An invective against the most wicked [and] detestable vice of swearing, newly co[m]piledAn inuectyue agenst the moost wicked [and] detestable vyce of swearing, newly co[m]piled

What ungodliness, superstition, Hypocrisy, dissimulation, swearing, ⟨image 6⟩pride, envy, dronkenshyp, gluttony, fornication, adultery, whoredom, covetousness, & an whole sea of evils hath overflowed the world? And all this is come to pass through the sleepy negligence of Curates, nether can there as yet be perceived any amendment. The Priests go forth still to neglect y• office of preaching Gods word, and y• people remain still in their old blindness, not caring much though they never hear one word of the holy Scripture preached unto them in all their life, so little pleasure have the poor silly souls in it, because they know not what a precious treasure y• most holy word of God is. What than remaineth, but that one of us mo•yshe,¹ teach and exhort another? as S. Paul biddeth, teach & monish ye one another For if one lay man were no more merciful to ⟨p. v⟩another, than y• Priests are for the most part, surely the greatest part of the world should,² I think, run headlong unto the devil for want of knowledge. Wherefore I exhort all men of what degree & •orte soever they be charitably to monish one another when they see any man offend, and rebuke him by the Scriptures of God, y• we may shine in the midst of a froward & crooked nation as great lights in the world, pure, faultless,³ & such as no man can complain of, holding fast the word of life. Let us suffer no sin to reign in this our mortal body, but mortify all things y• strive against the spirit. Let us so watch & give diligence to our selves, y• nether Satan nor the world, nor yet the flesh, may have any interest in us.