The Parable of the Wicked Mammon

The order of love or charity which, some dream, the Gospel of Christ showeth not of that a man should begin at him self first and then descend I wot not by what steppes. Love seeketh not her own profit. ii. Cor. xii. but maketh a man ¹to forget him self, and to turn his pro fet and other man, as Christ sought not him self or is own profit but ours.

The order of loue or charite which, some dreame, the Gospell of Christe showeth not of that a man should beginne at hym selfe fyrste and then descende I wot not by what steppes. Loue seketh not hyr owne profet. ii. Cor. xii. but maketh a mā ¹to forgette him selfe, and to turne his pro fet and other man, as Christe sought not hym selfe or is owne profit but oures.

1. 1There is no order in charity.Ther is no order in charitie.

This term my self is not in the Gospel, nether yet father, mother sister, brother, kinsman, that one should be preferred in love above another. But Christ is all in all things. Every christen man to an other is Christ him self, and thy neighbours need hath as good right in thy goods as hath Christ him self which ⟨image 47⟩is heir & Lord over all. And look what thou owest to Christ that thou owest to thy neighbours need. To thy neighbour owest thou thine heart, thy self and all that thou▪ haste and canst do. The love that springeth out of Christ excludeth no man nether putteth difference between one and an other. In Christ we are all of one degree without respect of persons. Not withstanding thought a Christen mans heart be open to all men, and receiveth all men. Yet because that his ability of good des extendeth not so far, this provision is made, that every man shall care for his own household, as father and mother and thine elders that have holpen thee, wife children and servants. If thou shouldest not care & provide for thine household, then, wert thou an infidel, seeing thou haste taken on the so to do, & for as much as that is thy part committed to the of the congregation.