Sinnes Inwarde.

COnsider well with thy selfe, whe­ther thou haue not nowe and than conceiued some erroneous opinions in thy minde of the onelye true and eternall God, whereby thou haste beene drawen and moued, either to some godlesse doubting, or to some curious questioning.

Whether thou be ignoraunt, or vn­ready in any of those cheefe points of doctrine, Faith and Religion, which al Christians are bounde to knowe and vnderstand.

Whether thou haue secreatly in heart, or otherwise priuily assented to any manner of iustly condemned he­resie.

[Page 32] Whether, when thou hast seene the wicked to floorish in their ruffling de­uises, and to haue the worlde at will, whereas (on the contrary side) the godly haue beene and are commonly afflicted with aduersitie, & when thou hast seene manie thinges to come to passe in the worlde disorderly, thou haue thereupon doubted of the proui­dence or wisedome of God.

Whether thou hast beene alwaies certainely perswaded in thy consci­ence, that aswell aduersitie as prospe­ritie; and trouble aswell as quietnes is sent by the good wil of almighty God; and whether in all seasons thou hast thou hast put thy whole trust and con­fidence in him onely.

Whether thou haue patiently suffe­red all daungers that haue come vn­to thee, without any murmuring a­gainst God, or kicking against his fa­therly chastisement: & whether thou haue entirely therein resigned thy will to his diuine pleasure, accounting and confessing thy selfe worthy of those & greater scourges,

Whether when thou hast beene in great daungers and perills, thou haue had any distrust, that god either would [Page 33] not, or could not deliuer thee. By the [...]ne, thou hast derogated from the goodnesse of God; by the other from his power. But both the one and the other be directly against his promises.

Whether thou haue beene puffed vp with pride and arrogancie, for the gifts that God hath bestowed on thee, glorying therefore in thy selfe rather than in God, and for the same hast disdained thy brethren. For, all pride tendeth to the hinderance of the glo­rie of God.

Whether for the obtaining of salua­tion, thou haue ascribed any part ther­of either to thine owne or to any o­ther mans merites, and haue not de­pended wholly and onely vpon the merites of Christ and his diuine mer­cie.

Whether thou haue addicted thy minde to any manner of thing then to God. For that thing is to euerie man his God, which he chiefly loueth, and specially delighteth in, whether the same be Angell, or man, or what crea­ture else soeuer.

Whether thou haue doone suche things as serue for the honour of god, syncerely and simply for the l [...]ue thou [Page 34] bearest vnto God himselfe, and not for any other ends: & whether thou haue done such thinges vnfeinedly, with all thy heart, with all thy minde, with all thy strength. For without a sincere meaning, thy seruice and obedience is hypocriticall, and being vnperfect, it maketh thee guilty.

Sinnes externall and outward.

THese sinnes doe proceede also, all of them from the heart. For they are first inward and internall: but when they burst out into act, then are they also outwarde and externall: and the more hainous and greeuous are these in this respect, for that thereby our neighbour is hurt aswell as our selues, and by our euil example is mo­ued and brought to sinne.

Call to remembraunce therefore and consider, whether thou haue euer shewed thy selfe by any sign or token, to haue fauoured and allowed any vn­sound opinions concerning God, or matters of Fayth; and whether thou haue euer gone about by perswasion to drawe others to the same, thy [Page 35] erronious conceites and wilfull asser­tions.

Whether in the causes and pointes of Christian religion, thou haue at a­ny time spoken otherwise with thy tong, then thou hast inwardly thought and beleeued in thy heart: as though thou thoughtest it ynough (so that thou keepe thy conscience a right to God) that otherwise it mattereth not at all, what thou saydest or vnsaydest, confessedst or deniedst before men, as time and place occasioned thee. This is an horrible offence, and a plain pre­ferring of men before God, and this is a sinne against the holy Ghoste.

Whether thou haue euer and in e­uery place so framed thy life, and di­rected thy actions, that all men might perceiue and knowe that thine ear­neste purpose and intent vvas to sanctifie the name of the LORDE GOD.

Whether for the auoiding of any euill, or obteyning of any good, thou haue trusted to the helpe, protection and furtherance of Aungelles, ey­ther good or badde, or of menne, or of anye other creature what-soeur; [Page 36] as though they were able to haue hol­pen thee aswell as God. For there is none to bee inuocated & sought vnto for helpe, but God onely.

Whether for the procuring of any thing either good or badde, thou haue vsed any vnlawfull meanes, or super­stitious & damnable helpes. Of which sort bee the obseruation and choise of daies, of Planetarie houres, of moti­ons and courses of starres, mumbling of prophane praiers, consisting of wordes both straunge and senselesse; adiurations, sacrifices, consecrations and hallowinges of diuerse thinges, rytes and ceremonies vnknowen to the Church of God, toyish characters and figures, demaunding of questions and answers of the dead, dealing with damned Spirites, or with any instru­mentes of phanaticall diuination as basons, ringes cristals, glasses, roddes, prickes, numbers, dreames, lots, for­tunetellinges, oracles, soothsayings, horoscoping or marking the houres of natiuities, witchcraftes, enchaunt­ments, & all such superstitious trum­pe [...]. Hereunto is to bee referred the paustring mawmetrie and heathenish worshipping of that domesticall God [Page 37] or familiar Angell which was thought to be appropried to euerie particular person: the enclosing or binding of Spirites to certaine instruments, and such like deuises of Sathan the Deuill.

Whether thou haue wilfully & wil­lingly throwen thy selfe into any dan­gers, when as no necessitie draue thee thereunto: whereunto: wherein thou diddest directly tempt God.

For thy trade of life.

IN euerie mans peculiar trade of life, hee doth many and sundrie kindes of waies transgresse this first cōmandement; as namely:

¶ He that hath taken vpon him the charge and ouersight of the Church of God, let him well weigh and consi­der, whether hee haue carefully dis­charged his duetie, both in doctrine & life, so that the glorie of God by him thereby hath beene the rather fauou­red and propagated, and the conscien­ces of many effectually stayed & com­forted.

Whether in matters touching God and Christian religion, hee hath set [Page 38] foorth and vttered in the Church, any thing doubtful and vncertain, in steed of certaine trueth, and vndoubted ve­ritie.

Whether hee bee spotted and infe­cted with any heresy, or vnsound opi­nion.

Whether he haue at al times to the vttermoste of his ability and skill, en­deuoured to beat downe and confute all corrupt doctrines.

Whether he haue patiently winked at, & quietly suffered any rytes where­in hath bene eyther apparant super­stition, or otherwise any notable of­fence and inconuenience: As gadding and raunging about with procession, conuenticling in corners, superstiti­ous vsage of holy water, pilgrimages, and vowes to be perfourmed in some certaine places, and with certaine ap­pointed solemnities and ceremonies, whereby there are commonly com­mitted sundrie lewde attemptes and many lamentable enormities.

Whether he haue admitted any to bee teachers in the Church, which were eyther vnmeete or vnable syn­cerely and discreetely to deliuer the worde of God: or any corrupt and vn­sounde [Page 39] preachers, that willingly de­praue the texts of the scriptures, and purposely misconstrue the wordes of trueth, to confirme and establish their owne phantasticall, or rather phana­ticall, opinions.

¶ He that is called to gouernment in the common wealth,Magistrate▪ be he Prince or Peere, Iudge or Lawyer of high cal­ling; let him looke well about him, whether he haue with all his endeuor and care, laboured to promote true religion, and to maintaine & defende the sincere worship of God.

Whether he haue countenaunced, abetted or mainteined any heretikes, Schismatiks, Iewes, or any false & wic­ked teachers in any thing against the sanctifying of the blessed name of god.

Whether in giuing sentēce & iudgement vpon any matter, & in all other graue consultations about the affaires of the common wealth, he haue nuer remēbred that God is the high Lord and Iudge, and him selfe to be but his Minister.

¶ They that bestowe their time in Schooles of learning, which bee the seede plots and Seminaries both of the Church and common-wealth, [Page 38] [...] [Page 39] [...]

[Page 40] Doctors, Teachers, and Maisters: Whe­ther they haue carefully trained in the feare of God, [...]tudents [...] teachers the youth commit­ted to their charge, and syncerely de­liuered vnto them the principles and chiefe grounds of fayth and Christian religion.

Scholers: [...]holers. Whether by reading of the bookes of Philosophers and heathen Poets, they haue learned to holde any wicked opinions of God.

Whether they haue in their custody any wicked Pamphlets, or bestowe a­ny study in bookes of curious arts and superstitious skill, as magicke, diuina­tion, and such like.

Whether they reade any bookes of Heretiques, iustly condemned by the Catholike and vniuersall Church.

¶ Physition: [...]hisition. Whether beeing with the sicke, he haue especially & before all thinges exhorted them to haue a firme, and vndoubting faith in God, without whom no medicine is auaile­able and holesome.

Whether for recouerie of his bodily health he haue aduised and prescribed to his patient any things that be hurt­full and dangerous to the health of his soule, as all those thinges are, that be [Page 41] not warranted by the worde of God, but directly against the remedies which the Lorde hath ordained. As when they prescribe vnto them super­stitious obseruaunces, peeuish calcu­lations and childish mawmetries, &c. Also when they beare their patient in hand or make him to thinke that some certaine Saints haue power to send & also to take away this or that disease: as though God were not the onely gouernour of all thinges did not de­pend on him▪

¶ Apothecarie, Apotheca­rie. Whether he haue su­perstitiouslie obserued or fondly stay­ed for choise daies or houres, or any other ceremonious rytes in gathering his herbs or other simples for the ma­king of his drouges and receiptes.

¶ Merchants, poore people, Merchant. Chapman. Artificer. and handi­craftesmen. Whether they haue procu­red, gotten and made any thing, or o­therwise furnished others with any thing, thereby to make them the better able to oppresse or hinder Christian religion, and the true wor­shippe of God. As they doe which ei­ther aide the Turkes, or craue aide of them against their christian brethren. And as they doe, which sell to the [Page 42] Iewes or to treacherous and hollowe harted Christians any maner of stuffe or instrument,2. Commandement. whereby to prophane and dishonour the name of God: or which do any maner of way minister occasion by theit deuise and sleight, to compasse and bring to passe any thing to dimme and empeache the glory of God on earth.

Sinnes inwarde.

COnsider well, whether thou haue not sometime thought, that God either would or might be worshipped, otherwise then in spirit & trueth.

Whether thou haste not beene per­swaded that the inuisible power of God, might by some visible Image be the better knowne, and so the sooner honoured.

[Page 43] Whether thou haste any time belee­ued or thought, that the honour due vnto God, was any way bestowable vp on any creature; & whether thou hast thought any creature able of his own proper power and ability to bring this or that to passe.

Whether thou haste euer thought that myracles haue bene wrought by Images, or that any vertue and power hath beene in them.

Sinnes outward.

WHether hauing euer secretely cōceiued in thy mind, any wic­ked opiniōs about the seruice and worship of God, thou haue appa­rantly and openly by any token or sig­nification made publike the same: that is, whether thou haue built, founded or dedicated any Chappel, closet, ora­tory or groue to any creature, eyther deade or a-liue, for worship.

Whether thou haue assisted any that haue so done.

Whether thou haue erected, and set vp any Images, altars, representati­ons, or purtraitures: whether thou haue secretely worshipped or giuen [Page 44] diuine honour to the image of any Saint, whom thou hast made speciall choise of to bee thy patron and aduo­cate, or set vp the same eyther in thy Howse, in thy Garden, or any other place: vsing therto either bowing, crow ching, kneeling, censing, lighting of tapers, offering of gifts, or adorning it with garlands, and presenting vnto it the firstlings of thy encrease, as corne and graine, and other oblations: with solemne woords and reuerent rites sa­luting it, adressing therunto vsual praiers, hoping therby to receiue some benifite, or to see some miracle: and to be short, whether thou hast egged & pro­cured any other to doo the like.

For thy trade of life.

CAruers, Grauers, Painters and I­mage-makers. Caruers, Grauers, Painters, Image-ma­kers. Whether in the ma­king, grauing or painting of any Image or picture eyther of man or a­ny other creature, they haue shewed all the skill and cunning that pos­sibly they coulde, in hope thereby to bring men in loue with their worke­peece,Handi- [...]aftesmen, [...]rtificers. and so to worship it.

Handy-craftsmen. Whether they haue [Page 45] made or or solde any such thinges as they well knewe their buiers woulde conuert to superstitious vses and Ido­latrous worshippings.3. Commandements.

Sinnes inwarde.

WHether so often as thou hear­dest the name of God vsed in earnest and serious matters, thou diddest with a religious and re­uerend minde thinke on the ineffable maiesty of God, and with thy whole minde deuoutly honor the same.

Whether when thou haste beene commanded or requested in a neces­sary and lawfull cause, to sweare and take an oth, thou haue framed thy self therevnto with such Godly zeale and reuerence, as became thee.

Whether, in the time of prayers, gi­uing of thankes, lauding and praysing the name of God, and hearing the sa­sacred [Page 46] scriptures recited and alleaged, thou haue reuerently and godly bent thy selfe to that holy exercise, atten­tiuely and religiously listening to that which was sayde.

Sinnes outward.

WHether in taking a solemn oth for any matter, thou haue done it in any other sort, then by reuerently calling on the name of God, and citing him to witnesse and recorde of thy speech and dealing. For by him only and by none other ought we too sweare. And therefore great is their fault and greeuously doe they sinne, that swear by heauen, by earth, by the members of God, by Saintes, by the crosse and such like.

Whether thou haue constantly af­firmed any thing to be true, whereof thou diddest not then knowe the cer­tainty, or at least, wherof thou stoodest in doubt.

Whether thou haue sworne to doe any thing, which thou diddest neuer meane to doe.

Whether thou euer procuredst any man to sweare, knowing that he shold [Page 47] thereby take a false oath, and sweare vntruely.

Whether thou haue euer in vaine vsed the naming of the woundes and death of Christe, or other like thinges or actions of Christ to euil and lewde purposes, or to wicked cursing and banning.

Whether otherwise at any other time thou haue rashly, that is to say with­out iust and vrgent cause, abused & ta­ken in vain the name of God.

Whether thou haue vsed thus to do of a certain peeuish & wilful custome: which (certainly) is a very wicked and horrible thing.

Whether thou haue not performed and done that, which by solemne vow & oth thou promisedst to do.

Whether thou haue bound thy selfe by vowe or oth, to doe any thing that hath beene vnlawfull and wicked.

Whether thou haue mis-spent and abused those giftes, wherewith God hath endued thee, to any other pur­poses then to the aduauncement and setting foroth of Gods glory. Whe­ther (I say) thou haue abused those giftes, eyther to the contumelye and dishonour priuilye or apertly [Page 48] of God, or to any hurt and hinderāce of thy neighbor: For in the gifts that God bestoweth vpon vs, there shineth out the great dignity and Maiesty of God his blessed name.

Whether thou haue applied to va­nitie such things as properly & right­ly are appertinent to God, and of him onely are truely said and spoken. And whether in thy familiar talke with o­thers, thou haue spoken of God and heauenly matters, vainly, scoffingly, lightly, ridiculously or vnreuerent­lye.

Whether thou haue misused the ho­ly Word of God, conteined in the sa­cred Scriptures, eyther by wresting it violently to other sense than it was meant, spoken and vttered, or in ap­plying it to such matters and purpo­ses as it ought not to bee applied vn­to, as namely to guming, iesting, bal­letting, singing, slanderous libelling, pasquilling, &c.

Whether thou haste adiured or en­forced any man to sweare, to doe or confesse any thing, hauing no autho­rity so to do, or for no necessary mat­ter, or cause of importaunce, but ra­ther about some trifling toy and fri­uolous [Page 49] conceit, or some such drift as tended to the daunger of such as bee good, honest, and godly.

Whether thou haste coniured De­uils, or vsed the damnable art of Ne­gromancy, seeking help of wicked spi­rites, or desiring to haue some thing by them brought to passe, as though they had beene fit Ministers for such offices and purposes.

Whether thou haue adiured or en­chanted any creatures vnreasonable, euen such as be brute and dumbe, or any hearbes and plantes or such like things, hoping and meaning thereby to worke some straunge feat and won­derfull practise.

For the kinde of life.

WHether, entring into any fun­ction or Colledge, or into any other kind of life:Magistrate Officer. and solemn­ly promising by oth to obserue, main­taine, and keepe the lawes and orders therof, thou haue accordingly so done and discharged thine oth. As namely, when a Iudge, an Aduocate, an Atturney or such like, is first nominated and ad­mitted to his place, let him consider [Page 50] howe he dischargeth his oth,4. Commandement. whereby he then solemnely promiseth, iustly & truely to exercise his office. So like­wise a Graduate when he taketh his de­gree in Shooles. A Scholler, when he is admitted in a College, a Citizen, when he is enfranchized or elected into a­ny office: A Souldier, when he is sworn to his Captaine: a Craftes-man, when he is made free, and receiued into the society and fellowship of those of the same trade, mystery, or occupation. &c.

Buyers and Sellers. Whether the soo­ner to vttet their wares,Buyers and sellers. they haue v­sed othes to their chap-men in bargai­ning and dealing with them, affirming and protesting the same wares to bee good and faultlesse, which (notwith­standing) they knewe well ynough to be defectiue, naught, deceitfull, and faulty.

Whether they haue sworn that they payed more for their wares, then in truth they did: or that they would not sell the same any better cheape then the price they pitched, and yet after­warde haue done otherwise.

¶ Suters for mariage. Suters for mariage. Whether the sooner and easier to win the good will [Page 51] and consent, the one of the other, they haue vsed othes and asseuerations faithfully to doe this or that, and to bee those persons which they preten­ded to be, and yet in trueth haue bin found and prooued otherwise.

¶ Souldiers. Souldiers. These of all other sorts of people are found the readiest com­mōly to abuse vnreuerently the name of God, and wilfully to make custome of periurie.

Finally, whether in committing any of these afore-named, thou haue been therby the cause of offence to others, and ministred vnto them occasion to commit the like. For being the cause of offence, eyther in worde or deede, to others, thou makest thy selfe guilty of their sinne, ouer and beside thine owne.

And whether when thou hast seene others disorderly to commit any of these outrages before expressed, thou haue plainly shewed thy selfe to bee [...]n vtter misliker thereof, reproouing and reprehending them also for the same, when time and place serued. For in not dooing this, thou consen­ [...]est vnto them in their folly, and so [...]y consenting, entanglest and wrap­pedst [Page 52] thy self in other mens sinnes, & broughtest their euils vpon thine own head.

Sinnes inward.

COnsider here, whether thou hast at all times reuerently and hono­rably thought of the ministery of the worde, of the administration of Sacraments, of the ceremonies and al exercises necessary, expedient, and profitable to the Church of God, both for the encrease of Godlinesse, and al­so [Page 53] of Discipline, order and decency: & whether thou haste at all times wil­lingly and dutifully framed and sub­mitted thy selfe thereunto.

Whether thou haste beene carefull and diligent, earnest and painefull to search out and knowe the true vse of all such things as are taught and pra­ctised in the holy assemblies and con­gregations: and whether thou hast for the attaining to the knowledge there­of, vsed that industry and diligence which God requireth at thine hands.

Whether thou hast secretely allow­ed and approoued any wicked rites or ceremonies: and whether thou haste thought them in thine heart by any means worthy to be retayned.

Sinnes outward.

WHether thou haue Christianly exercised thy selfe at times conuenient in meditating on Heauenly thinges, to thy souls health: thereby testifying thy desire and wil­lingnesse to inuocate and call vpon God by fayth, and to the vttermost of thy power, to frame thy life after that knowledge, wherwithal the Lord hath [Page 54] endued thee.

Whether euery day, morning and euening, after dinner & after supper, thou haue humbly and dutifully com­mended thine estate and welfare to God, somwhile crauing at his merciful hands all things necessary for thy life, both corporally and spiritually, and somewhile yeelding thanks vnto him for the benefites which thou haste al­ready receiued.

Whether vpon contempt or negli­gence thou haue foreslowed to goe to diuine seruice, & place of holy assem­bly, on days appointed by the church, for such purposes.

Whether in those holy assemblies thou haue openly shewed thy selfe from thy very heart attentiuely bent vnto those thinges which were there sayd and done: so that it might be well vnderstoode and perceiued, that thou camest & resortedst thither for none other purpose, then only to serue God & religiously to learn thy christiā duty

Whether, when thou didst receiue the holy Communion, thou vsedst thy selfe so as became thee, in diligent no­ting and considering the true vse and right effectes of the same.

[Page 55] Whether thou bestowedst those days wholly in Godly & vertuous exercises aswell at home as abroade, namely in reading the scriptures, in distributing almes, in visiting and comforting the sicke, in trayning and instructing with Godly doctrine, thy family and folks: and in such the like commendable dueties: Or whether rather thou hast abused, mis-spent and prophaned the same, in banquetting, tippling, ga­ming, filthy talking, dissolute dealing, &c.

For the trade of life.

MInister of the Church. Minister. Whether in doctrine, in administratiō of the Sacraments & other holy rytes and vsages, thou haste added, taken away or altered any thing, contrary to that which the holy Catholique. Church by authority, and warrant of the sacred Scriptures doth witnesse to be alowable, & pleasing vnto almigh­ty God, and consonāt vnto his diuine worde.

Whether in the deliuery and admi­nistration of those thinges which are certainlye knowne to bee instituted [Page 56] and propunded according to the will of God, thou haue executed and cele­brated the same with a deuour, re­ligious, willing and vndaunted mind, and also with a seemely grace & com­linesse. And whether thou haue beene very circumspect and heedefull, least thy negligent & remisse dealing ther­in, shoulde bring the same into con­tempt among the people, and not to be regarded and esteemed according to their worthinesse.

Whether thou haue approoued, and obserued anie ceremonies or traditi­ons against thy conscience. Whatsoe­uer is not of fayth, is sinne.

Whether thou haue bidden any su­perstitious holy daies, or appointed a­ny other obseruations, whereby might growe any danger, eyther for corrup­tion of manners, or finally of offence to others.

Whether thou haue permitted and suffered, Games, Playes, Enterludes, Pageants, or Sights to be shewed, fre­quented and kept in the Churche, Church-yard, or other place appoin­ted for holy exercise. And whether thou haue suffered the vessels, instru­ments, furniture and goodes of the [Page 57] Church, seruing for ecclesiastical pur­poses to be loosely conuerted and put to any prophane vses.

Whether thou haue admitted any notorious wicked liuers, to the blessed Communion: and whether thou haue debarred and put back from the same, any whose sinnes are hidden and not manifestly knowne.

Whether thou haue at any time abu­sed the seueritie of Ecclesiasticall Dis­cipline, specially and namely Excom­munication, or the power of binding and loosing, onely to serue thy cor­rupt affection, vsing the same (in dād­lyng wise) with too much lenitie: or whether when thou oughtest at any hande seuerely to vse it, thou haue altogether neglected and omitted it.

Whether thou haue eyther prefer­red, wincked at, or suffered any such within thy charge, as negligently deal in matters of religion, or bee remisse and secure in their offices, & by whō the quiet state and good order of the Church is disturbed.

Whether thou haue sought all pos­sible meanes, and euery way diligent­lye endeuoured thy selfe to plant [Page 58] in the heartes and mindes of all per­sons vnder thy charge and cure, the cheef pointes and principall grounds of religion, namely the Catechisme, which euery Christian is bounde to learne and know perfectly.

Whether thou haue laboured and done thine endeuour to redresse such disorders and faults as are crept into rytes and ceremonies, whereby the good ordinaunces and constitutions of the Church, do generally grow into contempt, or be quite abolished.

¶ Gouernours of the common-wealth, Prince, Peere, Judge. Magistrate. Whether thou haue assisted the Ministers of the Church, desiring to remoue & banish errors and superstition, and bene wil­ling also and ready to aduaunce and establish godly orders, for the good & quiet gouernment of the same.

Whether thou haue any wayes in­fringed the right of the Churches, or violated and taken away their priui­ledges and immunities,

¶ Teachers, and schoole-masters. Schoole-master. Whe­ther, thou haue suffered the younger sort to be absent from the Church, or haue discouraged, disswaded or called them away from reading the Scrip­tures [Page 59] and bookes of Godlinesse, speci­ally on the Sabboth dayes.

Whether on the same dayes thou haue giuen them leaue to vse games, playes, and exercises, for the time and quality, eyther vnmeete or vndecent.

Whether thou haue disswaded any from the studie of diuinity, and from the Ecclesiasticall ministerie, which were meete and fitte thereunto, and woulde haue profitablye proceeded therein, haddest not thou by counsell drawn them frō their good purpose.

¶ Schollers. Whether on the holy days and other set dayes and houres, they reuerently giue themselues to the reading of Godly and holy books, and to other vertuous meditations and exercises.

¶ Scriuener or Notary. Whether hee haue endited, drawen, or written, or caused to be endited, drawen, or writ­ten any billes, bonds, or other writings whatsoeuer, on the Sabboth dayes.

Whether hee haue made any such, whereby Religion or the dignity of the Church, might any way be empai­red and diminished.

¶ Tauerner. Whether on the Sabboth days, and especially in the time of di­uine [Page 60] seruice, he haue suffered any dis­order in drinking and tipling within his house: and whether he hath made a common practise or custome at such times and on such dayes, to sell his wines, &c.

¶ Merchant. Merchant. Whether on the Sab­both day he hath bartered & bargay­ned, cast vp his reckonings, and writ­ten his accounts.

Chapman. Chapman. Whether on such dayes & times, he hath set open his shoppe, or set his wares to sale.

Stage-player. Stage-plai­ers. Whether by his Enter­ludes & Stage-playes, he haue drawn the people away from spirituall exer­ercises, and godly meditations.

¶ Musicion & Mynstrel. Musicion. Minstrell. Whether hee haue bene the author and occasioner, of wanton dancing, or other vnseem­ly pastimes.

¶ Craftes-men of any trade whatsoeuer. Artificers. Whether they haue wrought on the Sabboth and holy dayes, when no ne­cessitie enforced them, but onely for lucre sake: or whether they haue cau­sed their apprentises and seruants the same dayes to worke, without eyther going to church or giuing themselues to godly meditations: as the Taylor [Page 61] or Botcher to sow a garment: the hus­bandman to hedge, ditch, plowe, gar­den, cleanse his Stable, &c. whereas at these times these thinges, and so of o­thers might & ought to be forborne.

Whether any person whosoeuer hee be, haue enticed and procured others to any vaine games, vnlawfull sports, or other light and lewde exercises, as dice-playing and such like.

House-holder. House-holder. Whether as specially on the Sabboths and festiuall dayes, so also sometimes on the worke dayes he haue propounded or caused to be propounded and taught to his children and family, the cheefe heads of Chri­stian religiō, namely such as be taught and contayned in the Catechisme.

Finally, whether any person by cō ­mitting any of these aforesayd faults, haue therby giuen occasion to others to commit the like: and whether hee haue beene a stumbling blocke and cause of fall vnto others, eyther in worde or deede.

And again: whether in seeing others to do ill, thou haue not let them vn­derstande thy great mislike thereof. For, thine assenting to others sinnes, loadeth thee a newe with mo sinnes, [Page 62] and maketh thee a partaker thereof.5. Commandement.

Sinnes inward. For the trade of life.

SOnne, Daughter, Orphan, Orphans. and Warde. Wardes. Whether thou hast at all times re­uerently thought, and had a good opinion of thy parents & gouernors, wishing well vnto them and praying for them, and in all thinges to their good liking, shewing thy dutifull obe­dience.

Whether by reason of their base de­gree and condition, pouerty, afflictiō, misery or any such like respect, thou haue had them in contempt, or made the lesse account of them.

Whether because they haue at som­time somewhat sharply chastised thee; or because of some wrong which they haue done vnto thee, or because thou thinkest they haue not had that care of thee which they ought, thou haste [Page 63] therfore withdrawne thy duty, & alie­nated thy mind any waies from them.

¶ Parents & Gardians. Whether they haue borne a right fatherly mind and affection toward their childrē: wishing their welfare and wel-doing, & proui­ding the best for them that they pos­sibly could in all things.

¶ Lay people. Whether of the spiritu­all fathers & Parentes that feede thy soule, that is to say, the Ministers of Gods holy word and sacraments, and of their office, function and calling, thou haste reuerently and religiously thought.

Whether thou hast willingly recei­ued and heard their doctrine, exhor­tations, reprehensions and ecclesiasti­call discipline by them deseruedly in­flicted vpon thee, either publikely or priuatelie, and that without murmu­ring, resistance or gainsaying.

¶ Minister of the Church. Whether as much as in thee lay, thou hast earnestly & heartilie laboured to bring vnto God, & to the knowlege of their salua­tion in Christ, those that were cōmit­ted to thy charge & ouersight: euer re­mēbring that God would one day re­quire an account of them at thy hand.

[Page 64] ¶ Scholler. Scholler. Whether thou haste ca­ried the same good mind and affecti­on, towards thy Masters which tooke paines to trayne thee vp in vertue & learning, as thou oughtest to bear to­ward thy parents.

¶ Schoole-master, Schoolema­sters. Whether thou haue caried a Fatherly minde & affection towardes thy Schollers, carefully de­uising and seeking all wayes & means to profit them.

¶ Subiectes Subiects. and Inferiors. Whether thou haste esteemed the Magistrates, which be the common parents of the country, defending vs, our wiues, children and goodes from iniurie and op­pression, and procuring vnto vs peace quietnes, and tranquility, as the law­full Ministers of God; vnto whome thou owest honour, feare, tribute, cu­stome, and all thinges else,Rom. 13. 1. euen for conscience sake:1. Pet. 2. 13 knowing that thou art bounde to obey them, yea, though they were wicked.

¶ Magistrates. Magistrats Whether they consi­dering & remembring that they must make an account, and giue a recko­ning of their gouernment, and that they beeing Deputies heere on earth vnder God, ought to minister Iustice, [Page 65] and to iudge in all thinges according to right, haue accordingly endeuored them-selues at all times to seeke the quietnesse & tranquility of their sub­iectes, and carefully in singlenesse of heart to prouide for their commodity and welfare.

¶ Seruauntes and Hand-maydes. Seruaunts. Hādmaids. Whe­ther they haue beene obedient, and submitted them-selues to their Mai­sters and Mistresses, with feare and trembling, seruing them heartily in singlenesse and simplicity of minde, e­uery where and at all times, rather wishing their furtherance and profit, then their losse and hindraunce.

¶ Masters Masters. and Mistresses. Mistresses. Whether they knowing them-selues to haue a Master in Heauen, with whome there is no respect of persons, haue dealt iustly and equally with their seruants,Ephe. 6. 9. shewing mildnesse vnto them,Collo. 4. 1. and curtesy, not rigor and threatning.

Sinnes externall and outward.

SOnnes, Daughters, Orphans, & Wards. Children. Wardes. Orphans. Whether they haue shewed toward their Parents in euery place, all to­kens [Page 66] of honour, reuerence and good­will.

Whether they haue willingly obeied their commaundementes, and euerie way taken heed, least they should pro­uoke them to anger.

Whether they haue spoken or done any thing, wherby to bring them into heauinesse and griefe, as either by wishing euil vnto them, by threatning them, by complaining on them to o­thers; neglecting the studies and bu­sinesse whereunto by them they haue beene enioyned, vnthriftily spending their time, shamefully and wastfully consuming their money, excessiuelie royoting away the wealth & charges, which their carefull Parents, (to help them withall) were willing to bestowe on them: or else by anie other way or meane whatsoeuer.

Whether they haue dutifully hol­pen, succoured, and relieued them, when they haue beene sicke, driuen into pouertie, or throwen into daun­ger.

¶ Parent & Guardian. Parent. Guardian. Whether thou thy selfe with al diligence hast trained vp and instructed thy children in god­lines, in the feare of the Lorde, and in [Page 67] holines of life, & also caused them by others to be instructed and trained.

Whether thou haue beene an exam­ple of vertue and godlinesse vnto thy children, committing nothing before them, vnseemely, filthy or vnciuile, ei­ther in word or deede.

Whether thou haue fondly & dand­lingly cockered them, not chastising & correcting them, but letting thē haue their owne wanton willes, winking at their faultes, and so with too smooth countenance and familiar gesture, vt­terlie marring them.

Whether thou hast frō time to time fedde thy children with money and o­ther things, or suffred thē to haue the same to abuse, mispende and commit wastfull follie withall.

Whether thou haue laughed, alow­ed, & reioyced in thy young litle ones, when thou hast seene them vse pretie sleights, craftie deuises, slie shifts, vain songs, wanton daunces, and vnseem­ly gestures, yea to vtter filthy tearmes beastly words, and odious deedes: and hast not for the same corrected them, not giuen out any signe or token of thy mislike thereof.

Whether thou haue discouraged and [Page 68] prouoked thy childrē, eyther by words or deedes, to be of a desperate minde: & casting away all hope to run head­long daily from worse to worse.

Whether thou haue gone about to perswade, or else haue compelled thy children to take that trade of life, whereunto they felt and confessed them-selues vnmeete and vnapt: or which otherwise without great daun­ger of sinning, they could not followe and betake themselues vnto.

Whether thou haue beene carefull to prouide for thy children according to thine ability, some reasonable por­tions of wealth, or haue let them forth to learne some honest trade or occu­pation, whereby another day to be a­ble to liue in some certain stay of life, and honestly without blame or shame to earne their liuinges.

¶ Layty. Layman, or parishio­ner. Whether thou haue yeelded honour and reuerence vnto the Mi­nisters of Gods word, together with al­curtesies, duties, tythes, and other thinges whatsoeuer, in right due vnto them or by lawe appointed and allot­ted vnto them, in such sort as Iustice and equity requireth, & as it is meete to do.

[Page 69] Whether, either in malepartly reuiling them, in spightfully snarring and barking against them, or in wran­lingly cauilling and quarrelling ey­ther at their doctrin, or actions, words or deedes, thou hast purposely intēded & gone about to deface, discoūtenāce discredit, displace, or disease them.

Whether thou haste beene the au­thor to procure others, either to think speake, doe, or deale hardly and vn­friendly against the ministers, or the ministrie it selfe.

¶ Minister of the Worde. Whether thou haste imployed thine whole en­deuour to winne the soules of those that haue beene committed vnto thy charge, aswel by deliuering vnto them wholesome and sounde doctrine, as in shewing good example of honest life, & blamelesse conuersation in thy self.

Whether thy care hath beene ouer euery particular person vnder thy cure and charge, in diligent teaching of him, and mildely requiring of him a confession of his Faith, and of the principall points of Christian doctrin: sithens it is the office & duty of euerie faithful shepherd perfectly & readily, to knowe euerie sheepe in his flocke.

[Page 70] ¶ Scholler. Scholler. Whether thou haue obeyed thy Masters rules, directions, and commaundements.

Whether thou hast despised & con­tēned him, or made a iest at his whol­some & godly admonitions, & eyther in reproching him, speaking against him, backbiting or hindring him, haste procured his hurt and detriment.

¶ Schoolemaster. Whether thou haste godly instructed & vertuously trained vp, those Schollers that haue bene cō ­mitted vnto thee, in sound religion & good learning: And beside, in integri­ty of manners and honest example of life, haste gone before them, and been a patterne vnto them.

Whether thou haste rebuked them when they haue done amisse, and cor­rected them after the qualitie of their fault, and by gentle treating stirred vp and encouraged those that go forward in doing wel, to continue and proceed therein.

¶ Subiect. Whether thou haste diso­beyed the laws, statutes and comman­dements, enacted and set forth by the Magistrate.

Whether thou hast contemned the lawfull Ministers & vnder-officers of [Page 71] of the high magistrate, & whether thou hast euil entreated them, or shewed to them any wrongful dealing.

Whether thou hast deuised any wrāgling shifts, or sinisterly of purpose mis­construed the laws, statutes, acts, ordi­nances, proclamatiōs, iniunctiōs or o­ther decrees whatsoeuer, published, en acted & authorized by the Magistrate.

Whether thou haue refused to doe such things as thou haste by the Magi­strates authority beene commanded, as for example, to pay tributes, assesse­mentes and subsidies, and to beare o­ther common charges with others of thy neighbours.

Whether by vttering lewd speeches, practising treason, stirring vp rebelliō, mouing sedition, exciting malicious enimies, or by a [...]y like meanes thou hast at any time, gone about to annoy and put in daunger the Magistrate.

Whether thou haue patiently borne the lewde and corrupt manners of the euill disposed magistrate: and the hard commaundements comming frō him: thinking thus with thy selfe, that it is oftentimes through the fault of the Subiects, that God setteth ouer them, rigorous, cruell, and wicked rulers.

[Page 72] ¶ Magistrate and gouernor.. Whether thou haste made any lawes, enacted a­ny degrees, giuen out any commaun­dements, practised any subtil deuises or pronounced any sentences to the ouerthrow and decay of religion, to the emblemishing of the honour, ma­iestie and authority of Kinges & Prin­ces, or to the disgracing of the dignity and state of any ciuill societie.

Whether thou haste contemned the censures of the Church, the rescripts or decrees of thy superiors: and whe­ther thou haste wrongly interpreted them, craftily by delusion defeated them, or by any other way whatsoeuer gone about to empeach, reiect, or ad­nihilate them.

Whether thou haste by any meanes derogated the right or iurisdiction of any other, either by pulling vnto thee matters which thou hadst not to deale withall, or by procuring meanes and stoppes, that they, to whose deciding and iudgement in right they belon­ged, shold not haue the trials brought before them.

Whether thou haste deuised or commaunded any newe impositions, and vnaccustomed payments, thereby [Page 73] to gratifie and in rich the Prince, or to fill thine owne coffers, to serue thine owne priuate gaine, or moued there­vnto by anie other corrupt affection whatsoeuer.

Whether for Counsailors to direct and aduise thee, thou hast made speci­all choise of such as bee craftie and cruell persons, whose minds thou well knewest so spightfull and enuious, that they cared for nothing lesse, than ei­ther the aduancement of the publike state of the Countrie, or the welfare & quiet of the subiects: onely vsing their craftie deuises to the oppression of them that were honest.

Whether thou hast laboured to the vttermost of thy power, to redresse wicked persons, and to banish such vi­ces as thou perceiuedst were crept in­to the common wealth, or otherwise committed by priuate persons.

Whether thou hast winked at, and loked through thy singers at anie pub­like and notorious crimes, as in suffe­ring vsurie, brothell houses, vnlawfull games, & such like enormities: where­by both the people be infected in ma­ners, and their wealth also miserablie d [...]uoured.

[Page 74] Whether thou hast taken paines to protect and defende the causes of the good & innocent, namely the father­lesse, the widow, & other persons, cal­led miserable and comfortlesse: especi­ally sith as of all in generall, so of these in speciall, thou didst solemnly vnder­take the guard and protection.

¶ Seruant Seruant. and Handmaide. Whether they haue honestly, faithfully, and to their maisters profit, done their worke and businesse.

Whether to their maisters children, kinsfolke and friends, they haue bene dutifull and seruiceable, in such sort as became them, and as they haue beene commanded.

Whether with mumbling, murmu­ring, mocking, mowing, replying, and saucie aunswering, they haue gone a­bout to prouoke their maisters & mi­stresses to anger, or any other waie of­fended and hurt them.

¶ Maister & Mistresse. Maister & Mistres. Whether they haue commanded and enioyned their seruauntes, to doe more worke than they were able, or in reason ought to haue done.

Whether they haue beene towarde their seruants ouer bitter, churlish, & [Page 75] hastie, either in wordes, as in cursing and banning them, furiously raging at them, and contumeliously misnaming them; or else in deeds, by allowing the too small pittance in meate & drinke, by keping from them conuenient clo­thes, and reasonable lodging; by cru­elly bounsing and beating them; or in denying and nipping their wages and hire, &c.

Finally, whosoeuer thou art; call to remembrance whether, either by word or deede, thou hast anie way giuen oc­casion of offence to anie other by thy example, to contemne thy superiours, or to damnifie thy inferiours. For the sinne of him that thus through thee is brought to offend, wil be imputed and laide to thy charge.Euery man or woman in generall.

Whether, seeing others committing anie of the forenamed offences, thou hast either secretlie or openlie liked thereof: For thus also, thou chargest thy selfe with the guilte of another mans sinne.

Sinnes inward.

WHether thou haue bor [...] an [...] enuious minde an spightfull stomacke to­wards anie man, an [...] through thy churlish way wardnesse giuen men occasion to deeme thee worthie the odious nam [...] of a deadly hater of all men,

Whether to anie man in the world▪ either friend or foe, thou hast wished harme and hinderaunce, either in bo­die or goods, in kinsfolke or friendes, or in anie other thing belonging vnto him: and againe, whether thou hast bene at anie time sorie for the good speed, and prosperous successe of ano­ther.

Whether thou hast borne hatred & malice to anie man.1 Iob. 3. 15 He that hateth his brother is a manslaier.

Whether thou hast borne long ma­lice to anie man, with a stiffe, wilfull, [Page 77] implacable and obstinate desire of re­uenge, and so still continuest.

Whether thou hast refused to bee at one with any that hath offended thee, being sorie for his fault, and crauing pardon of thee for the same: shewing thy selfe vtterlie vnwilling of recon­ciliation, for that peraduenture thou watchest thy turne to crie quittaunce with him, and to worke him (when thou canst espie opportunitie) the like shrewd turne and displeasure.

Whether, when thou hast outward­lie pretended thy selfe, cleerely to par­don and forgiue anie that hath offen­ded thee, and that thou wouldest not seeke anie reuenge for things passed, hast yet (notwithstanding) secretlie nourished malice, and kept hatred in thy heart against him.

Whether thou hast purposed and meant not to pardon at all, him that hath not come to thee, to aske pardon for his fault.

Sinnes outward.

WHether either by word, iesture, countenaunce, or anie other manner of waie whatsoeuer, [Page 78] thou hast shewed forth anie churlishe behauiour, or blockish discurtesie, whereby it might bee thought thou meantest anie harme to anie man.

Whether thou euer soughtest mat­ter of quarrell, or occasion of hatred and disagreement against thy neigh­bour.

Whether thou hast yeelded thy self ouer to thine owne wilfull affections, inwardly mouing thee to wrath and rancour.

Whether thou hast conceiued an­ger against anie man for anie cause, yea, though the same in shewe seemed on thy side to bee right and iust.

Whether in rage & anger thou hast said to thy brother, Racha; or (which is worse) Foole: that is to saie, whether thou hast shewed foorth anie signes of hatred and wrath; as cursing and wish­ing ill to another, contemptuouslie threatning, railing, misnaming, chi­ding, scolding, iudging amisse, taking mens deedes & words otherwise than they either meant or speake, wresting al things to the worst, deriding, flearing, mocking, taunting, frumping, crosse-cutting, checking, ouerthwarting, skoffing, backbiting, gibing, vndermi­ning, [Page 79] and such like.

Whether thou hast in spight be­wraied, discouered, and published, the faultes and infirmities of thy neigh­bour: wherein and whereby a man is wounded, worse thā either with sword or knife.

Whether by thus doing thou hast gi­uen cause of new brawling, discorde, hatred, and falling out among thy neighbours, which afore loued and a­greed well together.

Whether, as much as in thee laie, thou hast cutte off the causes of all wrangling, debate, discorde, and quar­rell.

Whether thou hast bene diligent to the vttermost of thy power, to recon­cile and set peace and quietnesse be­tweene them that haue bene at vari­ance.

Whether thou hast in all places shewed thy selfe to beare an enuious, enemilike and implacable minde to­ward him that hath done thee disple­sure, without anie token either of for­giuenesse or reconciliation.

Whether thou hast denied to par­don him that hath craued it at thy handes, and confessed his fault: shew­ing [Page 80] thy selfe inexorable, and desirous rather of reuenge, than to haue for­mer friendshippe renued and conti­nued.

Whether thou hast praied to God for the repentance, amendement, wel­fare, and saluation of thine enemie, & bene readie also anie waie thou coul­dest, to doe him pleasure.

Whether either secretlie or openlie thou euer soughtest meanes, or ima­gined to hurt and damnifie anie man in bodie.

Whether euer in act thou wentest a­bout in any respect to hurt him, wher­by anie harme in his bodie hath insu­ed; as either by ouerlabouring him, or by surcharging him with too heauie burthens, or by nipping him of his vi­ctuals, and with-holding from him re­quisite foode, or by giuing vnto him vnholesome meate and drinke, or by driuing him into sicknesse, or by sen­ding him into anie contagious and in­fected place, or by anie weapon, in­strument, toole, or meane whatsoeuer, either by thy selfe, or by anie other through thy consent, will, & procure­ment.

Whether either priuilie or openlie [Page 81] thou hast any manner of waie done a­nie thing, whereby another is brought to his death, either speedily and hasti­lie, or lingeringly and piningly.

For the kinde and trade of life.

ECclesiasticall Minister. Minister. Whether hee haue deliuered in his Sermons & readings, anie daungerous doc­trine, wherby dissensions, braules, con­tentions, sects, or (which worse is) sedi­tions haue bene stirred vp, and moued among the hearers.

Whether he haue bene the authour and ringleader of anie faction, or mu­tinie either against the gouernours of the Church, or the ciuill Magistrates, or against his owne brethren and fel­lowlabourers.

Whether for anie desire of reuenge, or anie other corrupt affection what­soeuer, he haue put anie backe from hearing the word of God preached, & receiuing the Sacraments; or haue pronounced any excommunicated, or caused anie so to bee, to the greate harme, discontentment, and discom­fort of the partie.

Whether vnder pretence and cou­lour [Page 82] of requiring an account of they, faith, he haue accused any godly chri­stian of heresie, or anie such crime, whereby the partie accused is either imprisoned, or otherwise grieuouslie punished, and perhaps also (as in some places it is seene) put to death.

Whether he haue admitted anie to the Supper of the Lord, that was out of charitie with his neighbor, and not willing to bee agreed and reconciled with his enemies, or whome he knewe had shed the bloud of his brethren, ere he would leaue his malice and ha­tred.

Whether he haue allowed and ap­proued wrongfull warres, or vniust and corrupt iudgements, giuen▪ and pronounced, either by the Prince or by anie others, which some euen in o­pen pulpits haue not bene ashamed to doe.

Gouernour of the common wealth. Ciuill Ma­gistrate. Whe­ther he haue commanded or commit­ted anie to prison without iust cause, where either for hunger and famine, or with stench and fulsome smellys, or some such like meanes they haue ben lamentably dealt withall, and misera­bly handled.

[Page 83] Whether hee haue denied to anie, their lawfull right, to pleade and aun­swere for themselues, and defend their cause.

Whether he haue vpon corrupt af­fection, either secretlie in prison, or o­penly abroade, commaunded anie to bee cruellie handled, racked, tortu­red, bound, beaten, or anie other waie hurt, and punished in bodie, or depri­ued of life.

Whether such as he could not right­lie and lawefullie oppresse and make dispatch of, hee haue caused and pro­cured by others to bee trecherouslie accused, apprehended, wronged, hurt, or by anie manner of meane, brought within the compasse of danger.

Whether he haue euer seemed to fa­uour, countenaunce, or protect anie murtherous, cruell, and bloudie per­sons, or haue at anie time willinglie ioyned in counsell with them.

Whether in punishing those that haue hurt, wounded, or slaine others, as theeues, ruffians, cut-throates, and such like, he haue bene remisse, negli­gent, and carelesse, either in not wil­lingly finding out the offenders, or in refusing to bestowe the charges, for [Page 84] their due punishment and repression, or by anie other waie whatsoeuer.

Whether in punishing offences hee haue at anie time exceeded measure, and either deuised new kindes of tor­tures, or taken delight in such as haue ben too too terrible, painful, and rigo­rous; or haue inflicted more grieuous & sorer punishment, than the nature and quality of the offence deserued, or required.

Whether sitting in iudgement and hearing the case effectuallie and sub­stantially, with all proofes debated, he haue condemned & giuen iudgement against him, whom hee found and we [...] knew to be innocent.

Whether he haue beene carefull to defend frō wrongful oppression poore widows, fatherlesse, & other distressed & comfortlesse persons, & them when they haue bene in danger, relieued & assisted.

Whether he haue set foorth or cau­sed by others to be set forth, any games or disportes, in the which sometime men haue beene wounded, maimed, yea, many times slaine and killed out­right.

Whether he haue made warre with­out [Page 85] iust cause, or giuen either coun­sell or aide to others that haue so done.

Whether he haue inhibited and for­bidden anie from helping & relieuing the afflicted, frō defending the cause of the innocent & accused; from sel­ling such things as bee necessarie for the mainrenance and sustentation of this life, and from helping to rescue those that were oppressed, or violent­ly assaulted.

Whether he haue rightlie and duly kept the times of truce agreed vppon.

Whether he haue procured & cau­sed anie that haue bene deliuered vn­to him as Pledges and Hostages, or a­nie that haue beene sent vnto hint as Ambassadours and Agentes, to bee ill intreated or brought into any dan­ger.

¶ Generall of warres, Captaine and Soul­diour. Generall, Captaine, Souldiour. Whether beeing Generall and Chieftaine, hee haue commaunded a­nie thing to bee done with more cru­eltie and rigor, than the lawe of armes required▪ thereby contemning and ouerthrowing all militarie discipline.

Whether for his priuate affection he haue conducted and lead his Souldi­ours [Page 86] ours to other places than were conue­nient and requisite, or whether hee hath endamaged and hurt anie, whom his commission and duty required not to deale withall.

Whether knowing the warre to bee taken in hand vpon vniust cause and wrongfull quarrell, he haue (notwith­standing) serued in the same.

Whether he haue suffered his Soul­diours disorderli [...] to vse outrage and crueltie, otherwise than either was gi­uen them in commaundement, or the custome of warre required and al­lowed.

Whether he haue vsed anie crueltie either in bodie or goods, towards such persons as were innocent, as namelie, olde men, young children, ministers of the Church, poore widowes, women, (speciallie being great with child,) or lying in child-bedde, virgins, and such like.

Whether the same were done with swoorde, with glaiue, with fire, with spoile, or anie other waie. Infinite bee the waies and manners of crueltie, in souldiours many times vsuall.

Whether they haue sought by anie strange, vncouth and vnusuall waie to [Page 87] annoy, supplant and damnifie their e­nemie, as in deuising new Engines & sleightful inuentions, new and strange kinds of munition & weapons, & poi­soning the same, whereby the wounds therewith made, become vncurable, & such like.

Whether they haue caused any trea­son to be wrought, or anie politik stra­tageme to be practised, whereby grea­ter slaughter was made, and more bloudshed, than otherwise would haue bene.

¶ Lawier, Atturney, Proctor, Scribe. Lawier, Atturney, Aduocate, Scribe. Whether being retained on the behalf of the one partie, accusing, he haue for ill will or affection, so aggreuated the case of the other side beeing accused, that thereby he hath either beene the sooner ouerthrowen, grieuouslyer pu­nished, or otherwise woorse handled & dealt withall, either in body or goods, than otherwise hee woulde haue bene.

Whether he haue kept back his aid, or denied his helpe to the poore, or a­nie other distressed weaklinges stan­ding in neede of his aduise, and cra­uing his fauoutable furtheraunce, ey­ther for defence of their cause, or for [Page 88] the drawing of their pleas & bookes: and whether he haue done the same in such good forme as hee ought, and as he could haue done if he had beene disposed.

¶ Phisition, Apothecarie. Phisition. Apothecary Whether he haue intermedled, or presumed to deale in the arte of Phisicke, and pre­paring of medicines, beeing not fur­nished with sufficient skill thereun­to.

Whether he haue prescribed, dire­cted, appointed, made or giuen to his patient, any receit or medicine, wher­by the disease hath rather increased than decreased, or death perhaps ther vpon insued.

Whether he haue ben negligent in helping the sicke, when hee hath bene requested, and whom hee coulde haue cured and holpen.

Whether he haue proued anie thing at randon, as doubtfull, and not know­ing whether it were good or no.

Whether hee haue giuen anie in­struction, or anie kinde of helpe or counsell to women to make them bar­ren, to procure abortion or vntimelie birth, to destroie the childe conceiued in their wombe, to bring vppon them [Page 89] vnnaturall coldnesse, or to compasse and bring to passe lewde and vnhonest loues, &c.

¶ Rich man. Rich man. Whether he haue deni­ed to the poore and needie, that hath asked him such conuenient reliefe, as was necessarie to him for the sustenta­tion of his life, as meate, drinke, &c. Knowing that the poore partie wan­ted the same. In that thou hast not fedde thy hungrie brother (saith one) thou hast murthered him.

¶ Merchant, Workeman, Artificer. Marchant, Artificer. Whether he haue made or solde anie strange & new inuented instruments, to spoile and hurt the bodie of man withall.

Whether, to furnish any that make vniust warres, without good cause and reason, he haue sold to them armour, weapons, or other things.

¶ Butcher, Fishmonger, Baker, Brewer, Ca­ter, Vitaler, Cooke, Vintner, Tauerner, Butcher, Baker, Brewer, Fishmōger, Vitailer, Cooke, Tauerner, &c, Whether they haue sold, vttered, re­tailed or d [...]essed corrupt flesh, fish, or any other meat or drinke, wherby the eaters therof, haue caught sicknesse, infection, or any other harme in their bodies.

¶ Husband. Hu [...]band. Whether he haue stroken [Page 90] and beaten his wife, either else put & inforced her to such labours & works, whereby she hath ben brought a bed afore her time, or hurt the child in her wombe.

¶ Wife. Wife. Whether by medicines, or la­bour, or dancing, or any other means, she haue ben the occasion of vntime­ly birth, or otherwise of hurting the child within her.

Whether she haue carefully tendred and cherished her babe being new borne, looking so diligently and so tē ­derly vnto it as her duty required. There be many women that may iust­ly be charged with great negligence in this behalfe, and that many waies.

Whether laying the babe in the same bed with her in the night, she haue crushed and brused it, or by ouer-lying, smoothered and killed it.

Whether by her adulterous life, or by her scolding and brawling with a­ny other, or by making complaint to her husband of others, shee haue bene the cause to set her husband and the other party together by the eares. wherby the one hath violently assai­led, wounded, or killed the other.

[Page 91] Nurses are liable to the same faultes that matrones and wiues. Harlots and strumpets,Nurses, Harlots, Strumpets. drabs, curtizans, queanes, and such as haue nothing of virgins but the name onely, are likewise infa­mous for procuring their barrennesse, vntimely births, and killing their chil­dren. They therefore in this behalfe haue great cause diligently to exa­mine their consciences.

To be short: it is euery particular man and womans dutie to looke a­bout,Euery man particular. & it standeth each man in hand to consider with himselfe, according to that trade, function, or kinde of life wherein he liueth, whether he haue a­ny manner of waie ben the cause ei­ther of the hurt, or of the death of an other. As for example: The Maister, when he commandeth his seruant to lift or carrie such great burthens, whereby he is hurt in his bodie, or peraduenture catcheth that harme, whereof he can neuer be cured. Like­wise, he that willeth another to goe a­fore through a deepe foord or water, ouer some bridge, rotten planke, tim­ber, or ladder, where there is great ap­parance of present danger. Hee also that hurleth a stone, or shooteth an [Page 92] arrow into such place, where others do vsually haunt and assemble. Also hee that lendeth or letteth to hire to an o­ther a horse, which hee knoweth to haue naughtie trickes, as oftentimes to haue ouerthrowen and cast his ri­der, to floūdre in the mire, to lie down in the water, &c.

Infinite be the waies, whereby the bodie of our neighbour may be put in daunger, and wronged. Let euery one therefore enter into deepe considera­tion with himselfe, & remember how and which waie he hath offended, and broght his neighbor into any hazard▪ perill, or danger.

Finally, whether in committing a­ny of these aforesayd, thou hast giuen thereby occasion to others to doe the like: that is to saie, whether either by word or deede against this comman­dement thou hast beene a stumbling-blocke, or the cause of fall to another. And also, whether seeing others com­mitting any of the same, thou haue se­cretly assented vnto them, neither staying them, nor reprouing thē, nei­ther yet shewing any token of thy mi­slike thereof, when time and place ser­ued thee well, so to haue done. The [Page 93] accessarie and consentour is as well culpable, as the partie that dooth the deede.7. Cōman­dement.

Sinnes inward.

WHether, in anie place or time when thou haste bene idle, and vnoccu­pied, thou hast had anie thinking of filthie and vnchast matters, and whether in the same thou hast fixed anie delight, or dwelt in any pleasure: so that thereby thou feltest thy minde and flesh stir­red, prouoked, and occasioned to sinne.

Whether, seeing any womā or maid, thou hast burnt inwardly in lust to­ward her. Whether thou hast euer de­uised any practises, or laied any plots, wherby to compasse thy desire in such filthie purposes.

Whether thou hast taken anie de­light in reporting, & remembring thy [Page 94] former lewde life or filthy actes this waie committed: & whether thou hast had any desire to returne to the same sinne againe.

Whether, thou hast immoderatlie bene in loue with thy selfe, eyther for thy beautie, or for any other giftes whatsoeuer, as though for the same thou deemedst thy self a Paragon, able to allure and drawe others to commit filthie follie with thee.

Sinnes outward.

WHether, through brauerie in apparell, simpering lookes, smooth countenance, gallant decking, curious trimming, wanton glances, nice behauiour, and other like vanities, thou haue giuen occasion of semblable loosenesse, and opened a wide gap for others by imitatiō of thy follies, the sooner to commit filthines and dishonestie.

Whether thou hast bene addicted to idlenesse, banquetting, tippeling, and drinking, whereby thy libidinous lust hath ben [...] & thy desire of le­cherie [...].

Wheth [...] [...] wanton eies & [Page 95] learing countenances, beckes, signes, greetings, seruiceable salutations, gifts and rewards, amorous songs and So­nets, delicate instruments of Musicke, nightly walkinges vp and downe the streets, purposely appointed daunces, set banquets, messengers, or by anie wicked practises, thou hast gone about to bring thy dishonest desire, & leche­rous loue to passe.

Whether thou hast willingly kept companie, or bene familiar with such persons, by whō thou mightest be eg­ged and entised, holpen, or furthered, o [...] any way drawen & moued to com­mit this filthinesse.

Whether, to compasse thy dishonest desire▪ thou hast at any time resorted vnto, and frequented secrete corners, gardens, or any other such places as might well be suspected. It standeth thee vpon; and thou oughtest with all diligence and circumspection to a­uoide and eschue all such persons, all such places, all such times, and al such other circumstances as may draw thy minde to infection, thy bodie to villa­nie, or thy name and credite into que­stion.

Whether by any secret sleight or [Page 96] [...]unning, as drinkes, drugs, medicines, charmed potions, amatorious Phil­ters, figures, characters, or anie such [...]like paltering instrumentes, deuises, or practises, thou hast gone about to procure others to doate for loue of thee.

Whether by kissing, groping, touch­ing, or handling any partes of the bo­die, thou hast gone about to stirre vp [...] lust and lecherie either in thy selfe, or in any other.

Whether thou hast vsed anie ribal [...] talke, or raskallie words of scurrilitie, tending to the praise of lust, and pro­uocation of lecherie; or whether thou hast willingly heard and giuen eare to others that haue so done, or prouoked others to any such talke.

Whether thou hast vnlawfully had carnall copulation with anie, and with what maner of person. Whether with a single woman, thy selfe also beeing single and vnmarried: or whether with a married person, which is adulterie. Or whether [...] that is [...] of kinne or assi [...]tie to thee, which is cal­led Incest: or [...] with any, [...] and against their will, which is called Rape or rauishment.

[Page 97] Whether thou hast abused thy [...] by carnall dealing in anie other sorte, or with anie other persons or crea­tures, than by the lawe of nature is or­dained. As by Sodomitrie, or by Bug­garie, tearmed by some, the dombe sinne; and as I thinke, for this cause so tearmed, for that it is of such horror, that it is not once to be named or spo­ken of among men.

Whether thou hast long time conti­nued in that kinde of sinne, whereof thou knowest thy selfe guilty.

Whether thou hast giuen any aide to others [...]n their filthie dealings, or whether thou hast bestowed any time, labour, or diligence in procuring and bringing about any dishonest, lustfull, and lecherous loues.

For the kind or trade of life.

Gouernour, or Minister of the Church. Whether hee haue admitted and winked at,Bishop, Pastor, Minister. or tollerated anie, bee­ing by others admitted to the ministe­rie of the Church, whō either he him­selfe, or anie others did knowe to bee whooremongers, or to keepe Concu­bines, [Page 98] and harlots.

Whether hee haue suffered anie to bee partakers of the holie Supper of the Lorde, notoriouslie knowen to bee Adulterers and Whooremon­gers.

Whether, (when he hath seene sins manifestly raigning, and grieuouslie preuailing, against this seuenth com­mandement, or stewes and brothel­houses to be suffered and to goe vnpu­nished) he haue beene negligent and remisse, (as occasion and opportunitie hath serued) to reproue and inueigh a­gainst it: and whether hee haue zea­louslie aduised, and earnestlie admo­nished the Magistrate to looke to his dutie in this behalfe, in repressing and redressing these enormities.

Whether in ioyning anie persons to­gether in Matrimonie, specially them of the lighter sorte, hee haue bene too readie, rash,& inconsiderate, as name­ly, in not propounding vnto them the ends of Matrimonie, for which it was by God ordained, & instituted, in not declaring vnto them such pointes as appertaine to the dignitie of Mariage, in not earnestly examining them, what reasons moued them to enter in­to [Page 99] this holy estate. The negligent loo­king vnto these and such like pointes. is one speciall cause of so many ill a­greeing matches, so many lamentable diuorses, &c.

Whether he haue suffered the pa­trimonie, treasure, substance, & goods of the Church to bee bestowed in almes vpon anie such persons, as for their lewde life and filthie liuing were infamous.

Whether, when women haue resor­ted vnto him for his aduise, & spiritual counsell, hee haue felte himselfe anie waie moued to vnchastitie, or other­wise inkindled and assailed, with anie lecherous cogitations.

Finally, whether in the Church or else where, or by domesticall vsage, fa­miliar custome▪ or anie other meanes whatsoeuer, either by immodest coun­tenance, or vndiscreet iesture, he haue giuen others occasion to conceiue of him ill opinion, and sinister suspiti­on.

¶ Magistrate and publike Officer in the common wealth. Prince. Magistrate Officer. Whether in his Realm, Countrie, Dominion, Precinct, & iu­risdiction, he haue suffered anie dens of baudrie, open brothel-houses, or [Page 100] Stewes, from the which there mu [...] needs grow and flowe ful seas of much mischiefe.

Whether he haue bene remisse and negligent to reforme and bring to a­mendement of life, or else to punish & banish out of the common wealth, all such as for lewdnes and impuritie, are generally infamous, as baudes, pan­dars, filthie loue-makers, adulterers, whooremongers, strumpets, and all o­thers whomsoeuer, giuing offence in this behalfe.

Whether he haue at anie time, or by any meanes so vsed & demeaned him­selfe, that he hath bene thought to fa­uour, support, and beare with this kind of filthie life; which suspition cōmon­ly ariseth, when men in authoritie doe familiarly admit to their acquaintāce & companie, those that be lechers. and whooremaisters, and such as bee foule mouthed, and baudilie languashed. O [...] when they make much of such per­sons, and delight in their fellowship: or aduance and preferre them to dig­nities and honours: or suffer them to inioy publike offices in the common wealth, whereas other good, honest, & vertuous persons, are vnregarded, and [Page 101] not accounted of.

Whether they haue suffered any En­terludes, Stageplaies, or games, wher­in haue bene shewed, vttered, or done, anie filthie feates, vnchast wordes, or lewde actions. Which kinde of shewes and playes are in many places seene, not onely at times of prophane iolly­ties, but now and then also euen at the solemne assemblies, of some such as by profession shoulde bee deadly ha­ters, and vehement disswaders there­of.

Souldiour. Whether in the time of warre, hee haue constuprated and de­floured anie virgins or matrones; thin­king himselfe (as it were) to haue law­full interest ouer the bodie of those seely creatures. being by force of arms of him conquered, taken, and sub­dued.

Phisicion and Apothecarie. Physition. Apothecary Whether he haue giuen counsell to any person, for the preseruation and recouerie of his health, to commit whooredome, or some other vile act, to become dron­ken, &c.

Whether he haue ministred & made anie medicines or drugges, to inflame lust, prouoke lecherie, or procure dis­honest [Page 102] loue.

Whether in deliuering medicines to anie woman or maiden, he haue wan­tonly and vnchastly either handled or beheld her.

¶ Schoolemaister. Schoolemai­ster. Whether hee haue read to the youth in the schoole, anie wanton writers, or vnchast Authours, whereby their mindes might catch in­fection. And of such sort are there cer­taine Poets Comicall, Elegiake, & E­pigrammatarie.

¶ Scholler. Scholler. Whether he haue priuat­ly taken delight in reading such Au­thors, and whether he haue ben ther­by induced to sinne.

Whether, not onely by familiaritie with women, and damsels of ill report and fame, but also with ietting the streets by night with instrumentes of Musicke, he haue procured dauncing, and occasioned misrule, whereby hee might seeme (as it were) to seeke op­portunitie, & to finde fit time to com­passe his vncleane conceits, and flesh­ly imaginations. And if ouer and be­sides this, he haue at any time carryed weapons, causing therewith braulings & fraies, to the hurting or wounding of any, or which is worse, of the mur­ther [Page 103] and death of anie. In this dooing. he hath sinned also by manifest brech against the sixt cōmandement, where­of we lately treated.

¶ Husband and Wife. Husband, Wife. Whether they haue faithfully kept the one to the o­ther, their bed vndefiled, & their faith vnspotted.

Whether to the actuall knowledge, allowed betwene them, they haue she­wed thymselues the one to the other, (without lawfull and necessarie cause) waiward, churlish, & vnwilling, where­by might haue growen danger of scor­tation, vncleannesse, and filthie of­fence.

Whether there hath ben betweene them anie bitter wordes, or brawling iarres, breeding an hatred the one to the other, and peraduenture occasio­ning them, or the one of them to com­mit sinne with some other partie.

Whether the loue betweene them haue beene hemmed in within the bounds of such christian sobrietie and decency, that they haue not (as it were in a beastly sort, & ouermuch dotage) loued the one the other, yeelding themselues to immoderate, yea, vn­chast, and (as I may saie) whoorish lust [Page 104] and loue. He committeth adulte­rie with his owne wife, that in this fil­thie sort loueth her, & doteth ouer her vnmeasurably.

Whether they entered into the e­state of wedlocke, for any other ends. than those for which God ordained, & instituted Matrimonie.

Whether they haue exceeded the lawfull bounds and measures (in anie respect or circumstance) of matrimo­niall loue.

Whether they haue vsed or shewed anie signes of wanton and lasciuious behauiour, in the sight and hearing of others, namely of young children and maidens.

Whether they haue in their house any vtensiles, furniture, instrumentes, or stuffe, that may allure either them or others to anie vanitie, wanton­nesse, or dishonestie, as Pictures, Ta­bles, &c.

Whether they haue beene carefull and circumspect to see their whole household, that is to say, their children and seruants, chastly and shamefastly brought vp in all good nurture & ho­nestie.

¶ Artificers, Painters, Tailers, Painters, Caruers, Grauers, [Page 105] Hucstars, Retailours, &c. Whether they [...]ue made or solde anie wares, gar­ments, or instruments which the buy­ers doe abuse,Scmsters, & other Arti­ficers. conuert, and occupie, for filthie purposes, and paltering de­uises. Some make and sell painting for faces, some cerusse and pomadoes: some staring ruffes, garishe Cawles, &c. all which are toyes arguing the vanite, follie, vncleanenesse, and ni­citie of meicockes and wantons.

Whether they haue painted anie counterfaites, engrauen any images, or made any picture in tables, in hafts of kniues, in pots, in Arra [...], in Tape­strie, hangings, or anie such like, repre­senting filthinesse, baudrie, vnchastity, or anie waie inducing and drawing the beholder too vile & vnchast co­gitations.

¶ Inholders, Vintners, Tauerners, Vitai­lers. Inholder, Tauerner, Vitailer, Whether they receiue or keepe a­nie harlots, and misliuing women in their houses, or anie other infamous persons whatsoeuer, liuing by the▪ shamefull practise of baudrie.

¶ Musitians, Stageplaiers. Musitians, Mintirels, Stageplai­ers. Whether by singing or playing on instrumentes of Musicke, or in shewing anie actions or iestures of scurrility, they haue moued [Page 106] the beholders and hearers, to lasciui­ous dancing, wanton thoughts, or vn­chast actions.

Finallie, whether in committing a­nie afore named offences, thou hast giuen anie occasion vnto others to doe the like: that is to saie, whether either by thy filthie wordes, or disso­lute deedes, thou hast ministred of­fence and cause of stumbling to other weake ones.

Againe, whether when thou haste seene others committing any of these faultes aforesayd, thou haue secretlie consented vnto them, neither stayinge and hindering their euill, neither re­prouing it, neither yet giuing anie to­ken or signification of their mislike thereof, whereas vppon occasion and opportunitie, thou both mightest and oughtest so to haue done. Consent, as well secret as open, maketh thee guil­tie of trespasse.

Sinnes inward.

WHether thou haue carried a minde de­sirous euerie kind of waie, or anie kind of waie, either by hook or crooke, to increase thy wealth, and inrich thy selfe.

Whether, thou take such inward ioy and pleasure in thy goods, that thou canst not find in thy heart willingly to depart with anie of them.

Whether, when thou hast suffered a­ny losse, or receiued any hinderaunce in thy goods, thou haue taken ouer­much sorrow and griefe for the same. For this to doe, is an euident token of notable auarice.

Whether thou hast deuised in thy mind, how and which way thou migh­test catch into thy clouches and pos­session, any other mans liuing, landes, [Page 108] inheritance, goods, wares, furniture, v­tensiles, or stuffe.

Whether thou hast euer layde any plottes, or deuised anie shiftes, to in­trappe anie man in his dealings, or to preuent and hinder him of his com­moditie.

Whether thou hast bene agrieued, and sorrowfull at another mans pros­perous successe and welfare: as though another mans commoditie had beene thy hinderaunce and discommoditie And heereunto are to bee referred al the trickes and points of secret spigh and hollow enuie.

Whether thou hast imagined wit! thy self▪ how thou mightest hinder an other man, either in fame, credite, ho­nour, or estimation.

Whether thou hast euen vnwilling­ly & as it were, with griefe of mind, yel­ded that to another, which in right was his owne: and whether thou has not ben willing to departe, euen wit [...] somewhat of thine own. These & ma­ny such like, beeing but thought and conceiued, euen in the mind, do make vs guiltie before God, yea, although actually they be not done.

Sinnes externall and outwarde.

WHether either priuily or apert­ly, with the owners knowledge, or without it, and whether a­gainst the good will of the proprieta­rie, whosoeuer he be, whether hee bee kins-man or friend-man, neighbour or forrainer, friende or foe, thou haste raked and hailed his goods vnto thee.

Whether when thou hast found a­ny thing by chaunce lost by another, thou haue kept it still to thy selfe, and hast not sought meanes and occasi­on to restore it to the right ow­ner.

Whether when thou hast borrowed anie instrument, toole, or other thing, thou haue vsed it to other vses, than it was purposely agreed vppon, and lent thee, & that without either the thin­king, opinion, consent, or will of the owner.

Whether thou hast omitted to re­store backe any thing that hath beene lent thee.

Whether, as it were in the waie of iest, thou hast gotten and receiued a­ny [Page 110] thing from another, not minding to restore it, and doest stil detaine and keepe it to thine owne vse.

Whether thou hast euer practised thefte, or committed any robberie by the high waie.

Whether thou hast practised pyra­cie on the sea, or associated thy selfe with pyrates and rouers.

Whether thou haue fired, or anie other like waie spoyled thy neigh­bours house, substance, or goods what­soeuer.

Whether thou hast wrought anie hinderance, and procured anie losse to others, either by hurting their Cat­tel, Fishes, Foules, Trees, Corne, Gar­dens, Orchardes, Children, Seruants, &c.

Whether thou hast purloined and taken away any Church furniture, ser­uing for the Ecclesiasticall ministerie, which kind of sinne is commonly cal­led Sacrilege, & is deemed worse than theft.

Whether thou hast giuen or lent to anie person that which was none of thine owne, and wherewith thou had­dest nothing to doe.

VVhether thou hast not faithfullie [Page 111] kept such things as haue beene vppon trust committed vnto thee, in such sorte as honestie and conscience re­quired.

VVhether thou hast refused iustly to pay the hirelings, and them that haue labored with thee and to thy vse, their wages and hire;& whether thou haue defaulked, nipped or abated any part or parcell thereof.

VVhether thou hast refused and de­nied to bestowe thine almes vpon the poore, asking the same of thee, or desi­ring to borrowe some thing of thee: or whether thou haue more than halfe vnwillingly bestowed & lent the same.

Whether in making diuisiō of things to be shared betwene thee and others, thou haue fraudulently, and either se­cretly or openly catched more for thy portion & share, than thy part amoun­ted vnto.

VVhether thou hast giuen ill words, or beene any waye offended with him that hath required and demanded his right, and that which was his owne, at thy hands.

VVhether, when thou hast seene an other like to fal into any danger, trou­ble, [Page 112] trouble or hinderaunce, thou haue giuen him warning afore hande to take heed.

VVhether thou hast subtilly practi­sed with others to crosse-cut thy bro­ther in any bargain, or to preuent him of his commoditie, or whether thou hast attempted or done any thing to that end.

VVhether thou hast bereft, or by any means empaired any mās good name and fame, which all honest men doo more esteeme (& that worthily) than either money or any other worldlie treasure: and whether thou hast done it secretly and closely, by vndermining his credit with lewde speeches; or by affixing and setting vp infamous and slanderous libels or pictures, or by o­penly charging him with some crime not committed; or if it were commit­ted, yet secret and not knowen: or by exaggerating another mans fault; or through thy silence and dissimulation soothing a matter as though that were committed, which in very deede was not committed: Or by accusing of him before a Iudge, and that not so much for anie loue thou bearest to iu­stice, as for malice and spight to the [Page 113] partie, & for desire to do him a shrewd turne.

Whether thou haue lent out thy mo­nie, corne, wine, or any other thy goods, with conditiō to receiue again more than thou lentest and gaue out, whether the same bee in monie, or in ware, or in anie other thing whatsoe­uer.

Whether for lending any thing, thou hast taken to pawne, apparell, horse, house, grounde, &c. VVhich pawne thou hast in the meane while vsed and worne, without allowance or abate­ment of anie parte of the principall summe.

VVhether, when thou hast lent vnto Merchants, Occupiers, and Artificers, any money, thou hast done it in hope to partake with thē, in the gaine which they make with the monie borrowed of thee.

VVhether thou hast bought land or any other thing, at a higher price than it is wel worth; but yet with this clause and condition, that the partie which felleth it, shall bee bounde to buy the same of thee againe, and thou in the meane space till he redeeme it, take & inioy all the profit and commoditie a­rising [Page 114] and growing thereof to thine owne vse: This cunning shifte is tear­med Cloaked vsurie. For they cleanlie couer it with the honest names of bui­eng and selling, whereas beeing well considered, it is nothing els but plaine mutuation.

VVhether thou hast borrowed vp­pon vsurie, when thou haddest no neede, but onely to lend out the same monie againe to others, for greater gaine, and bigger vsurie: or whether thou borrowedst it to spend and con­sume vnthriftily.

VVhether any person haue wastful­ly spent his wealth, or lewdly & in dis­solute companie made hauocke of his thrift, whereby hee hath afterwardes bin driuen to be burdenous & charge­able vnto others.

For the trade of life.

MInister of the Church. Clergiman, or Minister of the Church. VVhether he were preferred to anie spirituall function, or whether he himselfe haue preferred anie others for reward & gaine, or vpon any other such con­siderations, to and fro had and con­cluded, as might well bee reckoned in [Page 115] lieu of reward or monie. This foule crime, (because of Symon Magus, who desired with monie to buy the gift and power by laying on of handes,Act. 8. 19 to giue the holy Ghost, is nowe called Snno­nie.

VVhether for doing his dutie in ce­lebration of the Sacraments, & other offices appertinent therunto, he haue purposelie respected gaine and re­ward.

VVhether he entered into the office of the ministerie for gaine, ease, and commoditie, rather than for any other cause.

VVhether he haue left one Church, and gone to another, in hope of bigger commoditie and greater gaine, or any way therby, seeking with more wealth to inrich himselfe.

VVhether he haue suffred the goods of the Church so to be imbezilled and wasted, that thereby the Ministers and poore people hauing their mainte­naunce and liuing by that Church, are nipt and skanted, and cut short of necessaries for their sustentati­on.

VVhether hee receiue and take the profites of sundrie Churches without [Page 116] a iust and necessarie cause. I meane that to be a iust and necessarie cause, when of the prosites of that other Church, a Minister cannot maintaine himselfe; or when as at that time there cannot another fitte bee found, able to take the charge of the same.

VVhether he haue caused the goods and reuenues of the Church, whereof he hath charge and gouerement to be bestowed and imployed to those v­ses, which in right they ought to bee: namely, to the maintenaunce of the Ministers, exhibition to poore scho­lers, releefe of aged persons, widowes, Orphanes, fatherlesse children, &c.

VVhether in disposing and bestow­ing of the goods of the Church, hee haue giuen more than meete was, to those that had lesse neede, neglecting those, whose necessitie and want in all equitie and conscience, ought to haue ben specially releiued.

VVhether he hath conuerted the sti­pend and maintenance which he hath receiued of the Church, vpon necessa­rie and honest vses, namely in keeping and nourishing an honest and well go­uerned familie, and in reliefe of the poore, not consuming the same in ri­ot, [Page 117] in banqnetting, in brauerie, or a­mong harlots, &c.

Whether he haue pulled or taken to himselfe, anie thing as annexed to his Church, which in truth is not annex­ed vnto it.

Whether he haue receiued the pro­site and stipend of anie Church, wher­on he hath no care to bestow any tra­uell or diligence in teaching.

Whether of those thinges that be­long to the Church, he haue transla­ted anie thing to other vses, than hee ought to doo, and haue committed and referred the vse thereof, to anie such as doo no manner of good to the Church.

Whether he haue admitted or alow­ed any phantastical opinions, or pick­purse rites, whereby the Minister and such as serue in the Church, doe make priuate gaine: of which sortes be, the dreaming opinions, and superstitious rites, of deliuering soules for monye out of Purgatorie, of merits and satis­faction for sins, of pilgrimages, of kis­sing and offering to carued Images, & reliques of the dead, &c.

¶ Gouernour of the Common wealth. Whether he attained the dignitie,Ciuill Ma­gistrate. [Page 118] preheminence and power, whereunto he is aduanced truly and iustly, that is to saie, without fraud or deceit, with­out force or violence, & without wrōg to any manner of person.

Whether he haue so behaued him­selfe toward his superior Magistrate, as he ought to haue done, yeelding vnto him all due honour.

Whether hee haue offered or done wrong to anie other, beeing placed in dignitie and office, although somwhat his inferiour, denying vnto him his lawfull right, authoritie, fees, relieues, seruices, and appertenaunces to his place and calling appendant, and al­so so haue affoorded vnto him assi­staunce, ayde, defence, and suche like.

Whether he haue incroched vppon anie other mans right, or chalenged to himselfe that which belonged to o­thers: forciblie wresting aud drawing that within the compasse of authority, wherein he had no interest, prescri­bing lawes and orders to them, o­uer whome his authoritie stretched not.

Whether he haue omitted & fore­slowed, to helpe and de end suche as [Page 119] were committed (in trust) vnto him:in­somuch that through his carelesse and wilful negligence or malice, they haue suffered harme, & incurred inconue­nience.

Whether he haue inioyned & asses­sed those to paiments of monie, taxes, tribute, custome, and impost, ouer whō he had no authoritie, and then also when as no neede was, or otherwise than was euer afore time, either vsed or heard of,

Whether he haue giuen commande­ment for any manner of things, as ha­uing authoritie so to doe, when as in deede he had none at all.

Whether he haue empaired, dimini­shed, or taken away the liberties or im­munities & priuileges of the Church, or common wealth.

Whether he haue promoted or suffe­red any being promoted to execute a­ny publike offices, being men ambiti­ous and couctous, pitifully polling the poore people with their craftie & co­lourable deuises.

Whether he haue bene remisse and negligent to represse and punish Rob­bers, Theeues, and Rouers, and such as anie waie wer giuen to pillage, rauine, [Page 120] and pilferie.

Whether he haue seemed in any sor [...] to fauour, defend, and beare with vsu­rers.

Whether hee haue suffered Palme­sters, Fortune tellers, Stageplaiers, Sawceboxes, Enterluders, Puppitplay­ers, loiterers, vagabonds, landleapers, and such like, cozening make-shiftes, to practise their cogging trickes, and rogish trades, within the circuite of his authoritie, and to deceiue the sim­ple people with their vile forgery and palteric.

Whether he haue suffered false mea­sures, false waights, and excessiue pri­ces of things by litle and litle to grow vp and be vsed.

Whether he haue deuised and made any new lawes, as traps and snares to catch the seely people vnawares with­al, seruing for none other purpose, thā for his owne priuate gaine & commo­ditie.

Whether when hee ought to haue punished according to the seueritie of the lawe, he hath rather respected mo­nie, and receiued large bribes, thereby defeating the meaning of the lawe, & making open sale of iustice.

[Page 121] Whether hee haue aduaunced any to publike offices for money, and whe­ther hee haue giuen false and wrong­full iudgement, sitting vpon the bench of Iustice.

Whether he haue ignorantly, and vnwittingly giuen wrong iudgement, for that he had not sufficient skill in the lawes, or because he tooke not the aduise of some skilfuller, and more learned than himselfe.

Whether he haue refused to giue sentence vpō any matter fully trauer­sed & effectually pleaded; or whether he haue for the nonce, and of some set purpose delayed, and deferred iudge­ment, whereby euen in that respect, any person hath sustayned losse and hinderaunce.

Whether he haue drawen into que­stion and controuersie, any matters impertinent to the cause, or to the which the party accused is not bound to answere, and whereby any person is preiudiced or damnisied.

Whether hee haue had speciall re­gard and care of the cases of poore wi­dowes, fatherlesse children, and such like persons, (which for the sundrye distresses whereunto they bee liable, [Page 122] are by the lawes [...]earmed miserable and whether he haue beene very cir­cumspect that they shold not any way be iniuried.

Whether he haue prohibited or a­ny way stayed such as haue felt them­selues wronged and oppressed, from appealing to some higher Magistrate, or to implore helpe, and seeke for aide at some other.

Captaine in warres,Warri [...]ur. & Souldiour. Whe­ther being a Generall or Captaine in the wars, he receiue pay of his Prince, for mo souldiers than he hath indeed vnder him; and whether in his Check­roll, or Muster booke hee set downe a greater number then is true.

Whether he haue by vniust warres spoyled and ransacked any.

Whether for any priuate hatred, or other euill affection whatsoeuer, in those warres that haue beene iust, he haue commaunded, or procured anie to be despoiled, whom he ought not to haue inuaded.

Whether hee haue conducted and ledde his Souldiers by such wayes and to such places, as hee specially ought, and as were most behoouefull and ex­pedient; and hath not rather for mo­ney [Page 123] ledde, or caused them to be con­ueighed and led to other places, than he ought to haue done.

Whether he betooke himselfe to the warres, in hope rather of spoyle and pray, than for loue to his Country, & care of the publike peace and tranqui­litic. There be almost infinite wayes, whereby these kind of people do piti­fully transgresse and breake this pre­sent eighth Commaundement.

¶ Doctor, Teacher, or Schoolemaster, Doctor. Graduate. Scholema­ster. Reader. Teacher. Whether he haue taught his Scholers more negligently, more seeldome, or not so faithfully as he ought in cōsci­ence to haue done; as one that onely respected his stipend, hier, wages, pre­ferment and commoditie.

Whether hauing a publike stipend, or fee appointed vnto him, & the same reasonable and sufficient ynough, he haue exacted or receiued for the same his reading, anye thing more of his scholers and Auditors.

Whether he haue receiued & gotten the degree of Doctor, or Master, the rather thereby to procure vnto him­selfe the greater gaine, and the easier to dec [...]iue, than for any honest and godly respectes.

[Page 124] Whether in fauour of any, (and e­specially for money) he haue defined and set downe that for right and true, which was otherwise.

Whether being greased in the hand with giftes and rewardes, he hath o­uermuch cockered, dandeled & winc­ked at some of his scholers, not enioy­ning them to their ordinarie exerci­ses, or not setting them to their won­ted scholasticall taskes, as other of their fellowes be, or in not checking and correcting them when they haue beene disobedient and doone amisse, but suffered them to haue their owne will, and to runne riote at their owne pleasure.

¶ Scholer. Scholer. Student. Whether he haue wastful­ly and vnthriftily spent the money which his parentes disbursed and de­fraied for his charges and necessaries.

Whether he haue mispent his time, which he ought to haue bestowed at his booke and studie.

Whether he haue giuen his minde to his booke, or to any certaine trade of life, chiefely and principally respe­cting gaine and lucre thereby.

¶ Aduocate, Atturney, Proctor, Scribe, Lawyer. Lawyer. Atturney. Aduocate. Scriuener. Notarie. Whether he haue taken vpon [Page 125] him to defende any cause, as iust and right, (which he knewe to be vniust) and againe haue impugned any cause which he knew to be iust.

Whether for his owne gaine & com­moditie, he hath caused men to go to lawe together, & to be at charges for matters that otherwise might quietly haue beene ended, without any great troubles and expences in lawe.

Whether he haue vsed any dilatory pleas, or any other course then hee ought to haue done, to the hinderance and detriment of eyther partie.

Whether through negligence, vn­skilfulnesse, or any other defect and fault in him, hee haue lost and ouer­throwen a good and rightfull cause.

Whether hee haue bewrayed any thing to the aduersarie parti [...], where­by his owne Client hath beene ouer­throwen, and the other partie gotten the vpperhande.

Whether he haue refused to deale in the causes of the poore, needie and moneylesse, and only framed himselfe to the rich and wealthie.

Whether he haue taken too large fees of his Clientes.

Whether being a Notarie, hee haue [Page 126] falsified, forged, depraued or defaced any instrument or writing, eyther by rasing, adding, enterlyning, altering, or by what other way so euer.

Whether he haue omitted and left out any thing, concerning eyther sub­stance or fourme, in the penning, en­diting, and setting downe of solemne deedes, autenticall instrumentes and writinges of recorde.

Whether in any instrument he haue dissen [...]bled, omitted, trāsposed, or for­ged any thing contrarye to lawe, or done any other act, whereby another is afterward damnified.

Whether he haue framed or procu­red any instrument to embolden, har­den, and fortifie wicked and wilfull persons in their rashnesse, auarice, and headie wilfulnesse.

Whether for making any instrument he haue taken money of them, of whō he ought not to haue had any or whe­ther more than was due to him for the same.

¶ Phisition, Apotheca [...]ie. Phisition. Apotheca­ [...]ie. Whether be­ing a Phisition; he haue extorted, and exacted, at the hands of the rich, more than the money agreed vpon between them, and more than any reason af­forded, [Page 127] for his paynes and counsell: and as for the poore (whom hee dee­med vnable to pay) whether he haue vtterly refused, or beene vnwilling to visite or goe vnto them.

Whether being an Apothecarie, or Oyntment maker, he haue confected and made baggage, corrupt, or coun­terfeite Medicines, eyther simple or compounde, and the same solde at so deare a pryce, as those that were good, soueraigue, cordiall and sound. For heerein is a double fault commit­ted, the one in respecte of the wares themselues, the other in respect of the price.

¶ Merchant, Chapman. Merchant. Chapman. Seli [...] of ware. Whether he ex­ercise the trade of Merchandise rather vpon a couetous desire, immoderately to enrich himselfe, and to s [...]rape toge­ther great wealth, than thereby to gaine measurable substaunce for the necessarie sustentation, and vse of his life, or therwith to benefite and helpe with his trauaile, the publike societie of his Countrey.

Whether hee haue conspired and confederated with others of his owne trade, selling the like wares that hee doth, vpon some certain high & great [Page 128] price, whereby there cannot but ensue of necessitie, a great dearth in the Common-wealth.

Whether entring into copartener­ship with others, he keepe backe, & re­taine to his owne vse, some part of the gaine, defrauding by concealement, his Coparcener, of his moytie and portion.

Whether in selling his wares to one that is not able in hande to pay downe readie monie or wares, but craueth some respit of time for the payment therof, he haue rated the same wares, in respect of the forbearance, at deerer and higher Prices, than they were worth.

Whether he haue bought aforehand for readie money, wheate, wine, or such like commoditie, to be deliuered vnto him at a time agreed vpon after: but yet better cheape than the same were esteemed at, euen then when the bargaine was made; or like ynough to be afterward: as if, for ten crownes, hee bought that, which a little while after hee was sure to sell againe for twelue crownes, &c.

Whether in barter and exchaung of wares for wares, hee haue strictly ex­acted [Page 129] & hucked wares from the other parti [...], which he was well assured were more worth, and cost dearer, than the wares that hee in lieu thereof deliue­red.

Whether he haue bought naughtie, corrupt & mustie wares at some small price, in hope to retayle and sell them againe, for good & perfect, and at such price, as good, sound & perfect wares are sold for: Or whether, knowing the [...] to be faultie and naught, he haue pur­posely and wittingly mingled them with others that were good, perfect [...] and faultlesse wares.

Whether hee haue bought stollen goods, knowing or suspecting them so to be.

Whether he haue vsed any sleight, collusion, or deceipt, eyther in worde or deede, thereby the easier, and the dearer to sell his wares,

Whether he haue duely payed the impostes, custome and such like char­ges, where and when he ought so to haue done.

Whether in the exchaunging of for­reigne and vnknowen Coine, he haue wittingly committed any fraude.

Whether, for the onely and meere [Page 130] exchaunge he haue indented, co [...]e­nanted, bartered and bargained, con­cerning the price in sorer sort, then hath lightly beene aforetime vsed.

Whether he haue practised any other maner of commutation or exchange, then that which was publikely, and commonly vsed, and among exchaun­gers, for the most part ordinarily fre­quented.

¶ Broker. Broker. Whether he haue beene a mediator or a driuer of bargaines, and contracts, which he knew to be vncō ­scienable and vnlawefull, as namely, grounded vpon vsurie, or otherwise a­ny maner of way, for the hidden craf­unesse secretly lurking therein, hurt­full and damageable.

Whether he haue subtilly & craftily procured & egged the one of the par­ties to consent, and do that which af­terward (when he feeleth himselfe bit­ten and hindered) he hath had good cause to repent. For doubtlesse, the cō ­mon vse & fashion of Brokers is, to re­spect, and specially to fauour the one of the parties contracting, aboue the other: and also to gape after his owne priuate gaine.

¶ Treasurer, Receiuer, Guardian. Treasurer. Receiuer. Guardian. Whe­ther [Page 131] he haue at anytime disbursed & layde out the publique monie, or the Princes treasure committed to his cu­stodie, for his owne priuate gaine, as namely in traffique of merchandize, buying and selling, purchasing, len­ding out. &c.

¶ Wife. Wife Whether she haue stollen away, or priuily suborned one childe in steede of an other, or layde an o­ther womans childe in the place and steede of her owne: Or whether shee haue named and affirmed the childe whom she hath borne in adulterie, to be the lawefull childe of her husband. These kinde of Children doe sundrie times carrie away from many right­full heires, rounde portions of their inheritance, yea, and sometimes goe away with the whole. And therefore is this a most greeuous and haynous sinne.

Whether without her husbandes knowledge and consent, shee liaue gi­uen awaye, conueighed, a [...]ened, or with dainty fare wasted his goods and substance.

¶ Artificers, Labourers. Artificers. Labourers. Whether they exercise any trickes or feates to adulterato, corrupt, forge, iumule, [Page 132] marre, mingle, foist, or depraue anie thing that they doe: or whether they keepe backe, or purloigne anie thing of that which is committed to them in trust to doe; which the partie (be­speaking it to be done) can not easily finde out and espie. Of which crewe are Taylers, Millers, &c.

Whether when they haue beene hy­red to doe any worke, they haue la­boured faithfully and as their ductic required.

¶ Husbandman, farmer. Husband­man. Farmer. Whether he haue iustly, truly, and faithfully paied his tythes, and other duties.

Whether he haue hindered and in­iuried his neighbours in their groūds, fieldes, and medowes, by putting in his cattel, or by driuing them through that way, or by making courses, and chanels to conueye and get the wa­ters from th [...], or any other way what­soeuer.

Whether through his negligence or spight he haue suffered their ground to be in any part spoiled, or their Ox [...], Kine, Horses, Sheepe, or other their goods and Cattels to be hurt, whereby the owner is apparantly damnified.

¶ Monier, Min [...]er. Monyer. Min [...]er. Whether by the art [Page 133] of Alchymie, or any other deuise, he haue mixed mettalles together, vtte­ring base coine for perfect and good sterling.

¶ Clothier. Clothie [...]. Whether hee haue solde Clothes made of course wool, in steed of fine and good wollen clothes.

Whether, knowing some fault in the Dying of his clothes, he haue wit­tingly concealed, and purposely diffi­muled it.

VVhether he haue solde his clothes for fully wrought, and throughly rea­die, when they haue not been fully, throughly, & workemanlike finished.

Whether he haue according to bar­gaine and promise, faithfully paied his worke-folkes, as Carders, Spinners, weauers, Fullers, and others, of whom he can not but haue alwayes a great manie.

¶ Vintener, Tauerner. Vintener. Tauerner. VVhether he haue solde and retayled his wine, or other his drinke whatsoeuer, in such plight & sort, and none other, than he receiued the same: that is to say, with­out anye mixture of water, or other stuffe; and againe, whether in iust and true measure, &c.

¶ Butcher. Butcher. Whether he haue sold the [Page 134] flesh of a rotten and infected Beast, in stead of sound and wholsome. Againe, whether by iust and true waight. And againe: whether he haue vttered and chopped away one kinde of fleshe in­steede of an other, as Goates flesh for Rammes Mutton, &c.

¶ Baker. Baker. Whether he haue vsed any sleight or deuise, to make his breade waigh heauie.

Whether he haue changed the good Meale & fine flower, that others haue brought vnto him, putting worse in the place thereof.

Whether he haue put more stoare of branne into his meale, than hee ought to doe.

¶ Gamester. Gamester. Whether he haue accu­stomed to play for money, at any vn­lawefull and forbidden game, as dy­cing, &c.

Whether hee haue beene importu­nate to entice others to gaming.

Whether hee haue wonne other folkes money by cogging, & false play.

Whether he haue played & wonne money of those that haue not anye thing of their owne, or in their owne power to loose: as Children, seruants, prentises, &c.

[Page 135] Whether he haue retayned, & kept to his owne vse, the money and other thinges, that he hath gained & wonne at vnlawfull games: and haue not re­stored the same according to the very meaning of the lawe.

Whether any person, whosoeuer he be, hath wasted his goods, and money at playing and gaming.

¶ Stage-player, Bawde. Stageplaier Pandar. Bawde. &c. Whatsoeuer is gotten by these naughtie practises, and filthy trades, are to be vnderstood and deemed as lewdly & fraudulently gotten. And therefore all such are chargeable and liable to this crime of thest, and are bound in conscience to restitution.

¶ Begger. Begger. Whether being lustie and sounde of lymmes, able to labour and get his owne lyuing, he begge, & seeke almes abroad. In which doing, he doth robbe & spoyle those which are poore indeede, and feedeth himselfe with o­ther mens labours.

¶ Children, Boyes, and Gyrles. Children. Boyes. Gyrles. Whe­ther they haue giuen or accustomed themselues to [...]ilch fruite, meate or anie other thinges, and if they haue chaunced to finde any thing, whether they haue beene diligent & willing to [Page 136] restore it to the owner. For, from small pickinges and filcheries, by litle and little they will growe to greater.

To conclude. Whether in cōmit­ting any of the aboue remembred sins thou hast giuen occasion to others to commit the like: that is to say, whe­ther by word or deed, contrarie to the renor and effect of this commaunde­ment, thou hast beene an offence and stumblingblocke to others.

And againe, whether, seeing others to committe any of these aforesaide faultes, thou haue secretly thereto as­sented, not shewing any signe or token of thy great mislike thereof, when as good time and opportunitie thereun­to serued thee. For, not the actuall doers onely, but the consenters, ey­ther directly or vndirectly accessaries thereunto, be also faultie and guiltie.

Sinnes inward.

[Page 137] WHether thou haue at a­ny time dissembled the truth,9. Comman­dement. or not vttered & maintayned it, when & as often as cōuenient­ly thou mightest and shouldest: and whether slylie and secretly, marking other folkes wordes and deedes, thou haue wrested and construed them to the worst part.

Whether thou hast attributed and ascribed to thy selfe more dignity, cre­dite, reputation and desert, then there was any cause why: and whether thou hast wished an other mans estimation and countenance to be empaired or disgraced.

Whether thou hast enuied, malig­ned or spighted at any others good giftes, whether they be of the minde, of the body, or (or as wee commonly tearme it) of fortune. For hereunto belongeth all malicious swelling, and enuious conceiptes of the minde, for the welfare of others.

Whether thou hast sought anye meanes or wayes to discredite, annoy, or disparage the fame of any other: and by thy sinister reporting of them, hast gone about to bring their credite [Page 138] question, and themselues into danger among persons of authoritie and high calling, or any other whomsoeuer.

Sinnes outward.

WHether thou hast told any vn­truth or lie, wherby any matter hath gone awrie, or some losse hath ensued, or might haue ensued to any, whether the same hath bin done in place of iudgement, or else in the hearing, and assembly of fewe, or in a­ny other place.

Whether by any craftie deuise, or peeuish exposition, thou hast in the hearing of others wrāglingly wrested any mans wordes or deedes whatsoe­uer to other sense and meaning, then they were simplie spoken and inten­ded. Thinges amisse ought rather with lenitie to bee mitigated, than with ex­tremitie to be aggrauated and exaspe­rated.

Whether thou haue of set purpose, depraued the good speeches, and or­derly doings of others.

Whether thou hast prouoked any o­thers to do the like, or hast seemed to allow, like wel, and approue them that [Page 139] willingly and wittingly haue so done: & neither defended, excused, nor ex­tenuated the matter, when as (not­withstanding) thou well knewest that it was falsely, maliciously, and vnde­seruedly practised.

Whether thou hast contumeliously and reprochfully taunted, mocked, or abused any person; or as it were skof­fingly, gybingly and iestingly so flow­ted him, that in the meane while thou both diddest and purposedst in thy minde, couertly and poynantly to harme him.

Whether thou hast laide any fault to any mans charge, or made report to others, that hee hath committed some crime wherof he is cleere, guilt­lesse and ignorant.

Whether in reporting some offence or crime which another hath in deed committed, thou haue odiously am­plified and by thy wordes made the fame worse and greeuouser than it was: either by adding, diminishing or altering, intending thereby to per­swade the hearers to iudge & deeme the worse of the partie.

Whether thou hast maliciously pu­blished, discouered and made openly [Page 140] knowen, any crime that was secret & hidden.

Whether thou hast brought com­plaint of any crime, being open and knowen to the higher power: bu [...] yet with a meaning and desire rather to hurt and vndo, then to recure and a­mend the partie.

Whether, being requested, enioy­ned or commaunded, thou hast at any time apeached or accused any, whom there was no neede to be accused, and specially least of all by thee. Vnder­stand this chiefely, when as Tirants & persecutours make inquirie & search for good and godly men, or at least, for such as be no wayes harmefull to the Common wealth, &c.

Whether for flatterie thou hast ex­tenuated any mans faultes, or extol­led and highly amplified his actes and dealings being but meane, and indif­ferently so so.

Whether by appeaching, defaming, slandering, and raising odious reports of any others, thy drift were onely to picke a thanke at the hande of some great man, & thereby to insinuate thy selfe into his good wil & fauour, with the ouerthrowe, miserie, trouble and [Page 141] calamitie of the other, so by thee be­trayed.

Whether thou hast beene carelesse and retchlesse to defend thine owne fame, credit, and estimation.

Whether thou haue any where glo­ried in thy self, or immoderately boa­sted and bragged of thine estate.

Whether, with a kind of glauering dissimulation, and painted hipocrisie, thou hast sought and desired to be ac­compted an other man, then in truth thou was, and art.

Whether thou haue published, set vp, or scattered abroad, or caused to be published, set vp, and scattered, any slaunderous and infamous Libel, wri­ting or picture.

Whether by any mans or womans written letters, or by their housholde folkes and familiars thou haue euer attempted and gone about to learne their secretes, to the intent to put him or her to shame & reproch, or to hin­derance and losse.

Whether thou hast at length vtte­red, bewrayed, and discouered the se­crete which thy neighbour, or brother would haue had concealed, and which meete was to be concealed.

For the kind and trade of life.

Gouernour of the Church. Clergie man, or church. Whether in his sermons and exhortations he haue rashly deliuered out things vncertaine, for certaine: things of small moment,Minister. for matters of weight & great importance: & perhaps haue aduouched that, not to be sinne, or not to be so verie great a sinne, which (in deed) hath been great & hainous. And againe: whether he haue appro­ued, ratified and affirmed, that to be right godly, & true, which hath not in deede beene godly and true.

Whether either present by word of mouth, or absent by letters, he haue commended, or suffered any to be cō ­mended, whom he wel knew not wor­thy. And contrary wise. Whether he haue pretermitted or contemned any whom he knewe worthie of commen­dations.

Whether he haue promoted or suf­fered any to be promoted, being not afore examined according to the rule of order and decencie: and that, least it should be perceiued, howe vnmeete and vnfit they were.

Whether he haue giuen care to any [Page 142] pickthanks, & whispering talebearers, by whose information & counsell, he hath attēpted to do any thing, before he had throughly & effectually sear­ched out the verie truth of al things.

¶ Gouernour of the Cōmon wealth. Magistrat. Judge. Whe­ther, when he hath had power and au­thoritie to aduaunce and put in office godly and worthie persons, hee hath vpon corrupt affection, rather prefer­red the vnworthie and vnfit, than the fitte & worthie: the cruell and bloudy minded, rather than the mercifull & gentle, &c.

Whether he hath acquited & pardo­ned any felonious & guiltie persons, which by right ought not to haue bin acquited & pardoned: and contrarie­wise whether he hath cōdemned any which deserued not to be cōdemned.

Whether he haue expounded the law in any point, contrarie to the minde & meaning of the lawmakers. All captious sophistrie, & craftie wrā ­gling, is directly against this com­maundement.

Whether he haue so dealt with the rest of the iudges & counsellors, that he hath either subtelly & deceitfully, caused them to alter their opiniōs, be­ing [Page 144] agreeable to truth: or else hath so wrought with them, that they dur [...] ▪ not speake the truth: or whether h [...] hath admitted and allowed none, but such as he knewe would yeeld & con­sent to his opinion.

Whether he haue forciblie extor­ted any confession from prisoners, & such as haue beene brought into que­stion for some offence, or misprision of offēce: vsing vnto thē either threat­ning words, or els flattering & glosing tearmes, the rather thereby to bring the partie to answere to such pointes, as he needed not to answere vnto.

Whether in iudgements he haue a­ny way swerued from the right forme of hearing and examining witnesses, as in calling persons to giue euidence which were vnfit, challengeable, or suspected to beare il wil and hatred to the partie.

Whether he haue been an accepter of persons in iudgement.

Whether in these his hard & iniuri­ous dealings, he haue pretended or alleadged impertinent matter or yll applyed and sinisterly wrested for his purpose,

Whether he haue admitted in [Page 145] iudgement, any proofes, eyther artifi­ciall, or vnartificiall, wherein ill dea­ling, faultie proceeding, and erroni­ous practises might easily be found.

¶ Aduocate, Atturney, Proctor, Scribe, Atturney. Aduocate. Proctor. Notarie. Whether being an Aduocate, he haue craftily and vndirectly vsed any other kinde of pleading, than such as by the lawes is appointed and allowed.

Whether he haue suborned and brought in, or caused to be brought a­ny false witnesses.

Whether to the Bill put in, he haue cunningly and subtelly added or de­tracted any thing, to the blindfolding of the truth, or to deceaue and bleare the eyes of the iudges.

Whether he haue wittingly, & pur­posely, alleaged for proofe of his mat­ter, any motheaten, counterfeite, or vnperfect lawes.

Whether the forer to hinder his ad­uersaries cause, he hath assumed and applyed thinges to his purpose, which nothing appertained to the cause in hande.

Whether he haue giuen aduise and counsell in an ill case, and such as he knewe to be vniust and wrongfull, to ouerthrow a iust, true, and a rightfull [Page 146] matter.

Whether being a Notarie or Scribe, he haue done any thing amisse in fra­ming and making of instruments and writinges, to the breeding of errour, quarrell, hinderance, and discommo­ditie to the parties. As when they omit or leaue out, adde or put to, dissemble or conceale, doubtfully, intricately, and darkely set downe, or declare any thinges, and neglect or mistake vsuall course and ordinarie fourme, &c.

¶ Doctor, Teacher, Scholemaster. Maister of Colledge. Doctor. Teacher. Scholema­ste [...]. Reader. Whe­ther he haue preferred and promoted, or otherwise by letters commended to some publique degree of honour, as sufficient, learned & vertuous, such as were not (in deede) accordingly qualified.

Whether to the roome of a teacher or Reader, in a Colledge of learned professours, hee haue choosen anie such as he knewe vnable and vnsuffi­cient.

Whether he haue perswaded any pa­rents or kinsemen, that their sonne or cosen did profite and goe forwarde in his studie: was thriftie, toward, and of good hope, when as he hath vnthrifti­ly wasted both his time and substance, [Page 147] and peraduenture also with lewde life hath runne ryote into all villanie and mischiefe.

Whether in his lectures hee hath taught any such thinges, whereby his hearers might learne & acquaint thē ­selues howe to denie and eclipse the truth, how with cunning shiftes, and deceiueable colours to iustifie a false­hood, and how otherwise to bleare & deceiue men, &c. As among some pro­fessors of Logique and Rhethoricke we see it much practised.

Whether in disputing, wittingly and willingly, hee haue s [...]ffely impugned truth, and defended fal [...]ehood, & that because hee would not be thought to be vanquished and ouercome, or in some sorte to loose part of his credite and estimation.

Whether vpon any corrupt affecti­on, hee haue leaned to any false dog­matists, and maintainers of erroneous opinions; or haue seuered and seque­stred himselfe from them that haue defended the truth.

Whether he haue vsed Sophistrie or anie fraudulent arte, to winne cre­dite, fame and authoritie to himselfe in the schooles, or to drawe vnto him [Page 148] many scholers, or thereby to chalenge power ouer others.&c.

¶ Sch [...]ler. Student. Sch [...]ler. Whether he haue procu­red and gotten, or for money bought the title of Maister, or obteined Let­ters commendatorie, thereby purpo­sing the sooner to deceiue and blinde the eyes of his Parentes or others, to whom he meant to goe.

There be yet some other driftes, po­licies, and shiftes packed betweene the scholer and the Master, which by these afore declared, may quickely be knowen and found out.

¶ Merchaunts, Artificers, Occupiers, and Workemen. Marchant, Seller of wares. Artificers. Workemen Occupiers. Whether they haue cor­rupted any wares, and offered them in sale for perfect and good.

Whether in their barter and bargay­ning, they haue affirmed falsehoode, and dissimuled the truth: as whē with an oth they doe not sticke to aduouch that their wares cost them dearer thā in truth they did: that they brought them to their great costs and charges from places & countries farre dista [...] off: that an other would haue giuen a great deale more: that they loose by their selling them at so low price: and wish many black curses to themselues, [Page 149] swearing and staring, if all bee not as they say, &c. O Lorde who is able to recken vp all the lyes and vntruthes (euen vntruely to their owne know­ledge and consciences) which these sellers doe vainelie lashe and babble out, to those that come to buye of them.

Whether in bargayning or any o­ther action and dealing, thou haue promised to perform that, which thou hadst no purpose or meaning to ac­complish.

Finally, whether in committing any of these aboue rehearsed, thou haue giuen occasion to others to commit the like: that is to wit: whether either by words or deedes against this com­maundement, thou haue beene the cause of offence and stumbling to o­thers.

Againe, whether when thou hast perceiued and seene others commit­ting the same, thou haue secretly in mind assented vnto them neyther re­prouing nor staying and letting them, when (notwithstanding) time & place hath well serued thee so to haue done.

Sinnes inwarde.

THis commaundement teacheth vs, that God forbiddeth & condem­neth in vs, euen all cor­rupt affections & cogi­tations. And therefore condemneth those sins which in our very thoughts may be committed against the afore▪ going cōmaundements, namely those that be of the seconde Table. Thus we see, that not our actions onely, but our very frowarde will and corrupt thought, is sufficient to make vs guil­tie before God. And therefore there be many pointes which thou art here [...] in diligently and warily to call to thy consideration.

Namely, whether thou haue desired the dignitie, place, office, authoritie, [Page 151] power, glory, countenance, and cal­ling of any other, specially of thy su­periour or equal; & whether thou hast practised any wayes howe to displace him, and settle thy selfe in his roome.

Whether thou hast gone about to hinder from preferment, thine inferi­our and vnderling.

Whether thou hast entred into anie deuise with thy selfe, how thou migh­test bring to passe this peruerse desire of thine in this behalfe. These are di­rectly against the fifth commaundement.

Whether thou hast felt within thee such wicked motions arising, that thou hast borne hatred to any, or wi­shed any harme to his bodie.

Whether thou hast long dwelt in an­ger and malice towardes any man, e­uen vnto an earnest and heartie desire of reuenge.

Whether thou hast had any deter­mination to pursue with effect, these thy cruell desires. And this is against the sixt Commaundement.

Whether thou haue felt thy flesh & thy wicked affections inwardly enfla­med to desire vnlawful copulatiō with any person, either present or absent.

Whether thou hast entered into [Page 152] deuise how to bring to passe these thy filthie desires. This is against the seuenth commaundement.

Whether thou haue swelled with rancour and enuie, at the prosperitie and wealthie state of another, wishing the same to be thine.

Whether thou hast entred into any deuise, how to obtaine thy purpose, & haue thy desire, These are against the 8. commaundement.

Whether vpon an enuions and ma­litious stomack, thou haue bethought thee, how to disable, empaire, and di­minish any other mans fame, credite, dignitie, or estimation. This is against the ix. commaundement.

Sinnes externall and outward.

WHether by any signes, tokens or argumentes, as with thine eyes, beckes, &c. thou haue shewed thy selfe to desire and couet a­ny other mans goodes, or to seeke meanes to vndermine and deceaue him.

Whether thou haue any way so to behaue thy selfe, as either by painting, pranking or garnishing thy body, in [Page 153] bragging, boasting, or making glori­ous shew & report of thy welth, house, apparel, furniture, money or such like thinges, that thou hast thereby occa­sioned and prouoked an other to co­uet and desire thy body or thy goods. In this sorte and by this meanes thou art the cause, of vnlawfull and forbid­den concupiscences in an other.

For the trade of life.

WHether in that trade of life wherein thou liuest, thou hast euer haded anie vnlawefull thought, will, or desire, to haue any of thinges in the former commaunde­mentes expressely prohibited, to bee brought to effect, and actually accom­plished. And whereas we do not light­ly put any of our actions in practise, but we first conceiue thē in our mind, here doest thou plainly perceiue, that in this Tenth Commaundement all those hidden, secret, and lurking co­gitations, desires, willes and affecti­ons (for these euer goe before the act or deede) are flatly forbidden, prohi­bited and condemned.

Finally, whether by any signes of [Page 154] concupiscence, shewed by thee, thou haue giuen offence (that is to wit) oc­casion of concupiscence to others.

Againe, whether hauing perceiued and noted any signes of cōcupiscence in an other, thou haue in thy secrete conceipt, allowed and well liked the same.

¶ And thus much generally & plain­ly spoken of the sinnes committed, a­gainst the Decalogue may suffice. Now let vs see how thou oughtest hereby to make profitable try all of thy selfe, and so to finde out what manner of man thou art.

1 First it behoueth thee with al atten­tion of mind to looke into these com­maundementes and tables, and therin diligently to consider, whether thou finde any thing that neerely toucheth thy conscience and person; that thou mayest perfectly see what speciall crimes and offences, thou art mani­festly guiltie of, before the tribunall seate of God. For to this end properly was the law by God giuen, and to this ende, haue we collected and framed this treati [...]e, in such sort and manner as thou seest.

2 Secondly, thou shalt so throughly [Page 155] examine thine actions, that thou must looke well about thee, and consider a­gaine and againe, whether in one and the selfe same action thou haue in ma­ny sortes highly offended God: that is, whether thou haue by the breach of one commaundement, transgressed [...]. For this cōmeth often so to passe, as by example we will shewe.

¶ If thou haue corrupted anye wares, or any other thing, which thy neighbour is to buy, and then sell thē vnto him for good; first of all thou knowest that thou herein hast sinned against the ix. Cōmandement, which for­biddeth thee to giue false witnesse. But if thou diddest it, with an intent and meaning to rake and scrape a pri­uate gaine vniustly to thy selfe, with the losse and hinderance of an other, thou art therein guiltie of the breach of the viii. Commandement, whereby is forbidden all theft.

If furthermore in this behalfe, thou haue deceiued anie that is thy superiour, or that is linked to thee in bloud, as thy Father or thy Mother: the Magistrate, the Minister of the Church, thy kinseman, &c. therein hast thou transgressed the fifth Com­maundement. [Page 156] of honouring Father and Mother.

To be short, if this circumstance do also concurre, that this cra [...]tie practise were by thee doone on the Sabbaoth day, then hast thou heerein incurred the displeasure of Almightie God for prophaning and not sanctifying the Sabbath day. Last of all, it may bee, that in this bargayning and selling, some such woordes might passe from thee, as might make thee further guil­tie. For if thou swearest vainely, and without cause, with an intent & mea­ning to auouch any thing that thou wouldest haue to be beleeued, then art thou therein guiltie of the thirde commaundement. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lorde thy God in vaine.

¶ Thirdly, we shall doe well, in the examining and dicussing of thy acti­ons, to giue thee charge, circumspect­ly to consider euerie particular circū ­stance, to wit, the time, the place, the person, the cause, the end, the maner, the instrument, &c. No man wil denie, but that the offence is farre greater & hainouser, which is committed on the Sabbath daye, or at such time as all men for some publike calamitie, are [Page 157] in a generall heauines: againe, when it is committed in the sight and face of many honest and graue persons: furthermore, when it is doone by, or against any man in high authoritie; moreouer, when no manner of allu­ring occasion went afore, to drawe or mooue thee to that euill. Therefore we may not slightly passe ouer, howe much, and how greatly these circum­stances doe aggrauate and augment thy fault.

4 Fourthly, it standeth thee vpon, moreouer, often and many times to consider with thy selfe, and plainely to confesse, that thou canst neuer call to memorie all thy sinnes committed: and againe, that thou canst neuer ex­actly ynough iudge, [...]ow greeuous & detestable those be, which doe alrea­die come to thy remembraunce. For truely and diuinely hath the Prophet set downe, who can vnderstand his faults? O clense me from my secret faultes. Psal. 19. 12. For so standeth thy case, that euen where thou least thinkest, thou there sinnest most greeuously. And the thinges which thou thinkest well and iustlie done, are in the sight of God, and be­fore the tribunall seate of the highe [Page 158] iudge, vncleane, vnrighteous, and de­ [...]ectrue. And therefore the Prophet I­saiah cryeth out thus: We haue been all as an vncleane thing, and al our righteous­nesse is as a filthy clout. Jsa. 64. 6.

Seeing therefore the case thus stan­deth, it is thy part and dutie, plainely to confesse, that much ignoraunce re­mayneth in thee, and that the same is in thee a great sinne: for the which, vnlesse God in mercy do pardon thee, hee may hurle thee headlong into e­ternall damnation.

5 Fiftly, thou must consider that there is cause ynough to condemne and pronounce thee guiltie, for that thou hast not done those good workes which in the lawe are commaunded. For looke how many sinnes in euerie particular commaundement are for­bidden, so many good workes in eue­ry commaundement are commaun­ded. To euery sinne there ought to an­swere his contrarie, and that is, some good worke.

¶ Now if thou throughly examine thy conscience, thou shalt soone espy, that thou hast not perfourmed, no not the least part and portion of those thinges which the lawe of God requi­reth [Page 159] at thy handes: yea, if thou nar­rowly search euery corner of thy selfe, thou shalt finde that either thou hast fulfilled and perfourmed nothing at all, or if thou hast perfourmed anye thing, yet shalt thou finde it to be vn­perfect, corrupt, and with some man­ner of contagion infected. For all our obedience is maymed, lame, and vn­perfect. Wherefore thou must say as Christ hath taught vs all:Luc. 17. 10. Although we had done all those things that are comman­ded vs. yet we are vnprofitable seruauntes. Againe,Rom. 8. 7. The wisedome of the flesh is eni­mitie against God, for it is not subiect to the lawe of God, neyther in deede can bee. Againe in the 7. Chapter. I knowe that in mee, Rom. 7. 18 that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but I finde no meanes to perfourme that which is good. And, I delight in the lawe of God con­cerning this inner man: but I see an o­ther lawe in my members, rebelling against the lawe of my minde, and leading me cap­ [...]i [...]e vnto the lawe of sinne, which is in my members.

6 Sixtly, thou must cast in thy mind to consider and record the paines and punishmentes, which God threatneth and inflicteth vpon those that disobey [Page 160] and transgresse his commandements. Of these paines, punishmentes, and plagues, some be corporall and exter­nall, some spirituall and internall. Of the first sort are, barrainesse and steri­liti [...] of the earth, hunger and dearth, dissentions and warres, diseases, pesti­lence, banishmentes, shipwrackes, in­undations and ouerflowings, stormes, calamities burninges, &c. Of the lat­ter sort are, ignoraunce of the scrip­tures, famine of the woorde of God, blindnesse of the minde, incredulitie and vnbeliefe, induration, or harde­ning of the heart, deliuerie and giuing vp into a reprobate sense, &c. A great beadroll of plagues are reckoned vp in the 28.Deut. 28. of Deuteronomie. But when it pleaseth him, the Lorde can and will send many mo than are there ex­pressed. For hee daily prepareth and maketh readie newe scourges & whips for disobedient men, eue [...] as they day­ly commit newe sinnes and offences. For, alas, what miserie doe wee nowe day by day tast and proue? what daun­gers? What diseases? What other in­commodities, which as it is to bee thought, were not so much as once knowen, by the very bare names, vnto [Page 161] men in the olde men: nor so much as once by any meanes spoken of? And withall, thou shalt remember and call to minde, the examples of such as by the iust iudgement of God, are read & reported of, in the bookes of the sa­cred scriptures, & others also, to haue been plagued with these punishments, either bodily or spiritually: and it shall also much further thee, to adde here­unto such as thou of thine own know­ledge within thy time and memorie, hast knowen to haue felt the heauie hande of God.

7 Seuenthly, it shalbe very behoue­full for thee to consider, that for thy sinnes and offences, others linked vn­to thee in consanguinitie and kinred are punished, namely thy Parentes, thy children, thy brethren, thy sisters, &c.euen as thou also somewhile must smart for others sinnes. For thus doe we miserable and wretched men draw one an other into daunger, and one of vs is guide and companion vnto an­other, in running headlong to the place of torment & damnation. This doeth God himselfe affirme, when as in the beginning of his decalogue he sayth: I am the Lorde thy God, a ielous [Page 162] God, visiting the iniquitie of the fathers, vpon the children; vpon the third and vp­on the fourth generation of them that hau [...] me. 1. Chro. 21. 14. So for one sinne of king Dauid, there were slame many thousandes of his people: and for his adulterie com­mitted with Vrias wife, the child which she bore him, dyed.2. Sam. 12. 18. And againe; For the sinnes of the people,Job. 34. 30 the Lord set­teth ouer them cruell tyrauntes, and rauening hypocrites.1. Sam. 2. 31. Hely the Priest, and all his posteritie, was punished for the sinnes of his children. Ah, what a sea of mischiefes doth euen one sinne bring with it?

8 Eightly, there is yet one thing be­hinde, to be considered, which is most dreadfull and formidable. By reason of thy sinnes, thou art made guiltie of eternall damnation: and after gree­uous punishmentes sustayned here in this worlde, there remayne yet be­hinde other tormentes to be suffered in an other, and the same much more terrible, bitter, and lasting. For there, both bodie and soule toge­ther are subiected and adiudged to e­ternall tormentes, and fire that ne­uer shall bee quenched, which God from afore the beginning of the world [Page 163] hath prepared for the Diuell and all the contemners of his precepts and commaundements. Now, how horri­ble a thing it is, and what an vnspea­kable punishment it is, euerlastingly to be depriued of the presence & face of Almightie God, and to burne in hell with vnquenchable fire, that shal neuer be consumed, there is no man that can so much as conceiue in mind or cogitation.

Goe to nowe therefore, whosoeuer thou art, and by this that we haue al­readie spoken of the law of the Lord, learne to examine thy conscience, and to make perfect tryall and suruey of thy selfe. Doubtlesse, when thou hast a little while continued and gone forward in this way and course which wee haue heere shewed, and atten­tiuely considered, such things as haue beene declared, I doubt not, but that thou wilt by and by, and without de­lay, euen wi [...] sighes and teares, burst out into this confession, O heauenly fa­ther, J haue sinned against heauen, and against thee: I am not worthie to bee called thy Sonne, I am not worthie to lifte vp mine eves towardes heauen. Looke howe much I being once in Baptisme [Page 164] purged from my sinnes in the bloud of thy sonne, and sanctified by recei­uing the holy Ghost, did in the same please thee: somuch, againe, must I needes by reason of my manifolde sinnes, since cōmitted, displease thee. Nowe, the sinnes which I haue com­mitted, if I should go about to number them, they are infinite. For there is not one of thy holy precepts & com­maundements, against which I haue not committed many offences, & sun­dry transgressions. Many be they, which I haue committed in acte and deede: and such as I haue not actual­ly brought to passe and done, yet through my corrupt cogitations, and vncleane will, I am as deepely guiltie of, as if I in act had committed them. To be briefe, my sinnes surmount the sands of the Sea, & if I make diligent search and inquirie of the greuous­nesse of my sinnes, I truely find them haynouser & greater, than I am able to vtter. What say I, vtter? Nay, than I can in mind conceiue, or in inwarde cogitation comprehende. Certes, so often as I looke into, and behold with the eyes of my minde, my frowarde heart, cankered stomack, peruerse di­sposition, [Page 165] euer enclined to euil, which thou Lord most cleerely & throughly seest, togither with my desire and de­light to performe the same, the verie remembrance of my great and gree­uous maliciousnesse driueth mee into such perplexitie, that I no wayes know whither to turne me. Whither Lorde shall I go from thy spirit, and whither shal J flee from thy presence? Yea this further doth merueilously disquiet, torment & greeue mee, for by my sinnes I haue giuen offence, that is, occasion of fall, and ruine to a great sort of others, be­ing harmlesse & honest persons. Wilt thou Lord as a iust and vpright iudge, require the bloud of them also at my hands? What shal I further do? seeing I haue burdened and spotted my con­science, by assenting also to other mens sinnes? in not disswading & re­claiming them, before they did euil, & in not reprouing and rebuking them after they had done euil? Ah how much better had it beene, that being a man I had neuer beene so familiar a­mong men? What miserie is this? I am the cause of an other mans offen­ding, & an other man likewise to me: and thus doe wee all, encumber and [Page 166] loade one another with sinnes, and dragg, pull, hale & drawe one another into the break-necke fall and lamen­table gulfe of eternall damnation. If thou Lorde wilt strictly looke what is amisse. & narrowly enquire of our in­iquities. O Lorde who shal be able to abide it?Psa. 130. 3 Moreouer, when I do some­what further consider my sinnes, I see a great heape yet behind, & many mo than now come to memorie; manye lewde prankes heretofore by me most wickedly haue been don, which I then thought had not been wicked, neither can I at this present houre sufficiētly so iudge & deeme of them: which ig­norance, blindnesse and infirmitie of mine in this behalf, I must needs con­fesse (wil I, nill) to be imputable vnto me, for a most greeuous and haynous sinne. And herein I perceiue, that al­though I had committed none euil at all afore, yet to haue herein again de­serued euerlasting tormentes. I had almost sayed, why Lord wouldst thou that this naughtie and corrupt igno­rance should thus originally be bred in vs, and thus still to cleaue vnto vs? Alas, I haue no sacrifice to offer vnto thee, to satisfie for mine ignorance.

[Page 167] Nowe what shall I say of my negli­gence in not doing those good works, which thou in thy law hast comman­ded and appointed? Or if I haue done any at all, yet was it not sincerely done, but many wayes infected with hipocrisie, and other vices? For to o­mitte a good worke, and to doc an ill worke, are with thee accompted a­like. All these things therefore (I cō ­fesse) do most vehemently, (& good cause why) disquiet and greeue inee. For my sinnes are they, for which, O God, thou iustly inflictest greeuous punishments and plagues, aswell spi­rituall and internall, as corporall and externall. And whereas I dayly finde the same by experience, true, partly in my selfe, partly in others, yet such is my blindnesse & hardnesse of heart that I am nothing at all as yet moo­ued thereby vnto any repentance or amendment.

To al these aforesaid euils, there is to be added yet another heap of mis­chiefs, vz, that for these sinnes of mine a great many other innocents & gylt­les persons be ioyntly with me, & for me wrapped in woes, and subiected to miserie, danger and inconuenience. [Page 168] O Lord, wilt thou thus in thy iustice destroy and make hauoke of thy iust, for vs being wretched, vniust, and mi­serable caitises? Last of all, for these my great, hainous and manifolde of­fences, knowen and hidden, priuie, & apert, there is due yet vnto me after this life, & after this temporall death, another death eternall, continuing euerlastingly in neuer dying tor­ments. Is thy lawe (O Lord) being good, righteous & holy, thus become to be vnto me death? But I may not, nor I ought not, (O God) to ascribe and impute these most wretched mi­series, and extreeme Calamities vnto thy law, but to mine owne peruerse, froward, and crooked affections, and to my generally and entierly corrup­ted will.

To my selfe, to my selfe I saye, must all this miserie be ascribed, & my selfe only may I thanke for all this heauie plight and wretchednesse. O wretch that I am, who shall deliuer me from the body of this death. Rom. 7. 2.

Here nowe hast thou as it were a certaine Mirrour or glasse, wherein thou maist behold thy self, what a one thou art in the sight of God, and in [Page 169] Iawe of God, accusing thee before the tribunall seate of iudgement. In this glasse of the lawe, thou maiest behold thy spirituall deformitie and ougli­nesse, which thou must vnderstande so long to dwell, remayne, [...]oiourne, and cleaue vnto thee, as thou conti­nuest transgressing the lawe of God, through thy greeuous and dayly of­fences.