A treatise, how

Not with standing, no Christen man, be he fallen from never so great richesse to poverty, from never so high degree to the lowest, ought to be ashamed of the Cross off Christ, and the wholesome remedy, that God hath provided: much less ought Christen men be loth, to receive relief off their need, at the Lords hand, by the ministry off his Church, by whose most just, and no less wholesome Judgement for them, they be come to such poverty, and base degree of life. Howbeit, it pertaineth to the Deacons office, not ⟨p. 21⟩only to have respect to every mans poverty, but also off the weakness off their minds, and with such wisdom, and liberality, to help every mans necessity, that they lay on no man troubled with poverty, the trouble also off shame: nor that they bring any, that have in time past been well and liberally maintained, to such scarcity and scantness off meat and clothing, as they be not able to suffer, albeit such relief were sufficient, to an other that hath ben so used.

Not with standyng, no Christen man, be he fallen from neuer so great richesse to pouertie, from neuer so high degree to the lowest, ought to be asshamed of the Crosse off Christ, and the holsom remedie, that God hath prouyded: moche lesse ought Christen men be lothe, to receaue relief off their neade, at the Lordes hande, by the mynysterie off his Churche, by whose most iust, and no lesse holsom Iudgement for theim, they be come to such pouertie, and base degree of life. Howbeit, it perteineth to the Deacons office, not ⟨p. 21⟩onelie to haue respect to euerie mans pouertie, but also off the weakenes off their myndes, and with such wisedom, and liberalitie, to helpe euerie mans necessite, that they laie on no man troubled with pouertie, the trouble also off shame: nor that they bryng any, that haue in tyme past been wel and liberalie maynteyned, to such scarcitie and skantnes off meate and clothyng, as they bee not able to suffer, albeit such relief were sufficient, to an other that hathe ben so used.