Epaph. First as touching my wife:1 with whom I coupled my self in the fear of God, and refusing all other women, I •inked my self unto her, living with her in the blessed state of honourable wedlock, by whom also thou the blessing of God, I have •ad certain children, whereof part •re gone before me unto the lord, ⟨p. 138⟩and part yet remain a live, albeit I doubt not, but the god, after my departure according unto his promise, will be unto her an husband, yea a father, a patron & defender, & will not suffer her to lack, if she go •orth to live in his fear, to serve him, and diligently to call on his holy name, yet forasmuch as God hath blessed me with worldly substance, and she is mine own flesh, and whosoever provideth not for his,2 hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel, I bequeath & give unto her for term of her life, this house wherein I now dwell, with the appurtenances, and all the household stuff contained therein. And after her departure, I will that my eldest son (whom now I only have alive of all my sons) have the house. Let this suffice for my wives portion, whom I doubt not, God will take into ⟨p. 139⟩his protection, and so provide for her in the time of her short pilgrimage, that she shall want no good thing. Only I crave this at her hand, that she be diligent in training up my children in the fear and doctrine of the Lord: so shall God be unto her an husband, and to her children a father. Moreover as concerning my children, albeit I am fully persuaded that God according to his promise will be a father unto them, & if they live in his fear, he will not see them lack, yet both the law of God, & of nature requireth, that I should also have some care for them.3 Therefore unto my son I bequeath the house & the land, which I have given my wife for term of her life, freely to be his own after his Mothers departure. And if God so appointing, he chanceth to depart before his mother, I will that the ⟨p. 140⟩house & the land,4 go to the use of my .ii. daughters. Have you written these things.
Epaph. First as touching my wyfe:1 with whome I •oupled my self in the fear of God, and refusing all other women, I •inked my selfe vnto her, liuing wt her in the blessed state of honoura•le wedlocke, by whome also tho•owe the blessing of God, I haue •ad certen children, wherof part •re gone before me vnto the lord, ⟨p. 138⟩and part yet remain a liue, albeit I dout not, but ye god, after my departure according vnto his promis, will be vnto her an husband, yea a father, a patrone & defēder, & will not suffer her to lack, if she go •orth to liue in his feare, to serue hym, and diligently to call on his holy name, yet forasmuch as God hath blessed me with worldly substance, and she is mine own flesh, and whosoeuer prouideth not for his,2 hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidell, I bequeth & geue vnto her for tearme of her life, this house wherein I nowe dwell, with ye appurtenances, and all the housholde stuffe contayned therein. And after her departure, I wil that my eldest sonne (whom now I only haue aliue of all my sonnes) haue the house. Let this suffice for my wiues portion, whō I doubt not, God will take into ⟨p. 139⟩his protection, and so prouide for her in the tyme of her short pilgrimage, that she shall want no good thing. Only I craue this at her hand, that she be diligent in training vp my children in the feare and doctrine of the Lorde: so shall God be vnto her an husband, and to her childrē a father. Moreouer as concerning my children, albeit I am fully perswaded that God according to his promise will be a father vnto them, & if they liue in his fear, he wil not se thē lack, yet both ye law of God, & of nature requireth, yt I should also haue some care for them.3 Therfore vnto my sonne I bequeath the house & the land, which I haue geuē my wife for tearme of her life, frelye to be his owne after his Mothers departure. And if God so appoynting, he chaunceth to departe before his mother, I will that the ⟨p. 140⟩
- 1Wife.
- 2i. Tim. v.
- 3Sonne.
- 4Daughters.
