transgressor of this lawe but also at this present doe so horriblye and hipocriticallye offende thee in takinge thy name in vaine that so many waies in praying and not praying in reading and not readinge in speakinge and not speaking not coÌ„fessig simply froÌ„ my hart thy doctrine trueth name but regardinge mine owne name farre aboue it Shall I file froÌ„ thee then vndoubtedly I am more gilty and more shall disobey this thy holy precept adding sinne to sinne where as y â— woldest I should call vpon thy holy name deare lord which hast geuen thy deare sonne Iesus Christ to be a mediatour for vs that thorowe him we might finde not onely grace for the pardone of our sinnes paste but also for the obtaining of thy holy spirit as well the better to vnder stande as also the better and more frankely to obey this thy holye precept for euer For his sake therfore dere god pardone my sinnes paste present wherof this law doth accuse me and graunt moste graciouse father that I may be endued with thy holy spirit to know and loue thy holy name word and trueth in Iesus Christ that I maie be zelouse wise and constaunt and that my tounge maye be sanctified henceforth guyded with thy holye spirite and grace to publishe confesse and teache after my vocation to others as occasion is offered thy trueth and gospel to call vpon thy name in al my nede to geue thankes vnto thee prayse thee magnifye thee and to sanctifie thy holy name as a vessel of thy mercy for euer and euer Remember that thou kepe holye the Saboth day c. AFter thou hast told me howe in the external seruice of thee graciouse lord thou wilte haue my tonge vsed so doest thou now teach me how thou wilt haue min eares all my whole body occupied namly in sanctificacion and holines that is in those thinges which thou pecularly hast appointed to be meanes immeditately to helpe to that ende As in hearing thy word preached vsing the ceremonies of thee appointed eueÌ„ as y â— hast commaunded For the which thinges to be exercised of thy people thou at the firste dyddest appoint a certaine daye namely the seuenth daye whiche therefore thou calledst thy Sabboth that thereby they with their childreÌ„ and family resting froÌ„ all exerior labour which hindreth the meditacioÌ„ of the mind might not onely be more able to goe on throughe with their trauell and labour for withoute some reste nothing can endure in respect whereof thou woldest the very beastes which in laboure were exercised shoulde haue the priuelege of this Saboth but also and muche rather that thy people might with their family and children be instructed and taught first by the miuistery of thy word in preaching and catecchising secondly by the vsyng of thy sacramentes appointed after thy commaundement and institution they might be assured of thy promises thirdly by praiyng they might be augmented in al godlines and last of all by their metting together exercisinge all these thy workes of sanctification they might increase in loue and charity one towards another as members of one body and fellowes of one inheretaunce and thus by meeting together praying and vsing thy sacramentes they might be instructed in thy lawe and of that Saboth wherinto thou thy selfe dyddest enter after thou hadst made the world ceasing from thy workes not of conseruation but of creatioÌ„ into the which as after this life and the workes of this time they should enter so now they beginne spiritually to enter in restinge from their owne workes whiche the olde man moueth thom vnto not that good lord thou woldest these workes appointed for the Saboth day should not be exersised at any other time but onely on the seuenth day but because y u dydst as wel ordaine theÌ„ for a pollicie to endure till the comming of Christ as also according to the reuelacion or thee in that time didst open thy self beginning then in figures and shadowes whose verifieÌ„s in thy tyme were to be opened therefore it pleased thee to appoint then the seuenth day which seuenth day although by reason of the policie being by thee be streied and by reason of Christ the veritie and body of all shadowes if be abrogate from vs yet standeth this commaundemeÌ„t in force aswell for the workes of santificacion that is for preaching thy word comming to heare it for praying vsynge thy sacramentes and coming together to that ende as also for those dayes which by commoÌ„ order and on good grounde are ordained and receyued howbeit with this libertie that necessitie of our faith and sanctificacioÌ„ and charitie may dispeÌ„se therwith occasion of wilfull and wittinge offence being aduoided c. So that hereby I perceyue thy will and pleasure to be that I shuld at al times as much as charite and necessitye wyll permytte geue ouer my self and cause all other ouer whoÌ„ I haue charge so to doe especially on the sondaies and other holye dayes being receyued and to that ende appointed to the resorting to the temple and places appointed to praier to here with meknes thy holy word and vse thy sacraments and ceremonies as thou hast commaunded and to exercise all thinges which might be to the confirmacion propogacion of thy holy religioÌ„ or make to the encrease of loue and charite as geuing to the pore reconciling such as be in variaunce visiting theficke eueÌ„ as it were beginning that â—abboth wherof Esay speaketh By reason whereof I haue greate cause to thanke thee most gracious father that thou woldst appoint me to be in this time wherin thou hast more plentifully reueiled thy selfe then thou dyddest not onelye before Christes comminge but also synce Christs assensioÌ„ Neuer synce England was England dyddest thou so manifestlye reueile thy trueth as y u hast done in these daies Great cause I haue to thanke thee that y u woldst institute the ministery of thy worde and sacramentes as meanes wherby thy holye spirite is effectuall to worke in oure hartes sanctification Great cause haue I to thanke thee that thou woldest kepe the bokes of the prophetes Apostells vntil this time Greate cause haue I to praise thee that thou woldst geue me such knowledge in them as y u hast done of thy greate mercye Greate cause haue I to thaÌ„ke thee for the good true ministers and preachers of thy worde which thou hast sent amongs vs and geneÌ„ me grace to here them Great cause haue I to thanke thee that in this religion thou hast geuen so longe quietnes and harboroughe to thy church Great cause haue I to thanke thee for that thou woldeste make me suche a man in whom thy holye spirite mighte worke Greate cause I haue to thanke thee whiche woldeste call me into thine eteruall Saboth and rest full of all ioye such as the eye hathe not sene the pare hath not harde Greate cause haue I to thanke thee that so manye dayes are
appointed for this ende that we shoulde meete together to here thy worde and receiue thy sacramentes Greate cause haue I to thanke thee for the institution of thy sacramentes which thou hast ordained as thy visible and palpable lordes to the obsignation and confirmacion of the faithe of all suche as vse the same after thy commaundementes But infinite are the causes for the which I ought to gene thee thankes for thys commaundement But alas I am not onely vnthankfull but also a most miserable transgressour of it I wil not now speake of my transgressions past coÌ„cerning this commaundemente presentlye they are so many that I cannot For y u knowest howe I doe not onelye at conuenient times on y e worke daies kepe my selfe awaye from common praiers in the congregacioÌ„ assemble of thy people and froÌ„ hearing of thy worde but also on the Sabboth dayes to ryde or goe aboute this or that worldely busynes I am verye prest to sitte down at this tauerne and to goe to that mans table I am readye at the first vydding but alas to resorte to the table of thy sonne receyue with thankfulnes the sacrament of his body and bloud for confirmation of my faithe that 〈◊〉 to learne spiritually to taste Christs body broken and his bloude shedde for the remission of my synnes so doe this oh how vnwillig am I To goe to masse and sacrynges with suche like Idolatrye I haue been a greate time more readie then now I am to heare thy word vse thy sacrameÌ„ts as I shuld doe thy ministers I pray not for thy church I am not careful for no not nowe good lorde when wicked doctrine most preuaileth Idolatrye supersticion and abominacion aboundeth the sacrament and sacrifice of thy deare sonne Iesê° Christ is blasphemiusly corrupted wheÌ„ for preaching there is nothing but massing for catechising sensinge for reading of the scriptures belleringing for syngynge of Psalmes and godly songes to our edificacion all is don in laten with such Notes Tunes ditties descantes that vtterly the mynde is pulled from the consideracion of the thinge if men did vnderstande it vnto the melody Al which my wickednes hath brought in my prophaning of this coÌ„maundement and my not praying Thy ministers are in prison dispersed in other contries spoiled burnt murdred many fal for feare of goods lyfe name c from the trueth they haue receyued vnto moste manifest Idolatrie false preachers abounde amongeste thy people thy people dearely bought euen with thy bloud are not fedde w t the breade of thy worde but with swyllings antichrist wholy preuailethe and yet for all this alas I am to carelesse nothing lamenting my sinnes which be the cause of al this O dear father forgeue me for christs sake and be mercifull vnto me and as of thy mercye thou dyddest geue me time to repent so geue me repentaunce Graunt me thy holy spirite to open to me this thy lawe so that I may knowe thy will in it loue it and alwaies obey it thy good spirit sanctifye me and worke in me a true taste of eternall life and pleasure in the meditation of it geue me gracious good father one litle mouthfull of the breade that y u feddest Helye w t all geue me that with him I maye come into mounte horeb Helpe thy church cherishe it and geue it harbo routh here and els where for christs sake purge thy ministery from corruptioÌ„ and false ministers send out preachers to fede thy people destroy antichrist all his kingdome geue to such as be faulleÌ„ from thy trueth repentaunce kepe others from falling and by their falling doe y u the more confirme vs confirme the ministers pore people in prisoÌ„ exile strengthen them in thy trueth deliuer them if it be thy good will geue them that with conscience they may so aunswere their aduersaries that thy seruantes maye reioyce and the aduersaries be confounded auengeÌ„ thou thy owne cause Oh thou god of hostes and helpe all thy people me especially because I haue moste nede Honour thy father and mother that thou mayst lyue longe c. AFter that thou haste tolde me good lord thy will concerning the seruice whiche thou requirest inwardly and outwardly to be geuen vnto the now doest thou begin to tel me what thy wil is that I shuld do leaue vndone for thy sake vnto man And first y u settest before min eies them whoÌ„ y u for ordres sake and the more commoditie of man in this life hast set in degre and authoritie aboue me coÌ„prehending them vnder the name of father mother that I might know y t as of thee thei are commaunded to beare towards me a faithfull loue and a motherly care in the very names of father and mother wherwith y u honorest them so am I coÌ„mauÌ„ded of thee to do that which is most equall iuste as the very brute beasts doe teach vs that with childly affection and duetye I shuld behaue my selfe towards theÌ„ that is I shuld honor theÌ„ which coÌ„prepheÌ„deth in it loue thankfulnes reuerence and obedience that not so much because they be my pareÌ„ts and in their offices are carefull for me for it maye be they will neglecte the doinge of theyr dueties towardes me but because thou commaundest me so to doe howe so euer they do So that by thys commaundement I perceiue that thou woldest I shuld consider them whoÌ„ thou hast placed in auctorite and superiour degre as pareÌ„ts maiestrats masters or such like and accordingly behaue my self toward them honour them that is to say loue them be thankfull vnto them reuerence them and obey them for thy sake so loÌ„g as they pass not their bounds that is so longe as they requyre not otherwise then y u hast geuen them commission or permission to doe And for as much as thou seest their care and offyce is greate and oure corruption to obey is very muche as wel to encorage them in their vocation to be diligent as to enflame me to humble obedience vnto them therthroughe to make them more willinge to sustaine cares for me y u addeste a promise that is longe lyfe which so farre as it is ablessing froÌ„ thee y u wilt endue vs w t all Wherby we may gather that a ciuel life doth much please thee and receiueth here rewards especially if we lead it for conscieunce to thy lawe And on the contrary part a disobedient lyfe to them that be in auctorite wil bring the soner thy wrath and vengeaunce in this life All whiche worketh muche to the commendation of the state of politike ciuell maiestrats By reason hereof deare father I se my self much boundeÌ„ to praise thee and hartelye to obey thys thy commaundement For in it by it y u declarest thy greate loue towarde vs which euen in this present life our pylgermage and passage to oure home woldst haue vs to enioye the benefite of peace and moste
sonne for vs herin doest y u coÌ„mende vnto vs thy loue y t when we were yet sinners Christe thy derâ—sonne died for vs so y t nothing shuld separate vs from thy loue in christ Iesê° nether death nor hunger c. For if when we were enemies we were recoÌ„ciled vnto thee by the death of thy soÌ„ne much more we being recoÌ„ciled shalbe saued by his life And y t I shuld not doubt herof but certeinly be per swaded all thys to pertayne to me where I mighte haue been borne of Turkes loe y u woldest I shoulde be borne of Christian parents brought into thy church by baptisme which is y e Sacrament of AdoptioÌ„ and requireth faith as wel of remission of my sinnes as of sanctification and holines to be wrought of thee in me by thy grace and holy spirit Where I mighte haue been borne in an ignorant time and region y u woldest I I shuld be borne in this time and region wherin is more knowlege reueled then euer was here or in many places is Where I mighte haue been of a corrupt iudgemente entangled with many errours loe y u of thy goodnes as thou hast reformed my Iudgement so doest thou keepe it and nowe for the same iudgementes sake doest vouchsalfe somewhat by the crosse to try me By al which thinges I shuld confirme my faythe of thys that thou alwayes haste been arte and wylte be for euer my deare father in respect wherof I should be as certaine of saluation of these aheritaunce of heauen for euer 〈◊〉 thankfull cast my whole care on thee trust on thee and call on thee with comforte and certaine hope for all thinges that I wants For in y t thou haÌ„st giuen to meÌ„ this benefite to be thy childe vndeserued vndeseced on my behalfe 〈◊〉 and onely in respect of thine owne goodnes and grace in Christ lest at anye time I should doubt of it how shuld I but hope certainlie that nothinge profitable to me can be denied in y t thi power is infinite For as thi good will is declared in adoptinge me so nothing can be finally wanting me which may make for my weale for y t shuld improue thy power to be almighty in y t thi wil is so bouÌ„teously already declared wheras my beâ—eâ—â—e requireth to beleue in thee y e father almightie in consideration whereof I shoulde in all thynges behaue my self as a child reioyse in thee praise thee truste in thee feare thee serue thee loue thee call vpon thee c. But alas how heauie harted am I How vnthankfull am I Howe full of vnbeleife doubtinge of this thy riche mercie Howe litle doe I loue thee feare thee call vpon thee c. Oh be mercifull vnto me forgyue me good father for thine owne sake and graunt me the spirit of thy children to reuele thy self vnto me and Iesus Christe thy deare sonne oure lord by whoÌ„ we are made thy children that I may truly knowe thee hartely loue thee faithefully hange vpon thee in al my nedes with good hope call vpon thee render faithfully this honour to thee that thou art my god father I thy deare childe through thy grace in Christ and so alwaies be endued with an assured hope of thy goodnes and a faithfull obedient hart in all things to thy holy will At thy hands and from thee as I must loke for al things so come I vnto thee and praye thee to gyue me these thinges whiche thy deare children haue and thou requirest of me that I might come aske them of thee as now I doe through Iesus Christ our lord As by this word father I am taught to glory of thee and in thee and all that euer thou hast for thou art wholy mine my lord my god my father so by this word Our I am taught to glory of all the good that al euery of thy seruants that euer were are or shalbe had haue and shall haue For now I am taught to beleue y t thou hast called me into the communion of thy churche people whom hereby I perceiue y u hast commaunded to be carefull for me as for theÌ„ selues and in all their praiers to be as mindful of me as of themselues Againe as by this word Father I am taught to remeÌ„ber render my duetie I owe to thee wards faith loue feare obedience c so by thy worde our I am taught my dutie towards thy people to be carefull for them to take their sorow pouerty affliction c as mine owne and therfore to labour to helpe them in hart and hand after my vocation habilitie vtterly abhorring all pride selfloue arrogancie contempt of any By reason wherof I haue great cause to lament to reioyse To lament because I am so farre froÌ„ coÌ„sideration much more froÌ„ doig my dutie to thy people in thoughts words or dedes To reioyse because I am called of thee placed iÌ„ the blessed societie of thy saints made a meÌ„ber citizen of the heauenly Ierusalem and because thou hast giueÌ„ in commauÌ„dement to all thy church to be as care full for me as for themselues But alas howe farre am I herefroÌ„ As I am giltie of vnthankfulnes for this thy calling me into the blessed coÌ„munion of thy deare soÌ„ne churche yea of thy selfe so am I giltie of selfloue vnmercifulnes pride arrogantie forgetfulnes coÌ„tempt of thy children for els I could not but be other wise affected otherwise labour then I do Oh be mercifull vnto me good father forgiue me grauÌ„t for christs sake that as my tonge souÌ„deth this word our so I may in hart fele the true loye of thy blessed communion and the true loue coÌ„passion whiche thy children haue and fele towards their brethen that I may reioyse in all trouble in respect of that ioyefull communion that I maye denye my selfe to honour thy children vpoÌ„ earth and endeuer my selfe to doe them good for thy sake through Iesê° christ our lord I come onely to thee to giue me that which I cannot nor muste not els where haue and thou requirest it of me y t therefore I shuld as thy childe come and craue it to thy glory Which art in heauen AS by these words Oure father I am taught to glorie and reioyse for the blessed coÌ„munion which I am called to w t thee deare father with thy Christ and with thy holye church so also am I heare taught by these words Which art in heauen to reioyse in respect of the place and blessed Ioyes whereunto at the length in thy good tyme I shall come For now I may perceiue that as heaueÌ„ is thy home so is it mine also being as I am thy child through Christ although heare for a time I am bodely on earth and in miserie Againe by these wordes which arte in heauen I am admonished not onely to discerne thee from earthly fathers and to knowe
of thy goodnes hitherto spared me traÌ„sgressing this thy holy precept so of thy goddnes forgeue me as well mine Idolatrie done in times paste as that whiche of late time I haue coÌ„mitted doe comitte And as y u by this commaundement hast deliuered me from the one y t is bowiÌ„g my self to stocks stones so dere father deliuer me froÌ„ al other bowiÌ„g my self after mine owne will to mine owne affections that I may haue non other god iÌ„ hart but thee nor doe seruice to any other but only to thee for thee after thy word as thou coÌ„maundest Oh open mine eies to see thy wil in this thy gracious precept Geue me a will to loue it hartely an hart to obey it faithfully for thy deare sonnes sake iesê° Christ our lord Amen Thou shalt not take the name of the lord thy god in vaine By this commaundement I perceaue oh lord that as in the first thou woldest in the exterior seruice of thee I shuld vtterly abandoÌ„mine owne will and reason and all the reasons or good enteÌ„tes of maÌ„ and wholy geue my self to serue thee after thy wil and word so here doest thou beginne to tell me howe thou wilte haue my tongue to be exercised in thy seruice and therfore thou byddest me not to take thy name in vayne as by temeraryouse or vayne swearynge by cursynge praying without sense as those boe that pray in a tonge they know not praying without faith or attent coÌ„sideracion of the thing desired with out harty desire and certaine expectacion of obtaining that which is to thy glory and my saluation also by gesting or folishe abusing or negligent readinge or hearing of thy holy worde by the whiche thou as by thy name arte knowen and in lyke maner by deniynge thy trueth and worde or conceiling it when occasion is offered to promote thy glorye and confirme thy trueth By reason wherof I may well see that y â— woldest haue me to vse my tonge in humble coÌ„fessing thee and thy word and trueth after my vocacion in prayinge hartely and callinge vpon thy name in readinge and hearinge thy worde and speaking therof withall reuerence diligence and attencion in thanks geuing and praising thee for thy great mercy in instructinge my brother and admonishinge him when he erreth after my calling and vocation withall humblenes gentlenes and loue Thus woldest thou haue me to exercise my tongue and not to thynke that the exercising of it in this sort is a vaine and vnprofitable thing but a thinge that pleaseth thee and profiteth my self and other And for asmuch as thou knowest that our tongue is a slipperie member and we very negligent ouer it and of the greate commoditie that might thereby come to vs and other by vsyng it in thy seruice accordingly thou hast added a fearfull most true coÌ„municacioÌ„ that though men will find no fault or punishe vs therfore yet wilt not thou hold him gilt les that taketh thy name in vaine As by many exaÌ„ples we are taught as in thy holye worde so by dayelye experience yf we woulde consyder the same And therfore I haue great cause to geue praise and thankes to thy most holy name for many great benefits which by this commaundemente I receyue and ought with thankefulnes to consider First that it wolde please thee not onelye to geue me a tounge where thou mightest haue made me speachles but also that y â— woldest haue it santified to thy seruice Againe that thou woldest not onely reuele thy name vnto vs but also woldest geue me leaue to cal vp on it praise and publishe it yea thou hast commaunded me so to doe and not onely commaunded but hast promised that thou wilt here my praier and that my praising of thee and coÌ„fessinge thy word and trueth shall not be in vaine Thirdly that thou woldest al men shoulde vse theyr tounge so that therby I might be the better instructed admonished and occasyoned to vse my selfe well and in the obedience of thys thy holye precept But what goe I about to recken by tale the causes of thankes for thys commaundemente seing that they be innumerable yf a man shoulde but loke euen vpon thy verye worde by the whyche as by thy name thou arte moste truelye knowen the whyche worde thou commaundest vnto vs in this commaundemente c as thou doest preachinge pryuate admonishynge thankes geuynge and prayer then the whych nothynge is more profytable to vs in thys vale of miserye But gracyouse good lorde I acknowledge my selfe not onelye to be a most vnthankeful wretche for thys thy holye precepte and the greate mercyes whyche here throughe I perceaue thou haste moste gracyouselye powerd vppon me and doest yet styll offer vnto me but also that I am a myserable transgressour of this thy most holye good and blessed cammaundemente as alwayes I haue ben in times past Horribly haue I abused thy name in swearynge cursing and iestyng wyckedlye I haue called vppon other names then thine as the names of peter Paule Mary c yea of some whose saluatioÌ„ is to be doubted of I haue folishly praied in such a touÌ„ge as I knew not what I praied saied w t many other traÌ„sgresiions of this precept wherin yet I am coÌ„uersant as in seldome praying and when I praye I am not attent nor very desirous of the thinge I aske with my tounge After praier I do not earnestly loke for the good thinges asked and praied for therfore when I obtaine my request I am most vnthankefull thy worde I rede litle and most negligently forgetting for with what I rede I admonishe not others when I here them abuse thy holy worde I am affraied for feare of losse of freÌ„ds name or life to confesse thy trueth gospel and name whiche was called vpon me in baptisme and not in vaine if I did not thus make it in vayne But alas I caÌ„ in no wise compreheÌ„d the multitude of my transgressions coÌ„cerninge this thy lawe But this is a synne aboue other synnes that vnder thy name word and gospel I play the hipocrite hauing more care for min owne name then for thine For yf my name were euel spoken of it would greue me and I would defend it but alas I heare thine daily euel spokeÌ„ of se it prophaned by false doctrine and euell lyuing but it greueth me not After my vocation I â—â—ke not nor doe not goe about to redresse these thinges in my selfe in others And why because good lord I loue my self better then thee and not thee with my whole harte Thye first commaundemente hathe no place with me as it should haue it possesseth not my hart mind and will as thou requirest most to mine owne commoditie By reason wher of I am worthy of eternall damnation Oh what shal I doe graciouse god which not only haue ben so greuouse and filthy a swerer cursâ—er c so greate a callour vpon deade creatures so heynouse a
semelye quietnes and order and by this order so couple vs that none shuld contemne or despise another but euen highe lowe to be and accompt thē selues as parentes children Particularly for my parte I cannot but say that I haue most cause to thank thee for my parētes scholemasters and others vnder whose tuitiō thou hast put me No pen is able to write y e particular benifites w c I haue her by receyued in my infancie childhod youth midle age and alwais hether to Oh how good a lord hast y u declared thy self to me which in them and by thē hast norrished fedde instructed corrected defended and most gratiously kept me I coulde recken innumerable behind me but fewe before me so much made of cared for as I haue bene hetherto No smalle token of thy loue to me warde is it that thou woldest engraue in theyr hartes and commaunde them vnder paine of damnation to be carefull ouer me to doe me good and prouide for me as they haue done or rather thou by thē publickly Also for the cōmen wealth suche as thou hast placed in aucthorie ouer me in bothe thy regeniētes if I considered them that haue bene and them that be I coulde not but praise thee good lord For no lesse praise worthy art thou for this chastening vs and admonishing vs now presētly by them that be in aucthoritie of our vngratitude and vnthankfulnes then by such as haue bene for all kyndes of good things But infinite are the causes of thankfulnes which this cōmaundement considered shoulde stirre vp in me But alas most mercifull father as I acknowlege my self most vnthankfull vnto thee for al thy benifites powred vpō me in this lyfe by my parents nources tutoures maysters magistrates bishoppes pastours and good frindes euen frō my cradell vnto this hower so vnto them haue I alwaies been am in not louing them as my coldenes in praiynge for them and to my power in helping them declareth and also my not reuerencing them my cōtemning them temerariousnes in my mistrusting or to narrowly to straightly loking at them their dewties showeth and not obeynge them as by my cōtumacy appereth not onely when anye thinge to me vnpleasant or vnprofitable but also profitable conuenient is required And yet I speake not of y e euel muttering reportes of y e offences ī trāsgressing y e politilie lawes for apparrel meates other no smalle offences which I haue cōmytted geuē Oh this is a sinne deare father that I alwaies haue ben a priuate more then a common weale mā alwaies I seke for myn owen cōmeditie cōtemning that whiche maketh to the conmmoditie of others As for my disobedience and wicked behauiour towards my owne parentes and all others whom thou hast set ouer me deare father no toūge can expresse it and therfore I am worthy of dāynation But gratious good lord and deare father I beseche thee for thy Christes sake to haue mercye vpon me pardon me as of thy goodnes it pleased the to pardone the patriarkes Thou hast geuen this commaundement as thy holy lawe to open to vs howe corrupte we are and howe much we swarue frō the patterne wherafter we were first made once agreed thereto before Adams fall that we might loth our selues and euen thereby be dryuen to seke and set by thy swete mercyes in Iesus Christ whom therfore thou diddest sende to fullfyll the lawe in hys fleshe that we myght borowe of him the same by trewe faithe whiche of thy goodnes worke in vs by thy holy spirit and open this lawe vnto vs that we maye more more increase in the knowledge loue obedience of it to thy glory and our saluation Amen Deare father be mercifull to our magestrats especially y e quenes highnes whose hart with the residue of her counsellers tourne into thy testimonies geue them thy wisdome and a zeale to the trueth according to knowledge that they maye vse the power they haue receyued of thee to the cherishing of thy church that w c vs here thy worde may haue free passage and thy true worshippe may be maintained and not onclye here but also euery where amonges those whom thou woldest we should pray for Be mercifull to my poore parentes gratious lorde with my bretheren systers wife childrē family seruantes kinsfolkes neighboures as thou knowest they haue all nede Geue vnto the hartes of all parentes magestrates and suche as be in aurtherite here or ells where that they maye accordinge to that y u hast put them in trust w tall be faithfull deligent carefull and happye Graunt vnto children seruauntes and subiectes that euerye one maye render loue obedience thankfulnes and reuerēce to al such as thou hast put in aucthorite ouer them blesse the church and send it peace and har borough here or els where blesse the common weale and sende vs peace blesse the diocesses and shieres and send them good bisshops and iustices blesse euery housholde and family that thy peace may be in the same cōtinually Fynally write this law all thy lawes in oure hartes we be sech thee y t we may kepe them Amē Thou shalte doe no murder c. AS in the commaundement goeinge nexte before thou settests before me the personages of all such as thou for the commodytie order and peace of mā in this life hast placed in aucthoritie accordingly of vs for thy sake to be estemed so dost thou in this commaundement set before vs to loke on the personages of all men generally high and lowe ouer whom thou geuest vs a charge that we shal not kil or murther thē In which word thou comprehendest all kind of hatred or malice in word thoughte or dede as thy dearely beloued sonne expoundinge this commaundement dothe teache Yea because thou woldest all men shuld be deare vnto vs beyng all of one substaunce of one similitude comming of the same parents Adam and Eue made of one God redemed of one Christ in whom we should be coupled as members of one body and liue to the aide succour and cōfort one of another because of this I say easlie we may see that not onely y u forbiddest here to beware of all kindes of displeasures but also thou commaūdest vs to beare and exercise al kinde of loue and fauoure in harte worde and dede and that for thy commaūdementes sake for els towards oure enemies our hartes wolde arise and be great in that they contemnynge their dueties towards vs seme to deserue the like at oure handes By reasō hereof I haue great cause to thanke thee dere father For here by I see how that thou doest muche loue my soule which arte so carefull ouer my body so that he which hurteth it displeaseth thee and he that doth it good pleaseth thee if so be he doe it for thy sake By this commaūdement now I se that it is thou that hast kept me frō doing many euels which els
I shuld haue outragiously done hast stirred me vp to do good to my brethrē if at any time I haue done any euen as thou hast also kept and dost kepe presently others from doing me hurt hast and dost stirre vp those that do me good to do so vn to me Oh how great is y e multitud of thy benifits good lord wherwith thou hast ouerwhelmed me and the which through this cōmaundement I perceaue my self to haue receiued presently do receiue so longe as I liue am like to receiue for thou commaundest al men euery where to do me good loue me defend me cherishe me suche is thy loue to me in this present life that for my body oh how great is thy loue then to me in euerlasting life y t for my soule If in a straūg cōtrey so great is thy protection how great is it at home But alas dere lord how vnthākful haue I ben am yet stil for these thy fatherli benifits oh min ingratitud yea lord horribly haue I trāsgressed still doe transgresse this thy gracious precept in pride enuie disdaine malice hardnes of hart vnmercifulnes contēnīg thy childrē saints seruāts Self loue all together raigneth in me and desire of praise rule fame I am so farre frō loue mercy in hart good lord that no man cā here it in my tonge nor see it in my works but rather cleane contrary and y t generally and to thē to whom I am most bound perticularly By reason wherof I haue deserued euer lastinge damnnation and to be cast awaye from thy presence for euer Oh moste gratious father forgeue me for Chrystes sake I beseche the. For to this ende diddest thou geue this commaundement that I seyng my corruptiō and deprauate nature by synne might come to thy mercye deserued by christ and through faith in him might finde not onelye pardone of that which is paste but also thy grace and holy spirit to beginne in me the obedience to this and al other thi holy precepts for euer more so be it For this thy Christes sake deare father I besech thee therfore to take from me and all other for whom thou woldest that we should praye all enupe pryde arrogancye dysdaine hatred and all suspitiousnes and graunt vnto vs bowells of mercy humilitie pacience mekenes longe sufferinge gentillnes peace charitie and al kinde of brotherly loue cōfort the feble releue the poore help the fatherlesse heale the sycke blesse the afflicted shewe thy great mercy vpō all poore prisoners deliuer thē in thy good time remember thy pitye toward straungers captiues wydowes and suche as be oppressed ¶ Thou shalte not commytte adulterye HEre good lord thou gost about to commaunde vnto me as loue in the other so purenes and chastite in this and therfore thou saiest I shoulde not commite adultrye in the which word thy sonne oure sauiour Iesus Christ doth comprehende al vncleannes yea the very concupiscence and abusing of the hart in lusting after any mans wife or otherwise vnchastly By the which in that thou woldest haue vs to loue in our selues and others purite cleanes that we might be holy as thou oure god art holy and our bodies beynge temples of thy holy spirit mighte be kept pure and accordinglye easelye we maye see that as thou forbiddest all vncleane dedes wordes lokes and thoughtes so doest thou commaunde vs to loue and exercyse all puritie chastitie cleannes sobryety temperancye c. By reason whereof I haue greate cause to be thankefull vnto thee which not onely for the helpe commoditie of man but also for remedie of mans infirmitie hast made womā kind and ordained the state of matrimony which in thy sight is so holye and pure that thou accomptest the bedde and acte of generaciō betwene man and wife in this state of matrimonye to be an vndefyled thynge and such care thou hast ouer the personages marryed and their condition that vnto damnation they sinne which not onely goe about to defyle that bed but within there harts doe wishe or desire it yea which doe not indeuer thēselues w t thought word and dede to helpe that purite cleanes betwene married folks be kept But the greate causes thou geuest vs to thanke thee for this state and ordinaunce and for thy defendynge vs by thys commaundemente are innumerable Full wel I see that it is thou whiche by thys commaundemente not onely refraynest me but also kepest my wyfe from impurytye whyche ells we might bothe commyte Greate is thy lous Oh good lord and more then I am able to cōsider whych declarest thy selfe to be thus carefull ouer me concernynge the benefyttes whyche come vnto me bothe for the mynde bodye and goodes by sobryetye and tem perauncie whyche here thou requirest Onely thys I cannot but see that I haue greate cause to thanke thee whiche arte so carefull ouer me as by thys commaundemente I well see But alas good lorde what shall I saye whiche am and haue bene so farre from thankefullnesse that I am to be accompted amongest the most vnthankfull yea y u knowest it good lorde Fylthely haue I broken thys lawe caused other so to doe of whose repentaunce I am vncertain as also my tonge alas hath oftē ben to shamfully exercised mynetes my thoughts to wickedly abused All this geare I haue encreased by myne intemperauncye in catynge drinkinge cherishingemy bodye c. I haue also hurt my bodyly health minished that whiche I and others should lyue on and horribly hindred all good prayers and meditations wherin though I haue time place yet alas I nothing exercise my selfe as I should doe By reason whereof I haue deserued euerlasting damnatiō Oh good lorde and gratious father doe thou for thy names sake and in Christes bloud pardon me and forgeue me I besech thee as thou hast most mercifully hitherto spared me so of thy mercy put awaye my trespasses the transgressions of those whom I haue caused to synne let that loue which moued thee to pardon Iudas with Thamar Dauid Berthsabe and the greate synner of whom we reade in S. Luke moue thee to pardone and forgeue me also Thou gauest this commaundemente to thys ende that I might knowe my sinne and sinnefull nature and so thereby be driuen to thy Christ crucified for whose sake I aske mercy also that thy good spirit maye be geuen vnto me to purifie me and worke so in me and with me that I may trewelye know hartly loue faithfully obey this thy holy precept inwardly and outwardly now and for euer Amen Gracious good lord graunt to me my wife that we may dwel together accordinge to knowledge and maye kepe our vessells in holines graunt Oh lord that we may be pure and vndestled and graunt the same to al that be married and to them which be vnmarried graunt that they may liue a pure chast and vndefyled life and if they haue not the
gifte of singlenes of life graunt them such makes with whom they may liue holyly to thy praise Deare father geue me the gifte of Sobrietie and Temperauncy and graunt the same to al them whom thou woldest I shoulde praye for As in times paste I haue vsed my tounge and other members euell so nowe good lorde graunt that I maye vse them well chastly and godlye This I prays thee graunt through Iesus Chryst and finally Oh lorde bothe in soule and body sanctifie me and as in thy temple dwell in me nowe and foreuer more Amen Thou shalt not steale NOwe that thou hast taught me the seruice required of thee for me to obserue towards the personages of all men and women of euery conditioÌ„ thou beginnest to tell me what thou woldest I shoulde doe concerninge their goodes and as in the nexte commaundemente before this thou dyddest coÌ„mauÌ„de vnto me sobrietie purenes so doest thou in this Iustice and rightuousnes forbydding me to steale Under the whiche word y u comprehendest al kindes of desceite The which thing y u doest because y u woldest that I shuld geue my selfe wholy to the studie and exercise of Iustice as in the precepts next going before y u woldest I shuld geue ouer my selfe wholy to the keping of sobrietie purenes So that I see thy good pleasure herein is not that I sheuld alonely abstaine from al thefte but also from al fraude and craft in word or dede yea y t I should earnestly folow and exercise all equitie trueth and Iustice By reason whereof I see my selfe much bound to praise thee which art so carful ouer mi goods substauÌ„ce that if any man should goe about to steale from me or to defraud me in any thig yea whosoeuer goeth not about to kepe care for that I haue as he woulde doe for his owne the same displeaseth the. Oh lord if thou hast such care for my goodes cattell and such pelfe how greate is thy care for my soule If this one commauÌ„dement were not I perceaue as I for my owne parte shuld haue done and doe much worse then I haue done so much worse had bene done to me and mine then hath ben It is y u good lorde I perceaue that hast both geueÌ„ me al y t I haue and also still conseruest and keepest the same and not my owne polycye wysedome and industrye for in vaine were al this excepte y u diddest vouchsafe to vse take it as a meane to worke by There is nothing therfore that I haue but when soeuer I loke vpon it by this commaundement I learne thy goodnes strength and power for as thou geuest it of thy mercy so it speaketh to me that presently y u still doest kepe it for me so that exceding great cause haue I to thanke thee for this precept dere god and most gracious lord But alas I am so farre from thankfulnes as alwaies I haue bene for all thy care for me and for all that euer thou haste geuen vnto me that as I haue vsed subtelty and crafte yea some times thefte and briberye so nowe good lorde I still when occasioÌ„ is offered do exercise the same I liue also voluptuously of y t y u hast geuen lent me nothing consider what equitie requireth and what or how great the necessitie of the poore is whom I doe thus defraude by excesse and prodigalitie That whiche I borowe I with vnwillingnes doe repaye I vse it more negligentlye then I wold do myn owne Lacke of excommunicatioÌ„ of Iustice y e great vsery robberie oppression and such like wickednes as is exercised amonges vs I lament not labour not after my vocation for the redresse of the same I pray not to thee thereabout but neglecte altogether Yea euen those things wherewith I am put in trust or am hirid to do those I say I doe with great negligence so that great is my sinne here in and worthy I am of damnation But mercifull god I besech thee for Christes sake to haue mercye vpon me and to pardon me my vnthankfulnes theftes fraudes deceytes auarice neglegences great carelesnes for y e lacke of Iustice for y e moÌ„struouse oppression vseries excesse riot the which be horribly exercised in y e commoÌ„ weale For thy mercies sake in Christ Iesus o lord whom y u haste geuen to fullfyll the lawe for them that doe beleue geue me trew faith and thy holy spirite to worke in me the knowledge loue and perpetuall obedience of this thy holye precept and all other thy commaundements for euer Deare lord geue vnto me and to all whom y u woldest I shoulde pray for the hatred of al craft and loue of all Iustice graunt to the oppressed thy comfort to wrongers repentaunce to theues and deceiuers y t they may make restitutioÌ„ to iustices of peace land lords the rich of the world y t thei may haue thee before their eies loue their poore tenants brethren to laborers artificers y t they maye be diligent in their worke labourâ— that wherw t they are put in trust Thou shalte not beare false witnes against thy neighbour NOw doest y u most gratioê° lord instruct me in this commaundement how I shuld vse my tonâ— towards my neighbor behaue my self concerning his name forbidding me to beare false witnes in y e which y u forbiddest me all kinds of slaundering lying hipocricy vntrueth And why because as members of one bodie thou woldeste we shoulde speakâ— trueth one to another and be careful euery one to couer others infirmity and w t oure touÌ„ge defend the names of others eueÌ„ as we wold that other should defend ours So that in thys commaundement as y u forbiddest me all kind of euell parelous calumnious and vntrewe speaking so doest thou commaunde to me all kinde of godlye honeste and trewe reporte and talke By reason whereof I haue greate cause to praise thee in that I se thee to be so carefull ouer my name that all men are by thee commaunded to defend y e same O pretioê° god great is thy care ouer my soule I nowe perceiue If this commaundemente were not I se as I shuld haue done doe much worse with my touÌ„ge to others then is hapened so shoulde I haue felte of others towards me Besydes this no small commoditie is it to me that thou wouldeste all men shoulde vse treweth in all thire wordes to me Oh howe greate a good thynge is this vnto me If we consider y e hurt y e coÌ„meth by vntrueth by wordes where through many are deceiued easly may wese a wonderful benifit and care of thee for vs in this commaundement But gracious lorde like as I acknowledge my vnthankfullnes to be monstrouse and great alwaies hathe bene hetherto Euen so yet continue I in wonderfull hipocrisie in all my conuersation often lying and speaking as vainely so offensiuely fleshly subtelly caluÌ„niously geuig my