The ordinary for all faithful Christians to lead a virtuous and Godly life here in this vale of misery. ¶ Translated out of Doutche into Inglysh by Anthony Scoloker. ¶ i. Cor. seven. ¶ Let every one abide in the calling wherein he is called. IMPRINTED at Ippeswych/ by Anthony Scoloker. dwelling in. S. Nycholas parish. Anno. 1548. ¶ Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum. ¶ To the christian Reader. Paul (good Christian reader the first to Timothe the second chapter/ speaking of our great grandmother Eve/ who after that she was deceived and subdued unto the transgression/ brought forth death upon all her posterity) declareth/ that to heal so great a wound/ and to appear beautifully in the eyes of the mighty Lord whose dear son jesus Christ said. 2. Timo. 2. john. 27. Father those that thou hast given unto me I will that where I am they be also with me/ that they may see my glory. After the first rudiment of a Chrstian (the which is faith) iij waiting virgins/ aught to be attendant and serviceable unto him/ that in this vale of misery intendeth to lead a perfect life/ Love holiness and discretion. Under the which discretion (as it may be gathered by the property of the Greek term in that place) are comprised chastity/ temperance/ modesté and decent shame fastness/ because all these virtues are always coherent and joined together. sophroline And holiness/ like as she requireth to fly from all vice/ so doth she require the exercise of all virtuous works and doings that proceed effectually from faith/ thorough love. That the name of him may be sanctified who said unto his father. I have declared unto them/ thy name. And will declare it/ that the love wherewith thou hast loved me/ may be in them and I in them. joan. 15. Wherefore that by love/ the duty of all men from the lowest to the highest may be known from the one to the other/ read over this little book/ that (walking in the dangerous paths of this exile) thou mayest know how to be trained unto the mansion place/ prepared unto the righteous that never shall have end. How the spiritual Prelates ought to use themselves towards the common People. Behold/ I send you forth as sheep among wolves. Math. 10. b Go ye your way and teach all nations and baptize them in the name of the father/ and of the son/ and of the holighoost. Math. 27. c And teach them to keep all things/ what soever I have commanded you. john. 15. b. Col. 1. a. Yea have not chosen me/ but I have chosen you/ and ordained you/ that ye go/ and bring forth fruit. john 25. c. Act. 1 ●. and 2. ●. And ye shall bear me witness/ not only at Jerusalem/ but also through out the land of jury/ and Samaria/ and to the vttermust coasts of the earth. joan. 20. c. receive the holyghoost. Whose sins soever ye remit/ they are remitted unto them and whose sins soever ye retain/ they are retained. Mat. 18. b. Math. 16. c. Verily I say unto you what soever ye shall bind upon earth/ shallbe bound also in heaven/ and what soever ye louse upon earth/ shallbe loosed also in heaven. Act. 20. d. Take heed unto yourselves/ and to all the flock/ among the which the holyghoost hath set you to be bishops/ to fede the congregation of God/ which he hath purchased with his own blood. Ephes. 4. a. jesus christ which came down from heaven/ and is gone up again above all heavens to fulfil all/ hath set some to be Apostles/ some to be Prophets/ some to 1. Cor. 12. c. be Evangelists/ some to be shepherds and teacher's/ whereby the saints might be coupled together/ thorough comen service to the edifying of the body of Christ. A bishop must be blameless. 1. Tim. 3. a. Leuit. 21. b. Ezec. 44. d. Tet. 3. b. The husband of one wife sober/ discrete/ mannerly/ harborous/ apt to teach/ not given to moche wine/ no fighter/ not given to filthy lucre/ but gentle abhorring strife/ abhorring convetuousnes/ and one that ruleth his own house honestly/ having obedient children with all honesty. For if he can not rule his own house/ how shall he care for the congregation of God? The servant of the lord ought not to strive/ but to be gentle unto every man/ apt to teach/ one that can forbear the evil/ one that can with meekness inform them that resist/ if God at any time will give them repentance for to know the truth/ and to turn again from the snare of the devil/ which are holden in prison of him/ at his will. 2. Tim. 2. c. Gal. 6. a Preach the word/ be fervent be it in 2. Tim. 4. a season or out of season/ Improve/ rebuke/ exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come/ when they shall not suffer wholesome doctrine/ but after their own lusts shall they (whose ears itch) get them an heap of teachers/ and shall turn their ears from the truth/ and shallbe given unto fables. But watch thou in all things/ suffer adversity/ do the work of a preacher of the Gospel/ fulfil thine office unto the vttermust. Pro. 27. c. joh. 10. a See that thou know the number of thy cattle/ and look well to thy flokes. Tito. 1.. b A bishop must cleave fast unto the true word of doctrine/ that he may be able to exhort with wholesome learning/ and to improve them that say against it. 1. Pet. 5. c. Act. 5. c. Act. 20. d. The Elders which are among you I exhort/ which am also an Elder/ and a witness of the affliction in Christ/ and partaker of the glory that shallbe opened. Feed Christ's flock which is among you/ and take the oversight of them/ not as though ye were compelled thereto/ but willingly/ not for the desire of filthy sucre/ but of a good mind/ not as though ye were lords over the parishians/ but that ye Tit. 2. a. be an ensample to the flock. Who soever willbe great among you/ let him be your minister/ and who soever willbe chief let high be your servant. Mat. 20. a. Even like as the son of man came/ not to be served but to do service/ and to give his life to a redemption for many. Mat. 10. a. Go and preach the Gospel/ saying. The kingdom of heaven is at hand. heal the sick/ cleanse the lepers raise the dead/ cast out the devils. freely ye have received/ freely give again. Who is now a faithful servant/ whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household/ that he may give them meat in due season? Mat. 24. a. Mat. 25. b. Blessed is that servant/ whom his lord (when he cometh) shall find so doing/ verily I say unto you/ he shall sect him over all his goods. Apoc. 16. c. But and if the evil servant shall say in his heart Tush it willbe long or my lord come/ and begin to smite his fellows/ yea/ and to eat and drink with the drunken/ the same servants lord shall come in a day/ when he looketh not for him/ and in an hour that he is not ware of/ and shall heawe him in pieces/ and give him his reward with hypocrites/ where shallbe waiting and gnashing of teeth. Ezech. 33. b I have made the a watchman unto the house of Israel/ that where as thou headest any thing out of my mouth/ thou mayst warn them on my behalf. ij. Para. nineteen See that ye do thus in the fear of the lord/ and faithfully in a parfet heart/ In all causes that come unto you from your brethren (which dwell in their Cities) between blood and blood/ between law and commandment/ between statutes and ordinances ye shall inform them that they sin not against the lord/ and so the wrath to come upon you and your brethren. Luk. 10. Possess neither gold nor silver. For the labourer is worthy of his reward. Go not from house to house. And into what soever city you entre/ and they receive you eat such things as are set before you. How the Comen Peope aught to ●se and behave themselves towards the spiritual Prelates. Let every man this wise esteem us/ even for the ministers of christ/ and stewards of the secrets of God. 1. Cor. 4. a 2 Cor. 6 a Deu. x ix jere. xx● c Now is there no more required of the stewards, then that they be found faithful. Humble thy soul unto the elder/ and bow down thy head to a man of worship. 〈…〉. iiij. a Eccli. 7. d. Deut. 12. c. Num 1●. d. and c. Fear the lord with all thy soul/ and honour his ministers/ love thy maker with all thy strength/ and forsake not his servants. Fear the lord with all thy soul/ and honour his priests. 2. Tim. 5. c. The Elders that rule well/ be worthy of double honour/ most specially they which labour in the word and in teaching. Deut. 25. a. 2. Cor. 9 b. Mat. 10. a. For the scripture sayeth. Thou shalt not mosel the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. And the labourer is worthy of his reward. 1. Thes. 5. b Gal. 5. a. 2. Tim. 5. b We beseek you brethren/ that ye know them which labour among you/ and have the oversight of you in the lord/ and give you exhortation/ that ye have them the more in love/ for their words sake/ and be at peace with them. Hebr. 13. a. Remember them which have the oversight of you/ which have declared unto you the word of God. The end of whose conversation/ see that ye look upon/ and follow their faith. Obey them/ and submit yourselves unto them/ for they watch for your soul's/ even as they that must give accounts therefore. Who goeth a warfare at any time/ upon his own wages? 2. Cor. 9 Who planteth a vineyard/ and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Who feedeth a flock/ and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Rom. 15. d. Gal. ●. a. If we have sown unto you spiritual things/ is it a great thing if we reap your bodily things? But if other be partakers of this power on you/ wherefore are not we rather? Know ye not that they which labour in the temple/ have their living of the temple? And they that wait at the altar/ enjoy the altar? Even thus also hath the lord ordained/ that they which preach the Gospel/ should live of the Gospel. Mat. 10. a. Ezechias commanded the people that dwelled at jerusalem/ that they should give portions of their goods unto the priests/ that they might the more steadfastly endure in the law of the lord. 2. P●●. 3●. ●. If a matter be to hard for the in judgement/ between blood and blood/ between plea and plea/ between stroke and stroke. Deut. 17. Thou shalt rise/ and go to the priests/ the levites/ and to the judge which shallbe at that time/ and shalt axe of them/ and they sha●l show the how to judge/ and thou shalt do thereafter/ as they say unto the. And if any man deal presumptuously/ so that he hearkeneth not unto the priest (which standeth to do service unto the lord thy god) or to the judge/ the same shall die. How the Wordly and superior powers/ as Emperor/ kings/ Prince's/ judges and Rulers ought to live with their subjects. Hear (O ye Kings) and understand. Sapi. vj. ● O learn ye that be judges of the ends of the earth/ give care/ ye that rule the multitudes/ and delight in moche people. Rom. xiii. ● For the power is given you of the lord/ and the strength from the highest/ which shall try your works/ and search out your Imaginations/ how that ye/ being officers of his kingdom/ have not executed true judgement/ have not kept the law of righteousness/ nor walked after the will of God. A King shall not have many horses/ neither shall he have many wives/ neither shall he gather him silver and Gold to moche. Deut. xvij. He shall not lift up his heart above his brethren/ and shall not turn a side from the commandments of God/ neither to the right hand nor to the lift hand. Mercy and faithfulness preserve the King/ and with loving kindness his seat is holden up. Pro. xx. ● The seat of the king that faithfully judgeth the poor/ shall continue sure for evermore. Pro. xxix. ● Like as a roaring lion and an hungry bear/ even so is an ungodly prince over the poor people. Where the prince is without understanding/ there is great oppression and wrong. But if he be such one as hateth cowetuousnes/ he shall long reign. M●c●e. 2. a. Deut. 17. d. jerem. 5. a. Psal. 132. a. Hear o ye heads of the house of jacob/ and ye leaders of the house of Israel. Should not ye know what were lawful and right? But ye hate the good/ and love the evil/ ye pluck of men's skins/ and the flesh from their bones. jere. 22. a. and 21. d. Zachar 7. b and 8. c. Keep equity and righteousness/ deliver the oppressed from the power of the violent/ do not grieve nor oppress the stranger/ the fatherless nor the widow/ and shed no innocent blood in this place. Psal. 2. a. Ezay. 37. c. Be wise now therefore (O ye Kings) be warned ye that are judges of the earth. Serve the lord with fear/ and rejoice before him with reverence. Kiss the son lest the lord be angry/ and so ye perish from the right way. Sapient 1. a 3. Reg. 3. a. O set your affection upon wisdom/ ye that be judges of the earth. Make no labour to be made a judge/ except it so were that thou couldst mightily put down wickedness. Eccle. v●●. a job. ix. a ●●d c Luk. nineteen b Take heed ye judges what ye do/ for ye execute not the judgement of man/ but of the lord. ij. Par. nineteen. And he is with you in judgement. Therefore let the fear of the lord be with you/ and beware/ and do it for with the lord our God there is no unrighteousness nor respect of parsons/ nor accepting of gifts. In judgement be merciful unto the fatherless as a father/ and be in stead of an husband unto their mother. Eccle. iiij. b With true judgement the King setteth up the land/ but if he be a man that taketh gifts/ he turneth it upsid down. Pro. xxix. a Be no accepter of parsons/ neither be desirous of gifts for they make wise men blind/ and change the words of the righteous. Deut. xvij. He that hath respect of pariones in judgement doth not well/ and why? Pro. xxviij. He will do wrong/ yea even for a piece of bread. A wise judge will order his people with discretion/ and where a man of understanding beareth rule/ there goeth it well. As the judge of the people is himself/ even so are his officers/ and look what manner of man the ruler of the city is/ such are they that dwell therein. Pro. xxix. b Pro. xvij. d Apoc. twenty-three a The ungodly taketh gifts out of the bosom to wrest the ways of judgement. Exod. twenty-three. Thou shalt not wrest the right of thy poor in his cause. Keep thy far from false matters. Susan. viii Deut. xvij. The innocent and righteous shalt thou not slay. Thou shalt take no gifts/ for gifts blind even them that are sharp of sight/ and wrest the righteous causes. Eecl. xx. d Leu. xxiv. Ezay. v. e Prou iij. a Deut. xvij. Ezec. xiv. Cursed is he that wresteth the right of the widow. woe unto them that are cunning men to sup out wine and expert to set up drunkenness. These give sentence with the ungodly for rewards/ but condemn the just cause of the righteous. Ezay. x. a Luk. xii. f Mat. xxiv. Woe be unto you (o ye judges) that make unrighteous laws/ and devise things which be to hard for to keep/ where thorough the poor are oppressed on every side/ and the innocentes of my people/ are therewith rob of judgement/ that widows may be your pray/ and that ye may rob the fatherless. Esa. xxviij If thou be made a ruler/ pride not thy selves therein/ but be thou as one of the people. Eccl. 32. a Deut. xvij. Let him that ruleth be diligent. ●o●na. xii. b How subjects shall behave themselves towards their superiors and temporal Rulers. Exod xxij. Act. twenty-three. a The rulers of the People shalt thou not blaspheme. Pro. xxiv. and xx. a Fear the lord and the king/ and keep no company with the slanderous/ for their destruction shall come suddenly. i Timo. ij. Pray for kings and Rulers. Tito. iij. a Rom. iv. a i. Petr. ij. a Warn the people that they submit themselves unto Princes/ and to the higher authority and to obey the officers. i Petr. ij. a Submit yourselves unto all manner ordinance of men for the lords sake/ whether it be unto the king/ as unto the chief head/ or unto Rulers/ as unto them that are sent of him for the punishment of evil doers/ but for the praise of them that do well. Tito. iij. a Rom. xiii. a Let every soul submit himself to the authority of the higher powers. For there is no power but of God. Sap vi. a i. Petr. a. b The powers that be/ be ordained of God/ so that who soever resisteth the power/ resisteth the ord●naunce of God. And they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not to be feared for good works but for evil. Rom. xiii. And the ruler beareth not the sword for nought. For he is the minister of God a taker of vengeance/ to punish him that doth evil/ Wherefore ye must needs obey/ not only for punishment but also because of conscience. For this cause must ye give tribute also. For they are Gods ministers/ which maintain the same defence. Rom. xiii. b Mat. ●vij. ● Give to every man therefore his duty/ tribute/ to whom tribute belongeth/ custom to whom custom is due/ fear/ to whom fear belongeth/ honour/ to whom honour pertaineth. give unto the Emperor/ that which is the Emperors. Mat xxij. c Mat. ●vij. d Rom. xiii. d And give unto God/ that which is Gods. How parents/ as father and mother/ aught to rule and bring up their Children in the fear of the lord. Eccl. seven. c and c. a If thou have sons/ bring them up in nurture and learning/ and hold them in awe from their youth up. If thou have daughters/ keep their body/ and show not thy face cheerful toward them. Marry thy daughter/ and so shalt thou perform a weighty matter/ but give her to a man of understanding. Eccl. 30. Who so loveth his child/ holdeth him still under correction/ that he may have joy of him afterward. Prou. 23. e and 23. Deu. vj. e. He that teacheth his son/ shall have joy of him/ and needeth not to be ashamed among his acquaintance. Who so informeth and teacheth his son/ grieveth the enemy/ and before friends he may have joy of him. If thou die yet art thou as though thou were not dead/ for thou hast left one behind thee/ that is like unto the. An untamed horse willbe hard/ and a wanton child willbe wilful. If thou bring up thy child dylycatelye/ he shall make the afraid/ and if thou play with him/ he shall bring the to he avynes. Laugh not with him/ least thou weep with him also/ and least thy teeth be set on edge at the last. If thy daughter be wanton/ keep her straightly/ least she cause thine enemies laugh the to scorn/ and the whole city to give the an evil report/ and so thou be feign to hear thy shame of every man. Eccl. 4●. Eccl. 26. b Thou shalt not hold thy daughter to whoredom/ that the land fall not to whoredom/ and waxeful of wickedness. Levit. 29. If thy daughter be not shamefast/ hold he straightly/ least she abuse herself thorough overmuch lyberté. Beware of all the dyshonestie of her eyes. Deut. twenty-three Num. xxv. Deu xxij. c Mich. 1. b Eccle. xxij. There shallbe no whore among the daughters of Israel/ neither whorekeper among the daughters of Israel. A misnurtered son is the dishonour of the father. A foolish daughter shallbe little regarded. And she that cometh to dishonest bringeth her father in heaviness. A daughter that is passed shame/ dyshonoureth both her father and her husband. iij. c Ye father's/ rate not your children/ least they be of a desperate mind. Prou. xiii. c Psal. x●iij. Hebr. xii. b Psal. xxxiii. Ephe. vi. a He that spareth the rod/ hateth his son/ but who so loveth him/ holdeth him ever in nurture. Ye father's/ provoke not your children unto wrath/ but bring them up in the nurture and information of the lord. Prou twenty-three. and xiii. c Eccl. thirty. a withhold not correction from the child for if thou beatest him with the rod/ he shall not die thereof. Thou smitest him with the rod/ but thou deliverest his soul from hell. Let the elder men be sober honest/ discrete/ sound in the faith in love/ in patience. Tito. ij. 2 Let the old women show themselves as it becometh holiness/ that they be no false accusers/ not given to much wine/ that they teach honest things/ that they inform the young women to be soberminded/ to love their husbands/ to love their children/ to be discrete/ chaste/ huswiflye/ good/ obedient unto their husbands that the word of God be not evil spoken of. Genes. iij. ● Let the youngmen likewise be sober. How youth shall obey their elders/ honouring them in the fear of the lord. ephes. vj. a iij. exod. 20. b Ye children obey your elders in the lord/ for that is right. Honour thy father/ and thy mother/ that is the first commandment that hath any promise/ that thou mayst prosper and live long upon earth. Tito. jj. a Let the youngmen be sobermynded. i Petr. ij. Ye younger submit yourselves unto the Elder. eccl. seven. c and iij. a Honour thy father from thy whole heart/ and forget not the sorrowful travail that thy mother had with the. Remember that thou wast borne thorough them/ and how canst thou recompense them the things that they have done for thee? Tobi. iii e Hold thy mother in honour all the days of thy life. Tobi. iiii a For thou oughtest to remember/ what and how great parels she suffered for the in her womb. My son/ care and be wyse/ so shall thine heart prosper in the way. Prover. 23 Let not thine heart be jealous to follow sinners but keep the still in the fear of the Lord all the day long. Prover. 22 Keep no company with wine bibers and riotous eaters of flesh/ for such as be drunkards and riotours shall come to poverty/ and he that is given to much sleep/ shall go with a ragged coat. give ear unto thy father that begat thee/ and despise not thy mother when she is old. The lord will have the father honoured of the children/ and look what a mother commandeth her children to do/ he will have it kept. Eeccel. iiii Exod. 20 ● Deut. v ● Who so honoureth his father his sins shallbe forgiven him and he that honoureth his mother/ gathereth treasure together. Who so honoureth his father shall have joy of his own children/ and when he maketh his prayer he shallbe heard. He that feareth the lord/ honoureth his father and mother/ and doth them service/ as it were unto the lord himself. Honour thy father in deed/ in word and in all patience/ that thou mayst have his blessing/ for the blessing of the father/ buildeth up the houses of the children/ but the mother's curse/ rooteh out the foundations. Genes. xxvi ●n● ii●●. deut. xx● iij My son/ make moche of thy father in his age/ and grieve him not as long as he liveth. And if his understanding faite/ have patience with him/ and despise him not in thy strength. He that forsaketh his father/ shall come to shame/ and he that defieth his mother as cursed of God. Pro. nineteen. d He that hurteth father/ or shutteth out his mother/ is a shameful and an unworthy son. Levit. nineteen. Thou shalt rise up before a grey head/ and shalt give reverence unto the aged. How the Master and masters ought to use themselves towards their/ servants. He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall make him his master at length. Prou. xxix. Whereas thy servant worketh truly/ entreat him not evil/ nor the hyresing that is faithful unto the. Eccl. seven. c Love a discrete servant as thine own soul. The fodder/ the whip and the burden belongeth unto the ass/ meat correction and work/ unto the seruauntte. If thou let thy servant labour/ thou shalt find rest/ but if thou let him go Idel/ he shall seek liberty. The yoke and the whip bow down the neck/ but tame thou the evil servant with bands and correction. Set him to work/ for that belongeth unto him and becometh him well. If he be not obedient/ bind his feet/ but do not to much unto him in any wise/ and without discretion do nothing. If thou have a faithful servant/ let him be unto the as thine own soul/ for in blood hast thou gotten him/ if thou entreatest him evil/ and keepest him hard/ he will run away from the. Col. iij. c Ye masters/ do unto your servants that which is just and equal/ and know that ye also have a master in heaven. thes. 6. a. eccle. 33. d Collo. ij. c Ye masters/ put away your threatenings/ and know that their GOD/ is your God also/ neither is there any respect of parsons with him. Be not as a lion in thine own house/ destroying thy household folks/ and oppressing them that are under the. Who so ever worketh any thing for thee/ Immediately give him his hire/ and look that thy hired servants wages remain not by the over night. Tobi. iiij. c Deut. 24. c The workman's labour shall not bide with thee/ unto the morning. Levit. 19 c Tobi. iiij. a He that defraudeth the labourer of his hire/ is a bloudesheader. eccl. 33. d Deut. 24. c eccl. seven. c How servants ought to be have themselves in the service 〈…〉 or lords. Dames or mastresses. Timo. vi. Let as many servants as are under the yoke/ count their masters worthy of all honour/ that the name of God and his doctrine be not evil spoken of. abideth. See that they which have believing masters/ dispose them not/ for they are brethren/ but rather do them service/ for so much as they are believing/ and beloved/ and partakers of the benefit. Ye servants/ be obedient unto your bodily masters in all things/ not with eye service as men pleasers/ but in singleness of heart fearing God. Col. iij. e Ephes vj. a Tit. ij. b i. Petr. two. c Whatsoever ye do/ do it heartily/ even as unto the lord/ and not unto men. And be sure/ that of the lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance/ for ye serve the lord Christ. Ye servants be obedient unto your master's/ and please them in all things/ not answering them again/ neither be ye pikers/ but show all good faithfulness/ that in all things ye may do worship unto the doctrine of God our saviour. Tit. ij a Ephes. ●j. a Col. iij. a Ye servants/ obey your masters with all fear/ not only if they be good and courteous/ but also/ though they be froward. For that is grace/ if a man for conscience toward God endure grief/ and suffer wrong. For what praise is it/ if when ye be buffeted for your faults/ ye take it patiently? But if when ye do well ye suffer wrong/ and take it patiently/ that is grace with God. The duty of married men toward their wives. The duty of married men towards their wives. Eccl. seven. c Depart not from a discrete and good woman/ that is fallen unto the for thy portion in the fear of the lord. The gift of her honest is above gold. If thou have a wife after thine own mind/ forsake her not/ but commit not thyself to the hateful. Eccl. ix. b Use thyself to live joyfully with thy wife whom thou love it/ all the days of thy life (which is but vain) that god hath given the under the son/ all the days of thy vanity/ for that is thy portion in this life/ of all thy labour and travail that thou takest under the Son. Mark. vj. b Prou. v. c Ye husbands/ love your wives/ even as christ loved the congregation/ and gave himself for it/ to sanctify it/ and cleansed it in the fountain of water by the word/ to make it unto himself a glorious congregation/ having no spot nor wrinkle/ nor any such thing/ but that it should be holy and without blame. Ephe. v. c Gal. 2. c Tet. 3. a. i Petr. iij. c So ought men also to love their wives/ even as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife/ loveth himself. Who so ever putteth away his wife (except it be for fornication) causeth her to break matrimony. Math. v. a And who so ever marrieth her that is divorced/ breaketh wedlock. i Pe. v. iij. i. Tess. iiij. Ye men/ dwell with your wives according unto knowledge/ giving honour unto the wife/ as unto the weaker vessel/ and as unto them that are heirs with you of the grace of life/ that your prayers be not let. Num. thirty. Deu. twenty-three. If any man make a vow unto the lord/ or swear an oath/ so that he bind his soul/ he shall not break his word/ but do all that is proceeded out of his mouth. The duty of married women towards their husbands. Ephes. d. c Col. iij. c i. Petr. iij. a Let the women submit themselves unto their husbands/ as unto the lord. For the husband is the wives head/ even as Christ also is the head of the congregation and he is the saviour of his body. Cor. xj. a Therefore as the congregation is in subjection of Chryst/ likewise let the wives be in subjection to their husbands in all things. Ye women/ be subject unto your husbands/ that even they which believe not the word/ may without the word be won by your conversation/ when they behold your conversation in fear. i Petr. iij. a 1. Cor. xj. a Ephes. v. c Col. iij. c. 2. Tim. 2. b Whose apparel/ shall not be outward with broided hear/ and hanging on of gold/ or in putting on of gorgeous array/ but let the inward man of the heart be incorrupt with a meek and a quiet spirit which before GOD is much set by. For after this manner in the old time/ did the holy women which trusted in God/ tire themselves/ and were obedient unto their husbands/ even as Sara obeyed Abraham and called him Lord. Gene. xviij. Let the women array themselves in comely 1. Tim. 2. apparel with shamefastness and discrete behaviour/ not with broided hear/ or gold/ or pearls or costly array/ but with such as it becometh women that profess godliness thorough good works. 1. Cor. xiv. ephes. v. c Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. Suffer not a woman to teach nor to have authority over the man/ but for to be in silence. For Adam was first form/ and than Eve/ Adam also was nor deceived/ but the woman was deceived/ and hath brought in the transgression. Hens. iij. c Notwithstanding thorough bearing of children she shallbe saved/ if she continued in faith/ and in love/ and in the sanctifying with discretion. Let your wives keep silence in the congregation/ for it shall not be permitted unto them to speak/ but to be under obedience/ as the law saith. But if they will learn any thing/ let them axe their husbands at home. For it becometh not women to speak in the congregation. A man shallbe lord and ruler in his house/ and the woman shallbe subject to her husband. Num. thirty. If a married woman make a vow/ and if she have let go out of her lips a bond over her soul/ and her husband hear it/ and holdeth his peace thereat/ the same day that he heareth it/ then her vow and bond wherewith she hath bound her self over her soul/ shall stand in effect. But if her husband forbid her the same day that he heareth it/ then is the vow louse that she hath upon her/ and the band also that she hath let go out of her lips over her soul. Of the state of matrimony in general. Mat. nineteen. a Genes. ij. d In the beginning God created man and woman/ for this cause shall a man leave father and mother/ and cleave to his wife. And they two shallbe one flesh/ now are they not twain but one flesh. Let no man therefore put asunder which God hath coupled together. i Cor. seven. To avoid whoredom/ let every man have his own wife/ and let every woman have her own husband/ let the man give unto the wife due benevolence/ likewise also the wife unto the man. The wife hath not power over her own body/ but the husband/ and likewise the man hath not power over his own body but the wife. Tob. vj. d and seven. a joel. ij. ● Withdraw not yourselves one from an other/ except it be with the consent of both/ for a time/ that ye may give yourselves unto fasting and prayer/ and than come together again/ least sathan tempt you for your incontinency. Hebr. xiii. a Let wedlock be had in price in all points/ and leet the chamber be undefiled. For whorekeepers and adulterers God will judge. The Lord favoureth man and wife that agree well together. Eccl. xx●. and xi. d Eccl. xx●●. ● Happy is the man that hath a virtuous wife/ for the number of his years shallbe double. A woman shall not separate herself from her husband/ but if she separate herself/ that she remain unmarried/ or be reconciled to her husband. i Cor. 7. d A woman that is in subjection to the man/ is bound unto the law while the man liveth/ but if the man die/ then is she loosed from the law that concerneth the man. Rom. dij. ● Math. v. d If she be with an other man/ while her man liveth/ she shallbe called a wedlokbreaker. But if the man be dead/ then is she free from the law/ so that she is no wedlock breaker/ if she be with an other man. Of the state of virgins. i Cor. seven. a I say to them that are unmarried/ and to widows (saith S. Paul) It is good for them that they abide also as I do. i Tim. v. b But if they can not abstain/ let them marry/ for it is better to marry/ them to burn. i. Cor seven. c As concerning virgins/ I have no commandment of the lord/ nevertheless I say my good meaning/ as I have obtained mercy of the lord to be faithful. I suppose it is good for the present necessity/ for it is good for a man so to be. Art thou bound unto a wife seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife/ seek not a wife. If a damsel make a vow unto the lord/ while she is in her father's house/ and unmarried/ and her vow or band that she maketh over her soul/ cometh to her father's ears/ and he hold his peace thereto/ then all her vows and bands that she hath bound herself with all over her soul/ shall stand in effect. Num●. x●● Of the state of Widows. 2. ●imo. 5. 〈◊〉. ij. ●. Cor. j She that is a right widow/ and desolate/ putteth her trust in God/ and continueth in prayer and supplication night and day. But she that liveth in pleasures/ is dead/ even yet alive. Gala. v●. b A widow must be without blame. But if there be any that provideth not for his own/ and specially for them of his household/ the same hath denied the faith/ and is worse than an infidel. i Petr. ij. i Tim. v. b Let no widow be chosen under three score year old/ and such one as was the wife of one man/ and well reported of in good works/ if she have brought up children well/ if she have been harbarrowes/ if she have washed the saints feet/ if she have ministered unto them which were in adversity/ if she were continually given to all manner of good works. i Petr. iiij. But the younger widows refuse. For when they have begun to wax wantonne against Christ/ they will marry/ having their damnation/ because they have broken the first faith. Besides this they are idle/ and learn to run about from house to house. Not only are they idle/ but also trifling and busybodyes/ speaking things which are not comely. The vow of a widow/ and of her that is divorced/ all that she bindeth herself withal over her soul/ shall stand in effect upon her. Num. ●●●. Exhortation to the Rich of this world. If riches increase/ set not your heart upon them. Psal. lxj. b Eccl. xiv. a It becometh not a covetous man and a niggard/ to be rich/ and what should a niggard do with gold? he that with all his carefulness heapeth together unrighteously/ gathereth for other folks/ and an other man shall make good cheer with his goods. He that is wicked unto himself how should he be good unto other men? How can seche one have any pleasure of his goods? There is nothing worse/ than when one disfavoureth himself and this is a reward of his wickedness. If he do any good/ he doth it not knowing thereof/ and against his will/ and at the last/ he declareth his ungraciousness. Prover. 17 Eeccl. iij a A niggard hath a wicked eye/ he turneth a way his face/ and despiseth his own soul. A covetous man's eye hath never enough in the portion of wickedness/ until the time that he wither away/ and have lost his own soul. eccl. xiv. b eccle. iiii a Tobi. iiii. b Luk. 16. b A wicked eye spareth bread/ and there is scarceness upon his table. My son do good to thyself of that thou hast/ and give the lord his due offerings. Do good unto thy friend before thou die/ and according to thy ability reach out thine hand / and give unto the poor. A rich man ought to submit himself/ and not to rejoice in his goods. job. i. ● Charge them which are rich in this world/ that they be not proud/ nor trust in the uncertain riches/ but in the living God (which giveth us abundantly all things to enjoy them) That they do good that they be rich in good works/ that they give and distribute with a good will/ gathering up treasure for themselves/ a good foundation/ against the time to come/ that they may lay hand on eternal life. i Timo. v●. Math. 6. c give alms of thy goods/ and turn never thy face from the poor for alms delivereth from death/ and suffereth not the soul to come in darkness. Tobi. iiii b A great comfort is alms before the high God/ unto all them that do it. Genes. iij Let never pride have rule in thy mind nor in thy word for in pride began all destruction. Eccll. iij. Happy is the rich that is found without fault/ and he that turneth not from the right way for gold/ neither putteth his trust in money or treasure. Go to now ye rich men/ weep/ and howl on your wredchednes that shall come upon you. 1. Timo. 6. Your riches are corrupt/ your garments are moth eaten. Your gold and your silver are cankered/ and the rust of them shallbe a witness against you: and shall eat your flesh as it were fire/ ye have heaped treasure together in your last days. Leu. ix. c Deut. 24. c Toby. iiij. c Behold the higher of the labourers which have reaped your own fields (which higher is of you kept back by fraud) crieth/ and the cries of them which have reaped/ are entered into the ears of the lord Sobaoth. Luke xv. c Ye have lived in pleasure on the aerth and in wantonness/ ye have condemned and have killed the just/ and he hath not resisted you. eccle x. b There is nothing worse them a covetous man. What pridest thou thee/ O thou ashes? There is not a more wicked thing then to love money. And why? such one hath his soul to sell/ yet is he but a filthy dung while he liveth. Although the Physician show his help never so long/ yet in conclusion it goeth after this manner/ to day a king/ to morrow dead. For when a man dieth he is the heir of beasts/ serpent's and worms. Woe be unto the proud wealthy in Sion/ to such as think themselves so sure upon the mount of Samaria. Amos vi● Luke vi c Which hold/ themselves for the best of the world/ and rule them house of Israel even as they lift/ behold/ is the border of the land of the philistines wider than yours? Ye are taken out for the evil day even that sit in the stole of wilfulness/ ye that ligh upon beds of ivory/ and use your wantonness upon your couches/ ye that eat the best lambs of the flock/ and the fattest calves of the drove/ ye that sing to the lute/ and in playing of instruments compare your selves unto David/ ye that drink wine out of gobblettes/ and anoint yourselves with the best oil/ but no man is sorry for Joseph's hurt. job. xxi. b E●ay v. b i. Reg. xuj. d Who so trusteth in his riches/ shall perish. Prover. xj. Psal. xl. a Blessed is he that considereth the poor for the lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble. See that ye gather you not treasure upon earth/ where rust and moths corrupt/ and where thieves break through and steal. Math. uj c Luke xii. d Eccl. 39 b But gather you treasure together in heaven/ where neither rust nor moths corrupt/ and where thieves neither break up nor yet steal. Pro. twenty-three a Luke xii. c For where your treasure is/ there is your heart also/ ye can not serve God and Mammon. Luke xv. a Make you friends with the unrighteous Mammon/ that when ye shall have need/ they may receive you into the eeverlasting tabernacles. i Tim. vi. b Prou. 23. a All they that willbe rich/ fall into temptation and snare/ and into many foolish and noisome lusts/ which drown men in destruction and damnation. For covetuosnes is the root of all evil/ which while some lusted after/ they erred from the faith/ and tangled themselves with many sorrows. exhortation to the pooresycke and impotent parsons. Blessed are the poor in spirit/ for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Math. ●5. a Luke vj. c All the days of the poor are miserable/ but a quiet heart is as a continual feast. Prover. 15 Psal. xxxuj Better is a little with the fear of the lord/ then great treasure. Better is the poor that liveth Godly/ then the blasphemer that is but a fool. Pro nineteen. a A poor man leading a Godly life/ is Pro. xxvij. a better than the rich that goeth in froward ways. Psal. xxxuj. Pro. xv. b Eccl. xxix. d 1. Tim. vj. b A small thing that the righteous hath is better than great riches of the ungodly. The lord knoweth the days of the Godly/ and their inheritance shall endure for ever. Psal. ix The lord is a defence for the poor/ a defence in the time of trouble. For the lord forgetteth not the complaint of the poor. The lord shall deliver the poor from the mighty/ and the wretched and miserable poor silly people/ which have no help. The lord will not forget the poor/ the patient abiding of such as be in trouble shall not perish for ever. Psal. xxj. b He shallbe favourable to the simple and poor/ he shall preserve the souls of such as be in adversity. He shall deliver their souls from extortion and wrong/ and dear shall their blood be in his sight. Eccl. 21. a Exod. v. b The prayer of the poor goeth out of the mouth and cometh unto the ears/ and his vengeance (or defence) shall come and that hastily. A simple man which laboureth and worketh/ is better than one that is gorgeous and wanteth bread. Pro. xii. b Eccl. 10. d Thou art the poor man's help (o lord) a strength for the needful in his necessyté. Esay. xxv. a Thou art unto him a defence against evil wether/ and a shadow against the heat. The poor shall not alway be out of remembrance/ the patient abiding of such as be in trouble shall not perish for ever. Psal. ix The lord shall keep the simple folk by their right/ defend the children of the poor/ and punish the wrongeous doers. Psal. lxxj. a The poor fely people covet water/ and they can get none/ and their tongue is waxed dry for thrust. Isaiah xii. I the lord shall hear them. I the God of Israel will not forsake them. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world/ which are rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? jacob. ij. a The poor that wanteth strength/ and hath great poverty/ Eccl. xj. the eye of GOD looketh upon him to good/ setteth him up from his low/ estate and lifteth up his head. Exhortation to the artificer or handicrafts man. Genes. iij In the sweat of thy face shalt thou rate thy bread/ till thou be turned again unto aerth whence thou art taken. job. v. a Man is borne to labour/ like as the bird for to fly. An idle hand maketh poor/ but a quick labouring hand maketh rich. Prover. x. a Who so gathereth in Summer/ is wise/ but he that is slougysh in harvest/ bringeth himself to confusion. In all thy works be diligent and quick/ so shall there no sickness happen unto the. eccle 31. c Roma. xii. b Be not proud to do thy work/ and despair not in the time of adversity. eccl x. d Who so is slothful and slack in his labour/ is the brother of him that is a waister. Pro. xviij. b Slothfulness bringeth sleep/ and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. Pro. nineteen. c The devices of one that is diligent/ bring plenteousness/ but he that is unadvised/ cometh unto poverty. Prou. xxj. a He that laboureth not/ shall not eat. ij. Tess. iij. A man shall go forth to his work/ and till his land until the evening. psal. 103. c Thou shalt eat the labours of thine own hands/ so shall it go well with thee/ and thou shalt be blessed. psal. 127. a Thy wife shallbe as a fruitful vine upon the walls of thy house. Thy children like the olive branches round about thy table. Lothus shall the man be blessed that feareth the lord. eccl. v. b job. x. c A labouring man sleepeth sweetly/ whether it be little or moche that he eateth/ but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. Prou. 23. a jere. xvij. b Take not over great travail and labour to be rich. Eccl. nineteen. a A labouring man that is given unto drunkenness/ shall not be rich. Prou. x b delight not thou in sleep/ least thou come unto poverty/ but open thine eyes/ and thou shall have bread enough. eccl. xxxij. b All that a man eateth and drinketh/ yea/ what so soever a man enjoyeth of all his labour/ the same is a gift of God. Exhortation to Religious or devout parsons. Pure devotion and undefiled before God the father/ is this. jaco. 1. c To visit the friendless and widows in their adversity/ and to keep himself unspotted of the world. If any man among you seem devout/ and refrain not his tongue/ but deceive his own heart/ this man's devotion is in vain. The fear of the lord is the right god service that preserveth and justifieth the heart/ and giveth mirth and gladness. eccl. ● Exhortation to the merchant. prou. xx. ● It is nought/ It is nought saith the bier/ but when he hath it/ he doth praise it. prouer. xi. a A false balance is an abomination unto the lord. Levit. nineteen. Deal not wrongfully with thy neighbour/ with metyarde/ weight or measure. When thou fellest aught unto thy neighbour/ or buyest any thing of him/ deceive nor oppress him not. Deut. xxv. Leuit. nineteen b Thou shalt not have in thy bag two manner of weights/ a great and a small. Neither shalt thou have in thy house divers measures/ a great and a small/ that thy life may be long in the land/ which the lord thy God shall give thee/ for who soever do●h so ●s an abomination unto the Lord thy God. God knoweth both the deceiver/ and him that is deceived. job. xii Exhortation to the husbandman. Prou. xii. Who so tilleth his ground shallbe filled with bread. Proverb. xj Who so hoardeth up his corn/ shallbe cursed among the people/ but blessing shall light upon his head that selleth it. Deu. xxiv. Leuit. 19 c When thou hast reaped down thine harvest/ and hast forgotten a sheaf in the field/ thou shalt not turn again to fetch it/ but it shallbe for the stranger/ the fatherless and the widow/ that the lord thy God may bless the in all the works of thy hands. In like case when thou hast plucked thine olive trees and viniarde. When thou reapest thy land/ thou shalt not reap down the utermust borders of it round about/ nor gather it all clean up. Livit. nineteen. c Deut. 24. d Even so likewise thou shalt nor pluck thy viniarde clean also nor gather up the grapes that are fallen down/ but shalt leave them for the poor and strangers/ for I am the lord your God. Exhortation to Soldiers or men of war. Deut. x a When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies and seest horses and charectes of the people more than thou/ be not a trayde of them. Now when ye are come nigh unto the battle/ the priest shall step forth/ and speak to the people/ and say unto them. Hear (o ye people) ye go this day into the battle against your enemies/ let not your heart faint. Deut. xii c Num. xiv. 2. Marc iiij. Deut. 28 a Fear not/ be not afraid of them. For the lord your God goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies/ that he may save you. Numer. xxj When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it/ thou shalt offer them peace. But if they will not deal peaceably with thee/ and will war with thee/ then besiege it. Deu. x ● When thou must lighe a long season before a city/ against the which thou makest war to take it thou shalt not destroy the trees/ nor heawe them down with the axe for thou mayest eat of the fruit/ for it is but wood upon the field/ and no man/ and can not come and be bulwarks against the. But the trees that thou knowest that men eat not of/ those shalt thou destroy/ and rote out/ and make bulwarks thereof/ against the city that warreth with thee/ till thou have overcome it. Let him that is a feared and faint/ turn home again. It is a small matter for mannie to be overcome with few/ yea/ theridamas is no difference to the God that is in heaven/ to deliver by a great multitude or by a small company/ for the victory of the battle standeth not in the multitude of the host but the strength cometh from heaven. i Mach. iiiv i Reg. xiv Ye Soldiers do no man wrong/ and be content with your wages. Luke. iij. ● Exhortation to Custumers Tolners and Publicans. Ye Custumers and co●ners/ require no more of the people than is appointed you. Exhortation to lombards and uzurers. Leu. xxv. exod. xxij. c Deut. twenty-three Ezech. 18. a If thy brother wax poor/ and fall in decay beside thee/ thou shalt receive him as a stranger/ or guessed/ that he may live by thee/ and thou shalt take no usury of him/ nor more than thou hast given/ but shalt fear thy God/ that thy brother may live besides the. For thou shalt not lend him thy money upon usury/ nor deliver him thy meat upon advantage. Let no man take usury of his brother. Thou shalt occupy no usury unto thy brother/ neither with money nor with food/ ner with any manner of thing that usury may be used withal/ that the lord thy God may bless them all that thou takest in hand. Deu. twenty-three. Exod. xxij. Leu. xxv. When one of thy brethren is waxed poor/ in any city within thy land/ which the lord thy God shall give thee/ thou shalt not harden thine heart/ nor withdraw thine hand from thy poor brother but shalt open thine hand unto him and send him/ according as he hath need. Deut. xv. a 1 joh. seven. c Beware that there be not a point of belial in thine heart/ that is/ think not that he shall not give it the again. Rom. x. ● For if thou lookest not friendly upon thy brother/ and givest him nothing then shall he cry over the unto the lord/ and is shallbe counted sin unto the. But thou shalt give him. For because of it/ shall the lord thy God bless the in all thy works/ and in all that thou puttest thy hand unto. The land shall never be without poor/ therefore command I the and say/ that thou open thine hand unto thy brother/ which is needy and poor in thy land. Deut. xxiv If thou lend a poor body (saith god) thou shalt not lie down to sleep with his pledge/ but shalt deliver him his pledge again when the Son goeth down/ that he may sleep in his own raiment/ and bless thee/ so shall the same be reckoned unto righteousness/ before the lord thy God. Psal. xiv. a Lord (saith David) who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? Who shall rest upon thy holy hill? He that sweareth unto his neighbour and disappointeth him not. He that giveth not his money upon usury/ and taketh no reward against the innocent. Ezec. xviij. If a man be Godly and do the thing that is equal and right/ he grieveth no body/ he giveth his debtor his pledge again/ he parteth his meat with the hungry/ he clotheth the naked/ he dareth nothing upon usury/ he withdraweth his hand from doing wrong/ he handleth faithfully betwixt man and man. Math. xxv. Psal. xiv. a This is a righteous man/ he shall surely live/ saith the Lord God. E●●●h. xxij Thou haste received gifts to shed blood Thou hast taken usury and increase. Thou hast oppressed thy neighbours by extortion/ and forgotten me/ saith the lord God. He that hath pity upon the poor/ dareth unto the lord/ and look what he layeth out/ it shallbe paid him again. Pro. nineteen. c Exhortation to Whoremongers and fornicators. Proverb. v. Prou. seven. a The lips of an harlot are a dropping honycombe/ and her throat is softer than oil. But at the last she is as bitter as wormwood/ and as sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down unto death/ and her steps pierce thorough unto hell. She regardeth not the path of life/ so unsteadfast are her ways that thou canst not know them. Hear me therefore (O my son) and depart not from the words of my mouth. Keep thy way far from her/ and come not nigh the doors of her house. That thou mourn not at the last (when thou hast spent thy body and goods) and then say. Alas/ why hated I nurture? Why did my heart despise correction? Wherefore was not I obedient unto the voice of my teachers/ and hearkened not unto them that informed me? Prou. v c job. 31. a My son/ why wilt thou have pleasure in an harlot and embrace the bosom of an other woman? For every man's ways are open in the sight of the lord/ and he pondereth all their goings. Prou. 23. c The mouth of an hariot/ is a deep pit/ wherein he falleth that the lord is angry withal. A foolish restless woman/ full of words/ and such one as hath no knowledge/ sitteth in the doors of her house upon a stool above in the city/ to call such as go by/ and walk straight in their ways. Prou. ix. ● Who so is ignorant (saith she) set him come hither/ and to the unwise/ she saith stolen waters are sweet/ and the bread that is privily eaten/ hath a good taste. But they consider not that death is there and that her gests go down to hell. He that loveth harlots/ spendeth away that he hath. Pro. xxix. a Turn away thy face from a beautiful woman and look not upon the fairness of other. Eccl. ix. a Mat. v. c Many a man hath perished thorough the beauty of women/ for thorough it/ the desire is kindled as it were a fire. A whore is a deep grave/ and a harlot is a narrow pit. Prou. twenty-three Prove. xx●● She lurketh like a thief/ and those that be not a ware she bringeth unto her. Let us not commit whooredme as some of them did/ and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. i Cor. x. a i. Tess. iiij. Ephes. iiij. Toby. vj. d Rom. i. e The will of God is/ that ye should abstain from whoredom/ that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in holiness and honour/ and not in the lust of concupiscence/ as the heathen/ which know not God. Ephe. i ●●. c Math. xii d Let no filthy communication proceed out of your mouth/ but that which is good/ to edify withal. And grieve not the spirit of God/ wherewith ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 1 Cor. 6. ● Flee whoredom. All sins that a man doth/ be without the body. But he that committeth whoredom/ sinneth against his own body. Know ye not that your body is the Temple of the holighoost? Whom ye have of GOD/ and are not your own. Gal. d. c i. Cor. vj. b adulterers/ whoremongers/ fornicators and unclean parson's/ shall not inherit the kingdom of God. jerem. v. d Should I then (saith the lord) for all this have mercy upon thee? Thy children have forsaken me/ and sworn by them that are no Gods. And albeit they were bound to me in marriage/ yet they fell to advourrie/ and haunted harlots houses. In the desire of uncleanly lust/ they are become like the stoned horse/ every man neieth at his neighbour's wife. Ezech. xxi jerem. ix. Should I not correct this/ saith the lord? And should I not be avenged of every people that is like unto this? Exhortation unto drunkards. job. xxj. ● Woe be unto them that rise up early to use them in drunkenness/ and yet at night are more supperfluous in wine. In whose companies are haps and lutes/ ●abrettes and pipes. But they regard not the work of the lord/ and consider not the operation of his hands. Prou. iij. a Woe be unto them that are cunning men to sup out wine/ and expert to set up drunkenness. Pro. twenty-three. Where is woe? where is sorrow? where is strife? where is brawling? where are wounds without cause? where be read eyes? Is it no● among those that be ever at the wine/ and seek out where the best is/ and occupy themselves to drink out g●b●e●s glazes and cups? Look not thou upon the wine how read it is/ and what colour it is in the glass. It goeth down softly/ but at the last it biteth like a serpent/ and stingeth like an Adder. And when a man is drunk/ he casteth his eyes unto strange women/ and doth muse upon froward things. Luk. 21. c Rom. 13. b Take heed unto yourselves/ that your hearts be not overladen with excess of eating and with drunkenness. Wine is marvelous strong and over cometh them that drink it/ it deceiveth the mind and bringeth both the poor man and the king to dotage and vanity. iii. Esdras ij Prou. xx. a Thus doth it with the bondman and with the free/ with the poor and rich. It taketh away their understanding and maketh them careless and merry/ so that none of them remembreth any heaviness/ debt or duty. It causeth also a man to think that the thing which he doth/ is honest and good/ and remembreth not in what authority he is/ and that he ought not to do such things. Moreover when men men are drinking/ they forget all friendship/ all brotherly faithfulness and love. But as soon as they are drunken/ they draw out the sword/ and will fight. And when they are laid down from the wine/ and so risen up again/ they can not tell what they did. Wine is a voluptuous thing/ and drunkenness causeth sedition/ who so delighteth therein/ shall never be wise. Prou. xx. a Ephe. b. b Be not thou a wine bebber/ for wine hath destroyed many a man. Prou. 21. a Ephes. v. b O how well content is a wise man with a little wine? The fire proveth the hard iron/ even so doth wine prove the hearts of the proud/ when they be drunken. eccle. xxxjd Prou. xxxj. 1. Timo. 5. Wine soberly drunken/ quickeneth the life of man. If thou drinkest it measurably/ thou shalt be temperate. Wine was made from the beginning to make men glad (and not for drunkenness) Wine measurably drunken/ is a rejoicing for the soul and body. But if it be drunken with excess/ it maketh bitterness and sorrow unto the mind. Drunkenness filleth the mind of the foolish/ with shame and ruin/ dimynissheth the strength/ and maketh wounds. Ephe. v ● Be not drunken/ for therein is excess. Exhortation unto all sinners generally. Ezech. xviij Deut. xiv. 4. Reg. 14. The same soul that sineth/ shall die. The child shall not bear the father's offence/ neither shall the father bear the child's offence. But the righteousness of the righteous shallbe upon him self/ and the wickedness of the wicked shallbe upon him self also. two. Para. 25. Iere iii. 18. a But if the ungodly will turn away from all his sins that he hath done/ and keep all my commandments/ and do the thing that is equal and right/ doubtless he shall live and not die. And I will think no more upon all his sins that he did before. ezech. 18. a For I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner (saith the lord God) but rather that he convert and live. A general exhortation unto all men. Thou shalt reprehend thy brother when he sinneth/ least his offence come over all. Levit. 19 c Be ye all of one mind/ one suffer with an other/ love as brethren/ be pitiful/ be courteous. i Petr. iij. b Recompense not evil for evil/ neither rebuke for rebuke/ but cotrary wise/ bless/ and know that ye are called thereto/ even that ye should be heirs of the blessing. For who so listeth to live/ and would feign see good days/ let him refrain his song from evil/ and his lips that they speak no guile. Genes. xii Math. xv. Let him eschew evil/ and do good. Let him seek peace and ensue it. For the eyes of the lord/ be over the righteous/ and his ears are open unto their prayers. But the face of the lord beholdeth them that do evil. Finis. A right goodly rule how all faithful christians shall occupy and exercise themselves in their daily prayers. ¶ Luke. xxij. Math. vj. ¶ Christ teacheth us in his Gospel saying. Pray that ye fall not into temptation. IMPRINTED at Ippeswych by Anthony Scoloker. dwelling in. S. Nycholas parish. Anno. 1548. Cum privilegio ad imprimendum solum. How a man shall behave himself in the morning when he riseth. When thou risest in the morning/ look that thou with all humbleness of mind/ kneel down/ and lifting up thy heart/ thy hands and thine eyes into heaven/ unto God the father almighty/ pray on this manner. The prayer for the morning. O almighty and most gentle God we thank the for the sweet sleep and comfortable rest/ that thou hast given us this night. And for as much as thou hast commanded by thy holy word/ that no man should be idle/ but all ways occupied in virtuous exercises/ every man according to his calling. We most humbly beseech thee/ that thine eyes may attend upon us/ daily defend us/ in sorrow secure us/ cherish comfort and govern all our counsels/ studies and labours. In such wise that we may so spend this day/ according to thy most blessed will/ without hurting of our neighbour/ that we may diligently and warily eschew and avoid all things that should displease thee/ set thy always before our eyes/ live in thy fear/ and ever work that that may be found acceptable before thy divine Majesty/ unto the praise of thy most holy name/ through jesus Chryst our lord. So be it. another prayer for the Morning. Seeing that thou (O heavenvly father) act that one and alone almighty God/ which art in every place/ beholdest the counsels/ devices and works/ yea/ the very thoughts of all men/ and givest to every one according to their deeds. We beseech the that (for as moche as thou haste most graciously preserved us this night) we may not spend this day after our own mind and pleasure (which is always evil and wicked) but earnestly look upon/ and diligently follow thy fatherly will/ thine everlasting counsel/ thy healthful word and thy pleasure which is always good/ perfect and holy/ and fulfil the same with good heart/ that thy divine name may always be sanctified/ both now and ever of us miserable sinners through thy dearly beloved son jesus christ our lord and Saviour So be it. Afther that thou hast prayed on this manner (seeing that we be all sinners) it shallbe expedient (if thou hast convenient leisure thereunto) to confess thyself on this manner unto God the father. The confession of our sins unto God the father. O Almighty God and heavenly father/ maker of heaven and earth/ I confess myself unto thee/ even from the very heart/ that I am a miserable/ wretched and abominable sinner. And have wickedly transgressed all thy holy commandments/ and the divine precepts of thy Godly will. The sins (alas which I have committed in my flesh against thee) are so great and so exceedingly increased/ that they are no less innumerable than the sands of the sea. And they thrust me down even as an intolerable burden. In these wicked sins (oh lord God) have I hitherto walked according to the will of the prince of the world/ whiles I did that that was pleasant to the flesh and evil lusts/ through vain thoughts/ the blindness of my heart/ the outward pretence of Godliness and feigned faith. This came to pass (Ah wretch that I am) because that I did never aernestly strive against the suggestions of Satan/ nor the concupiscences or desires of the world/ nor yet the lusts of my flesh. But filthily obeyed them a thousand times more/ than the admonitions of thy holy spirit. O lord my God. It came to pass also/ that I did set nought by thy Godly counsel/ despised thy holy name/ and feared thy vengeance and heavy displeasure nothing at all. But what soever I have in this behalf offended thy most Godly majesty/ it sore repenteth me/ and the fault grieveth me even unto the very heart. And if it were not (o most merciful father) that thou hadst laid up mercy in the bowels/ blood and wounds of jesus Christ thy son and our lord/ for so many as unfeignedly repent and truly believe be their sins never so great and many/ I should see none other way/ but throw myself down headlong (through desperation) into the bottomless pit of hell. But for as much as thou haste set thy well-beloved son jesus Christ/ to be our mediator and mercy stock. And haste promised grace/ mercy and forgiveness of sins to as many as ask it in his name/ through faith in his blood. Therefore in this time of grace and mercy/ I miserable sinner come now unto thee/ and desire the my lord God that thou wilt grant me/ thorough that our lord jesus Christ/ a right and true faith. And for his sake/ forgive me all my sins/ and make me to walk daily more and more in a new heart/ and in the fruits of the holy ghost/ that I may utterly despise all the ungodly lusts of this world/ and that I may be found continent/ pure of living temperate/ good righteous/ honest/ diligent in all goodness/ meek/ merciful/ modest/ humble and ready to forgive such as offend me/ even from the very heart. And so live all the days of my live according to thy divine will and true fear. That I may die to the world/ to all sin and to myself. And with a good confidence and merry heart/ look for the coming of the lord/ and my saviour jesus Christ. To whom with the and the holy ghost/ be all honour and glory for ever and ever. So be it. Thou mayest (if thou wilt) after thy confession/ say the lords prayer called the Pater noster. And so (commending thyself unto God) fall to some honest and virtuous exercise/ according unto thy calling. But what so ever thou dost/ do it with pureness of heart/ and with singleness of eye. Yea so do it/ as though God were present/ and looked upon thee/ as undoubtedly he doth. The prayer to be said when thou goest to bed. O God the almighty lord/ by whose order and will the night and darkness do now approach/ wherein we shall give ourselves to quiet and sleep. We most instantly desire thee/ that thou graciously receive us into thy tuition and keeping/ that the prince of darkness do not hurt us with his terrous and fears. And although we must sleep/ because of our feebleness/ yet let our heart and mind wacche unto the. Go thou before us/ and show us the way as a pillar of fire/ that we may follow the so well in rest/ as in business and occupations of this life. And grant that we be not found in thy sight/ children of night and darkness/ but of day and light/ through jesus Christ our lord. So be it. another Prayer. This our mortal body/ which through sin daily decayeth and diminisheth/ must at the last altogether perish and become earth/ whereof it is come and made and then shall our vanity/ which we through our own ignorance/ have made unto ourselves/ take an end. But most merciful creator and maker of all things/ vouchsafe so to break/ divide and dissolve me/ thy poor creature who am gathered/ knit and made of thee/ and grant that I may always have in mind/ thy dissolution/ and of whom I am knit together/ having an eye to what place I must go to th'intent that I/ not being prepared/ be no brought without nuptial or bridal garment/ before thy judgement seat. For like as when the day is one's past/ we give ourselves to rest/ even so must we/ this life being ended/ rest in the death. Nothing is more like unto life/ then the day/ and nothing more like unto death/ then the night. And nothing so like the grave or sepulchre as the couch bed or bedstead. Thus/ good keeper and defender from all evil/ grant us/ now lying in impotency and feebleness/ of ourselves/ that/ through thee/ we may be preserved this night from all the assaults of the devil of hell. AMEN. When thou goest to thy labour or work. Prayer. O most kind and gentle heavenly father/ thou knowest/ and hast also taught us/ how great the weakness of man is/ so that man (without thy Godly help) can do nothing. Thus vouchsafe to send us thy holy spirit/ that he may strengthen/ stir and move our understanding and reason/ in all things that we this day outwardly shall go about and take in hand/ or of that we inwardly shall think or have in mind/ to the intent that it may all be done to thy glory/ and to the profit of our neighbour. So be it. When a man is bound towards any journey. Prayer. This our life/ most merciful lord/ is nothing else but a pilgrimage and through fare/ for we have here no abiding or dwelling place. We are come from thee/ and we must return again unto the. But amongst or between all the traps/ assaults/ pits and snares which the devil hath laid out and spread abroad/ for us/ blinded in sin/ vouchsafe thou/ o lord jesus Christ/ to lead us with thy righthand/ for thou art a true/ trusty/ and sure friend. Open our eyes/ to th'intent that we miss not the way which thou thyself art but lead us/ through and by thyself unto the father/ to the intent that all we may be made one with the and him/ even like as thou art one with him. O most merciful lord/ like as thou dost send thy holy Anngels to be defenders of as many as serve and please the with a simple/ innocent and pure heart/ by the which/ they be led/ like young children are led of them which are elder and stronger than they. And like as thou didst vouchsafe to send thine Angel. raphael/ to be a guide unto the son of that reverent man Toby/ vouchsafe even so/ o lord/ to send us the same Angel/ although we are not so worthy/ as the same Toby was/ that he may encourage and lead us through that way/ which is not pleasant unto us/ but unto the. So be it— When a man cometh home or at his journeys end. Thanksgiving and prayer. I Thank thee/ o heavenly father/ for thy great grace and mercy/ which thou haste showed unto me/ in going forth and in returning or coming again through thy holy blessing/ which thou givest unto all them that keep thy holy word and do thereafter. Grant us/ o gracious God/ here/ where we have no abiding or dwelling place/ a pure and quiet conscience/ through thy son jesus christ who is our only rest. So be it. For kings Princes and Rulers. Prayer. O Lord of lords jesus christ/ thou art an exempel and glass or mirror of them which gowerne and bear rule of Realms/ countries and city's/ whom they ought to follow/ for thou art the best and the wisest/ and therefore canst thou not err/ nor do any other thing but well. Vouchsafe with the light of thy clearness and with the fire of thy love/ to kindle the hearts of all such/ as thou/ through thy Godly providence/ hast instituted and ordained to be rulers over the people/ to the intent that they through the as through or by a foregoing light/ may see/ and perceive what is best to be done/ and fulfil the same/ and that they/ taking thy always for a sure mark of their eye/ do not that thing which only seemeth good in their sight/ but that which may be to thy honour/ to our profit and to their health and salvation/ to th'intent also/ that they may justly and duly minister and execute their office/ given unto them of thee/ so that we with them and they with us may lead a peaceable/ virtuous and quiet life. So be it. For all teachers and Preachers of the most holy word of God. Prayer. O merciful priest/ chief bishop and true good heard jesus Christ vouchsafe/ through thy holy spirit/ to strengthen all preachers and teachers which thou hast called and sent to be labourers in thy holy harvest/ for to break and distribute the bread of thy holy word to th'intent that they may boldly and earnestly set their souls in the defence of thy holy word/ and for their sheep/ against all the threatenings and false enterprises of the ravening wolves and false prophets/ which go about to seduce and bring us out of the right way/ for their bellies sake/ through their false doctrine. To the intent that they may so teach and declare us thy holy laws and gospel/ that we may be taught and edified/ and that also thy Godly honour may daily more and more be magnified thereby. Amen. For all them which lie in the extreme pangs of death/ or otherwise. O pitiful Physician and healer both of soul and body/ Christ jesus. Vouchsafe to cast thine eyes upon thy poor sinful creature. N. who lieth here captive and bound with sickness/ turning his weakness to thy glory and to his health. And vouchsafe/ good lord/ to send him patient sufferance/ that he may steadfastly continue to the end/ and that he may with a true and parfet faith/ fight manfully against all temptations of the devil when he may no longer continue. So be it. For all women bound with the lords bands. Prayer. GOd ●●●harted Lord jesus christ Like as thou didst comfort and deliver thy disciples and all elect and chosen holy men and women in all their need/ martyrdom and pains which they suffered of the tyrants wrongfully/ and didst also cure and heal them of their wounds/ pains and smart/ thorough hope of the crown of everlasting life. Even so vouchsafe (thou which art a helper of all them that call on the in all trouble and need) to deliver this poor weak vessel/ which is here bound with a fruit after thine own similitude and likeness (notwithstanding that she hath deserved in transgressing of thy holy commandment/ to bring forth her children in pain and woe) that she may be made a glad and joyful mother/ through the new creature with good speed/ that the child may have name and Christendom/ and that the mother may be purified to thy honour and to her health. So be it. Prayer. O Good father and giver of all goodness/ God almighty/ we (poor silly worms of the earth) labour and take pains/ dig and delve/ till and plough/ plant and sow/ and can do no more. But thou only mayest and wilt give the increase in due time. Therefore most best/ yea/ only good father and God/ vouchsafe (through thy divine providence) to preserve and keep all the fruits of the earth/ and suffer the same to grow and increase to a perfect growth/ although we are not worthy of it but for thy name's sake/ to th'intent we may use them to our necessity and sustenance/ with thanksgiving/ and always to thy glory. So be it. A general confession. Rom. iii. Gene. vi. and iii v. O Lord God almighty/ father of mercy and God of all comforce/ we thy poor creatures resort unto the knoledging and confessing ourselves before thy glorious majesty/ that we all are grievous sinners and can of ourselves do nothing but sin. For all our imaginations/ intents and thoughts are inclined and disposed unto evil from our youth up. O see. xiii. two. Cor. two. Philii. two. Gene. iii. Ephes ij. Ps. l. lxij. john xv. E●a. lxiii● jere. xiii. Our damnation cometh of ourselves/ we of ourselves are not able to think a good thought. It is thou only that dost work in us both the will and the deed. We are but earth and naturally the children of wrath. We of ourselves are but vain/ yea/ lighter than vanity itself/ We can do nothing without the. There is not one of us whole/ we are all unclean/ and all our righteousness is but as a filthy cloth. We have no more power to do good of ourself/ them a black Mor●an or man of Ind hath power to change his skin/ or the Leopard her spots. Now according to this evil and corrupt in●●ination of our nature so have we lived I thought/ word/ and deed. Deny. ix We have sinned/ we have offended/ we have gon● back from thy law/ and have not hearkened unto thy word. we have no● loved thee (O lord our god) with all our heart with all our soul/ with all our strength and with all our power. We have been fore transgressors of thy commandments. We have nor put our whole trust and confidence only in the. We have in our troubles and need/ not sought for help only in the. We have not called only upon thy name/ but with false confidence/ with vain superstition/ and unlawful oaths have we blasphemed thy name. We have prayed and made intercession unto stocks and stones/ and made thy creatures our advocates and mediators contrary to thy word. We have reposed our trust and affiance in our own deeds and in such works as have been devised by men's fantasies besides thy scripture. We have wandered on vain pylgr●mages/ offering up money/ candles and tapers to images and relics with such like superstition. We have been slothful in our business. We have not been fervent and diligent in doing of our duty. Specially on such days as be appointed for the preaching of thy word/ we have not plied ourselves wholly to learn it/ nor occupied our time in prayer and giving thanks unto the. And as touching the love that we ought to have unto all men and women for thy sake we have not been earnest in at all times. We have not loved our neighbours as our selves/ we have not done/ as we would be done unto/ we have been ungentle/ unpatient/ uncourteous froward/ angry and displeased. We have rejoiced in our neighbours hurt and been sorry of his welfare. We have dene led with false doctrine and errors from the way of thy truth/ We have sinned with our father's/ we have done amiss/ we have dealt wickedly. Psal. xuj. Therefore our most dear father which art in heaven/ for as much as we have blasphemed thee/ and not sought always the glory of thy name/ grant now that from henceforth thy name may be sanctified and hallowed in us/ Grant now that thy kingdom may come/ and that in stead of sin and error/ thou one- To pray. Grace a fore meat. Rom. xiii●. I know (saith the Apostle) and am full certified in the lord jesus/ that there is nothing unclean of itself/ but unto him that judgeth it to be unclean/ to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved over thy meat/ than walkest thou not now after charity. Destroy not with thy meat/ him for whom Christ died. O our father which art in. etc. Grace a fore meat. Let not our treasure therefore be evil spoken of. Rom. xliij. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink/ but righteousness and peace/ and joy in the holy ghost. O our Father which are in. etc. Grace a fore meat. Meat doth not further us unto God. i Cor. seven. If we eat/ we shall not therefore be the better/ If we eat not we shall not therefore be the worse. But take heed that this your liberty be not an occasion of falling to the weak. Grace a fore meat. Meat hath God created to be received with thanks of them which believe and know the truth. ij. Tim. iiij. For every creature of God is good/ and nothing to be refused that is received with thanksgiving/ for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. O our Father which art in heaven. etc. Receive your meat without grudging/ Take heed ye never abuse the same/ give thanks to God for every thing/ And all way praise his holy name. Who so doth not/ is sore to blame/ No evil ensample see that ye give/ Thus doth God's word teach you to live. Cori. iij. Whatsoever ye do in word or deed/ do all in the name of our Lord jesus Christ/ giving thanks unto God/ the Father by him. Grace after meat. Thanks be unto the O lord God almighty (most dear Father of heaven) for giving us our food in due season/ for opening thy merciful hand/ and for filling us with thy plentefull blessing. And we beseech the for thy sons sake jesus Christ/ not only to preserve us alway from abusing of the same/ but also to lend us thy grace/ that we may ever be thankful unto the therefore. Amen. Grace after meat. Thanks be unto the O lord God almighty (most dear father of heaven) for certifying us by thy blessed word/ that all kinds of meats are clean. And we beseech the lend us thy grace/ that we may alway thankfully receive the same/ not only without superstition or scrupulosité of conscience/ but also without grieving or offending our brethren/ And so to walk in the way of godly love and charity/ that with our meat we never destroy him/ for whom thy Son jesus Christ died as well as for us. Grace after meat. thanks be unto the O God almighty (most dear father of heaven) for opening unto us thy blessed word/ which is our treasure/ our pearl/ ye and our riches/ more precious than either gold or precious stone. And we beseech thee/ though corporal meat and drink be no part of thy kingdom/ yet order thou us so in receiving the same/ that we never give occasion of slaundringe thy word/ or offending the weak. Amen. Grace after meat. Thanks be unto the O lord God almighty (most dear father of heaven) for laying up our salvation only in thy self/ and not in any kind of meat. And we beseech thee/ guide us so in the use thereof/ that we may follow such things as make for peace/ and whereby we may edify one an other. And never to give unto the weak any occasion of falling from thy word. Amen. Grace after meat. Thanks be unto the O lord God almighty (most dear Father of heaven) for ordaining thy creatures to be meat/ food and sustenance unto our bodies/ and hast sanctified them by thy blessed word/ etc? We beseech thee/ make us so to increase in steadfastness of thy faith/ in perfect knowledge of thy truth/ and in continuance of fervent prayer unto the that to us also they may be sancryfyed and holy/ and that we may ever both thanckfully receive them/ and virtuously use them/ to the good ensample of other. amen. Eccl. 50. d. Blessed is he that exerciseth himself in these things. And who so taketh such to heart shallbe wise. If he do these things/ he shallbe strong in all. For the light of the lord leadeth him. john. 13. b. If ye know these things/ blessed are ye if ye do them. Luke. 12. e. jacob. 4. b The servant that knoweth his lords will and doth it not/ shallbe beaten with many stripes. 1. john. 2. c But he that fulfilleth the word of God/ abideth for ever. john. 20. d These things are written to the intent that we should believe/ that jesus christ is the son of God/ and that we thorough him/ might have life everlasting. Which the chiefest goodness vouchsafe to give unto all them that shall either hear/ see or read this present little book. AMEN. Finis.