The Parable of the Wicked Mammon

The cause why I set my name before this little treatise & have not rather done it in the new testament is, that then I fo lowed the counsel of Christ which exhorteth men Matth. vi. to do their good deeds secretly and to be content with the conscience of welldoing, and that God seeth us, and patiently to a bide the reward of the last day which Christ hath purchased for us: and now would fain have done likewise, but am compelled otherwise to do.

The cause why I set my name before this litle treatise & haue not rather done it in the new testament is, that then I fo lowed the councell of Christe whiche exhorteth men Matth. vi. to do their good deades secretly and to be content with the conscience of welldoynge, and that God seeth vs, and pacyent•ye to a byde the rewarde of the last day which Christ hath purchased for vs: and nowe would fayne haue done lykewyse, but am compelled otherwyse to do.

¶ While I a bode a faithful companion which now hath taken another voyage upon him, to preach Christ where (I suppose) he was never yet preached (God which put in his heart thither to go send his spirit with him, comfort him, and bring his purpose to good effect) one William Roy a man son what crafty when he cometh unto new acquaintance and before he be thorough known and namely when all is spent, came unto me and offered his help. As long as he had no money, somewhat I could rule him, but as soon as he had gotten him ⟨image 3⟩money, he became like himself again.

¶ Whyle I a bode a faythfull companion whiche nowe hathe taken another viage vpon him, to preache Christ where (I suppose) he was neuer yet preached (God which put in his hert thither to go sende his spirite wyth hym, cōforte him, and bringe his purpose to good effecte) one Willyam Roy a man sō •what craftye when he cōmeth vnto new acquayntaunce and before he be thorow knowen and namely when all is spent, came vnto me and offered his helpe. As longe as he hade no money, somwhat I coulde rule hym, but as soone as he had gotten hym