Dearly beloved, you that have wit, understanding, and will to be instructed in this controversy now raised in the Church about apparel, at this time this shall suffice. It is true that the teachers of handy crafts affirm, that no man can attain to such excellent perfection in work, as may be disputed of by reason, much less when the rule of religion must be framed according to the rule of God's will, which is the rule of all perfection, may we look that any thing can so perfectly be performed of unperfect man, that in all points it may answer to the perfection that God requireth: nevertheless God requireth his service to be such as him self is, divine, pure, sincere, unmingled, and in no part corrupted, and as lack of strength shall not excuse us, in that we can not, so negligence maketh us more wicked, if that we may perform, and we will not. First we are required to love God with all our hearts, all our minds, and all our strength, that preciseness is commendable, which withholdeth not a little, when all is required. Thou shalt be perfect with thy Lord thy god.1 Thou shalt not bend ether to thy right hand, or to the left. Thou shalt nether ⟨image 19⟩add, nether diminish of that which is commanded. Thou shalt not inquire for the gods of the Gentiles, saying: Howe did those Gentiles serve their gods. Thou shalt not do so to the Lord thy god. For whatsoever the Lord abhorreth, that did they to their gods. God will have his children so to abhor these superstition, that they should flee even from that infection that cometh by hearing.2 Furthermore, so many things as are commanded of leprous, menstruous, dead bodies, were many, which might not be touched without defiling, what other things were they in that rude people,3 but exercises of precise pureness and cleanness, the observance of such shadows, although it hath bin long since abolished, yet the everlasting truth remaineth: much more in presence of the body, that no profane or defiled thing may be mingled with gods service. Moreover god forbiddeth all strange corruptious mixtures, when he forbiddeth them to sow land with divers seeds, to plough with an ox and an ass, to wear linen and woollen together. For liberty & custom even in the least matters breedeth boldness, & in his commandment god hath also respect to the kind of apparel.
DEarly belouyd, you that haue wytte, vnderstanding, and wyll to be instructyd in this controuersie now raysyd in the Churche about apparell, at thys tyme thys shall suffyce. Yt is true that the teachers of handye craftes affyrme, that no man can attayne to suche excellente perfeccyon in worke, as maye be disputed of by reasone, muche lesse when the rule of religion muste be framyd accordynge to the rule of Godes wyll, which is ye rule of all perfeccyon, may we loke that any thyng can so perfectly be performyd of vnperfect mā, that in all poynts yt may answere to the perfeccion that God requirith: neuertheles God requirith his seruice to be suche as hym sealfe is, deuyne, pure, syncere, vnmingled, and in no parte corruptyd, and as lacke of strenthe shal not excuse vs, in that we can not, so neclygence makythe vs more wickyd, yf that we may performe, and we will not. Fyrste we are requityd to loue God with all our hartes, all our myndes, and all our strength, that precisenes is comendable, which withholdith not a lytill, whē all is requiryd. Thou shalt be perfect with thy Lorde thy god.1 Thou shalt not bende ether to thy ryghthande, or to the leafte. Thou shalt nether ⟨image 19⟩adde, nether diminishe of that which is cō maundyd. Thou shalt not inquier for the gods of the Gentyls, sayinge: Howe dyd those Gentyles serue theyr godes. Thou shalt not do so to the Lorde thy god. For whatsoeuer the Lorde abhorreth, that dyd they to theyr godes. God wyll haue his children so to abhorre these supersticion, yt they shuld fle euen from that infecciō that comythe by hearynge.2 Furthermore, so many thinges as ar cōmandyd of leprous, mēstreous, dead bodys, were many, which myght not be touchyd without defyling, what other thinges were they in that rude people,3 but exercises of precyse purenes and cleanes, the obseruance of suche shadowes, althoughe it hath byn longe synce abolyshyd, yet the euerlastinge truthe remaynyth: muche more in presence of the bodye, that no prophane or defylyd thinge may be minglyd with gods seruice. Moreouer god forbydyth all strange corruptious mixtures, whē he forbyddyth them to sowe land with diuers seedes, to plowghe with an oxe and an asse, to weare lynyne and wollen to gether. For lyberte & costome euen in ye leaste matters bredythe boldnes, & in hys cōmandement god hath also respecte to the kynde of apparell.
- 1Deut. 18.
- 2The zeal that God requireth.The zeall that God requirith.
- 3God keep us from all outward show of Popery.God kepe vs frō all outwarde shew of Popery.
