this coÌ„meth often so to passe as by example we will shewe ¶ If thou haue corrupted anye wares or any other thing which thy neighbour is to buy and then sell theÌ„ vnto him for good first of all thou knowest that thou herein hast sinned against the ix CoÌ„mandement which forbiddeth thee to giue false witnesse But if thou diddest it with an intent and meaning to rake and scrape a priuate gaine vniustly to thy selfe with the losse and hinderance of an other thou art therein guiltie of the breach of the viii Commandement whereby is forbidden all theft If furthermore in this behalfe thou haue deceiued anie that is thy superiour or that is linked to thee in bloud as thy Father or thy Mother the Magistrate the Minister of the Church thy kinseman c. therein hast thou transgressed the fifth Commaundement of honouring Father and Mother To be short if this circumstance do also concurre that this craâ—tie practise were by thee doone on the Sabbaoth day then hast thou heerein incurred the displeasure of Almightie God for prophaning and not sanctifying the Sabbath day Last of all it may bee that in this bargayning and selling some such woordes might passe from thee as might make thee further guiltie For if thou swearest vainely and without cause with an intent meaning to auouch any thing that thou wouldest haue to be beleeued then art thou therein guiltie of the thirde commaundement Thou shalt not take the name of the Lorde thy God in vaine ¶ Thirdly we shall doe well in the examining and dicussing of thy actions to giue thee charge circumspectly to consider euerie particular circuÌ„stance to wit the time the place the person the cause the end the maner the instrument c. No man wil denie but that the offence is farre greater hainouser which is committed on the Sabbath daye or at such time as all men for some publike calamitie are in a generall heauines againe when it is committed in the sight and face of many honest and graue persons furthermore when it is doone by or against any man in high authoritie moreouer when no manner of alluring occasion went afore to drawe or mooue thee to that euill Therefore we may not slightly passe ouer howe much and how greatly these circumstances doe aggrauate and augment thy fault 4 Fourthly it standeth thee vpon moreouer often and many times to consider with thy selfe and plainely to confesse that thou canst neuer call to memorie all thy sinnes committed and againe that thou canst neuer exactly ynough iudge â—ow greeuous detestable those be which doe alreadie come to thy remembraunce For truely and diuinely hath the Prophet set downe who can vnderstand his faults O clense me from my secret faultes For so standeth thy case that euen where thou least thinkest thou there sinnest most greeuously And the thinges which thou thinkest well and iustlie done are in the sight of God and before the tribunall seate of the highe iudge vncleane vnrighteous and deâ—ectrue And therefore the Prophet Isaiah cryeth out thus We haue been all as an vncleane thing and al our righteousnesse is as a filthy clout Seeing therefore the case thus standeth it is thy part and dutie plainely to confesse that much ignoraunce remayneth in thee and that the same is in thee a great sinne for the which vnlesse God in mercy do pardon thee hee may hurle thee headlong into eternall damnation 5 Fiftly thou must consider that there is cause ynough to condemne and pronounce thee guiltie for that thou hast not done those good workes which in the lawe are commaunded For looke how many sinnes in euerie particular commaundement are forbidden so many good workes in euery commaundement are commaunded To euery sinne there ought to answere his contrarie and that is some good worke ¶ Now if thou throughly examine thy conscience thou shalt soone espy that thou hast not perfourmed no not the least part and portion of those thinges which the lawe of God requireth at thy handes yea if thou narrowly search euery corner of thy selfe thou shalt finde that either thou hast fulfilled and perfourmed nothing at all or if thou hast perfourmed anye thing yet shalt thou finde it to be vnperfect corrupt and with some manner of contagion infected For all our obedience is maymed lame and vnperfect Wherefore thou must say as Christ hath taught vs all Although we had done all those things that are commanded vs. yet we are vnprofitable seruauntes Againe The wisedome of the flesh is enimitie against God for it is not subiect to the lawe of God neyther in deede can bee Againe in the 7. Chapter I knowe that in mee that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me but I finde no meanes to perfourme that which is good And I delight in the lawe of God concerning this inner man but I see an other lawe in my members rebelling against the lawe of my minde and leading me capâ—iâ—e vnto the lawe of sinne which is in my members 6 Sixtly thou must cast in thy mind to consider and record the paines and punishmentes which God threatneth and inflicteth vpon those that disobey and transgresse his commandements Of these paines punishmentes and plagues some be corporall and externall some spirituall and internall Of the first sort are barrainesse and sterilitiâ— of the earth hunger and dearth dissentions and warres diseases pestilence banishmentes shipwrackes inundations and ouerflowings stormes calamities burninges c. Of the latter sort are ignoraunce of the scriptures famine of the woorde of God blindnesse of the minde incredulitie and vnbeliefe induration or hardening of the heart deliuerie and giuing vp into a reprobate sense c. A great beadroll of plagues are reckoned vp in the 28. of Deuteronomie But when it pleaseth him the Lorde can and will send many mo than are there expressed For hee daily prepareth and maketh readie newe scourges whips for disobedient men eueâ— as they dayly commit newe sinnes and offences For alas what miserie doe wee nowe day by day tast and proue what daungers What diseases What other incommodities which as it is to bee thought were not so much as once knowen by the very bare names vnto men in the olde men nor so much as once by any meanes spoken of And withall thou shalt remember and call to minde the examples of such as by the iust iudgement of God are read reported of in the bookes of the sacred scriptures others also to haue been plagued with these punishments either bodily or spiritually and it shall also much further thee to adde hereunto such as thou of thine own knowledge within thy time and memorie hast knowen to haue felt the heauie hande of God 7 Seuenthly it shal be very behouefull for thee to consider that for thy sinnes and offences others linked vnto thee in consanguinitie and kinred are punished namely thy Parentes thy children thy brethren thy
out of that trade of life wherein thou liuest Sinnes Inwarde COnsider well with thy selfe whether thou haue not nowe and than conceiued some erroneous opinions in thy minde of the onelye true and eternall God whereby thou haste beene drawen and moued either to some godlesse doubting or to some curious questioning Whether thou be ignoraunt or vnready in any of those cheefe points of doctrine Faith and Religion which al Christians are bounde to knowe and vnderstand Whether thou haue secreatly in heart or otherwise priuily assented to any manner of iustly condemned heresie Whether when thou hast seene the wicked to floorish in their ruffling deuises and to haue the worlde at will whereas on the contrary side the godly haue beene and are commonly afflicted with aduersitie when thou hast seene manie thinges to come to passe in the worlde disorderly thou haue thereupon doubted of the prouidence or wisedome of God Whether thou hast beene alwaies certainely perswaded in thy conscience that aswell aduersitie as prosperitie and trouble aswell as quietnes is sent by the good wil of almighty God and whether in all seasons thou hast thou hast put thy whole trust and confidence in him onely Whether thou haue patiently suffered all daungers that haue come vnto thee without any murmuring against God or kicking against his fatherly chastisement whether thou haue entirely therein resigned thy will to his diuine pleasure accounting and confessing thy selfe worthy of those greater scourges Whether when thou hast beene in great daungers and perills thou haue had any distrust that god either would not or could not deliuer thee By the â—ne thou hast derogated from the goodnesse of God by the other from his power But both the one and the other be directly against his promises Whether thou haue beene puffed vp with pride and arrogancie for the gifts that God hath bestowed on thee glorying therefore in thy selfe rather than in God and for the same hast disdained thy brethren For all pride tendeth to the hinderance of the glorie of God Whether for the obtaining of saluation thou haue ascribed any part therof either to thine owne or to any other mans merites and haue not depended wholly and onely vpon the merites of Christ and his diuine mercie Whether thou haue addicted thy minde to any manner of thing then to God For that thing is to euerie man his God which he chiefly loueth and specially delighteth in whether the same be Angell or man or what creature else soeuer Whether thou haue doone suche things as serue for the honour of god syncerely and simply for the lâ—ue thou bearest vnto God himselfe and not for any other ends whether thou haue done such thinges vnfeinedly with all thy heart with all thy minde with all thy strength For without a sincere meaning thy seruice and obedience is hypocriticall and being vnperfect it maketh thee guilty Sinnes externall and outward THese sinnes doe proceede also all of them from the heart For they are first inward and internall but when they burst out into act then are they also outwarde and externall and the more hainous and greeuous are these in this respect for that thereby our neighbour is hurt aswell as our selues and by our euil example is moued and brought to sinne Call to remembraunce therefore and consider whether thou haue euer shewed thy selfe by any sign or token to haue fauoured and allowed any vnsound opinions concerning God or matters of Fayth and whether thou haue euer gone about by perswasion to drawe others to the same thy erronious conceites and wilfull assertions Whether in the causes and pointes of Christian religion thou haue at any time spoken otherwise with thy tong then thou hast inwardly thought and beleeued in thy heart as though thou thoughtest it ynough so that thou keepe thy conscience a right to God that otherwise it mattereth not at all what thou saydest or vnsaydest confessedst or deniedst before men as time and place occasioned thee This is an horrible offence and a plain preferring of men before God and this is a sinne against the holy Ghoste Whether thou haue euer and in euery place so framed thy life and directed thy actions that all men might perceiue and knowe that thine earneste purpose and intent vvas to sanctifie the name of the LORDE GOD. Whether for the auoiding of any euill or obteyning of any good thou haue trusted to the helpe protection and furtherance of Aungelles eyther good or badde or of menne or of anye other creature what-soeur as though they were able to haue holpen thee aswell as God For there is none to bee inuocated sought vnto for helpe but God onely Whether for the procuring of any thing either good or badde thou haue vsed any vnlawfull meanes or superstitious damnable helpes Of which sort bee the obseruation and choise of daies of Planetarie houres of motions and courses of starres mumbling of prophane praiers consisting of wordes both straunge and senselesse adiurations sacrifices consecrations and hallowinges of diuerse thinges rytes and ceremonies vnknowen to the Church of God toyish characters and figures demaunding of questions and answers of the dead dealing with damned Spirites or with any instrumentes of phanaticall diuination as basons ringes cristals glasses roddes prickes numbers dreames lots fortunetellinges oracles soothsayings horoscoping or marking the houres of natiuities witchcraftes enchauntments all such superstitious trumpeâ—â— Hereunto is to bee referred the paustring mawmetrie and heathenish worshipping of that domesticall God or familiar Angell which was thought to be appropried to euerie particular person the enclosing or binding of Spirites to certaine instruments and such like deuises of Sathan the Deuill Whether thou haue wilfully willingly throwen thy selfe into any dangers when as no necessitie draue thee thereunto whereunto wherein thou diddest directly tempt God For thy trade of life IN euerie mans peculiar trade of life hee doth many and sundrie kindes of waies transgresse this first coÌ„mandement as namely ¶ He that hath taken vpon him the charge and ouersight of the Church of God let him well weigh and consider whether hee haue carefully discharged his duetie both in doctrine life so that the glorie of God by him thereby hath beene the rather fauoured and propagated and the consciences of many effectually stayed comforted Whether in matters touching God and Christian religion hee hath set foorth and vttered in the Church any thing doubtful and vncertain in steed of certaine trueth and vndoubted veritie Whether hee bee spotted and infected with any heresy or vnsound opinion Whether he haue at al times to the vttermoste of his ability and skill endeuoured to beat downe and confute all corrupt doctrines Whether he haue patiently winked at quietly suffered any rytes wherein hath bene eyther apparant superstition or otherwise any notable offence and inconuenience As gadding and raunging about with procession conuenticling in corners superstitious vsage of holy water pilgrimages and vowes to be perfourmed in
some certaine places and with certaine appointed solemnities and ceremonies whereby there are commonly committed sundrie lewde attemptes and many lamentable enormities Whether he haue admitted any to bee teachers in the Church which were eyther vnmeete or vnable syncerely and discreetely to deliuer the worde of God or any corrupt and vnsounde preachers that willingly depraue the texts of the scriptures and purposely misconstrue the wordes of trueth to confirme and establish their owne phantasticall or rather phanaticall opinions ¶ He that is called to gouernment in the common wealth be he Prince or Peere Iudge or Lawyer of high calling let him looke well about him whether he haue with all his endeuor and care laboured to promote true religion and to maintaine defende the sincere worship of God Whether he haue countenaunced abetted or mainteined any heretikes Schismatiks Iewes or any false wicked teachers in any thing against the sanctifying of the blessed name of god Whether in giuing sentēce iudgement vpon any matter in all other graue consultations about the affaires of the common wealth he haue nuer remēbred that God is the high Lord and Iudge and him selfe to be but his Minister ¶ They that bestowe their time in Schooles of learning which bee the seede plots and Seminaries both of the Church and common-wealth Doctors Teachers and Maisters Whether they haue carefully trained in the feare of God the youth committed to their charge and syncerely deliuered vnto them the principles and chiefe grounds of fayth and Christian religion Scholers Whether by reading of the bookes of Philosophers and heathen Poets they haue learned to holde any wicked opinions of God Whether they haue in their custody any wicked Pamphlets or bestowe any study in bookes of curious arts and superstitious skill as magicke diuination and such like Whether they reade any bookes of Heretiques iustly condemned by the Catholike and vniuersall Church ¶ Physition Whether beeing with the sicke he haue especially before all thinges exhorted them to haue a firme and vndoubting faith in God without whom no medicine is auaileable and holesome Whether for recouerie of his bodily health he haue aduised and prescribed to his patient any things that be hurtfull and dangerous to the health of his soule as all those thinges are that be not warranted by the worde of God but directly against the remedies which the Lorde hath ordained As when they prescribe vnto them superstitious obseruaunces peeuish calculations and childish mawmetries c. Also when they beare their patient in hand or make him to thinke that some certaine Saints haue power to send also to take away this or that disease as though God were not the onely gouernour of all thinges did not depend on him ¶ Apothecarie Whether he haue superstitiouslie obserued or fondly stayed for choise daies or houres or any other ceremonious rytes in gathering his herbs or other simples for the making of his drouges and receiptes ¶ Merchants poore people and handicraftesmen Whether they haue procured gotten and made any thing or otherwise furnished others with any thing thereby to make them the better able to oppresse or hinder Christian religion and the true worshippe of God As they doe which either aide the Turkes or craue aide of them against their christian brethren And as they doe which sell to the Iewes or to treacherous and hollowe harted Christians any maner of stuffe or instrument whereby to prophane and dishonour the name of God or which do any maner of way minister occasion by theit deuise and sleight to compasse and bring to passe any thing to dimme and empeache the glory of God on earth The second Commandement Thou shalt make thee no grauen Image neither any similitude of things that are in heauen aboue neither that are in the earth beneath nor that are in the water vnder the earth Thou shalt not bowe downe to them nor worship them c. Sinnes inwarde COnsider well whether thou haue not sometime thought that God either would or might be worshipped otherwise then in spirit trueth Whether thou haste not beene perswaded that the inuisible power of God might by some visible Image be the better knowne and so the sooner honoured Whether thou haste any time beleeued or thought that the honour due vnto God was any way bestowable vp on any creature whether thou hast thought any creature able of his own proper power and ability to bring this or that to passe Whether thou haste euer thought that myracles haue bene wrought by Images or that any vertue and power hath beene in them Sinnes outward WHether hauing euer secretely cōceiued in thy mind any wicked opiniōs about the seruice and worship of God thou haue apparantly and openly by any token or signification made publike the same that is whether thou haue built founded or dedicated any Chappel closet oratory or groue to any creature eyther deade or a-liue for worship Whether thou haue assisted any that haue so done Whether thou haue erected and set vp any Images altars representations or purtraitures whether thou haue secretely worshipped or giuen diuine honour to the image of any Saint whom thou hast made speciall choise of to bee thy patron and aduocate or set vp the same eyther in thy Howse in thy Garden or any other place vsing therto either bowing crow ching kneeling censing lighting of tapers offering of gifts or adorning it with garlands and presenting vnto it the firstlings of thy encrease as corne and graine and other oblations with solemne woords and reuerent rites saluting it adressing therunto vsual praiers hoping therby to receiue some benifite or to see some miracle and to be short whether thou hast egged procured any other to doo the like For thy trade of life CAruers Grauers Painters and Image-makers Whether in the making grauing or painting of any Image or picture eyther of man or any other creature they haue shewed all the skill and cunning that possibly they coulde in hope thereby to bring men in loue with their workepeece and so to worship it Handy-craftsmen Whether they haue made or or solde any such thinges as they well knewe their buiers woulde conuert to superstitious vses and Idolatrous worshippings The third Commaundement Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lorde will not holde him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vaine Sinnes inwarde WHether so often as thou heardest the name of God vsed in earnest and serious matters thou diddest with a religious and reuerend minde thinke on the ineffable maiesty of God and with thy whole minde deuoutly honor the same Whether when thou haste beene commanded or requested in a necessary and lawfull cause to sweare and take an oth thou haue framed thy self therevnto with such Godly zeale and reuerence as became thee Whether in the time of prayers giuing of thankes lauding and praysing the name of
or whome he knewe had shed the bloud of his brethren ere he would leaue his malice and hatred Whether he haue allowed and approued wrongfull warres or vniust and corrupt iudgements giuen and pronounced either by the Prince or by anie others which some euen in open pulpits haue not bene ashamed to doe Gouernour of the common wealth Whether he haue commanded or committed anie to prison without iust cause where either for hunger and famine or with stench and fulsome smellys or some such like meanes they haue ben lamentably dealt withall and miserably handled Whether hee haue denied to anie their lawfull right to pleade and aunswere for themselues and defend their cause Whether he haue vpon corrupt affection either secretlie in prison or openly abroade commaunded anie to bee cruellie handled racked tortured bound beaten or anie other waie hurt and punished in bodie or depriued of life Whether such as he could not rightlie and lawefullie oppresse and make dispatch of hee haue caused and procured by others to bee trecherouslie accused apprehended wronged hurt or by anie manner of meane brought within the compasse of danger Whether he haue euer seemed to fauour countenaunce or protect anie murtherous cruell and bloudie persons or haue at anie time willinglie ioyned in counsell with them Whether in punishing those that haue hurt wounded or slaine others as theeues ruffians cut-throates and such like he haue bene remisse negligent and carelesse either in not willingly finding out the offenders or in refusing to bestowe the charges for their due punishment and repression or by anie other waie whatsoeuer Whether in punishing offences hee haue at anie time exceeded measure and either deuised new kindes of tortures or taken delight in such as haue ben too too terrible painful and rigorous or haue inflicted more grieuous sorer punishment than the nature and quality of the offence deserued or required Whether sitting in iudgement and hearing the case effectuallie and substantially with all proofes debated he haue condemned giuen iudgement against him whom hee found and weâ—â— knew to be innocent Whether he haue beene carefull to defend froÌ„ wrongful oppression poore widows fatherlesse other distressed comfortlesse persons them when they haue bene in danger relieued assisted Whether he haue set foorth or caused by others to be set forth any games or disportes in the which sometime men haue beene wounded maimed yea many times slaine and killed outright Whether he haue made warre without iust cause or giuen either counsell or aide to others that haue so done Whether he haue inhibited and forbidden anie from helping relieuing the afflicted froÌ„ defending the cause of the innocent accused from selling such things as bee necessarie for the mainrenance and sustentation of this life and from helping to rescue those that were oppressed or violently assaulted Whether he haue rightlie and duly kept the times of truce agreed vppon Whether he haue procured caused anie that haue bene deliuered vnto him as Pledges and Hostages or anie that haue beene sent vnto hint as Ambassadours and Agentes to bee ill intreated or brought into any danger ¶ Generall of warres Captaine and Souldiour Whether beeing Generall and Chieftaine hee haue commaunded anie thing to bee done with more crueltie and rigor than the lawe of armes required thereby contemning and ouerthrowing all militarie discipline Whether for his priuate affection he haue conducted and lead his Souldiours ours to other places than were conuenient and requisite or whether hee hath endamaged and hurt anie whom his commission and duty required not to deale withall Whether knowing the warre to bee taken in hand vpon vniust cause and wrongfull quarrell he haue notwithstanding serued in the same Whether he haue suffered his Souldiours disorderliâ— to vse outrage and crueltie otherwise than either was giuen them in commaundement or the custome of warre required and allowed Whether he haue vsed anie crueltie either in bodie or goods towards such persons as were innocent as namelie olde men young children ministers of the Church poore widowes women speciallie being great with child or lying in child-bedde virgins and such like Whether the same were done with swoorde with glaiue with fire with spoile or anie other waie Infinite bee the waies and manners of crueltie in souldiours many times vsuall Whether they haue sought by anie strange vncouth and vnusuall waie to annoy supplant and damnifie their enemie as in deuising new Engines sleightful inuentions new and strange kinds of munition weapons poisoning the same whereby the wounds therewith made become vncurable such like Whether they haue caused any treason to be wrought or anie politik stratageme to be practised whereby greater slaughter was made and more bloudshed than otherwise would haue bene ¶ Lawier Atturney Proctor Scribe Whether being retained on the behalf of the one partie accusing he haue for ill will or affection so aggreuated the case of the other side beeing accused that thereby he hath either beene the sooner ouerthrowen grieuouslyer punished or otherwise woorse handled dealt withall either in body or goods than otherwise hee woulde haue bene Whether he haue kept back his aid or denied his helpe to the poore or anie other distressed weaklinges standing in neede of his aduise and crauing his fauoutable furtheraunce eyther for defence of their cause or for the drawing of their pleas bookes and whether he haue done the same in such good forme as hee ought and as he could haue done if he had beene disposed ¶ Phisition Apothecarie Whether he haue intermedled or presumed to deale in the arte of Phisicke and preparing of medicines beeing not furnished with sufficient skill thereunto Whether he haue prescribed directed appointed made or giuen to his patient any receit or medicine wherby the disease hath rather increased than decreased or death perhaps ther vpon insued Whether he haue ben negligent in helping the sicke when hee hath bene requested and whom hee coulde haue cured and holpen Whether he haue proued anie thing at randon as doubtfull and not knowing whether it were good or no. Whether hee haue giuen anie instruction or anie kinde of helpe or counsell to women to make them barren to procure abortion or vntimelie birth to destroie the childe conceiued in their wombe to bring vppon them vnnaturall coldnesse or to compasse and bring to passe lewde and vnhonest loues c. ¶ Rich man Whether he haue denied to the poore and needie that hath asked him such conuenient reliefe as was necessarie to him for the sustentation of his life as meate drinke c. Knowing that the poore partie wanted the same In that thou hast not fedde thy hungrie brother saith one thou hast murthered him ¶ Merchant Workeman Artificer Whether he haue made or solde anie strange new inuented instruments to spoile and hurt the bodie of man withall Whether to furnish any that make vniust warres without good cause and reason
he haue sold to them armour weapons or other things ¶ Butcher Fishmonger Baker Brewer Cater Vitaler Cooke Vintner Tauerner c Whether they haue sold vttered retailed or dâ—essed corrupt flesh fish or any other meat or drinke wherby the eaters therof haue caught sicknesse infection or any other harme in their bodies ¶ Husband Whether he haue stroken and beaten his wife either else put inforced her to such labours works whereby she hath ben brought a bed afore her time or hurt the child in her wombe ¶ Wife Whether by medicines or labour or dancing or any other means she haue ben the occasion of vntimely birth or otherwise of hurting the child within her Whether she haue carefully tendred and cherished her babe being new borne looking so diligently and so teÌ„derly vnto it as her duty required There be many women that may iustly be charged with great negligence in this behalfe and that many waies Whether laying the babe in the same bed with her in the night she haue crushed and brused it or by ouer-lying smoothered and killed it Whether by her adulterous life or by her scolding and brawling with any other or by making complaint to her husband of others shee haue bene the cause to set her husband and the other party together by the eares wherby the one hath violently assailed wounded or killed the other Nurses are liable to the same faultes that matrones and wiues Harlots and strumpets drabs curtizans queanes and such as haue nothing of virgins but the name onely are likewise infamous for procuring their barrennesse vntimely births and killing their children They therefore in this behalfe haue great cause diligently to examine their consciences To be short it is euery particular man and womans dutie to looke about it standeth each man in hand to consider with himselfe according to that trade function or kinde of life wherein he liueth whether he haue any manner of waie ben the cause either of the hurt or of the death of an other As for example The Maister when he commandeth his seruant to lift or carrie such great burthens whereby he is hurt in his bodie or peraduenture catcheth that harme whereof he can neuer be cured Likewise he that willeth another to goe afore through a deepe foord or water ouer some bridge rotten planke timber or ladder where there is great apparance of present danger Hee also that hurleth a stone or shooteth an arrow into such place where others do vsually haunt and assemble Also hee that lendeth or letteth to hire to an other a horse which hee knoweth to haue naughtie trickes as oftentimes to haue ouerthrowen and cast his rider to flouÌ„dre in the mire to lie down in the water c. Infinite be the waies whereby the bodie of our neighbour may be put in daunger and wronged Let euery one therefore enter into deepe consideration with himselfe remember how and which waie he hath offended and broght his neighbor into any hazard perill or danger Finally whether in committing any of these aforesayd thou hast giuen thereby occasion to others to doe the like that is to saie whether either by word or deede against this commandement thou hast beene a stumbling-blocke or the cause of fall to another And also whether seeing others committing any of the same thou haue secretly assented vnto them neither staying them nor reprouing theÌ„ neither yet shewing any token of thy mislike thereof when time and place serued thee well so to haue done The accessarie and consentour is as well culpable as the partie that dooth the deede The 7. Commandement Thou shalt not commit adulterie Sinnes inward WHether in anie place or time when thou haste bene idle and vnoccupied thou hast had anie thinking of filthie and vnchast matters and whether in the same thou hast fixed anie delight or dwelt in any pleasure so that thereby thou feltest thy minde and flesh stirred prouoked and occasioned to sinne Whether seeing any womaÌ„ or maid thou hast burnt inwardly in lust toward her Whether thou hast euer deuised any practises or laied any plots wherby to compasse thy desire in such filthie purposes Whether thou hast taken anie delight in reporting remembring thy former lewde life or filthy actes this waie committed whether thou hast had any desire to returne to the same sinne againe Whether thou hast immoderatlie bene in loue with thy selfe eyther for thy beautie or for any other giftes whatsoeuer as though for the same thou deemedst thy self a Paragon able to allure and drawe others to commit filthie follie with thee Sinnes outward WHether through brauerie in apparell simpering lookes smooth countenance gallant decking curious trimming wanton glances nice behauiour and other like vanities thou haue giuen occasion of semblable loosenesse and opened a wide gap for others by imitatioÌ„ of thy follies the sooner to commit filthines and dishonestie Whether thou hast bene addicted to idlenesse banquetting tippeling and drinking whereby thy libidinous lust hath ben 〈◊〉 thy desire of lecherie 〈◊〉 Whethâ—◠〈…〉 wanton eies learing countenances beckes signes greetings seruiceable salutations gifts and rewards amorous songs and Sonets delicate instruments of Musicke nightly walkinges vp and downe the streets purposely appointed daunces set banquets messengers or by anie wicked practises thou hast gone about to bring thy dishonest desire lecherous loue to passe Whether thou hast willingly kept companie or bene familiar with such persons by whoÌ„ thou mightest be egged and entised holpen or furthered oâ— any way drawen moued to commit this filthinesse Whether to compasse thy dishonest desire thou hast at any time resorted vnto and frequented secrete corners gardens or any other such places as might well be suspected It standeth thee vpon and thou oughtest with all diligence and circumspection to auoide and eschue all such persons all such places all such times and al such other circumstances as may draw thy minde to infection thy bodie to villanie or thy name and credite into question Whether by any secret sleight or â—unning as drinkes drugs medicines charmed potions amatorious Philters figures characters or anie suchâ—like paltering instrumentes deuises or practises thou hast gone about to procure others to doate for loue of thee Whether by kissing groping touching or handling any partes of the bodie thou hast gone about to stirre vpâ— lust and lecherie either in thy selfe or in any other Whether thou hast vsed anie ribalâ— talke or raskallie words of scurrilitie tending to the praise of lust and prouocation of lecherie or whether thou hast willingly heard and giuen eare to others that haue so done or prouoked others to any such talke Whether thou hast vnlawfully had carnall copulation with anie and with what maner of person Whether with a single woman thy selfe also beeing single and vnmarried or whether with a married person which is adulterie Or whether 〈◊〉 that is 〈◊〉 of kinne or assiâ—â—tie to thee which is called Incest or
〈◊〉 with any 〈◊〉 and against their will which is called Rape or rauishment Whether thou hast abused thy 〈◊〉 by carnall dealing in anie other sorte or with anie other persons or creatures than by the lawe of nature is ordained As by Sodomitrie or by Buggarie tearmed by some the dombe sinne and as I thinke for this cause so tearmed for that it is of such horror that it is not once to be named or spoken of among men Whether thou hast long time continued in that kinde of sinne whereof thou knowest thy selfe guilty Whether thou hast giuen any aide to others â—n their filthie dealings or whether thou hast bestowed any time labour or diligence in procuring and bringing about any dishonest lustfull and lecherous loues For the kind or trade of life Gouernour or Minister of the Church Whether hee haue admitted and winked at or tollerated anie beeing by others admitted to the ministerie of the Church whoÌ„ either he himselfe or anie others did knowe to bee whooremongers or to keepe Concubines and harlots Whether hee haue suffered anie to bee partakers of the holie Supper of the Lorde notoriouslie knowen to bee Adulterers and Whooremongers Whether when he hath seene sins manifestly raigning and grieuouslie preuailing against this seuenth commandement or stewes and brothel-houses to be suffered and to goe vnpunished he haue beene negligent and remisse as occasion and opportunitie hath serued to reproue and inueigh against it and whether hee haue zealouslie aduised and earnestlie admonished the Magistrate to looke to his dutie in this behalfe in repressing and redressing these enormities Whether in ioyning anie persons together in Matrimonie specially them of the lighter sorte hee haue bene too readie rash inconsiderate as namely in not propounding vnto them the ends of Matrimonie for which it was by God ordained instituted in not declaring vnto them such pointes as appertaine to the dignitie of Mariage in not earnestly examining them what reasons moued them to enter into this holy estate The negligent looking vnto these and such like pointes is one speciall cause of so many ill agreeing matches so many lamentable diuorses c. Whether he haue suffered the patrimonie treasure substance goods of the Church to bee bestowed in almes vpon anie such persons as for their lewde life and filthie liuing were infamous Whether when women haue resorted vnto him for his aduise spiritual counsell hee haue felte himselfe anie waie moued to vnchastitie or otherwise inkindled and assailed with anie lecherous cogitations Finally whether in the Church or else where or by domesticall vsage familiar custome or anie other meanes whatsoeuer either by immodest countenance or vndiscreet iesture he haue giuen others occasion to conceiue of him ill opinion and sinister suspition ¶ Magistrate and publike Officer in the common wealth Whether in his Realm Countrie Dominion Precinct iurisdiction he haue suffered anie dens of baudrie open brothel-houses or Stewes from the which there muâ—â— needs grow and flowe ful seas of much mischiefe Whether he haue bene remisse and negligent to reforme and bring to amendement of life or else to punish banish out of the common wealth all such as for lewdnes and impuritie are generally infamous as baudes pandars filthie loue-makers adulterers whooremongers strumpets and all others whomsoeuer giuing offence in this behalfe Whether he haue at anie time or by any meanes so vsed demeaned himselfe that he hath bene thought to fauour support and beare with this kind of filthie life which suspition coÌ„monly ariseth when men in authoritie doe familiarly admit to their acquaintaÌ„ce companie those that be lechers and whooremaisters and such as bee foule mouthed and baudilie languashed Oâ— when they make much of such persons and delight in their fellowship or aduance and preferre them to dignities and honours or suffer them to inioy publike offices in the common wealth whereas other good honest vertuous persons are vnregarded and not accounted of Whether they haue suffered any Enterludes Stageplaies or games wherin haue bene shewed vttered or done anie filthie feates vnchast wordes or lewde actions Which kinde of shewes and playes are in many places seene not onely at times of prophane iollyties but now and then also euen at the solemne assemblies of some such as by profession shoulde bee deadly haters and vehement disswaders thereof Souldiour Whether in the time of warre hee haue constuprated and defloured anie virgins or matrones thinking himselfe as it were to haue lawfull interest ouer the bodie of those seely creatures being by force of arms of him conquered taken and subdued Phisicion and Apothecarie Whether he haue giuen counsell to any person for the preseruation and recouerie of his health to commit whooredome or some other vile act to become dronken c. Whether he haue ministred made anie medicines or drugges to inflame lust prouoke lecherie or procure dishonest loue Whether in deliuering medicines to anie woman or maiden he haue wantonly and vnchastly either handled or beheld her ¶ Schoolemaister Whether hee haue read to the youth in the schoole anie wanton writers or vnchast Authours whereby their mindes might catch infection And of such sort are there certaine Poets Comicall Elegiake Epigrammatarie ¶ Scholler Whether he haue priuatly taken delight in reading such Authors and whether he haue ben therby induced to sinne Whether not onely by familiaritie with women and damsels of ill report and fame but also with ietting the streets by night with instrumentes of Musicke he haue procured dauncing and occasioned misrule whereby hee might seeme as it were to seeke opportunitie to finde fit time to compasse his vncleane conceits and fleshly imaginations And if ouer and besides this he haue at any time carryed weapons causing therewith braulings fraies to the hurting or wounding of any or which is worse of the murther and death of anie In this dooing he hath sinned also by manifest brech against the sixt coÌ„mandement whereof we lately treated ¶ Husband and Wife Whether they haue faithfully kept the one to the other their bed vndefiled their faith vnspotted Whether to the actuall knowledge allowed betwene them they haue shewed thymselues the one to the other without lawfull and necessarie cause waiward churlish vnwilling whereby might haue growen danger of scortation vncleannesse and filthie offence Whether there hath ben betweene them anie bitter wordes or brawling iarres breeding an hatred the one to the other and peraduenture occasioning them or the one of them to commit sinne with some other partie Whether the loue betweene them haue beene hemmed in within the bounds of such christian sobrietie and decency that they haue not as it were in a beastly sort ouermuch dotage loued the one the other yeelding themselues to immoderate yea vnchast and as I may saie whoorish lust and loue He committeth adulterie with his owne wife that in this filthie sort loueth her doteth ouer her vnmeasurably
thy brother in any bargain or to preuent him of his commoditie or whether thou hast attempted or done any thing to that end VVhether thou hast bereft or by any means empaired any mās good name and fame which all honest men doo more esteeme that worthily than either money or any other worldlie treasure and whether thou hast done it secretly and closely by vndermining his credit with lewde speeches or by affixing and setting vp infamous and slanderous libels or pictures or by openly charging him with some crime not committed or if it were committed yet secret and not knowen or by exaggerating another mans fault or through thy silence and dissimulation soothing a matter as though that were committed which in very deede was not committed Or by accusing of him before a Iudge and that not so much for anie loue thou bearest to iustice as for malice and spight to the partie for desire to do him a shrewd turne Whether thou haue lent out thy monie corne wine or any other thy goods with conditiō to receiue again more than thou lentest and gaue out whether the same bee in monie or in ware or in anie other thing whatsoeuer Whether for lending any thing thou hast taken to pawne apparell horse house grounde c. VVhich pawne thou hast in the meane while vsed and worne without allowance or abatement of anie parte of the principall summe VVhether when thou hast lent vnto Merchants Occupiers and Artificers any money thou hast done it in hope to partake with thē in the gaine which they make with the monie borrowed of thee VVhether thou hast bought land or any other thing at a higher price than it is wel worth but yet with this clause and condition that the partie which felleth it shall bee bounde to buy the same of thee againe and thou in the meane space till he redeeme it take inioy all the profit and commoditie arising and growing thereof to thine owne vse This cunning shifte is tearmed Cloaked vsurie For they cleanlie couer it with the honest names of buieng and selling whereas beeing well considered it is nothing els but plaine mutuation VVhether thou hast borrowed vppon vsurie when thou haddest no neede but onely to lend out the same monie againe to others for greater gaine and bigger vsurie or whether thou borrowedst it to spend and consume vnthriftily VVhether any person haue wastfully spent his wealth or lewdly in dissolute companie made hauocke of his thrift whereby hee hath afterwardes bin driuen to be burdenous chargeable vnto others For the trade of life MInister of the Church VVhether he were preferred to anie spirituall function or whether he himselfe haue preferred anie others for reward gaine or vpon any other such considerations to and fro had and concluded as might well bee reckoned in lieu of reward or monie This foule crime because of Symon Magus who desired with monie to buy the gift and power by laying on of handes to giue the holy Ghost is nowe called Snnonie VVhether for doing his dutie in celebration of the Sacraments other offices appertinent therunto he haue purposelie respected gaine and reward VVhether he entered into the office of the ministerie for gaine ease and commoditie rather than for any other cause VVhether he haue left one Church and gone to another in hope of bigger commoditie and greater gaine or any way therby seeking with more wealth to inrich himselfe VVhether he haue suffred the goods of the Church so to be imbezilled and wasted that thereby the Ministers and poore people hauing their maintenaunce and liuing by that Church are nipt and skanted and cut short of necessaries for their sustentation VVhether hee receiue and take the profites of sundrie Churches without a iust and necessarie cause I meane that to be a iust and necessarie cause when of the prosites of that other Church a Minister cannot maintaine himselfe or when as at that time there cannot another fitte bee found able to take the charge of the same VVhether he haue caused the goods and reuenues of the Church whereof he hath charge and gouerement to be bestowed and imployed to those vses which in right they ought to bee namely to the maintenaunce of the Ministers exhibition to poore scholers releefe of aged persons widowes Orphanes fatherlesse children c. VVhether in disposing and bestowing of the goods of the Church hee haue giuen more than meete was to those that had lesse neede neglecting those whose necessitie and want in all equitie and conscience ought to haue ben specially releiued VVhether he hath conuerted the stipend and maintenance which he hath receiued of the Church vpon necessarie and honest vses namely in keeping and nourishing an honest and well gouerned familie and in reliefe of the poore not consuming the same in riot in banqnetting in brauerie or among harlots c. Whether he haue pulled or taken to himselfe anie thing as annexed to his Church which in truth is not annexed vnto it Whether he haue receiued the prosite and stipend of anie Church wheron he hath no care to bestow any trauell or diligence in teaching Whether of those thinges that belong to the Church he haue translated anie thing to other vses than hee ought to doo and haue committed and referred the vse thereof to anie such as doo no manner of good to the Church Whether he haue admitted or alowed any phantastical opinions or pickpurse rites whereby the Minister and such as serue in the Church doe make priuate gaine of which sortes be the dreaming opinions and superstitious rites of deliuering soules for monye out of Purgatorie of merits and satisfaction for sins of pilgrimages of kissing and offering to carued Images reliques of the dead c. ¶ Gouernour of the Common wealth Whether he attained the dignitie preheminence and power whereunto he is aduanced truly and iustly that is to saie without fraud or deceit without force or violence without wrōg to any manner of person Whether he haue so behaued himselfe toward his superior Magistrate as he ought to haue done yeelding vnto him all due honour Whether hee haue offered or done wrong to anie other beeing placed in dignitie and office although somwhat his inferiour denying vnto him his lawfull right authoritie fees relieues seruices and appertenaunces to his place and calling appendant and also so haue affoorded vnto him assistaunce ayde defence and suche like Whether he haue incroched vppon anie other mans right or chalenged to himselfe that which belonged to others forciblie wresting aud drawing that within the compasse of authority wherein he had no interest prescribing lawes and orders to them ouer whome his authoritie stretched not Whether he haue omitted foreslowed to helpe and de end suche as were committed in trust vnto him insomuch that through his carelesse and wilful negligence or malice they haue suffered harme incurred inconuenience Whether he haue inioyned assessed those to paiments of
truth Whether he haue vsed Sophistrie or anie fraudulent arte to winne credite fame and authoritie to himselfe in the schooles or to drawe vnto him many scholers or thereby to chalenge power ouer others c ¶ Schâ—ler Whether he haue procured and gotten or for money bought the title of Maister or obteined Letters commendatorie thereby purposing the sooner to deceiue and blinde the eyes of his Parentes or others to whom he meant to goe There be yet some other driftes policies and shiftes packed betweene the scholer and the Master which by these afore declared may quickely be knowen and found out ¶ Merchaunts Artificers Occupiers and Workemen Whether they haue corrupted any wares and offered them in sale for perfect and good Whether in their barter and bargayning they haue affirmed falsehoode and dissimuled the truth as wheÌ„ with an oth they doe not sticke to aduouch that their wares cost them dearer thaÌ„ in truth they did that they brought them to their great costs and charges from places countries farre distaâ—â— off that an other would haue giuen a great deale more that they loose by their selling them at so low price and wish many black curses to themselues swearing and staring if all bee not as they say c. O Lorde who is able to recken vp all the lyes and vntruthes euen vntruely to their owne knowledge and consciences which these sellers doe vainelie lashe and babble out to those that come to buye of them Whether in bargayning or any other action and dealing thou haue promised to perform that which thou hadst no purpose or meaning to accomplish Finally whether in committing any of these aboue rehearsed thou haue giuen occasion to others to commit the like that is to wit whether either by words or deedes against this commaundement thou haue beene the cause of offence and stumbling to others Againe whether when thou hast perceiued and seene others committing the same thou haue secretly in mind assented vnto them neyther reprouing nor staying and letting them when notwithstanding time place hath well serued thee so to haue done The 10. Commaundement ¶ Thou shalt not couet thy neighbors housâ— neither shalt thou couer thy neighbours wife nor his man seruant nor his maâ—de nor his Oxe nor his Asse neither anâ— thing that is thy neighbours Sinnes inwarde THis commaundement teacheth vs that God forbiddeth condemneth in vs euen all corrupt affections cogitations And therefore condemneth those sins which in our very thoughts may be committed against the afore going coÌ„maundements namely those that be of the seconde Table Thus we see that not our actions onely but our very frowarde will and corrupt thought is sufficient to make vs guiltie before God And therefore there be many pointes which thou art hereâ— in diligently and warily to call to thy consideration Namely whether thou haue desired the dignitie place office authoritie power glory countenance and calling of any other specially of thy superiour or equal whether thou hast practised any wayes howe to displace him and settle thy selfe in his roome Whether thou hast gone about to hinder from preferment thine inferiour and vnderling Whether thou hast entred into anie deuise with thy selfe how thou mightest bring to passe this peruerse desire of thine in this behalfe These are directly against the fifth commaundement Whether thou hast felt within thee such wicked motions arising that thou hast borne hatred to any or wished any harme to his bodie Whether thou hast long dwelt in anger and malice towardes any man euen vnto an earnest and heartie desire of reuenge Whether thou hast had any determination to pursue with effect these thy cruell desires And this is against the sixt Commaundement Whether thou haue felt thy flesh thy wicked affections inwardly enflamed to desire vnlawful copulatioÌ„ with any person either present or absent Whether thou hast entered into deuise how to bring to passe these thy filthie desires This is against the seuenth commaundement Whether thou haue swelled with rancour and enuie at the prosperitie and wealthie state of another wishing the same to be thine Whether thou hast entred into any deuise how to obtaine thy purpose haue thy desire These are against the 8. commaundement Whether vpon an enuions and malitious stomack thou haue bethought thee how to disable empaire and diminish any other mans fame credite dignitie or estimation This is against the ix commaundement Sinnes externall and outward WHether by any signes tokens or argumentes as with thine eyes beckes c. thou haue shewed thy selfe to desire and couet any other mans goodes or to seeke meanes to vndermine and deceaue him Whether thou haue any way so to behaue thy selfe as either by painting pranking or garnishing thy body in bragging boasting or making glorious shew report of thy welth house apparel furniture money or such like thinges that thou hast thereby occasioned and prouoked an other to couet and desire thy body or thy goods In this sorte and by this meanes thou art the cause of vnlawfull and forbidden concupiscences in an other For the trade of life WHether in that trade of life wherein thou liuest thou hast euer haded anie vnlawefull thought will or desire to haue any of thinges in the former commaundementes expressely prohibited to bee brought to effect and actually accomplished And whereas we do not lightly put any of our actions in practise but we first conceiue theÌ„ in our mind here doest thou plainly perceiue that in this Tenth Commaundement all those hidden secret and lurking cogitations desires willes and affections for these euer goe before the act or deede are flatly forbidden prohibited and condemned Finally whether by any signes of concupiscence shewed by thee thou haue giuen offence that is to wit occasion of concupiscence to others Againe whether hauing perceiued and noted any signes of coÌ„cupiscence in an other thou haue in thy secrete conceipt allowed and well liked the same ¶ And thus much generally plainly spoken of the sinnes committed against the Decalogue may suffice Now let vs see how thou oughtest hereby to make profitable try all of thy selfe and so to finde out what manner of man thou art 1 First it behoueth thee with al attention of mind to looke into these commaundementes and tables and therin diligently to consider whether thou finde any thing that neerely toucheth thy conscience and person that thou mayest perfectly see what speciall crimes and offences thou art manifestly guiltie of before the tribunall seate of God For to this end properly was the law by God giuen and to this ende haue we collected and framed this treatiâ—e in such sort and manner as thou seest 2 Secondly thou shalt so throughly examine thine actions that thou must looke well about thee and consider againe and againe whether in one and the selfe same action thou haue in many sortes highly offended God that is whether thou haue by the breach of one commaundement transgressed 〈◊〉 For