A17171:261
The gold[n] book of christen matrimony most necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that…The golde[n] boke of christen matrimonye moost necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that…
The gold[n] book of christen matrimony most necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that intend to live quietly and godly in the Christen state of holy wedlock newly set forth in English by Theodore Basil.The golde[n] boke of christen matrimonye moost necessary [and] profitable for all the[m], that entend to liue quietly and godlye in the Christen state of holy wedlock newly set forthe in English by Theodore Basille.
London: printed for Joha, 1543London: printed for Ioha, 1543
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
And if God maketh the rich man poor, he doth well: For he seeth that if he should have riches 1he would be to proud and forget God and himself to, with poverty therefore and adflicciō will he nurture his children so to teach them his ways, lest in abundance and wealth they run after their own ways and lusts. For 2tribulation and adversity are the fire and salt that purge & preserve us from stinking & not destroy us, but they teach us to put our trust in God and not in our selves nor in no creatures, they draw us from transitory things to fasten us sure to God, and because we should not be condemned with the world, he plucketh 3us with his Cross from the world. Into the which troublous state of the cross, when married couples be cast of GOD, then have they the most present consolations out of scriptures to comfort them, and to cause them to rejoice in their affliction, as are the holy Psalms of David, we have also the godly ensamples of the dear beloved faithful servants of God as were Job, Abraham, Jacob. &c. Item the words 4of Christ. Who so will serve me, let him daily take his cross upon him and follow me. And in John, and Paul is full of comfort in his epistles ⟨image 88⟩specially. Hebrews x. When any of the 5married persons be tempted or troubled with sickness or any other fortune, then should the to there, comfort him or her with these comfortable ensamples, Psalms and sentences of gods 6spirit of all consolation, one suffering with the tother, for so shall the affliction and Cross be the easylyer borne, and love mutual the more increased. True love showeth her self most clearly in trouble and sickness. And if the one grudge at the tother's sickness, he doth against Gods will. And if he rejoiceth at her, or she at his affliction, it is a token of little love except his rejoice be in the Lord, so to conform him to the similitude of his Son Christ, that he might be like him in glory.