transgressor of this lawe but also at this present doe so horriblye and hipocriticallye offende thee in takinge thy name in vaine that so many waies in praying and not praying in reading and not readinge in speakinge and not speaking not coÌ„fessig simply froÌ„ my hart thy doctrine trueth name but regardinge mine owne name farre aboue it Shall I file froÌ„ thee then vndoubtedly I am more gilty and more shall disobey this thy holy precept adding sinne to sinne where as y â— woldest I should call vpon thy holy name deare lord which hast geuen thy deare sonne Iesus Christ to be a mediatour for vs that thorowe him we might finde not onely grace for the pardone of our sinnes paste but also for the obtaining of thy holy spirit as well the better to vnder stande as also the better and more frankely to obey this thy holye precept for euer For his sake therfore dere god pardone my sinnes paste present wherof this law doth accuse me and graunt moste graciouse father that I may be endued with thy holy spirit to know and loue thy holy name word and trueth in Iesus Christ that I maie be zelouse wise and constaunt and that my tounge maye be sanctified henceforth guyded with thy holye spirite and grace to publishe confesse and teache after my vocation to others as occasion is offered thy trueth and gospel to call vpon thy name in al my nede to geue thankes vnto thee prayse thee magnifye thee and to sanctifie thy holy name as a vessel of thy mercy for euer and euer Remember that thou kepe holye the Saboth day c. AFter thou hast told me howe in the external seruice of thee graciouse lord thou wilte haue my tonge vsed so doest thou now teach me how thou wilt haue min eares all my whole body occupied namly in sanctificacion and holines that is in those thinges which thou pecularly hast appointed to be meanes immeditately to helpe to that ende As in hearing thy word preached vsing the ceremonies of thee appointed eueÌ„ as y â— hast commaunded For the which thinges to be exercised of thy people thou at the firste dyddest appoint a certaine daye namely the seuenth daye whiche therefore thou calledst thy Sabboth that thereby they with their childreÌ„ and family resting froÌ„ all exerior labour which hindreth the meditacioÌ„ of the mind might not onely be more able to goe on throughe with their trauell and labour for withoute some reste nothing can endure in respect whereof thou woldest the very beastes which in laboure were exercised shoulde haue the priuelege of this Saboth but also and muche rather that thy people might with their family and children be instructed and taught first by the miuistery of thy word in preaching and catecchising secondly by the vsyng of thy sacramentes appointed after thy commaundement and institution they might be assured of thy promises thirdly by praiyng they might be augmented in al godlines and last of all by their metting together exercisinge all these thy workes of sanctification they might increase in loue and charity one towards another as members of one body and fellowes of one inheretaunce and thus by meeting together praying and vsing thy sacramentes they might be instructed in thy lawe and of that Saboth wherinto thou thy selfe dyddest enter after thou hadst made the world ceasing from thy workes not of conseruation but of creatioÌ„ into the which as after this life and the workes of this time they should enter so now they beginne spiritually to enter in restinge from their owne workes whiche the olde man moueth thom vnto not that good lord thou woldest these workes appointed for the Saboth day should not be exersised at any other time but onely on the seuenth day but because y u dydst as wel ordaine theÌ„ for a pollicie to endure till the comming of Christ as also according to the reuelacion or thee in that time didst open thy self beginning then in figures and shadowes whose verifieÌ„s in thy tyme were to be opened therefore it pleased thee to appoint then the seuenth day which seuenth day although by reason of the policie being by thee be streied and by reason of Christ the veritie and body of all shadowes if be abrogate from vs yet standeth this commaundemeÌ„t in force aswell for the workes of santificacion that is for preaching thy word comming to heare it for praying vsynge thy sacramentes and coming together to that ende as also for those dayes which by commoÌ„ order and on good grounde are ordained and receyued howbeit with this libertie that necessitie of our faith and sanctificacioÌ„ and charitie may dispeÌ„se therwith occasion of wilfull and wittinge offence being aduoided c. So that hereby I perceyue thy will and pleasure to be that I shuld at al times as much as charite and necessitye wyll permytte geue ouer my self and cause all other ouer whoÌ„ I haue charge so to doe especially on the sondaies and other holye dayes being receyued and to that ende appointed to the resorting to the temple and places appointed to praier to here with meknes thy holy word and vse thy sacraments and ceremonies as thou hast commaunded and to exercise all thinges which might be to the confirmacion propogacion of thy holy religioÌ„ or make to the encrease of loue and charite as geuing to the pore reconciling such as be in variaunce visiting theficke eueÌ„ as it were beginning that â—abboth wherof Esay speaketh By reason whereof I haue greate cause to thanke thee most gracious father that thou woldst appoint me to be in this time wherin thou hast more plentifully reueiled thy selfe then thou dyddest not onelye before Christes comminge but also synce Christs assensioÌ„ Neuer synce England was England dyddest thou so manifestlye reueile thy trueth as y u hast done in these daies Great cause I haue to thanke thee that y u woldst institute the ministery of thy worde and sacramentes as meanes wherby thy holye spirite is effectuall to worke in oure hartes sanctification Great cause haue I to thanke thee that thou woldest kepe the bokes of the prophetes Apostells vntil this time Greate cause haue I to praise thee that thou woldst geue me such knowledge in them as y u hast done of thy greate mercye Greate cause haue I to thaÌ„ke thee for the good true ministers and preachers of thy worde which thou hast sent amongs vs and geneÌ„ me grace to here them Great cause haue I to thanke thee that in this religion thou hast geuen so longe quietnes and harboroughe to thy church Great cause haue I to thanke thee for that thou woldeste make me suche a man in whom thy holye spirite mighte worke Greate cause I haue to thanke thee whiche woldeste call me into thine eteruall Saboth and rest full of all ioye such as the eye hathe not sene the pare hath not harde Greate cause haue I to thanke thee that so manye dayes are appointed for this ende that we shoulde meete together to here thy worde and receiue thy sacramentes Greate cause haue I to thanke thee for the institution of thy sacramentes which thou hast ordained as thy visible and palpable lordes to
works and therefore praye alwayes that we maye be content with thy wil and be borome thereto And for asmuch as thou hast reuealed to vs so muche of thy wyll in thy word writen as is necessarye for vs in thys life to know yea as we can attaine vnto and a lytle further we ought to take all thynges done there agaynste as synne and transgressyon althoughe thou canste vse the same synne to serue thy prouydence Of the which prouidence w◠can not nor maye not Iudge further then thou hast shalte open it vnto vs. So that this peticion Thy will be done is not simplie to be vnderstand concerninge thy omnipotent wil vn reueled against the which nothing is nor can be done but rather concerning thy will reueled in thy lawe gospel the which thou here teachest me that we shuld desire not only to know it but also to doe it and that in suche perfection willingnes as it is in heauen The which thinge I perceiue hereby that thy childrē doe desire daily in for themselues and others do lament the contrary in whōsoeuer it be so that often their eies gushe out with riuers of teares because men kepe not thy lawes By reason hereof I see that I am farre from the syghes and teares of thy people I see my ignoraunce of thy wyll yf thou hadeste not opened the same by thine owne mouth I see my ignoraūce how acceptable a seruyce obedyence to thy wil is and therfore doest y u place this peticion amonges the fyrst and continual desires of thy childrē Againe I se my pouertie in godly obediēce which had nede to be taught to pray for it therby to signifie vnto me my want and vnhabilitie to attayne it but by thy gift Thirdly I se my disobedience for els neuer woldst thou haue cōmaunded me to haue praied for the doing of thy will if I seinge my want wold haue prayed so Last of all I se thy goodnes whiche wilt giue to me and others to obey thy will that is to loue thee wyth al our harts to loue our neighbour as our selfes to die to our selues to liue to thee to take vp oure crosse and to followe thee to beleue to repent c for ells thou woldest neuer haue bidden vs to pray for a thinge which we shuld not loke for So that I haue great cause to lamēt and reioyce To lament because of my miserable state and condition because of my sinne ignoraunce pouertie and peruersitie also because thy will is euerye where either not knowen or contēned and Sathans will the wil of the world and of the fleshe readily obeyed To reioyse I haue great cause for that thou hast opened thy selfe and will vnto mankind for that also ▪ thou peculiarlye hast taught me these things and because also thou wilt graūt me grace to doe the same But alas howe vnthankfull I am and how hard harted thou Lorde doest knowe Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgyue me I pray thee graciouse god graūt me thy holy spirit to reueale to me my ignoraunce of thy will my pouertie and peruersitie that I may hartely bewayle it c and by thy helpe and working of the same spirit may suppresse the will of the fleshe Agayne graunt me thy holy spirit to reuele to me thy will declared in thy lawe and gospell that I may truly know the same and enflame so my affections that I maye will and loue the same in such sort that it may be my meate and drynke to doe thy wyll Here cal to minde the .x. cōmaūdementes of god particularly or generally what therin he requireth and praye for the same particularlye as you se your nede that not only for your self but also for other Praye for patience to suffer what crosse soeuer god shal laye vpō you pray for thē that be vnder y ◠crosse that they maye be pacient praye for spirituall wisedome in euery crosse peculiarlye or publikelye that you may see and loue gods will Geue vs this day our daily Bread BY Breade the foode of the bodye is vnderstande all thynges necessarye for thys corporall life as meate drinke health successe in vocatyon c. By this word Gyue we shoulde vnderstande that not onelye spyrytuall thynges but also corporall benefytes are goddes free gyftes and come not for our worthynes or traueyle taken aboute the same althoughe ours traueyls be often tymes meanes by the whiche god doth gyue corporall thinges By dailye is vnderstande the contented mindes of thy children wyth that which is sufficient for the present time as hauinge hope in thee y ◠they shal not want but daily shal receyue at thy handes plentie and enough of all thinges By this word our is as well vnderstande publike benefytes as peace in the common weall good Magistrats seasonable wether good lawes c as particular benefites as be children health name successe in the workes of our vocation c. And besides this by it we shuld se the care euē for corporal things which thy children haue for others aswel as for themselues So that here I may learne how far I am frō that I should be and I see thy children are come vnto I se my ignoraunce also how that as spirituall thinges do come from thee so doe temporall thinges and as they come from thee so are they conserued and kepte of thee And therefore thy chyldren are thankefull and looke for theym as thy meare gyftes notwythestandynge the meanes whiche they vse if they haue them How be it they vse them but as meanes for except y u worke therwith all is in vaine Againe here I am taught to be content with sufficient for the present time as thy children be which haue the shortnes of this life alwaies before their eyes and therefore they aske but for daily sustenaūce knowing this life to be cōpared to a day yea a watch a sounde a shadow c. Moreouer I may learne to se the cōpassion and brotherly care thy children haue one for an other Last of al here I may see thy goodnes which as thou wilt geue me all thinges necessarie for this life or els y u woldest not bid me aske c so thou commaundest all men to praye and care for me and that bodely much more then if they be able they are cōmaūded to help me both in bodie soule By reasō wherof I haue great cause to lament and reioyse To lament because I am not so affected as thy children be because of my ignoraūce my ingratitude my peruersitie and contempt of thy goodnes and of the necessitie of thy people whiche alas be in greate miserie some in exile some in prisō some in pouertie sicknes c. To reioyce I haue greate cause because of thy goodnes in teaching me these thinges in commaundinge me to aske what soeuer I wante in geuinge me so manye thinges vnasked in keping the
to make me as thou haste doâ—â— to geue thy soÌ„ne for me and to become my â—ode Oh what am I that thou woldest I shoulde put my trust in thee Thys y â— doest that I mighte neuer be confounded but might be most happie What am I that y â— woldest I should feare thee Where the onely cause whye y â— requirest this of me is not onelye because thou haste power to cast both bodye soule into hell fier because they that feare thee not shal perishe but also that y â— mightest geue me thy wisdome that it might goe well with me in the euell daye that thou mightest reueale thy soÌ„ne to me and thy mercye might be vpon me from generacion to generacion Oh what am I that thou woldest haue me to obey thee not onely that I neuer perishe with the disobedieÌ„t but that thou mightest geue me thy holy spirit and rewards innumerable Oh what am I that y â— woldest I should loue thee y â— which thinge thou doest to this ende that I might fully and wholy enioye and possesse thee according to the nature of loue and therfore doest thou require my whole hart that I mighte dwel in thee and thou in me What am I that thou woldest I shuld call vpon thee verely because thou wilt geue me whatsoeuer I shall aske of thee in the name of thy deare childe Iesus Christ and euen so woldest y â— haue me thankfull that y â— mightest poure out vpon me yet more plentifully al good things So that great cause haue I to put my trust in thee to loue feare and obey thee to call vpon thee to be thankful vnto thee not only in respect of the hurt which els will ensew but also in respect of the commoditie that herby cometh vnto me but most of all yea alonely for thy owne sake for thy goodnes wisedome becutie strength power trueth and great mercies But alas deare father what shal I saye As in times paste horribly I haue broken this thy lawe in trusting in thy creatures calling vpon them louing fearing and obeying many thinges besydes thee and rather then thee eueÌ„ so at this present I am a most miserable wreth blinded I am through vnbeliefe mine owne wickednes so y â— I se not firmely thys thy power wisedome goodnes c but wauer and doubt of it I loue litle or nothing I feare lesse I obey least of al thankefulnes and praier are vtterly quenched in me by reason wherof I am worthy of eternall damnatioÌ„ If after thy iustice thou shalt deale with me simplie I am oh lord damned and loste for euer for I am verye wicked But yet in asmuch as thou bast geueÌ„ thy soÌ„ne Iesus Christ to be a slaine propitiatorie sacrifice for the sinnes of the whole world so that he which be leueth in him shall not perish but be saued for so thou hast promised thy trueth nowe requireth to saue me No wbeit here thou maiest say vnto me that I doe not beleue and therfore notwithstandinge thy trueth promise in that I beleue it not thou maiest most iustly after thy Iustice dampne me Oh lorde god to this I cannot otherwise answer my vnbeleife is so great but because thy mercye is aboue al thy workes and thy goodnes and loue is that which all creatures most highly commend and magnifie as the thing wherof thou arte called god because y â— art righte good and lone it selfe because of this thy mercye gracious god yf thou wilte loke thereon and couple thy trueth therewith then good lord I shalbe saued and praise thy name for euer more ¶ Thou shalte not make to thy selfe any grauen c. AS the fyrste commaundemente teacheth me as well that thou arte my god as what god thou art and therfore of equitie I shuld haue noone other goddes but thee that is I shoulde alonely hange on thee truste in thee loue thee serue thee call vpon thee obey thee be thankefull to thee so because y â— didst reueyle thy selfe visiblie that thou mightest visibly be worshipped this commaundement is concerning thy worshippe that in no point I shuld folowe in worshipping thee the deuise or intent of any man saint Angell or spirit but shuld take al such as Idolatrie Image seruice be it neuer so glorioê° And why for soth because y â— woldest I shoulde worshippe thee as thou hast appointed by thy word For if seruice be acceptable it must nedes be according to the will of him to whom it is done and not of him which doeth it But in asmuch as of man none knoweth the will and pleasure but his spirit except he reueale by worde or signe the same much more of thee o lord none doeth knowe thy will but thy spirite and they to whom thou doest reueale the same And therfore abominable eueÌ„ in thy sight are al those things which with men are in most force and estimatioÌ„ because they are not after thy word So that the meaninge of this precepte is that as in the firste I shoulde haue none other gods but thee so I shoulde haue no worshippe of thee but such as thou appoitest Herby therfore I se great cause of thankefulnes for this commaundement in that thou woldest haue mine outward seruice and that after thy appointment lest I should busye my braine howe best to serue thee Good lord thou nedest not my seruice perfecte thou wast before I was therefore it is for mine owne commoditie that thou commauÌ„dest me yea euen for mine owne wealth Thou mightest haue letteÌ„ me haue stand al day idle but such is thi loue that thou woldest I should goe into thy vineyarde that w t thy seruants I mighte receiue the hier of blessednes And how great a benefite is it to deliuer me of so greate a burden wherwith I should haue bene combred if I should haue serued thee in any point after my witte and reasoÌ„ But halas I not considering what a promotion thy seruice is nor what an easye seruice it is and simple for one maye well know what to doe when he pleaseth thee namely wheÌ„ he serueth thee as thou hast appointed as I am and alwaies haue been vnthankefull so I am and alwaies haue been a greuous transgressor of this thy lawe For as in times past when I dyd not knowe thys commauÌ„dement I was an Image worshipper of stocks stones c yea bread and wine so nowe I am a worshipper of myn affectioÌ„s offering to theÌ„ y e seruice due vnto thee though not therby to worship thee as I thought when I kneled to stocks and stones bread wine c yet with no lesse transgression of thy lawe for the which I haue deserued and doe deserue euerlasting damnatioÌ„ Of thy goodnes and great mercy deare father I beseche thee forgeue me for Christs sake whom thou didst geue to be the fulfylling of the lawe to al them that should beleue Oh father I beleue helpe mine vnbeliefe As thou haste
the obsignation and confirmacion of the faithe of all suche as vse the same after thy commaundementes But infinite are the causes for the which I ought to gene thee thankes for thys commaundement But alas I am not onely vnthankfull but also a most miserable transgressour of it I wil not now speake of my transgressions past coÌ„cerning this commaundemente presentlye they are so many that I cannot For y u knowest howe I doe not onelye at conuenient times on y e worke daies kepe my selfe awaye from common praiers in the congregacioÌ„ assemble of thy people and froÌ„ hearing of thy worde but also on the Sabboth dayes to ryde or goe aboute this or that worldely busynes I am verye prest to sitte down at this tauerne and to goe to that mans table I am readye at the first vydding but alas to resorte to the table of thy sonne receyue with thankfulnes the sacrament of his body and bloud for confirmation of my faithe that 〈◊〉 to learne spiritually to taste Christs body broken and his bloude shedde for the remission of my synnes so doe this oh how vnwillig am I To goe to masse and sacrynges with suche like Idolatrye I haue been a greate time more readie then now I am to heare thy word vse thy sacrameÌ„ts as I shuld doe thy ministers I pray not for thy church I am not careful for no not nowe good lorde when wicked doctrine most preuaileth Idolatrye supersticion and abominacion aboundeth the sacrament and sacrifice of thy deare sonne Iesê° Christ is blasphemiusly corrupted wheÌ„ for preaching there is nothing but massing for catechising sensinge for reading of the scriptures belleringing for syngynge of Psalmes and godly songes to our edificacion all is don in laten with such Notes Tunes ditties descantes that vtterly the mynde is pulled from the consideracion of the thinge if men did vnderstande it vnto the melody Al which my wickednes hath brought in my prophaning of this coÌ„maundement and my not praying Thy ministers are in prison dispersed in other contries spoiled burnt murdred many fal for feare of goods lyfe name c from the trueth they haue receyued vnto moste manifest Idolatrie false preachers abounde amongeste thy people thy people dearely bought euen with thy bloud are not fedde w t the breade of thy worde but with swyllings antichrist wholy preuailethe and yet for all this alas I am to carelesse nothing lamenting my sinnes which be the cause of al this O dear father forgeue me for christs sake and be mercifull vnto me and as of thy mercye thou dyddest geue me time to repent so geue me repentaunce Graunt me thy holy spirite to open to me this thy lawe so that I may knowe thy will in it loue it and alwaies obey it thy good spirit sanctifye me and worke in me a true taste of eternall life and pleasure in the meditation of it geue me gracious good father one litle mouthfull of the breade that y u feddest Helye w t all geue me that with him I maye come into mounte horeb Helpe thy church cherishe it and geue it harbo routh here and els where for christs sake purge thy ministery from corruptioÌ„ and false ministers send out preachers to fede thy people destroy antichrist all his kingdome geue to such as be faulleÌ„ from thy trueth repentaunce kepe others from falling and by their falling doe y u the more confirme vs confirme the ministers pore people in prisoÌ„ exile strengthen them in thy trueth deliuer them if it be thy good will geue them that with conscience they may so aunswere their aduersaries that thy seruantes maye reioyce and the aduersaries be confounded auengeÌ„ thou thy owne cause Oh thou god of hostes and helpe all thy people me especially because I haue moste nede Honour thy father and mother that thou mayst lyue longe c. AFter that thou haste tolde me good lord thy will concerning the seruice whiche thou requirest inwardly and outwardly to be geuen vnto the now doest thou begin to tel me what thy wil is that I shuld do leaue vndone for thy sake vnto man And first y u settest before min eies them whoÌ„ y u for ordres sake and the more commoditie of man in this life hast set in degre and authoritie aboue me coÌ„prehending them vnder the name of father mother that I might know y t as of thee thei are commaunded to beare towards me a faithfull loue and a motherly care in the very names of father and mother wherwith y u honorest them so am I coÌ„mauÌ„ded of thee to do that which is most equall iuste as the very brute beasts doe teach vs that with childly affection and duetye I shuld behaue my selfe towards theÌ„ that is I shuld honor theÌ„ which coÌ„prepheÌ„deth in it loue thankfulnes reuerence and obedience that not so much because they be my pareÌ„ts and in their offices are carefull for me for it maye be they will neglecte the doinge of theyr dueties towardes me but because thou commaundest me so to doe howe so euer they do So that by thys commaundement I perceiue that thou woldest I shuld consider them whoÌ„ thou hast placed in auctorite and superiour degre as pareÌ„ts maiestrats masters or such like and accordingly behaue my self toward them honour them that is to say loue them be thankfull vnto them reuerence them and obey them for thy sake so loÌ„g as they pass not their bounds that is so longe as they requyre not otherwise then y u hast geuen them commission or permission to doe And for as much as thou seest their care and offyce is greate and oure corruption to obey is very muche as wel to encorage them in their vocation to be diligent as to enflame me to humble obedience vnto them therthroughe to make them more willinge to sustaine cares for me y u addeste a promise that is longe lyfe which so farre as it is ablessing froÌ„ thee y u wilt endue vs w t all Wherby we may gather that a ciuel life doth much please thee and receiueth here rewards especially if we lead it for conscieunce to thy lawe And on the contrary part a disobedient lyfe to them that be in auctorite wil bring the soner thy wrath and vengeaunce in this life All whiche worketh muche to the commendation of the state of politike ciuell maiestrats By reason hereof deare father I se my self much boundeÌ„ to praise thee and hartelye to obey thys thy commaundement For in it by it y u declarest thy greate loue towarde vs which euen in this present life our pylgermage and passage to oure home woldst haue vs to enioye the benefite of peace and moste
semelye quietnes and order and by this order so couple vs that none shuld contemne or despise another but euen highe lowe to be and accompt thē selues as parentes children Particularly for my parte I cannot but say that I haue most cause to thank thee for my parētes scholemasters and others vnder whose tuitiō thou hast put me No pen is able to write y e particular benifites w c I haue her by receyued in my infancie childhod youth midle age and alwais hether to Oh how good a lord hast y u declared thy self to me which in them and by thē hast norrished fedde instructed corrected defended and most gratiously kept me I coulde recken innumerable behind me but fewe before me so much made of cared for as I haue bene hetherto No smalle token of thy loue to me warde is it that thou woldest engraue in theyr hartes and commaunde them vnder paine of damnation to be carefull ouer me to doe me good and prouide for me as they haue done or rather thou by thē publickly Also for the cōmen wealth suche as thou hast placed in aucthorie ouer me in bothe thy regeniētes if I considered them that haue bene and them that be I coulde not but praise thee good lord For no lesse praise worthy art thou for this chastening vs and admonishing vs now presētly by them that be in aucthoritie of our vngratitude and vnthankfulnes then by such as haue bene for all kyndes of good things But infinite are the causes of thankfulnes which this cōmaundement considered shoulde stirre vp in me But alas most mercifull father as I acknowlege my self most vnthankfull vnto thee for al thy benifites powred vpō me in this lyfe by my parents nources tutoures maysters magistrates bishoppes pastours and good frindes euen frō my cradell vnto this hower so vnto them haue I alwaies been am in not louing them as my coldenes in praiynge for them and to my power in helping them declareth and also my not reuerencing them my cōtemning them temerariousnes in my mistrusting or to narrowly to straightly loking at them their dewties showeth and not obeynge them as by my cōtumacy appereth not onely when anye thinge to me vnpleasant or vnprofitable but also profitable conuenient is required And yet I speake not of y e euel muttering reportes of y e offences ī trāsgressing y e politilie lawes for apparrel meates other no smalle offences which I haue cōmytted geuē Oh this is a sinne deare father that I alwaies haue ben a priuate more then a common weale mā alwaies I seke for myn owen cōmeditie cōtemning that whiche maketh to the conmmoditie of others As for my disobedience and wicked behauiour towards my owne parentes and all others whom thou hast set ouer me deare father no toūge can expresse it and therfore I am worthy of dāynation But gratious good lord and deare father I beseche thee for thy Christes sake to haue mercye vpon me pardon me as of thy goodnes it pleased the to pardone the patriarkes Thou hast geuen this commaundement as thy holy lawe to open to vs howe corrupte we are and howe much we swarue frō the patterne wherafter we were first made once agreed thereto before Adams fall that we might loth our selues and euen thereby be dryuen to seke and set by thy swete mercyes in Iesus Christ whom therfore thou diddest sende to fullfyll the lawe in hys fleshe that we myght borowe of him the same by trewe faithe whiche of thy goodnes worke in vs by thy holy spirit and open this lawe vnto vs that we maye more more increase in the knowledge loue obedience of it to thy glory and our saluation Amen Deare father be mercifull to our magestrats especially y e quenes highnes whose hart with the residue of her counsellers tourne into thy testimonies geue them thy wisdome and a zeale to the trueth according to knowledge that they maye vse the power they haue receyued of thee to the cherishing of thy church that w c vs here thy worde may haue free passage and thy true worshippe may be maintained and not onclye here but also euery where amonges those whom thou woldest we should pray for Be mercifull to my poore parentes gratious lorde with my bretheren systers wife childrē family seruantes kinsfolkes neighboures as thou knowest they haue all nede Geue vnto the hartes of all parentes magestrates and suche as be in aurtherite here or ells where that they maye accordinge to that y u hast put them in trust w tall be faithfull deligent carefull and happye Graunt vnto children seruauntes and subiectes that euerye one maye render loue obedience thankfulnes and reuerēce to al such as thou hast put in aucthorite ouer them blesse the church and send it peace and har borough here or els where blesse the common weale and sende vs peace blesse the diocesses and shieres and send them good bisshops and iustices blesse euery housholde and family that thy peace may be in the same cōtinually Fynally write this law all thy lawes in oure hartes we be sech thee y t we may kepe them Amē Thou shalte doe no murder c. AS in the commaundement goeinge nexte before thou settests before me the personages of all such as thou for the commodytie order and peace of mā in this life hast placed in aucthoritie accordingly of vs for thy sake to be estemed so dost thou in this commaundement set before vs to loke on the personages of all men generally high and lowe ouer whom thou geuest vs a charge that we shal not kil or murther thē In which word thou comprehendest all kind of hatred or malice in word thoughte or dede as thy dearely beloued sonne expoundinge this commaundement dothe teache Yea because thou woldest all men shuld be deare vnto vs beyng all of one substaunce of one similitude comming of the same parents Adam and Eue made of one God redemed of one Christ in whom we should be coupled as members of one body and liue to the aide succour and cōfort one of another because of this I say easlie we may see that not onely y u forbiddest here to beware of all kindes of displeasures but also thou commaūdest vs to beare and exercise al kinde of loue and fauoure in harte worde and dede and that for thy commaūdementes sake for els towards oure enemies our hartes wolde arise and be great in that they contemnynge their dueties towards vs seme to deserue the like at oure handes By reasō hereof I haue great cause to thanke thee dere father For here by I see how that thou doest muche loue my soule which arte so carefull ouer my body so that he which hurteth it displeaseth thee and he that doth it good pleaseth thee if so be he doe it for thy sake By this commaūdement now I se that it is thou that hast kept me frō doing many euels which els
I shuld haue outragiously done hast stirred me vp to do good to my brethrē if at any time I haue done any euen as thou hast also kept and dost kepe presently others from doing me hurt hast and dost stirre vp those that do me good to do so vn to me Oh how great is y e multitud of thy benifits good lord wherwith thou hast ouerwhelmed me and the which through this cōmaundement I perceaue my self to haue receiued presently do receiue so longe as I liue am like to receiue for thou commaundest al men euery where to do me good loue me defend me cherishe me suche is thy loue to me in this present life that for my body oh how great is thy loue then to me in euerlasting life y t for my soule If in a straūg cōtrey so great is thy protection how great is it at home But alas dere lord how vnthākful haue I ben am yet stil for these thy fatherli benifits oh min ingratitud yea lord horribly haue I trāsgressed still doe transgresse this thy gracious precept in pride enuie disdaine malice hardnes of hart vnmercifulnes contēnīg thy childrē saints seruāts Self loue all together raigneth in me and desire of praise rule fame I am so farre frō loue mercy in hart good lord that no man cā here it in my tonge nor see it in my works but rather cleane contrary and y t generally and to thē to whom I am most bound perticularly By reason wherof I haue deserued euer lastinge damnnation and to be cast awaye from thy presence for euer Oh moste gratious father forgeue me for Chrystes sake I beseche the. For to this ende diddest thou geue this commaundement that I seyng my corruptiō and deprauate nature by synne might come to thy mercye deserued by christ and through faith in him might finde not onelye pardone of that which is paste but also thy grace and holy spirit to beginne in me the obedience to this and al other thi holy precepts for euer more so be it For this thy Christes sake deare father I besech thee therfore to take from me and all other for whom thou woldest that we should praye all enupe pryde arrogancye dysdaine hatred and all suspitiousnes and graunt vnto vs bowells of mercy humilitie pacience mekenes longe sufferinge gentillnes peace charitie and al kinde of brotherly loue cōfort the feble releue the poore help the fatherlesse heale the sycke blesse the afflicted shewe thy great mercy vpō all poore prisoners deliuer thē in thy good time remember thy pitye toward straungers captiues wydowes and suche as be oppressed ¶ Thou shalte not commytte adulterye HEre good lord thou gost about to commaunde vnto me as loue in the other so purenes and chastite in this and therfore thou saiest I shoulde not commite adultrye in the which word thy sonne oure sauiour Iesus Christ doth comprehende al vncleannes yea the very concupiscence and abusing of the hart in lusting after any mans wife or otherwise vnchastly By the which in that thou woldest haue vs to loue in our selues and others purite cleanes that we might be holy as thou oure god art holy and our bodies beynge temples of thy holy spirit mighte be kept pure and accordinglye easelye we maye see that as thou forbiddest all vncleane dedes wordes lokes and thoughtes so doest thou commaunde vs to loue and exercyse all puritie chastitie cleannes sobryety temperancye c. By reason whereof I haue greate cause to be thankefull vnto thee which not onely for the helpe commoditie of man but also for remedie of mans infirmitie hast made womā kind and ordained the state of matrimony which in thy sight is so holye and pure that thou accomptest the bedde and acte of generaciō betwene man and wife in this state of matrimonye to be an vndefyled thynge and such care thou hast ouer the personages marryed and their condition that vnto damnation they sinne which not onely goe about to defyle that bed but within there harts doe wishe or desire it yea which doe not indeuer thēselues w t thought word and dede to helpe that purite cleanes betwene married folks be kept But the greate causes thou geuest vs to thanke thee for this state and ordinaunce and for thy defendynge vs by thys commaundemente are innumerable Full wel I see that it is thou whiche by thys commaundemente not onely refraynest me but also kepest my wyfe from impurytye whyche ells we might bothe commyte Greate is thy lous Oh good lord and more then I am able to cōsider whych declarest thy selfe to be thus carefull ouer me concernynge the benefyttes whyche come vnto me bothe for the mynde bodye and goodes by sobryetye and tem perauncie whyche here thou requirest Onely thys I cannot but see that I haue greate cause to thanke thee whiche arte so carefull ouer me as by thys commaundemente I well see But alas good lorde what shall I saye whiche am and haue bene so farre from thankefullnesse that I am to be accompted amongest the most vnthankfull yea y u knowest it good lorde Fylthely haue I broken thys lawe caused other so to doe of whose repentaunce I am vncertain as also my tonge alas hath oftē ben to shamfully exercised mynetes my thoughts to wickedly abused All this geare I haue encreased by myne intemperauncye in catynge drinkinge cherishingemy bodye c. I haue also hurt my bodyly health minished that whiche I and others should lyue on and horribly hindred all good prayers and meditations wherin though I haue time place yet alas I nothing exercise my selfe as I should doe By reason whereof I haue deserued euerlasting damnatiō Oh good lorde and gratious father doe thou for thy names sake and in Christes bloud pardon me and forgeue me I besech thee as thou hast most mercifully hitherto spared me so of thy mercy put awaye my trespasses the transgressions of those whom I haue caused to synne let that loue which moued thee to pardon Iudas with Thamar Dauid Berthsabe and the greate synner of whom we reade in S. Luke moue thee to pardone and forgeue me also Thou gauest this commaundemente to thys ende that I might knowe my sinne and sinnefull nature and so thereby be driuen to thy Christ crucified for whose sake I aske mercy also that thy good spirit maye be geuen vnto me to purifie me and worke so in me and with me that I may trewelye know hartly loue faithfully obey this thy holy precept inwardly and outwardly now and for euer Amen Gracious good lord graunt to me my wife that we may dwel together accordinge to knowledge and maye kepe our vessells in holines graunt Oh lord that we may be pure and vndestled and graunt the same to al that be married and to them which be vnmarried graunt that they may liue a pure chast and vndefyled life and if they haue not the
gifte of singlenes of life graunt them such makes with whom they may liue holyly to thy praise Deare father geue me the gifte of Sobrietie and Temperauncy and graunt the same to al them whom thou woldest I shoulde praye for As in times paste I haue vsed my tounge and other members euell so nowe good lorde graunt that I maye vse them well chastly and godlye This I prays thee graunt through Iesus Chryst and finally Oh lorde bothe in soule and body sanctifie me and as in thy temple dwell in me nowe and foreuer more Amen Thou shalt not steale NOwe that thou hast taught me the seruice required of thee for me to obserue towards the personages of all men and women of euery conditioÌ„ thou beginnest to tell me what thou woldest I shoulde doe concerninge their goodes and as in the nexte commaundemente before this thou dyddest coÌ„mauÌ„de vnto me sobrietie purenes so doest thou in this Iustice and rightuousnes forbydding me to steale Under the whiche word y u comprehendest al kindes of desceite The which thing y u doest because y u woldest that I shuld geue my selfe wholy to the studie and exercise of Iustice as in the precepts next going before y u woldest I shuld geue ouer my selfe wholy to the keping of sobrietie purenes So that I see thy good pleasure herein is not that I sheuld alonely abstaine from al thefte but also from al fraude and craft in word or dede yea y t I should earnestly folow and exercise all equitie trueth and Iustice By reason whereof I see my selfe much bound to praise thee which art so carful ouer mi goods substauÌ„ce that if any man should goe about to steale from me or to defraud me in any thig yea whosoeuer goeth not about to kepe care for that I haue as he woulde doe for his owne the same displeaseth the. Oh lord if thou hast such care for my goodes cattell and such pelfe how greate is thy care for my soule If this one commauÌ„dement were not I perceaue as I for my owne parte shuld haue done and doe much worse then I haue done so much worse had bene done to me and mine then hath ben It is y u good lorde I perceaue that hast both geueÌ„ me al y t I haue and also still conseruest and keepest the same and not my owne polycye wysedome and industrye for in vaine were al this excepte y u diddest vouchsafe to vse take it as a meane to worke by There is nothing therfore that I haue but when soeuer I loke vpon it by this commaundement I learne thy goodnes strength and power for as thou geuest it of thy mercy so it speaketh to me that presently y u still doest kepe it for me so that exceding great cause haue I to thanke thee for this precept dere god and most gracious lord But alas I am so farre from thankfulnes as alwaies I haue bene for all thy care for me and for all that euer thou haste geuen vnto me that as I haue vsed subtelty and crafte yea some times thefte and briberye so nowe good lorde I still when occasioÌ„ is offered do exercise the same I liue also voluptuously of y t y u hast geuen lent me nothing consider what equitie requireth and what or how great the necessitie of the poore is whom I doe thus defraude by excesse and prodigalitie That whiche I borowe I with vnwillingnes doe repaye I vse it more negligentlye then I wold do myn owne Lacke of excommunicatioÌ„ of Iustice y e great vsery robberie oppression and such like wickednes as is exercised amonges vs I lament not labour not after my vocation for the redresse of the same I pray not to thee thereabout but neglecte altogether Yea euen those things wherewith I am put in trust or am hirid to do those I say I doe with great negligence so that great is my sinne here in and worthy I am of damnation But mercifull god I besech thee for Christes sake to haue mercye vpon me and to pardon me my vnthankfulnes theftes fraudes deceytes auarice neglegences great carelesnes for y e lacke of Iustice for y e moÌ„struouse oppression vseries excesse riot the which be horribly exercised in y e commoÌ„ weale For thy mercies sake in Christ Iesus o lord whom y u haste geuen to fullfyll the lawe for them that doe beleue geue me trew faith and thy holy spirite to worke in me the knowledge loue and perpetuall obedience of this thy holye precept and all other thy commaundements for euer Deare lord geue vnto me and to all whom y u woldest I shoulde pray for the hatred of al craft and loue of all Iustice graunt to the oppressed thy comfort to wrongers repentaunce to theues and deceiuers y t they may make restitutioÌ„ to iustices of peace land lords the rich of the world y t thei may haue thee before their eies loue their poore tenants brethren to laborers artificers y t they maye be diligent in their worke labourâ— that wherw t they are put in trust Thou shalte not beare false witnes against thy neighbour NOw doest y u most gratioê° lord instruct me in this commaundement how I shuld vse my tonâ— towards my neighbor behaue my self concerning his name forbidding me to beare false witnes in y e which y u forbiddest me all kinds of slaundering lying hipocricy vntrueth And why because as members of one bodie thou woldeste we shoulde speakâ— trueth one to another and be careful euery one to couer others infirmity and w t oure touÌ„ge defend the names of others eueÌ„ as we wold that other should defend ours So that in thys commaundement as y u forbiddest me all kind of euell parelous calumnious and vntrewe speaking so doest thou commaunde to me all kinde of godlye honeste and trewe reporte and talke By reason whereof I haue greate cause to praise thee in that I se thee to be so carefull ouer my name that all men are by thee commaunded to defend y e same O pretioê° god great is thy care ouer my soule I nowe perceiue If this commaundemente were not I se as I shuld haue done doe much worse with my touÌ„ge to others then is hapened so shoulde I haue felte of others towards me Besydes this no small commoditie is it to me that thou wouldeste all men shoulde vse treweth in all thire wordes to me Oh howe greate a good thynge is this vnto me If we consider y e hurt y e coÌ„meth by vntrueth by wordes where through many are deceiued easly may wese a wonderful benifit and care of thee for vs in this commaundement But gracious lorde like as I acknowledge my vnthankfullnes to be monstrouse and great alwaies hathe bene hetherto Euen so yet continue I in wonderfull hipocrisie in all my conuersation often lying and speaking as vainely so offensiuely fleshly subtelly caluÌ„niously geuig my