concupiscence, the which never giveth me rest, but always vexeth me, and continually fighteth against my spirit. I yield thee thanks my Lord, through jesus Christ, which with the sacrifice of his flesh hath purged all the sins of my sinful flesh, in so much that they be not imputed to me by thee to damnation. In the mean season I live after thy spirit and through lively faith I am partaker of the most pure flesh of Christ, which at length shall make my corruptible flesh conformable to his glorious flesh, and shall deliver me from the body of this death, making that which is carnal, spiritual, after such sort that all the lusts and rebels of the flesh shall be brought to nought, that all the parts of my body and of my soul and of my spirit might be pure, holy and clean, and most ready to accomplish eternally thy holy will.  
Therefore I that in times past was wont to serve with the mind of my flesh to the law of sin, now with a mind renewed by thy spirit I serve thy law, my Lord: but with the remnants of my flesh, that is, of the old man, I serve nevertheless the law of sin, and do know myself so far from the perfect justice of thy holy law, that altogether I should despair of my salvation, if I did not acknowledge jesus Christ for my redeemer and for my justice. To him with thee be glory everlastingly.   

¶ Upon the eight Chapter.  
MY Lord, my soul melteth for sweetness, when I read these most sweet words pronounced by thy spirit: that they be free from all condemnation which be in Christ jesus, which do not live after the flesh but after the spirit, because that the law of the spirit & of the life which is in Christ jesus hath delivered me from the law of sin & of death, so that now I am become by thy grace a member of Christ jesus, the which making a sacrifice of his flesh upon the tree of the cross, hath destroyed sin and death, to justify & to give us eternal life, that we should not live after the flesh but after the spirit, because that if we shall live after the flesh we shall die, for that the affection of the flesh is contrary unto thy holy law and to the spirit of Christ, which is the fountain of life. Mortify therefore my Lord, the affections & appetites of our flesh, that the spirit of Christ may live in us, the which now shall sanctify our souls with his presence, and thou hereafter shalt make glorious and immortal our bodies in the last resurrection.  
My Lord, if the people of Israel have gloried so much of the law, by the which they received the spirit of bondage that engendereth fear: how much more ought we Christians to rejoice of thy gospel, by the which we receive thy son, whose spirit bringeth forth love, and giveth us boldness to call thee father. O my Lord, grant me to taste so much of thy spirit, that my soul may only glory of this incomprehensible treasure. 'Cause my lord, that thy spirit always may render testimony unto my spirit that I am thy son, and consequently thy heir and coheritour with Christ, which through reproach and bitter death entered into the kingdom of glory and of life. Therefore my Lord, strengthen my heart so that following thy steps I may boldly set thy cross before the honours and pleasures of the world and this temporal life, looking with patience for the redemption of my body, and knowing for a surety that the tribulations which be sustained in this world for Christ's sake, be not worthy the glory which shallbe revealed upon us in the world to come. And for because the invocation of thy holy name is our only refuge in our afflictions, and I of myself know not how to pray as it is meet, let thy holy spirit (O Lord) help my infirmity, direct my prayers: & in my tribulations comfort me, certifying me that like as to jesus Christ all things wrought together for the best when he seemed to the world forsaken of thee: semblably every thing helpeth the salvation of those which love thee, and be called by thee after the determination of thy good pleasure, because thou hast appointed from everlasting that thy children should become conformable to the image of thy son in the cross and in glory, to th'end that he might be the first begotten among many brethren. If therefore (my Lord) thou hast showed me this favour, to call me unto this brotherhood, why should not I glory with myself in the cross of Christ, specially knowing that thou justifiest them whom thou callest, & dost glorify those that be justified by thee. And if thou be with us, who shallbe against us? If thy charity was so great, that to deliver us from death, thou hast given to death thy son, how can it be that thou wilt not grant us with him all things? Who then shallbe so bold to accuse at thy judgement seat thy elects? If thou by thy mercy assoylest them and acceptest them for good & just: yea if Christ be dead to deliver them from damnation, and be risen again and ascended into heaven to make intercession for them, who shallbe able to condemn them? And if thou hast given us so great and worthy gauges of thy love, who may make us believe that thou lovest us not? Whether tribulation, misery, persecution hunger bareness, dangers, or sword? yea I do believe that all these things shall cause us to be more certain of thy good will towards us, because that through thy grace we shall overcome, and in overcoming let us understand & be assuredly persuaded that we shall have the upper hand in all our temptations. I beseech thee, my lord, to confirm us with thy spirit in this holy persuasion, so that every one of us may say with thy Apostle: I am sure that neither death neither life, neither Angels, neither princes, neither powers, neither things present neither things to come, neither highness, neither lownes, neither any other creature shallbe able to separate us from the love that God beareth us in Christ jesus our Lord.   

¶ Upon the ix Chapter.  
MY Lord, when thy saints do say that the predestination of the elects doth not depend of man's works but of thy mercy, because that only they be saved which by thee be chosen through grace: the wisdom of man can not abide this verity, saying that this being true, thou shoulddest be unjust, cruel and partial: As though that if a potmaker can make of one lump of clay some vessels to honour and some other to dishonour, it might not be lawful for thee to fashion of one self substance some men to perdition, which be the vessels of wrath, in the which doth appear thy just judgement, and some other to salvation, which be the vessels of grace, in whom is set forth thy glory. But the wise of the world say as pleaseth them. I for myself (my Lord) do render thee infinite thanks that it hath pleased thee that eternal life should depend of thy mercy and not of man's will, because that my corruption is so great, that I am sure I should go into perdition, if my salvation did depend upon me. And I know for a surety that every one to whom it shallbe granted by thy grace to enter into the knowledge of his vanity, willbe of the same opinion, because he is wretched which trusteth in his own power, and blessed is he that putteth affiance in thy mercy throuh jesus Christ our Lord.   

¶ Upon the x. Chapter.  
MY Lord, I know by experience that thy only begotten son jesus Christ, is th'end of thy holy law, because he promiseth life to all the fulfillers, and curseth the transgressors thereof. But how much more a man understandeth the law, and is inclined to observe the same so much more he knoweth himself for a sinner, and doth despair of his own strength. And for what end doth the law bring a man to desperation? To this end that he might be constrained to run unto jesus Christ the only Saviour, whereunto the justice of faith exhorteth him, speaking to him in this wise: O sinful man despair thou not for thy unrighteousness, for if thou wilt believe with thy heart and confess with thy mouth, that jesus Christ very God and very man, died for thy sins, and is risen again & ascended into heaven for thy justice, thou shalt be just and saved. Grant therefore (my Lord) for the glory of thy holy name, a lively faith to those which be as yet under the law, that believing and confessing with heart and with mouth the Lord jesus, they may be justified and receive thy holy spirit, the which writeth the law in their hearts, and of servants of the law maketh them thy children, and leadeth them by the way of good works unto eternal life, the which thou hast promised to every one that shall believe in jesus Christ our Lord.  
My Lord, thou hast promisod that who so ever calleth upon the name of jesus, shallbe saved. But how be they able to call upon the name of jesus, which believe not in him? and how shall they believe in him if they have no knowledge of him? and how shall they have the same, if thy gospel be not purely preached unto them? and how shall it be sincerely preached if thou send not faithful preachers unto them? Send therefore my Lord, preachers unto thy people, & open our hearts with thy spirit, to th'end we may lively believe thy word, and believing may call upon jesus Christ our mediator, and by calling upon him we may be preserved from thy anger, because that without his protection, no living creature shallbe justified in thy sight, sith there is not given unto men under heaven any other name by the which they may be saved, but the name of jesus our redeemer, to whom with thee and the holy ghost be glory world without end.   

¶ Upon the xj Chapter.  
MY Lord, we are thy faithful, but greater is the number of the unfaithful. The which thing may minester an occasion unto our flesh to wax proud, if thy spirit did not restrain it. Grant us therefore grace (my lord) that we may know our faith to be the gift of thy mercy, and not the reward of just works which we have done: So that we ought not to put our affiance in ourselves, but to fear, because that if thou shouldest leave us in the power of our own disposition, we should fall into incredulity: like as contrary wise they that be now unfaithful shall believe if they shallbe visited with thy mercy. O the deepness of the riches of thy wisdom and of thy knowledge. How unsearchable be thy judgements, and thy ways impossible to be found out? And yet not withstanding man's wisdom presumeth to call thee in judgement, and to require the reason of that thou dost. From this wicked presuption keep us (my Lord) and grant us grace to be fools in this world, to th'intent we may be wise in thy sight, for that the wisdom of the world is foolishness with thee, to whom be honour and glory.   

¶ Upon the twelve Chapter.  
MY Lord, grant me grace that like as thy only begotten son offered up in sacrifice his flesh upon the tree of the cross for our salvation, semblably we may make a sacrifice of ourselves to thy glory, by mortifying our will and our reason in the service of faith. Wherefore let thy spirit live in us, the which permitteth not us to be conformable to worldly men, but transformeth us into thy image through the renewing of our mind, to th'end that we may know and work thy holy will, in the which consisteth felicity & perfection. Grant my lord, that every one of us may be sober, neither let us presume of ourselves more than that which is convenient, but humbly contain ourselves within our vocation, in exercising that talon faithfully which thou hast given us to profit our neighbour. Give us (my Lord) a pure love, to th'intent we may be lovers of goodness. Make us fervent in spirit, diligent in thy service, patient in adversity, continual in prayer, loving and gentle toward our brethren, keeping hospitality, glad with them that be glad, sorry with the sorrowful, of one mind and of one accord: not proud and arrogant, but gentle and courteous to our inferriours: not slanderous, but showing good example to all men: not contentious, but quiet: not revenging, but ready to forgive. Pour into us my lord, so much sweetness of thy spirit, that every one of us may bless and not curse, pray for his persecutors, & not be overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good, recompensing wrongs with well doing, that we being holy and perfect, through our perfection and holiness thy holy name may be glorified.   

¶ Upon the xiij Chapter.  
MY Lord, I see many among Christian people the which under the pretence of the liberty of the Gospel (which is all spiritual) do hide the licentiousness of the flesh, and will not obey their superiors: as though the powers being ordained by thee, he did not resist thy ordinance, and condemned not himself whosoever resisteth power.  
Therefore we pray thee, my Lord, that thou wilt grant us grace to obey readily the commandments of our heads, the which now are not against thy ordinances, and make us to render willingly that which is our duty, to every person, either reverence, either tribute, either honour, or what soever it be, that we may remain in nothing dettoures one to an other, but only to love together, because that love is the acomplishment of the law. Behold now the night approacheth to an end, & draweth near to the day of eternal life. Therefore (my lord) send forth thy spirit that may cleanse our souls from the works of darkness, and put upon us jesus Christ thy brightness, causing us to live after such a sort, that our life may be a true resemblance of him, to the honour and glory of thy holy name.   

¶ Upon the xiiij Chapter.  
JESV Christ my Lord, I perceive by the light that thou hast given me, that I ought to accuse myself, and not to judge other: nevertheless I hear oftentimes the accusation of myself, and do take upon me wrongfully the judgement of my neighbour. Therefore I heartily beseech thee, that thou wilt vouchsafe to restrain this my presumption with thy spirit, saying unto my soul I was dead and am risen again to be Lord of the dead and of the living: wherefore then judgest thou thy brother? Speak these words O Lord unto my soul, and make them to enter into the bottom of my heart, that in time to come I may forbear to judge an other, and attend to the consideration of myself, living in such wise that I may not be condemned in thy judgement, but be called to possess with thy elects the kingdom of everlasting life  
My Lord, thy kingdom is justice, peace, joy in the holy spirit. Grant us therefore faith that justifieth, and peace which pacifieth the conscience, and the joy that sweteneth the bitterness of the world, that we may know by these most precious gifts, that we are heirs of thy kingdom, & may serve thee in justice, peace, and joyfulness all the days of our life.  
My Lord, for as much as all that is not done in faith is sin, we beseech thee that thou wilt give us so much strength of spirit that neither fear, neither hope, neither tribulation, neither prosperity may entice us to do any thing the which we believe doth displease thee, to the end that living in faith & in fear, we may always prefer thy holy will before all things.   

¶ Upon the xu Chapter.  
O Lord jesus Christ hear our prayers, and pour thy love into our hearts, that setting apart all carefulness of our own commodities, we may procure with all our endeavour the profit and the salvation of others: like as to deliver us from the bondage of the devil and of death, thou becamest a servant, & taking upon thee all our iniquities, hast canceled them with thy blood upon the cross. And even as thou camest to save not only the people of God, but all other nations the which worshipped false gods: semblably grant that we may be beneficial and liberal toward our familiars and strangers, toward our friends and enemies, neither permit any dissension to rise among us, to th'intent that by all men, with one spirit & with one mouth together, the holy name of thy eternal father may be glorified. Replenish my Lord, with peace & with spiritual joy, our hearts, increasing in us faith, that hope may abound in us by the power of thy spirit, the which leadeth us by the way of love unto thy holy kingdom.   

¶ Upon the xuj. Chapter.  
MY Lord, grant us grace to believe, and without contradiction to obey the preachers of thy word, which do preach purely jesus christ and the Gospel, and suffer us not to be deceived by preachers which do come in the form of sheep and be ravening Wolves, and wander about, causing division & offences, as those that serve not Christ jesus in the Gospel, but their belly by false doctrine, and with the sweet venom of their words do corrupt the hearts of the simple. Keep us my Lord, from the deceit of such, & grant us grace to be prudent and wise unto good, and pure and simple as infants unto evil, and tread down shortly under the feet of thy faithful, Satan with his ministers, that thy gospel may be sincerely preached in all parts: the which thou hast promised by thy prophets in the holy scripture, and the fullness of time being come, thou haste declared by thy Apostles to the whole world that whosoever shall believe: and be baptised shallbe saved, through jesus Christ our redeemer: the which with thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the holy Ghost world without end. Amen.   
FINIS.   

¶ A prayer to be said at the reading or hearing of gods word.  
O Eternal and most merciful God: whose word is the light unto our steps, and the lantern unto our feet: we most humbly beseech thee to illuminate our minds, that we may understand the mysteries contained in thy holy law, and into the same self thing that we godly understand, we may be virtuously transformed, so the of no part we offend thy high majesty, through our Saviour jesus Christ. So be it.  
Vertit ut Chamaeleo corpus hirtum,  
Praeter albentes, maculas in omnes:  
Sic adulator tenet omne recté,  
praeter honestum.   

 printer's device of William Gryffyth, featuring a griffin (McKerrow 157) 
· GEVE · GOD THE GLORY NOW · AND · EVER · MORE ·   
¶ IMPRINTED AT LONdon in Fléetestrete, at the sign of the Falcon by William Gryffith, and are to be sold at his shop in S. Dunston's churchyard. 1569.