A12367:278
A preparative to marriage The sum whereof was spoken at a contract, and enlarged…A preparatiue to mariage The summe whereof was spoken at a contract, and inlarged…
A preparative to marriage The sum whereof was spoken at a contract, and enlarged after. Whereunto is annexed a treatise of the Lords Supper, and another of usury. By Henry Smith.A preparatiue to mariage The summe whereof was spoken at a contract, and inlarged after. Whereunto is annexed a treatise of the Lords Supper, and another of vsurie. By Henrie Smith.
London: printed by Thomas Orwin for Thomas Man, 1591
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.
It is an easy matter, if a man be disposed, to speak something for every vice; as some defend the Stews: some defend Nonresidency: some defend swearing by my faith: some defend bowling upon the Sabbath: and some defend Usury. But, will you plead for 1Baal? (saith Joash) that is, will you plead for sin which will plead against you? A sin is a sin when it is defended: nay, a sin is two sins when it is defended: for he which breaketh one of the least Commandments (saith Christ) and teacheth 2others to do so, is the least in the kingdom of heaven. A Squire of low degree is a Squire of no degree: so ⟨image 149⟩the least in the kingdom of heaven is none of the kingdom of heaven. Who then is the least in the kingdom of heaven? not he which breaketh the least of the Commandments, but he which teacheth others to do so: that is, he which by defending, and excusing, and mincing, and extenuating his sin, encourageth others to sin too.
It is an easie matter, if a man be disposed, to speake something for euerie vice; as some defende the Stewes: some defende Nonresidencie: some defende swearing by my faith: some defend bowling vppon the Saboath: and some defend Vsurie. But, will you pleade for 1Baal? (saith Ioash) that is, will you pleade for sinne which will pleade against you? A sin is a sin when it is defended: nay, a sinne is two sins when it is defended: for he which breaketh one of the least Commandements (saith Christ) and teacheth 2others to doo so, is the least in the kingdom of heauen. A Squire of low degree is a Squire of no degree: so ⟨image 149⟩the least in the kingdome of heauen is none of the kingdome of heauen. Who then is the least in the kingdome of heauen? not he which breaketh the least of the Commandements, but he which teacheth others to doo so: that is, he which by defending, and excusing, and minsing, and extenuating his sinne, incourageth others to sinne too.