Seven treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holy Scriptures, leading…Seuen treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holie Scriptures, leading…

For though many have of a good meaning at the first, gone apart from §Fsecular affairs; and betaken themselves to live in sequestered places, because they would not be troubled with earthly dealings: yet subtle thieves arose afterwards, of the popish prelacy, who abused this to horrible mischiefs: for we must not be ignorant of this, that when men will venture without their warrant, the longer they do it, the further they fall into the depth of sin; as a man once gone out of his way, goeth further astray, till he seek to come in again. Which hath been the cause, why much wickedness hath in time broke forth in the Papacy (where the people have been heartened to this monastical life, and superstitious devotion) as idleness, whoredom, sodomitry, hypocrisy, and most cruel murdering of the souls of many infants which were §Gmisbegotten. So that (not to digress too far) this is the second reason, why I made plain my meaning, in saying that the contempt of the world is not, the weariness of our life, the leaving of our affairs in the world, or the forsaking of our particular calling; as though no man may be godly and a believer that useth these: but to prove that one may be a contemner of the world that useth them all; and by consequent, that he who is sure of his salvation by faith, may have this grace to despise the world: which I have set down as the sixth property or inseparable companion of faith.

For though many haue of a good meaning at the first, gone apart from §Fsecular affaires; and betaken themselues to liue in sequestred places, because they would not be troubled with earthly dealings: yet subtile theeues arose afterwards, of the popish prelacie, who abused this to horrible mischiefes: for we must not be ignorant of this, that when men will venture without their warrant, the longer they doe it, the further they fall into the depth of sinne; as a man once gone out of his way, goeth further astray, till he seeke to come in againe. Which hath been the cause, why much wickednes hath in time broke forth in the Papacy (where the people haue been hartned to this monasticall life, and superstitious deuotion) as idlenes, whoredome, sodomitry, hypocrisie, and most cruell murthering of the soules of many infants which were §Gmisbegotten. So that (not to digresse too farre) this is the second reason, why I made plaine my meaning, in saying that the contempt of the world is not, the wearines of our life, the leauing of our affaires in the world, or the forsaking of our particular calling; as though no man may be godly and a beleeuer that vseth these: but to proue that one may be a contemner of the world that vseth them all; and by consequent, that he who is sure of his saluation by faith, may haue this grace to despise the world: which I haue set downe as the sixt propertie or inseparable companion of faith.