Ye knowe well that these handes haue ministred vnto my necessities and to them that were with me The .xxiii. Chapter THou shalt not course the ruler of the people The Saduces saye that there is no resurrection neither angell nor spirite But the phariseis graunt bothe The .xxv. Chapter IT is not the maner of the Romaynes to deliuer any man that he should perishe before that he which is accused haue the accusars before him and haue licence to aunswer for himselfe concerning the crime layde agaynst him My thinketh it vnreasonable for to sende a prisoner not to shewe the causes which are laide againste him The .xxvi. Chapter I Shewed fyrste vnto them of Damasco and at Ierusalem and through out all the coastes of Iewry to the Gentiles that they shoulde repent and turne to god and do the righte workes of repentaunce ¶ Here endeth the Actes of the Apostles ¶ The Epistle of S. Paule to the Romaynes the .i. Chap. FOr I am detter bothe to the Grekes and to them whiche are no Grekes vnto the learned and also vnto the vnlearned Likewise as muche as in me is I am redy to preache the gospel to you of Rome also For I am not ashamed of the gospell of Christ because it is the power of God vnto saluacion to all that beleue namely to the Iewe and also to the geÌ„tile The iust shall lyue by faithe His inuisible thinges that is to saye his eternall power and godhead are vnderstond and sene by the workes from the creation of the worlde When they counted themselues wise they became fooles And as it semed not good vnto them to be knowen of god euen so god deliuered them vp vnto a leude mynde that they should do the thinges whiche were not comely The .ii. Chapter THinkest thou this O thou man that iudgest them whiche do suche thynges and yet doest euen the very same that thou shalt escape the iudgement of god Either despisest thou the ryches of his goodnes pacience and loÌ„g sufferauÌ„ceâ— and remembreste not howe that the kyndenes of god leadeth the to repentaunce But thou after thine harde harte that cannot repent heapest together the treasure of wrathe against the daye of vengeaunce when shall be opened the righteous iudgement of god whiche will rewarde euery maÌ„ according to his dedes that is to saye prayse honoure and immortalitie to them which continue in good doynge and seke eternall life But to them that are rebellions and disobeye the trueth and folowe the iniquitie shall indignacion and wrath tribulacion and anguishe vpon the soule of euerye man that doth euill of the Iewe fyrst and also of the Gentile To euery man that doth good shall come prayse honoure and peace to the Iewe fyrst and also to the gentrie Before god they are not righteous whiche heare the lawe but the doers of the lawe shal be iustified Their conscience beareth witnes vnto them and also theyr thoughtes accusing one another or excusing at the daye when god shall iudge the secretes of meÌ„ by Iesus christ according to my gospell The name of god is euell spoken of amonge the gentiles thorowe you He is a Iewe whiche is hid within and the circumcision of the harte is the true circumcision which is in the spirite and not in the letter Whose prayse is not of men but of god The .iii. Chapter THere is none righteous no not one there is none that vnderstandeth there is none that seketh after God they all are gone oute of the waye they are all made vnprofitable there are none that doothe good no not one By the dedes of the lawe shall no fleshe be iustifyed in the sighte of god The righteousnes no doubt whiche is good before god commeth by the faith of Iesus Christ vnto all and vpon all that beleue All haue sinned and lacke the prayse that is of valure before god but we are iustified trely by his grace throughe the redemption that is in Christ Iesu whom god hath made a seate of mercy thorow faithe in his bloude to shewe the righteousnesse whiche before him is of valour in that he forgeueth the sinnes that are passed which god dyd suffer to shewe at this tyme the righteousenes that is alowed of hym that he mighte be contented iuste and a iustifier of him which beleueth in Iesus We suppose that a man is iustified by faithe without the dedes of the lawe The .iiii. Chapter ABraham beleued god and it was counted vnto hym for rightewisenes To him that worketh is the reward not reckened of fauoure but of duetie To him that worketh not but beleued on him that iustifieth the vngodly is fayth counted for rightwisenes Blessed are they whose vnrighteousnesse are forgeuen and whose synnes are couered Blessed is that man to whom the lorde imputeth no sinne Where is no lawe there is no transgression Christ was deliuered for our sinnes and rose agayne for to iustifie vs. The .v. Chapter WE also reioyce in tribulacion for we knowe that tribulacion bringeth pacience pacieÌ„ce bringeth experience and experience bringeth hope and hope maketh not ashamed for the loue of god is shead abrode in oure heartes by the holy ghost whiche is geuen vnto vs. Seyng that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for vs muche more then now seyng we are iustified in his bloud shal we be saued from wrath thorow him Lykewise as by the sinne of one condemnatxion came on all men euen so by the iustifying of one commeth the righteousnesse that bringeth lyfe vpon all men For as by one mannes disobedience many became synners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous The .vi. Chapter WE are buried with hym by baptime for to dâ—e that lykewyse as Christ was raysed vp from death by the glory of the father euen so we also shoulde walke in a newe lyfe For yf we be grafte in death lyke vnto hym euen so muste we be in the resurrection Let not sinne raigne in your mortall bodies that ye shoulde therunto obey in the iustes of it Neither geue your membres as instrumentes of vnrighteousenes vnto sinne but geue your selues to god as they that are alyue from death Let not sinne haue power ouer you For ye are not vnder the lawe but vnder grace Remember ye not how that to whomsoeuer ye commit your selues as seruauntes to obey his seruauntes ye are to whome ye obeye whether it be of synne vnto death or of obedience vnto righteousenes As ye haue geuen your membres seruauntes to vnclennes and to iniquitie from iniquitie to iniquitie euen so nowe geue youre members seruauntes vnto righteousnes that ye maye be sanctified The reward of sinne is death but eternal lyfe is the gyft of god through Iesus Christ our lord The .vii. Chapter THe woman which is in subiection to a man is bounde by the lawe to the man as longe as he liueth Yf the man be dead she is losed from the lawe of the man So then yf while the manne lyueth she
couple herselfe with another man she shal be counted a wedlock breaker But yf the maÌ„ be dead she is free from the lawe so that she is no wedlock breaker though she couple her selfe with another man I know that in me dwelleth no good thinge To wyll is present with me but I fynde no meanes to perfourme that whiche is good For I do not that good thyng which I wolde but that euill do I whiche I would not I delyte in the lawe of god concerning the inner man but I se another lawe in my membres rebellyng agaynst the lawe of my minde and subduyng me vnto the lawe of synne whiche is in my membres O wretched man that I am who shall delyuer me from this bodye of death The .viii. Chapter THey that are carnall are carnally mynded but they that are spiritual are ghostly minded to be carnally mynded is death but to be spiritually mynded is lyfe and peace because that the fleshly mynde is enemy against god for it is not obedient to the lawe of god neither can be So theÌ„ they that are geuen to the fleshe cannot please god Yf ye lyue after the fleshe ye muste dye but yf ye mortifye the dedes of the body by the helpe of the spirite ye shall lyue For as many as are led by the spirite of god they are the sonnes of god For ye haue not receaued the spirite of bondage to feare any more but ye haue receaued the spirite of adopcion whereby we crye Abba father I suppose that the afflictions of this lyfe are not worthye of the glorye shal be shewed vpon vs. The spirite maketh intercession mightely for vs with groninges whiche cannot be expressed with tounge Yf god be on ouresyde who can be againsts vs I am sure that neither death neither life nether aungels nor rule nether power nether thinges preseÌ„t neither thinges to come neither heighth neither loweth neither any other creature shal be able to departe vs from the loue of god shewed in Christ Iesu our lorde The .ix. Chapter THey which are the chyldren of the fleshe are not the children of god He hath mercy on whome he will and whom he will he maketh harde hearted God willing to shewe his wrath and to make his power knowen suffered with longe pacience the vessels of wrathe ordayned to damnacion that he might declare the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercye which he had prepared vnto glory that is to saye vs whiche he called not of the Iewes onely but also of the Gentiles The .x. Chapter THe belefe of the harte iustifieth and to knowledge with the mouthe maketh a man safe for the scripture sayth whosoeuer beleueth on hym shall not be ashamed Whosoeuer shall on the name of the lord shal be safe The .xi. Chapter EVen so at this tyme is there a remnaunte lefte thorowe the election of grace Yf it be of grace then it is not of workes For then were grace no more grace Yf it be of workes then is it no grace For then were deseruing no lenger deseruing God hath wrapped al nations in vnbelefe the he myght haue mercy on all O the depnes of the aboundaunt wysedome and knowledge of god howe vnsearcheable are his iudgemeÌ„tes and his wayes past fyndyng out for who hath knowen the mynde of the lorde or who was his counseler other who hathe geuen vnto him firste that he mighte be recompensed againe For of hym and thorowe him and for him are all thinges to him be glory for euer The .xii. Chapter I Beseche you brethren by the mercifulnes of god that ye make youre bodies a quicke sacrifice holye and acceptable vnto god whiche is youre reasonable seruing of god and fasshion not your selues lyke vnto this worlde but be ye chauÌ„ged in your shape by the renuyng of your wittes that ye maye fele what thinge that good that acceptable and perfecte wil of god is For I saye thorow the grace that vnto me geueÌ„ is to euery man amonge you that no man esteme of hymselfe more then it becoÌ„meth him to esteme but that he discretely iudge of himselfe according as god hath beaste to euery man the measure of fayth Let loue be without dissimulation Be kynd one to another with brotherly loue Applye youre selues to the tyme. Blesse them whiche persecute you blesse but curse not Be of like affection one towardes another Be not hye mynded but make your selues equall to them of the lower sorte Be not wise in your owne opinions Recompence to no man euell for euell Yf it be possible howebeit of your parte haue peace withall men Yf thyne enemie honger fede hym Yf he thirst geue him drinke For in so doyng thou shalt heape coales of fyre on his heade Be not ouerrome of euill but ouercome euel with goodnes The .xiii. Chapter LEtte euery soule submitte himselfe vnto the auctorite of the hier powers For there is no power of god The powers that be are ordeyned of god Whosoeuer therfore relisteth power resysteth the ordinaunce of god And they that resiste shall receaue to them selfes damnation Ye must nedes obey not for feare of vengeauÌ„ce onely but also because of conscience Owe nothing to any man but loue one another Loue hurteth not his neyghboure Therfore loue is the fulfyllynge of the lawe Lette vs walke houestly as it were in the daye lyghte not in eatynge and drinckynge neither in chamburyng and wantonnes nether in strife and enuâ—ynge but put ye on the Lorde Iesus christ And make not prouision for the fleshe to fulfil the lustes of it The .xiiii. Chapter ONe beleueth that he maye eate all thynge another whiche is weake eateth earbes Let not him that eateth despyse hym that eateth not And lette not hym whyche eateth not iudge hym that eateth This manne putteth difference betwene daye and daye Another manne counteth all dayes a lyke Se that no man wauer in his dicu meanyng He that obserueth one daye more then another doth it for the lordes pleasur And he that obserueth one day more than other doth it to please the lord also He that eateth doth it to please the lorde for be geueth god thanckes And he that eateth not cateth not to please the lorde with all and geueth god thankes Christ therfore dyed and rose againe and reuyued that he might be lorde both of dead quicke Euery one of vs shall gyue accomytes of hym klie to god Yf thy brother be greued with thy meate now walkest thou not charitablye Destroye not hym with thy meate for whome christ dyed The kyngdom of god is not meate nor drincke But righteousnes peace and ioye in the holy ghost All thynges are pure but it is euyll for that man whiche eateth with the hurt of his coÌ„science It is good nether to eate fleshe nether to drincke wyne nether any thing wherby thy brother stonâ— bleth eyther falleth or is made weake The .xv. Chapter WE whyche are stronge oughte to beare the frailnes of them whiche are weake and
myght be eased from their wyckednes the ten thousande part of men shulde not be made lyuynge And yf the iudge forgaue not those whiche he healed with his worde and yf he wold destroy the multitude that striueth there shuld be very fewe left in an vnnumerable multitude ¶ The .viii. Chapter THe most highest made this worlde for many but the world to come for fewe I will tell the a symilitude Esoras As when thou askeste the earthe it shall saye vnto the that it geueth muche moulde wherof earthen vessels are made but litle of it that golde commeth of euen so is it with the worcke of this worlde There be manye created but fewe shal be preserued Yf thou haue mercye vpon vs thou shal be called mercyfull where as we haue no worckes of righteousnes for the righteous whiche haue laid vp many good worckes together shal out of their dedes receaue rewarde ¶ The .ix. Chapter LYke as the felde is so is also the seede as the floures be so are the coloures also suche as the worckeman is suche is the worcke and as the husband man is him selfe so is his husbandry also ¶ The .xiiii. Chapter THe weaker that the worlde and the time is the more shall synne wyckednesse increase in them that dwell vpon earthe for the truthe is fled farre awaye and lesynge is harde at hande Yf so be that ye wyll subdue your owne vnderstandyng and reforme your herte ye shall be kept aliue and after deathe shall ye optaine mercy for after deathe shall the iudgement come when we shall lyue againe and then shall the names of the righteous be manifest and the workes of the vngodly shall be declared ¶ The .xv. Chapter THus saith the lorde god my right hand shall not spare the synners my sweard shal not cease ouer theÌ„ that shed innocent bloude vpoÌ„ earth The .xvi. Chapter ANd when youre synnes are brought forthe ye shal be ashamed before menne and youre owne synnes shal be your accusers in that daye Wo be vnto them that are subdued vnto theyr synnes and tangled in theyr wickednesse like as a felde is hedged in with bushes and the pathe thereof couered with thornes and that no manne maye trauayle thorow and so is he taken and cast in the fyre and brente ¶ The booke of Tobias The fyrst Chapter TObias gat him to Ierusalem vnto the temple of the lord there worshipped the lord god of Israel faythfully offeryng of al his first frutes tythes so that in the thyrde yeare he ministred all the tythes vnto the straungers conuertes Tobias taughte his son froÌ„ his youth vp to feare god and to refrayne from all synne Tobias fed the hungry clothed the naked and buried the dead and slayne diligently The .ii. Chapter THis temptatioÌ„ of blindnesse did god suffer to happen vnto hym that they whiche came after might haue an exaÌ„ple of his pacieÌ„ce lyke as of holy Iob for in so muche as he euer feared god froÌ„ his youthe vp kepte his coÌ„mauÌ„dementes he grudged not against god that the plage of blindnes chauÌ„sed vnto him but remained sted fast in the feare of god and thanked god all the dayes of his lyfe ¶ The .iii. Chapter BLessed be thy name o god of our fathers whiche when thou arte wroth shewest mercy and in time of trouble thou forgeuest the synnes of them that call vpon the. Whosoeuer loueth the and serueth the a right is sure of this that if his life be tempted and proued it standeth in the trying and yf he endure in patience he shall haue a rewarde and be hyghlye crowned if he be in troble that god no doubte shall delyuer him and yf his lyfe be in chastening that he shall haue leue to come vnto thy mercye For thou hast no pleasure in our damnation and why after a storme thou makest the wether fayre and styll after wepinge and heuynes thou geuest greate ioye ¶ The .iiii. Chapter HOlde thy mother in honoure all the dayes of her lyfe for thou oughteste to remember what and howe greate parels she suffered for the in her wombe Geue almes of thy goodes and turne neuer thy face froÌ„ the pore and so shall it come to passe that the face of the lord shall not be turned away from the. Mercy delyuereth from all synne from death and suffereth not the soule to come in darcknes A greate conforte is mercy before the highe god vnto all them that shewe it Whosoeuer worcketh any thynge for the immediatly geue him his hyre and loke that thy hyred seruauntes wages remayne not by the ouer nyght Looke that thou neuer do vnto another man the thinge that thou woldest not another manne shoulde do vnto the. The .vi. Chapter Yf thou layest a pece of the herte vpon the coales the smoke therof driueth awaye all maner of euell spretes wether it be from man or woman so that from thenceforthe the same shall come no more vnto them Heare me and I wyll tell the what they be of whome the deuyll hathe power Namelye they that receaue mariage of suche a fashion that they shute god oute from them and from theyr herte and geue theym selues to their owne luste euen as it were an horse and mule whiche haue no vnderstandynge vpon suche hathe the deuyll power But when thou takest Sara and art come in to her chaumbre wytholde thy selfe from her thre dayes and geue thy diligence vnto nothing but vnto prayer with her The .x. Chapter SO the elders embraced their doughter â—yssed her and let her goo exortyng her to honoure her father and mother in lawe to loue her husbande to rule well her housholde to kepe her house in good order to shewe her selte fawtlesse ¶ The .xii. Chapter IT is good to hyde the kynges secrete but to shewe the worckes of god to prayse them is an honorable thinge Prayer is good with fastyng and mercye is better then to horde vp treasures of golde For mercye delyuereth frome deathe clenseth synne and causeth to fynde euerlastyng lyfe But they that do synne and vnrighteousnes are the enemies of their owne soule When thou prayedest with teares and buriedest the deade and leftest thy dyner and hyddest the dead in thy house vpon the daye tyme that thou myghtest burye them in the nighte I offered thy prayer before the lorde You thougt that I dyd eate and dryncke wythe you but I vse meate that is muscible and drinck that can not be sene of menne The boke of Iudith The fourth Chapter BE ye sure that the lorde wyll here your petitions if ye continue stedfast in fastinges and prayers in the syghte of the lorde The .viii. Chapter Iudyth ware a smocke of heare and fasted all the dayes of her lyfe excepte the sabothes new mones the solempne daies that the people of Israell kepte The .ix. Chapter THy power o lord standethe not in the power of men neither hast thou anye plesur in the strenghte of horses
wordes with discrecion He hath sparsed abrode and geuen to the poore and his righteousnesse remayneth for euer his horne shal be exalted with honoure The .cxiii. Chapter HE taketh vp the simple out of the duste and lyfteth the poore out of the myre That he maye set hym with the princes euen with the princes of his people The .cxviii. Chapter IT is better to truste in the Lorde then to put any confidence in man It is better to truste in the lorde then to put anye confidence in princes The .cxix. Chapter BLessed are those that be vndefyled in the waye and walke in the waye of the lorde Blessed are they that kepe his testimonies seke him with there hole herte For they whiche do no wyckednesse walke in his wayes It is good for me that I haue bene in trouble that I maye learne thy statutes The lawe of thy mouthe is dearer vnto me then thousandes of golde and syluer O howe swete are thy wordes vnto my throte yea swetter then hony vnto my mouthe Thy worde is a lanterne vnto my fete and a lyghte vnto my pathes My soule is alwaye in my hande When thy worde goeth forthe it geueth lyghte and vnderstandyng euen to the symple The .cxx. Chapter What reward shal be geuen vnto the thou false tong euen mighty and sharpe arowes with hoote burnynge coles They that sowe in teares shall repe in ioye he that now goeth in his waye wepyng and beareth forth good seede shall doutles come agayne with ioye and brynge his sheaues with him The .cxxvii. Chapter EXcepte the lorde buylde the house theyr laboure is but lost that buylde it Except the lorde kepeth the cytie the watche manne waketh but in vayne The .cxxxviii. Chapter THoughe the lorde be hye yet hathe he respect vnto the lowlye as for the proude he beholdeth him a farre of The .cxxxix. Chapter WHether shall I go then from the sprete or whether shall I go then from thy presence yf I clyme vp into heauen thou arte there yf I go downe into hell thou arte there also yf I take the wynges of the morenynge and remaine in the vttermoste partes of the sea euen there also shall thy hande leade me thi right hande shal hold me The .cxl. Chapter A Man full of wordes shall not prosper vpon the earthe The .cxli. Chapter SEt a watche O lorde before my mouth and kepe the doore of my lyppes The .cxlii. Chapter I Cried vnto the O lorde and sayd thou art my hope my portion in the lande of liuing The .cxliii. Chapter INter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy syghte shall no manne lyuynge be iustified The .cxlv. Chapter THe lorde is louinge vnto euery man and his mercy is ouer all his worckes The lorde is nye vnto all them that call vpon him yea all suche as call vpon him faithfully The .cxlvi. Chapter O Put not youre truste in princes nor in anye chylde of man for there is no helpe in them The .clxvii. Chapter HE hathe no pleasure in the strengthe of an horse neyther deliteth he in anye mans legges but the lordes delyte is in theym that feare him and put their truste in his mercy ¶ The Prouerbes the fyrst Chapter THe feare of God is the beginning of wysedome but foles despise wisedome and instruccion My sonne consent not vnto synners yf they entice thee and saye come with vs. In vayne is the net layd forth before the byrdes eies I haue called and ye refused it I haue stretched out my hande and no man regarded it but all my counsele haue ye despised and set my corrections at naught The .ii. Chapter Walke thou in the waye of suche as be vertuous kepe the pathes of the righteous The .iii. Chapter LEt mercye and faythfulnes neuer go from thee bynde them about thy necke and wryte them in the tables of thy hearte so shalte thou fynde fauoure and good vnderstandynge in the syght of god and men Be not wyse in thyne owne conceyte Whome the lorde loueth hym he chasteneth and yet delyteth in him euen as a father in his owne sonne All the thynges that thou canst desyre are not to be compared vnto wysedome Wythdrawe no good thynge from them that haue nede so long as thyne hande is able to do it Saye not vnto thy neyghboure go thy waye and come agayne to morowe wyll I geue thee where as thou hall nowe to geue hym The .iiii. Chapter THe chiefe poynt of wysedome is that thou be wyllyng to obteyne wysedome and before all thy goodes to get the vnderstandyng Take faste holde of doctrine and let her not go kepe her for she is thy lyfe But awaye from thee a froward mouthe and let the lippes of slaunder be far from the. The .v. Chapter THe lyppes of an harlot are a droppyng hony combe and her throte is more glystering then Oyle But at the laste she is as bitter as wormewood her tonge as sharpe as a two edged swearde The .vi. Chapter Go to the Emmet thou sluggarde consider her wayes and learne to be wyse She hath no guide nor ouersear nor ruler yet in the sommer she prouideth her meate and gathereth her foode togyther in the haruest These syre thynges doth the lorde hate and the seuenth he vtterly abhorreth Aproude looke A lying tongue handes that shedde innocente bloude an hearte that goeth aboute with wicked ymaginacion feete that be swift in running to do mischiefe A false witnes that bryngeth vp lyes And suche one as soweth discord among brethrē An harlot wyll make a manne to begge his breade Maye a man take fyre in his bosome and his clothes not be brente Or can one go vpon hoote coales and his feete not be hurte Euen so who so euer goeth into his neyghbours wyfe and toucheth her cannot be vngyltye The .viii. Chapter They that seke me early shall fynde me The .ix. Chapter REproue not a scorner lest he owe the euyll wyll but rebuke a wyse manne and he wyll loue the. Stolen waters are swets and the breade that is priuely eaten hath a good taste The .x. Chapter A Wise sonne maketh a glad father but an vndiscrete son is an heuinesse vnto his mother Treasures that are wyckedly gotten profyte nothing but righteousnes deliuereth from death A wyse man wyll receyue warnynge Loue couereth the multitude of synnes He that refuseth to be refourmed desceyueth him selfe Where moche bablynge is there must nedes be offence and he that refraineth his lyppes is wise An innocent tonge is a noble treasure As vineger is to the tethe and as smoke is vnto the eyes euen so is a slouggyshe person to them that sendeth him forth The .xi. Chapter WHereno good counsayle is there the people decaye but where as many are that can geue coūsayle there is wealthe He that is suretye for a straunger hurteth hym selfe and he that medieth not with suretyshyppe is sure A fayre woman without discrete maners is like a rynge of golde in a swynnes snoute Some man
geueth oute his goodes and is the rycher but the nygarde hauyng ynoughe wyll departe from nothinge and yet is euer in pouertie He that is lyberall in geuynge shall haue plentye Whose hoordeth vp his corne shal be cursed amonge the people but blessynge shall lyghte vpon his head that geueth foode The .xii. Chapter Whoso loueth wysdome wylbe content to be refourmed but he that hateth to be reproued is a foole Euery man shall enioye good accordyng to the frute of his mouthe and after the worckes of his handes shall he be rewarded The .xiii. Chapter He that kepeth his mouthe kepeth his life but whoso openeth his lippes to euyll destroyeth him selfe Some menne are ryche thoughe they haue nothinge againe some men are poore hauyng greate ryches Vaynelye gotten goodes are sone spente but they that be gathered together with the hande shall encrease He that thynketh scorne to be refourmed commethe to pouertie and shame but who so regardeth correction shall come to honoure He that spareth the rodde hateth his sonne but whoso loueth him chasteneth him by tymes The .xiiii. Chapter Se that thou medle not with a foole in whom thou percepuest to be no knowledge There is awaye whiche some men thynke to be righte but the ende thereof leadeth vnto deathe The poore is hated euen of his owne neyghbours but the ryche hath many frendes The encrease and prosperitie of the commens is the kinges honours but the decaye of the people is the confusion of the prince A merye herte is the lyfe of the bodye but rancoure consumeth away the bones He that doth a poore man wronge blasphemeth his maker but whoso that hath pitie of the poore both honour vnto God The .xv. Chapter A Soft aunswere putteth doune displeasure but froward wordes prouoke vnto anger A merye hearte maketh a cherefull countenaunce but an heuy hearte compelleth a man to syghe Better is a lytle with the feare of the Lorde then great treasure with sorowe Better is a mosse of potage with loue then a fat Ore with euell wyll Who so hateth rewardes shall lyue The .xvi. Chapter BEtter it is to haue a lytle thinge with righteousnesse then greate rentes wrongfullye gotten It is a great abhominacion when kynges are wycked for a kynges seate shoulde be holden vp with righteousenes The kynges displeasure is a messenger of death but the cherefull countenaunce of a kynge is lyfe and his louyng fauoure is as the euening dewe He that is a blable of his tongue maketh diuision amonge princes The .xvii. Chapter WHoso laugheth the poore to scorne blasphemeth his maker and he that is glad of a nother mans hurte shall not be vnpunyshed One reprofe onelye doeth more good to hym that hathe vnderstandyng then a. C. strypes to a foole Whosoeuer rewardeth euel for good the plage shall not departe from his house He is a frende that alwaye loueth and in aduersitie a man shall knowe who is his brother Who so promiseth by the hande and is suerty for his neyghboure he is a foole The .xviii. Chapter THe wordes of a staunders are very woundes and go thorowe vnto the innermoste partes of the body The name of the lorde is a strong castell the righteous flyeth vnto it and is in sauegarde He that geueth sentence in a mater before he heare it is a soole and worthy to be consounded Liberalitie bringeth a man to honoure and worshippe and setteth hym amonge greate men Death and lyfe are in the instrumente of the tongue and they that loue it shal enioy the frute therof Whoso fyndeth a good wyfe fyndeth a good thynge and receyueth a wholsome benefite of the Lorde The .xix. Chapter RYches maketh many freÌ„des but the poore is forsaken of his neyghbour A wyse man can put of displeasure and it is his honour to let some tauntes passe A braâ—lyng wyfe is lyke the top of an house where thorow it is euer droppyng A discrete woman is the gyfte of god The .xx. Chapter WYne maketh a manne to be scornefull and stronge drinke causeth a man to be vnquiet whoso delyteth therin shall neuer be wise The kyng ought to be feared as the roaryng of a lyon whoso prouoketh hym vnto anger offendeth agaynste his owne soule A flouthful body wyl not go toplowe for cold of the wynter therfore shall he go a beggyng in sommer haue nothyng Manye there be that wolde be called good doers but where shall one fynde a true faythfull manne Who can saye my heart is cleane I am innoceÌ„t from sinne Delite not in slepe leaste thou come to pouertie Take his garmente that is suerty for a straunger and take a pledge of him for the vnknowen mannes sake To him that custometh flatering lyppes ioyne not thy selfe Whoso curseth his father and mother his light shal be put out in the myddest of darkenesse The heritage that commeth to hastelye at the fyrst shall not be praysed at the ende It is a snare for a man to deuoure that whicht is holy and after the vowe to turne to thyne own vse the thyng thou hast vowed Mercye and faythfulnes preserue the kynge and with louyng kyndnes his seate is holden The .xxi. Chapter THe Kynges hart is in the hande of the lord lyke as are the ryuers of water He maye turne it whithersoeuer he wyll To do righteousnes and iudgemente is more acceptable to the lorde then sacrifice Whoso stoppeth his cares at the crying of the poore he shall crye hymselfe and not be hearde He that hath pleasure in banchettes shal be a poore man Whoso deliteth in wyne and delicates shal not be ryche It is better to dwell in the wyldernesse then with a chydynge and angry woman Whoso kepethe his mouthe and his tongue the same kepeth his soule from troubles The horse is prepared agaynste the daye of battayle but the lorde geueth victory The .xxii. Chapter THe ende of lowlinesse and the feare of god is riches honoure prosperitie and healthe Teache ackylde in his youthe what waye he shoulde go for he shall not leaue it when he is olde Whoso doeth a poore man wrong to encrease his owne ryches and geuethe vnto the ryche to please hym at the laste commethe to pouertie hymselfe The .xxiii. Chapter TAke not ouer greate trauayle and laboure to be ryche beware of suche a purpose Why wylte thou sette thyns eye vpon the thynge whyche sodeynelye vanishethe awaye for ryches make themselues wynges and take theyr flyght lyke an Egle into the ayer Kepe no companye with wyne bybbers and ryotous eaters of fleshe for suche as be drounkardes and ryotous shall come to pouertie and he that is geuen to muche slepe shall go with a ragged coate Who hathe woo who hath sorowe who hath strife who hath braulynge and who hath woundes without a cause or who hath redde eyes euen they that be euer at the wyne and seeke excesse Loke not thou vpon the wyne howe redde it is and what a coloure it geueth in the glasse it goeth downe softlye but at
gyueth hym selfe to wyckednesse The .ix. Chapter THey that belyuing knowe that they shall dye but they that or dead know nothyng neyther deserue they any more For they re memoriall is forgotten so that they be neither loued hated nor enuyed neyther haue they any more parte in the worlde in all that is done vnder the sunne Whatsoeuer thou takest in hande to do that do with all thy power For in the graue that thou goest vnto there is neyther worcke counsayle knowledge nor wysdome For a man knoweth not his tyme but lyke as the fyshe are taken with the angle and as the byrdes are caught with the snare euen so are men taken in the perillous tyme when it commeth sodenly vpon them The .x. Chapter A Bablet of his tongue is no better theÌ„ a serpent that stingeth without hysiyng Woo be vnto thee o thou lande whose king is but a chylde and whose princes are early at theyr bankettes But well is thee o thou lande whose kynge is come of nobles and whose princes eate in due season For necessitie and not for lust Wishe the kyng no euell in thy thoughtâ— and speake no hurte of the ryche in thy preuye chambre for a byrde of the ayre shall betraye thy voyce with her fethers shal she bewrayethy wordes The .xi. Chapter WHen the tree falleth whether it be toward the South or North in what place so euer it fall there it lyeth ¶ The booke of wysdome the fyrste Chapter WYsedome shall not entre into a frowarde soule nor dwel in the body that is subdued vnto synne The mouth that speaketh lyes stayeth the soule The .ii. Chapter Thorowe enuy of the deuel came death into the worlde The .iii. Chapter GLorious is the fruite of good labour and that roote of wisdome shall neuer fade awaye The .iiii. Chapter ASe is an honourable thynge neuertheles it standeth not onely in the length of time nor in the multitude of yeares but a mans wisedom is the graye heare and an vndefiled lyfe is the olde age The .v. Chapter THe righteous shal lyue for euermore theyr rewarde also is with the lorde and they re remembraunce with the hygheste The .vi. Chapter MErry is grauÌ„ted vnto the symple but they that be in auctorite shal be soreptinâ— shed The kepyng of the lawe is perfection and an vncorrupt lyfe maketh a man familier with god The multitude of the wyse is the welfare of the worlde and a wyse kinge is the vyholdyng of the people The .vii. Chapter WYsedome is the breth of the power of god and a pure cleane expressynge of the clearenesse of almighty god God loueth no man but him in whome wysedome dwelleth The .ix. Chapter A Mortall and corruptible bodye is heauy to the soule and the catthlye mansion kepest downe that vnderstondynge that museth vpon many thinges The .xi. Chapter LObe wherewithall a manne synneth by the same also shall he he punyshed Thou hast ordered all thinges in measure numbre and weighte The .xii. Chapter WHere as thou doest but chasten vs thou pâ—nyshest oure enemies dyuers wayes to the intent that when we punyshe we shuld remember thy goodnes when we out selues are punyshed to put oure trust in thy mercye The .xiii. Chapter BY the greatnesse and bewte of the creature the maket therof maye plainely be knowen The .xiiii. Chapter CUrsed is the ydoll that is made with handes yea both it and he that made it The .xvi. Chapter It was nether herbe nor piaster that restored them to health but thy worde o Lord which healest all thynges It is thou o Lorde that haste power of life and death thou leadest vnto dethes dore and bringest vp againe The .xvii. Chapter IT is an heauy thinge when a mannes owne conscience beareth recorde of his wickednes and condemneth him And whye a vexed and a wounded conscience taketh euer truell thinges in hande ¶ The boke of Iesus the sonne of Sirach the firste Chapt. THe feare of the Lorde is the rote of wisedome hir brauÌ„ches are longe life The .ii. Chapter LIke as golde and siluer are tried in the sire eueÌ„â—o are acceptable men in the furnace of aduersitie Better it is for vs to fall into the handes of the lorde them into the handes of men for his merceye is it great as hymselfe The .iii. Chapter HOuoure thy father in dede in woorde and in all pacience that thou mayest haue godâ— biessyng and his blessyng shall abyde with theceâ— the last The greater thou art the more humble thy selfe in all thyngee and thou shalt fynde fauoure in the sighte of god Seeke not oute the thinges that are about thy capacitie and searche not the grounde of such thynges as are to mightie for thee but loke what god hath commaunded thee thynke vpon that al waye and be not curious in manye of his workes For it is not nedefull for thee to see with thine eyes the thynges that are secrete Make not thou to muche searche in superfluous thyngee and be not curious in many of his woorkes for manye thynges are shewed vnto thee alreadye which be aboue the capacitie of men The medlyng with suche hath begyled many a man and taÌ„gled their wittes in vanitie Nowe he that loueth petell shall perishe therein God hath respecte vnto hym that is thankful he thynketh vpon hym ageynst the tyme to come so that when he falleth he shall fynde a stronge holde The .iiii. Chapter CAst not thyne eyes asyde from the poore for any euell wyll that thou geue hym none occasion to speape euel by thee For yf he complaint of thee in the bytternesse of his soule his prayer shal be hearde euen he that made hym shall heart hym My sonne make muche of tyme eschewe the thyng that is euell and for thy lyfe shame not to dye the trueth For there is a shame that bryngeth synne and there is a shame that bryngethe worshippe and fauoure Be not hastye in thy tounge neyther slacke and negligent in thy workes Let not thyne hande be stretched out to recepue and shutte whan thou shuldeit geue The .v. Chapter BEcause thy sonne is geuen the be not therfore without feare neyther heape one synne vpon another And saye not tushe the mercye of the lorde is great he shall forgeue me my synnes be they neuer so many For like as he is mercyful so goeth wrath from hym also and his indignacioÌ„ commeth downe vpon synners Make no tarying to turne vnto the Lorde and put not of from daye to daye for sodenty shal his wrathe come and in the tyme of vengeaunce he shall destroye thee Be swyfte to heare but slowe and paciente in geuyng answere The .vi. Chapter HOlde frend shippe with many neuerthelesse haue but one counceller of a thousande Yf thou gettest a frende proue hym fyrste be not hasty to geue hym credence For some man is a frende but for a tyme and wyll not abyde in the daye of trouble And there is some frende that turneth to enemitte and taketh part agaynst the
he is come to rest Who shall set a watche before my mouth and a sute seale vpon my lyppes that I fall not with them and that my tongue destroye me not The .xxiii. Chapter LEt not thy mouth be accustomed with fooâ—tyng for in it there are many fallen I man that vseth muche sweatyng shal be filled with wickednes and the plage shall neuer go from his house The .xxv. Chapter There thynges there are that my sprete fauoreth whych be also alowed before god and men The vnitie of brethren the loue of neygheboures a manne wise that agree wel together Thre thynges there be whiche my soule hatethe and I vtterly abhorte the lyfe of them A poore man that is proude A ryche man that is a lyer and an olde bodye that doteth and is vnchaste All wichednesse is nothyng to the wyckednesse of a womanne There is no wrathe aboue the wrathe of a woman Of the woman came the beggynning of sinne and thorowe her we all are deade The .xxvi. Chapter THere be thre thinges that my herte feareth and my face is a frayde of the fourth treason in a citie a sedicious people and noysome tongues all these are heuyer then death But when one is gelous ouer his wyfe it bryngeth payne and sorowe vnto the harte The whoredome of a woman maye be knowen the pride of her eyes and eyeliddes There be two thynges that graue my herte and the thyrde is a displeasure come vpon me When an experte man of warre suffereth scarcenesse and pouertye When menne of vnderstandynge and wysedome are not sette by and when one departeth from ryghteousenesse vnto synne There be two manner of thynges whiche me thinke to be harde and parlous A marchauÌ„te cannot lyghtly kepe bym from wronge neyther a tauerner hymselfe from sinne The .xxvii. Chapter LYke as a nayle in the wall stieketh faste betwyxte two stones euen so doth synne sticke betwixte the byer and the seller The tre of the field is knowen by his fruite so is the thoughte of mans herte knowen by his wordes The .xxviii. Chapter THe more wood there is the more vehemeÌ„te is this fyre and the mightier that men be the greater is the wrathe and the longer that the stryle endureth the more it burneth Thou hedgest thy goodes with thornes why doest thou not rather make doores and barres for thy mouthe Thou weyest thy golde and syluer why doest thou not weye thy wordes vpon the balaunce The .xxix. Chapter Helpe the poore for the coÌ„maundementes sake let hym not go emptye from thee because of his necessitie Laye vp thy almesse in the hande of the poore and it shall kepe the from all euell Surety shyppe hathe destroyed many a riche man Better it is to haue a poore lyuyng in a mans owne house theÌ„ delicate fare amoÌ„g the straunge The .xxx. Chapter THere is no rychesse aboue a sound body and no ioye aboue the ioye of the hearte Heauinesse hathe slayne many a man and brynge the no profyte zele and anger shorten the dayes of the lyfe carefulnesse and sorowe brynge age before the tyme. Vnto a mery herte euery thyng hath a good taste that he eateth The .xxxi. Chapter TRauayle and carefulnes for richesse taketh awaye the slepe and maketh the fleshe to consume He that loueth rychesse shall not be iustityed Yf thou syt at a great mans table open not thy mouthe wyde vpon it and make not manye wordes Yf thou fealest that thou hast eaten to much aryse go thy waye caste it out of thy stomacke take thy rest and it shall ease thee so that thou shalte bryng no sickenesse vnto thy body Wyne soberly dronken quickeneth the lyfe of man Yf thou drynkest it measurably thou shalte be temperate What lyfe is it that maye continue without wyne Wyne was made from the beginnyng to make men glad and not for dronkennes wyâ—e measurably dronken is a reioy syng of the soâ—le and body I measurable drynkyng is helthe to souâ—e and bodye But yf it be dronken with excesse it maketh bytternesse and sorowe vnto the mynde Dronkennes fylseth the mynde of the folyshe with shame and ruine minisheth the streÌ„gth and maketh woundes The .xxxii. Chapter IF thou be made a ruler pryde not thy selfe therin but be thou as one of the people Lyke as the Carbuncle stone shyneth that is set in golde so dothe a songe garnishe the wyne feaste and as the smaragde that is set in golde so is the swetenesse of musyke by the myrth of wyne The .xxxiii. Chapter BE sure of the matter then talke therof Be fyrse well instruct then mayest thou geue aunswere Why doth one daye excell another seyng all the dayes of the yeare come of the sunne the wysedome of God hath so parted them a sondre and so hathe he ordeyned the tymes and solempne feastes Some of them hath he chosen and halowed before other dayes And al meÌ„ are made of the grounde and out of the earth of Adam In the multitude of science hath the lorde sondred them and made theyr wayes of diuerse fashione Some of them hath he blessed made muche of them halowed them and claymed them to hymselfe But some of them hath he cursed brought them lowe and put them out of theyr estate Geue not thy sonne and wyfe thy brother frende powre ouer the whyle thou lyuesle and geue not awaye thy substaunce and good to another lest it repent the and thou be fayne to begge therfore thy selfe As long as thou lyuest and hast brethe let no man chaunge thee For better it is that thy chyldren do praye the then that thou shouldest be fayne to loke in theyr handes The fodder the whyppe and the burthen belongeth vnto the Asse Meate correction worke vnto thy seruaunt If thou haue a faythfull seruaunt let hym be vnto the as thyne owne soule intreate hym as a brother for in bloude haste thou gotten hym Yt thou haue a seruaunt holde hym as thy selfe for thou hast nede of hym as of thy lyfe The .xxxiiii. Chapter WHoso regardeth dreames is lyke hym that wyll take holde of a shadowe and folowe after the wynde Southsaying witchecrafte sorcery and dreamyng is but vanitie For dreames haue disceyued manye a man and fayled them that put theyr trust in them Whoso bringeth an offring out of the goodes of the poore dothe euen as one that kylleth the sonne before the fathers eyes The breade of the nedeful is the lyfe of the poore he that defraudeth hym thereof is a man of bloude Whoso robbeth his neighboure of his lyuyng doeth as greate synne as though he slewe hym to death He that defraudeth the labourer of his heyre is a bloud shedder He that washeth hym selfe because of a dead bodye and toucheth the dead againe what doeth his washing So it is with with a maÌ„ that fasteth for his synnes and doeth them agayne who wyll heare his prayer or what doeth his fastyng helpe hym The .xxxv. Chapter THe offeringe of the righteous maketh the aulter fat
and a swete smell is it before the hyghest Halowe thy tithes vnto god with gladnesse Geue vnto god accordyng as he hathe enriched and prospered the and looke what thy hande is able geue with a chearfull eye for the Lorde recōpenseth and geueth thee seuen tymes as muche agayne The .xxxvi. Chapter AFeyre wyfe reioyseth her husbande and a mā loueth nothyng better Yf she be louing and vertuous withall then is not her husbande lyke other men He that hath gotten a vertuous woman hath a goodlye possession she is vnto him a helpe and pyller where vpon he resteth The .xxxvii. Chapter HOld thy rounsayle fast in thy hert for there is no man more faythfull to kepe it then thou thy selfe Before al thy workes aske counsayle fyrst and or euer thou doest any thyng be well aduysed Be not gredy in euery eatyng and be not to hasty vpon all meates for excesse of meates bryngeth syckenes and glotony commeth at the laste to an vnmeasurable heate Thorowe surfet haue manye one perished but he that dyeteth hymselfe temperately prolongeth his lyfe The .xxxviii. Chapter HOnour the Phisicion honour hym because of necessitie God hath created hym for of the hyest commeth medicine and he shall receyue gyftes of the kynge The wisedome of the phisicion bringeth him to great worship and in the sight of the great mē of this worlde he shal be honorably taken My sonne brynge fourth thy teares ouer the dead and begynne to mourne as yf thou haddest suffred great harme thy selfe and then couer his body after a conuenient maner despise not his buriall Enforce thy selfe to wepe and prouoke thy selfe to mourne and make lamentacion expediently and that a daye or two leaste thou be euell spoken of and then comfort thy selfe because of thy heauinesse For of heuines commeth death The .xl. Chapter TO labour and to be content with that a mā hath is a swete pleasant lyfe and that is to fynde a treasure aboue all treasures The .xli. Chapter O Death how bytter is the remembraunce of thee to a man that seketh rest and comfort in his substaunce and riches vnto the man that hath nothyng to vexe hym and that hathe prosperitie in all thynges yea vnto hym that yet is able to receyue meate O Death how acceptable good is thy iudgement vnto the nedeful vnto hym whose strēgth fayleth and that is nowe in the laste age and that all thynges is full of care and fearefulnesse vnto hym also that is in despayre and hath no hope nor patience Labour to get the a good name for that shal continue surer by thee then a thousande greate treasures of golde Be ashamed to looke vpon another mannes wyfe and to make any tryflyng wordes wyth her mayden or to stande by her bedsyde The .xlii. Chapter LYke as the worme and mothe commeth oute of the clothyng so doth wyckednesse come of women The .xlvii. Chapter LYke as the fat is taken awaye from the offeryng so was Dauid chosen out of the chyldren of Israell The xlix Chapter ALl Kynges excepte Dauid Hezechias and Iosiah committed wickednesse But vpon the earthe is there noman created lyke Enoch for he was taken vp from the earthe The .li. Chapter WOrke the Lordes worke by tymes and he shall geue you youre rewarde in due seasō ¶ The Prophecie of Esaye the firste Chapter THe Oxe hathe knowen his owner and the Asse his maysters cryb but Israell hathe receyued no knowledge my people hathe no vnderstandynge Offer me no mo oblaciōs for it is but loste laboure Incesse is an abhominable thynge vnto me your fastynges are also in vaine I may not awaye with youre newe holye dayes and fastyngs I hate theym euen frome my very herte they make me wery I cannot abyde thē when ye holde out youre handes I wyll turne myne eyes from you And thoughe ye make many prayers yet wyll I heare nothyng at all seynge your handes are ful of bloude Washe you make you cleane put awaye your euell thoughtes out my sight cease from doynge of euell learne to do right applye youre selues to equitie deliuer the oppressed helpe the fatherles to his right let the wydowes complainte come before you c. Yf ye be louyng and obedient ye shal enioye the best thynge that groweth in the lande But yf ye be obstinate and rebellious ye shal be deuoured with the swearde for the Lord hath promised with his owne mouth The .ii. Chapter THe glorye of the lordes maiestie casteth downe the highe lokes of the presumptious personnes and bryngeth lowe the pride of man The .iii. Chapter BYd the righteous do well for they shall enioye the fruites of theyr studies But woo be to the vngodlye and vnrighteous for they shal be rewarded after theyr workes Seynge the daughters of Sion are become so proude and come in with stretched oute neckes and with vayne wantonne eyes seynge they come in trippynge so nicelye with they re feete Therfore shall the Lorde shaue theyr heades and shall discouer theyr shame in that daye shall the LORDE take awaye the gorgiousenesse of theyr apparell and spanges cheynes Partelets and colers bracelettes and hoones the goodlye floured wyde and broydered rayemente brooches and handebandes rynges and garlandes holy daye clothes and vales kerchefes and pinnes glasses and cypresses bonets and taches And in stede of good smel there shal be stinke among them and for theyr gyrdels there shal be lose bandes and for well set heare there shal be baldenes in steade of a stomacher a sacke clothe and for theyr bewetye wytherdenesse and Sunne burnynge You re husbandes and mightie menne shall perishe with the swearde in battayle The .v. Chapter IVdge I pray you betwixte me and my vine yarde what more could haue bene doen for it that I haue not done wherfore then hath it geuē thornes where I loked to haue had grapes of it Wo vnto them that ioyne one house to another and bryng one lande so nyghe vnto another that the poore can get no more grounde and that ye maye dwell vpon the earthe alone Wo be vnto them that ryse vp earlye to folowe dronkennes and to them that contynue so vntyll nighte and tyll they be sette on fyre with wyne Wo be vnto them that drawe wickednesse vnto them with cordes of vanitie and synne as it were with a carte rope Woo be vnto them that call euell good and good euell whiche made datkenesse lyghte and lyghte darkenesse that make sowre swete and swete sowre Woo be vnto them that are wyse in theyr owne sighte and thynke themselues to haue vnderstandyng Wo be vnto them that are stronge to suppē oute wyne and experte men to sette vp dronckenesse The .vi. Chapter GO and tell this people ye shall heare in dede but ye shall not vnderstande ye shall playnelye se and not perceyue Harden the hartes of this people stoppe theyr eares and shutte theyr eyes that they se not with theyr eyes heare not with theyr eares and vnderstande not with they re
at that last daye And this is the will of him that sent me that euery mā which seeth the sēne and beleueth on him haue euerlastyng lyfe And I wyll rayse hym vp at the last daye No man can come to me excepte the father whiche hath sent me drawe hym I am that lyuing breade whiche came downe from heauen Yf any man eate of this breade he shall lyue for euer And the breade that I wylt geue is my fleshe whiche I wyll geue for the lyfe of the worlde Verely verely I saye vnto you excepte ye eate the fleshe of the sonne of man and drinke his bloude ye shall not haue life in you Whosoeuer eateth my fleshe and drinketh my bloude hathe eternall lyfe and I wyll rayse hym vp at the laste daye for my fleshe is meate in dede and my bloud is drinke in dede He that eateth my fleshe and drinketh my bloud dwelleth in me and I in him As the liuing father hathe sent me euen so lyue I by my father he that eateth me shall lyue by me This is the breade whiche came from heauen not is your fathers haue eaten Manna and are dead he that eateth of this breade shall liue euer It is the spirite that quickeneth the fleshe profiteth nothing Then sayde Iesus to the twelue will ye also go awaye Then Simon Peter aunswered Master to whome shall we go Thou haste the wordes of eternal lyfe and we beleue and knowe that thou arte Christ the sonne of the lyuing god The .vii. Chapter THe worlde cannot hate you but me it hateth Because I testifie of it that the workes of it are euyll My doctrine is not myne but his that sente me Yf a man on the Saboth daye receaue circūcision without breaking of the lawe of Moses disdayne ye at me because I haue made a man euery whit whole on the Saboth day Iudge not after the vtter apperaunce but iudge ryghteous iudgement Ye shall seke me and shall not fynde me and where I am thyther can ye not come Yf any manne thyrste let him come vnto me and drincke he that beleueth on me as saythe the scripture out of his belly shal flowe ryuers of water of lyfe This spake he of the sprete whyche they that beleued on him shulde receaue Dothe our lawe iudge any man before it heare him and knowe what he hathe done The .viii. Chapter LEtte him that is among you without synne caste the fyrst stone at her It is also wrytten in your lawe that the testimony of two menne is true I do nothing of my selfe but as my father hath taught me Yf ye continue in my wordes then are ye my very disciples and shall knowe the truth and the truthe shall make you free Yf ye were Abrahams children ye wolde do the dedee of Abraham Ye are of your father the deuyll and the lustes of your father ye wyll do He was a murderer frō the begynnynge and abode not in the truthe because ther is no truthe in him When he speaketh a lye then speaketh he of his owne For he is a lyer and the father thereof He that is of god heareth goddes wordes ye therfore heare them not because ye are not of god Yf a man kepe my sayenges he shall neuer see death Your father Abraham was glad to se my daye and he sawe it and reioysed The .ix. Chapter ANd as Iesus passed by he sawe a man which was blinde from his byrthe And his disciples aced hym saying Maister who did sinne this man or his father and mother that he was borne blynde Iesus answered neither hath this manne synned nor yet his father nor mother but that the workes of god shoulde be shewed on him I muste worke the workes of god that sent me whyle it is daye The nighte commeth when no manne canne worke As long as I ame in the worlde I am the lyght of the worlde We be sure that god heareth not synners but yf any man be a worshipper of god and do his wyll hym heareth he Sence the worlde began was it not hearde that anye man opened the eyes of one that was borne blynde yf this manne were not of god he could haue done nothynge I am come vnto iudgement into this worlde that they whiche se not might se and they whiche se might be made blynde The .x. Chapter HE that entreth not in by the doore in to the shepefolde but climeth vy some other waye the same is a these and a robber He that goethe in by the dore is the shepeherde of the shepe to hym the porter openeth and the shepe heare his voyce and he cauleth his own shepe by name and leadeth them out And when he hath sence forthe his owne shepe he goth before them and the shepe folowe hym for they knowe his voyce A straunger they wyll not folowe but will flye from hym for they knowe not the voyce of straungers The good shepehearde geueth his lyfe for the shepe An hyred seruaunt which is not the shepeherde neither the shepe archis owne se the wolfe comming and leueth the shepe and flyeth and the wolfe catcheth them and scattereth the shepe I am that good shepe hearde and know myne and am knowen of myne As my father knoweth me euen so knowe I my father And I geue my lyfe for the shepe and other shepe I haue whiche are not of this folde them also must I bring that they maye heare my voyce and that there maye be one flocke and one shephearde No man taketh my lyfe from me but I put it awaye of my selfe I haue power to put it from me and haue power to take it agayne I and my father are one Though ye beleue not me yet beleue the workes that ye maye know and beleue that the father is in me and I in hym The .xi. Chapter WHen Iesus hearde that he sayde this infirmitie is not vnto deathe but for the laude of god that the sonne of god myght be praysed by the reason of it Yf a man walke in the daye he stombleth not because he seeth the light of this worlde but yf a man walke in the night he stombleth because ther is no light in him I am the resurreccion and the lyfe he that beleueth on me ye thoughe he were dead yet shall he lyue And whosoeuer lyueth and beleueth on me shall neuer dye And one of them named Cayphas which was the hye priest that same yeare sayed vnto them ye perceyue nothyng at al nor yet consider that it is expediente for vs that one man dye for the people and not that al the people perishe This spake he not of himselfe but beyng hye prieste that same yeare he prophecyed that Iesus shoulde dye for the people and not for the people onely but that he shoulde gather together in one the chyldren of god whiche were scattered abroade The .xii. Chapter THen toke Mary a pounde of oyntment called Nardus perfecte and precious and anoynted Iesus feete and wiped his feet
him selfe And loke not euerye manne on his owne thinges but euery man on the thinges of other menne God hath exalted him geueÌ„ him a name aboue al names that in that name of Iesus should euerye knee bowe both of thinges in heauen and thynges in earthe and thinges vnder the earth that all tounges shoulde confesse that Iesus Christ is the lorde vnto the praise of god the father It is god whiche worketh in you both the wyll and also the dede of good wyll All other seke their owne and not that whyche is Iesus christes The .iii. Chapter BEware of dogges beware of euyl workers beware of dissention For we are circumcision whiche worshyp god in the sprete reioice in christ Iesu and haue no confidence in the fleshe I do iudge all thinges but donge that I might wynne christ myght be found in him not hauing mine owne righteousnes whiche is of the law but that whiche springeth of the faith whiche is in christ Brethren he folowers of me and loke on them whiche walke euen so as ye haue vs for an ensample For many walke of whome I haue tolde you often and now tell you wepyng that they are the enemies of the crosse of christ whose ende is damnation whose god is their bely and whose glorye is their shame whiche are wordelye mynded But oure conuersation is in heauen frome whense we loke for a sauyour euen the Lorde Iesus Christ whyche shall chaunge oure vyle bodyes that they maye be fasshioned lyke vnto his gloryous bodye accordynge to the workynge wherby he is able to subdue all thinges vnto him selfe The .iiii. Chapter BE not careful but in all thinges shewe your peticion vnto god in prayer and supplicatioÌ„ with geuyng of thankes I haue learned in whatsoeuerestate I am therwith to be content Euerye where and in all thynges I am instructed bothe to be full and to be gungrye to haue plentye and to suffer nede I can do all thynges thoroughe the helpe of christ whiche strengthned me ¶ The Epistell of S. Paul to the Collossians the fyrst Chapter BY hym were all thynges created thynges that are in heauen and thynges that are in earth thinges visible and thinges inuisible whether they be maieste or lorde shyppe eyther rule or power All thinges are created by hym and in him and he is before all thinges and in him all thinges haue theyr beynge The .ii. Chapter IN christ dwelleth all the fulnesse of the god hede bodely ye are complete in him whiche is the heade of all rule and power in whome also we are circumcised with circuÌ„cision made without handes by putting of the sinfull body of the fleshe throughe the circumcision that is in christ in that ye are buried with him throughe baptime in whoÌ„ ye are also risen againe thorough faith the is wrought by the operatioÌ„ of god which raised him froÌ„ death The .iii. Chapter Yf ye be then rysen againe with christ seke those thinges whiche are aboue where christ sytteth on the tyghte hande of god Set youre affection on thynges that are aboue and not on thynges whiche are on the earthe Mortify your membres whiche are on the erth fornication vnclennes vnnatural lust euyl concupiscence and couetousnes whiche is worshippyng of ydolles For whiche thinges sake the wrath of god commeth on the chyldren of vnbelefe And all thinges whatsoeuer ye do in worde or dede do in the name of the lorde Iesu geuynge thankes to god the father by him Husbandes loue your wyues and be not bytter vnto them Seruauntes be obedient vnto your bodely masters in all thinges not with eye seruice as men pleasers but in singlenes of harte fearyng god Ye masters do vnto youre seruauntes that whiche is iuste and equall seynge ye knowe that ye haue also a master in heauen The .iiii. Chapter LEt youre speache be alwayes well fauoured and powdred with salt that ye maye knowe howe to answere euery manne ¶ The fyrst Epistell to the Thessalonians the fyrste Chapter OVr exhortation was not to bryng you to erroure nor yet to vnclennes neyther was it with gyle but as we were alowed of god that the gospell shulde be commytted vnto vs euen so we speake not as thoughe we entended to please men but god whiche trieth oure hartes Neyther was our conuersation at any time with flattering wordes as ye well knowe nether in cloked couetousnes god is recorde nether soughte we prayse of menne nether of you nor yet of any other c. For what is our hope or ioye or corwne of reioysyrâ—ge are not ye it in the presence of our lorde Iesus christ at his commynge yes ye are our glorye and ioye The .iiii. Chapter THis is the wyll of god euen that ye shulde be holy and that yeshoulde abstayne frome fornication that euery one of you shoulde knowe howe to kepe his vessell in holynes and honoure and not in the lust of concupiscence as do the hethen whiche knowe not god That no man go to farre and defraude his brother in bargaynynge because the lorde is a venger of all suche thinges as we tolde you before tyme and testified For god hathe not called vs vnto vnclennes but vnto holynes He that therfore despiseth despiseth not manne but god whyche hathe sent hys holye spryte amonge you I wolde not brethren haue you ygnoraunt concernynge them whiche are fallen a slepe that ye forowe not as other do whiche haue no hope For yf we beleue that Iesus dyed and rose agayne euen so then also whiche slepe by Iesus wyll god brynge agayne with him The .v. Chapter OF the times and seasons brethren ye haue no nede that I wryte vnto you for ye your selues knowe perfectlye that the daye of the lorde shall come euen as a these in the nyght When they shall saye peace and no danger then commeth on them soden destruction as the trauaylynge of a womanne with chylde and they shall not scape Let vs not slepe as do other but let vs watche and besober for they that slepe slepe in the night and they that be droncken are droncken in the night But lette vs whyche are of the daye be sober atmed with the brest place of faith and loue with hope of saluation as an helmet For god hath not apointed ve vnto wrath but to optaine saluatioÌ„ by the meanes of oure lorde Iesu Christe whiche dyed for vs that whether we wake or sleape we shulde lyue cogyder with him ¶ The second Epistel to the Thessalonians the fyrst Chapter WE oure selues reioyce of you in the congregations of god ouer your pacience fayth in all youre persecutions and tribulations that ye suffre whiche is a token of the ryghteous indgement of god that ye are counted worthye of the kyngdome of god for whiche ye also suffre The .ii. Chapter Let no man deceaue you by any meanes for the lorde commethe not excepte there come a departyng fyrsâ—e and that that synfull man be opened the son of
it with ioye and not with grefe for that is an vnprofitable thynge for you ¶ The Epistell of S. Iames the fyrste Chapter MY brethren count it excedyng ioye when ye fall into dyuers temptations for as moche as ye knowe howe that the entryng of your faithe bryngeth pacience and let pacience haue her perfecte worke that ye maye be perfecte and sounde lackyng nothynge Yf any of you lacke wysdome lette him axe of god whiche geneth to all menne indifferently and casteth no manne in the teth and it shal be geuen hym But lette him axe it in fayth and wauer not for he that douteth is lyke tghe waues of the sea tost of the wynde and caried with violence Neyther lette that manne thynke that he shall receaue any thing of the lorde a waueryng mynded man is vnstable in all his wayes Let the brother of lowe degree reioyce in that he is exalted the ryche in that he is made lowe for euen as the floure of the grasse shal he vanishe awaye The sonne riseth with heate and the grasse wydereth and his fioure falleth awaye and the beautie of the fashion of it perisheth euen so shall the riche manne perishe with his aboundaunce Happy is that manne that endureth in temptation for when he is tryed he shall receaue the crowne of lyfe whiche the lorde hath promised to them that loue hym God tempted not vnto euyl nether tempred he any manne But euerye man is tempted drawen awaye and entised of his owne concupiscence Then when luste hathe conceaued she bryngeth forth synne and synne when it is finished bryngeth forthe deathe Euery good gyfte and ruerye perfecte gyfte is from aboue and commeth downe from the father of lyght with whome is no variablenes neyther is he chaunged vnto darrkenes Lette euerye man be swyfte to heare slowe to speake and slowe to wrath for the wrathe of man worketh not that which is righteous before god Se that ye be doars of the worde and not heaters only deceauyng your selues with sophistry Pure deuotion and vndefiled before goo the father is this to visite the faberlesse wyddowes in their aduersytie and to kepe hymselfe vnspotted of the worlde The .ii. Chapter WHosoeuer shall kepe the whole lawe and yet fayle in one poynt he is gyltye in all There shal be iudgement mercyles to him that sheweth no mercye and morcye reioyseth againste iudgement Faith yf it haue no dedes is deade in it selfe I manne is iustifyed of dedes and not of faythe onely Is the body without the spryte is dead euen so faithe without dedes is dead The .iii. Chapter IF a manne synne not in worde the same is a perfecte man and able to came all the body The tounge is a lytle member and bosteth greate thynges It is an vnruelyr euyll full of deadly poison the tounge can no manne came Yf any man be wyse and endued with learnyng among you let him shewe the worckes of conuersation in mehnes that is coupled with wisdome The wysdome that is frome aboue is fyrste pure than peasable gentle and easye to be intreated full of mercy and good frutes without iudgyng and without simulation yea the frute of righteousnes is soweÌ„ in peace of them that maintayne peace The .iiii. Chapter Ye axe and receyue not because ye axe amisse Knowe ye not howe that the frendship of the worlde is enemitie to godwarde Whosoeuer wyl be a frend of the world is made the enemy of god What thing is your lyfe It is not euen a vapoure that appeareth for a lytle time and then vanished awaye To hym that knoweth howe to be good and doth it not to hym it is sinne The .v. Chapter GO to now ye riche men wepe and howle on your wretchednes that shall come vpoÌ„ you Your riches is corrupt your garmeÌ„tes are mothe eaten your gold and your syluer are cankred and the rust of them shal be witnes vnto you and shall eate your fleshe as it were fyre Aboue all thinges my brethren sweare not nether by heauen nether by the earth nether by any other othe Let youre yea be yea and your naye naye lest ye fall into ypocrisie Yf any of you be disealed let him call for the elders of the congregation and let them praye ouer hym and anoynte him with oyle in the name of the Lorde and the prayer of fayth shall saue the sicke and the lorde shall rayse hym vp yf he haue committed sinnes they shall be forgeuen hym Confesse youre faultes one to another and praye one for another that ye maye be healed The prayer of a righteous manne auayleth muche yf it be feruent BrethreÌ„ yf any of you erre froÌ„ the truth another conuert hym let the same know that he which coÌ„uerted the synner from goinge astraye oute of his waye shall saue a soule from death and shall hyde the multitude of synnes ¶ The .i. Epistle of S. Peter the first Chapter GYrde vp the loynes of your mynoÌ„eâ— be sober trust perfectly on the grace that is brought vnto you by the declaring of Iesus Christ as obedient children not fashioning youre selues vnto your olde iustes of ignoraunce but as he whiche called you is holy euen so be ye holy in all maner of conuersation because it is written be ye holye for I am holy The father without respect of person iudgeth according to euery mannes workes Ye know how that ye were not redemed with corruptible siluer and golde from your vayne conuerrsation whiche ye receyued by the tradicions of the fathers but with the precious bloude of Christ as of a lambe vndefiled and with out spot which was ordeyned before the world was made but was declared in the last tymes for your sakes whiche by his meanes haue beleued on God that raysed him from death glorifyed hym that your faythe and hope might be in god Se that ye loue one another w e a pute heart feruently for ye are borne a new not of mortal sede but of immortall by the worde of god whiche lyueth and lasteth for euer All fleshe is as grasse and all the glorye of maÌ„ is as the floure of grasse The grasse withereth the flowre falleth awaye but the roord of the lord endureth euer The .ii. Chapter IF so be that ye haue tasted howe pleasaunt the lord is to whom ye come as to a liuing stone dissalowed ofâ—ten but chosen of god and precious and ye ae liuing stonce are made a spiritual house and an holy priste hode for to offer vp spirituall sacrifice acceptable to god by Iesus Christ Vnto you whiche beleue he is precious but vnto theÌ„ which beleue not the stone whiche the buylders refused the same is made the head stone in the corner and a stone to stumble at â—nd a rocke to offende them whithe stomble at the worde and beleue not that whereon they were set Derely beloued I beseche you as straungers and pilgrimes abstayne from fleshly lustes which fight against the soule and se that
Chapter WHosoeuer coÌ„mitteth syn coÌ„mitteth vnryghteousnes also for synne is vnrighteousnes whosoeuer doeth not righteousnes is not of god nether he that loueth not his brother He that loueth not his brother abydeth in beathe Whosoeuer hateth his brother is a manne flear and ye knowe that no man flear hathe eternall lyfe abydynge in him Whosoeuer hath this worldes good and syeth his brother haue neade shutteth vp his coÌ„passioÌ„ from him howe dwelleth the loue of god in him Lette vs not loue in worde neyther in tounge but with the dede in verite for therby we know that we are of the verite can before hym quiete our bertes He that kepeth goddes commaundementes dwelleth in him and he in him therby we know that there abydeth in vs of the sprete whyche he gaue vs. The .iiii. Chapter BEleue not euery spirite but proue whether they are of God ornot In this appered the loue of god to vs ward because that God sent his onelye begotten sonne into the worlde that we myght lyue thorow him Herein is loue not that we loued god but that he loued vs and sent his sonne to make agrement for oure synnes Yf we loue one another god dwelleth in vs. and his loue is perfect in vs. Whosoeuer confesseth that Iesus is the sonne of god in him dwelleth god and he in god There is no feare in loue but parsecte loue cafleth out all feare for feare hath painfulnes he the reateth is not perfecte in loue Yf a man saye I loue god and yet hate his brother he is a lyar For howe can he that loueth not his brother whom he hath sene loue god whoÌ„ he hath not sene The.v. Chapter GOds commaundementes are not greuous This is the victory that ouercommeth the worlde euen oure fay the who is it that ouercommeth the worlde but he which beleueth that Iesus is the sonne of God There are thre which beare record in heauen the father the word and the holy ghost and these thre are one There are thre whiche beare recorde in carth the sprete and water and bloud and these thre are one This is the trust that we haue in god that yf we are any thyng accordyng to his will he heareth vs. And yf we knowe that he heare vs what soeuer we are we knowe that we shal haue the peticions that we desyre of hym Yf any man se his brother synne a synne that is nor vnto death lette him are and he shall geue him life for them that sinne not vnto death There is a sinne vnto death for whiche saye I not that a man should pray All vnrighteousnes is sinne and there is sinne not vnto death The worlde is all together sette on wyckednesse ¶ The seconde Epistell of S. Iohn the fyrste Chapter HAd nowe beseche I the lady not as though I wrote a newe commaundement vnto the but that same whiche we harde frome the begynnynge that we shulde loue one another and this is the loue that we shoulde walke after his commaundementes The .ii. Chapter WHosoeuer transgresseth and bydeth not in the doctrine of christ hath not god He that endureth in the doctrine of christe hath bothe the father and the sonne yf there come any vnto you and brynge not his learnynge him receaue not to house nether byd him god spede for he that byd hym god spede is partaker of his euyl dedes ¶ The Epistel of S. Iude the fyrste Chapter BEholde the Lorde shall come with thousandes of saynetes to geue iudgement againste all menne and to rebuke all that are vngodlye amonge them of all theyr vngodlye dedes whiche they haue vngodlye committed and of all theyr truell speakynges whiche vngodlye synuers haue spoken against him ¶ The Reuelation of S. Iohn the fyrste Chapter HAppy is he that redeth and they that heare the wordes of the prophesy and kepe the thinges which are writteÌ„ therin for the time is at haÌ„d Beholde he commeth with cloudes and all eyes shall se him and they also whiche persed hym I am Alpha and Omega the begynnynge and the endynge saith the Lorde almyghty whiche is and whiche was and whiche is to come The .ii. Chapter TO hym that ouer commeth wyll I geue to eate of the tree of lyfe which is in the middes of the paradise of god To him that ouercommeth wyll I geue to eate Manna that is hydde and wyll geue hym a white stone and in the stone a new name wrytten whiche no manne knoweth sauynge he that receaueth it I wyll geue vnto euery one of you accordynge vnto your worches To him that overcoÌ„meth and kepeth my workes vnto the ende I wyll geue power ouer nations and he shall rule them with a rodde of yron and as the vessels of a potter shall he brake them to sheuers The .iii. Chapter Yf thou shalt not watche I wyll come on the as a these and thou shalte not knowe what houre I wyll come vpon the. He that ouercommeth shal be clothed in whyt araye and I wyll confesse his name before my father and before his angels I know thy worches that thou art nether colde not hote I wolde thou were colde or hote So then because thou arte betwene both and nether colde nor hot I wyll spewe the out of my mouth because thou art riche and increased with goodes and hast uede of nothynge and knowest not howe thou arte wretched and miserable poore blynde and naâ—ed I counsel the to bye of me golde tried in the fyre that thou mayst be riche and whyt rayment that thou mayste be clothed that thy fylthy nakednes do not aâ—pere and annoynte thyne eyes with eye salue that thou mayste see As many as I loue I rebuke and chasten be seruent therfore and repent Beholde I stande at the dore and knocke yf anye man heare my voyce and open the dore I wyll come in vnto hym and wyll suppe with him and he with me To hym that ouercommeth wyll I graunt to syt with me in my seate euen as I ouercame and haue sytten with my father in his seate The .iiii. Chapter THe fyrste beste was lyke a lyon the seconde best lyke a calfe and the thyrde best hadde a face as a manne and the fourthe beste was lyke a â—yinge egle The .v. Chapter ANd when he had taken the booke the foure bestes the .xxiiii. elders fell downe before the lambe hauyng harpes and golden vialles full of odoures whiche are the prayers of saintes and they songe a newe songe saynge thou art worthy to take the boke and to open the seales therof for thou wast kylled hast redemed vs by thy bloude out of all kynreddes and tonges and people and nations and haste made vs vnto our god kynges and prestes and we shall raigne on the exche The .vi. Chapter I Sawe vnder the aulter the soules of theÌ„ that were kylled for the worde of god and for the testimonye whiche they had And they cried with â— loude voyce sayeng howe lang cariest thou lord