The order of love or charity 1which some dream, the Gospel of Christ knoweth not of, that a man should begin at himself, and serve him self first, and then descend I wot not by what steppes. Love seeketh not her own profit. ij. Cor. xij. but maketh 2a man to forget him self, and to turn his profit to an other man, as Christ sought not him self, or his own profit, but ours. This term my self is not in the Gospel, neither yet father, mother, sister, brother, kinsman, that one should be preferred in love above an other. But christ is all in all things, 3Every Christen man to an other is Christ him self, and thy neighbours need hath as good right in thy goods, as hath Christ him self, which is he•re and Lord over all. And look what thou owest to Christ, that thou owest to thy neighbours need. To thy neighbour owest thou thine hart, thy self, & all that thou hast & canst do. The love that springeth out of Christ, excludeth no man, neither putteth difference between one and an other. In Christ we are all of one degree, without respect of persons. Notwithstanding though a Christen mans hart be open to all men, and receiveth all men, yet because that his ability of goods extendeth not so far, this provision is made, that every man shall care for his own household, 4as father and mother, and thine elders that have holpen thee, wife, children and servants. If thou shouldest not care, & provide for thine household, then were thou an infidel, seeing thou hast taken on thee so to do, and for as much as that is thy part committed to thee of the congregation. When thou 5hast done thy duty to thine household, and yet hast further abundance of the blessing of GOD, that owest thou to the poor that can not labour, or would labour & can get no work, and are destitute of friends, to the poor I mean which thou knowest, to them of thine own parish. For that provision ought to be had in the congregation, that every parish care for there poor. If thy neighbours which thou knowest be served, and thou yet have superfluity, and hearest necessity to be among the brethren a thousand mile of, to them art thou debtor. Yea, to y• very infidels we be debtors, if they need, as far forth as we maintain them not against Christ, or to blaspheme Christ. Thus is every man that needeth thy help, thy father, mother, sister, and brother in Christ:
The order of loue or charitie 1which some dreame, the Gospell of Christ knoweth not of, that a man should beginne at himselfe, and serue him selfe first, and then discend I wot not by what steppes. Loue seketh not her own profite. ij. Cor. xij. but maketh 2a man to forget him selfe, and to turne his profite to an other man, as Christ sought not him selfe, or his owne profite, but ours. This terme my selfe is not in the Gospell, neither yet father, mother, sister, brother, kinsman, that one should be preferred in loue aboue an other. But christ is all in all things, 3Euery Christen man to an other is Christ him selfe, and thy neighbours nede hath as good right in thy goods, as hath Christ him selfe, which is he•re and Lord ouer all. And looke what thou owest to Christ, that thou owest to thy neighbours nede. To thy neighbour owest thou thine hart, thy selfe, & all that thou hast & canst do. The loue that springeth out of Christ, excludeth no man, neither putteth difference betwene one and an other. In Christ we are al of one degree, without respect of persous. Notwithstandyng though a Christen mans hart be open to all mē, and receaueth all men, yet because that his habilitie of goodes extendeth not so farre, this prouision is made, that euery man shall care for his owne houshold, 4as father and mother, and thine elders that haue holpen thee, wife, children and seruauntes. If thou shouldest not care, & prouide for thyne houshold, then were thou an infidele, seyng thou hast taken on thee so to do, and for as much as that is thy part committed to thee of the congregation. When thou 5hast done thy dutie to thyne houshold, and yet hast further aboundance of the blessyng of GOD, that owest thou to the poore that cā not labour, or would labour & can get no worke, and are destitute of frēdes, to the poore I meane which thou knowest, to them of thyne owne parish. For that prouision ought to be had in the cōgregation, that euery parish care for there poore. If thy neighbours whiche thou knowest be serued, and thou yet haue superfluitie, and hearest necessitie to be among the brethren a thousand myle of, to thē art thou detter. Yea, to y• very infidels we be detters, if they nede, as farforth as we maynteine thē not agaynst Christ, or to blaspheme Christ. Thus is euery man that nedeth thy helpe, thy father, mother, sister, and brother in Christ:
- 1Love seeketh not her own profit.Loue seketh not her owne profite.
- 22. Cor. 12.
- 3Christ is all in all things.Christ is all in all thynges.
- 4Every one must care for their own households.Euery one must care for their owne housholdes.
- 5First look to thine own household, and then to the poor.First looke to thyne owne houshold, and then to the poore.
