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¶ Charge them whiche are riche in this worlde, that they be not hyemynded, nor trust in vncerten riches: but in the lyuyng God, (whiche geueth vs abound auntlye all thinges to enioye them) that they doe good: that they be riche in good workes: that they be readye to geue and gladlye to dystribute, laynge vp in store for themselues a good foundacion as gainst
the tyme to come, that they maye obtaine eternal lyfe. O Timothe, saue that which is geuen the to kepe, and a voyde vngostly vanities of voyces and opposicions of science, falsly so called, whiche science whyle some professed, they erred as concernynge the faith. Grace be with the. Amen.
I haue declared, how parilous noysome a matter it is for them that pro∣fesse Christ, to set their studie vpō riches. And yf there be among our sorte any, that haue chaunced vpon those riche substaunces, for the whiche this presente worlde recōneth men ryche and fortunate, and reuerenceth and honoureth them as halfe goddes: commaunde them, that they be not (as the commune sorte is) hyghe mynded in trustyng vpon their ryches, nor that they repose their chiefe helping felicitie in thinges, that are fyrste vayne, than so incertain that yf ca∣sualtie take them not awaye, yet at lest death despatcheth vs from them. But let them rather trust surely in the lyuynge god, that neuer forsoke mē eyther quicke or dead, inasmuche as he is vnchaungeable, of whose lyberalitie commeth what∣soeuer this worlde yeldeth vnto vs plenteouslye of yearely reuenues, for oure presēt vse, and not to hoorde vp riches. And let them rather conuerte their study to this ende, that they maye exercyse them selues vnto good workes, wherby they maye be made truly ryche, and let them be wealthye rather in good dedes thā in lordely possessions: & that, that they haue, let them so possede, as thoughe it were commune, and not their owne, and let them therwith be glad to geue vnto the nedye, and not dysoayne the rest that are but of small substaunce, and let them shewe them selues gentyll and frendly in the company and familiaritie of the commune sorte of lyfe. For wealthe hathe commonly these companyons with her, dysdeyne & statelynes. Let them not put their trust in their gorgious great buyldinges: for nothing in this world is longe durable. But rather with true vertues let them laye for them selues a stronge and a good foundacion a∣gaine y• worlde to come yt they maye atteyne to the true lyfe, that is to saye, the lyfe that euer lasteth. For what other thing is this lyfe, than a race vnto death? we must laye all carefulnes of transitorie thinges asyde, and make spedye haste vnto it with all dilygent studye. O Tymothie, I eftesones desyre & beseche the againe, kepe faithfully this doctrine, as it is committed vnto thee, and suffre it not to be defyled with humayne learnynges. And that thou canst not possyblye doe onles (as I watned the before) thou reiecte the chattring vayne byblebable of those mē that goe about to bryng them selues in a false estimacion of know∣ledge, by reason of humayne questions and sophisticall quiddities: inasmuche as mans knowledge consistyng of opinions contrarylye repugnaunt amonge them selues, is not worthye to be called knowledge. We know nothīg more cer∣tainlye than that, whiche the doctrine and belefe of the gospel hathe perswaded vnto vs. Furthermore some men, whyleft they goe aboute to seme learned and wyse, throughe humayne reasons, throughe sophistical wragglinges, through new learnynges whiche they themselues haue deuysed, haue wandred astraye frō the spnceritie of y• faythe of the gospel, whose propertie is, to beleue & not to dyspute, nor is caryed awaye with mens decrees from the prescripte commaun∣dementes of god. And to thintent thou mayest perceaue that this Epistle is not countrefaicte, I wyll subscribe these wordes with myne owne hande that thou well knowest: Grace be with the.