nor nothing that God promiseth in his word to give us, but it is expressed in one of these seven petitions. I shewed you this day, why we call God," Father," namely, because he beareth a loving and fatherly heart towards us. It is a sweet word, "Father," and a word that pleaseth God much, when it is spoken with a faithful heart, which above all things God requireth. This word, "Father," moveth God's affections in a manner towards us, so that he hearing the word of Father, cannot choose but shew himself a Father indeed. So that it is a word profitable to us in God's behalf, and again for our own selves. For it moveth God to pity, and also helpeth our faith; so that we doubt not, but that we shall find him a Father, which will grant our requests and petitions, made unto him in the name of Christ.

Now what crafts and conveyances the devil useth to withdraw and let us from prayer, I told you to-day afore-noon. If you exercise prayers, you shall find the temptations of the devil, for he sleepeth not: he ever intendeth to withdraw us from prayer. But, I told you, what remedy you should use against him, how you should strive against him, namely, with faith, believing that our Saviour hath taken away our sins, so that they cannot hurt us. For they be not sins in the sight of God: for he hath taken away both the guiltiness of sins, and the pains and punishments which follow sins. Christ hath deserved, that those which believe in him shall be quit from all their sins.

These benefits of Christ are set out in Scripture in many places, and these be the weapons, wherewith we must fight against the devil, and his illu sions: not with holy water, for I tell you, the devil. is not afraid of holy water: it is Christ, that hath gotten the victory over him, it is he that vanquisheth the serpent's head, and not holy water. Farther, in

that we call him, "Father," his will and fatherly affections are expressed. That we call him, "Heavenly Father," his might and power, his omnipotency is expounded unto us. So that you perceive, that he is both loving and kind towards us, that he beareth a good will, and also is able to help, able to defend us from all our enemies, spiritual and temporal. Therefore, let us put our trust and confidence in him: let us not despair of his help, seeing he is so loving, kind, and gentle towards us; and then so mighty, that he hath all things in his hands. This affection and love towards us, passeth all motherly affections.

Farther, you have heard, how the good will of God towards us is set out by this word, "Father," and his power and omnipotence by this word "heavenly." But I would have you to consider well this word, "Our." For it is a great help unto us, and strengtheneth much our faith, so that we may be assured, that every good man in the whole world will pray for us, and with us, whilst we have one Father, and one manner of prayer. And this word, " Our," putteth us in remembrance that we be brethren in Christ where we be admonished to despise no man, be he never so miserable, or poor, for we have all one Father, which hath made us all of one metal of earth. So, that the highest prince in the world is made as well of earth, as the poorest, and so shall turn into the same again, as well as the poorest shepherd.

Let these proud persons mark this well, which be ever ready to despise every man. Such proud persons say never the Lord's prayer with good mind: yea, God is not their Father. For he abhorreth all proudness: therefore such stubborn fellows, when they will pray, they should not say, "Our Father, which art in heaven," but rather, Our father which

art in hell. God is their Father, as concerning their substance, for he giveth them souls and bodies: but they make themselves the members of the devil, contrary unto God's will and pleasure.

Therefore, set aside all arrogance and proudness. Likewise all superstition and hypocritical babbling, speaking many words to little purpose. As I heard say of some lawyers, who babble and prate, and pretend a great diligence and earnest desire to defend the poor man's cause, but in their hearts they be false, and seek money, and nothing else, so that their hearts and mouths disagree.

Let us, I say, not follow such lawyers, let us not make a show of holiness with much babbling, for God hath no pleasure in it; therefore away with it; yea, not alone with this, but with all that may let us in our prayer. Set it aside, and come reverently to talk with God. Like as when you go to the communion, you must be prepared unto it, you must be in charity with your neighbour: so likewise, when you will talk with God, and pray to him, you must be prepared.

Here, you may perceive, that all those persons that will not be corrected for their faults, that cannot bear godly admonitions, they talk never with God to his pleasure. They be not ruled by God's spirit, and so not meet for him. All rebellious persons, all blood-thirsty persons, all covetous persons, all lecherous persons, all liars, drunkards, and such-like, Be not in the case to talk with God. God will not hear them, he cannot abide them: they stink before his face, as long as they come before him with such abominable sins, not intending to leave them. Remember now, what a doctrine is contained in this preface, weigh it, for it is better to say it sententiously one time, than to run it over an hundred times with humbling and mumbling.

Now, when we have begun, as we ought to do, what shall we desire? "Hallowed be thy name. Thy name," Father," be hallowed, be sanctified, be magnified. What is this? What meant our Saviour, when he commanded us, that we should desire, that God's name be hallowed? There are a great number of people, who speak these words with their mouth, but not with their hearts, contrary to that saying, "Whatsoever we ask, let us ask fervently, as if desirous to obtain." But they say it without knowledge, therefore they say it not, as they ought to do. Thy name:" werequire not that his name may be hallowed in him; for this is already done without our prayer: but we desire that he will give us grace, and assist us, that we in all our doings, throughout our life, may sanctify his name.

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And here we are admonished again of love and charity. For when we say, "Hallowed be thy name,' we ask in all men's names: where we may perceive, what communion and fellowship is between the faithful flock of God. For every faithful man and woman requireth, that the whole church may hallow and sanctify God's word. What is it to be hallowed? We desire that the name of God may be revealed, opened, manifested, and credited throughout all the world. What is God's name? Marry, all that is spoken of him in holy Scripture; that is his name. He is called "gracious," merciful," " ""righteous," "a punisher of wickedness," almighty," "long suffering," "patient," "hearty," "a consuming fire," the king over the whole earth," "a judge, "a Saviour.". These, and such like, are the names of God,

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true,"

Now, when I make my petition unto him, saying, "Hallowed be thy name," I desire that his name may be revealed, that we may know what Scripture speaketh of him, and so believe that same, and live

after it. I do not desire, that his name be hallowed. of himself, for it needeth not, he is holy already. But I desire that he will give us his Spirit, that we may express him in all our doings and conversations: so that it may appear by our deeds, that God is even · such one indeed, as Scripture doth report him. We. are tried many times whether his name be hallowed amongst us, or no. He sendeth us troubles and adversities, to prove us, whether we will hallow his name or no; but he findeth us clean contrary. For some of us, when we be in trouble, do run hither and thither to sorcerers and witches, to get remedy.', Some again swear and curse: but such fellows hallow not the name of God. But God is a sharp punisher, he will punish sin, and those which blaspheme his holy name.

I heard of late, that there be some wicked persons (despisers of God and his benefits), which say; "It is no matter whatsoever we do; we be baptized, we cannot be damned, for all those that be baptized,. and be called Christians, shall be saved." This is a false and wicked opinion. And I assure you that such which bear the name of Christians, and be baptized, but follow not God's commandments, that, such fellows (I say) be worse than the Turks and heathen. For the Turks and heathen have made no promise unto Christ to serve him. These fellows have made promise in baptism to keep Christ's rules, which thing they do not. And therefore they be worse than the Turks. For they break their promise, made before God and the whole congregation. And therefore such Christians be most wicked, per- . jured persons, and not only be perjured, but they go about to make God a liar, so much as lieth in them.

There be some again, which, when they be in trouble, they call upon God, but he cometh not by and by, minding to prove their patience: they, per