A Christian almanacke Needefull and true for all countryes, persons and times. Faithfully calculated by the course of holy Scripture, not onely for this present yeere 1613, but also for many yeeres to come. Written by J. M.

CHAP. 7.

An admonition to euery Christian, what they ought dayly to doe, and what to leaue vndone.

FOrasmuch as Almighty God hath charged by Moses, that we alwayes should haue his Commaundements in our sight in our minde, in our hart, and that we should rehearse them con∣tinually vnto our Children,* 1.1 and should talke of them when as we tarry in the house,* 1.2 and as we walke by the way, and when we lye downe, and when we rise vp, and we should binde them for a signe vpon our hands, and they should be as frontlets betwixt our eyes, and we

should write them vpon the posts of our houses, and vpon your gates, to the in∣tent that we should not forget his word, his will and commaundements, and least we should follow our owne imaginations, therefore good Christi∣ans, I thought it fruitfull to put thée in remembrance of thy duety, and this could I doe no better, then by these Godly Textes of holy Scripture, which I haue brought héere together, specially to the honour, la••d & praise of God, exhorting yée that yet are neg∣ligent and forgetfull in kéeping of his lawes, to take better hold, and goe for∣ward in his waies, and turne not aside, neither to the right hand, nor to the left, but beware of such as teach thée ought, sauing the Doctrine of God, and that thou mayest be sure what thou doest, I pray Iesus Christ our onely media∣tour, obtayne for thée his holy spirit, and giue thée a good wholesome new yeare, with the true knowledge of his Godly will and encrease of his faith.

To day if yee will heare his voice,* 1.3 har∣den not your harts,* 1.4 euery day it is good to beléeue, to learne and to doe that

God hath commaunded, and so like∣wise it is good to leaue vndone that God hath forbidden. This day it is good to learne Gods word, for it is y^• vncor∣ruptible séed, whereof we are borne a∣new, by y^• word of God, it is the foode of the soule,* 1.5 whereby man liueth: the word of God is quick and mighty in operation,* 1.6 and sharper then any two edged sword,* 1.7 and entreth elen vnto the diuiding a∣sunder of the soule and the spirit, and of the ioynts, and of the marrow, and is discerner of the thoughts, and intents of the heart, it is good indéed to learne Gods word,* 1.8 for all good things come to vs with it, and innumerable riches there thorow,* 1.9 therefore are they blessed that heare the word of the Lord, and keepe it, it is good to beléeue the word of God, for he that beleeueth, and is Bap∣tized shalbe saued, yea God giueth them power to be his children, that beléeue in his name, wherefore he that cometh vnto God must beléeue,* 1.10 for without saith saith the Apostle, it is not possible to please God, and what soeuer thing is done without faith is sinne, it is good to kéepe the word and commaun∣dements

of God, for he that loueth me, saith Christ,* 1.11 will keepe my commaunde∣ments, and my father will loue him, and we will come vnto him, and make our dwelling with him, he that hath my Commaundements and keepeth them, is he that loueth me, and he that loueth me, shall be loued of my father, therefor it is good for euery one of vs to kéepe Gods Commaundements,* 1.12 that is, to haue no Gods but one, to sanctifie and hallow the name of God, to call onely vpon him in all néede and necessitie, not to take his name so lightly in vaine as we doe, for no cause, and vpon a very small and fond occasion, the which if we do, the threatnings pronounced, that is, he shal not be holden guiltles, that taketh his name in vaine, that is he shall not be vnpunished. To sanctifie the Saboth day, namely to rest from our works, as God did from his, to the intent that he may worke in vs, and we to fulfill his will by hearing his word and stedfast faith, and prayer, to honour father and mother, that is, to be obedient vnto them, to helpe them in their nede, to cherish them, to comfort them in ad∣uersitie,

for it is acceptable and well pleasing vnto the Lord. To do no mur∣ther, that is to hate no man, to beare no malice in our minds, to giue no euill words,* 1.13 but euen to loue our enemies, and to doe good for euill, not to commit adultery, to breake no lawfull wed∣lock, to commit no whoredome, nor vn∣cleannesse, but either to liue chaste, or else to marry, to steale nothing, that is to vse no false Merchandize, neither in bargaining,* 1.14 weight, nor measure, but truely to labour in some good calling,* 1.15 for the sustaining of the poore, to beare no false witnesse, that is, to hurt no mans name nor fame to lye of no man, but either to say the truth, or else to kéepe silence.* 1.16 To couet no mans house,* 1.17 wife, seruant, goods, nor any thting that is his, not once to lust after our neighbours euill, but hartily to loue him euen as our selues, and to do vnto him after the manner, as we would be did vnto vs, these Com∣maundements it is good for vs to kéep, not onely this day, but as long as we liue, to the honouring of the blessed name of God, to the increase of his Kingdome, and to the fulfilling of his

Godly will all the dayes of thy life, it is in good faith and stedfast beliefe to loue thy neighbour as thy selfe, loue is the fulfilling of the law, & loue hideth the multitude of sinnes, loue hath many noble conditions,* 1.18 loue is patient and courteous,* 1.19 loue enuieth not, loue doth not frowardly,* 1.20 loue is not puffed vp, it dis∣daineth not,* 1.21 seeketh not her owne, is not prouoked to anger, thinketh not euill, re∣ioyceth not of iniquitie,* 1.22 but reioyceth in the truth, it suffereth all things, beleeueth all things, it hopeth all things, it endu∣reth all things, whosoeuer now hath the spirit of God, and hath truly receiued the light of his word, will vse these works, these fruits of the spirit, and this Armour of light, this is the new Com∣maundement that our Master hath giuen vs,* 1.23 for by this shall euery man know, that we are his Disciples, if we loue one ano∣ther,* 1.24 not in word and tongue onely, but indéed and verily, not to suffer them to want, and we haue not to let them pe∣rish, and we may helpe them, but lo∣uingly & with a good hart, to distribute to the necessity of the S••int••,* 1.25 to feed the hungry, to minister drinke to the thirstie,

to lodge the harbourlesse,* 1.26 to visit the sicke,* 1.27 and shortly, to doe to euery man e∣uen as we would they did vnto vs. It is good for euery one of vs to tell another his fault, and that louingly after a bro∣therly correction, without any desire of vengeance;* 1.28 for it is written, Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart, but thou shalt plainely rebuke thy neighbour, and suffer him not to sinne; Thou shalt not auenge, nor be mindfull of wrong a∣gainst the children of thy people, but shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe,* 1.29 and as the wise man saith; tell thy neigh∣bour or friend his fault, least he be igno∣rant, and say, I haue not done it, or if he haue done it, that he do it no more. Re∣proue thy neighbour that he may kéepe his toong; and if he haue spoken any thing amisse, that he say it no more: for the doctrine of Christ and the Apostles is,* 1.30 That if any man be fallen by occasion into any fault,* 1.31 they which are spirituall, should restore such an one with the spirit of meekenesse, considering themselues what is their own nature, least they also be tempted. If thy brother trespasse against thee, saith Christ, goe and tell him his

fault betweene him and thee alone: if he heare thee thou hast woon thy brother, but if he heare thee not, take yet with thee one or two, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses euery word may be confirmed, and if he will not vouch∣safe to heare, then tell it vnto the Church, and if he refuse to heare the Church also, then let him be vnto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Now if any that is of the number of the brethren in Christ, and would be taken for a Christian man indéed, be a whoremonger or co∣uetous, or a worshipper of images, or a rayler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, the Doctrine of Paule is plaine, that we should not eate nor kéepe company with such, this day it is good to be ware of false prophets, of mens owne imagi∣nations and dreames, least we receiue the poyson of Antichrists lawes, in stéed of the blessed word of God, least we shoote at the wrong marke, and be deceiued by such as walke in humble∣nesse of minde & worshiping of Angels, & beware of false prophets,* 1.32 which come to you in sheepes cloathing,* 1.33 but inward∣ly are rauening wolues,* 1.34 and whosoeuer

transgresseth and abideth not in the doc∣trine of Christ hath not God, he that con∣tinueth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Sonne: If there come any vnto you, and bring not this Doctrine, receiue him not to house, nei∣ther bid him God•• spéed, for he that biddeth him God spéed is partaker of his euill déeds, for by false prophets the Lord our God doth proue vs,* 1.35 to know whether we loue the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soule, or not. wherefore it shalbe good for vs, not onely this day, but as long as we liue, to walke after the Lord our God, and to feare him, and to kéepe his Commandements, his statutes, his lawes, and his constitutions, to har∣ken vnto his voice; to serue him, and to ••leaue vnto him. It is good for euery sub∣iect to be obedient,* 1.36 and to submit himselfe vnto all manner of ordinance of man▪ for the Lords sake;* 1.37 for there is no power but of God, and the powers that be, are ordained of God; whosoeuer therefore resisteth the pow∣er, resisteth the ordinance of God, & they that resist, shall receiue to themselues iudge∣ment, for Princes are not to be feared for good works, but for euill, wilt thou then be without feare of the power, doe well, so shalt thou haue praise of the same, for he is

the Minister of God for thy wealth; but if thou doe euill, feare, for he beareth not the sword for nought, for he is the minister of God, to take vengeance on him that doth euill, wherefore we must be subiect, not be∣cause of wrath onely, but also for conscience sake.* 1.38 And let vs remember the saying of Salomon, that the Kings displeasure is a messenger of death. At is good for Kings, Princes & temporall Iudges,* 1.39 to execute their office as out of the power that God ministreth vnto them, for in very déede the power is giuen them of the Lord, and the strength from the highest, therefore séeing they a••e the Officers of his King∣dome, as saith the wise man, they ought not to be negligent, but to execute true iudgement, to kéepe the law of righteous∣nesse, to walke after his will, to loue the light of wisedome, to expell Southsayers, Charmers, expounders of dreames, I∣dols, Masses, and all abominations out of their land, to set vp the words of the law of God, to put downe the houses of Idola∣try, and to sée that the law & word of God be taught among the people, to spare nei∣ther cost nor labour for the maintenance and defence of the same, to séeke the peace, wealth & prosperity of their Commons,

to iudge euery man righteously without a∣ny wresting of the law,* 1.40 to know no mans person in iudgement, to take no gifts, but e∣uer to haue the lawes of God, and to doe thereafter by them, and to reade therein all the dayes of their liues, that they may learne to feare the Lord their God, and to keepe all the words of his law, and to doe thereaf∣ter, that his hart be not lifted vp aboue his brethrē, that he may prolong his daies in his kingdome. It is good for seruants to be obe∣dient vnto them that are their Maisters, ac∣cording to the flesh,* 1.41 with feare and trem∣bling, with singlenes of their harts,* 1.42 as vnto Christ,* 1.43 not with seruice to the eye, as men pleasers,* 1.44 but as the seruants of Christ, doing the will of God from the hart. &c. as also Peter: Seruants be subiect to your Maisters with all feare, not only to the good & cour∣teous, but also to the froward. And ther∣fore was Saint Paul so earnest to sée this ordinance of God kept,* 1.45 namely, that as many seruants as are vnder the yoake, should count their Maisters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and of his doctrine be not euill spoken of. It is good for such men as haue s••••••ants,* 1.46 to put away threatnings doing vnto their seruants that which is iust and equall, and know that they also

themselues haue a Maister in heauen, and vse the counsell of the wiseman, whereas thy seruant worketh truely,* 1.47 intreat him not euill, nor the hireling that bestoweth himselfe for thée, let thy soule loue a dis∣créete ser••ant as thi••e owne soule, de∣fraud him not of his libertie, neither leaue him a poore man, & if he be not obe∣dient, bind his féete, but be not excessiue toward any, and without discretion doe nothing, therefore should euill seruants be corrected, séeing they will not be the better for words, for though they vnder∣stand them, yet will they not regard thē: tame thy euill seruant with hands and correction, If you set him to labour, you shall find rest,* 1.48 but if you let him goe idle, he shall séeke libertie, for as Salomon saith, he that delicatly bringeth vp his seruant from his youth, at length he wilbe euen as his Sonne. It is good for women to be obedi∣ent, and to submit themselues vnto their husbands, as vnto the Lord, for the husband is the wiues head,* 1.49 euen as Christ also is the head of the Church, and the same is the Sauiour of his body, there∣fore as the Church is in subiection to Christ, euen so let the wiues be vnto their husbands in euery thing, as it is comely in the Lord, that euen they which obey not the word,

may without the word,* 1.50 be woon by the con∣uersation of their wiues,* 1.51 while they behold their pure con••ersation which is with feare, and let not their appareling be vntoward, as with brodered haire, & Gold, put about thē, or in putting on of apparrell, but let the hid man of the hart be vncorrupt, with a méeke and quiet spirit, which is before God a thing much set by, for euen after this manner did the holy women, which trusted in God, tyre themselues, & were subiect to their husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him Lord:* 1.52 it is good for men to loue their wiues, euen as Christ loued the Church, and gaue him∣selfe for it, that he might sanctifie it and cleanse it by washing of water, thorough the word,* 1.53 that he might make it vnto him∣selfe a glorious Church, not hauing spot or wrinckle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blame, so ought men to loue their wiues as their owne bodies, he that loueth his wife, loueth him∣selfe, for no man yet euer hated his owne ••••lesh, but nourisheth & cherisheth it euen as y^• Lord doth the Church, therefore ought euery man to doe, so that he loue his wife euen as himselfe,* 1.54 and not to be bitter vnto them, but to dwell with them as men of

knowledge, giuing honour vnto them as vn∣to the weaker vessell, euen as they that are heires together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not interrupted.* 1.55 It is good for childrē to obey their parents in the Lord,* 1.56 for that is right and well pleasing vn∣to the Lord, yea the Lord will haue the father honoured of the Children, and hath confirmed the authority of the mother o∣uer the children.* 1.57 He that honoreth his mo∣ther is like one that gathereth treasure, who∣so honoureth his Father shall haue ioy of his owne children, and when he ma∣keth his prayer, he shalbe heard, he that ho∣noureth his father shall haue long life, and he that is obedient to the Lord shall com∣fort his mother: he that feareth the Lord honoureth his parents, and doth seruice vn∣to his parents as vnto the Lord, honour thy father and mother in deed and word, and in all patience, that thou mayest haue Gods blessing, for the blessing of the father esta∣blisheth the house of the Children, and the mothers curse rooteth out the foundations: reioyce not at the dishonour of thy father, for it is not honour vnto thee, but shame, seeing that mans glory cometh by his Fa∣thers honour, and the reproach of the mo∣ther is dishonour to the children, helpe thy

father in his age, and grieue him not as long as he liueth, and if his vnderstanding faile, haue patience with him, and despise him not, when thou art in thy full strength, for the good entreaty of thy father shall not be for∣gotten, he that forsaketh his father shall come to shame, and he that angreth his mother is cursed of God. My Sonne per∣forme thy duty with louing meeknes, and so shalt thou be beloued of them that are approued:* 1.58 It is good for fathers not to pro∣uoke their children to wrath,* 1.59 but to bring them vp in instruction and information of the Lord: for as the wiseman saith, who∣so loueth his child,* 1.60 holdeth him still in nourture, and vnder correction, that he may haue ioy of him afterward: with∣hold not correction,* 1.61 from the child, if you smite him with the rod, he shall not die: thou shalt smite him with the r••d & shalt deliuer his soule from hell.* 1.62 It is good for e∣uery one that is a Bishop or other spirituall Shepheard to be vnreproueable, the husband of one wife, watching, sober, modest, harbo∣rous, apt to teach, not giuen to wine, no striker, not giuen to filthy lucre, but gen∣tle, * 1.63 no fighter, not couetous, one that loueth goodnes, wise, holy, temperate, holding the faithfull word according to the doctrine, that he may be able also to exhort with

wholesome doctrine, and reproue them that say against it, & aboue all things, it is good for a Bishop or spirituall Shepheard, to leade an holy and Godly life, going before others, as the Ensigne-bearer, and to be vnto others the good salt of the earth, the light,* 1.64 the Starre that shall bring many to righteousnesse & shine euelastingly. And now to conclude, whosoeuer thou art, or of what estate soeuer thou be, take héede that there be not in thée an euill hart and vnfaithfull,* 1.65 to depart away from the li∣uing God, but exhorting one another day∣ly whilest it is called to day, least any of you be hardned through the deceiptful∣nes of sinne, and redéeme the time, as saith the Apostle for the dayes are euill, and learne yee to be sober, to watch, to fast, and to pray, and to be ready with the wise Uirgins to enter in with the Bride∣groome into our Maisters ioy, which shall neuer be taken from vs, and shall endure for euer and euer. Amen.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Deut. 6. 8.
• * 1.2

  Num▪ 18.
• * 1.3

  Heb. 3. 7.
• * 1.4

  Psal. 95. 78.
• * 1.5

  1. Pet. 1. 2. 3
• * 1.6

  Mat. 4. 4.
• * 1.7

  Heb. 4. 12.
• * 1.8

  Wis. 7. 11.
• * 1.9

  Luk. 11. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.10

  Heb. 11. 6.
• * 1.11

  Iohn 14. 15. ••t. 21.
• * 1.12

  Exod. 20.
• * 1.13

  Mat. 5. 44.
• * 1.14

  1. Cor. 7. 1.
• * 1.15

  Ephe. 4. 28
• * 1.16

  Ephe. 4. 25
• * 1.17

  Rom. 7. 7.
• * 1.18

  Rom. 13. 10
• * 1.19

  ••am. 2. 8.
• * 1.20

  1. Pet. 4. 8.
• * 1.21

  Prou 10. 1••
• * 1.22

  1. Cor. 13.〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.23

  Iohn 13. 34 35.
• * 1.24

  1. Iohn. 3. 12.
• * 1.25

  Rom. 12. 13
• * 1.26

  Esai. 58. 7.
• * 1.27

  Ezech. 18. 7
• * 1.28

  Leuit. 19. 17
• * 1.29

  Eccles. 19. 18.
• * 1.30

  Gal 6. 1
• * 1.31

  Mat. 18. 15
• * 1.32

  Col. 2. 18.
• * 1.33

  Mat. 7. ••5.
• * 1.34

  2. Iohn 9.
• * 1.35

  Deut. 13 3
• * 1.36

  1. Pet. 2. 13
• * 1.37

  Rom 13. 1.
• * 1.38

  Prou. 16. 14
• * 1.39

  Wis. 6. 3.
• * 1.40

  Deut. 1 15
• * 1.41

  Ephes. 6. 5.
• * 1.42

  Col. 3. 22.
• * 1.43

  Tit. 2. 9.
• * 1.44

  Pet. 2. 18.
• * 1.45

  Tim. 6. ••.
• * 1.46

  Ephes. 6. 8.
• * 1.47

  Eccles. 7.
• * 1.48

  Pro. 29. 21.
• * 1.49

  Ephes. 5. 22
• * 1.50

  Col. 13. 18.
• * 1.51

  1. Pet. 3. 1.
• * 1.52

  Gen. 18. 12
• * 1.53

  Ephe. 5. ••5
• * 1.54

  Col. 3. 19.
• * 1.55

  Ephes. 6. 1.
• * 1.56

  Col. 3. 20.
• * 1.57

  Eccles. 3. 4.
• * 1.58

  Ephes. 6. 4.
• * 1.59

  Col. 321.
• * 1.60

  Pro. 13. 24.
• * 1.61

  Pro. 23. 23.
• * 1.62

  1. Tim. 3. 2.
• * 1.63

  Tit. 1. 6.
• * 1.64

  Dan. 12. 3.
• * 1.65

  Heb. 3. 12.