The right rule of Christian chastitie profitable to bee read of all godly and vertuous youthes of both sexe, bee they gentlemen or gentlewomen, or of inferiour state, whatsoeuer. Collected and written by one studious to gratifie his freendes, and profit his kindred: first (priuately) for the instruction, forewarning and forearming of certayne younge gentlewomen his neare and deare cosins: and after published by the same, in hope to profit the Church & common wealth, according to his talent. The methode wherof is to bee seene immediatly after the preface to the reader.

Title

The right rule of Christian chastitie profitable to bee read of all godly and vertuous youthes of both sexe, bee they gentlemen or gentlewomen, or of inferiour state, whatsoeuer. Collected and written by one studious to gratifie his freendes, and profit his kindred: first (priuately) for the instruction, forewarning and forearming of certayne younge gentlewomen his neare and deare cosins: and after published by the same, in hope to profit the Church & common wealth, according to his talent. The methode wherof is to bee seene immediatly after the preface to the reader.

Author

Hergest, William.

Publication

Imprinted at London :: By [W. How for] Richard Iohnes, and are to bee solde at his shop ouer against S. Sepulchers Church without Newgate,

[1580]

Rights/Permissions

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Subject terms

Chastity -- Early works to 1800.

Link to this Item

https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A03079.0001.001 content_copy

Cite this Item

"The right rule of Christian chastitie profitable to bee read of all godly and vertuous youthes of both sexe, bee they gentlemen or gentlewomen, or of inferiour state, whatsoeuer. Collected and written by one studious to gratifie his freendes, and profit his kindred: first (priuately) for the instruction, forewarning and forearming of certayne younge gentlewomen his neare and deare cosins: and after published by the same, in hope to profit the Church & common wealth, according to his talent. The methode wherof is to bee seene immediatly after the preface to the reader." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A03079.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 8, 2024. content_copy

Contents

• title page
• TO THE RIGHT WOR∣shipfull, godly and vertuous Gentleman Maister Henry Bromley, Sonne and Heire ap∣parant of the right Honorable Sir Thomas Brom∣ley, Knight, of the Queenes Maiesties most Honourable pri∣uie Councell, and Lord Chauncellour of England, and to all his godly and vertuous Brethren and Sisters: VVilliam Hergest, their Honorable Fathers most humble Seruaunt and daylie Drator, wisheth all temporal prosperitie in this life, and in the life to come euerlast, inge blessednesse.
• The Authors Epistle to his welbe∣loued Cosins, for whose praemonition, forewarning and forearming, he first col∣lected this Discourse or Treatice.
• Certaine sentences declaryng the propertie of Ʋertue in aduersitie, bothe in Latine and English.
• THE AVTHOVR to the godly Readers.
• Iohannis Cooci Odoastichon in Guilielmi Hergesti de Casti∣tate librum.
• Ad lectorem Hexasticon.
• The contents, of this short Treatice, concerninge Christian Chastitie.
• part - 1
  • A TREATICE OR DIS∣course of Christian Chastitie.
  • 1. What vertues and vices are com∣maunded and forbidden by the seuenth commaundement.
  • 2 What the vertues of the Commaundement bee.
    • How this vertue is kept and maintayno
    • Chastitie, the second vertue of this commaun∣dement, what it is.
    • Shamefastnesse, the thirde vertue, commaunded by this commaundement, what it is.
    • Other define shamefastnesse, thus.
    • VVhat Temperance the fourth vertue of this commaundement, is.
    • Paynefull labour, the fifth vertue of this precept, what it is.
    • Modestie in apparrell, the sixe vertue commaunded by the seuenth commaundement, what it is.
  • Vices for bidden by the seuenth commaundement, what they be.
    • Adultery, the first vice o sinne; forbiden by the seuenth commaundement, what it is.
    • VVhore dorne, the second vice agaynst this commaundement, what it is.
    • Intest, the thirde vice or sinne forbidden by the seuenth commaundement.
    • Dronkennesse, the fourth vice or sinne for∣bidden by this commaundement.
    • Gluttony, the fifth sinne or vice, forbidden by this commaundement, what it is.
    • Intemperance, the sixth vice, against the seuenth commaundement.
    • VVantonnesse or Malepertnesse, the seuenth vice or sinne, agaynst the, vij. commaundement.
    • Impudencie or vnshamefastnesse, the eight vice agaynst the seuenth commaundement.
    • Vnlawfull loue, the nynth vice, by this commaundement forbidden.
    • Filthy speeche or bawdy, or ribawdous talke, the tenth vice, forbidden by the seuenth commaundement.
    • Hipocrifie, the eleuenth vice, forbidden by this commaundement, what it is.
• part - 2
  • A shorte Preface, to the second part of this Discourse.
  • Causes for the which Virginitie and Chastitie must be Practised and put invre of Christians.
  • Here ensueth the thyrde parte of this present discourse.
    • ¶ The first motiue cause, to Temperance, Abstinence and sobrietie.
    • The second cause.
    • The thyrd cause, why Abstinence, and Sobrietie must be vsed.
    • The fourth cause.
    • The fifth Cause.
    • The sixt cause, of Abstinence and Sobrietie,
  • The fourth parte, of this Discourse, which intreateth of the causes that procure whooredome and vncleanenesse.
  • The fifth parte of this Discourse, which entreateth of the greeuousnes, haynousnes, and enormitie of whoredome and Adultery.
    • 3. The greuousnesse and haynousnesse of this sinne gathered of circumstances.
    • 1. The circumstance of person applied to you.
    • Secondely, from the Cause.
    • The greeuousnesse of this opprobrious offence, drawen from the circumstaunce, time.
    • Euils and mischeefes proper to VVhoredome, Adulterie &c.
    • The sinninge agaynst the blood of our redmption.
  • The sixt parte, which intreateth of remedies agaynst these mischeefes.
    • A shorte Preface to this parte.
    • ¶ The first, Prayer.
    • ¶ The seconde, Gods worde.
    • Temperance and Sobrietie.
    • The continuance of labour and honest exercies.
    • The continuall remembraunce of Gods promises and threatninges.
    • The keeping of godly and tuous company, and the auoydinge of the conerary.
    • The remembraunce of the last thinges, and godly Meditations concerning beauty.
    • ¶ The last parte of this Treatice.
  • A godly learned, and fruitfull Prayer, worthy to bee say de euery Morning, and Euening, of such as intende to leade their life in pure Virginitte or Cha∣stitic, and so to possesse their bodyes in holynes and honour, accordinge to Gods will and commaundement set downe. I euit. 11 g. 44.45. Item. 19.4.2. Item. 20. b. 7. d. 26. Ephe. 5. a 3. Phil 2 b. 15. Hebr. 12. d. 14 la. 1. d 27. and in many other places of his Booke to vs deliuered, for our eternall saluation or condempnation.