The Parable of the Wicked Mammon

Let every man therefore wait on the office wherein Christ hath put him and¹ therein serve his brethren. If he be of low degree let him patiently therein abide till God promote him and exalt him higher. Let kings & head officers seek Christ in there▪ offices and minister peace and quietness unto the brethren, punish sin, and that with mercy▪ even with the same sorrow and grief of mind as they would cut of a finger or joint a leg or arm of their own body if their were such disease in them, that either they must be cut of or else all the body must perish. Let every man of what soever craft or occupation he be of, whether brewer baker,² tailor, victualler, merchant, or husband man refer his craft and occupation unto the commune wealth, and serve his brethren as he would do Christ him self. Let him bye and sell truly and not set dice on his brethren, and so showeth he mercy, & his occupation pleaseth God.

Let euery man therfore wayte on the office wherin Christe hath put hym and¹ therin serue hys bretherue. If he be of lowe degre lette hym paciently therein abyde tyll God promote hym and e•alte hym hier. Let kinges & hed officers seke Christe in ther▪ offices and ministre peace and quietnes vnto ye bretherne, punyshe synne, and that wyth mercye▪ euen wyth the same sorowe and grefe of minde as they woulde cutt of a fynger or ioynte a legge or arme of their own bodie if theyr were such disease in thē, that either they must be cutte of or else all the body must perish. Let euery mā of what soeur craft or occupaciō he be of, whether bruer baker,² tailer, vitailer, marchaūt, or husbāde man refer hys craft and occupacion vnto the commune wealth, and serue hys bretherne as he woulde do Christe hym slefe. Let hym bye and sell truely and not set dice on hys bretherne, and so showeth he mercy, & hys occupacion pleaseth God.