OVR FATHER : FATHER , is a title of dignitie and honour , but OVR FATHER is a title of infinite loue , ioyned with greatnesse . These two first wordes , are to put vs in minde , that are but dust and ashes , what person wee are to speake vnto ; for preparing our reuerence in the highest degree ; not like the Puritans , to talke homely with God , as our fellow ; who therefore loue to sit Iack-fellowlike with Christ at the Lords Table , as his brethren and camerades : and yet our reuerence to be mixed with a sweete confidence in his loue ; for he is our Father , and we are his adopted children and coheires with Christ of his Kingdome . Euery one of vs is commanded to call him OVR FATHER , in the plurall number , to shew that holy communion which is among the Saints , and that euery one of vs is a member of a body of a Church , that is compacted of many members : contrary to those little start-vp sects in Amsterdam , where two or three make a Church ; and contrary to all those contemners of Antiquitie , that wil haue nothing , but all Babylonish till their time .

WHICH ART IN HEAVEN : This is the place where the Throne of his Maiestie is set ; for though he be present euery where , as well in his infinite essence as power , in spight both of Vorstius and some of the Arminians ; yet is he onely resident in heauen , as the Seat of his Maiestie , according to that of Esay 66.1 . Heauen is my Throne , and earth is my footstoole . And by the nomination here of heauen , it puts vs in minde what Father we pray vnto , that it is no earthly man , but onely our heauenly Father , sursum corda .

Now we come to the Petitions , the number whereof by most of the ancient Church was reckoned to be seuen , diuiding in two Petitions , Leade vs not into temptation , and deliuer vs from euill : whereas of late dayes wee haue confounded them in one . But surely in mine opinion , the Fathers had good reason to diuide them , as I shall shew in the owne time .

HALLOWED BE THY NAME : This is the first Petition , and this is the affirmatiue of that whereof the contrary is prohibited in the third Commandement . Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine . Wee first make this Petition , that all men may doe their homage which they owe vnto God , as wee now doe , before wee make our suites , either for the publike welfare of the Church , or our owne priuate benefite . For it were an impudent thing for any Subiect to make a sute to his Souereigne Prince , before hee did his homage vnto him . The principall ende for which God created man after his Image , was that hee might sanctifie his Name ; and this is not onely the Office of the Militant Church here , and of euery one of them ; but it is also the eternall Office of the Church triumphant in Heauen , composed of Angels and men , who without ceasing praise and sanctifie the Name of God for euer . We sanctifie his Name in this earth , either when wee praise God , pray to him with reuerence , or speake of his wonderfull workes , repent vs of our sinnes with confession of them , edifie our brethren to saluation , or beare witnesse to the trueth being duely required . Wee are also to obserue that these wordes are not here set downe in the present time , Wee hallowe thy Name , but in the sense of the optatiue moode , Hallowed be thy Name ; because euery Christian man , as a feeling member of the body of the Church , ought to pray that Gods Name may bee praised , and sanctified by men and Angels : not onely for the present , but in all times comming , and after that there shal be no more time , for euer and euer eternally . And although wee knowe it must and euer will be so , yet wee pray and wish it ; to shewe and expresse our harmonie and holy zeale to praise God , ioyntly with the rest of the members , both of the Militant & triumphant Church . But that wee are to pray for in this Petition is , that all the behauiour of the Militant Church may euer be directed chiefly to that ende , that his Name may be sanctified in all their words and actions . Now that wee doe not wish God to be hallowed , but his Name ; the reason is easie , for God is not onely perfectly holy , but he is euen ipsa sanctitas , & quicquid est in Deo est Deus : therefore wee pray that his Name may bee hallowed amongst vs here vpon earth , as himselfe is perfectly holy both in his Name and essence , not that hereby wee can imagine to make him and his Name holy , but that God would giue vs grace to vse it holily . It is also to bee noted , that not only in this prayer , but euen in all other prayers , wee speake to God in the singular number , Thou , whereas , We , is a stile of greatnesse amongst men ; the reason is , that God is one , yea vnitie it selfe : not that wee acknowledge with the Iewes , Arrians , and other Hereticks , but one person in the Godhead , blotting out both the Sonne and the Holy Ghost ; but because though there be three persons , yet is there but one indiuiduall essence , one in three & three in one distinguished , but not diuided , according to the Athanasian Creed . And therefore because wee haue only one to pray vnto , to whom onely all glorie appertaines , wee call him Thou , per excellentiam ; keeping out of our Kalender , aswell the Heathen gods as the Popish Saints : for God Almighty will haue no felowes ioyned in worship with him , as himselfe declares in the first of the tenne Commandements , and also in Esay 42.8 . God tells vs , hee will not giue his glory to another .

THY KINGDOME COME , This is the second Petition , and it will admit two interpretations , that may both stand with the Analogie of Faith . The first , that in these words we pray for the second comming of CHRIST , which is promised to bee hastened for the elects sake : the reason is that an end may bee put to the miseries of the Church , especially in regard of that fearefull defection that is threatned to come in the latter daies , and whereof we in our dayes haue the dolefull experience , that Luke 18. ● . Faith shall not bee found on the earth , and the Matth . 24.12 . loue of many shall waxe colde . And whosoeuer will make choice of this interpretation , must vnderstand the next Petition in this forme , In the meane time , Thy will bee done in earth as it is in Heauen . The other interpretation is , to which I rather encline , that the words of thy Kingdome come are seconded by the next following Petition , Thy will bee done in earth , as it is in Heauen . The reasons perswading me to like best of this opinion are two ; Frst , because it is CHRISTS vsuall phrase in the Gospell by the Kingdome of Heauen to meane the Church Militant ; and all the faithfull are bound to pray for the flourishing prosperitie of the Church , and that there may bee peace in Israel . The other reason is , because of the next following Petition , Thy will bee done , &c. that is , that by the meanes of the flourishing of the Church , the will of God may be done in earth as it is in heauen . And vpon the other part , although wee bee commanded when wee shall see the signes going before the latter day , to Luke 21.28 . lift vp our heads , knowing that the latter day , the day of our deliuerance is at hand : and although S. Paul tells vs , that the Rom. 8.22 . whole creation groaneth and trauaileth in paine , to be renewed ; and that S. Iohn after he had been rauished in spirit , where besides many other heauenly mysteries , he saw the glory of the very Throne of God . Albeit ( I say ) that vpon that glorious sight he burst foorth in these words , Reuel . 22.20 etiam veni Domine Iesu : yet I can finde no cleare place of Scripture that commands euery faithfull man to pray continually for the hastening of the Lords comming : and to aleadge these words in the LORDS PRAYER for it , is petitio principij , and to take controuersum pro confesso . For though death be the deliuerer of euery faithful man from this prison & body of sin , to eternall felicitie , our Sauiour by his death & passion hauing killed the sting of death in vs : and although S. Paul , rauished in a high contemplation , wished to be Phil . 1.23 . dissolued , & be with Christ , yet haue wee no warrant euery man to pray for the hastening of his owne death ; and death is to euery particular faithfull man the same thing , that the generall transmutation will be at the latter day to the whole body of the Elect ; except that wee will , after the generall dissolution , attaine to a greater degree of glory . Now that wee desire the Kingdome of God to come , is thereby meant , that wee desire , that the Church of God may more and more be spred vpon the face of the earth ; and that the number of the elect may bee multiplied . In a word , that he would send a plentifull haruest , with sufficient store of labourers .

THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH , AS IT IS IN HEAVEN . This third Petition I take to be a Prayer , to grant vs the meanes of attaining to his Kingdome ; as if yee would say , Thy Kingdome come , and to this effect let thy will bee done , &c. S. Luke hath it , as in heauen , so in earth , to shew how precisely wee ought to wish that Gods will were done in earth iust as it is in heauen . God hath two Voluntas signi & beneplaciti . wills , a reuealed will towards vs , and that will is here vnderstood : hee hath also a secret will in his eternall counsell , whereby all things are gouerned , and in the end made euer to turne to his glory , often times drawing good effects out of bad causes , and light out of darkenesse , to the fulfilling either of his mercie or iustice , Which made S. Augustine say , bonum est vt fit malum .

Wee are then to pray , that his reuealed will may bee obeyed in earth by his militant Church , as it is by his triumphing Church in heauen : then would this Militant Church vpon earth obserue better the two Tables of the Law , then now they do , and then would the Church be free of Schismes , Heresies , and all new opinions ; but this is neuer to bee looked for in this world . We are onely to wish , that God would multiply and increase his blessings vpon her , in that measure that hee shall thinke most expedient for his glory , and her comfort . For let the vaine Chiliasts gape after that thousand yeeres of Christs kingdome to bee setled vpon earth , and let Brightman bring downe that heauenly Ierusalem , and settle it in this world , the word of God assures vs , that the latter dayes shall prooue the worst , and most dangerous dayes . Now as for the performance of the decrees and secret will of God ; wee are not commanded to pray for that , for it is ineuitable ; but wee must without murmuring submit our selues vnto it , saying with our Sauiour , Mat . 26.39 . not my will , but thy will bee done . For the first Article of the Apostles Creede teacheth vs , that God is Almighty , how euer Vorstius and the Arminians thinke to rob him of his eternall decree , and secret will , making many things to bee done in this world whether hee will or not .

GIVE vs THIS DAY OVR DAILY BREAD . This is the fourth Petition in order , but the first that euery particular man is to begge for himselfe ; hauing first preferred his generall petitions for the aduancement of the glorie of GOD , and the felicitie , by consequence , of the whole Church militant in generall . But though euery man in particular is to begge this for himselfe , yet doe wee begge it for vs , in the plurall number ; and this we doe to shew our charitie , as feeling members of that Body , whereof Christ is the Head : and so in all the rest of our petitions following , according to that rule in the New Testament , Iames 5.16 . Orate alij pro alijs . And by this word , OVR , are we also taught neuer to pray for our selues , without praying also for our neighbour . But vpon this rule of praying one for another , to ground the prayer to the Saints to pray for vs , is very farre fetched ; for then should follow , That since we are commanded to pray one for another , wee should pray for the Saints , as well as they for vs. Surely we that are vpon this earth , are commanded to pray one for another , but no mention is made of Saints nor Angels in that precept , nor any where else in the word of God ; and it is a good sure rule in Theologie , in matter of the worship of God , Quod dubitas ne feceris ; according to that of S. Paul , Rom. 14.5 . Let euery man bee fully perswaded in his minde . Besides , we doe not make a formall prayer and worship one to another , that he may pray for vs , as the Papists doe to their Saints . I meddle not with that question , whether the Saints or Angels pray for vs or not ; but I am sure wee haue no warrant in the word of God to pray to them for that end . Now the thing we pray for in this petition , is our dayly bread , which this day we begge at Gods hand . Wee begge our dayly bread , this day , at Gods hand , to shew that from the poorest begger to the greatest King , no mortall creature is exeemed from that necessitie of dayly begging all temporall benefits that we haue neede of , at Gods hand : for euery houre , yea , euery minute wee haue neede of GODS assistance , both in our Spirituall and Temporall necessities ; and therefore Saint Luke hath it , day by day , to expresse our dayly necessitie so to pray . And wee are to obserue , that not onely in this Petition , which is the first in order of these foure which euery man prayes for himselfe ; but also in the other three following , this word dayly , is to bee vnderstood , although it bee not expressed : for wee haue dayly , yea , hourely neede to craue pardon for our sinnes , to pray that we be not ledde into temptation , and to bee preserued from all euill . By this word , Hodie , this day , is likewise vnderstood the supplying of our temporall necessities through the whole course of our life ; for in that sence the word , Hodie , for the Heb . 3.7 . whole life , is taken in diuers places of the Scripture .

This word , dayly , doeth likewise put vs in mind , that wee are but pilgrims in this world , and therefore are not to make a setled prouision for our selues here ; according to the rule that our Sauiour gaue to his Apostles , not to take care for to morrow . Not that hereby all lawfull prouidence is forbidden to any man , according to his degree , for that were a tempting of God ; but onely that wee should not haue a distrustfull or anxious care , nor preferre the care of prouiding for worldly things , to our care of laying vp a store of heauenly treasure : laying our speciall trust vpon Gods blessing of our lawfull and moderate industrie , for prouision of temporal things ; remembring euer , that in vaine we plant or sow , except God giue the increase and blessing vnto it . For our principall care must euer be for our heauenly habitation , and then God will the better blesse & prosper our second and moderate care , for prouiding for our temporall necessities . Let vs care for the principall , and not omit the other , as Christ said to the Pharisees , Mat . 23.23 . By this word , bread , that we pray for , is signified & vnderstood all kinde of food , or other temporall necessities . Bread thorow all the Scriptures signifies all sort of food ; for it is the most common & necessary sort of food for man . And we see euen in these Northren parts of the world where wee liue , and where flesh is most eaten , corne whereof bread is made , is only called victuall , & the word of victual comes à victu , because we liue vpon it : and notwithstanding the abundance of flesh that wee consume , yet good cheape yeeres or deare yeeres , are onely counted so , because of the abundance or scarcetie of corne in these yeeres . And therefore CHRIST ordained the Sacrament in bread , to represent thereby our foode in generall vnto vs ; for his flesh is very meat indeede . All our temporall necessities are also comprehended here vnder the name of bread , to teach vs , that as bread is the commonest foode both to rich and poore , so we ought to pray onely for such temporall things as are necessary for our esse , or at farthest for our bene esse ; but not for those things that are ad luxum & ad superfluitatem . For commonly we abuse them to our owne hurt , & they serue vs but for baites to entice vs to sinne : but if it shall please God , liberally to bestow likewise these things vpon vs , we are bound to be thankful for them , vsing them with sobriety and without excesse , according to our ranks and callings , euer remembring whose gift they are . And when wee pray for Bread , that is , to be supplied of all our temporall necessities , wee must also comprehend therein the staffe of bread , that is , to pray that the blessing may bee ioyned with the benefite , that it may serue vs for the right vse for which it is ordained : otherwise wee shall starue of hunger and the bread in our mouthes , wee shall die like the Israelites , with the flesh of Quailes amongst our teeth , and we shall haue all things for the supplying of our worldly necessities , and yet want the vse and comfort of them : like the rich Miser , who abounding in wealth starues for want , or like the carriage-Moyle that carries a loade of prouender , and yet cannot satisfie her hungrie belly with any part of it . Now that wee pray God to giue it vs , it is easie to be vnderstood ; for the Lord is the onely proprietarie both of Heauen and Earth , and all that therein is , and wee are onely Vsu-fructuaries and his Tenants at will , euery one of vs of such little parcels of earth , as it pleaseth him to bestow vpon vs ; nam Psal . 24.1 . Domini est terra & plenitudo eius .

AND FORGIVE vs OVR DEBTS , AS WE FORGIVE OVR DEBTERS . This is the fift Petition , and the most important of them all , for euery man in particular ; and therfore we are not to craue that inestimable benefite of the pardon of our debts , except vpon that condition , that wee forgiue our debters . S. Luke expresseth this condition more clearely : for hee hath it thus , And forgiue vs our sinnes ; for wee also forgiue euery one that is indebted vnto vs. So as God cannot bee mooued for any other condition to pardon our sinnes , but because hee sees wee haue already pardoned euery one that hath offended vs ; and where euery one is expressed , none is excepted : durus est hic sermo amongst them that are thought the braue men of this world . Our sinnes are called debts in Saint Mathew , as an argument à maiore ad minus , that if wee would haue God to pardon vs our debts , how can we refuse to pardon our debters ; except wee looke for the like Matth . 18.34 reward that the euill seruant got of his master : and in Saint Luke they are called sinnes , to teach vs that if wee would haue our heauenly Father , to remit vnto vs all our innumerable mortall sinnes ; how much more haue wee reason to pardon the offences of our brethren against vs , which are but slight debts , in comparison of our grieuous sinnes against God . And in that wee pray God to forgiue vs our sinnes , wee thereby make a generall implicite confession of our sinnes : for if wee had committed no sinnes , wee would haue no neede to craue pardon for them . Whereupon it doth necessarily follow , that if the doctrine of the Church of Rome bee true , that diuers men can keepe the tenne Commandements , without euer in their life committing any mortall sinne ; then must all such persons bee exeemed from praying the LORDS PRAYER , as not hauing neede of it , and their distinction betweene Mortall and Veniall sinnes cannot elide this consequence . For what needes a man craue pardon at God for his Veniall sinnes , when hee may haue as many pardons from the Pope This was foelix error in the Church of Rome . For the monstrous & vnsupportable abuse of these pardons in Germany in the time of Leo decimus , awaked Luther , by whom such a breach was made in the Popes iurisdiction , as could neuer after be made vp againe . , as hee shall please to bestow his money vpon , both for Mortall and Veniall sinnes ; and not only for sinnes already committed , but euen for sinnes to come , which is a farre greater grace then euer God promised vs. And I protest that I haue seene two of these Authenticall Bulles with mine eyes ; one , when I was very young in Scotland , and it was taken from a Scottish Priest ; and the other I saw here in England , taken from an Irishman , and both of them pardoning such & such sinnes , aswell by-past as to come . But I returne to their distinction betwixt Mortall and Veniall sinnes . For Veniall sinnes carry the soules but to Purgatory , according to their doctrine , whereof the Pope hath the key to open and locke at his pleasure ▪ and yet I hope no man doubts , but all the Apostles prayed the LORDS PRAYER ; for their Master taught it them in speciall , as appeares in S. Luke : and it is likely that they were as holy , and committed as few Mortal sinnes , as any of the Popes late legended Saints haue done . But wee are all commanded in S. Matthew to pray thus , and where all are commanded none are excepted , no not the blessed Virgine her selfe , ( whom all ages shall call blessed ) though the gray Friers , and Bellarmine with them , labour hard to exeeme her , both from originall and actual sinnes . And we ought dayly to make this generall confession of our sinnes , and craue pardon for them , because we daily commit sins , Prou. 24.16 . Septies in die cadit iustus . Heere now are wee taught to confesse our sinnes to God , but I cannot find , that in any place of the Scriptures a necessitie is imposed vpon vs , vnder the paine of damnation , of confessing the least one of our secret sinnes to a Priest : nay if the least sinnefull thought be omitted , all the charme is spilt . For as to that place , Iames 5.16 . Confitemini alij alijs ; if ye meane it of the offences made by one against another in this world , a Priest will not be necessary to take the confession ; or if yee meane it by confession of sinnes , we are not by that commandement restrained to make it to no other degree of persons , but to a Priest : though I confesse indeede , a godly discreet Church man is the fittest friend , that a man can choose to confesse his sinnes vnto ; and by his helpe to obtaine comfort , and absolution of his sinnes , by the power of the keyes . Neither will these places serue their turne , Dic Matth . 18.17 Ecclesiae , or , Present Matth . 8.4 . thy selfe to the high Priest , or , Iohn 20.23 . Quorum remiseritis peccata . For the first of these places , Dic Ecclesiae , is onely meant by the offences that one of vs commits against another ; besides that the Confession in that case must be publike , the offence being first made publike , for purging the publike scandal , contrary to their priuate whispering in a Priests eare , who is bound by his profession , neuer to reueale it to any creature , no though the concealing of it should indanger a Kings life , and the destruction of a whole kingdome : According to that assertion of a Iesuit , mentioned in resp . ad Epist. Card . Perronij . pag . 28. nay euen though it should endanger the life of our Sauiour , if hee were come in mortall flesh into this world againe . And the second concerning the comming before the high Priest , is likewise to bee vnderstood of a publike action ; besides that their presenting themselues before the high Priest , was rather done for a publike Thankesgiuing , and declaration of their obtaining of health , or any such benefit , as is manifest in that particular case of cleansing of the Leper , to whom Christ gaue Matth . 8.4 . that commandement . And as to the third place , Quorum remiseritis peccata ; that doth indeed conteine the power of the Keyes giuen to the Church , not by astricting euery particular man , to make a particular enumeration of euery sinne , to a priuat Priest by auricular confession : but onely to shew the Churches ministeriall power in pardoning , that is , in declaring such sinnes to be pardoned in heauen , as the partie shall then shew a due contrition for . And yet Bellarmine is not ashamed to say , that this constrained Auricular confession of theirs , is Iuris diuini , and grounded vpon the word of God . For my part , with * Caluine I commend Confession , Iust . lib . 3. cap . 4. sect . 12. euen priuately to a Churchman , as I said before . And with all my heart I wish it were more in custome amongst vs then it is , as a thing of excellent vse , especially for preparing men to receiue the Sacrament worthily . But that necessitie imposed vpon it by the Romish Church , that euery secret thought that can be stretched towards any sinne , must bee reuealed to a Confessor ; that necessitie , I say , I iustly condemne , as hauing no warrant at all in the word of God , though very beneficiall to the Church of Rome . Now as to the clause irritant in the contract betwixt God and vs , That he will not pardon our sinnes , except wee first forgiue euery one that is indebted to vs , I told you already , it is durus sermo ; and specially to them that are thought to haue high spirits : but I am sure wee shall neuer attaine to that height of our heauenly habitation , except wee doe it . Since then this clause is causa sine qua non , in the point of our eternall felicitie , we haue all great reason seriously to consider , First , what we are to win or lose , in the performing or not performing , of this condition set vnto vs : And next , whether the performance thereof , may easily bee done or not , in case wee haue a minde to it . For the first , the case is plaine ; for by performing of this condition vpon our part , wee gaine the Kingdome of Heauen , by obtayning pardon for our sinnes : & by not performing it , wee shut with our owne hands the gates of heauen against vs ; for without remission of sinnes can bee no saluation . As to the next question , our braue men , at least these that would be thought so , tell vs that this is a hard and almost impossible condition , and that wee must put our selues in Christs mercy for not performing this , no more then diuers other of his precepts ; as , If Matt . 5.39 . one giue thee a boxe vpon the one eare , hold vp the other ; and Matt . 18.9 . if thine eye offend thee , plucke it out , for better it is &c. But these two are not to bee vnderstood as absolute precepts , as some of the Anabaptists haue done the first of them , and some other Origen was iustly punished in a point like this , for turning all the plaine places of the Scripture into allegories , being so blinded in the literall misunderstanding of the allegory of castration , as he foolishly gelded himselfe . Heretikes haue done the last . But they are onely meant comparatiuely , as thus : Rather then that thou shouldest thy selfe be the auenger of thine own wrong resistendo malo , ratione vllâ malâ ; and so to take the sword out of Gods and his Deputie the Magistrates hand , it were better or lesse harme for thee to indure a double iniurie . Otherwise fortitude were a vice , which indeed is a high vertue , being righly defined and vnderstood . For vim vi repellere , is iuris naturalis ; and our Sauiour came not to peruert or destroy Nature , but onely to rectifie and sanctifie it : and I dare say , there is no vaine fabulous Romanzo , that more highly commends fortitude , and valiant men It is a Tenent fit for an Atheisticall Machiauell to hold , that Religion daunts a mans courage ; and abundantly confuted by the constancie of many thousand Martyrs . for their valour , then the Scripture doeth : but all is in the right vse of it . And so is likewise to bee vnderstood that , of plucking out thine eye ; for if thou cannot keepe thy selfe from giuing offence , by the meanes of one of thine eyes , better it were or lesse harme to plucke it out and bee saued with the losse of one eye , then bee damned with both . But the meaning of this precept is not to be vnderstood literally , of the amputation , or destruction of any of our members , for that were a sort of parricide : but onely , that if we finde that any of our sences prouoke vs to bee tempted , as if the sight of faire and beautifull women prouoke vs to lust , or if any other of our sences tempt vs to any sinne , let vs depriue our selues of such occasions , which may otherwise bee lawfull , rather then hazard to be ledde into temptation by them ; and so by depriuing our selues of that sight , which so much pleaseth vs , we doe , as it were , plucke out one of our eyes : and by depriuing our selues from the hearing of that which so much delights vs , we cut off in a maner one of our eares ; and the like in the other sences . For when wee depriue our selues of that vse of any of our senses , which we most delight in , we doe in a manner robbe our selues of that fence . And whereas they account this condition in the LORDS PRAYER to be impossible to be performed : I answere , It is blasphemie to say , that any of Christs precepts are impossible to bee performed ; for it is to giue himselfe the lie , who out of his owne mouth told vs , that Matth . 11.28 , 30. his yoke is easie , and bids vs that are burthened , come to him , and he will ease vs. For our Sauiour came into this world , that by his merits and passion , hee might redeeme vs from the thraldome of the Law , to the libertie of the sonnes of God . Since therefore this condition is of no lower price then the Kingdome of heauen , and that it is not only possible , but easie to be performed by vs , if we will earnestly set our mindes to it ; what should we not doe , omnem mouendo lapidem , for enabling vs to attaine to so great a felicitie , and to eschew so great a misery ? for there is no midway in this case . Now the onely way for enabling vs to performe it , is by our earnest prayer to God , that hee will enable vs to doe it , according to that of S. Augustine , Da Domine quod iubes , & iube quod vis : For it is true , that that grace is a flower , that growes not in our owne garden , but wee must set our minde to it , as I said already , and not lazily leaue it off , and betake vs to his mercie , because it agrees not with our humour and passions : for wilfully to disobey his precept , is a plaine refusing , and scorne of his mercie , which is but offered vnto vs in case of obedience ; and to refuse obedience because it is against our minde , is like the excuse of the Tobacco-drunkards , who cannot abstaine from that filthy stinking smoake , because , forsooth , they are bewitched with it . And this is an excuse for any sinne , they will not leaue it , because they cannot leaue it ; but the trueth is , because they will not leaue it : like a sluggard , who when he hath lien in bed , & slept more then can doe him good ; yet he cannot rise , because he wil not rise for lazines . But since we cannot pardon them that haue offended vs , except wee haue charity , I will shortly set down & describe the contrary to it , which is rancour and reuenge , that so I may make that diuine vertue of charity , the better to shine & appeare in the owne colours , when her contrary is set downe , ex diametro opposed vnto her , according to that olde and true saying , Contraria iuxtase posita magis elucescunt .