A20559:294
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
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 others, oh it is a great and weighty matter, it lies upon me, & concerns mine estate to do it: but it is not so great as the obedience of God, and keeping of a good conscience, better if one must, that some decay come to your outward estate, then to your soul. Is it of such moment? and the getting in of your corn that lies in hazard like to be spoiled by ill weather, yet you must not do it, trust in Gods providence, if he have commanded you to rest, you shall be no looser by resting▪ unless it be your own negligence that endamage you: for the Prince will not allow one to spit in his face, in jest or earnest, nor will take it well if a man should rob his treasury, because he needed twenty or forty shillings or ⟨image 87⟩more, so God will not take in good part the breach of his commandments, and casting his fear behind our backs in trifling things, or in matters that seem to carry more sway with them.
And others, oh it is a great and waightie matter, it lies vpon me, & concernes mine estate to doe it: but it is not so great as the obedience of God, and keeping of a good conscience, better if one must, that some decay come to your outward estate, then to your soule. Is it of such moment? and the getting in of your corne that lies in hazard like to bee spoiled by ill weather, yet you must not doe it, trust in Gods prouidence, if hee haue commanded you to rest, you shall bee no looser by resting▪ vnlesse it bee your owne negligence that endamage you: for the Prince will not allow one to spit in his face, in jest or earnest, nor will take it well if a man should rob his treasurie, because hee needed twentie or fortie shillings or ⟨image 87⟩more, so God will not take in good part the breach of his commandements, and casting his feare behind our backs in trifling things, or in matters that seeme to carrie more sway with them.
But here seems to come in an objection, may one do no business, may not one look to their cattle, serve their sheep or their horses, and order them on the sabbath? yes, a christian man on the sabbath day must serve his beast, but always provided, that he do it not as business of his own, but as a work of mercy to the beast, not seeking or respecting his own commodity, as the creatures necessity, and doing it thus for conscience sake, to help the poor creature, it is a work of the sabbath, and in it place pleaseth God; for God himself commands to be merciful, even to the beasts, therefore one must see that he do it with a merciful hart in compassion to the creature, so that the end must differ from the end in the working days.