The ix. Sunday after Trinitie.
The Collect.
GRaunt to vs, Lorde, we beseech thee, the spirite to thinke and doe alwayes such things as bee right∣full, that we which cannot be without thee, may by thee be able to liue according to thy wil, through Iesus Christ our Lord.
The Epistle.
BRethren, * I would not that ye should be ig∣norant, how that our fathers were all vn∣der the cloud, and al passed through the sea, and were all baptized vnder Moses in the cloud, and in the Sea, and did all eate of one spiritual meat, and did all drinke of one spiri∣tual drinke: and they dranke of the spiritual rocke that folowed them, which rock was Christ. But in ma∣ny of them had God no delight: for they were ouerthrowen in the wildernes. These are ensamples to vs, that we should not lust after euil things, as they lusted: and that yee should not be worshippers of images, as were some of them, accor∣ding as it is written: The people sate downe to eate & drinke, and rose vp to play. Neither let vs bee defiled with fornicati∣on, as some of them were defiled with fornication, and fell in one day three and twentie thousand. Neither let vs tempt Christ, as some of them tempted, and were destroyed of ser∣vents. Neither murmure yee, as some of them murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. All these things happe∣ned vnto them for ensamples: but are written to put vs in re∣membrance, whom the endes of the world are come vpon. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall. There hath none other tentation taken you, but such as followeth the nature of man. But God is faithfull, which shall not suffer you to bee tempted aboue your strength, but shall in the midst of temptation make a way, that ye may bee able to beare it.
The Gospel.
Iesus saide vnto his disciples, * There was a certaine rich man which had a steward, and the same was accused vnto him that hee had wasted his goods. And he called him, and sayd vnto him, How is it that I heare this of thee? Giue accompts of thy steward ship, for thou mayest be no longer Steward. The Steward said within himselfe, What shall I doe? For my master taketh a∣way from me the Stewardship. I cannot dig, & to beg I am Page [unnumbered] ashamed. I wote what to doe, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receiue me into their houses. So when he had called all his masters debters together, he sayd vnto the first, How much owest thou vnto my master? And he sayd, An hundred tunnes of oile. And he sayd vnto him, Take thy bill, and sit downe quickely, and write fiftie. Then said he to anothers, How much owest thou? And he sayd, An hundred quarters of wheate. Hee sayd vnto him, Take thy bill, and write foure score. And the Lord commended the vn∣iust Steward, because he had done wisely. For the children of this worlde are in their nation wiser then the children of light. And I say vnto you, make you friends of the vnrigh∣teous Mammon, that when yee shall haue neede, they may receiue you into euerlasting habitations.
