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.

For thine is the kingdome, thine is the power, thine is the glorie, for euer.

AS in y^e beginning of this praier by these words (Our father whi∣ch art in heauen) thy children are excited & stirred vp to a ful cōfidence of obtaining the petitions folowing, & all things necessarie: so in the later end thou hast added for y^e same pur∣pose these wordes (For thine is the kingdom, thine is &c.) wherin I am

taught these many things. First that in prayer I should haue such consi∣deration of thy kingdome, power, glory, and eternitie, that my minde should be striken with an admirati∣on of the same. Secondly, that I should so consider them, especially in prayer, that I should not doubt, but that thou workest rulest and gouer∣nest all things euerie where, in all persons and creatures, most wisely, iustly, and mercifully. Thirdly, that in prayer al my petitio••s shuld tend to the ••etting foorth of thy power, of thy kingdome, and of thy glorie.

Last of al, that in praier I should in no wise doubt of being heard, but be assured that thou, which hast com¦maunded me to pray, and hast pro∣mised to heare me, do••st most grati∣ously for thy mercies sake, & truthes sake, heare my petitions, according to thy good wil, through Iesu Christ

thy deare sonne our Lorde and onely Sauiour.

By reason whereof I haue great cause to lament and reioyce. To la∣ment, bicause I consider not these thinges in prayer, in such sort as should moue me to admiration, and gratitude: bicause I consider not thy power and wisedome generally in al things: bicause I am so carelesse for thy kingdome: and bicause I am so full of dubitation and doubting of thy goodnesse. To reioyce I haue great cause: bicause thou reuealest these things vnto me on this sorte: bicause of thy power, kingdome and glory, which maketh to the hearing of my prayers, and helping of me: bicause thou wilt vse me as thine in¦strument to set foorth thy kingdome, power, and glorie: and bicause it pleaseth thee to heare my prayers, and assuredly wilt saue me for euer.

But alas, howe farre am I from these lamentings and reioycings? By reason whereof I deserue dam∣nation. Oh, be mercifull vnto me, and forgiue me, and of thy goodnesse grant me thy holie spirite, to reueale to me my blindenesse, obliuion, and contempt of thy kingdome, power, and glorie, with the greatnesse of my doubtings, that I may heartily, as lament them, so haue them pardoned and taken from me, through the me∣rites of Iesus Christ thy sonne.

Againe, giue me thy holy spirit to reueale to me in such sort, thy king∣dom, power, glory, and eternitie, that I may always haue the same before mine eyes, be moued with the admi∣ration thereof, labour effectually to set foorth the same, and finally, as to haue the fruition thereof after this life: so to increase in an assured, cer∣taine, and liuely expectation of the

same, that I may alwayes and in all thinges reioyce in thee, through Christ, and giue lauds, thankes, and prayses perpetually, vnto thy most holy name: Oh blessed Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost, three per∣sons and one God, to whome be all honour and glorie, world without end.

Here thinke that if the kingdome, power, glorie, and eternitie be Gods, which is our Father, what our digni∣tie is, which be his children. If the po∣wer be our fathers, of whome should we be afraid? If the diuell be subiect to the Lordes power and kingdome, (as he is) howe can the subiect haue power ouer vs which be sonnes and heires, in that he hath not power ouer Porkets, without the prouidence and permission of God? Therefore full well should we pray, Lead vs not into temptation, rather then, let vs not be lead

into temptation: for power is the Lords, and the diuell hath none but that he hath of Gods gift. No, he were not a∣ble to receiue power, if God did not make him able, although the ex∣ecution of it, is rather of Gods permission.

Giue all thankes, prayse, and glorie, to God our Fa∣ther, through Christe our Lord and Sauiour. So be it.

Iohn Bradford.