Let it not dismay you, (my most dear children) that I shall now be taken away from you. For albeit, that I being your natural Father, shall no more ⟨p. 207⟩serve you nor provide for you, as hitherto I have done, yet doubt ye not, but if ye go forth, as ye have begun, to fear God, and to serve him, he will not leave you comfortless, but in my stead he will be a father unto you, receive you into his tuition, and provide better for you than ever I was able to do. Therefore if ye will have God a merciful and gentle father unto you: fear him, love him, honour him, serve him, pray unto him, call on his blessed name, be thankful unto him for his benefits, and in all things seek to please his godly Majesty. Give your minds to the reading of the holy scriptures, and what so ever ye read therein, practise it in your •ife and conversation. Be not only favourers, but followers also of the word, not only lovers but also •ivers of the gospel, not only professors, ⟨p. 208⟩but also practisers of gods holy law, so shall God bless you, & all good men love you. Avoid idleness & to much childish pastimes. Let no time of your life pass away without fruit. Eschew all evil company, and have nothing to do with them, that be ungodly. Desire alway the fellowship of them that be good and virtuous. Have all your whole confidence and trust in the Lord your God. Take nothing in hand, before the have craved his help by fervent prayer. And after the thing done, give God most hearty thanks, knowledging him to be the giver of all good things. The Sabbath day, and such other feastiful days, spend them holily and godly. Give your selves to prayer, to hearing of Sermons, and reading the word of god. See that ye defile not the name of the Lord your God ⟨p. 209⟩with vain and unlawful oaths. Reverence your elders, Honour your mother, be obedient unto her pray for her, do for her, whatsoever lieth in your power, that God may bless you and give you long and joyful life upon the earth. Be no evil speakers. Be courteous and gentle unto all men. Let no lightness appear in you, nether in gesture nor countenance. Be true and faithful. Cast away all pride, and embrace humility. Avoid superfluous eating & drinking. Use temperance in all your doings. Be not moved unto anger, but be patient and ready to forgive. Be merciful to the poor. Help all men to the uttermost of your power.
Let it not dismaye you, (my moste deare children) that I shall nowe be taken away from you. For albeit, that I being your naturall Father, shall no more ⟨p. 207⟩serue you nor prouide for you, as hitherto I haue done, yet doubt ye not, but if ye goe forthe, as ye haue begonne, to feare God, and to serue hym, he wil not leaue you comfortlesse, but in my steade he will be a father vnto you, receiue you into his tuition, and prouide better for you than euer I was able to doe. Therfore if ye wil haue God a mercifull and gentle father vnto you: feare him, loue him, honoure him, serue him, praye vnto him, call on his blessed name, be thanckfull vnto him for his benefites, and in all thinges seeke to please his godly Maiestie. Geue your mindes to the reading of the holy scriptures, and what so euer ye rede therein, practise it in your •ife and cōuersation. Be not only fauourers, but folowers also of ye worde, not only louers but also •iuers of the gospel, not only professers, ⟨p. 208⟩but also practisers of gods holy law, so shal God blesse you, & al good men loue you. Auoid idlenes & to much childish pastimes. Let no time of your life passe away without fruit. Escheue all euill company, and haue nothynge to doe with them, that be vngodly. Desire alway the felowship of them that be good and vertuous. Haue all your whole confidence and trust in the Lorde your God. Take nothing in hande, before ye haue craued his helpe by feruent prayer. And after the thing done, geue God moste harty thanckes, knowledging him to bee the geuer of all good thinges. The Saboth day, and suche other feastiful dayes, spend them holily and godly. Geue your selues to prayer, to hearing of Sermons, and reding the word of god. Se that ye defile not the name of ye Lord your God ⟨p. 209⟩with vaine and vnlawfull othes. Reuerence your elders, Honour your mother, be obedient vnto her pray for her, do for her, whatsoeuer lieth in your power, that God may blesse you and geue you long and ioyfull lyfe vpon the earth. Be no euill speakers. Be courteous and gentle vnto all men. Let no lightnes appere in you, nether in gesture nor countenaunce. Be true and faithfull. Cast away all pride, and embrace humilitie. Auoid superfluous eating & drinking. Use temperance in al your doinges. Be not moued vnto anger, but be pacient and ready to forgeue. Be merciful to the poore. Helpe all men to the vttermost of your power.
