[The Pentateuch]

If I vow voluntary poverty / this must be my purpose / that I will be content with a competent living which cometh unto me ether by succession of mine elders or which I getteth truly with my labour in ministering & doing service unto the common wealth in one office or in another or in one occupation or other / because that riches and honour shall not corrupt my mind and draw mine heart from god / and to gene an ensample of virtue and edifying unto other & that my neighbour may have a living by me as well as I / if I make a cloak of dissimulation of my vow / laying a net of feigned beggary to catch superfluous abundance of riches & high degree and authority and through the estimation of false holiness to feed and maintain my slothful idleness with the sweat / labour / lands / & rents of other men (after y• ensample of our spiritualty) robbing them ⟨image 243⟩of their faiths and god of his honour turning unto mine hypocrisy that confidence / which should be given unto y• promises of god only / am I not a wily fox & a ravening wolf in a lambs skin & a painted sepulchre fair without and filthy with in? In like manner though I seek no worldly promotion thereby / yet if I do it to be justified therewith and to get an higher place in heaven / thinking that I do it of mine own natural strength & of y• natural power of my freewill & that every man hath might even so to do and that they do it not is their fault & negligence and so with the proud pharisee in comparison of my self despise the sinful publicans: what other thing do I then eat y• blood & fat of my sacrifice devouring it my self which should be offered unto god alone and his christ. And shortly what soever a man doeth of his natural gifts / of his natural wit / wisdom / understanding / reason / will / & good intent before he be otherwise & clean contrary taught of God's spirit & have received other wit understanding / reason and will / is flesh / worldly and wrought • abominable blindness / with which a man can but soak him self / his own profit / glory & honour / even in very spiritual matters.

Yf I vowe voluntary pouerty / this must be my purposse / that I will be content with a competent lyuinge which cometh vnto me ether by succession of myne elders or which I gettetruly with my laboure in ministringe & doynge seruice vnto the comen welth in one office or in a nother or in one occupacyon or other / because that riches and honoure shall not corrupte my mynde and drawe myne harte from god / and to gene an ensample of vertue and edefiynge vnto other & that my neyghboure maye haue a lyuinge by me as well as I / if I make a cloke of dissimulaciō of my vowe / laynge a net of fayned beggerye to catch superfluous aboundaunce of ryches & hye degre and authorite and thorow the estimacion of false holinesse to fede and mayntayne my slowthfull ydlenesse with the sweate / laboure / lādes / & rentes of other men (after y ensample of oure spiritualtye) robbynge thē