We shall therefore rightly obey this commandment, if being contented §46with our own estate, we seek to get no gain but honest and lawful, if we covet not to wax rich with wrong, nor go about to spoil our neighbour of his goods that our own substance may increase, if we labour not to heap up cruel riches & wrong out of other mens blood, if we do not immeasurably scrape together every way, by right and by wrong, that either our covetousness may be filled, or our prodigality satisfied. But on the other side, let this be our perpetual mark, to aid all men faithfully by counsel: and help to keep their own so far as we may: but if we have to do with false and deceitful men, let us rather be ready to yield up some of our own, then to strive with them. And not that only, butte let us communicate to their necessities, & with our store relieve their need, whom we see to be oppressed with hard and poor estate. Finally, let every man look how much he is by duty bound unto other, and let him faithfully pay it. For this reason let the people have in honour all those that are set over them, let them patiently bear their government, obey their laws and commandments, refuse nothing that they may bear, still keeping God favourable unto them. Again, let them take care of their people, preserve common peace, defend the good, restrain the evil, and so order all things, as ready to give account of their office to the sovereign judge. Let the Ministers of Churches faithfully apply their ministry, and not corrupt the doctrine of salvation, but deliver it pure and sincere to the people of God, and let them instruct them not only with learning, but also with example of life: finally, let them so be over them, as good shepherds be over the sheep. Let the people likewise receive them for the messengers and Apostles of God, give them that honour whereof the hiest master hath vouchsafed them, and minister unto them such things as are necessary for their life. Let parents take on them to feed, rule and teach their children, as committed to them of God, and grieve not, nor turn away their minds from them with cruelty, but rather cherish and embrace them with such lenity and tenderness, as becometh there person.
We shall therfore ryghtly obey thys commaundement, if being contented §46with oure owne estate, we seeke to get no gaine but honest and lawefull, if we couet not to waxe riche with wroong, nor goe aboute to spoyle oure neighboure of hys goodes that oure owne substance maye encrease, if we laboure not to heape vp cruell riches & wroonge oute of other mens bloode, if wee do not immeasurably scrape together euery way, by right and by wronge, that either oure couetousnesse maye bee filled, or oure prodigalitie satisfied. But on the other side, lette this bee our perpetuall marke, to ayde all men faithfully by counsell: and helpe to kepe their owne so farre as we may: but if we haue to do with false and deceytful men, let vs rather be redy to yelde vp some of our owne, then to striue with them. And not that onely, butte lette vs communicate to their necessities, & with our store releue their nede, whome we see to be oppressed with harde and poore estate. Fynally, lette euery man loke howe muche he is by duety bounde vnto other, and lette him faithfully paye it. For this reason lette the people haue in honoure all those that are sette ouer them, let them paciently beare their gouernement, obey their lawes and commaundementes, refuse nothinge that they maye beare, still kepinge God fauorable vnto them. Againe, lette them take care of their people, preserue cōmon peace, defende the good, restraine the euell, and so ordre all thinges, as redy to geue accompte of their office to the soueraigne iudge. Lette the Ministers of Churches •aithfully applye their ministerie, and not corrupt the doctrine of saluation, but deliuer it pure and syncere to the people of God, and let them instructe them not onely with learning, but also wyth example of lyfe: fynally, let them so be ouer them, as good sheperdes be ouer the shepe. Let the people lykewise receiue them for the messingers and Apostles of God, geue them that honoure whereof the hyest maister hath voutsaued them, and minister vnto them suche thinges as are necessarie for their life. Lette parentes take on them to feede, rule and teache their children, as committed to them of God, and greue not, nor turne away their mindes from them with crueltie, but rather cheryshe and embrace them with suche lenitie and tendernesse, as becommeth there person.
