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 the bond and dutie of diuers estates. CHAP. XVII.

AFter that we haue largely enough handled vvhat generally appertaineth to all men, now it is time, that we speake particularly of seuerall and parti∣culer estates of men. But because this tractate would prooue to prolixe & long, therefore I say briefely, besides those things that haue been spoken, that euery one must haue an eye and a diligent respect vnto those Lawes, ordinances and customes, that are prescribed and directed for his estate and condition, which are many and diuers, according to the diuersitie of estates in the Church & Common∣w••••lth: in which some are Rulers and Ouerseers,* 1.1 and some subiects; some Clergie, some Layetie, some maisters of families, &c. E∣uery one of which haue theyr peculiar lawes and constitutions. Of the Ruler and Ouerseer the Apostle sayth;* 1.2 Watch thou in all things, lobour, fulfill thy ministerie. And Salomon admonisheth; My so••••e,* 1.3 if thou be surety for thy neighbour, and hast fastened thy ••••••d for another man. Thou art bound with thine owne words, and taken with thine owne speech. Therefore my sonne doe thus, and thou ••••••••t be discharged: When thou art come into thy neighbors danger, goe thy wayes then so••ne, humble thy selfe, and with thy friendes in∣treate thy Creditour. Let not thine eyes sleepe, nor thine eye-lids slum∣ber. S••ue thy selfe as a Doe from the hand of the Hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the Fouler. Neyther oughtest thou to won∣der, that the Wiseman doth admonish thee to be so carefull in this case: For men are wont to be carefull in keeping of theyr things for two causes, eyther because they are of great price, or because they are in great danger and ieopardy. Both of these doe concurre in the charge of soules, neyther can the price of a∣ny thing be greater, nor the danger more. Therefore it is requi∣site and meete, that a Ruler and an Ouerseer, should be very carefull and circumspect.

It behooueth a subiect, that hee haue his eyes on his Ruler and Ouerseer, and that he reuerence him, not as a man, but as GOD;* 1.4 and that he do that he cōmaundeth him with as great

alacritie and cheerefulnes of minde, and with as great deuotion, as if God himselfe had commaunded it. For if my Lord com∣maund me to obey the Steward of his house, when I obey the Steward, whom doe I obey but my Lord? so also if God com∣maund me to obey my Ruler and Ouerseer, when I doe that he commaundeth me, I doe my obedience vnto God. If S. Paule commandeth seruants to obey theyr maisters, not as men, but as Christ; howe much more ought subiects to obey their Rulers and Ouerseers, to whom they are bound by the bond of obe∣dience?

In this Obedience three degrees are set down: the first is, to obey onely in worke:* 1.5 the second, to obey in worke and vvill: the third, to obey in worke, will, and vnderstanding. For some doe that they are commaunded, but because the commaunde∣ment seemeth not vnto them iust and right, they doe it not wil∣lingly. Others doe it willingly, but they thinke that he that com∣maunded it, did not well vnderstand what he commanded. To be briefe, there be others, who haue wholy and altogether dedi∣cated their vnderstanding to the diuine worship; and do obey theyr Ruler and Ouerseer, as God, in worke, will, and vnder∣standing. And doing this in worke, will, and vnderstanding, they humbly approue all that is commaunded them, without carrying any preiudice of them, of whom they are to be censu∣red and iudged. Wherefore my brother, learne with all humili∣tie, affectionately to obey thy Ruler and Ouerseer, being mind∣full of that is written: He that heareth you, heareth mee: and hee that despiseth you,* 1.6 despiseth mee. Doe not murmure nor speak ill of them, least thou heare, Your murmuring is not against vs, but against the Lord.* 1.7 Doe not basely or vildly esteeme of them least the Lord say vnto thee;* 1.8 They haue not cast away thee, but me, that I should not rule ouer them. Doe not lie vnto them or deceaue them, least it be said vnto thee; Thou hast not lyed vnto men, but vnto GOD.* 1.9 Least for thine offence thou perrish by suddaine death, because thou didst dare to lye, as they, who perrished af∣ter the same manner.

Let ••married wife giue her diligence to rule her house, and please her husband:* 1.10 and when she hath satisfied her dutie, and done that belongs vnto her office, as much as she can let her at∣tend

vpon religion: yet so that she passe not the limits of her e∣state and condition.

* 1.11 Let a Maister of a family, to whom God hath granted chil∣dren, sette before his eyes as a glasse, the fearefull example of Ely, who was negligent in correcting and chastening his chyl∣dren, whose punishment was, not onely the suddaine and vn∣thought of death of himselfe and his sonnes, but also the perpe∣tuall depriuation and losse of the hie Priesthood, of which for that offence he was depriued. Let him marke and consider, that the sinnes of the chyldren, are after a certaine manner the sinnes also of the parents, and the destruction of the child, to be in like manner the destruction of the parent, of whom he was begotte and bred. For he is vtterly vnworthy the name of a Father, that begetteth chyldren not for heauen, but for this world. There∣fore let him chastice his children, withdraw them from ill com∣pany, commend and commit them to religious Maisters and Tutors, and let it be his onely care, that they may be taught and instructed in the way of vertue: and from theyr cradles, after the example of Tobias, let him teach thē the feare of the Lord. Let him often crosse them of their owne wils, and they that in the birth of theyr children haue been Fathers of theyr bodyes, now they are borne, let them be fathers of theyr soules. For it is not enough that parents should be as byrds, and other brute beastes, who after that they haue brought foorth their young ones doe only nourish them, and prouide meate for them: but a Father ought to be a father as a man, and as a Christian man, and as a true seruant of God, who educateth & traineth vp his chyldren, as the chyldren of God, and heyres of the kingdome of heauen: not that they should be the bond-slaues of sathan, and inhabitants of hell.

Let Maisters of families, who haue seruants and other hous∣hold, be mi••dfull of the commination of S. Paule, who saith; If any prouide not for his owne,* 1.12 and especially for them of his hous∣hold, he hath denied the fayth: (that is, the faithfulnes that he ow∣eth, and to which he is bound) and is worse then an infidell. Let them remember, that these are as Lambes of their sh••epefold, and that they are the Sheepheards, that should care and vvatch ouer them; and let them thinke that the time will come, vvhen

as GOD will exact an account for them,* 1.13 saying: Where is the flocke that was giuen thee? the sheepe glorious and noble? Worthe∣lie he calleth them glorious and noble: for great is the price by which they are redeemed. Noble and glorious is the most sacred humanity of Christ, by which they are enobled. Therefore there is not any seruant, albeit abiect and base, who is not free and noble, in regard of the blood & humanity of Christ. Ther∣fore let a goo•• Christian striue and endeuour, that those that be in his house, may be free from all enormous vices; as are quar∣rels and strifes, vnlawfull gaming, false and vaine oathes, blas∣phemies, fornications, &c. And furthermore, that they haue knowledge and skill in matters of Christianity; and that they obserue the orders and constitutions of the Church; and that especially vpon the Lords day they be at Church to heare Ser∣mons and Diuine seruice: and that they be not contumacious and peruerse inthwarting the good and orderly proceedings of the Church, as the Puritans and Precisians of this time are, who by their ignorant zeale, & peeuish singularity disturbe the quiet and peace of the Church.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What is meete for Rulers, and Ouerseers.
• * 1.2

  2, Tim, 4,
• * 1.3

  Prou, 6,
• * 1.4

  The duty of a subiect.
• * 1.5

  Three de∣grees of o∣bedience.
• * 1.6

  Luke, 10,
• * 1.7

  Exod, 16,
• * 1.8

  1, Kings, 8,
• * 1.9

  Acts, 5,
• * 1.10

  The duty of a good Matrone.
• * 1.11

  The duty of a maister of a family.
• * 1.12

  1, Tim, 5,
• * 1.13

  Ier. 13.