suppresseth synne that it destroyeth the siner but christiaÌ charitie so remedyeth vice that she yet saueth yâ maÌ The better thou arte by so muche the more gentlely condescende thou to thy brothers weakenes If Christes owne example moue the not sufficiently so to do who most mercifully suffered his children vntil tyme they amended at lestwyse yet lette this encourage you because ye knowe that the like may chaunce vnto your selfes The texte Beare ye one an others burdaine and so fulfil the lawe of Christ For if any man seme to him selfe that he is somewhat when in dede he is nothing the same deceiueth his owne minde This man is fallen remember that thou art a fraile man also Let his fall be vnto the a lesson neither to be bolde vpon thy selfe nor yet to trust to muche in thine owne strength Vse thy selfe towarde him that is fallen as thou wouldest be glad to be vsed if the like chauÌced to the. And a mischaunce may befal any worldly man Suche as at the mocion of certaine false Apostles haue staggered must not with cruelnes be banished out of your company but charitably be called againe to theyr olde stedfastnes The tyme may come that they beyng made strong may againe beare with your weakenes He that hath vpoÌ him a heauy burdain must be eased and not throwen doune Wherfore if eche of you beare others burdaines then shal ye in euery point fulfill the lawe of charitie whiche lawe is Christes owne lawe Christ wheras he neither was vnder synne nor nigh the ieopardye therof yet bare he vpon him our wickednes and of his great mercy healed vs condemned vs not as one without pitie Let no man thinke him selfe to be righteous and vpon confidence therin despise his brother that is with some kynde of synne entangled For a man to seame iust to him selfe is a profe of a fained righteousnes Wherfore if any man thinke him selfe somethyng when he in dede is nothyng he deceiueth him selfe The texte Let euery man proue his owne worke and then shal he haue reioysyng onely in his owne selfe and not in an other For euery man shal beare his owne burdaine For neither is any man therfore righteous because he auaunceth him selfe before the sinner nor is therfore one man defiled with other mennes synne if he submitte him selfe to restore him againe Nor is he therfore good because he coÌpareth him selfe to a worse Euery man shal be iudged by his owne dedes Yet must noman in his owne dedes haue a confideÌce but euery manne must serche with him selfe whether that wherin he beareth him selfe in hand to do well be suche as of God shuld be allowed If thine owne conscience condemne the not yet glory not because other aâe weake but glory of thyne owne strength glory inwardly geuyng God thaÌkes for his giftes bestowed vpon the nor bost it among other ne dispise them that are not so strong as thou art Helpe him if thou be able if thou be not able let God his iudge alone with him Neither shal his synne diminishe thy rewarde nor thou for an other mannes offence be punished but before God euery man shal beare his owne burdaine The texte Let him that is taught in the worde minister vnto him that teacheth him in all good thinges Be not deceiued God is not mocked For what soeuer a man soweth that shal he also reape For he that soweth in his fleshe shal of the fleshe reape corrupcion but he that soweth in the spirite shal of the spirite reape life euerlastyng But as long as we be in this worlde we are bounde eche one to helpe an other And as it belongeth to them whose giftes are aboue others with teachyng comfortyng exhortacion to helpe their brothers weakenes so let suche as be holpen remembre that they be not vnthankeful to suche as haue done for them And so among you shal al good thinges be comen if they that can preache the gospel teache comfort beare vppe the rude and they againe that are taught of theyr substaunce geue theyr teachers and counsailours necessaries so that one do for an other Let them that teache take heede that theyr doctrine be christian and sauor of the spirite of Christ or els better wer it for a maÌ not to beleue his teacher at all Besyde that he that for corrupte teachyng the gospel receiueth mede of him whoÌ he so teacheth the man he deceiueth yea and him selfe to but God can not of him be deceiued Wherfore my counsail is that ye teache sincerely the gospel for God is not mocked with But suche seede as euery maÌ soweth suche shal he mowe Whoso teacheth carnal doctrin for his sede he shal reape fruit which is corruptible But he that teacheth spiritual doctrin shal for his spiritual and heauenly counsail receiue like rewarde whiche is life euerlastyng The texte Let vs not be weary of well doyng For when the tyme is come we shall repe without wearynes Whyle we haue therfore tyme let vs do good vnto all men and especially vnto them whiche are of the housholde of fayth Therfore let vs alwaye endeuoure to do for all men nor cease at any tyme to do good dedes whether we haue gentle scholers or vngentle whether we haue a rewarde of men or not For when the tyme shall come we shall gather fruite whiche shall neuer dye and receyue for our temporall labours wages euerlastyng Sowyng time shall not alwaye continew the tyme shall come when we shal neither with our owne dedes be holpen nor with other mennes For the tyme of this present lyfe we maye with good workes wyll goddes fauour and helpe other but at the daye of iudgemeÌt neither shall oure good workes haue place nor we be able to do for anye other Therfore let vs take the tyme whyle it serueth endeuouryng to do bothe for all men and specially for them that are of the same religion and fayth that we be of The Iewe fauoureth none but Iewes but the christian folowyng the example of Christe is desyrouse to do good for all men The texte ¶ Ye se howe large a letter I haue wrytten vnto you with myne owne hand As many as desyre with outwarde apparence to please carnally the same constrayne you to be circumcised only leste they shoulde suffer persecucion for the crosse of Christ For they themselues whiche are circumcised kepe not the lawe but desyre to haue you circumcised that they might reioyse in your fleshe Ye se ye people of Galacia how I am in this matier delited which with myne owne hand wrote vnto you âo long an epistle Ye knowe my hande wryting No cause haue ye to thinke that it is a counterfaite letter it is all myne and a declaracion of my good wyl towarde you And looke that it with you be of more weight than anye false apostles doctrine Suche as endeuoure rather to please men than god suche I saye moue you to be circumcised
c Hath not God made the wisedom of this worlde folishnes For the Iewes require asigne c. We preach Christe crucified c. The folishnes of God is wyser theÌ mân God hath chosen the foâyââe thinges of the worlde to confounde the wyse Wâ haue not receyued the spirite of the worlde He that is spirituall discusseth al thynges I haue plaÌted Apollo watered Let no man deceiue you He compasseth the wise in theyr craftimes Ye are Christes Christe is goddes It is the Lorde that iudgeth me What haste thou that thou haste not receyued Wherefore I desire you to folowe me as I folowe Christe The kindome of God is not in wordes yf any that is called a brother bee a fornicatoure I maie doâ all thing But al thinges are not profitable Let not the bodye bee applied vnto fornicacion For ye are dearely boughte Let euery man haue his owne wife Wythdrawe not your selfes one froÌ another excepte it be with consent for a time Euery man hathe his proper gift of god If they cannot abstayne lette theÌ marry for it is better to marry than to burne Let not the wyfe be seperated froÌ the husbaÌd For the vnbeleuâng husband iâ sanctified by the wyfe c. But and yf the vnbeleuing depart let hym departe Ye are derely boughte be not ye the seruauntes of men Lykewyse if a virgine marrye she hathe noâ synned I would haue you without care This speake I for your profite not to tangle you in a snare He that ioyneth his virgine in mariage doeth well Knowledge maketh a man swell but loue edifieth We are sure that an image is nothyng Meate maketh vs not acceptable to god Wherfore if meate hurte my brother ⪠c. Haue I not seene Iesus Christ our lorde But woe is it vnto me if I preache not the gospell Let rather him that thinketh he standeth c. For why is my libertie iudged c. The maÌ is yâ womans head c. Neither was the maÌ created for the womaÌs sake Let a man eâamââ hymselfe so let him eate of the breade and drinke of the cup. He that prophecieth speaketh vnto men for theyr edifying Let hym that speaketh with toÌgue pray that he may interprete also Prophecy serueth not for them that beleue not but for them which beleue For God is no causer of strife but of peace For yf the deade ryse not againe theÌ is Christ not rysen agayne By out reioysing whiche I haue in Christe Iesu out lorde I dye dayly All fleshe is not one maner of flesh The fyrste manne is of the earth earthly Death is swalowed vp in victorie c. For our preachyng to you was not yea and naye c. Not that we be lordes oâeâ youre fayth But we haue this treaâure in earthen vessels We are knowen wel ynough vnto God For if we be to feruente to God are we to feruente Therfore yf any man be in Christe he is a new creature God was in Christe and made agremente betwene the world and hymselfe By the armoure of ryghteousnesse I promise vnto you like rewarde as vnto children We haue huât âo maÌ we haue defrauded no man God that comforteth the abiecte comforted vs by the cuÌmyng of Titus Godly sorowe causeth repentaunce vnto saiuacion There was geuen vnto me vnquietnesse thorowe the fleshe For my strengthe is made perfect thorow weakenesse For in nothing was I inferioure vnto the chiefe Apostles For I seââ not yours but you Dyd I pyll you by any of them whoÌ I sent vnto you We can do nothyng againste the trueth but for the trueth But ây Iâsê° Christ and by God the father Whiche called you by grace vnto an other gospel Either go I aboute to please men For if I had hitherto studied to please men c. For I neither receiued it nor learned it of man I communed not of yâ matur with fleshe and bloude I wât vp by reuelacion coÌmuned ââ them And that because of incuÌmers c. I withstode hym openây He dyd eate with the GeÌtiles And yâ other Iewes disseÌbled aswelas he If thou beyng a Iew. c A man is not iustifyed by the dedes of the lawe Is Christ theÌ the minister of synne Not I but Christ liueth in me c. I dispise not the grace of God c. That ye should not beleue yâ truth To Abraham and his seede were the promises made For if the inheritaunce cuÌ of the law c. The lawe was addeâ because of transgressioÌ But yâ scripture concludeth all thinges vnder sinne That we mighte be ââde righteous through feyth For ye are yâ chyldren of god because ye beleue it For ye are al one in Christ Iesu Thaâ we through eleccion myghte receyue thinheritaunce But now after that ye haue knowen God c. How is it that ye turne againe vnto the weake beggerly ordinauÌces c. Ye haue not hurt me at al. I would I wer with you now â coâââ chaunge my voyce Abraham had two soÌnes c. For these are two testameÌtes ⪠c. But Ierusalem whiche is aboue âs free c. Put awayâ the bond womanne wtâââ sonne As manye of you as are ââ stified by the lawe c. Who was a lette to you yâ ye should not beleue the truthe Why do I thân suffer persecucion For the lawe is fulfilled in one word c. The fleshe lusteth coÌtrary to yâ spirit The dedes oâ the fleshe c. are thâse adultrie c. Consideryng thy selfe lest yâ be tempted Beare ye one anothers burdaine Be not deceiued God iâm not mocked When the time âo come we shâl reape without weââyn â Wherby the worlde is cruâââified vnto me I vnto the world I beare in my bodye the markes of yâ lorde Iesu Grace be vnto you â peace Blessed bee God the father According as he had chosen vs. Through loue Which ordayned vs. To the praise of the glory of his grace In al wisdome and prudence According to his good pleasure That âe may to his prayse In whome we also Which is yâ earnest Vnto the praise of his glorye May geue vnto you yâ spirite of ââsedome He hath wrought in Christe c. And hath made him aboue all thinges the head In the children of unbeliefe And were by nature the childreÌ of wrathe But God whiche is riche in mercie By grace are ye made safe Iâ is the gift of god For we are his workemanship Vnto good workes whiche god ordayned Hauing no hope Gene .xxii. But nowe by the meanes of Christ Iesu For be is ouâ peace Through his fleshe Making peace To you which were a ferre of By ââuelation shewed he this mestery vnto me Vnto me the least of al Saintes is this grace geuen c. That he ââulâ graunt you accordiÌg to yâ riches oâ his glory which is father of all Ye beeyng rooted and grounded in loue myght bee hable to coÌprehende Unto hym that is hable The houseband is the wiues head
charitie as it hath done in you growyng styl from better to better euen synce that tyme wherin ye fyrst heard and knewe that through the free goodnes of God all their synnes are forgeuen whiche beleue the gospel if to theyr right fayth they adioyne pure vnfained charitie For so were ye taught by my dearely beloued felow in seruice and messenger of trust Epaphras who hath among you sincerely done myne office after suche sorte in Iesus Christes behalfe preachyng the gospel that he hath in all pointes been found without corrupcion As I therfore by him taught you so by him againe vnderstand I your good wyll againe towarde vs not meanyng suche vsuall good wyll as that is when men wishe well to to theyr frendes and acquaintaunce but a spiritual and heauenly fauor wherwith we vse to loue all suche by whom the glorye of the gospel is set foorth and stablished though we with our bodily iyen neuer sawe them The texte For this cause we also euer synce the day we heard of it haue not ceased to praye for you and to desyre that ye might be fulfilled with the knowledge of his will in all wisedome and spiritual vnderstandyng that ye might walke worthy of the lorde that in al thinges ye may please beyng fruitful in al good workes encreasyng of yâ knowledge of God strengthed with all might through his glorious power vnto al pacience and long sufferyng with ioyfulnes geuyng thankes vnto the father which hath made vs meete to be partakers of the inheritauÌce of saintes in light Whiche hath deliuered vs from the power of darkenes hath translated vs vnto the kyngdome of his deare sonne By whoÌ we haue redempcion through his bloud euen the forgeuenes of sinnes whiche is the image of the inuisible God fyrst begotten of al creatures for by him wer all thinges created that are in heauen and that are in yearth visible inuisible whether they be maiestie or lordship either rule or power All thinges were created by him and for him and he is before all thinges and by him all thinges haue their beyng And for this cause we againe not as one vnworthy of this your fauor heartely loue you againe though I neuer sawe you by and by euen froÌ that day wherin we were fyrst certifyed of your fayth and charitie in my dayly prayers callyng vpon God for you and with feruent peticions besechyng him that it may please him in you to make perfite and to bryng at full suche giftes as he hath begunne to geue that ye bothe may more throughly knowe his pleasure beyng taught neither by worldely wisedom nor yet by any supersticious and vaine persuasion of some men but by a spiritual wisedome and policie wherof as yehaue already gotten a good part so would I wishe that ye lacked nothyng that ye may in such godly perfeccion passe ouer your life that the same be to gods honor and in al pointes also please him lettyng no good thing vndone for so doyng is the meane to please him For to geue onely a credence to the gospel is but a beginnyng to saluacion but the same is with godly and holye workes made perfite and full Nor suffiseth it to haue learned through preachyng of the gospel that God through his sonne Iesus Christ is the author and worker of saluacion vnlesse by the same knowledge ye growe vppe and bring foorth the fruites of christian charitie continually profityng from better to better so surely constantly and manfully standyng in them that neither violence nor storme of persecucion driue you out of yâ right course for whose perfourmauÌce surely ye nede great assistence and strength Of strength of oure owne powers we cannot assure our selfes God it is whiche must geue it to the ende that the whole glory of all suche thinges as are by vs valiauntly done may be geuen againe vnto him whiche of his goodnes enrycheth vs with great pacience and long sufferyng to endure abyde for Christes gospelles sake all suche troubles as may in the meane tyme befal vs. In whiche persecucions suffering it is not inough to be strong without all feare but rather besemeth it vs euen ioyfully with a good courage to vndertake suffer them geuyng thankes to God the father who hath vouchesaued to call you to suche honour that wheras heretofore ye worshipped deuils idols ye are now of his goodnes called vnto the felowshippe of the Iewes whiche by reason that they worshipped the true God were in comparison of you holy whiche hath also vouchsaued to cal you to the enheritaunce of life euerlastyng in hope wherof al thinges whiche in this world either feare or flatter vs must be despised both for that he hath geuen you wanderyng before in the deepe doungeon of ignoraunce the light of the gospel and for that also ye whiche heretofore were vnder a vile and stauishe bondage subiecte vnto the tyranny of the deuil prince of darkenes are deliuered thence and conueighed into the kyngdome of his most derely beloued sonne to th entent that ye beyng ioyned into his body should with him enioy one kingdome Wherin suche as are thral to synne haue no place and therfore hath God by his sonne made vs free by whoÌ the sinnes of our olde life are forgeueÌ So that now his are ye becomen by whose benefite mercy ye are restored Consider now how good a chaunge ye haue made Before your reconciliacion ye were membres of the deuil now are ye planted into Christes body whose dignitie is so great that he is the image of God the father whiche father dwelleth in light whervnto no man can come whiche is suche as can be seen of no man though after a certaine sorte he be through the sonne seen whiche to the father is in all pointes verye like equal For neither is the sonne lesse wyse nor lesse of might or of lesse goodnes than is the father Nor of late daies receiued he these perfeccions but euerlastyngly before any thyng was made was he the image of his euerlastyng father not made but borne of him by whoÌ all thynges are made and by him whiche onely hath no beginnyng He therfore of him selfe begotte his sonne and by his sonne and with his sonne made and create al that is either in heauen or yearth both that may be seen and not seen the verye angels selfe not excepted no not the chiefe of them whither they be maiesties lordshippes rules or powers And albeit these orders and powers farre excede all other creatures yet are they passing measure vnder him to whom ye are ioyned forasmuche as whatsoeuer is made must to his maker nedes be inferior Now are al thinges not onely made by Christ but also by him gouerned preserued in whiche pointe he is also to his father like equal Nor was the sonne begotten after other creatures but was before al other thinges by whoÌ al thinges haue theyr beyng and should without
suche sorte in Iesus Christes behalfe preachyng the gospel that he hath in all pointes been found without corruption As I therfore by him taught you so by him againe vnderstand I your good wyll againe towarde vs not meanyng suche vsuall good wyll as that is when men wishe well to to theyr frendes and acquaintaunce but a spiritual and heauenly fauor wherwith we vse to loue all suche by whom the glorye of the gospel is set foorth and stablished though we with our bodily iyen neuer sawe them The texte For this cause we also euer synce the day we heard of it haue not ceased to praye for you and to desyre that ye might be fulfilled with the knowledge of his will in all wisedome and spiritual vnderstandyng that ye might walke worthy of the lorde that in al thinges ye may please beyng fruitful in al good workes encreasyng of yâ knowledge of God strengthed with all might through his glorious power vnto al pacience and long sufferyng with ioyfulnes geuyng thankes vnto the father which hath made vs meete to be partakers of the inheritauÌce of saintes in light Whiche hath deliuered vs from the power of darkeues hath translated vs vnto the kyngdome of his deare sonne By whoÌ we haue redempcion through his bloud euen the forgeuenes of sinnes whiche is the image of the inuisible God fyrst begotten of al creatures for by him wer all thinges created that are in heauen and that are in yearth visible inuisible whether they be maiestie or lordship either rule or power All thinges were created by him and for him and he is before all thinges and by him all thinges haue their beyng And for this cause we againe not as one vnworthy of this your fauor heartely loue you againe though I neuer sawe you by and by euen froÌ that day wherin we were fyrst certifyed of your fayth and charitie in my dayly prayers callyng vpon God for you and with feruent peticions besechyng him that it may please him in you to make perfite and to bryng at full suche giftes as he hath begunne to geue that ye bothe may more throughly knowe his pleasure beyng taught neither by worldely wisedom nor yet by any supersticious and vaine persuasion of some men but by a spiritual wisedome and policie wherof as yehaue already gotten a good part so would I wishe that ye lacked nothyng that ye may in such godly perfeccion passe ouer your life that the same be to gods honor and in al pointes also please him lettyng no good thing vndone for so doyng is the meane to please him For to geue onely a credence to the gospel is but a beginnyng to saluacion but the same is with godly and holye workes made perfite and full Nor suffiseth it to haue learned through preachyng of the gospel that God through his sonne Iesus Christ is the author and worker of saluacion vnlesse by the same knowledge ye growe vppe and bring foorth the fruites of christian charitie continually profityng from better to better so surely constantly and manfully standyng in them that neither violence nor storme of persecucion driue you out of the right course for whose perfourmauÌce surely ye nede great assistence and strength Of strength of oure owne powers we cannot assure our selfes God it is whiche must geue it to the ende that the whole glory of all suche thinges as are by vs valiauntly done may be geuen againe vnto him whiche of his goodnes enrycheth vs with great pacience and long sufferyng to endure abyde for Christes gospelles sake all suche troubles as may in the meane tyme befal vs. In whiche persecucions suffering it is not inough to ve strong without all feare but rather besemeth it vs euen ioyfully with a good courage to vndertake suffer them geuyng thankes to God the father who hath vouchesaued to call you to suche honour that wheras heretofore ye worshipped deuils idols ye are now of his goodnes called vnto the felowshippe of the Iewes whiche by reason that they worshipped the true God were in comparison of you holy whiche hath also vouchsaued to cal you to the enheritaunce of life euerlastyng in hope wherof al thinges whiche in this world either feare or flatter vs must be despised both for that he hath geuen you wanderyng before in the deepe doungeon of ignoraunce the light of the gospel and for that also ye whiche heretofore were vnder a vile and slauishe bondage subiecte vnto the tyranny of the deuil prince of darkenes are deliuered thence and conueighed into the kyngdome of his most derely beloued sonne to th entent that ye beyng ioyned into his body should with him enioy one kingdome Wherin suche as are thral to synne haue no place and therfore hath God by his sonne made vs free by whoÌ the sinnes of our olde life are forgeueÌ So that now his are ye becomen by whose benefite mercy ye are restored Consider now how good a chaunge ye haue made Before your reconciliacion ye were membres of the deuil now are ye planted into Christes body whose dignitie is so great that he is the image of God the father whiche father dwelleth in light whervnto no man can come whiche is suche as can be seen of no man though after a certaine sorte he be through the sonne seen whiche to the father is in all pointes verye like equal For neither is the sonne lesse wyse nor lesse of might or of lesse goodnes than is the father Nor of late daies receiued he these perfeccions but euerlastyngly before any thyng was made was he the image of his euerlastyng father not made but borne of him by whoÌ all thynges are made and by him whiche onely hath no beginnyng He therfore of him selfe begotte his sonne and by his sonne and with his sonne made and create al that is either in heauen or yearth both that may be seen and not seen the verye angels selfe not excepted no not the chiefe of them whither they be maiesties lordshippes rules or powers And albeit these orders and powers farre excede all other creatures yet ace they passing measure vnder him to whom ye are ioyned forasmuche as whatsoeuer is made must to his maker nedes be inferior Now are al thinges not onely made by Christ but also by him gouerned preserued in whiche pointe he is also to his father like equal Nor was the sonne begotten after other creatures but was before al other thinges by whoÌ al thinges haue theyr beyng and should without him perishe were they not by him mainteined Thus see ye the excellencie and preeminence of Christ whiche thing I tel you of lest any manne of Angels thinke more than he should The texte And he is the head of the body euen of the congregacion he is the beginnyng and first begotten of the dead that in all thinges he might haue the preeminence And lest perauenture his glorious and excellent maiestie so
Likewise ye wiues be in subiection to your husbandes that euen they whych obey not the word may with out the worde be wonne by the conuersacion of the wiues while they behold your chast conuersacion coupled with feare Whose apparel shal not be outwarde with broyded heare and hanginge on of golde ether in puttinge on of gorgeous apparell but let the hid man which is in the heart be without all corruption so that the spirite be at rest quiet which spirite is before God a thing muche set by For after thys maner in the olde tyme dyd the holy wemen which trusted in God tier them selues and were obedyente to their husbandes euen as Sara obeyed Abraham called hym Lorde whose daughters ye are as long as ye do wel and are not afrayed for any terrour NOwe lyke as free men ought to allure yâ prynces and publyke magistrates and euen so oughte bonde seruauntes to allure their maisters vnto the fauouryng of the gospell by their obedient diligence whych purchaceth frendship in euery place or in dede not to prouoke them by occasion if perauenture they be vncureable euen so ought the wiues also shewe themselues obedyent vnto their husbandes not onelye yf they be Christians but to them also that haue not yet embraced the doctrine of the gospell For in dede it maye possiblie come to passe that suche as oure preaching doeth not stiere the entier vpryghtnes godlynes womanlynes sobrenes chastitie and sufferaunce of the wyfe maye ouercome and mollyfie them and in conclusion wynne them vnto Christ For whan they shall perceaue theyr wyues maners chaunged through baptisme whan they shall see the examplar of true vertue in them they shall peraduenture be enflamed the affeccion of wedlocke not a lytell forewardyng to the same purpose that as they be felowes of one bedde so they would mynd to be felowes of one profession For syncere good demeanour hath very sharpe pryckes whiche yf a man do marke it nerely bryngeth to passe manye tymes that carnall loue is turned into a spirituall loue That maner of loue is occasioned by welfauourednes of beawtie and behauiour of apparel helpyng the fauour of beawtie forewarde And behauiour is occasioned by the fayre goodlynes of an entier good hearte shynyng in her manners Therfore it behoueth not wyues whiche haue professed Christe to deuise howe they maye set forthe themselues pleasauÌtly in their husbandes eies after the coÌmune custome with theyr heare craftyly broyded or with puttinge on of precious stones or gold and purple rayment and with other trymmyng of the bodye whiche is shewed outwardly For what other thynge shoulde come of this gayre but that they should loue their wyues body for the vse of fleshely lust And what a porcion of man is the body This rather they ought to studye for that theyr husbandes may be enticed by their goodly garnyshed maners and so to loue the secret hidden mynde and hearte yf they shall perceyue her to be pure and spotted wtââ knacke of viciousnes and if they shall see contrarie to the commune maner of women no lyght affeccion in that woman which women communly haue no intemperaunce no wrath no enuye no seking of preeminence no arroganncie âo ouerthwart bibble bable but a softe mylde tractable gentyll spirit This is an excellent and a gorgeous apparell in the eâes of God By this maner of decking they muste chiefly deserue to haue their husbandes heartes By this kynde of wooing euen certayne holy women in times past which fixed their whole hope not in slyppery and transitorye thinges but in God set forth themselues to please their husbandes not with gold or precious stones or purple but with sobrenes obedient diligence wherby the fearcenes of an husbaÌdes disposition is most easyly aswaged So Sara obeyed Abraham callyng him Lorde where as she was hys wyfe not his drudgeing hande mayde but submitted her selfe vnder his subieccion for sobrenes sake For althoughe it be not fitte for a man to vse a lordlynes towardes his wife yet there is an autoritie which if he in somthynges abuse yet it standeth with the womans modestie to obeye in place To be briefe lyke as they are Abrahams true and very right sonnes that folowe thexample of his fayth euen so are you Saraes daughters which resemble yâ excellent good womans maners manly substauÌtialnes of mynde trymmyng vp your selues with good workes reposing all youre trust in God hauing the fruicion of his ayde there is no cause at al why you should be afrayed of womans frailtie The texte Lyke wyse ye men dwel with them according to knowlege geuing honour vnto the wyfe as vnto the weker vessel as vnto them that are heires also of the grace of lyfe that your praiers be not hindered And as it is the office of matrones with chast obedience holy maners and wyth mylde softenes to ouercome their husbandes euen so is it your parte O you men in no wise to abuse your autoritie towardes your wyues as meÌ playng the tyrannes in that they submit theÌselues vnto you but be rather so much the lesse lordely towardes them in yâ they make them selfes your handemaides They are companions of all your estates and thynges what so euer befalleth Let them perceiue you to be handsome men to lyue withall let your wisdome succour the frailtie of their womankynde And the more stronger you are thaâ they in the strength of hert body so much more it behoueth you to releue womens infirmitie that by youre instruction by your gouernaunce they maye be made better as it were settyng aparte that kynde they maye waxe manlye in gospellike godlynes For they are not Christian husbandes that haue wyues only to the vse of copulacion but they ought rather to endeuour that their wyues maie be theyr coÌpanions in fastinge almosededes dooing of watching and of prayeng so that those women which are called to the coÌmune reward of eternall lyfe as well as their husbandes maye earnestly set their myndes to do these thynges also communely with their husbandes In christian mariage there is nothing or in dede very lytle to be geuen vnto voluptuousnes very muche vnto Godlynes Wherin yf bothe parties will consent and thereupââ you refrayne froÌ bodyly dâale your prayers shal not be interrupted And prayer is a sacrifice wherwith god must be sacrificed vnto euery daye The texte In conclusioÌ be ye al of one mynd of one heart loue as brethreÌ be piteful be courteâââ meke not rendring euill for euill or rebuke for rebuke but contrariwise blesse knowâââ that ye are thereunto called euen yâ ye should be heires of yâ blessing For he that doth lâââ after lyfe and loueth to se good dayes let hym refraine his tonge from euil and his âââpes that they speake no guyle Let hym eschewe euil and do good let hym seke peace âââ ensue it For the eyes of the Lorde are ouer the ryghteous and hys eares are open