Of Offering. Chap. IX

THIS being donne, that is, when a man hath geuen thankes to our lord with al his hart for al these benisits, then foorthwith the hart naturallie breaketh out into that affect of the Prophet Dauid saying; ¹ What shall I yeeld vnto our Lord for all those things which he hath bestowed vppon me? And this desire a man in som sort satisfieth, when he geueth, and offereth vp to almightie God that, which of his part he hath, and is able to giue him.

And for this end, he ought first to offer vp him self to God, for his perpetual sklaue, resigning and laying him self wholie in his hands, that his diuine maiestie dooe with him, as it shal best please him: and iointlie he must offer vp to him all his woords, his woorks, his thoughts, and his paines, that is, whatsoeuer he doeth and suffereth, that so al maie be to the glorie and honour of his holie name.

Secondlie, he must offer vp to God the father, the merites & woorkes of his sonne, and all the paines, which in this woorld he suffered for obedience of him, euen from the manger vntil the crosse; for so much as they al be our substance, & heritage which he left vs in the new testament, by which he made vs his heires of al these so greate treasures. And in like manner as that which is giuen me, is no lesse mine, then that which I haue goten by mine owne paines and labour; so the merites of Christ, & the right which he hath geuen me, ar no lesse mine, then yf I had sweate and laboured for them my self. And therefore a man maie with as much right, offer this second present as the first, laying downe by order al our Sauiours woorks and paines, and al the vertues of his most holie life, his Obedience, his Patience, his Humilitie, his Charitie, with al the rest; because this is the most riche, and most pretious offer that maie be offered.