William Roye's Dialogne between a cliristiati Fathpr and liis stubborn Son. 409 



to accomplisshe tho ' thynges which the Lord liath commaimded 

 vnto me, or eise to flv those thvnires which he hatli forbodden 

 me. seyinge clerli that the nature of my flesshe is clene con- 

 trary to god and his will. So. This knowledg^e of thy silfe 

 doutlesse is very necessary. but teil nie, is thy conscience 

 herby satisfied, and at rest? Fa. Kather broug-ht into gret 

 vnquietnes, and sorowe. Ye alinost dryven into desperation. And 

 therfore I seke all the wayes possible, howe I myght roid. üj. 

 do tho ' thynges which fayth (wherof hidderto we have spoken) 

 requyreth of me, yf I will come to quyetnes of conscience. 

 Which favthe throus-h Christ sendeth me to e-od mv mercifull 

 father. Wheare as these thynges only are to be fownde 

 abowndantly. Son. Informe me after what maner sekest thou 

 theyni? Fatli. Trewely with fervent prayer and supplicacion, 

 often renewed. So. Let me heare this prayer also and after 

 what maner thou therin behavest thy silfe. Fa. In thought and 

 desyre, as one which deply lyeth wrapped in payne and an- 

 gnisshe ,"- I only set hoape [fol. 44''.] and comforte in one god, 

 and to hyme crye and call, as vnto my tender father. besech- 

 ynge hyme to encreace his glory in me. and to make me 

 soche a one as he wolde I shulde be. and to foryeve my synnes 

 hidder to comraitted, and preserve me frome theym to come. 

 I praye agaynst non aduersities nor tribulacions. So. Hath not 

 the lorde tought vs a special prayer, sayinge, thus Mat. vj. 

 shall ye praye. Oiire father which arte in heven etc.? Fath. The 

 lorde doth not constrayne vs to saye these wordes. But by 

 thevm he declareth vnto vs, of what mynde and herte we 

 ought to be when we praye. And not that we shulde thyncke 

 that the excellency or vertue of prayer shulde consist in the 

 whisperynge of a feawe wordes. But whenne I here or saye 

 theym, I remember. and am warned, what the vowes and de- 

 syres of my herte shulde be wherby once come to my silfe, 

 I lett the wordes alone. Ye often tymes wIkmi 1 have sayde 

 the fyrst, or seconde wovde. Für when I once begynne to 

 faide into meditacion, I by and by forgett all vocall wordes. 

 Son. What is then thvne hertes desvre .iiid atfeccion in these 

 wordes? Fa. When 1 saye. Oure father which arte in heven. 



' th''. - anguisshf!. 



Sitzungsber. d. pbil.-hiet. Gl. LXXVf. Bd. III. Htt 31 



