The sinners guyde A vvorke contayning the whole regiment of a Christian life, deuided into two bookes: vvherein sinners are reclaimed from the by-path of vice and destruction, and brought vnto the high-way of euerlasting happinesse. Compiled in the Spanish tongue, by the learned and reuerend diuine, F. Lewes of Granada. Since translated into Latine, Italian, and French. And nowe perused, and digested into English, by Francis Meres, Maister of Artes, and student in diuinitie.

¶ Of rash iudgement, and the precepts of the Church.

TO the two precedent sinnes a third is ioyned being very neere vnto them, which is to iudge rashly: for detracters and slaunderers not o••••ly speake euill of matters past and euident, but also of those that are iudged of them, and which breed any suspition in them. For that they may not want matter of detrac∣tion, they minister matter vnto themselues, interpreting by their peruerse iudgement and peeuish suspition the matter to the worst sence, which they ought to haue interpreted to a good meaning. Which kinde of iudgement is against the commaun∣dement of the Lord: Iudge not, that yee be not iudged: and con∣demne not,* 1.1 that yee be not condemned.

With these sinnes, which are against God, those are numbred which are cōmitted against these foure precepts of the Church,* 1.2 which are commended vnto vs vnder commaundement, as: On the Sabaoth dayes, and on certaine other dayes, it is thought good by the Church, to heare Diuine seruice and sermons: to receaue the holy Sacrament of the blessed body and blood of our Sauiour Christ: to fast on dayes appoynted: and faithfully to pay Tithes.

For as much as man is bound both by the law of God and man, to heare Diuine seruice and sermons, he ought not onely to be present in body, but also in spirit, and to gather vp his spi∣rits, that he may heare with vnderstanding, and carry away that,

that may fr••ctifie in him, and nourish him vnto eternall life: keeping silence, and hauing his hart lifted vp to God, conside∣ring of the high misteries reuealed in his word, with great fer∣uency and deuotion praying together with the congregation, and attentiuely hearing that which is deliuered vnto him. They who haue families,* 1.3 children, men-seruants, and maydes, they ought to be carefull that they come to Church, and that they spend the Sabaoth daies holily. In which thing many Houshol∣ders are faulty, and worthy of great reprehension; who shall render an account to God for this negligence. These are the sinnes, which men are wont to fall into more vsually and com∣monly, and all these we ought to eschew with great diligence. By this meanes we shall remaine in innocency, and we shall keepe our garments white and cleane, which Salomon com∣maundeth: At all times,* 1.4 sayth he, let thy garments be white, and let not oyle be lacking vpon thine head: Which is the vnction of Diuine grace, which yeeldeth light and courage in euery mat∣ter: and teacheth vs all good, for this is the fruite of this hea∣uenly oyle.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Math. 7.
• * 1.2

  Foure pre∣cepts of the Church.
• * 1.3

  Houshol∣ders ought to looke that their families keepe the Sabaoth.
• * 1.4

  Eccles. 9.