There is one Lord one faith one ba ptisme one god father of all whiche is aboue all thorow all in you all There is one god and one mediatour betwene god and man euen the man Christ Iesu which gaue him self a raâ—…nsome for all men There are three which beare record in heauen the father the worde the holy ghost And these thre are one Agaynst infidelitie or misbelief IF Satan at any tyme moueth thee vnto in fidelitie or misbelief either toward God or his woorde by no meanes leane vnto him vnt agaynst hys temptation enarme thy self with these holy scriptures Sentences out of the old Testament If ye do not beleue there shall no promise be kept with you Thy eyes O Lord loke vpon fayth The righteous shall lyue by fayth I will mary thee vnto me in faith â—… thou shalt know that I am the Lord. The wrath of y â— Lord came vpon I raell because they beleued not in god nor trusted not in his sauing health The Lorde doth appeare vnto them that hath fayth in him Wo be to the dissolute in hart that â—…eleue not god therefore shall they not be defended of him In all thy woorkes put thy trust in god from thy whole harte for that is the kepyng of the commaundements Who so beleueth gods worke taketh â—…ede to the commaundementes and he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall want nothyng Examples out of the olde Testament AbrahaÌ„ beleued god it was reckened vnto hym for righteousnesse Dauid beyng a younge man and of â—…itle stature thorow fayth in the name of the Lord of hoastes fought with that proude monstruous gyante Goâ—…iath the Philistine and slue him Sidrach Misach and Abdenago thorow faith chosed rather to be cast into a whote burnyng fornace then at the kyngs commaundement to coÌ„mit Ido latry and to worship straunge gods Daniel thorowe faith wished rather to be cast quicke into the denne of Lyons then by the space of thyrty dayes not to pray vnto the Lord his god according to the kings commaundemeÌ„t ☞ Sentences out of the new Testament He that beleueth is baptised shal be saued But he that beleueth not shal be condempned As many as receaued christ he gaue them power to be the sonnes of god in that they beleue on his name As Moses lifted vp the serpent in the wildernes so must the sonne of maÌ„ be lyfted vp y e so many as beleue in him may not perishe but haue euerlastyng lyfe For god hath so dearely beloued the world that he gaue his onely begot ten sonne that euerye one that beleueth in him may not perishe but haue euerlastyng lyfe He that beleueth in y â— sonne of god is not condempned But he that beleueth not is already condempned because he hath not beleued in the name of the onely begotten sonne of god He that beleueth in the sonne hath euerlastyng lyfe but he that beleueth not in the sonne shall not see lyfe but the wrath of god abideth vpon him This is the wil of him that sent me that euerye one that seeth the sonne beleueth on hym should haue euerlastyng lyfe and I will rayse hym vp at the last day I am the resurrectioÌ„ and life he that beleueth in me although he wer dead yet shall he lyue and euery one that ly ueth and beleueth in me shall not dye euerlastyngly Ye beleue in god beleue also in me sayth Christ. Be iâ—… knoweÌ„ vnto you ye meÌ„ bre thren that thorow the name of Christ is preached vnto you y e forgeuenes of sinnes and that by him are all that beleue iustified from all thynges from the whiche ye could not be iustified by the law of Moses With fayth doth God purifie oure heartes The ryghteousnes that is alowed before god coÌ„meth by the faith of Iesu Christ vnto all vpon all that beleue We beyng iustified by fayth are at peace with god thorow our lord Iesu christ by whom we haue a way in tho row faith vnto this grace wherin we stand and reioyce in hope of the prayse that shal be geuen of god Christ is the perfect fulfillyng of the law to iustifie euery one y â— beleueth If y u wilt knowledge with thy mouth that Iesus is the lord and beleue with thy hart that God raiseth hym from death thou shalt be saued For the belief of the hart iustifieth and to knowledge with the mouth maketh a man safe For y e scripture saith who soeuer beleueth on him shall not be ashamed What soeuer is not of faith is sinne All ye are sonnes of god because ye haue beleued in Christ Iesu. In Christ Iesu neither is circuÌ„cision any thing worth nor vncircumcision but fayth whiche worketh by loue By grace are ye saued thorow fayth ye that not of your selues It is the gift of god commeth not of workes because no man should boast him selfe Aboue all thinges take vnto you the shielde of fayth wherby ye may be able to queÌ„ch al the fire dartes of the deuil Without fayth it is not possible to please god For he that commeth vnto god must beleue that God is and that he is a rewarder to theÌ„ that seke him Be ye sover and watch for your aduersary the deuil goeth about like a ro aryng Lyon seking whom he may deuour whom see that ye resiste with a strong fayth This is the victory whiche ouercom meth the world euen our fayth ☞ Examples out of the new Testament The woman that was diseased by the space of 12. yeares of the bloudy issue thorow fayth was made whole The woman of Canane thorowe faith obtayned of Christ health for her daughter The father of the childe possessed w t a deuill from his childhoode obtayned of Christ thorowe fayth perfect health for his sonne Bartimeus the blynd man thorow fayth recouered his sight A certayne sinfull woman thorowe fayth obtayned of Christ forgeuenesse of all her sinnes The Apostles of Christ thorow faith notwithstaÌ„ding y â— hye priests coÌ„mauÌ„dment continued in the preachyng of Christes gospel and both pacieÌ„tly ioy fully thaÌ„kefully suffered al kinds of displeasure for y â— name of y â— Lord Iesu. Rede y e. 11. chap. of the Epistle vnto the Hebrues where thou shalt fynd pleÌ„ty of examples concernyng this matter Agaynst the heresie of such as deny Iesu Christ to be God IF Satan at any time moueth thee to doubt of the godhead of Christ as though he were onely man not God a creature or a thing made and not the creator and maker of all thynges enarme thy selfe agaynste hym with these scriptures ☞ Sentences out of the old Testament VNto vs a childe is borne and vnto vs a sonne is geuen vppon hys shoulder doth the kingdome ly and he is
this my poore gifte in good part And I shall moste humbly beseeche the Lorde our God to preserue my Lords grace and my Ladyes grace your honourable parentes in good health longe life and encrease of honoure and to geue my Lordes youre Brothers and my Ladies youre Sisters and you also grace to go forth in your godly enterprises and Christen studies that ye may tru ly know the Lord your God the saluation whiche ye haue by his soÌ„ne Iesus our alone Sauiour who euer preserue your good Ladyship in coÌ„tinuall helth and prosperous felicitie Amen THE GOVERNANCE of Vertue ¶ How a man should behaue him selfe in the morning when he riseth When thou risest in the morning looke that thou with all humblenesse of mynde knelest downe and lifting vp thy harte thy handes and thine eyes into heauen vnto God the father almighty pray on this maner ¶ A prayer for the morning O Lord God my heaueÌ„ly father I most humbly thanke thee y â— thou of thy fatherly goodnes hast vouchsafed to defend me this night from all euil I most entyrely beseche thee to preserue me also this day both from suffring and doyng any euill and to geue me grace so to walke in the lyght of thy holy woorde that I may bring forth y e frutes of y â— same vnto the glorye of thy blessed name and the profite of my neighbour Amen ¶ After thou hast prayed on this maner seing we be al sinners it shall be expedient if thou hast conuenient leasure to confesse thy selfe to God on this maner ¶ A confession of our sinnes vnto God the father MOst greuouslye haue I wretched sinner offeÌ„ded thee my Lord God and heauenly father both in thought word and dede in so much that in my selfe I uÌ„nde such vnworthines that if I did not behold thine exceding great mercies set forth in thy dearely beloued sonne our Lord and sauiour Iesu Christ I could not but dispayre and wholy geue my selfe into the hands of Satan that olde enemy of mankynd But when thorow thy grace and holy workyng I loke vpon thy mercies offered frely to all faythfull peniteÌ„t sinners in thy son Christ Iesus for whose sake thou art well pleased with man and of thy own good will forgeuest vs al our sinnes wheÌ„ soeuer we flee vnto thee in his name I cease to dispayre beginne to conceiue an earneste faithe and an vndoubted hope of obtaynyng forgeuenesse of al my sins in Christes bloud for thy louing and fatherly promise sake I therfore poore and wretched sinner most humbly beseche thee for Christes sake to forgeue me al my sinnes where with from the day of my byrth vnto this present tyme I haue most greuously offended thy fatherly goodnesse and to geue me grace so to resiste the deuill the world the flesh â–ª and so to order my lyfe accordyng to thy blessed will that thou mayest delight in me as a father in his sonne de fend me froÌ„ all euill and worke in me all good thinges vnto the glory of thy holy name ☞ After the confession say the Lordes prayer called the Pater noster and so commendyng thy selfe vnto God faule in hand with some honest and vertuous exercise accordyng to thy callyng But whatsoeuer thou doest do it with purenesse of hart singlenes of eye â–ª yea so do it as though God wer present and looke vpon thee as vndoubtedly he doth Of Dinner ☞ WheÌ„ the time coÌ„meth that thou shouldest refresh thy wery and hongry body approch vnto the table with reuerence and when thou art set lyft vp thy hart thy hands and thy eyes vnto heauen and pray vnto God on this maner A prayer before dinner O Most gentill God and louyng father whiche mercifully â—…edest al ly uing creatures we beseche thee blesse vs and all these thy giftes whiche we at this present shall receyue of thy beuÌ„ teous hande for the refreshyng of our hungry bodies and geue vs grace to doo all thynges vnto the glorye of thy name thorowe Iesu Christ our Lord. Amen Of the behauiour at the table in Diner tyme. ☞ WheÌ„ thou hast thus prayed vnto god eate thy meate soberly and christenly esche wyng all superfluitie surfeting and drouckenship Consider that thy meate and thy drinck are the giftes of God are reuerently thanke fully to bee receyued â–ª Remember that in the tyme of thy repast thy behauiour be honest comely in all thinges Let thy communica tion as the Apostle sayth ve well sauoured and powdred with â—…t that is to say seasoned with godly wisedome that thou mayest know how to answere euery man Let no fil thy talke procede out of thy mouth but that whiche is good to edifie when neede is that it may haue fauor with the hearers remem bring that thou shalte geue accountes at the day of iudgement for euery idle worde that thou speakest Eschewe all dissolute and vncomely laughyng least thou be therby counted wilde waâ—…ton foolishe without good maners Let thy couÌ„tenauÌ„ce he graue sober modest gentle and â—…ouyng towarde al that be at the table and so fashion thy selfe in gesture worde and deede as though God and his aungels weâ—… visibly present at the table And when Dinner is done geue thankes to God for his benefites on this maner A thankes geuyng after Dinner WE thanke thee O heauenly father for this our foode which being saÌ„ctifâ—…ed by thy worde thou hast vouchesafe at this present to geue vs wee beseche thee that thou wilt also fede our soules w t the liuely bread of the word which commeth out of thy mouth that we receauyng at thy mercâ—…full hande meate both for our bodyes and soules â–ª may lyue and growe in all godlynesse vnto the glory of thy blessed name tho row Iesu Christ our Lord. Amen VVhat is to be done after dynner ☞ After thou hast geuen thankes vnto God for thy repast â–ª returne vnto thy labour vertuously exercise thy self accordyng to thy voca tion and callyng Employ earnest diligence about thy businesse and alway in thy minde desire God to blesse to prosper and to bryng to passe all thy counsels deuises trauailes labours and enterprises Do not thy worke negligently and deceitfully but so laboure as thoughe God were present and beheld thee as vnfaynedly he doth Cursed be he sayth Hiere mye that doth the Lordes worke deceitfully Saint Paule also exhorteth that what soeuer we doo we should do it hartly as though we did in vnto the Lorde and not vnto men for as much sayth he â–ª as ye know that of the Lord ye shall receyue the rewarde of inheritaunce for ye serue the Lord Christ. Yea verely so many as labour or trauayle in any vertuous enterprise they serue God and of God shal they receiue their rewarde Therfore in thy calling labour earnestly and diligently what soeuer thou be sekyng not onely thyne owne lucre â—…uaunt age but much more the glory of God and the profite of thy neighbour as the
Watch and praye that ye fall not into temptation Let your loines be gird about and your lightes be burning and your selues like men that waite for their maister when he will returne from the weddings that as foone as he commeth and knocketh they may open vnto him Blessed are those seruauntes whome the Lorde whan he commeth shall find waking Take hede watch pray for ye knowe not whan the time is As a man which is gone into a strange country and hath left his house and geuen his substance to his seruaunts and to euery man his worke and commaunded the porter to watche Watch ye therfore for ye know not when the mayster of the house will come at eueÌ„ or at midnight whether at the cockecrow ing or in the dawning lest if that he come sodenly he find you sleping and that I say vnto you I say vnto all watch Take heede to your selues least your hartes be greued with surâ—…eting and dron kennes and cares of the worlde and that daye come sodenly on you For as a snare shall it come on all them that sit on the face of the earth It is euen now hye time that we wâ—…ke out of sleepe Beholde nowe is the accepted time now is the day of health The day of the Lord shall come euen aâ—… a thefe in the night When they shall saye peace and no danger then commeth there on them soden destruction as the trauayling of a woman with child they shall not escape Let vs not sleepe as other doo but let vs watch and be sober The Lord is at hand Be patient and settle your hartes for the comming of the Lord draweth nigh Behold the iudge slaÌ„deth before the dore Be sober and watche for your aduersary the deuil walketh aboute like a roaring lion seeking whom he may deuour whome resist being stedfast in fayth The daye of the Lorde shall come as a theefe in the night Litle children eueÌ„ now is the last time Yet a little while he that shal come wil come and will not tary If thou shalt not watch I wil come on 〈◊〉 as a theefe and thou shalt not know what hour I will come vpoÌ„ thee Behold I come shortly Hold that which thou hast that no man take away thy crowne Beholde I stande at the dore to knock yf any man heare my voyce and open the doore I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me The time is at hand He that doth enâ—… let him do euil stil. And he which is filthy let him be filthy stil. And he that is righteous let him be more righteous And he that is holy let him be more holy And because I come shortly and my reward with me to geue euery man accordinge as his deedes shal be Examples out of the newe Testament That seruaunt that diligeÌ„tly watcheth at all hours for his masters coÌ„ming doth in the meane season such things as his ma ster hath appoynted him is blessed for he shall enter into his masters ioye But the seruaunt that liueth without care is idle watceth not loketh not diligently vpoÌ„ his office thinketh not of his masters coÌ„ming smiteth his fellowes eateth and drinketh with the dronken that seruant I say shall haue his part with Hipocrites and shal be cast into vtter darknes where wepinge and gnashing of teeth shal be The 5. wise virgines prepared both lampes and oyle tarriing and watching for the comming of the bridgrome There fore when he came they being in a redines went in with him vnto the wedding But the fiue folishe Uergines slumbred and slepte so that when the bridegrome came they were vnprepared and hadde no oyle in theyr lampes and therfore were they shutte out of the dores and entred not into the mariage Let vs therfore watche for we know neither the daye nor the howre when the sonne of man shall come Against the slacknes of doyng good workes IF that futtle Sathan by his crafty persuasions woulde at any time make thee beleue that thou art so thorowly iustified by faith alone and so perfectly saned by Christe onelye that thou nedesâ—… not do any good workes nor yet bring forth the frutes of faith according to thy profession but liue as thou lust and do what thou wilt so at the full art thou saued thorow faith in Christe take hedâ—… thou be not deceiued with this painted visar but rather to the vtteriâ—…ost of thy power labour to coÌ„ firme thy faith with the plenteous doynge of good workes workyng thinc owne saluation as blessed Paule saith with feare and trembling And that thou maiest be the better encouraged so to do set these sentences and examplee of the holy scripturs euer before the eies of thy minde Examples out of the olde Testament I am the almightye God walke before me and be perfect Kepe the commaundementes of the lord thy God and his witnesses and his couenauntes which he hath commaunded thee and do thou that which is acceptable and good in the sighte of the Lorde that thou mayest prosper Now Israel what doth the lord thy god require of thee but to feare the Lorde thy God and to walke in all his wayes to loue him and to serue the Lorde thy God with all thyne harte and withal thy soul namely that thou kepe the commaundementes of the lorde and hys ordinaunces that thou maiest doe wel and prosper The faithful man is like a tree planted by the water side that will bring forth his fruite in due season Thou hatest althem O Lord that work iniquity Lord who shall dwel in thy tabernacle who shall rest vpon thy holy hill Euen he that leadeth an vncorrupt life worketh righteousnesse c. ¶ Reade the whole Psalme Departe from euill and do good Put thou thy truste in the Lord and be thou doing good Cease to do euil learne to do good Seke to do right deliuer the oppressed helpe the fatherlesse to his right defend the widow Breake thy bread to the hungry the nedy and the wayfaring man lead thou into thy house Whan thou seest a naked man couer him and hide not thy face from thy neighbour c. Examples out of the olde Testament Nohe was perfect and iust in his generations and walked with god loued god that is to say beleued in god leued god feared god soughte the glory of god and framed his life according to the wil of god being plenteous in al good and godly workes therfore God preserued him and his when he droâ—…ned all suche as were wicked persons and doers of no good workes Abraham was obedient to the wil of god and walked after his holye commaundements euer doing good works god therfore meruelously blessed hym made him the father of many nations and promised him that in his seede all kinreds shoulds be blessed God saw the workes of
¶ The Gouernaunce of Uertue teaching all faythful christiaÌ„s how they oughte daily to leade their lyfe fruitfully to spend their time vnto the glorye of God the health of their owne soules Newlye corrected augmeÌ„ted by Thomas Becon 1566 ¶ Imprinted at London by Iohn Day ⧠CVM PRIVILEGIO Regie Maiestatis THOMAS BECONVS SACROSAÌ„CTAE THEOLOGIAE PROFESSOR AETATIS SVAE 41 AN o. DNÌ„I 1553. Ora expressa vides viuos immitantia vultus Quod potuit calamo pictor arte vides Mentis quam Nullus potuit tibi redere pictor Effigiem scriptis prebuit ipse suis To the Godly Reader GRace groweth after gouernaunce Is an olde saide saw in eche place If gouernaunce hath good resemblance Grace delighteth to folow the trace Grace glorieth in godly gouernance Grace hasteth â—…o her haule and palace Grace doth godly gouernaunce auaunce And cause it to excel in eche place Where gouernaunce is godly wise Sage Sober Honest and Prudent There doth grace gloriously deuise To haue her seate aye permanent But if gouernaunce be wicked Idle wanton vndiscrete and vaine Grace whiche is godly disposed With such gouernaunce can not remaine This boke shall thee instruct therfore Thy life vertuously to leave That grace with thee may euermore Remaine as Gods moste blessed seede To fight against Sathan and sinnes To represse errours and heresies To pray to God his grace to winne In this boke to learne thou maiest deuise Take thou it therfore in good part As a ioyful Iewel for thy welth And geue God thankes withall thy hart Which by his worde worketh thy helth As for my trauaile and paine I craue none other recompence But thy life vertuously to traine That thou maiest enioy gods presence â–ª FINIS 3. Regum 1. If a man be vertuous ther shal not an heare of his fal to the ground But if wickednesse shal be found in him he shall dye for it Tobi. 4. Loue vertue all the dayes of thy life and walk not in the wayes of wickednes For while thou studiest for vertues thou shalt haue good successe in al thinges that thou goest about and so shall all they that loue goodnesse A Table to fynde the principall matters contayned in this booke AN exhortacion to the Reader The Epistle dedicatory How a man should be haue himself in the morning when he riseth A prayer in the morning A confession of our sinnes vnto God the father How thou shouldst behaue thy selfe before thou go to dinner A prayer before dinner Of the behauiour at the Table in dinner time A thankes geuinge after dinner What is to be done after dinner Of Supper A prayer before Supper Of the behauiour at the table in supper time A thankes geuing after supper Of going to bed A prayer to be sayd when we goe to bed A prayer to be sayd â–ª when thou art in bed Remedies against all kindes of temptacions Against Idolatry Against infidelity or misbeliefe Against the heresy of such as deny Iesus Christâ—… to be god Against the heresy of them which holde that Iesus Christe the sonne of God tooke no fleshe of Mary his Mother Againste the grosse and fantasticall opinion of the Papistes which affirm that Christes naturall body and bloud is carnally eaten and dronken in the Lords supper Against the plucking away of thy trust and confidence from Christ and his merites to put in the merites of other creatures or in thine own good workes or in the intercession of Saintes or in sacrifice of the popish Masse Against such as go about to diswadâ—… the christian people from the studiing reading or hearinge of Goddes woorde Against strange religion or newe found woorshipping of God Against mens traditions and vnwritten verities Against the folowing of vngodly forefathers Against the wicked olde customes longe vsages Againste suche as slaunder Christes gospell by cal linge it newe learninge Against pensiuenes and thought taking for the life Against hunger pouerty or carefulnes of liuing Against keping of euill company Against idlenes Against swearing Against lying slaundering â–ª and filthy or vncleane talke Against pride or vayneglory Against feasting glotony and dronkennes Against fornication and adultery Against couetousnes Against rebellion and disobedience Against malice grudge enuy hatred and anger Against the temptation of the faythfull in consideringe their owne miserye and contrarywise the wealth of the wicked Against the most horrible and dampnable sinne the sinne against the holy Ghost Against the despising of gods word and of the plagues that folow the same Against carnall security and fleshly liuing without the feare of God Against the flacknes of doing good workes Against the troublous tempestes of sicknes of losse of goods or any other kind of aduersity Against the temptation of the Deuill for noâ—…t satis fieng the lawe of God and for thy sinfull liuing â–ª Against desperation for thy late conuersion and tur ning vnto God Against sinne death and helâ—… To the right honorable and moste vertuous young Lady Iane Semer daughter to the highe and mightie Prince Edward Duke of Somerset his grace Thomas Becon wisheth increase of godlye knowledge in Christe Iesu our Lord. THere are no Parents most godlye Ladye that deserue better of the Christen publique weale then they whiche thorow gods gift hauing Children employ all their endeuours to traine them vp euen from theire verye cradels in good letters in the knowledge of gods moste blessed wil that with their young yeres learning vertue and godlines may grow and encrease and the younglinges by this meanes be made at the last auncient and perfect schollers in the mistery of Christes schole This careful study and studyous care for the vertuous bringing vp of youth god in time paste earnestlye required of all Fathers and Mothers in the common weale of hys people the Israelites and according to gods holy commaundement suche as vnfainedlye feared the Lorde their God and wished wel to their countrey refused no laboure no paine nor cost that their children might be made profitable members of the publique weale As I may pas ouer the auncient and holye Patriarches whiche were before the law of Moyses of whose diligeÌ„ce in the vertuous bringing vp of their yonglinges it is more than double wickednesse to doubt seing we haue this euident testimony of Abraham euen of gods own mouth Shall I hide froÌ„ Abraham saith god that thinge which I entend to do Seing that Araham shal be a great and a mighâ—…ye people and all the nations of the earth shal be blessed in him I know this also that he wil commaund his Children and his housholde after him that they keepe the way of the Lorde and do after righte and conscience What earnest diligence did the moste noble and vertuous King Dauid shew in the godly bringing vp of his Children speciallye of Salomon that he might become a Prince worthye both for his godlynes learning wisedome and pollicye to rule in the common weale after him What godly
instructions also gaue he him when he was at the point of deathe Beholde saieth he I muste walk by the way of all the worlde neuerthelesse be strong and quite thy sel◅ manfully and se thou kepe the appointment of the Lorde thy god that y ◠walke in his wayes ▪ and kepe his commaundement ordinaunces lawes and testimonies as it is written in the law of Moyses c. Likewise rede we of the auncient Father Toby which taught his young Sonne Toby to f◅are god from his infancye and to abstaine from all sinne His exhortations are to godly and so meete for all persons to learne that I think it not conuenient to passe them ouer with silence His wordes are these Herken my Sonne what I wil say and lay my wordes in thy harte as a foundation My Sonne when I am dead bury me and after despise not thy Mother but honoure her all the dayes of her lyfe and do to please her and not to displease her My Sonne remember howe greate perill she suffered bearing thee in her wombe and when she is deade bury her in the same graue by me Sonne reuerēce our Lord God at all times sinne not nor break not his commaundements ▪ but loue vertue all the dates of thy life and walk not in the waies of wickednes For while thou studiest for vertue thou shalt haue good successe in all thinges that thou goest aboute and so shall all they that loue goodnes Do almes of thy substance and be no ◅igard in doing of it Turne not thy face awaye from any poort man as thou wouldest that God should not turne away his face from thee Geue as thou shalt be able if y ◠haue much geue much and if thou haue little geue of that little For thou shalt lay vp for thee a good treasure against the daye of necessitie For almes deliuereth from death and suffreth not the soule to come into darknes Alms is a great comfort before the highest to all that vse it My Sonne beware kepe thee from all whordom and vse no euil company besides thy wife Suffer pride neuer to ryse in thy minde no not in word for death is ioyned to pride and muche trouble and to hautines is ioyned displeasure and great pouertye and she is mother of honger Let no mans hire remaine with thee whose seruice thou hast had but forthewith pay his wages for vnto thee also seruing God reward shal be geuen Sonne be circumfpect and ware in all thy deedes and in all that thou doost while thou liuest be wise and do not to any man that thou wouldest not to be done vnto thee Drink not wine vntil thou be drōk nor cary it not with thee by the way geue thy bred to the hungry and with thy clothes couer the naked What soeuer thou hast more then is sufficient geue it to the poore and neuer grudg to be liberall set thy bread vpon the Sepulcres of the iuste ▪ and bestow it not vpon the noughty Aske councel alwayes of the wise and despise no good councel Be alwayes praying vnto the Lord and beseeche hym that he willorder thy footesteppes and wayes and prosper thy deuises for no people are wise but the Lord him selfe is the geuer of all good thinges and thrusteth down whome and who hee listeth My Sonne be not afrayde we leade a poore life in this world notwithstanding if thou feare god and studye to please him thou shalt haue goodes inoughe Therefore my sonne remember my preceptes and put them not out of thy minde Againe being redye to dye he called vnto him his sonne and his sonnes Children and among all other things he spake vnto him on this wise kepe thou the law and cōm◅un dements and shew thy selfe merciful and iust that thou mayest prosper Haue god euer in thy remembrance and praise him at all times w t all thy might In like maner reade we of the Parentes of that most godly and chast woman Susanna whiche be ing righteous thē selues taught their yong daugh ter to feare the Lord her god euen from her verye cradle and diligently brought her vp according to the law of Moyses Luke also in his boke of the Apostles maketh mē cion of the foure daughters of Phillip the euangelist whiche did Prophecy that is to saye were so godly brought vp in the knowledge of gods moste blessed lawe that they were able to declare and expounde the holy Scriptures and misteries of God according to this prophecy I wil poure out of my spirit vpon all flesh and your sonnes your daugh ters shall prophecye Dooth not blessed Paule also commende Timothe because he had knowen the holy scriptures euen of a childe Diuers histories mo mighte be alledged out of the holy Scriptures to declare the carefull studies and earnest labours which the holyfathers in time past tooke for the godly and vertuous bringing vp of theyr younglinges that they mighte be fathers not onely of the bodye but also of the minde and for theyr power satisfy the good will of God which re quireth of all parents an earnest diligence a watching ye in bringing vp theyr children in his nou◅ ture and feare in his word and doctrine but these for this present may seme aboundauntlye to suffice Furthermore as touchinge the heathen whiche of them all euen from the lowest both amongest the Romaines and the Greekes with diuers other na tions although hauing respecte not vnto the glorye of God wherunto the end of all studies oughte to be directed but only vnto the auauncement of thēselues vnto the maintenaunce of good politique ciuill and honest orders vnto the hability of rulinge in a comom weal vnto the polishing of their wit vn to eloquence vnto immortality of their name Enforced not both them selues to bee learned but also soughte all meanes possible to haue their children brought vp in good letters That their yonglings might become learned what paynes or costes refu sed the parentes They sente theyr children from country to country from one learned man to an other Many of them called learned men home vnto theyr houses gaue them honorable intertainmente great giftes and large stipendes for teaching theyr children There was no burthen to heauy no laboure to paineful no cost to charge able for them so that theyr children might proue learned If they obtayned that they thoughte themselues worthye and righteous parents and to deserue well both of theyr children and of the publike weale And as euery one of them excelled in worthines and auctority so laboured they that both themselues their children should excell and passe the baser sort in lear ninge iin knowledge in vertue honest behauiour in so much that if any wer vnlearned and wanted the godlye qualities of the minde albeit he wer of an honourable parentage he was counted of no re putation called a stone a blocke a beast a golden slaue a sheepe with a golden Flcese an horse trapped with
Apostlesayth do all thyngs vnto the glory of God Agayne let euery man looke not for his owne profite but for the profite of other Charitie seketh not her owne Of Supper ☞ When the tyme is come â–ª that thou shalte leaue of thy worke and prepare thy selfe vnto supper eueÌ„ with the same reuerence that thou camest vnto the table at dinner come agayne nowe but before thou doest taste any meate pray on this maner A prayer before Supper THe eyes of all thynges looke vnto thee O Lorde and thou geuest theÌ„ meate in due tyme thou openest thy hand and fillest euery liuyng creature with the blessing vouchesafe O heaueÌ„ ly father for Christes sake mercifully to loke vpon vs louingly to blesse vs liberally to geue vs grace so to taste of these thy creatures that our bodyes beyng satisfied with the moderate vse of them we may bee the more able to serue thee our Lord God and to profit our neighbour thorow Iesu Christ our Lord. Amen Of the behauiour at the table in Supper tyme. ☞ After thou hast thus prayed vnto GOD â–ª eate thy meate with a chearefull and thankefull mynde vsing the same modesty and honest behauiour that thou diddest vse at dinner And wheÌ„ thou hast supped geue thankes vnto god for his benefites on this wise A thankesgeuing after Supper FOr these thy benefites wherewith thou hast refreshed our hungry bodyes we thanke thee most merciful fa ther desiring thee that thou wilt also feede our soules with y â— lyuely faith in the bloud of thy sonne Iesu Christ our Lord that we beleuyng stedfastly and working diligently thy holy wil may obtayne thy glorious kyngdome thorowe the same Iesu Christ our Lorde Amen VVhat to be done after Supper ☞ When thou hast on this wise geue thaÌ„kes vnto God thou mayest do what thou wilt so it be godly and honest â–ª vntill thou goest to bed â–ª If thou canst rede rede thou thy selfe or els here some other rede parte of the holy scriptures that may be to the comfort of thy self and of so many as be with thee or passe the tyme by frendly and honest talke with some of thy loâ—…yng and trusty familiares or els debate with thy selfe how thou mayest most conueniently bryng that to passe that thou hast to doo the next day folowyng Of goyng to bed ☞ And wheÌ„ the time coÌ„meth that thou must go to bed thou beyng in thy chamber to cal remeÌ„brauÌ„ce how thou hast spent the day past If thou perceiuest that y u hast offeÌ„ded God in any thyng at all confesse thy fault vnto him with a repentaunt and sorowfull heart â–ª and desire hym of hys great mercye for Christes sake to forgeue thee and promise that vnto the vttermost of thy power hys grace woorkyng with thee thou wilt amende that wherin thou hast offended and walke more diligently in the rules of thy profession Cry with the Publicane O God be mercifull to me a sinner Cry with that lost sonne Father I haue synned against heauen and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy sonne Pray with Dauid for thy names sake O Lorde for geue me my sinne for it is excedyng much Thus with a faythfull hart beleuyng that thy sinnes are for geuen thee content thy selfe and quiet thy conscience If thou perceyuest that thou hast that day committed no notable crime â–ª then geue to God right harty thankes whiche by his holy spirite hath wrought the same in thee and desire him to encrease his giftes in thee that hys glory may be shewed in all thy actes dedes This done prepare thy selfe to bedward and when thou art ready to lye down lift vp thou hart thy eyes and thy handes vnto heauen pray to God on this maner A prayer to be sayd when we go to bed I ThaÌ„ke thee O heauenly father by thy dearelye beloued Sonne Iesu Christ our Lord and Sauiour that of thy free mercy thou hast preserued me this day from all hurtes and dauÌ„gers Uouchesafe also I most humbly besech thee to kepe me this night and to saue me ftom all myne enemyes both bodely and ghostlye Gyue to my body quietnesse and fleepe but let my mind continually watche vnto thee thinke on thee and on thy holy law that wheÌ„ the cherefull light of y â— day shal spryng and appeare I being whole both in bo dy and mynde may ioyfull ryse again be thanckefull vnto thee and diligent ly walke in my vocation vnto the glo ry of thy blessed name and the commo ditie of my neighbour thorowe Iesus Christ thy sonne Amen ☞ When thou hast thus prayed lye down in thy bed and say on this maner The Prayer O Lorde God and my heauenly Father I commende my bodye and soule into thy handes that in Christe whiche is our life and resurrectioÌ„ thou mayest defende me from euerlastyng death and giue me that blessed and ioy full lyfe of immortalitie and that he which is the true light may poure out the brightenesse of hys grace into my hart preserne me both bodye soule vnto that day of the glorious resurrection where the faythfull with ioyfull harts shall see thee face to face and for euer reygne with thee in glory Amen ☞ Remedyes agaynst all kyndes of temptations Against Idolatry ☞ If that olde enemy Satan goeth about to persuade thee that there be â—…o gods then one resiste him with these Scriptures ☞ Sentences out of the olde Testament I am the Lord thy God Thou shalâ—… haue none other gods in my sight Understand and marke wel that the Lord he is God in heauen aboue and vpon the earth beneath neither is ther any other God besides him Here Israel the Lord our god is one Lord. Se howe that I yea that I am the Lord and that there is no god but I. Heare O my people I will charge thee O Israell that if thou wilt herâ—…en vnto me there shall no straunge god be in thee neither shalt thou worship any other god For I am the Lord thy God I am the lord there is none other I am the Lord there is els none It is I that created light and darknes I make peace and trouble yea euen I the Lord do all these thynges Am not I the Lord is there any god but I A god that is righteous such one as saueth ther is none besides me Turne vnto me all ye coastes of the worlde and ye shal be saued for I am God and there is els none Haue we not all one Father hath not one god made vs ☞ An example out of the old Testament AbrahaÌ„ saw three worshipped one ☞ Sentences out of the newe Testament Thou shalte worshyp the Lord thy god and him onely shalt thou serue We haue but one god whiche is the Father of whom are all thinges and â—…e in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are al thinges we in him
riche in mercy thorow his great loue wherewith he loued vs euen when we were dead in sin hath quic kened vs to gether in Christ for by grace are ye saued and hath raysed vs vp together and made vs sit together in heauenly thinges thorow Christ Iesus By grace are ye made safe thorow faith and that not of your selues For it is the gift of God and commeth not of works least any man should boast himself We were straungers and farre of but nowe we are made nigh by thy bloude of Christe Christ is our peace By Christ Iesu our Lord are we bound to draw nighe in the trust which we haue by fayth on him Christ is ascended vp on high and hath led captiuity captiue and hath geueÌ„ gifts vnto men In Christ haue we redemption thorow his bloude that is to saye forgeuenes of sinnes By Christ thorowe the bloude of hyscrosse are all things reconciled to God the father and set at peace both in heauen and in earth This is a true saying and by all means worthy to be receiued that Christe Iesus came into this world to saue sinners There is one God and one Mediatour betwene God and man which is the man Christ Iesus which gaue himselfe a raunsome for all men God hath not saued vs for the dedes of rightousnes which we haue wrought but of his mercy hath he saued vs. We are not redemed with corruptible siluer and gold from our vayne conuer sation which we receiued by the tradicions of the fathers but by the precious bloud of Christ as of a Lambe vndefiled and without spotte Christe is the shephearde and bishop of our soules The bloud of Iesus Christ Gods soÌ„ne maketh vs cleane from all sinne If any maÌ„ sinne we haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ that ryghteous one and he is a mercye stocke for our sinnes not for our sinnes onely but also for the sinnes of all the world Our sinnes are forgeuen vs in y e name of Christ. For thys purpose appeared the sonne of God to loose the workes of the deuill In thys appeareth the loue of God towardes vs because that God sent his onely begotten Sonne into the worlde that we myght liue thorowe him Herein is loue not that we loue God but that he loued vs and sent his sonne to be a sacrifice for our sinnes Christ in hys owne person hath purged our sinnes Christ thorow death put down him that had rule ouer death that is to say the deuill and hath made vs free from the daunger of bondage In that Christ himself suffred and was tempted he is able to succor them that are tempted We haue not an high priest which can not haue compassion on oure infyrmities but was in all poyntes tempted lyke as we are but yet without sinne Let vs therefore goe boldelye vnto the seate of grace that we may receaue mercye and fynde grace to helpe in tyme of neede Christ hath an euerlasting priesthoode Wherefore he is able also euer to saue them that come vnto God by hym forasmuch as he euer liueth to make intercession for vs. Christ being Byshop of good thinges to come came by a greater and a more perfecte tabernacle not made wyth handes that is to saye not of thys manner buildyng neyther by the bloude of Goates and Calues but by hys owne bloude he entred in once for all into the holy place and founde eternall redemption For if the bloud of Oxen and Goates and the ashes of an Heyfer when it was sprinckled purifyed the vncleane as touchyng the purifyeng of the fleshe howe muche more shall the bloude of Christ which thorowe the eternall spirite offered himselfe without spotte to God purge your consciences from dead workes to serue the liuing god And for this cause is he the mediator toure of the newe Testamente that thorow death which chaunced for the redeÌ„tion of these transgressions that were in the first Testament they which were called might receiue the promise of eternall inheritaunce Christ now in the end of the world hath appeared once for al to put sinne to flight by the offering vp of him selfe We are sanctified by the offeringe of the body of Iesu Christ once for all With one offring hath Christ made perfect for euer them that are sanctifyed Christe loued vs and washed vs from our sinnes in hys owne bloud and made vs kings and priests vnto god his father Christe liueth for euermore and hath the keyes of hell and death Christ is Lord of Lordes and king of kings and they that are on his side are cal led and chosen and faithful ☞ Examples out of the new Testament Christ is that welbeloued Sonne of god for whose sake the heauenly father is well pleased with man Christ is that kyng which forgaue the seruaunt the ten thousande talentes that be oughte Christ is that moste louyng Samaritane which healed the wounded man that was halfe dead Christ is that tender shepeheard which fetched home vnto the shepefolde euen vpon hys shoulders the lost shepe Christ is that most gentle father which wyth so great ioy and with embracinge armes receiued home againe the lost son Against suche as go about to disswade the christen people from the studying readyng or hearing of gods worde IF Sathan or any of his impes goe about to disswade thee and to plucke thy minde from studying readyng or hearyng gods woorde that thou mayest walke in darkenes and neuer come to the knowledge of the truth least by this meanes thou shouldest be saued leane not vnto hym but enarm thy selfe against his wicked teÌ„ptations with these scriptures followyng ☞ Sentences out of the olde Testament THou shalte tell thy sonne at the same dai say because of that which the lord dyd for me wheÌ„ I departed out of Egipt Therfore shall it bee a signe vnto thee in thyne hand and a token of remembrance before thine eyes that the law of the lord may be in thy mouth how that the Lord broughte thee out of Egipt with a mightye hande Speake to the children of Israell and say vnto them that they make theÌ„ gardes vpon the quarters of their garmentes amongst all your posterities and put yellow râ—…handes vpon the gardes in y e quarters And the gardes shall serue you that ye may looke vppon them and remember all the commaundements of the lord and do them y â— ye order not your selues after the meanyng yf your owne harte nor go a whoryng after your owne eyes Therefore shall ye remeÌ„ber do all my coÌ„maun dements and be holy vnto your God Take heede to thy selfe now and kepe well thy soule that thou forgette not the thynges which thine eyes haue seene and that they depart not out of thy harte all the dayes of thy lyfe And thou shalte teach them thy children and thy childers children Heare O Israell the
of the world and yet suffer themselues still to be led with traditions as these for an example touch not tast not handle not c. Which all perish through the verye abuse after the commaundements and doctrins of men which thinges outwardly haue the similytude of wisdome by superstition and humblenes of minde c. Thapostles of Christ would not burden the christen congregations with new and superfluous tradicions but only charged them with such thinges as were necessary Sainct Paule in his Epistle vnto the Galathians inueieth against them which after they haue known god turne agayn vnto nedie and beggerlye ceremonyes traditions or ordinaunces obseruing dais monethes times and yeares Against the folowing of vngodly forefathers If thou through temptation of the Deuil or the â—…alse perswasions of Antichrists Prophets be mâ—… â—…ed at any time to doubt of the truth of gods word which the papistes at this daye cal seditious doctrine new learning and heresy because thy forefathers haue both beloued and done the contrary â–ª call these scriptures to thy remembraunce Sentences out of the olde Testament Folow not the multitude to do euill Doo not you these thinges that they haue done which were before you neither be ye defiled in them I am the Lord your God kepe my commaundements The Lord sent his prophets to his people saying returne from your vnrighteous wayes and keepe my preceptes and ceremonies according to all the lawe that I commaunded your fathers But they would not heare but became stifnecked euen as their forefathers were stifnecked whiche would not obey the Lord God Let them put their hope in God not forget the works of the Lord but seke after his commaundementes Let them not be like their forefathers whiche were a frowarde and a spitefull nation a nation that would neuer be true harted nor bear an vpright mind toward God Be not hard harted as your forefathers were saith the Lord whiche chyde and rebelled against me We haue sinned with oure forefathers we haue done vniustly and commited iniquitie Trust not in rulers nor in the sonnes of men in whome is no health For wheÌ„ theyr breath goeth away they return vn to their earth In y â— day shall al their thou â—…hts counsels deuises and imaginations come to naught I haue alway sayd vnto your forefathers synce I brought them out of the land of Egipt euen vnto thys daye heare my voice but they would not hear nor once bow their eare vnto it But euery one of them is gone astray in the frâ—… wardnes of his wicked harte ye the people of Iuda and the men of Ierusalem are also falleÌ„ vnto the wickednes of their fore fathers which would not hear my words Insomuch that thei ar alredy gone away after straunge Gods and serue them The house of Israel the house of Iuda haue brokeÌ„ y e couenaunt which I made w t their fathers Therfore thus saith the lord Beholde I wil bring in extreme punishments vpon theÌ„ so y â— they shal not escap froÌ„ theÌ„ They shall crye vâ—…to me but I will not heare them The cityes of Iuda and thâ—… inhabiters of Hierusalem shall goe crye vnto them to whom they offered sacrifice and yet shall they not saue theÌ„ in the time of their trouble According to the number of thy cities were thy Gods O Iuda and after the number of thy waies O Hierusalem haste thou set vp altars of abhomination to do sacrifice vnto Baalim Your forefathers haue forsaken me sayth the Lorde and they are gone awaye after straunge Gods and haue serued theÌ„ and worshipped them yea they haue vtterlye geuen me ouer and haue not kept my lawe But you haue wrought more abhomination than all your forefathers haue done For behold euery one of you walke after the leudnesse of his own wicked harte and will not heare me Their forefathers haue broken my couenaunt euen vnto thys day and they to whom I send thee are children without all shame and of such an harte as can not be reclaimed Walke not in the commaundementes of your fathers nor keepe not their ordinaunces neither pollute your selues with their idoles For I am the lord your God Therefore walke in my preceptes and kepe my iudgementes and do them Confusion of face and vtter shame be vnto vs vnto our kings vnto our rulers to our forefathers which haue sinned Be not like your forefathers vnto whoÌ„ the Prophets in tymes past cryed saying thus sayth the Lorde of hostes turne from your euill waies and from your abhominable thoughtes but they would not harken nor geue any attendaunce vnto me sayth the Lord. Our forefathers haue sinned and haue done euill in the sight of the Lord our god For they haue forsaken him and turned awaye their faces from the tabernacles of the Lord our God Be not lyke your forefathers and brethren which rebelled against the Lorde God of their fathers and he gaue them ouer into desolation as ye see your selues Be not ye hardnecked now as were your forefathers but offer your hande vnto the Lorde and come to his sanctuarie which he hath sanctifyed for euer and serue the Lorde your God so shall the indignation of his wrath turne away from you Examples out of the olde Testament CAin â—…lewe his brother Abel and followed his forefather the deuill which was a mansleyer from the beginning Nadab king of Israell folowed his forefather Hieroboam coÌ„mitting idolatrie against the lord his God Therfore Baasa destroyed him and his kingdome all the house of Hieroboam so that one of the stocke remained not aliue Ozochias king of Israell followed hys wicked forefather Achab greuously sinned against the lord his God He therfore reigned but a litle time and also died a miserable death Amon king of Iuda followed hys Idolatrous forefather Manasses and dyd that whiche was euill in the sight of the Lord his God He reigned but two yeres and was slaine of his seruauntes in hys own house Ioakim kyng of Iuda forâ—…oke the godlye waies of his moste vertuous father king Iosias and followed the steppes of his wicked forefathers The Lorde therefore suffered him to raigne but three monethes in Ierusalem and gaue him ouer into the handes of his enemies Sedechias king of Iuda followed hys wicked forefathers and prouoked y â— lord his God vnto anger He therfore was depriued of his kingdome sawe his children slaine before his eyes and afterward he hauing his eyes plucked out of his head was bound in chaines and miserably caryed away into Babilon ¶ Sentences out of the neâ—… Testament All that come before me are theeues and robbers but my sheepe haue not heard them O ye stifnecked and vncircumcised of hartes and eares ye haue alwayes resisted the holy ghost â–ª as your forefathers did so do ye Which of the Prophets haue not your forefathers persecuted See that ye passe the
time of your pilgrimage in feare for as much as ye know how that ye were not redemed with corruptible siluer and golde from your vaine conuersation which ye receaued by y â— traditions of the forefathers but with the precious bloude of Christ as of a Lambe vndefiled and without spot Examples out of the new Testament THe Pharisies and the Scribes following their vngodlye forefathers obserued the traditions of their elders and neglected the commaundementes of God The Iewes fulfilling the measure of their forefathers whiche slewe the Prophets that were sent vnto them froÌ„ God killed Christ and his blessed Apostles Paule before his conuersion following his wicked forefathers the Iewes persecuted the congregation of Christ euen as hys elders persecuted Christ and the Prophets Agaynst the wicked olde customes and long vsages IF Sathan or any of his members labour to plucke thee from gods word vnto wicked olde customes and longe vsages auoyde him with these scriptures following Sentences out of the olde Testament ACcording to the custome of the land of Egipt wherin ye dwelt shall ye not do and after the manner of the land of Canaan whether I wil bring you shall ye not doe neither walke in their ordinaunces but do after my iudgements keepe my ceremonies to walke therin I am the lord your God Ye shall keepe therfore mine ordinaunces my iudgements which if a man do he shall liue in them I am the lorde Take heede that ye commit not one of these abhominable customes which were committed before you and loke that ye defyle not your selfe therin I am the Lorde your God An example out of the olde Testament EUen vnto this present day do they still followe their olde customes They feare not the Lord neither kepe they his ceremonies his lawes and commaundements The Prophets cried worship no straunge Gods but feare the Lord your God and he shall deliuer you from the power of all your enemies But they would not heare but still committed wickednes according to their olde custome They pretended as though they serued the Lorde and yet neuerthelesse did they also seruice to their idoles For as their forefathers did so do their sonnes neuewes vnto this present day â–ª Against such as sclaunder Christes Gospell by calling it new learning IF the aduersarye of true godlinesse goe about to perswade thee that Christes gospel is new learning and that therefore thou oughtest to geuâ—… no care vnto it nor beleue it looke that thou by nâ—… meanes consent vnto them but rather remember that thys is no newe blasphemie but vsed manye yeares before of wicked hipocrites as thou shalte perceaue by these examples following ¶ Examples out of the new Testament WHen Christ preached in the Sinagoge at Capernaum and healed the man that was possessed with an vncleane spirit the people cryed out and sayd what newe learning is this When Paule preached at Athens the resurrection of the dead certayne bellye gods as the Epicures Stoikes straue with him and sayd what meaneth thys pratler Other sayd he semed to be a preacher of new deuills An other companye sayd maye we not know what new learning this is that thou shewest Thou bringest in new things in deede vnto our eares Our olde fathers neuer taught vs any such geare We will knowe what these thinges meane Agaynst pensiuenesse and thought taking for the life IF thou be troubled for the preseruacion of thy life eyther in sickenesse trouble persecution emprisonment or otherwyse comfort thy selfe with these scriptures Sentences out of the olde Testament THe Lorde killeth and geueth life agayne He bringeth euen to hell and backe agayne The Lorde is my light and my health whom then should I feare The Lorde is the strength of my life of whom then should I be afrayd though an host of men were layde agaynst me yet shall not my harte be afrayde And though there arose vp war against me yet wil I put my trust in him He hath geuen his Aungells charge of thee to kepe thee in all thy wayes The Aungell of the Lord shall be sent among all them that feare him and shall deliuer them The sourges of the sea are maruelous yea the lord on high is rather maruelous They consented all against me they coÌ„spired to take away my life but in thee O Lord haue I trusted and I sayd thou art my God In thy hand are my destenies Many tribulations fall on y â— righteous but from them all the lord deliuereth theÌ„ The Lorde kepeth all their bones so that not one of them shall be broken The health of the righteous is of the Lord and he defendeth them in the tyme of their trouble Yea the lorde will helpe them and deliuer them and set theÌ„ harmeles from the vngodlye and saue them because they haue trusted in them Thou haste limitted the waters these bounds which they may not passe The Lord is my helper I will not feare what man doe vnto me The Lord is my deliuerer therefore will I set nought by mine enemies The Lord hath geuen a coÌ„maundemeÌ„t and none shall go beyond it Fyre Hayle Snow Ise and vapours stormie windes accomplishe his worde Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh for to sinne neyther saye thou before the Aungell there is no prouidence least peraduenture the Lord being angry against thy wordes do destroye all the workes of thy handes Life and death are of God Thy prouidence O father gouerneth all thinges froÌ„ the beginning Thou O Lord art he which hast power of life and death Who can say that any thing can be done without the Lordes coÌ„maundement From the mouth of the highest goeth there not good and ill ☞ Examples out of the olde Testament ESau burned with an immortall hatred against his brother Iacob because of the blessing wherwith his father had blessed him and purposed fully in his hart to kill his brother But Iacob prayed vnto the Lord and he mollifyed Esaus hart in so much that whan Iacob thought that both he and his shoulde be slaine his brother Esau came gently vnto him louinglye embraced him kissed him frendly and for very ioye wept so mightie is God to mollifie tiraâ—…ntes hartes whan it pleaseth him and to make them gracious and fauourable to his seruauntes Saule persecuted Dauid cruelly purposing to kill him but his labor was in vain Iezabel threatned and sware to sley Helias but the Lorde preserued him Sathan coulde doe nothing to Iob till God suffered him neither exercised he hys cruelnes any further against Iob than he was appointed of God The godly woman Susan through the false accusations of y e two wicked iudges was at y â— point to be stoned vnto death but God wonderfully deliuered her from the handes of her enemies ☞ Examples out of the new Testament FEare not them which kill the body
and be not able to kill the soule But rather feare him which is able to destroye both soule and body in hell Are not two sparowes solde for a farthing And none of them fall on the ground without the will of your father Yea all the hayres of your head are numbred Feare not therfore ye are of more value than manye sparowes Ye be come out as vnto a theefe with swordes and staues When I was daylye with you in the temple ye layd no hand vppon me but this is your houre and the power of darkenesse Thou couldest haue no power at all against mee sayd Christ vnto Pilate except it were geuen thee from aboue All thinges are of him by hym and in hym If we liue we liue to be at the Lordes will And if we die we die at the Lordes will Whether we liue therfore or die we are in the Lordes hand Beholde I am aliue sayth Christ for euermore and haue the keyes of death â—…nd hell ☞ Examples out of the new Testament THe ship wherin Christ and his Disciples were was greuouslye tossed with the waues of the sea through y â— winde and the tempest that arose in so muche that it was at the point of drowning Notwithstanding neither water winde nor tempest did once hurte it The deuills had no power to enter into swine till Christ gaue them leaue If thou cast vs forth sayd they suffer vs to enter into the herd of swine Christ aunswered goe ye and they went The Iewes did seke to kill Christ but hys tyme was not then come No man dyd set hys handes on hym because hys houre was not yet come They went aboute to take Christ but he escaped from the midst of their hands There came certain of y e Pharisees and said vnto Christ get thee out of the waye depart bence For Herode will kill thee And he said vnto theÌ„ go tell that Fore behold I cast out deuills and heale y â— people to day and to morow and the iii. day I make an end Neuertheles I must walke to day and to morow and the day following for it can not be that a prophet perish any other where then at Ierusalem Herode threwe Peter in prison bound him faste with chaines and set certaine souldiours for the more assurance to kepe him purposing after Easter to bring him forth vnto the people and so to haue slaine him But God being mightier then all the tirannie and power of the world sent his Aungell and deliuered Peter out of prison Paule being at Milete gathered a bundel of stickes and put them in the fire and sodenlye there came a venemous adder otherwise called a Uiper out of the heate and lepte on his hande The men The men that were present and sawe this thinge waited when he shoulde haue swollen or fallen down dead sodynly But Paule shoke of the vermine into the fier and felt no harme Against hunger pouertie or carefulnes of liuing IF at anye time thou be tempted with the carefulnes of liuing comfort thy self with these holy scriptures Sentences out of the olde Testament THey that feare the Lord shall haue no scarcenesse They which seke the Lord shall want no good thing Beholde the eyes of the Lord are vpon them that feare him and vpon them that trust in his mercy y â— he maye deliuer their liues from deathe and norishe them in the time of honger I haue bene young and am waxeÌ„ old and I haue not seene the righteous forsaken nor his children begging their bread on the earth Lay thy care on the Lord and he shal norishe thee All creatures depende vpon thee O Lord that thou shouldest geue them meat in due time For thou geuing it them they take it and thou opening thy hande they are well satisfied But thou hidinge thy face they are sorowful thou taking away their breath they are but dead and turned into y â— earth that they came of The eyes of all things loke vpon thee O Lorde and thou geuest them meate in due time Thou openest thy hande and replenishest all thinges liuing with thy bles singe The Lord geueth meat to the hungry The blessing of the Lord maketh men riche and there shall no greife accompany them The Lord wil not let the soule of the righteous suffer hunger but hee putteth the vngodly from his desire He that tilleth his land shall haue pleÌ„ teousnes of bread but he that foloweth idlenes is a very foole Good and euil life and death pouerty and riches are of God Trust in god abide in thy place For it is an easy thing in the sight of God quickly to enrich a pore maÌ„ Feare not my sonne we leade a pore life notwithstanding we shall haue plenty of all good things if we feare the Lord depart from all sinne and do wel Examples out of the olde Testament GOd fed the people of Israel with meat from heauen and gaue them drinke out of the rock God sent meate by the Rauens to Helias The Aungell of god tooke Abacuk by the top and bare him by the heare of the head and thorow a mighty winde set him vpon the den wher Daniel was prisoner and gaue him that meat whiche the Prophet had prepared for his reapers Sentences out of the new Testament MAn shall not liue with breade alone but with euery word that coÌ„ meth out of the mouth of god Take no thought sayinge what shall we eat or what shal we driÌ„k or wherwith shall we be clothed after these things seke y â— heathen For your heauenly father know eth y â— ye haue nede of all these things But seke ye first the kingdom of god the righ teousnesse thereof and all these thinges shal be caste vnto you God geueth vs abundantly all things to enioy them I wil not fail thee nor yet forsake thee Examples out of the new Testament CHriste at the mariage turned water in to wine Christe with fiue barlye loues and two fisshes fed fiue thousande people and yet remained xii baskets ful of fragmentes Against keping of euil companye When the Deuil the Fleshe or the worlde moue thee to resorte vnto any euill company defende the selfe from it with remembring these scriptures Sentences out of the olde Testament HE shall dwel in the Lords tabernacle and rest vpon his â—…oly hil whiche setteth not by the vngodly but maketh much of them that feare the Lord. With the holy shalt thou be holye and with the innocent thou shalt be innocent With the cleane thou shalt be cleane and with the frowarde thou shalt be froward A froward hart shall depart from me I wil not know a wicked person Who so hath a proud loke and an high sto make I may not awaye with him Mine eyes shall looke for suche as be
be riche Accompany not with riotous drinkers and eaters for such shal come to pouerty and such sluggish slepers shal go all to rag ged Where is wo Where is wailing where is stryfe where are trappes layde where are wounds without a cause wher are bloudy eies Do not al these thinges chawnce vnto them that sit alway at the wyne and geue their mindes wholly to gulling and glossing Wo be to you that rise vp early to geue your selues to dronkennes and set al your mindes so on drinking that ye syt sweating therat vntill it be nyght The harpe the Lute the Tabour the droumslade the trumpet the shalme and plenty of wyne are at their feastes but the workes of the Lord do ye not behold neither consider ye the workes of his hand Woo be vnto you that are stronge to drinke wyne and are mighty to auaunce dronkennes Fornication wyne and dronkennes take away the hart Thorow feasting many haue died but he that eateth in meane shal prolong his life Examples out of the olde Testament Adam and Eue by satisfiyng their gredâ—… appetite in eating the forbidden fruit dyd not only transgresse the commaundement of god but also throw both themselues and al their posteritie into euerlasting daÌ„pnation if we had not bene redemed by Christ. The stinking Sodomits by geuing theÌ„ selues to inordinate eating and drinking fel vnto vnnatural lusts and so most miserably perished Thorow dronkennes Lot committed incest with his owne doughters The people of Israell geuing their mind vnto bancketting fell into Idolatry Holofernes that moste Ualeant captain being dronken was slain of a woman ☞ Sentences out of the new Testament Take heede that your hart be not ouerwhelmed with feasting and dronkenship Let vs walke honestly as in the daye tyme not in banketting and dronkennns not in chambring and wantonnes nor in strife and enuiyng but put ye on the Lord Iesus Christ. And make not prouision for the flesh to fulfil the lustes therof Banketeing add dronkennes are the workes of the flesh Be not dronken with wine wherin is lechery but ye be filled with the spirit It is a good thing that the hart be established with grace and not with meates which haue not profited them they haue had their pastime in them Dronkardes shall not inherite the kingdom of God Be ye sober and watch for your aduersary the Deuill goeth about like roaryng Lion sekyng whom he may deuour whoÌ„ see that ye resist being strong in fayth Examples out of the newe Testament Herod geuing his mynd to banketting graunted that the holy man Iohn Baptist shoulde bee beheaded at the desire of his whorishe doughter That euill seruaunte which sayth in his hart my Lord wyll be long a commyng and so begin to smite his felowes yea and to eate and drynk with the dronken The same seruauntes lord shall come in a day when hee loketh not for him and in an hour that he is not ware of and shal hew him in peces and geue him his porcion w t the Hipocrites there shall be weping and gnashyng of teath The rich gloton that fared so daintely euery day was cast downe into hel and most greuously punished Against Fornication and adultry IF at any time thou be tempted of the Deuill of the world and the flesh to defile thy selfe with fornication adultery whoredom incest or with any other vncleannes call these sentences and examples of the holy Scripture to remembraunce and valeantly resiste those most wicked temptacions Sentences out of the olde Testament Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not lye with thy neighbours wife to defile her with sede Thou shalt not make thy doughter com mon that thou wouldest cause her to bee an whore The man that breaketh wedlocke with an other mans wife euen he that breaketh wedlock with his neighbors wife let him be slain both y e aduoterer y e aduoutres If a priests daughter fall to playe the whore she defileth her father therfor must she be burnt with fyre If a man be found lying with a woman that hath a wâ—…dded husband they shall die eyther of them both the man that lay with the wife and also the wife so shalt thou 〈◊〉 away euell from Israell Cursed be he that lieth with his neighboures wise and all the people shall saye Amen There shal be no whore of the daughters of Israel nor no whoremonger of the sonnes of Israell An whore geueth swete wordes forsaketh the husbande of her youth and forgetteth the couenaunt of her god Her house is enclined vnto death and her pathes vnto hel All they that go into her come not againe nether take they hold of the way of lyfe The lips of an harlot are a dropping honye combe and her necke is softer then oyle but in the ende she is as bitter as wormewood and as sharpe as is a swerd Her feete goe downe vnto death and her steps hast them into hell Wherefore deare childe geue eare vnto me and swarue not from my wordes Fly froÌ„ her wayes and come not once so niegh â—…s vnto her dores Kepe thee from the euill woman and from the flattering tong of the harlot that thou lust not after her beauty in thine hart and leâ—…t thou be takeÌ„ with her faire lokes An harlote will make a man to beg hys breade but a maried woman wyll huntâ—… for the precious life May a man hide fire in his bosome and his clothes not be burnt Or can one go vpon coales and his feete not be hurt Euen so whosoeuer goeth into his neighbours wife and toucheth her cannot be vngilty He that is an whoremonger is a foole and bringeth his life to destruction He getteth himselfe also shame and dishonor such as shall neuer be put out He that accompanieth himselfe with an whoore shall go downe vnto hell but he that goeth away from her shal be saued He that medleth with an whore is a foole and without wit He that maintaineth whores shal come vnto beggary If mine hart hath lusted after my neighbours wife or if I haue laid waight at his doore Oh then let my wife grind vnto another man and let other men lyâ—… with her For this is a wickednes and sinne that is worthye to be punished yea a fire that should vtterly consume and 〈◊〉 out al my substaunce My sonne kepe thee well from all whor dom and beside thy wyfe see that no â—…aut be found in thee Cast not thy mind vpon harlots in any manner of thing least thou destroye both thy self and thy heritage Go not about gasinge in euery lane of the City neither wander thou abroade in the streates therof Turne away thy face from a beautifull woman and looke not vpon the fayrenes of other Sit not with another mans wife by any meanes lye not wyth her vpon the bedde make no words
his frendes and kinsfolkes were al destroyd so that ther was not one left aliue Zimry conspired against Ela king of Israell slew him and raigned in his steade But shortly after he was driuen to suche misery and straytes that he fledde into the kings pallace at Thirza and settng it on a fyre brent himselfe and so wretchedlye ended hys lyfe Sentences out of the new Testament Let euery soule submit himselfe vnto y â— aucthority of the higher power For there is no power but of God Thepowers that be are ordeined of God Who soeuer therfore resysteth the power resisteth the ordi nance of God but they that resyste shall get to themselues dampnacion For rulers are not fearefull to them that doo good but to them that do euil Wilt thou be without feare of the power Doo well then so shalt thou be praised of the same For hee is the minister of God for thy wealth But if thou donst that which is euill then feare For hee beareth not the sword for noughte For he is the minister of god to take vengance on him that doth euill Wherfore ye must nedes obey not onelye for feare of vengeaunce but also because of conscience And euen for thys cause paye ye tribute For they are Gods ministers seruinge for the same purpose Geue to euery man therefore his duty tribute â—…o whoÌ„ tribute belongeth custome to whom custome is due feare to whom fear belongeth honoure to whom honour pertaineth I exhort that aboue all things prayers supplications intercessions and geuinge of thankes be had for all men for kinges for all that are in authoritye that we may liue a quiet and a peaceable life withall godlines and honestye For that is good accepted in the sight of god our Sauyour whiche will haue all men to be saued and to come vnto the knowledg of the truthe Warne them that they submit them selues to rule and power that they obey the Magistrates that they be ready to doo euery good work that they speake euill of no man that they be no fighters but gentle shewing all meekenes vnto all men Submit your elues vnto all maner ordinance of man for the Lordes sake whether it be vnto the king as vnto the chiefe head either vnto rulers as vnto them that are sent of him for the punishment of euill dooers but for the praise of them that doo wel For so is the will of god that with well doing ye may stop the mouthes of folish and ignoraunt men as free and not as hauing the liherty for a cloke of malyciousnesse but euen as the sernauntes of God Honour all men loue brotherly felow ship feare god honour the king Wicked are they and damned shal they be that despise authority and â—…eare not to speak euil of them that excel in honour Examples out of the new Testament MAry Christes mother and Ioseph her husbande obeyed the Emperours commaundement and went into their citie Bethelem to be taxed Christe payed tribute to Cesar both for him self and for his disciples and willed o ther so to do Christe euen vnto the death obeyed the temporall rulers The Apostles of Christ were obedient to the higher â–ª powers and taught other so to be Saint Paule willinglye obeyed the publique Magistrates Felix Festus c Theudas and Iudas of Galile were two sedicious persons The one boasted to doo greate thinges and so allured muche people to follow him the other councelled the Iewes by no meanes to pay tribute to Cesar but to mayntayne theyr olde liber ties and by this meanes moued greate sedicion among the people What became of them were they not put to death and so many as folowed thâ—… eyther slayne or els scattered abroad and so brought to nought We read not in all the holy scriptures that anye traytour or notable sedicious person hath at any time â—…scaped without notable and famous punishmente God can not suffer his magistrates to be disobeyed his coÌ„mon weales to be disturbed hys polytyqne or cyuylâ—… lawes to be conteÌ„ned his godly and honest orders to be broken Whosoeuer attempteth any such wickednes God wil be a uenged of him as it is euidente not onely in the holye Scriptures but also in prophane histories Against maliçe grudge enuy hatred and anger IF thou be tempted of Sathan to breake the order of charitie to malice thy christen brother â–ª set these scriptures before the eyes of thy mynd Sentences out of the olde Testament Thou shalt not hate thy brother inthine hart but shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour that thou beare not sin ne for hys sake Thou shalt not auenge thy selfe nor be myndefull of wrong agaynst the children of my people but shalt loue thy neighbours euen as thy selfe If thine enemy honger fede him if he thirst geue him drinke for so shalt thou heape coles of fyre vppon his head and the Lord shal reward thee He that seketh vengeance shal find vengeaunce of the lord which shal suerly kepe him in his sinnes Forgeue thy neighbour the hurt that he hath don the and so shal thy sines be forge uen to thee also when thou prayest A man that bereth hatred agaiÌ„st aÌ„other how dare â—…e destre forgeuenes of god He that shew â—…th no mercy to a man whiche is like hym selfe howe dare he aske forgeuenesse of his sinnes If he that is but fleshe beareth hatred and kepe it who will entreat for hys sinnes Remember thy end and let enmitie passe Examples out of the olde Testament Samuell prayed for kinge Saul although a wicked man an enemy to gods seruaunts aâ—…d altogether disobedient to the will of God Moyses prayed for the stubborne and vn faythfull Iewes which not withstandinge rebelled agaynste him and woulde haue slayne him ☞ Sentences out of the new Testament Louâ—… your enemies Blesse them that curse you Do good to them that hate you Pray for them whiche do you wronge and pursue you that ye may be the children of your father that is in heauen Whatsoeuer ye will that men shoulde do to you euen so do you to them That is the law and the prophetes Thou shalte loue thy neighbour as thy selfe Be mercifull as your father is merciful Iudge not and you shal not be iudged CoÌ„ demn not and you shal not be condemned Forgeue and ye shal be forgeuen Geue it shal be geuen to you good measure pressed downe shaken together and running ouer shall men geue into your bâ—…somes â–ª For wyth the same measure ye meete wyth the same shall other meete to you agayne A newe commaundemente geue I vnto you that ye loue together as I loued you that euen so you loue one an other By this shall all men knowe that ye are my disciples if ye shall haue loue one to another Though I bestow all my goods to feede the poore and though I geue my bodye to be brent
their wicked liuing and exhorted them vn to repentaunce Amos at the commaundement of kinge Amassas for his preching was cruelly beaâ—…en and greuously formented At the laste Ochozias sonne of Amasias caused him to be thurste into the temples with a great nayle and being half deade he was caryed into his own countrye where he sone after died Micheas was buffeted emprisoned and fed with bread and water Examples out of the olde Testament BLessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnes for theirs is the kingdome of heauen Blessed are ye when men reuile you perseâ—…ute you and 〈◊〉 speak all euâ—…l sayings against you for my sake Reioyce and be mery for great is your rewarde in heauen For so persecuted they the Prophets before you The scoler is not aboue the maister nor the seruant aboue his Lorde If they haue called the Father of the housholde Belzebub how much more shall they so cal them that are of his houshold Be not afrayed of them that â—…il the body but rather feare him whiche is able to destroy both body and soule in hel fire Euery one that shall confesse me before men I shall confesse him also before my fa ther whiche is in heauen But whosoeuer shal deny me before men I shall also deny him befyre my Father that is in heauen Ye shal be hated of all men for my sake Whosoeuer wil follow me let him forsake him self and take vp hys crosse and folow me For whosoeuer wil saue hislife shall lose it But whosoeuer shall lose his life for my sake and the gospelles the same shall saue it For what shall it profite a man if he winne all the world and lose his owne soule or what shall a man geue to redeÌ„ his soul w tal agaiÌ„ whosoeuer fore shal be ashamed of me and my wordes in this whorish and sinful generation of him also shall the son of man be ashamed when he commeth in the glory of his Father with the holy angels The seruaunt is not greater theÌ„ his Lord. If they haue persecuted me they will also persecute you If the world hate you know ye that it hated me before you If ye were of the world the world wold loue that is his But forasmuch as ye are not of the world but I haue choseÌ„ you out of the world therfore doth the world hate you The tyme shall come that who so euer killeth you wyll thinke that he doth God seruice Ye shal lameÌ„t and wepe but the world shal reioyce In the world ye shal haue trouble but be on a good comfort I haue ouercom the world If we suffer with Christ we shall also be glorifyed together with him I suppose that the afflictions of thys life are not worthy of the glorye whiche shal be shewed vpon vs. Blessed be God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ which is the father of 〈◊〉 and the God of al comfort which comforteth vs in all our tribulations As the afflictions of Christ are plenteous in vs euen so is our consolation pleuteous by Christ. We are not weried but though our out ward man perishe yet the in ward man is renued day by day For our trouble which is shorte and lighte prepareth an exceding and an eternall waight of glorye vnto vs while we loke not on the things which are sene but on the things which are not sene For thinges whiche are seene are temporal but things which ar not sene are euerlasting We know that if our earthly mansion of this dwelling were destroyed we haue a building of God an habitatioÌ„ not made with handes but euerlasting in heauen Unto you it is geuen not only to beleeue in Christ but also to suffer for his sake Suffer affliction as a good souldiour of Christ. If we dy wyth Christ we shal liue with him If we suffer w e him we also shalreigâ—… with him if we deny him he will also dny vs. All that wil liue godly in Christe Iesu shall suffer persecutions This is thanke woorthyâ—… if a man for conscience toward god endure grefe and suffer wrong vndescrued If when ye do wel ye suffer wrong and take it patientlye then is there thankes with God For here vnto verely were ye called Blessed are ye if any trouble happen vn to you for righteousnes sake Dearly beloued maruel not that ye are proued by fire which thing is to trye you as though some straung thing hapned vnto you but reioyce in as muche as ye are partakers of Christes passion that when his glorye appereth ye may be merye and glad If ye be railed vpon for the name of Christ happy are ye For the glory and the spirite of God resteth vpon you On theyr parte he was euill spoken of but on your parte he is glorified If any man suffer as a christian man let him not be ashamed but let him glorify god in this behalfe Let them that be trooubled according to he wil of god commit their saules to him with wel doyng as vnto a faithfull creatour Iesus to saÌ„ctify the people with his own bloud suffered without the gate Let vs go forth therfore out of the tentes and suf fer rebuk wyth him For here haue we no continuyng city but we seke on to come By many trybulations must we enter into the kingdome of heauen The holy ghost witnesseth in euery city saying that bandes and trouble abide me But none of these things moue me neyther is my lyfe dear vnto my selfe that I mighte fulfill my course with ioy and the ministration of the word whith I haue receiued of the Lord Iesu to testify the Gospell of the grace of God I am ready not to be bounde only but also to dy for the name of the Lord Iesu. Blessed are the deade that dye in the Lorde euen so sayth the spirite that from henceforth they reaste from their labours But theyr worke folow them Examples out of the new Testamen IOhn Baptist for truth telling to kinge Herod was cast into prisoÌ„ beheaded Iesus Christ our Lord and sauiour after many blasphemies rebukes slaunders and bitter tormentes suffered the moste spitefull deathe of the crosse and so entred into glory The holy marter S. Stephen was stoned vnto death Iames y â— brother of Iohn was beheded What kindnes Peter and Paule wyth the apostles found at the handes of them whose saluatioÌ„ they most diligeÌ„tly sought the histories make mencion Neither I heare speak of those blessed Marters which sence their dayes haue dyed for the confession of gods truthe so that the gospell is not without a cause called of blessed Paul the word of the crosse For all that wil liue godly in Christ Ie su saith he shall suffer persecution I saw saith Sainct Iohn vnder the altar the soules of them that were killed for the woord of god and for the testimonyâ—… whiche they
bee vnto their soules for they haue rewarded 〈◊〉 vnto theÌ„selues Byd the righteous do wel for they shal enioy y â— fruites of their study But wo be vnto thâ—… vngodly and vnrigheeous for thei shal be rewarded after their workes Thou shalt not praye for thys people thou shalte neyther geue thankes nor byd prayer for them Thou shalte make no in tercession to me for them for in no wise will I heare thee Readâ—… fourth This said the lord vnto me thou shalt not praye to do this people good for thoughâ—… they fast I will not heare their prayers Though they offer burnt offrings and sacrifices yet will not I accepte them For I wil destroy them with the sworde and hunger and pestilence ☞ Examples out of the olde Testament THe seruauntes and all the army of the proude Senacherib were destroyed for their blasphemy agaynst god Holoâ—…rnes blasphemed God when he sayde that there was none other god of the earth but Gabuchodonosor and therfore was he afterwarde slayne euen of a woman Nabugodonosor blasphemed god wheÌ„ he sayde to the three chyldren who is the God that caÌ„ delyuer you out of my hands The children of Isarell blasphemed god therfore perished when they sayd to the Prophet Ieremy As for the wordes that thou haste spoken vnto vs in the name of the lorde we will in no wise heare them But whatsoeuer goeth out of our owne mouth that will we doo We will do sacrifice and offer oblations vnto the quene of heauen lyke as we and our forefathers our kyngs and our rulers haue done in the cityes of Iuda and in the streates and fieldes of Ierusalem For then had wee plenteousnesse of vitails then were we in prosperytye and no mysfortune came vpon vs. But sence we lefte to offer and to sacrifice vnto the quene of heauen wee haue had scarsnesse of all thynges and perish with sworde and honger Those Iewes blasphemed God which saide let vs goe and make a couenaunte with the Heathen that are rounde aboute vs. For since we departed from them we haue had sorowe inough Nicanor blasphemed god when he saide Is their a mighty one in heauen that commaunded the Saboth daye to be kept It was aunswered yea euen the liuing god the mighty Lorde in heauen commaunded the. vii daye to be kepte Then sayde be and I am myghty vpon earth to commaunde them for to arme themselues and to performe the kinges busines Sentences out of the newe Testament He that is not with me is again me saith Christe And be that gathereth not with me scatereth abrode Therfore I say vnto you all manner of sinne and blasphemy shal be forgeuen vnto men but the blasphe mye agaynste the spirite shall not be forgeuen vnto men And whosoeuer speaketh a worde against the sonne of man it shal be forgeuen him But whosoeuer speaketh against the holy ghost it shal not be forgeuen him neither in this worlde nor in the worlde to come If any men see his brother sinne not vnto death let him aske and he shal geue him life for theÌ„ that sin not vnto deth Ther is a sin vnto death for which I say that a maÌ„ should not pray It maye not be that they whiche were once lightened and haue tasted of the heauâ—…nly gifte and were become partakers of the holy ghost and haue tasted of the good word of god and the powers of the world to come If they fall awaye ' that they should againe be renewed by repentaunce which in them selues do crucify the sonne of God making a mock of him If we sinne wilfully after that we haue receiued the knowledge of truth there remayneth no more sacrifice for sinnes but a feareful loking for iudgement and violent fire whiche shall deuoure the aduersarie He that despiseth Moyses lawe dyeth without mercye vnder two or three wytnesses How muche sorer suppose ye shall he be punished which treadeth vnder foote the Sonne of God and counteth the bloud of the Testament wherewith he was saÌ„ctified as an vnholy thing and dishonoure to the sprite of grace Examples out of the new Testament The Iewes spake blasphemie against the holy ghoste when they said of Christ by the power of Belzebub doth he cast out Deuils They were blasphemers whiche sayde to Christe hanginge on the cros thou that destroyedst the Temple of GOD and buildest it againe in three dayes saue thy selfe If thou be the sonne of God come down from the crosse They also spake blasphemy against the holy ghost which now adaies of a pretensed malice condemne the worde of God as herey and persecute the preachers therof as heretickes and sedicious persons Against the despising of Gods word of the plagues that follow the same IF the deuil go about to pluck downe thy minde from the loue of gods worde and to moue thee to despise the doctrine of thy saluation so that thou shouldest no more delight in the moste comfortable gospel of Christe which is the power of god to saue so many as beleue but rather in thinges of vanitie â—…ake hede that thou leanest not to his subtile suggestions but standing in awe of gods iudgementes â–ª and fearing his plagues valeauntly resist Sathan with these holy scriptures following ☞ Sentences out of the olde Testament IF ye wil not harken vnto me saieth the Lord nor kepe my commaundementes but despise them c. then wil I doo this againe vnto you I will set my face against you and ye shall fal before your enemies and they that hate you shall raigne ouer you I will make the heauen ouer you as hardyron and your land as hard as bras I will sende my wilde beastes vpon you whiche shall rob you of your children and destroy your cattel I wil send a sword vp on you that shall auenge my Testament with you I wil send the pestilence among you Reade the Chapiter to thend If thou wilt not harken to the voice of the Lord thy God to kepe and to do all his commaundements and ordinaunces then all these curses shall come vpon thee ouertake thee Cursed shalt thou be in the Towne and cursed in the Fielde cursed shall thine almayrye be and thy store Cur sed shall the fruite of thine bodye and the fruite of thy lande be and the fruite of thy oxen and the flock of thy shepe The Lord shall make the pestilence cleane to thee vn til he haue consumed thee from the lande The Lord shall smite thee with madnesse blindnes and dasing of hart because thou seruedst not the Lord thy god with ioyfulnes and with a good hart for the abouÌ„daÌ„cs of all thinges wherefore thou shalt serue thine enemie which the Lord shal send oâ—… thee in hunger and thirste in nakednes in neede of all thinges And he shall put a yoke of iron vpon thy necke vntil be haue brought the to nought Read this Chapiter diligeÌ„tly from the beginning to
the Niniuites which vndoubtedly sprange of faith for they beleued the words of the Prophet he had psty on them and spared them Sentences out of the new Testament Now is the axe put to the roote of the trees Euerye tree therefore that bringeth not foorth good fruites is hewen downe cast into the fyre Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good workes and glorify your father which is in heauen Euerye good tree bringeth foorth good fruite An euil tree bringeth euil frute A good tree cannot bring foorth euill frute nor an euill tree good frute Euerye tree that bringeth not forth good fxnte is hewen down andeast tntoâ—…he fyre Whosoeuer heareth of me these words 〈◊〉 doth the same I wil likeÌ„ him vnto a wise man which bnilte his house on a rock c. A good man out of the good treasure of his hart bringeth soorth good thinges and an euill man out of that euill treasure bringeth forth euil thinges If ye were AbrahaÌ„s children ye would do Abrahams workes We knowe that God heareth no sinners but if anye man be a worshipper of God and obedyent his wil him heareth he He that hath my commaundements kepeth theÌ„ he it is that loueth me If any man loueth me he will keepe my wordes In the sighte of God they are not righteous which heare tee lawe but the doers of the lawe shal be â—…uste fied We are the workemanship of God created in Christ Iesu vnto good workes which god had prepared that we shoulde walke in them Be ye renued in the spirit of your minds and put on the the newe man which after the image of god is shapen in righteousnes and true holines walke worthy of y â— lorde in al things y â— please being fruitful in al good workes â—…ncreasing in the knowledge of God Brâ—…theren be not werye in wel doing Be to them that beleue an example in woord in coÌ„uersation in loue in spirit in faithe puernes Thou which art the man of Godfollowe righteousnes godlines loue patience and â—…eaknes The suer grounde of God remaineth hath this seale the lorde knoweth them y â— are his and let euery man that calleth on the name of Christ depart from iniquitye Lusts of youth loke thou auoyd folow righteousnes fayth loue peare w t them that call on the Lord with a pure hart Dearely beloued I besech you as strauÌ„gers and pilgrimes abstaine from fleshly lustes which fight against the soule And see y â— ye haue honest conuersation among the heathen that they which backbite you as ill doers maye see your good works and prayse God in the day of visitation If we say we haue felowship with god and yet walke in darknes we lie do not the truth But if we walke in light euen as he is in light then haue we fellowship with hym and the bloude of Iesu Christ hys sonne maketh vs cleane froÌ„ all sinne He that doth righteousnes is righteus He that coÌ„mitteth sinne is of the deuill for the deuil sinneth from the beginning See ye be doers of the worde and not hearers onely deceauing your selues Read the whole epistle of S. Iames. God sayth to the false and fayned Christians I knowe the blasphemie of them which cal themselues Iewes and are not but the Sinagoge of Sathan Examples out of the new Testament THe idle were reproued because they wrought not they that would laboure were hired into the vineyarde at nighte receiued their reward The seruauntes which receiued taleÌ„ts of their Lord and occupied them and gayned moe by them are praised and rewarded for wel doing But the idle seruaunte whiche would not occupy the talent that he receiued of his Lorde but went and hid it in the grounde gaining nothing therewith was cast into vtter darknesse where weping and gnashing of tethe is The fig tree whiche was vnfruitful brought for the nothing but leaues was cursed and withered away Zache a ruler amonge the Publicanes gaue half his goods to the poore and if he did any man wrong he restored him foure times as much Therefore said Christe vn to him this day is helth come to this house forasmuche as he also is become the childe of Abraham Against the troublous tempestes of sicknes of losse of goods or any other kinde of aduersitie IF Sathan when thou art assailed â—… any kinde of trouble laboureth to moue thee to despaire of Gods good wil toward thee as though he had vtterly forsaken thee geuen thee ouer and care no more for thee but sendeth thee that punishment and layeth y â— cros vpon thy back 〈◊〉 tokeÌ„ of his anger and heauy displeasure against the take hede that y â— doest not submit thy selfe to his suttle sugestioÌ„s but rather perswade thy selfe that thy crosse Whatsoeuer it he coÌ„meth of the good wil of god towarde thee and is sente vnto thee for thy healthe comforte and saluation Looke that thou therfore take it both patiently and thankfully and that thou maist so do furnish thy brest with these treasures of Gods most blessed word ☞ Examples out of the olde Testament After y â— lord hath punished the tried the at last he wil haue pity on the. The lord kileth maketh aliue bringeth down to the graue fecheth vp again The lord maketh pore maketh rich bringeth low and heauethe vpon high Call vppon me in the time of thy troble I wil deliuer the thou shalt honor me Blessed is y â— man whoÌ„ thou nurterest O Lord and teachest him thy lawe It is for my welth y â— thou haste brought me vnder y â— I may learn thy righteousnes Naked came I out of my mothers woÌ„be naked shall I turne thither againe The Lord gaue y â— lord hath taken away euen as it pleaseth y â— lord so is it come to passe blessed be the name of the lorde If we haue receued prosperity at y â— haÌ„d of god why should we not also receue and suffer aduersitye Blessed is the man whoÌ„ God punisheth therfore refuse not thou y e chastening of y e almighty For though he make a wouÌ„d he geueth a plasture though he smite his haÌ„d maketh whole agayn My Sonne despise not the chastning of the lord neither faint when thou art rebuked of him For whom the Lorde loueth him he chasteneth yet delighteth in him as a father in his owne sonne Whatsoeuer hapneth vnto thee receiue it suffer in heuines and be patiente in thy trouble For like as gold and siluer are tried in the fire euen so are acceptable men in the fornace of aduersity Examples out of the olde Testament Iob being grieuously plagued not onely with the losse of his goods but also with di â—…ers diseases of his dody praysed the Lord â—…uen in the middest of his trouble Tobye when he
be temperate in eatyng and drinking And of so honest and cleanly coÌ„uersation that we geue no man occasion of euyll Graunte nowe that in steade of our old fayned works we may be occupied with suche fruites of thy holy spirite as thy worde maketh mencion of GrauÌ„te now that according to the wholsom monition of thy blessed apostle Peter and of al the scripture besyde we may be faithful true obedieÌ„t vnto the king our soueraigne Lord and Supreme head immediatly vnder Christ. And not only vnto al such officers as be seÌ„t of him but also vnto al such wholsoÌ„ lawes iniunetions as by his autority be made for y e tranquilt ty and wealth of vs his subiects Graunt now that we al may encrease in y e knowledg of the that our youth may be brought vp in vertue that children may obey their fathers mothers that seruauntes may be true to their maisters that landlordes may be gentle to their tenantes that husbands may be louing to their wiues and wiues likewise to their husbandes that men may kepe their houshold in the feare knowledge of thee y e idle people may be set to labour that al such as be poore in dede may be wel and louingly prouided for Graunt y e for the loue of thee we may fede y â— huÌ„gry geue drink to y â— thirsty cloth y e naked geue lodging to theÌ„ that be harbourlesse â—…urye the dead visite theÌ„ that be in prison helpe such as be in sycknesse Finally graunt now most mercifull father that whatsoeuer thou forbiddest we may forbeare it and whatsoeuer thou â–ª coÌ„maundest we may euery one in his calling performe the same and so coÌ„tinue in thy seruice till our liues ends that al our thoughts words deds may redound vn to y e glory of thee now euermore AmeÌ„ Thankes be geuen to God Obedience vnto our Princeâ—… and loue to our neighboures For the Cytie or towne wherin thou dwellest EXcept thou O mercifull lorde God almighty kepe the citye the watchmen wake but in vain that kepe it Therfor O lord god send thy holy spirit into y â— harts of them which rule our citye or town to the intent that we with them they with vs may liue in thy godlye feare so that it may goe well with vs. And suffer vs not good Lord to put our truste any more in worldly power as money horse weapon artillery gunnes or strong walles but much rather in thee which arte adefender of al them that put their whole affiaunce and trust in thee For kinges Princes and Rulars O Lord of Lords Iesus Christ thou art an example and glasse or myror of theÌ„ which gouern and beare rule of realmes couÌ„treis cities whome they ought to folowe for thou art the best and the wisest and therfore canst thou not erre nor doe any other thing but wel Uouchsafe with the lyghte of thy clearnes and wyth the fyre of thy loue to kindle the hartes of al such as thou through thy godly prouideÌ„ce hast instituted and ordayned to be rulers ouer the people to the intent that they through thee as by a fore going light may see and perceiue what is best to be done and fulfyl the same and that they taking thee alwaies for a sure mark of their eye do not that thing which only semeth good in their syghte but that which may be to thy honour to our profitte and to their health and saluation to the intent also that they may iustly and duly minister execute their office geueÌ„ vnto theÌ„ of thee so that we with theÌ„ they with vs maye lead a peaceable vertuous and quiet life So be it Wheu thou goest to thy labour or worke O Most kynd and gentle heauenly father thou knowest and hast taught vs how great the weakenes of man is so that no man without thy godly helpe can do any thing Thus voâ—…chiafe to send vs thy ho ly spirit y e he may strengtheÌ„ styrre indu our vnderstaÌ„ding reasoÌ„ in al things y e we this daye outwardlye shal goe aboute take in hande or it that we in wardlye shall think or haue in minde to the intent that it may be done to thy glorye and to y â— profite of our neighbour A Prayer for a godly life IT greatly greueth vs O mercifull Father and euerlasting God that we thorow the greâ—…ous and continuall assaults of our enemies are not able to passe ouer our yeres in this worlde with such puritie of life as we ought and as thou requirest of vs. Uerely we are on euery parte so besieged and compassed round about of oure aduersaries that scarsely at any time we can be free from their pestiferous deadly darts nor yet haue so much respite as once to breath toward true godlines Oh moste louing Lord thou art our Father and we thy children conuenient therfore is it that we thy children represent and openlye declare in oure conuersation the maners of thee our father Thou art good gentle louing suffring holy righteous faithful c. It therfore becommeth vs thy children in our liuing to practise goodnes gentlenes loue charitie mercy patience longe suffering holines righteousnes faith c ¶ Thou haste geuen vs an example that euen as thou hast done so we likewise should do If we say we dwell in thee we ought to walke as thou haste walked For thou hast called vs not to vnclennes but vnto holines Thou hast deliuered vs from y â— power of our enemies that we being w tout feare should serue theâ—… in holines and righteous nes all the dayes of our life The bloude of thy sonne Iesu Christe hath clensed vs from al sinne net that we shoulde continue in darkenes but rather walke in the light as thou art in light Thy louing kindnes hath appeared vnto all men not that we shoulde followe vngodlines and worldly iustes but that we should liue soberly righteously and godly in this present worlde Thou diddest chose vs in Christ before the foundacions of the world were layde that we should be holy and without blame before thee through him We are thy workemanship created in Christ Iesu vnto all good woorkes which thou ordayneste afore that wee shoulde walke in them Forasmuche then as all the benefytes which thou haste bestowed vppon vs are geuen vnto this eâ—…de that we should walk worthy of thy kindnesse represent thy maners in our coÌ„uersation mortifye the fleshe and the lustes thereof haue nothing to do with Sathan nor the world but leade a good life garnished full of good workes and in all pointes fashioned after the rule of thy blessed words we moste hartely pray thee to endue vs with thy holy spirit which may take away our stony hart and geue vs a new fleshly and soft harte kil that olde man in vs whiche is corrupt thorow deceiuable lustes and fashion in vs that new man which is made after thy image