Fyrst to put vs in remembraunce that hys body was broken and hys bloud shed for our redemption ☞ Probations out of the holy Scriptures The Lord Iesus the same night in the which he was betrayed toke bread and when hee had geuen thankes he brake it gaue it to his disciples saying Take ye eate thys is my body which is broken for you Thys doe ye in the remembrance of me After the same maner also he toke y ◠cup whē supper was done saying This cup is the new testament in my bloud This do as oft as ye drinke it in remēbrance of me For as oftē as ye shall eate this bread drinke of thys cup ye shall shew the Lords death till he come When they were eating Iesus tooke bread and when he had geuen thankes he brake it and gaue it to his disciples and sayd Take eate this is my body And he tooke the cup and thanked and gaue it them saying drinke ye all of thys For thys is my bloud which is of the new testament that is shed for many for the remission of sinnes As they did eate Iesus tooke bread and when hee had geuen thankes he brake it and gaue it to them and sayd Take eate thys is my body And he toke the cup and when he had geuen thankes he tooke it to thē and they all dranke of it and he sayd vnto them Thys is my bloud of the new testament which is shed for many He tooke bread and whē he had geuen thankes he brake it gaue vnto them saying This is my body which is geuen for you This do in the remēbraunce of me Likewise also when he had supped he tooke the cup saying This cup is the new testament in my bloud which is shed for you Secondly to stirre vs vp vnto thankesgeuing while we consider how precious great and inestimable benefites we haue receaued of God the father by the death of hys sonne as deliueraunce from Sathan freedome from the curse of the lawe forgeuenes of sinnes the fauour and good will of God quietnes of conscience the holy ghost righteousnes victory against sinne death and hell saluation and finally euerlasting life That we should not be vnthankfull but rather ioyfully burst out into all kinde of spirituall prayses lauding and magnifying God the father for these hys most hie and singular free giftes the Lord Christ did institute thys holy supper Therfore it is called of the aunciēt Doctors Sacramentum Eucharistiae i. the Sacrament of thankesgeuing ☞ Probations out of the holy Scriptures All that beleued continued daily with one accorde in y ◠temple and brake bread from house to house and did eate their meate together with gladnes singlenes of hart praysing God Is not the cup of thankesgeuing for y ◠which we geue thankes partaking of the bloud of Christ Is not y ◠bread which we breake partaking of the body of Christ Thirdly to put vs in remembraunce that as the bread which we eate at the Lordes table is made of many graines one loafe and the wine pressed together of sondry grapes is made one wine so we being many are one body wherof Christ is the head And because we all are one body we ought all to be beneficiall one to an other one to loue an other one to beare with an other one to wishe well vnto an other and one to doe for an other what soeuer we be able euen to the vttermost of our power as our head Christ for our health and for our saluation disdained not to bestow his very life and to suffer death euen the death of the crosse for our redemption And as we presently at the receauing of the holy mysteries of Christes body bloud do inioy through fayth in Gods promises all the benefites which Christ obtayned for vs by hys blessed death and glorious passion so lykewise ought they that be partakers of the Lordes table euery one according to hys habilitie at that present to be beneficiall to the poore members of Christ and somewhat to geue that may relieue thē euer after also whē occasion is geuen gladly to distribute vnto the needie some porcion of their goodes wherwith God hath endued them That thys was the custome in the Apostles tyme and in the Primatiue Church yea and long after till the Popishe Masse had driuen out of the Church the right vse of the Lordes supper it is euident enough by diuers testimonyes both of the holy Scriptures and of auncient historyes That we are all one body ☞ Probations out of the holy Scriptures As we haue many members in one body and all members haue not one office so we being many are one body in Christ and euery man among our selues one an others member We though we be many yet are one bread and one body in as much as we all are partakers of one bread As the body is one and hath many members and all the members of one body though they be many yet are but one body euen so is Christ. For by one spirite are we all baptised to make one body whether we bee Iewes or Gentiles whether we be bonde or free and haue all drunke of one spirite For the body is not one member but many c. Therefore if one member suffer all suffer with hym If one member be had in honour all members be glad also Ye are the body of Christ and members one of an other ¶ Of the distribution to the needie All that beleued kept thē selues together and had all thinges common solde their possessions and goods and parted them to all mē as euery man had neede Great grace was there with all them that beleued Neyther was there any among thē that lacked For as many as were possessours of landes or houses solde them and brought the price of the things that were solde and layde it downe at the Apostles feete And distribution was made vnto euery man according as he had neede Distribute vnto the necessitie of the Saintes Be ready to harbour As concerning the gathering for the Sainctes let euery one of you vpō some Sabbaoth day put aside lay vp what soeuer is meete c. It is not my minde that other be set at ease and ye brought into combrance but that there be equalnes now at this tyme and that your abundance may succour their lacke and that their abundaunce may supply your lacke that there may be equalitie agreing to that which is writtē He that had much had not the more abundaunce and he y t had litle had neuer the lesse c. Read the Chapter Of the ministring to y t Saintes it is but superfluous for me to write vnto you for I know the readines of your mind c. Yet this I say he that soweth little shall reape little and he y t soweth in geuing largely and freely shall reape
The kingdome of God is not meate and drinke but righteousnes peace ioy in the holy ghost The kingdome of God is not in wordes but in power ¶ The third Peticion THy will be done as in heauen so likewyse in earth ☞ The confirmations Teach me O Lorde to doe thy will for thou art my God Not euery one that sayth vnto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but hee that doth the will of my father which is in heauen Whosoeuer doth the will of my father which is in heauen he is my brother sister and mother This is the will of him that sent me that whosoeuer seeth y â— sonne and beleueth on him hath euerlasting life Fashion not your selues lyke vnto thys world but bee ye chaunged through the renuing of your mind that ye may proue what thing that good and acceptable and perfecte will of God is This is the will of God euen your sanctifying that ye abstaine from whoredome that euery one of you know how to keepe his vessell in holâ—â—es and honour and not in the lust of concupiscence as the heathen do which know not God For asmuch as Christ hath suffered for vs in the flesh arme ye your selues likewise with y e same minde For he which suffereth in the flesh ceaseth from sinne that hee from hence forth shoulde liue as long time as he remayneth in the flesh not after the lustes of men but after the will of God For it is sufficient for vs that we haue spent the time that is past of the life after the will of the Gentiles walking in wantonnes lustes excesse of drinking and abominable idolatry ¶ The fourth Peticion GEue vs this day our dayly bread ☞ The confirmations I haue bene younge now am old yet saw I neuer y e righteous forsakeÌ„ nor hys sede begging their bread He is euer mercifâ—â—â— and lendeth yet haue his children Gods plentie and inough The eyes of all waite vpon thee O Lorde and thou geuest them their meate in due season Thou openest thy hand and fillest euery liuing creature with thy blessing The Lorde will not let the soule of y e righteous suffer hunger but he taketh away y e riches of y e vngodly The blessing of the Lord maketh men rich as for carefull trauaile it doth nothyng therto Two thinges haue I required of thee that thou wilt not deny me before I dye Remoue from me vanitie and lies Geue me neither pouertie nor riches onely graunt me a necessary liuing least if I be too full I denie thee and say who is the Lord And least I being constrayned through pouertie fall vnto stealing and forsweare y â— name of my God Be not careful for your life what ye shall eate or drinke nor yet for your body what rayment ye shall weare Is not the life more worth then meate and the body more of value then rayment Read forth the chapter Cast all your care on God for he careth for you ¶ The fift Peticion ANd forgeue vs our debtes as we forgeue our debters ☞ The confirmations And forgeue vs. I am he yea I am he which put away thine iniquities and that for mine owne sake and will remeÌ„ber thy sinnes no more As for thine offences I driue theÌ„ away like the cloudes thy sinnes as the miste Turne thee again vnto me and I will deliuer thee God is the king which forgeueth hys seruaunt the ten thousand talentes No man can forgeue sinne but God alone God is the most louing father which ioyfully receaueth home againe hys lost sonne when hee repenteth and conuerteth Our debtes They are all gone out of y e way they are altogether abominable there is none that doth good no not one Who can tell how oft hee offendeth Oh clense thou me from my secrete faultes Who can say my hart is cleane I am free from sinne There is not one righteous maÌ„ in all the earth that doth good and sinneth not Behold God hath found vnfaithfulnes among his own Sainctes Yea y â— very heauens is vncleane in hys sight How much more then abominable and vile is maÌ„ which drincketh wickednes lyke water All the children of men are wicked all their workes are nought neither is there any truth in them All are hypocrites and wicked We are all become vncleane and all our righteousnesses are as a cloth polluted with menstrue We are all vnprofitable seruants All haue sinned and want the glory of God If we say we haue no sinne we deceaue our selues and the truth is not in vs. But if we confesse our sinnes God is faithfull and righteous to forgeue vs our sinnes and to make vs cleane froÌ„ all iniquitie As we forgeue our debters He that seeketh vengeance shall finde vengeance of y e Lorde which shall surely keepe hym hys sinnes Forgeue thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done thee and so shall thy sinnes bee forgeuen thee also when thou prayest A man that beareth hatred agaynst an other how dare hee desire forgeuenes of God He that sheweth no mercy to a man which is lyke him selfe how dare he aske forgeuenes of his sinnes If he that is but fleshe beareth hatred and kepeth it who will intreate for hys sinnes Remember the ende and let emnitie passe If ye forgeue other men their trespasses the heauenly Father shal forgeue you But if ye wil not forgeue men their trespasses no more shall your Father forgeue you your trespasses When ye stand pray forgeue if ye haue ought against any maÌ„ that your father also which is in heaueÌ„ may forgeue you your trespasses Forgeue and it shal be forgeuen vnto you Forbeare one an other and forgeue one an other If any man haue a quarell agaynst an other like as Christ hath forgeuen you euen so do ye likewise Christ forgaue his persecutors and prayed for them saying father forgeue them for they know not what they do S. Stephen forgaue his enemies and prayed for them on thys maner O Lord lay not this sinne to their charge ¶ The sixt Peticion ANd lead vs not into temptation ☞ The confirmations My Sonne if thou wilt come into the seruice of God stand fast in righteousnes and feare arme thy soule to temptation c. Watch and pray that ye fall not into temptation The spirite is willing but the flesh is weake Blessed is the man that standeth fast in temptation For when he is tried he shall receiue the crowne of life which the Lord hath promised to them that loue him Let no man say wheÌ„ he is tempted that he is tempted of God For as God cannot be tempted with euill so neither he himselfe tempteth any man vnto euill But euery maÌ„ is tempted when he is drawen away and
entised of his owne concupiscence Then when lust hath conceaued she bringeth forth sinne and sinne when it is done in deede bringeth forth death ¶ The seuenth Peticion Bvt deliuer vs from euill ☞ The confirmations Sathan hath desired after you y â— he might sift you euen as wheat But I haue prayed for thee O Simon y t thy faith may not faile And when thou arte conuerted strength thy brethren God is faithfull which will not suffer you to be teÌ„pted aboue your strength but shall in the middest of the temptation make a way to come out that ye may bee able to beare it Be sober and watch for your aduersary the deuill walketh about like a roaring Lion seeking whoÌ„ he may deuour Whome resist stedfast in the fayth The Lord knoweth how to deliuer the godly out of the temptation We knowe that whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not but hee that is begotten of God keepeth himselfe and that wicked toucheth him not ¶ The conclusion of the Lordes Prayer FOr thine is the kingdome and the power and the glory for euer and euer ☞ The confirmations Blessed be thou Lorde God of Israel our father for euer and euer Thine O Lord is might power glory victory and prayse for all that is in heauen and in earth is thine thine is the kingdome O Lord and thou excellest aboue all euen as the head of all Thine are the riches treasures honour dominion ouer all and in thy handes is the vertue might power excellencie empire and rule vppon and aboue all thinges Wherfore now O our God we geue laude prayse and glory to thy most noble name Of hym and through hym and in hym are all thinges To hym be prayse for euer To God which alone is wife be glory through Iesus Christ for euer Unto hym that is able to do exceding aboundantly aboue all that we aske or thinke according to the power y t worketh in vs bee praise in the congregation by Christ Iesus throughout all ages worlde without end Unto God king euerlasting immortall inuisible alone wyse bee honour and glory for euer euer Thou art worthy O Lorde to receaue glory and honour power for thou hast created all things and for thy wills sake they were and are created Blessing honour glory power be vnto hym that sitteth vppon the seate and vnto the Lambe for euer more Amen ¶ All these Peticions I vndoubtedly beleue that I shall inioye when soeuer I aske them in fayth of God my heauenly father through Iesus Christ our Lord. ¶ Of the Lawe ¶ What the Lawe is THe Law of God is a doctrine prescribing vnto vs what we ought to doe and what to eschue both toward God and our neighbour ☞ The confirmations Thou shalt loue the Lorde thy God with all thy hart Thou shalt not take the name of thy Lord God in vaine Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not steale ¶ To what vse the lawe was geuen Fyrst that it should declare vnto vs the will of God how we ought to liue and what workes we ought to do that we may please the Lord our God ☞ The confirmations The law of the Lorde is an vndefiled law coÌ„uerting soules The testimony of the Lord is sure and geueth wisedome to y e simple The statutes of the Lord are right and reioyce the hart The commaundemeÌ„t of the Lord is pure and geueth light to the eyes Thy worde is a lanterne to my feete a light to my pathwaies He sheweth hys word vnto Iacob hys statutes and ordinaunces vnto Israell He hath not dealt so with any nation neyther haue the heathen knowledge of hys lawes Secondly that it shoulde reueale and open vnto vs our sinne and wickednes while we consider how vnable we be of our selues to doe that which the holy righteous good law of God requireth of vs to be done ☞ The confirmations By the lawe coÌ„meth the knowledge of sinne The lawe entred in that sinne should increase What shall we say is the lawe sinne God forbid Nay I knewe not what sinne ment but by the lawe for I had not knowen what lust had ment except the lawe had said Thou shalt not lust But sinne tooke an occasion by the meanes of the commaundement wrought in me all maner of concupiscence For without the lawe sinne was dead I once liued without y e lawe but when the commaundement came sinne 〈◊〉 I was dead And y e very same coÌ„maundement which was ordayned vnto lyfe was found to be vnto me an occasion of death For sinne tooke occasion by y â— meanes of the coÌ„maundement so deceaued me by the same commaundement sâ—ue me The stiâ—ge of death is sinne and the strength of sinne is the law The letter that is to say the law killeth The lawe is the ministring of condemnation Moyses sayth Christ gaue you a lawe and yet none of you fulfilleth the lawe in deede Thirdly after we haue learned our weaknes our wretchednes our sinne our wickednes by comparing our strength and life with the lawe of God which proueth vs all sinners and worthy of eternall damnation least we shoulde fall into desperation and so be damned the lawe was geuen of God to bee a Scholemaister vnto vs to lead vs vnto Christ the alone end and perfect fulfiller of all the lawes of God that we through fayth takyng vppon vs hys righteousnes and hys fulfilling of the lawe myght bee found blameles through hym in the sight of God and to bee made inheritours of euerlasting glory ☞ The confirmations The law was our Scholemaister vnto Christ that we shoulde bee iustified by fayth But after that fayth is come we are no longer vnder the Scholemaister For ye are all the children of God because ye beleue in Christ Iesu. The lawe brought nothyug to perfection but was an introduction to a better hope by the which we drawnie vnto God Be it knowen vnto you ye men and brethren that through thys man Christ is preached vnto you the forgeuenes of sinnes that by hym all that beleue are iustified froÌ„ all thinges froÌ„ the which ye coulde not hee iustified by the lawe of Moyses Why tempt ye God to put on the Disciples neckes y e yoke which neyther our fathers nor we were able to beare But we beleue that thorow the grace of the Lord Iesu Christ we shall be saued Christ is the fulfilling of the law to iustifie all that beleue Christ hath deliuered vs from the curse of the law in as much as he was made accursed for vs. ¶ The x. Commaundementes of God with confirmations of euery CoÌ„maundement out of the holy scripture ¶ The first Table of the Law contayning foure CoÌ„maundementes wherin is declared our dutie to God ¶ The first Commaundement I Am the Lord thy God
which haue brought thee out of the land of Aegypt out of the house of bondage Thou shalt haue no straunge Gods before me ☜ The confirmations The Lord he is God and there is none but he alone Understand and thinke it in thy hart that the Lorde hee is God in heauen aboue vpon the earth beneath neither is there any other Heare O Israell The Lord our God is God alone Thou shalt loue y â— Lord thy God with all thine hart and with all thy soule with all thy might Thou shalt feare the Lorde thy God and serue hym alone If thou forget the Lorde thy God walke after strauÌ„ge Gods and serue them and worship them I testifie vnto you that ye shall surely perishe Now O Israell what doth the Lorde thy God require of thee but that thou shouldest feare the Lorde thy God and walke in hys wayes and loue hym and serue the Lorde thy God with all thy hart with all thy soule and keepe the commaundementes of the Lord If thine hart turne away from God so that thou wilt not heare hys word but go astray and worship strauÌ„ge Gods and serue them I pronouÌ„ce vnto you this day that ye shall surely perishe and not liue long on the earth See now how that I yea that I am God there is none but I. I will assure thee O Israell if thou wilt â—arken vnto me There shall no straunge God bee in thee neither shalt thou worship any other God I am the Lord thy God Besides me there was neuer any God neither shal there be after me I am yea I am the Lord alone besides me there is no Sauiour There is none other God but I. A true God and such a one as saueth there is none but I alone Thou shalt loue the Lorde thy God with all thy hart and with all thy soule and withâ— all thy minde This is the first and greatest commaundement This is euerlasting life euen to know thee y â— alone true God and whoÌ„ thou hast sent Iesus Christ. There is none other God but one And although there be y t are called Gods whether in heauen or in earth as there bee many Gods and many Lordes yet vnto vs there is but one God There is one God and one Mediatour ¶ The second Commaundement THou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen image nor the likenes of any thyng that is in heauen aboue nor in the earth beneath nor in the waters vnder the earth Thou shalt not bowe downe to them nor worship them For I the Lorde thy God am a ielouse God and visite the sinnes of the fathers vppon the children vnto the thyrd and fourth generation of theÌ„ that hate me and shew mercy vnto thousandes to them that loue me and kepe my Commaundementes ☜ The confirmations Ye shall not turne vnto Idolls nor make you Gods of metall Take heede vnto your selues that ye forget not the appointment of the Lorde your God which hee made with you and that ye make you no grauen image nor any picture that the Lorde thy God hath forbidden thee For the Lorde thy God is a consuming fire a ielouse God If ye do wickedly and make any maner of grauen image and worke euill in the sight of the Lord thy God to prouoke hym to anger I call heauen and earth to recorde agaynst you thys day that ye shall shortly perishe Ye shall ouerthrow the altars of the Idols breake downe their pillers cut down their groues and burne their grauen images with fire For thou art an holy nacion vnto the Lord thy God Cursed be the man that maketh any carued or molten image an abomination vnto the Lorde the worke of the handes of the craftesman putteth it in a secrete place and all the people shall aunswere and say Amen Confounded be all they y â— worship carued images and that delite in vaine Gods I am the Lorde and this is my name My glory will I geue to none other neither mine honour to grauen Images ¶ Read the 44. and 46. chapters of Esay Be conuerted and forsake your Idoles The seeking out of Idoles is the beginning of whoredome and the bringing vp of them is the destruction of lyfe For they were not froÌ„ the beginning neither shall they continue vnto the end The wealthy idlenes of men hath found theÌ„ out vppon the earth therefore shall they come shortly to an end The honouring of abominable images is the cause the beginning and the end of all euill ¶ Read the 13. 14. 15. and 16. chapters of Wisedome Read also the 6. chapter of the Prophet Baruck We preach vnto you that ye shoulde turne from these vanities vnto the liuing God which made heauen and earth and the sea and all thinges that are therein My sentence is y t we trouble not theÌ„ which froÌ„ among the Gentiles are turned to God but y t we write vnto them that they abstaine theÌ„ selues froÌ„ the filthines of Images They are not Gods which are made with handes Be not worshippers of Images No worshippers of images shall inherite the kingdome of God Babes keepe your selues from Images ¶ The third Commaundement THou shalt not take the name of the Lorde thy God in vayne for the Lorde will not holde hym giltles that taketh hys name in vayne ☜ The confirmations Ye shall not sweare by my name in vayne neyther shalt thou defile the name of thy God I am the Lorde He y â— hath not sworne to deceaue hys neighbour hee shall receaue blessing from the Lord and mercy from God hys Sauiour He that blasphemeth the name of the Lorde let hym be slaine and all the multitude shall stone hym to death Thou shalt sweare the Lord liueth in truth in equitie and righteousnes My curse and vengeance sayth the Lord shall fall vpon his house that falsly sweareth by my name and shall remaine in his house and consume it with the timber and stones therof Ye haue heard how it was said to them of old tyme thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe but shalt performe vnto the Lord those thinges that thou swearest But I say vnto you sweare not at all neyther by the heauen for it is Gods seate neither by the earth for it is hys footestoole neither by IerusaleÌ„ for it is the citie of the great king neither shalt thou sweare by thy head because thou canst not make one heare white or blacke But your coÌ„munication shall be yea yea and nay nay For what soeuer is added more then these it coÌ„meth of euill Aboue all thinges my brethren sweare not neither by heauen nor by earth neither any other oth but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest ye fall into hypocrisie Let not thy mouth bee accustomed with swearing
is such see that ye eate not Neither fornicators neither adultrers neither weaklings neither abusers of theÌ„ selues with maÌ„kind shall inherite y â— kingdome of God Let vs not be defâ—â—ed with fornication as some of them were defiled with fornication and fell in one day xxiij thousand As for fornication all vncleannes let it not be once named amoÌ„g you as it becoÌ„meth sainctes or filthines or folishe talking or iesting which are not comly but rather giuing of thankes For this ye know y â— no whoremonger nor vncleane person hath any inheritance in the kingdome of Christ and of God This is the will of God euen your holines y t ye should abstaine from fornication that euery one of you should know how to keepe his vessell in holines honour and not in y â— lust of concupiscence as do the heathen which know not God Wedlocke is honourable among all men and the bed vndefiled As for whoremongers and adultrers God shall iudge them Whoremongers haue their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone ¶ The eight Commaundement THou shalt not steale ☞ The confirmations Ye shal not steale neither lie neither deale falsly one with an other Thou shalt not do thy neighbour wrong neither rob him violently neither shall thy workmans labour abide with thee till the morning Ye shall do no vnrighteousnes in iudgement in metyard in weight or in measure True balances and true waight shall ye haue I am the Lorde If thou sellest ought vnto thy neighbour or byest of thy neighbors hand ye shall not deceaue one an other If thy brother bee 〈◊〉 poore and fallen into decay with thee thou shalt relieue hym that he may liue with thee Thou shalt not geue hym thy money vppon 〈◊〉 nor lend him thy corne for increase Thou shalt not take vsury of hym or vauntage If one of thy brethreÌ„ among you be poore within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lorde God geueth thee thou shalt not haâ—den thy hart nor shut thyâ—e 〈◊〉 from thy poore brother but â—pen thine hand vnto him 〈…〉 The land shall neuer be without poore and therefore I commaund thee saying Thou shalt open thine hand vnto thy brother that is needie and poore in thy land Who so keepeth company with a theefe hateth hys owne soule Wo be to thee y â— spoylest for thou thy selfe shalt be spoyled Breake thy bread to the hungry and bring the poore waudring into thine house When thou seest a naked man â—ouer him and so shalt thou not despise thy fleshe The theefe is cursed of God all that he hath shall come to nought Shame and sorow goeth ouer the theefe Anna olde Tobies wife went dayly to the weauing worke and looke what liuing she coulde gette with the labour of her handes she brought it home And it happened that she tooke a kid and brought it home and wheÌ„ her husbaÌ„d heard it cry he said looke that it bee not stollen if it bee restore it agayne to the owners for it is not lawfull for vs to eate or touch any thing that is stollen Geue almes of thy goods and turne neuer thy fare froÌ„ the poore so shall it come to passe that the face of the Lord shall not be turned away from thee Be mercifull after thy power If thou hast much geue plentiously if thou hast little doe thy diligence gladly to geue of that little For so gatherest thou thy selfe a good reward in the day of necessitie For mercy deliuereth from all sinne and from death and suffereth not the soule to come in darkenes Beholde Lorde sayd Zacheus the halfe of my goods do I geue to the poore if I haue done any maÌ„ wrong I restore him foure folde Neither theeues neither pillers shall inherite y e kingdome of God Let hym y t stole steale no more but let hym rather labour with his haÌ„des y e thyng which is good that he may geue vnto him that nedeth ¶ The ninth Commaundement THou shalt not beare false witnes agaynst thy neighbour ☜ The confirmations Thou shalt not accept a vaine tale neither shalt thou put thy hand to the wicked to be an vnrighteous witnes If any vnrighteous witnes rise vp against a man to accuse hym of trespasse then both the men which striue together shal staÌ„d before the Lord before the priestes the iudges which shall be in those dayes and the iudges shall make diligent inquisition And if the witnes be found false and that he hath geuen false witnes agaynst hys brother then shall you do to him as he had thought to do to his brother and thou shalt put away euill froÌ„ thee Cursed be he y t taketh a reward to stay the soule of innocent bloud and all the people shall say Amen The Lord hateth a false witnes that bringeth vp lies A false witnes shall not remaine vnpunished and he that speaketh lies shall perishe A false witnes shall perishe but he that is a true man boldly speaketh that he hath heard Who so beareth false witnes agaynst hys neighbour he is a very club a sworde and a sharpe arrow The mouth that lyeth slayeth the soule Thou O Lord wilt destroy all them that speake lies In no wyse speake agaynst the worde of truth but be ashamed of thy lying Use not to make any maner of lie for y â— custome therof is not good A theefe is better then a maÌ„ that is accustomed to lie but they both shall haue destruction to heritage The two elders that bare witnes against Susanna were stoned to death Out of the hart come false witnesses and those defile a man Euill speakers shall not inherite the kingdome of God Put away lying and speake euery man truth vnto his neighbour for asmuch as we are members one of an other All lyers shall haue their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone ¶ The tenth Commaundement THou shalt not couet thy neighbours house thou shalt not couet thy neighbours wife nor his seruant nor hys maide nor hys Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is hys ☜ The confirmations Keepe thy hart with all diligeÌ„ce for therupon hangeth life God hateth an hart that goeth about with wicked imaginations Take heede that thou lust not in thy hart after the beautie of a straunge woman Euill thoughtes are abomination to the Lord. Who soeuer loketh on an other mans wife lusting after her hath committed adultery with her already in his hart Out of the hart procede euill thoughtes and those defile a man The cares of this world and the deceitfulnes of riches the lustes of other thinges choke the worde and make it vnfruitfull Take heede to your selues least at any tyme your hartes bee ouercome
with the cares of thys life I had not knowen what lust had ment except the law had sayd thou shalt not lust Make not prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lustes of it Mortifie your earthy members fornication vncleannes vnnaturall lust euill concupiscence c. Godlines is great riches if a man be content with that he hath For we brought nothing into the worlde neyther can we cary any thyng out But when we haue foode and rayment let vs be content therwith They that haue a minde to be riche fall into temptation and snares of the deuill into many folishe and noysome lustes which drowne men in perdition and destruction For couetousnes is the roote of all euill which while some lusted after they erred froÌ„ the fayth tangled them selues with many sorrowes But thou man of God flie such things Follow righteousnes godlines fayth loue pacience meekenes c. Let your conuersatioÌ„ be without couetousnes and bee content with such thinges as ye haue alreadie Loue not the world nor those thinges that are in the worlde For all that is in the world as the concupiscence of the fleshe and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the father but of the worlde And the world passeth away and the lustes therof but he that doth the will of God abydeth for euer ¶ The summe of these x. CoÌ„maundementes and all other lawes of God Thou shalt loue the Lorde thy God with all thy hart with all thy soule with all thy minde and with all y e vttermost of thy power This is the first and greatest commaundement And the second is like vnto it Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy self In these two commaundementes are contayned the whole law and the Prophets Owe nothyng to any man but that ye loue one an other for he that loueth an other hath fulfilled the lawe For these commaundementes Thou shalt not coÌ„mit adulterie Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not steale Thou shalt beare no false witnes Thou shalt not lust and all other commaundementes are briefly comprehended in these wordes Loue thy neighbour as thy selfe The end of the law is loue out of a pure hart and of a good coÌ„science and of a fayth not fayned What soeuer ye would that men should do vnto you do ye euen the same to them also for this is the law and the Prophetes ¶ Of Repentaunce ¶ What Repentaunce is REpentaunce is an inward sorow of the mind wrought by the holy ghost for the sumes tofore committed agaynst God ioyned both with a perfect fayth to be forgeuen for Christes sake and also with a full determined purpose froÌ„ henceforth to amend and to lead a new life ☜ Probations out of the holy Scriptures I now reioyce not that ye were sory but y â— ye so sorrowed that ye repented For ye sorrowed godly so that in nothing ye were hurt by vs. For the sorâ—ow y e is wrought by God causeth repeÌ„tance vnto saluation not 〈◊〉 be repented of coÌ„trariwise worldly sorow causeth death The seruaâ—nt of God must inâ—ourme them that resist the truth if that God at any tyme will geue them repentaunce for to know the truth and that they may come to them selues againe out of the snare of the deuill which are holden of hym captiue at hys will 〈◊〉 me O Lorde I shall be conuerted for thou art my Lord God â—ea as soone as thou turnedst me I repented and as soone as thou shewedst my sinnes vnto me I smote my thigh yea I was confouÌ„ded and right greatly ashamed O Lord turne thou vs vnto thee and so shall we be turâ—ed I will poure cleane water vpon you ye shall be cleane yea froÌ„ all your vncleannes froÌ„ all your Idols shall I clense you A new hart also wil I geue you and a new spirite will I put into you As for that â—â—ony hart I wil take it out of your body and geue you a fleshy hart I will geue my spirite among you and cause you to walke in my commaundementes to kepe my lawes to fulfill them And ye shall be my people and I will be your God O thou God of Hostes turne thou vs shewe vs the light of thy countenance we shall be whole ¶ Of the fruites of repentaunce declared by the worde of God Seeke the Lord while he may be found and call vpon him while he is nie Let the vngodly man forsake hys owne wayes and the vnrighteous his own imaginations and turne againe vnto the Lord so shall he be mercifull vnto him and to our God for he is very ready to forgeue O Israell if thou wilt turne thee then turne vnto me saith the Lord. And if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight thou shalt not be moued Be circumcised in the Lord and cut away y â— foreskin of your hartes that my indignation breake not forth lyke fire kindle so that no man may quench it because of the wickednes of your imaginations If the vngodly will turne away from all his sinnes that he hath done and keepe all my commaundementes and do the thing that is equall and right doubtles he shall liue not die As for all his sumes that he did before they shall not be thought vpoÌ„ but in his righteousnes that he hath done he shall liue For haue I any pleasure in y â— death of a sinner sayth the Lorde God but rather that he coÌ„uert and liue Be conuerted and turne you cleane from all your wickednes so shall there no sinne do you harme Cast away from you all your vngodlines that ye haue done Make you new hartes and a new spirite Wherfore will ye die O ye house of Israell seing I haue no pleasure in the death of him that dieth sayth the Lorde God Turne ye then and ye shall liue As truely as I liue sayth y â— Lord God I haue no pleasure in the death of the wicked but much rather that the wicked turne from hys way liue Turne you turne you from your vngodly wayes O ye house of Israell Oh wherefore will ye die The wickednes of the wicked shall not hurt hym when soeuer he conuerteth from hys vngodlines Turne you vnto me sayth the Lord of Hostes and I will turne me vnto you Turne you vnto me with all your hartes with fasting weeping and mourning Rent your hartes and not your clothes Turne you vnto the Lord your God for he is gracious and mercifull long suffering and of great compassion and ready to pardon wickednes Repent of the life that is past for the kingdome of heaueÌ„ is at hand Bring forth the fruites that belongeth vnto repentance For euen now is the axe put vnto the roote of the tree so that euery tree which bringeth not forth good fruite is hewen down cast into the fire
I am not come to call the righteoâ—s but sinners to repentance Come vnto me all ye that labour and are laden and I will ease you Repent and beleue the Gospell I say vnto you that ioy shall bee in heauen ouer one sinner that repeÌ„teth more then ouer ninetie and nine iust persons which neede no repentaunce The sonne of man is come to â—eke to saue that which was lost Repent and conuert that your sinnes may be done away As ye haue geuen your members seruauntes to vncleannes and to iniquitie from one iniquitie to an other euen so now geue ouer your members seruauntes vnto righteousnes that ye may be sanctified Put of that olde man which is corrupt according to the deceaueable lustes and bee ye renued in the spirite of your minde putting on that new man which after God is shapen in righteousnes and true holines Mortifiâ— your earthy members fornication vncleannes vnnaturall lust euill coÌ„cupiscence and couetousnes which is worshipping of Idoles For which thinges sake the wrath of God vseth to come on the disobedient children among whom ye walked sometime when ye liued in them But now put ye also away froÌ„ you all such thinges wrath fearcenes maliciousnes cursed speaking filthy coÌ„munication Lie not one to an other seing that ye haue put of the olde man with his workes and haue put on the new maÌ„ which is renued into the knowledge and image of hym that made hym Therfore as the electe of God holy and beloued put on tender mercy kindnes humblenes of minde meekenes long suffering forbearing one an other and forgeuing one an other if any man haue a quarrell agaynst an other as Christ forgaue you euen so do ye Aboue all these thinges put on loue which is the bond of perfection And what soeuer ye doe in word or deede doe all in the name of the Lord Iesu geuing thankâ—â— to God the father by hym ¶ Of Baptisme ¶ What Baptisme is BAptisme is the ordinaunce of Christ to washe euery beleuing Christian with water in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy ghost S. Paule calleth Baptisme the fountaine of the new birth and renuing of the holy ghost ☜ Probations out of the holy Scriptures All power is geuen vnto me in heauen and in earth Goe ye therefore and teach all nacions baptising them in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy ghost teaching theÌ„ to obserue all thinges what soeuer I haue commaunded you Goe ye into all the world and preach y â— Gospell to euery creature He that beleueth and is haptised shall be saued But he that beleueth not shall be damned Except a maÌ„ be borne froÌ„ aboue he can not see y â— kingdome of God Uerily verily I say vnto thee except a maÌ„ be borne of water and of y â— spirite he caÌ„not enter into the kingdome of God That which is borne of the fleshe is flesh and that which is borne of y â— spirit is spirite ¶ To what vse Baptisme was vsed First to be a sure seale and an euident testimony vnto vs that God the father for his sonne Iesus Christes sake hath freely forgeuen vs all our sinnes receaued vs into hys fauour and geuen vs the holy ghost by whoÌ„ we are borne a new not of mortall but of immortall seede by whom also we are made the sonnes and heyres of God and through sayth reckened pure and holy in hys godly sight ☜ Probations out of the holy Scriptures He that beleueth and is baptised shall be saued Repent you of your sinnes and be baptised euery one of you in the name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sinnes and ye shall receaue the gift of the holy ghost Christ loued the congregation gaue him selfe for it to sanctifie it and clensed it in the fountaine of water through the worde to make it vnto him self a glorious coÌ„gregation without spot or wrinckle or any such thing that it should be holy and without blame Not by the deedes of righteousnes which we wrought but according to his mercy hath hee saued vs by y e fountaine of the new birth and renuing of y e holy ghost which he shed on vs abundantly through Iesus Christ our Sauiour that wâ— iustified by hys grace should bee made heyres according to the hope of eternall life Baptisme saueth vs not by the putting away of the filth of y â— flesh but in that a good conscience consenteth to God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ which is on the right hand of God and is gone into heauen Secondly to put vs in remembrance that for as much as we are become the souldiours of Christ we ought so long as we liue valiauntly to fight agaynst the deuill the world and the fleshe to mortifie all vncleane lustes to die vnto sinne and to rise againe new meÌ„ bearing the image of Christ and fashioning our conuersation and maners after his example that we may learne the Lord our God in such holines and righteousnes as is allowed before hym all the dayes of our life ☜ Probations out of the holy Scriptures know ye not that all we which are baptised into Iesus Christ are baptised to die with hym We are buried then with him by baptisme for to dye that likewise as Christ was raised from death by the glory of the father euen so we also should walke in a new life For if we bee graft in death like vnto hym euen so shall we partakers of the resurrection knowing this that our old maÌ„ is crucified with hym also that the body of sinne might vtterly bee destroyed y t hence forth we should not be seruauntes vnto sinne For hee that is dead is iustified from sinne Wherefore if we bee dead with Christ we beleue that we shall also liue with him All ye that are baptised haue put on Christ. Ye are buryed with Christ thorow baptisme in whom ye are also risen againe thorow fayth that is wrought by the operation of God which raysed hym from death If ye then bee risen againe with Christ seke those things which are aboue where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Set your affection on heauenly thinges not on earthly thinges For ye are dead your life is hid with Christ in God When soeuer Christ which is your life shall shewe him selfe then shall ye also appeare with hym in glory ¶ Of the Lordes Supper ¶ What the Lordes Supper is THe Lordes Supper is an holy and heauenly bancket in the which the faythfull Christians besides the corporall eating of the bread the outward drinking of the wine do spiritually thorow fayth both eate the body of Christ and drinke his bloud vnto the confirmation of their fayth the comfort of their conscience and the saluation of their soules ¶ To what vse Christ did institute hys holy Supper
plentiously And let euery man do according as he hath purposed in hys hart not grudgingly or of necessitie For God loueth a cheerefull geuer God is able to make you riche in all grace that ye in all thinges hauing sufficient vnto the vttermost may bee riche vnto all maner of good workes as it is written He hath sparsed abroad and hath geuen to the poore and hys righteousnes remayneth for euer The office of thys ministration not onely supplyeth the nede of the saintes but also is abundant herein y t for this laudable ministring thankes might be geuen to God of many which praise God for y t obedience of your consenting to y ◠Gospel of Christ and for your singlenes in distributing to them to all mē and in their prayers for you which long after you for the abundaunt grace of God in you Thankes be vnto God for his vnspeakable gift ¶ The dutie of all estates and degrees ¶ The dutie of the hie powers and of the other temporall Magistrates THe dutie of the high powers and of the other temporall rulers is to be learned in the lawe of God to maintaine pure and Christian Religion to nourishe and defend the preachers and studientes of Gods worde to banishe all false religion idolatry to punishe yea and if they wil not turne to kill the preachers and maintainers of false doctrine to iudge equally indifferently without parcialitie to take no bribes nor to oppresse the common people but to care for thē as a father for his children to defend the good to correct the euill to auaunce vertue and to punishe vice That they ought to bee learned in the lawes of God ☞ Probations out of the holy Scriptures The king shall not multiplie horses to him self neither ought he to multiply wiues vnto him self least his hart turne away neither shall he gather him siluer and golde to much And when he is set vpon the seate of hys kingdome hee shall write hym out a copie of this lawe in a booke And it shall bee with hym and hee ought to read therin all the dayes of his life that he may learne to feare the Lorde hys God and to keepe all the wordes of this lawe and these ordinaunces for to doe them and that his hart arise not aboue his brethren and that he turne not frō the commaūdement to the right hand or to the left but that he may prolong his dayes in hys kingdome Let not the booke of thys lawe depart out of thy mouth but recorde therin day night that thou mayest obserue doe according to all that is written For then shalt thou make thy way prosperous and then shalt thou do wisely Get ye vnderstanding now O ye kinges be learned ye that iudge the earth Serue the Lord in feare and reioyce vnto hym with reuerence Kisse the sonne least he be angry so ye perish frō the right way If your delight be in royall seates and scepters O ye kinges of y e people set your lust vppon wisedome that ye may raigne for euermore O loue the light of wisedome all ye that be rulers of the people ¶ Read the ix Chapter of the booke of Wisedome That they ought to maintaine pure and Christian Religion ☞ Probations out of the holy Scriptures How greatly king Dauid aduanced Gods religion sought hys glory the holy Scriptures make mencion Asa king of Iuda did that was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God For he tooke away straunge altars hill altars and brake downe the images and cut down the groues and cōmaunded Iuda to seeke the Lorde God of their fathers and to doe according to the law and commaundement Yea he put away y e abominable Idols that hys father had made And he put down Maacha his mother from bearing rule because she had made images in groues And Asa destroyed her images burnt thē by the broke Cedron The Lord God therfore gaue hym and all his land rest and quietnes Iehosaphat king of Iuda sent to hys Lordes that they shoulde teach in the cities of Iuda with them he sent Leuites and priestes And they taught in Iuda and had the booke of the lawe of God with them went about through out all the cities of Iuda and taught the people And the feare of the Lorde fell vppon all the kingdomes of the landes y t were round about Iuda they fought not agaynst Iehosaphat And the Lord stablished the kingdome in his hand and all they that were in Iuda brought king Iehosaphat presentes so that hee had abundance of riches honour King Hezekia put away the hill altars and brake the images and cut downe the groues and all to brake the brasen serpent that Moses had made He renued the feast of the Passeouer He ordayned Priestes and Leuites to serue the Lord God prouided honest liuinges for them that they might substantially apply thē selues to the lawe of the Lord. And the Lorde was with hym so that he prospered in all thynges which he tooke in hand The good king Iosias beside the purging of Iuda and Ierusalem frō hill altars groues carued images and images of metall and such other kindes of idolatry he repayred the house of the Lord his God renued the feast of the Passeouer red in the eares of all the people the wordes of the lawe of the Lorde and made a faythfull promise vnto the Lorde that he and all hys people should walke according to the statutes of that booke And they turned not aside from the Lorde God of their fathers so long as he liued The Lorde God therfore deferred hys plague y t he had threatned to Iuda suffered Iosias to liue in much honour and brought hym to hys graue in peace so that hys eyes dyd not see the mischiefe that the Lorde God afterward brought immediatly vppon Ierusalem and vppon the inhabitors of the same Kinges shall bee thy nursing fathers and Queenes shall be thy nursing mothers That they ought to punishe yea and if they will not turne to kill the preachers and maintainers of false doctrine ☞ Probations out of the holy Scriptures If there rise among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreames and geue thee a signe or wonder that signe or wonder which hee hath said come to passe and then say let vs go after straunge Gods which thou hast not knowen and let vs serue them harken not thou vnto the wordes of that prophet or dreamer of dreames For the Lorde thy God proueth you to know whether you loue the Lorde your God with all your hart with all your soule Ye shall walke after y ◠Lorde your God and feare hym and kepe his commaundement and harken vnto his voyce serue hym cleaue vnto hym And that prophet or dreamer of dreames shall die because he hath spoken to turne you away from the Lord
vp thy voice like a trumpet shew my people their offeÌ„ces and y â— house of Iacob their sinnes I haue set watchmen vpon thy walles O Ierusalem which shall neuer cease day nor night to preach the Lorde Behold I put my wordes in thy mouth behold this day do I set thee ouer y â— people and kingdomes that thou mayest roote out breake of destroy make waste and that thou mayest build vp and plant Thou sonne of maÌ„ I haue made thee a watchman vnto the house of Israell therfore take good heede to the wordes of my mouth and geue them warning at my commaundement If I say vnto thee coÌ„cerning the vngodly man that without doubt he must die and thou geuest him not warning nor speakest vnto hym y â— he may turne from hys euill way so to liue then shall the same vngodly man die in hys own vnrighteousnes but his bloud will I require of thy hand Neuertheles if thou geue waâ—ning vnto the wicked and he yet forsake not hys vngodlines then shall he die in hys own wickednes but thou hast discharged thy soule If thou louest me fede my shepe Woe vnto me if I preach not the Gospell We preach not our selues but Iesus Christ our Lord. We are not as the most part are which chop and chaunge with the word of God but out of purenes and by the power of God in y â— sight of God so speake we in Christ. Though we our selues or an angell from heauen preach any other Gospell vnto you then that which we haue preached vnto you let him be accursed A Bishop must be apt to teach Geue attendance to reading to exhortation to doctrine Preach thou y â— word be â—eruent in season out of season improue rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine ¶ Of life and conuersation God sayd to the vngodly Why doost thou preach my lawes takest my testament in thy mouth Seing thou hatest to be reformed hast cast my words behind thee When as y â— sawest a theefe thou coÌ„sentedst vnto him and hast bene partaker with the adulterers Who soeuer doth and teacheth the same shall be called great in the kingdome of heauen Be vnto them that beleue an ensample in worde in coÌ„uersation in loue in spirite in fayth in purenes Keepe thy selfe pure Studie to shew thy selfe laudable vnto God a workmaÌ„ that needeth not to be ashamed distributing the word of truth iustly In all thinges shew thy selfe an ensample of good workes in y â— doctrine with honestie grauitie and with the wholesome worde which can not be rebuked that he which withstandeth may be ashamed hauing no euill thing to say of you Feede ye Christes flocke as much as lieth in you taking y e ouersight of them not as coÌ„pelled therto but willingly not for y e desire of filthy luker but of a good minde not as though ye were Lordes ouer y e parishes but that ye be an ensample to the flocke And when y e chief shepeheard shall appeare ye shal receaue an incorruptible crowne of glory ¶ Of Hospitalitie Distribute vnto y â— necessitie of the Sainctes Be ready to harbour A Bishop must be a maintayner of hospitalitie Forget not hospitalitie for therby haue diuers meÌ„ lodged Angels vnwares ¶ The dutie of Parishioners vnto the Ministers of Gods worde THe dutie of Parishioners vnto the Ministers of Gods worde is outwardly to honour and reuerence them to receaue them as the Angels Ambassadors of God to regard theÌ„ as the ministers and stewardes of Gods misteries liberally to geue vnto theÌ„ what soeuer is necessary for the mainteinaunce of their degree and estate that they may quietly geue theyr mindes to y e studie of godly letters to prayer to the preaching of Gods worde and to the ministration of the Sacramentes ☞ Probations out of the holy Scriptures Feare y e Lord with all thy soule honour hys ministers Loue thy maker with all thy strength forsake not his ministers Honor God with all thy soule reuerence hys priestes Geue theÌ„ their porcion of the first fruites and encrease of the earth like as it is coÌ„maunded thee The priestes that rule well are worthy of double honour most specially they which labour in y e word and teaching For y e scripture saith Thou shalt not mosell the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne And the labourer is worthy of hys reward We besech you brethren that ye know them which labour among you haue the ouersight of you in the Lord and geue you exhortatioÌ„ that ye haue them in hie reputation through loue for theyr workes sake and be at peace with them Obey them that haue the ouersight of you and submit your selues vnto them for they watch for your soules euen as they that must geue accomptes that they may doe it with ioy and not with griefe In the priestes lippes should bee sure knowledge that meÌ„ may seke the law at hys mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hostes. Ye despised me not neyther did ye abhorre me but ye receaued me as an Angell of God yea euen as Christ Iesus For I beare you recorde that if it had bene possible ye would haue plucked out your own eyes and haue geuen theÌ„ vnto me He that receaueth you receaueth me and he that receaueth me receaueth hym that sent me He that heareth you heareth me he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth hym that sent me Let a man this wise esteeme vs euen as y e Ministers of Christ and stewardes of the misteries of God Bryng euery tith into my barne y t there may be meate in my house The workman is worthy of hys meate If the Gentiles be made partakers of their spirituall things their dutie is to minister vnto them in bodily thinges Who goeth a warfare at any time at his own cost who plaÌ„teth a vineyard eateth not of the fruite therof or who feedeth a flocke and eateth not of y t milke of the flocke For it is written in the law of Moses Thou shalt not mosell y e mouth of the Oxe y â— treadeth out the corne Doth God take thought for oxen Saith he it not all together for our sakes For our sakes no doubt thys is written that he which eareth should eare in hope and he which threasheth in hope should be partaker of hys hope If we sow vnto you spirituall thinges is it a great thing if we reape your bodily thinges Do ye not know how y t they which minister about holy things liâ—e of the Sacrifice They which waite of the temple are partakers of the temple Euen so also did the Lorde ordaine y t they which preach the Gospel should liue of y â— Gospel Let hym that is taught
that ye also haue a maister in heauen Neither is there any respect of persons with God ¶ The dutie of Seruauntes to their Maisters THe dutie of seruauntes to their maisters is willingly with a free courage to serue theÌ„ for conscience sake not with y â— eye but with the hart to obey theÌ„ to honour theÌ„ gently to answere theÌ„ not to picke or steale away their goods but to be faythfull vnto theÌ„ in all thinges ☞ Probations out of the holy Scriptures Ye seruantes obey theÌ„ y t are your bodily maisters with feare trembling eueÌ„ with y â— singlenes of your hart as vnto Christ not doing seruice vnto the eie as they y t go about to please men but as the seruantes of Christ doing the will of God froÌ„ the hart with good wil seruing the Lord not meÌ„ Knowing this that what soeuer good deede any man doth y â— same shall he receaue againe of God whether he be bond or free Let as many seruauntes as are vnder the yoke count their masters worthy of all honour that y â— name of God and his doctrine be not euill spoken of Exhort seruantes to be obedient vnto their owne maisters and to please them in all thinges not aunswering againe neither to be pickers but that they shewe all good faithfulnes that they may do worship to the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all thinges ¶ The dutie of Widowes THe dutie of true auncient widowes besides the looking to their own houshold prouisioÌ„ making for their liuing is to put their trust in God to geue theÌ„ selues to the exercise of y â— spirite to frequent the teÌ„ple to be present at y â— sermons to visite the sicke to relieue y â— nedy to be rich in good workes to coÌ„tinue in â—upplications praiers both day and night But as touching the youÌ„ger widowes least they should waxe wanton against Christ follow Sathan breakyng their fyrst fayth promise that they made to God at their baptisme which is to abstaine from all vncleannes both of body minde and to lead a pure and honest life so cast theÌ„ selues into dauÌ„ger of euerlasting damnation it is conuenient that they mary again bryng forth childreÌ„ guide their house vertuously and so liue in the holy estate of matrimonie that no man may haue occasion to speake euill of them ☞ Probations out of the holy Scriptures She that is a true widow and frendles putteth her trust in God and continueth in supplications and prayers day and night Iudith y t vertuous widow in the hier partes of her house made her self a priuie chaÌ„ber where she dwelt being closed in with her maides She ware a smocke of heare and fasted all y â— dayes of her life except the Sabbaothes new Moones and the solemne dayes y t the people of Israell kept She was a womaÌ„ of a very good report with euery one for she feared y â— Lorde greatly and there was no body that spake an euill worde of her The godly auncient widow Anna departed not from the temple but serued God with fastings and prayers night and day ¶ Of the younger widowes THe younger widowes refuse For wheÌ„ they haue begun to waxe waÌ„ton against Christ they wil mary hauing damnation because they haue cast away their fyrst fayth And also they learne to go froÌ„ house to house idle yea not idle only but also tatlers and busie bodies speaking things which are not comely I will therfore y t the younger women mary to beare children to guide the house geue none occasion to the aduersary to speake euill ¶ The dutie of olde men THe dutie of olde meÌ„ is to auoide all lightnes both in word dede couÌ„tenance to talke of wisedome graue matters to be sober sage discrete to lead a pure vndefiled life y t they may be an ensample of true godlines to y â— youÌ„ger folke ☞ Probations out of the holy Scriptures God hateth an olde body that doteth and is vnchaste Age is an honourable thyng neuertheles it standeth not onely in the length of time nor in the multitude of yeares but a mans wisedome is the gray heare and an vndefiled life is the olde age Exhort the elder men to be sober sage discrete sound in the fayth in loue in pacience ¶ The dutie of olde women THe dutie of olde womeÌ„ is as in age so in maners to be sober sage auncient to weare no light apparell but such rayment as become their age profession to be no tatlers but to order their tounges discretely to be no tauerne huÌ„ters nor geuen to drunckennes but to lead a sober life to prouoke no youÌ„g women vnto leâ—udnes and dishonestie but rather to shew theÌ„ selues liuely glasses naturall myrrours of all godlines and honestie ☞ Probations out of the holy Scriptures Exhort y â— elder women that they be in such raymeÌ„t as becoÌ„meth holines not being false accusers not geuen to much wine but that they teach honest thinges to make the younge women sober minded to loue their husbandes to loue theyr children to be discrete chaste huswifely good obedient to their husbandes that the worde of God bee not euill spoken of ¶ The dutie of younge folke THe dutie of younge folke is not to be proud but humble lowly and gentle gladly to heare the discrete talke of their elders and to be ordered by them not to be rash but sober minded in all their doinges ☞ Probations out of the holy Scriptures Ye youÌ„ger folke submit your selues vnto y â— elders submit your selues euery maÌ„ one to an other knit your selues together in lowlines of minde For God resisteth y e proude and geueth grace to the humble Thou young man keepe coÌ„pany with the multitude of such elders as haue vnderstanding consent vnto their wisedome with thine hart that thou mayest heare all godly sermons and that the worthy sentences escape thee not If y u be among meÌ„ of higher authoritie desire not to coÌ„pare thy self vnto theÌ„ and when an elder speaketh make not thou many wordes Exhort the younge meÌ„ that they be sober minded ¶ The dutie of all degrees and estates generally both toward God and their neighbour THe dutie of all degrees estates generally both toward God their neighbor is to beleue in God to feare God to kepe his coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes to loue god aboue al thinges our neighbor as our self to do none otherwise vnto other then we wish to be done vnto our selues ☞ Probations out of the holy He beleâ—â—â— God beleue also in me sayth Christ Fears God and keepe his commaundementes for that be loÌ„geth vnto all meâ—â— Thou shalt loue the Lorde thy God with â—ll thy hart with all thy soule and 〈◊〉 all thy mind Thys is the first 〈…〉 est commanndement And the second is like vnto it Thou shâ—â—