¶ I am the lord thy god which brought thee out of the land of Egypt. &c.

¶ I am the lord thy god which brought thee oute of the land of Egipt. &c.

O Good lord and dear father, here y• wouldest I should know that thou, which broughtest thy people of Israel out of Egypt with a mighty hand and a stretched out power, which gavest thy law upon mount Sinai in great thundering, lighting, fire, which spakest by the prophets, and diddest send thy dearly beloved son Jesus Christ coequal and consubstantial with thee in power, majesty, & glory, to take upon him our nature by the operation of the holy ghost in the womb of y• virgin Mary, of whose substance he was made and borne man, but pure without sin, that we by birth children of wrath, by him might be made thy children, children of grace, communicating ⟨image 42⟩with him righteousness, bolines, & immortality by the working of the spirit, as he communicated with us flesh and blood (but not infected with sin, as is ours) by the working of the same holy spirit: which spirit after his bitter death, resurrection, and ascension into the heavens, he sent plentifully and by a visible sign unto his Apostles and Disciples: by whom he published, the gospel through out the whole world, and so continually hath done from age to age, doth, and will do unto the end of the world by the ministry of preaching: Thou wouldest I say that we should know and believe, that thou this Almighty lord and god, which on this sort hast revealed and opened thy self, art the one alone, very true and eternal almighty god which madest and rulest heaven and earth, and all things visible and invisible, together with this thy dearly beloved son Jesus Christ, and with the holy spirit, consubstantial and coeternal with thee dear father: Not only this, but also thou ⟨image 43⟩wouldest that I should know and believe, that by the same thy dearly beloved son, thou hast brought me from the tyranny and captivity of Satan, & this sinful world (whereof the captivity of Egypt under pharaoh, was a figure) and in his blonde shed upon the cross, y• hast made a covenant with me, which thou wilt never forget, that thou art and wilt be my lord and my god, that is, thou wilt forgive me my sins and be wholly mine with all thy power, wisdom, righteousness, truth, glory & mercy.

O Good lord and deare father, here y• woldest I should knowe that thou, which broughtest thy people of Israell out of Egypt with a mightie hand and a stretched out power, whiche gauest thy lawe vpon mounte Sinai in great thundering, lighting, fier, which spakest by the prophetes, and diddest sende thy dearelye beloued sonne Iesus Christ coequall and consubstantiall with thee in power, maiestie, & glory, to take vpon him our nature by the operatiō of the holy ghost in the wombe of y• virgin Marie, of whose substaunce he was made and borne man, but pure without synne, that we by byrth children of wrath, by hym myghte be made thy chyldren, children of grace, communicatinge ⟨image 42⟩with him rightuousnes, bolines, & immortality by the working of the spirit, as he communicated wyth vs fleshe and bloude (but not infected wt synne, as is ours) by the working of the same holy spirit: which spirit after his bitter death, resurrectiō, and ascension into the heauens, he sent plentifully and by a visible signe vnto his Apostles and Disciples: by whom he published, the gospell thorowe out the whole worlde, and so continually hathe done from age to age, doth, and will doe vnto the end of the worlde by the mynysterie of preaching: Thou woldest I say that we shoulde knowe and beleue, that thou this Almightye lord and god, which on this sorte hast reueled and opened thy selfe, art the one alone, very true and eternall almighty god which madest and rulest heauē and earth, and all things visyble and inuisyble, together with this thy dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ, and with the holy spirit, consubstantiall and coeternall with thee deare father: Not onelye this, but also thou ⟨image 43⟩woldest that I shuld knowe and beleue, that by the same thy dearly beloued sonne, thou hast broughte me from the tirannie and captiuitie of Sathan, & this sinfull world (wherof the captiuity of Egipt vnder pharao, was a figure) and in his blonde shedde vpon the crosse, y• hast made a couenaunt with me, whiche thou wilt neuer forget, that thou art and wilt be my lord and my god, that is, thou wilt forgeue me my sinnes and be wholy mine with all thy power, wisedome, rightuousnes, treweth, glory & mercy.

In consideration therefore of this, that thou the almighty god, of thine own goodness hast vouched safe not only to make me a creature after shine own Image & likeness, which mightest have made me a beast: to give unto me a reasonable soul, endowed with memory, judgement &c: which mightest have made me an ••fote without wit or discretion &c: to endue me with a body be wetifyed with right shape, limbs, health &c, ⟨image 44⟩which mightest have made me a cripple, lame blind &c: graciously to enrich me concerning fortune, friends, living, name &c: which mightest have made me a slave, destitute of all friends, and helps for this life: but also hast vouchsafed, that I being a a miser, borne in sin, conceived in iniquity, to whom nothing is dew (more then to a Turk, Jew, or Saracen) but eternal damnation, should be called into the number of thy people, enrolled in thy book, & now in thy covenant, so that thou with all that ever thou hast art mine: for which causes sake hitherto thou hast kept me cherished, defended, spared, & fatherly chastised me and now graciously doest keep me and care for me, giving me to live, be, & move in thee, expecting also & waiting how thou mightest show mercy upon me: In consideration (I say) ¹of this, most justly and reasonably thou requirest that as thou art my lord god: so I should be thy servant and one of thy people: As thou haste given thy self wholly unto me, to be ⟨image 44⟩mine with all thy power wisdom &c (For he that giveth him self giveth all he hath) so should I be wholly thine, and give over my self unto thee to be guided with thy wisdom, defended with thy power, holpen, relieved, and comforted by thy mercy.

In consideracion therfore of this, that thou the almighty god, of thine owne goodnes hast vouched safe not onelye to make me a creature after shine owne Image & likenes, which mightest haue made me a beaste: to geue vnto me a reasonable soule, endewed with memorie, iudgemēt &c: which mightest haue made me an ••fote without witte or discretiō &c: to endue me with a body be wetifyed with right shape, limmes, health &c, ⟨image 44⟩

First therefore to begin with all, thou commandest that I should have none other gods in thy sight: that is to say, as I should have thee for my lord & god to look for all good things most assuredly at thy hands, and therefore I should put all my trust in thee, be thankful unto thee, love thee, fear thee, obey thee, and call upon thy holy name in all my needs: so should I give this faith, love, fear obedience, thankfulness and invocation or prayer, to none other, no not in my hart, but only to thee or for thee where thou commandest. All this to do (oh lord god) and that with most joyful hart, I have great cause. For what a thing is it that thou Jehovah wouldest vouchsafe to make me, as thou haste do••? to give thy son for me, and to become my •ode ⟨image 45⟩Oh what am I that thou wouldest I should put my trust in thee? This y• doest that I might never be confounded, but might be most happy. What am I that y• wouldest I should fear thee? Where the only cause, why y• requirest this of me, is not only because thou haste power to cast both body & soul into hell fire, & because they that fear thee not, shall perish: but also that y• mightest give me thy wisdom, that it might go well with me in the evil day, that thou mightest reveal thy son to me, and thy mercy might be upon me from generation to generation. Oh what am I, that thou wouldest have me to obey thee, not only that I never perish with the disobedient, but that thou mightest give me thy holy spirit, and rewards innumerable? Oh what am I that y• wouldest I should love thee? y• which thing thou doest to this end that I might fully and wholly enjoy and possess thee, according to the nature of love, and therefore doest thou require my whole hart, that I might ⟨image 45⟩dwell in thee and thou in me. What am I, that thou wouldest I should call upon thee? verily because thou wilt give me whatsoever I shall ask of thee in the name of thy dear child Jesus Christ: and even so wouldest y• have me thankful, that y mightest pour out upon me yet more plentifully, all good things. So that great cause have I to put my trust in thee, to love, fear, and obey thee, to call upon thee, to be thankful unto thee, not only in respect of the hurt which else will ensue, but also in respect of the commodity that hereby cometh unto me:

but most of all yea alonely for thy own sake, for thy goodness, wisdom, beauty, strength & power, trueth and great mercies.

but most of all yea alonely for thy owne sake, for thy goodnes, wisedome, becutie, strength & power, trueth and great mercies.

But alas (dear father) what shall I say? As in times paste horribly I have broken this thy law, in trusting in thy creatures, calling upon them, loving, fearing, and obeying many things besides thee, and rather then thee: even so at this present I am a most miserable wreth, blinded I am through unbelief, & mine ⟨image 46⟩own wickedness, so y• I see not firmly this thy power, wisdom goodness &c: but waver and doubt of it. I love little or nothing, I fear less, I obey least of all, thankfulness and prayer are utterly quenched in me: by reason whereof I am worthy of eternal damnation. If after thy justice thou shalt deal with me simply, I am (oh lord) damned and lost for ever, for I am very wicked. But yet inasmuch as thou bast given thy son Jesus Christ to be a slain propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, so that he which be leaveth in him shall not perish but be saved (for so thou hast promised) thy trueth now requireth to save me. No howbeit here thou mayest say unto me that I do not believe, and therefore notwithstanding thy trueth & promise, in that I believe it not, thou mayest most justly after thy Justice, damn me. Oh lord god, to this I cannot otherwise answer (my unbelief is so great) but because thy mercy is above all thy works, and thy goodness and love is that which all ⟨image 46⟩creatures most highly commend and magnify, as the thing whereof thou art called god: because y• art right good and lone it self: because of this thy mercy (gracious god) if thou wilt look thereon and couple thy trueth therewith, then (good lord) I shall be saved, and praise thy name for ever more.

But alas (deare father) what shal I saye? As in times paste horribly I haue broken this thy lawe, in trusting in thy creatures, calling vpon them, louing, fearing, and obeying many thinges besydes thee, and rather then thee: euē so at this present I am a most miserable wreth, blinded I am through vnbeliefe, & mine ⟨image 46⟩owne wickednes, so y• I se not firmely thys thy power, wisedome goodnes &c: but wauer and doubt of it. I loue litle or nothing, I feare lesse, I obey least of al, thankefulnes and praier are vtterly quenched in me: by reason wherof I am worthy of eternall damnatiō. If after thy iustice thou shalt deale with me simplie, I am (oh lord) damned and loste for euer, for I am verye wicked. But yet in asmuch as thou bast geuē thy sōne Iesus Christ to be a slaine propitiatorie sacrifice for the sinnes of the whole world, so that he which be leueth in him shall not perish but be saued (for so thou hast promised) thy trueth nowe requireth to saue me. No wbeit here thou maiest say vnto me that I doe not beleue, and therfore notwithstandinge thy trueth & promise, in that I beleue it not, thou maiest most iustly after thy Iustice, dampne me. Oh lorde god, to this I cannot otherwise answer (my vnbeleife is so great) but because thy mercye is aboue al thy workes, and thy goodnes and loue is that which all

¶ Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven &c.

¶ Thou shalte not make to thy selfe any grauen &c.

AS the first commandment teacheth me, as well that thou art my god, as what god thou art, and therefore of equity I should have noon other gods but thee: that is, I should alonely hang on thee, trust in thee, love thee, serve thee, call upon thee, obey thee, be thankful to thee: so because y• didst reveal thy self visibly that thou mightest visibly be worshipped, this commandment is concerning thy worship, that in no point I should follow in worshipping thee, the devise or intent of any man, saint, Angel, ⟨image 47⟩or spirit: but should take all such as Idolatry & Image service, be it never so glorious. And why: for sooth because y• wouldest I should worship thee as thou hast appointed by thy word. For if service be acceptable, it must needs be according to the will of him, to whom it is done, and not of him which doeth it. But inasmuch as of man none knoweth the will and pleasure, but his spirit, except he reveal by word or sign the same: much more of thee o lord, none doeth know thy will, but thy spirit and they to whom thou doest reveal the same. And therefore abominable even in thy sight are all those things, which with men are in most force and estimation because they are not after thy word. So that the meaning of this precept is, that as in the first I should have none other gods but thee: so I should have no worship of thee, but such as thou appointest. Hereby therefore I see great cause of thankfulness for this commandment, in that thou wouldest have mine outward service, and that ⟨image 47⟩after thy appointment, lest I should busy my brain how best to serve thee. Good lord thou needest not my service, perfect thou wast before I was, therefore it is for mine own commodity that thou commandest me, yea even for mine own wealth. Thou mightest have let me have stand all day idle, but such is thy love, that thou wouldest I should go into thy vineyard, that with thy servants I might receive the hire of blessedness. And how great a benefit is it, ¹to deliver me of so great a burden wherewith I should have been cumbered, if I should have served thee in any point after my wit and reason.

AS the fyrste commaundemente teacheth me, as well that thou arte my god, as what god thou art, and therfore of equitie I shuld haue noone other goddes but thee: that is, I shoulde alonely hange on thee, truste in thee, loue thee, serue thee, call vpon thee, obey thee, be thankefull to thee: so because y didst reueyle thy selfe visiblie that thou mightest visibly be worshipped, this commaundement is concerning thy worshippe, that in no point I shuld folowe in worshipping thee, the deuise or intent of any man, saint, Angell,

But alas, I not considering what a promotion thy service is, nor what an easy service it is, and simple (for one may well know what to do, & when he pleaseth thee, namely when he serveth thee as thou hast appointed) as I am and always have been unthankful: so I am and always have been a grievous transgressor of this thy law. For as in times past, when I did not know this commandment, ⟨image 48⟩I was an Image worshipper of stocks, stones &c: yea bread and wine: so now I am a worshipper of mine affections, offering to them the service due unto thee, though not thereby to worship thee, as I thought when I knelled to stocks and stones, bread & wine &c: yet with no less transgression of thy law: for the which I have deserved, and do deserve everlasting damnation. Of thy goodness and great mercy (dear father) I beseech thee forgive me for Christs sake, whom thou didst give to be the fulfilling of the law to all them that should believe. Oh father I believe, help mine unbelief. As thou haste of thy goodness hitherto spared me, transgressing this thy holy precept: so of thy goodness forgive me, as well mine Idolatry done in times paste, as that which of late time I have committed & do commit. And as thou by this commandment hast delivered me from the one, that is, bowing my self to stocks & stones: so (dear father) deliver me from all other bowing my self after mine own will ⟨image 48⟩to mine own affections: that I may have non other god in hart but thee, nor do service to any other but only to thee, & for thee, after thy word as thou commandest. Oh open mine eyes to see thy will in this thy gracious precept. Give me a will to love it heartily, & an hart to obey it faithfully, for thy dear sons sake jesus Christ our lord. Amen.

But halas, I not considering what a promotion thy seruice is, nor what an easye seruice it is, and simple (for one maye well know what to doe, & when he pleaseth thee, namely whē he serueth thee as thou hast appointed) as I am and alwaies haue been vnthankefull: so I am and alwaies haue been a greuous transgressor of this thy lawe. For as in times past, when I dyd not knowe thys commaūdement, ⟨image 48⟩I was an Image worshipper of stocks, stones &c: yea bread and wine: so nowe I am a worshipper of myn affectiōs, offering to thē ye seruice due vnto thee, though not therby to worship thee, as I thought when I kneled to stocks and stones, bread & wine &c: yet with no lesse transgression of thy lawe: for the which I haue deserued, and doe deserue euerlasting damnatiō. Of thy goodnes and great mercy (deare father) I beseche thee forgeue me for Christs sake, whom thou didst geue to be the fulfylling of the lawe to al them that should beleue. Oh father I beleue, helpe mine vnbeliefe. As thou haste of thy goodnes hitherto spared me, trāsgressing this thy holy precept: so of thy goddnes forgeue me, as well mine Idolatrie done in times paste, as that whiche of late time I haue cōmitted & doe comitte. And as yu by this commaundement hast deliuered me from the one, yt is, bowīg my self to stocks & stones: so (dere father) deliuer me frō al other bowīg my self after mine owne will

Thou shalt not take the name of the lord thy god in vain.

Thou shalt not take the name of the lord thy god in vaine.

By this commandment I perceive (oh lord) that as in the first thou wouldest in the exterior service of thee, I should utterly abandon mine own will and reason, and all the reasons or good ententes of man, and wholly give my self to serve thee after thy will and word: so here doest thou begin to tell me, how thou wilt have my tongue to be exercised in thy service, and therefore thou biddest me not to take thy name in vain: as by temerarious or vain swearing, by cursing ⟨image 49⟩praying without sense, as those boo that pray in a tongue they know not, praying without faith or attent consideration of the thing desired, with out hearty desire and certain expectation of obtaining that which is to thy glory and my salvation: also by jesting, or foolish abusing, or negligent reading or hearing of thy holy word, by the which thou, as by thy name, art known: and in like manner by denying thy trueth and word, or concealing it when occasion is offered to promote thy glory and confirm thy trueth. By reason whereof I may well see, that y• wouldest have me to use my tongue in humble confessing thee and thy word and trueth after my vocation: in praying heartily and calling upon thy name: in reading and hearing thy word, and speaking thereof withal reverence, diligence, and attention: in thanks giving and praising thee for thy great mercy: in instructing my brother and admonishing him, when he erreth, after my calling and vocation, withal humbleness, gentleness ⟨image 49⟩and love.

By this commaundement I perceaue (oh lord) that as in the first thou woldest in the exterior seruice of thee, I shuld vtterly abandō mine owne will and reason, and all the reasons or good entētes of mā, and wholy geue my self to serue thee after thy wil and word: so here doest thou beginne to tell me, howe thou wilte haue my tongue to be exercised in thy seruice, and therfore thou byddest me not to take thy name in vayne: as by temeraryouse or vayne swearynge, by cursynge ⟨image 49⟩praying without sense, as those boe that pray in a tonge they know not, praying without faith or attent cō sideracion of the thing desired, with out harty desire and certaine expectacion of obtaining that which is to thy glory and my saluation: also by gesting, or folishe abusing, or negligent readinge or hearing of thy holy worde, by the whiche thou, as by thy name, arte knowen: and in lyke maner by deniynge thy trueth and worde, or conceiling it when occasion is offered to promote thy glorye and confirme thy trueth. By reason wherof I may well see, that y woldest haue me to vse my tonge in humble cōfessing thee and thy word and trueth after my vocacion: in prayinge hartely and callinge vpon thy name: in readinge and hearinge thy worde, and speaking therof withall reuerence, diligence, and attencion: in thanks geuing and praising thee for thy great mercy: in instructinge my brother and admonishinge him, when he erreth, after my calling and vocation, withall humblenes, gentlenes

Thus wouldest thou have me to exercise my tongue, and not to think that the exercising of it in this sort, is a vain and & unprofitable thing, but a thing that pleaseth thee, and profiteth my self and other.

Thus woldest thou haue me to exercise my tongue, and not to thynke that the exercising of it in this sort, is a vaine and & vnprofitable thing, but a thinge that pleaseth thee, and profiteth my self and other.

And forasmuch as thou knowest that our tongue is a slippery member, and we very negligent over it, and of the great commodity that might thereby come to us and other by using it in thy service accordingly: thou hast added a fearful, & most true communication, that though men will find no fault or punish us therefore, yet wilt not thou hold him gilt less, that taketh thy name in vain: As by many examples we are taught, ¹as in thy holy word, so by daily experience, if we would consider the same.

And for asmuch as thou knowest that our tongue is a slipperie member, and we very negligent ouer it, and of the greate commoditie that might thereby come to vs and other by vsyng it in thy seruice accordingly: thou hast added a fearfull, & most true cōmunicaciō, that though men will find no fault or punishe vs therfore, yet wilt not thou hold him gilt les, that taketh thy name in vaine: As by many exāples we are taught, ¹as in thy holye worde, so by dayelye experience, yf we woulde consyder the same.

1. 1Levit, 23.Leuit, 23.

And therefore I have great cause to give praise and thanks to thy most holy name, for many great benefits which by this commandment I receive and ought with thankfulness to consider. First that it would ⟨image 50⟩please thee, not only to give me a tongue, where thou mightest have made me speechless: but also that y• wouldest have it sanctified to thy service. Again that thou wouldest not only reveal thy name unto us, but also wouldest give me leave to call up on it, praise and publish it: yea thou hast commanded me so to do, and not only commanded, but hast promised, that thou wilt here my prayer and that my praising of thee and confessing thy word and trueth, shall not be in vain.

And therfore I haue great cause to geue praise and thankes to thy most holy name, for many great benefits which by this commaundemente I receyue and ought with thankefulnes to consider. First that it wolde ⟨image 50⟩please thee, not onelye to geue me a tounge, where thou mightest haue made me speachles: but also that y• woldest haue it santified to thy seruice. Againe that thou woldest not onely reuele thy name vnto vs, but also woldest geue me leaue to cal vp on it, praise and publishe it: yea thou hast commaunded me so to doe, and not onely commaunded, but hast promised, that thou wilt here my praier and that my praising of thee and cō fessinge thy word and trueth, shall not be in vaine.