Thus le we that all godly men both of the old and new Testament used abstinence for the most part,1 when they should either preach, hear or read the word of God, that they might come the more reverently unto ⟨image 70⟩it, and be made the more mete to handle so holy and worthy mysteries. It is convenient therefore y• we also, if we will use fasting aright, do follow the examples of these holy men, whensoever we intend either to preach, read or hear the word or God, and not unreverentlye to come unto the holy scripture, as unto profane writings,2 after the example of many ungodly parsons which with out all humility & reverence read the word of god as though it were an Ethnic chronicle, a book of mans statutes, of Bevise of Hampton, of Gye of Warwick, of Robin Hood, and such other like fond and foolish fancies yea there want not (the greater shall be our plague) which scorn y• word of god and most shamefully abuse it, some unto scoffing and ⟨image 71⟩jesting, some unto the taunting of other, some unto y• upholding of their fleshly liberty & corrupt man ners, some unto the maintaining of wicked opinions. &c. whose destruction sleepeth not, whose damnation is at hand.3 For if it be not lawful to cast pearls before hogs nor to give that is holy to dogs, nether is it lawful for hogs to touch pearls, nor dogs to taste y• is holy. If they were punished that did eat unleavened bread at the feast of the passover,4 if Uza were stricken unto y• death for touching the ark,5 if that guest that came unto the marriage not having the wedding garment,6 was bound hand and feet, and •ast into utter darkness, where weeping and gnashing of teethe is, if the Corinthians were plagued for abusing the lords supper,7 let not those swinish ⟨image 71⟩Epicures, doggish papists Licentious Libertines, ungodly Anabaptists, gross gospellers and wicked worldlings think that they shall escape unpunished if they go forth to abuse the word of god or to come unreverentlye unto it. For the holy scripture is the message of god, brought unto us from heaven by his holy Ambassadors the Prophets & Apostles yea by his own dearly be loved Son that king of glory, which sealed & confirmed it with the shedding of his most precious blood: it may not therefore be lightly regarded, nor unreverentli handled. For if the that despiseth Moses law,8 saith .S. Paul, dieth without mercy under .ii. or .iii.
TThus le we that all godlye men both of the old and new Testament vsed abstinence for the most part,1 whē they shuld eyther preach, heare or read the worde of God, that they myghte come the more reuerentlye vnto ⟨image 70⟩it, and be made the more mete to handle so holye and worthye misteries. It is conueniēt therfore y• we also, if we wyll vse fastinge aright, do folowe the examples of these holi men, whensoeuer we entende eyther to preache, reade or heare the worde or God, and not vnreuerentlye to come vnto the holy scripture, as vnto prophane wrightings,2 after the example of many vngodly parsons which wt out al humilitie & reuerēce read the woorde of god as thoughe it wer an Ethnike chronicle, a boke of mannes statutes, of Beuise of Hampton, of Gye of Warwicke, of Robinhoode, and suche other lyke fonde and foolyshe fansyes yea ther wāt not (the greater shal be our plage) which scorn y• word of god and moste shamefullye abuse it, some vnto •koffynge and ⟨image 71⟩iesting, some vnto the tauntinge of other, some vnto y• vpholdīg of their fleshly liberty & corrupt mā ners, some vnto the maint eining of wicked opinions. &c. whose destruccion slepeth not, whose damnacion is at hand.3 For if it be not lawful to cast pearles before hogs nor to gyue that is holy to dogs, nether is it lawful for hogges to touch pearles, nor dogs to taste y• is holi. If thei wer punished that did eate vnleuended bread at the feast of the passeouer,4 if Uza wer striken vnto y• death for touching the arcke,5 if that geast yt came vnto the maryage not hauinge the wedding garmente,6 was bounde hand and feete, and •ast into vtter darcknes, wher weping and gnashinge of teethe is, if the Corinthes wer plaged for abusinge the lords supper,
- 1We must come to the word of ••ed reverently.We muste com to the woorde of ••ed reuerentlye.
- 2Abusers of the word• of God.Abu•ers of the word• of God.
- 3Math. vii.
- 4Exodi. xii.
- 5ii. Reg. vi.
- 6Math. xxiii
- 7i. Corin. xi
- 8•ebru. x.
