A14992:268
A care-cloth
A care-cloth: or a treatise of the cumbers and troubles of marriage intended to advise them that may, to shun them; that may not, well and patiently to bear them. By William Whately, preacher of the word of God in Banbury, in Oxfordshire.A care-cloth: or a treatise of the cumbers and troubles of marriage intended to aduise them that may, to shun them; that may not, well and patiently to beare them. By William Whately, preacher of the word of God in Banbury, in Oxfordshire.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, 1624
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. VI. Containing the first use of the point, a reproof of them that do neglect this duty.
CHAP. VI. Containing the first vse of the point, a reproofe of them that doe neglect this duty.
Use 1 But alas, alas, my Brethren,1 how slow and backward have we all been, to this so plain and needful a duty? Ah, it is most evident, that we deserve most sharp reprehension for being so scant in tears for that, for ⟨p. 230⟩which this man of God did weep so abundantly. For where is there, my brethren, alack, where is there to be found one man amongst us, that hath imitated so precious, and withal so manifest example? Where is his dwelling, whose face is covered with these tears, and cheeks made wet with this weeping? In what corner may we meet with him, or her, that is able to profess in truth before the Lord, and his own soul: O Lord, Rivers of water have run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy Law? O, no, no; we are sold over to mirth and jollity. Behold, slaying of Oxen, and killing of sheep, eating and drinking, and calling to hang sorrow, as once among the Jews. Behold; piping and dancing, and minstrelsy; behold, making out harts fat and jovial, as in a day of slaughter. But alas; Ah, alas; the sins of the Land are not laid to to heart by (almost) any of those that inhabit the Land, and for a thousand sinners, hardly have we one weeper. As for the common multitude, why, they would think him even quite out of his wits, whose face they should see blubbered with weeping in a corner: And why forsooth? Because his neighbours be wicked and ill living men, and keep not Gods precepts. Why (would they think and say) what is that to him? Shall he bear other mens burdens, or answer for other mens sins? Or can he mend their faults by sighing and weeping for them? Why then should he vex himself for that, which will bear never a whit the better, if he