Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

Moreover, such as did wholly give themselves to the study of the Scriptures, were by the Prophets Amos & Jeremiah, because of their most temperate life (which is required of students) and because they were wholly dedicated to the ministry of God, called Nazarites. Sometimes also it did endure but for the space of certain days or months. These Nazarites did abstain according to the commandment of the law from certain things, from which they were not barred by any other law, and which were not unlawful for other men to use, which were without the necessity of that vow. First of all they abstained from wine, from all things that the vine brought forth, and whatsoever else did make men drunken. But it is manifest, that as wine is the good creature of God, so no drink is forbidden by the law. Yet for because the Nazarites were consecrated to the Lord and sanctified by a certain peculiar kind of living: and for because wine is the means that leadeth to drunkenness, which is the gulf of all sin and filthiness, therefore did the Nazarites not without a cause abstain from wine. They did also take heed of idleness the mother of mischief, and utterly despised all worldly pleasures. Furthermore so long as the time of their vow endured they did not clip their hair, but let their locks grow out a length. And thereupon, as some do think, they toke their names and were called Nazarites. For in so much as Nazer signifieth hair, they suppose that they were called Nazarites, as who should say, long locked or shag haired people. But the Apostle Paul biddeth the woman to pray, or to come into the Congregation to hear a Sermon with her head covered, for none other cause, but for that she is not in her own power, but subject to an other, that is, to her husband. And therefore the Nazarites did let their hair grow, because by the vow which they had made to God, they were no longer in their own power, but were wholly yielded into the power of God. And the head, which is the tower of the body and the most excellent part thereof, being covered with a bush of hair, was a token that the whole man was by vow given to the Lord, to whom alone he ought to have an eye, & upon whom alone he ought wholly to depend.

Moreouer, such as did wholie giue themselues to the studie of the Scriptures, were by the Prophets Amos & Ieremie, because of their most temperate life (which is required of studēts) and because they were wholie dedicated to the ministerie of God, called Nazarites. Sometimes also it did endure but for ye space of certaine dayes or monethes. These Nazarits did absteine according to the commaundement of the law from certaine things, from which they were not barred by any other lawe, and which were not vnlawfull for other men to vse, whiche were without the necessitie of that vowe. First of all they absteyned from wine, from all thinges that the vine brought forth, and whatsoeuer else did make men drunken. But it is manifest, that as wine is the good creature of God, so no drincke is forbidden by the law. Yet forbecause the Nazarits were consecrated to ye Lord and sanctified by a certaine peculiar kinde of lyuing: and for because wine is the meanes that leadeth to drunken nes, which is the gulfe of al sinne and filthinesse, therefore did the Nazarits not without a cause absteine from wine. They did also take héede of idlenesse the mother of mischiefe, and vtterly despised all worldly pleasures. Furthermore so longe as the time of their vowe endured they did not clipp their haire, but let their lockes growe out a length. And thereuppon, as some doe thincke, they toke their names and were called Nazarits. For in so much as Nazer signifieth haire, they suppose that they were called Nazarites, as who should say, longe locked or shagge haired people. But the Apostle Paule biddeth the woman to pray, or to come into the Cōgregation to heare a Sermon with her head couered, for none other cause, but for that shée is not in her owne power, but subiecte to an other, that is, to her husband. And therfore the Nazarits did let their haire growe, because by the vow which they had made to God, they were no longer in their owne power, but were wholie yéelded into the power of God. And the head, which is the tower of the bodie and the most excellent parte thereof, being couered with a bush of haire, was a token that the whole man was by vowe giuen to the Lord, to whome alone he ought to haue an eye, & vpon whome alone hee ought wholie to depend.