The Lord charged his people of the old Testament, to be 1very diligent, in instructing ⟨image 132⟩a right their children, even from their infancy, and gave express commandment in his law, to teach them, and to expound unto them, the mysteries of his Sacraments. Seeing then it is evident, by the doctrine of the Evangelists and Apostles, that God hath no less care for the youth of his people, with whom he left his new Testament, when he openly witnesseth saying: Suffer little children to come 2unto me, for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven: doubtless, those ministers of churches do most wisely, which betime diligently instruct the youth, laying in them the first foundations of faith, and faithfully teaching the first principles of our religion, expounding to them Gods commandments, the Creed, and the Lord his prayer, the use of his Sacraments, with such other like first instructions, and chief points of our religion. Let the congregation show them selves faithful and diligent, in bringing their children to be taught, desiring & rejoicing, that their youth ⟨p. 87⟩may be well instructed. For as much as men are never more grievously tempted, then when they be weak and sick, sore broken with diseases of the 3mind and body, the Pastors of the Church, doubtless, ought at no time to be more watchful and careful to save his flock, then in such sickness and infirmities. Let them therefore visit the sick betimes, and let the diseased send for them without delay, if the cause so require. Let the ministers con forte, 4and confirm them in the true faith, arm them against the pernicious suggestions of Satan, let them say prayers in the sick mans house, and if need require, let them pray for his recovery, both of body and soul, in the Church also. And let them do their endeavour, that he may depart out of this world, in blessed state.
THe Lorde charged his people of the olde Testament, to bee 1verie diligent, in instructyng ⟨image 132⟩a right their children, euen from their infancie, and gaue expresse cōmaundmente in his lawe, to teache them, and to expounde vnto theim, the misteries of his Sacraments. Seeyng then it is euidente, by the doctrine of the Euangelistes and Apostles, that God hath no lesse care for the youthe of his people, with whom he lefte his newe Testamente, when he openly witnesseth saiyng: Suffer little children to come 2vnto me, for to suche belongeth the kyngdome of heauen: doubtlesse, those ministers of churches doe moste wisely, whiche betyme diligently instructe the youthe, laiyng in theim the firste foundacions of faithe, and faithefully teachyng the first principles of our religion, expoundyng to them Gods cō maundementes, the Crede, and the Lorde his praier, the vse of his Sacramentes, with suche other like firste instructions, and chief poinctes of our religion. Lette the congregacion shewe theim selues faithfull and diligent, in bryngyng their children to be taught, desiryng & reioysyng, that their youth ⟨p. 87⟩maie be well instructed. For as muche as menne are neuer more greuously tempted, then whē thei be weake and sicke, sore broken with diseases of the 3mynde and bodie, the Pastours of the Church, doubtles, ought at no time to be more watchfull and carefull to saue his flocke, then in suche sickenesse and infirmities. Let theim therefore visite the sicke betymes, and let the diseased sende for theim without delaye, if the cause so require. Let the ministers cō forte, 4and confirme theim in the true faithe, arme them againste the pernicious suggestiōs of Sathan, let theim say praiers in the sicke mannes house, and if nede require, let theim praie for his recouery, bothe of bodie and soule, in the Churche also. And let theim do their indeuour, that he maie depart out of this worlde, in blessed state.
- 1youth should be instructed in godliness.youth should be instructed in godlines.
- 2Mar. x.
- 3Visiting of the sick.Visiting of the sicke.
- 4The ministers duene.
