Christian praiers and holie medtations as wel for priuate as publique exercise: gathered out of the most godly learned in our time, by Henrie Bull. Wherevnto are added the praiers, commonly called Lidleys praiers.

Thy will be done.

AS thy power is infinite, so is thy wisedome accordingly.

Whereby, as we may perceiue y^t nothing is, or can be done against

thy power, or otherwise then by it: so is there not, nor cannot be any thing done against, or otherwise then by thy omnipotent & secrete will, which is alwayes (as thou art) good holie, and iust, howe farre so euer it seeme otherwise to our foolish reason and iudgement: and therefore here we are taught to pray, that thy wil may be done here without sinne on mans behalfe, as it is on the Angels be∣halfe in heauen.

Againe, for as much as thou art incomprehensible of thy selfe, as wel concerning thy power, as concerning thy wisdome: we may not according thereto search thee, but rather adore and worship thy maiestie, and trem∣ble at thy iudgements, and workes, and therefore pray alwayes, that we may be content with thy wil, and be buxome and obedient thereto.

And for as much as thou hast re∣uealed

to vs so much of thy will in thy word written, as is necessarie for vs in this life to knowe, yea, as we can attaine vnto, and a little further: we ought to take all things done a∣gainst the same, as sinne and trans∣gression, although thou canst vse the same sinne, to serue thy prouidence: of the which prouidence we can not, nor may not iudge further then thou hast, and shalt open it vnto vs.

So that this petition, Thy wil be done, is not simplie to be vnderstoode concerning thy omnipotent wil vn∣reuealed, against the which nothing is nor can be done, but rather concer∣ning thy will reuealed in thy lawe and Gospell, the which thou here teachest me that we should desire, not only to know it, but also to do it, and that in such perfection and wil∣lingnesse, as it is in heauen. The which thing I perceiue hereby, that

thy children doe desire daily in and for them selues and others, and doe lament that contrarie, in whome so euer it be: so that often their eyes gush out with riuers of teares, bi∣cause men keepe not thy lawes.

By reason hereof I see that I am farre from the sighes and teares of thy people. I see my ignorance of thy will, if thou haddest not opened the same by thine owne mouth. I see my ignoraunce, howe acceptable a seruice obedience to thy will is, and therefore doest thou place this peti∣tion among the first and continuall desires of thy children.

Againe I see my pouertie in god∣ly obedience, which had neede to be taught to pray for it, thereby to sig∣nifie vnto me my want and vnabili∣tie to attaine it, but by thy gift.

Thirdly, I see my disobedience: for else neuer wouldest thou haue

commaunded me to haue prayed for the doing of thy will, if I seeing my want, would haue prayed so.

Last of all, I see thy goodnesse, which wilt giue to me and others, to obey thy will: that is, to loue thee with all our heartes, to loue our neighbor as our selues, to dye to our selues, to liue to thee, to take vp our crosse and to followe thee, to beleeue, to repent, &c. for else thou wouldest neuer haue bidden vs to pray for a thing which we should not looke for.

So that I haue great cause to la∣ment and reioyce. To lament, bi∣cause of my miserable state and con∣dition, bicause of my sinne, ignorance pouertie, and peruersitie: also bicause thy will is euery where, either not knowne or contemned, and sathans will, the wil of the world, and of the flesh, readily obeyed.

To reioyce I haue great cause, for

that thou hast opened thy selfe and will vnto mankinde: for that also thou peculiarly hast taught me these things, and bicause thou wilt grant me grace to do the same. But alas, howe vnthankefull I am, and howe hard hearted, thou Lord doest know.

Oh be merciful vnto me, and for∣giue me: I beseech thee gratious God. Graunt me thy holy spirite to reueale to me my ignorance of thy will, my pouertie & peruersitie, that I may hartily bewaile it, &c. and by the helpe and working of the same spirite, may suppresse the will of the flesh. Againe, graunt me thy holie spirite to reueale to me thy will de∣clared in thy lawe and Gospell, that I may truely knowe the same: and inflame so my affections, that I may will and loue the same in such sort, that it may be my meate and drinke to doe thy will.

Here cal to mind the ten comman∣dements of God particularly or gene∣rally, what therein he requireth, and pray for the same particularly as you see your neede, and that not only for your selfe, but also for others.

Pray for patience to suffer what crosse so euer God shal lay vpon you, and pray for them that be vnder the crosse, that they may be patient: pray for spiritual wisdome in euery crosse, peculiar or publike, that you may see and loue Gods will.

Notes

• Gods om¦nipotent will vn∣knowne and vnre∣uealed.
• Gods w••l reuealed and kno∣wen.
• Psal. 119.
• Our ig∣norance.
• Our need.
• Our diso∣bedience.
• Gods goodnes.