A09935:213
Certain prayers and godly meditations very needful for every ChristenCerteine prayers and godly meditacyons very nedefull for euery Christen
Emprented at Malborow i.e. Antwerp : The year of our Lorde et M.CCCCC.XXXviii. per me Joannem Philoponon i.e. H. Peetersen van Mideelburch?, 1538Emprented at Malborow i.e. Antwerp : The yeare of our Lorde et M.CCCCC.XXXviii. per me Joannem Philoponon i.e. H. Peetersen van Mideelburch?, 1538
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now seest thou that in all these ten commandments / in a good order and briefly are contained / all kinds of in formations / that are expedient for mans life / which if any man will do his diligence to keep truly he shall never be idle no / not an hour / but shall have occasion to do good deeds / so that truly he shall never have need to chose to him other strange works of man's invention / as are ⟨image 30⟩to run hither and thither / and to be occupied in such things / which in no place are commanded / and which shall be profitable for no thing.
NOwe seyst thou that in all these tenne cōmaundementes / in a good ordre and briefly are cōteyned / all kyndes of in formacions / that are expedient for mānes lyfe / whiche yf any man will do his diligence to kepe truely he shall neuer be ydel no / not an houre / but shall haue occasyon to do good deades / so that truely he shall neuer haue nede to chose to hym other straunge workes of mannys inuention / as are ⟨image 30⟩to runne hyther and thyder / and to be occupied in suche thinges / whiche in no place are cōmaunded / and whiche shalbe profitable for no thing.
Hit is evident that in all these precepts there is nothing written / which teacheth us to serve our selves / either to do / leave / or require of any man / that which concerneth our own profit / but only what we are bound to do to other / that is to say / to god and to our neighbour. So that even blind men may well perceive that the fulfilling of the commandments standeth in love towards other / not towards our self. For man of his own nature seeketh and avoideth sufficiently / that which is for (or against) his profit / so that it needeth not to move him to it / but much rather to bring him from hit. There fore he liveth best which liveth not to him self.
Hit is euydent that in all these preceptes there is nothing wryten / whiche teacheth vs to serue oure silues / eyther to do / leue / or require of any man / that whiche cōcernyth oure owne proufit / but onely what we are bounde to do to other / that is to sey / to god and to oure neyboure. So that euen blynde men may well perceyue that the fulfylling of the commaundementes stondeth in loue towardes other / not towardes oure sylfe. For man of his owne nature seketh and auoydeth sufficiently / that whiche is for (or ageynst) his profit / so that it nedith not to moue hym to it / but muche rather to bringe hym frō hit. Ther fore he lyueth best whiche lyueth not to hym sylfe.