A Wycked man doth set his mynde, his heart, and hole intent,
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To sclaunder truthe, & godlynesse, and hurte the innocent.
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But blessed be al those that be so falsly lyed apon:
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And pacyently do suffre it, whome God dothe helpe eche one.
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Catche no man in his wordes to soone, but reade for better minde,
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For so the Jewes pursued Chryste, some tryp with hym to fynde.
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Discencion, discorde, variaunce, and those that make debate,
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The Lord that loveth unytie, dothe sore detest and hate.
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Embrace and love your enemy, Chryst byddeth very playne:
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How can you so? whan you for love do rendre hate agayne.
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Forsake your forged lyes, and turne your flattery to truthe:
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And leave in age the wyckednesse that you had in your youthe.
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God gyveth all the gyftes, to man, the which be good and pure:
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For of ourself we have nothyng but evel, I am sure.
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Have no delyte, the gyftes of God, so wyckedly to use,
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To sclaunder good and vertuous thynges: I can not you excuse.
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I praye to God the Lord of myght, that every wycked tonge,
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Myght ones by roote be weded out, his people from amonge.
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Knowe wel before you knyt your knot, the meaning, and the ende:
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And learne, at thinges of Godlynesse, your wycked lyfe to mende.
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Lyke as the horse dothe wynse, whan he is rubbed on the gall:
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So wycked do at goodly thynges, to mende theyr lyfe wythall.
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Moche evell comes by those that wold mayntayne all wyckednesse,
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And eke pervert instruction good, and sclaunder godlynesse.
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No man can serve two masters well, and please them, any wyse:
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Ye cannot serve our master Chryste, & flatter forging lyes.
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Of suttle* beawe* and glosing wordes, the commune sorte indede,
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Are ever more deceaved quyte, wherto they take great heede.
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Perceave and see the beame so great whych is before thyne eyes:
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And than correcte thy brothers faulte, withouten fraude or lyes.
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Quenche fyrste thys your malycious mynde, that burneth lyke the fier
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And than your sclaunder certaynely wil not be thought of Ire
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Remember that you reconcyle you to your brother agayne:
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Or els your offryng wyll not be receaved, this is playne.
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Speake nothyng judgyng any man, the wyse man doth exorte,
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With unadvysed wylfulnes, nor gyving ill reporte.
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Taunte none for vertue, whyle thou lyvest: for than you art not wise:
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And wylt be truly taken for a foole, mayntayning vice.
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Whan Cammell folowes any poynte of this, as it aperes,
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And leaveth beawe* and suttle* wordes: we shal have pleasant yeres.
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Vewe this good reader folowing, and that which is before,
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To th end to frame thy lyfe therto, and mend it evermore.
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X CHrist biddeth us ensue his steppes, and suffre wronge & greyfe:
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As he hathe suffred grevous payne, which is our health and lyfe.
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You most sayth Christ observe and kepe, for very inward zeale,
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His Godly and devine preceptes: and than you shal have weale
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zachary was, for godlynes, of wyll (and not constraynde)
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Imputed just before the Lorde, I know this is not faynde.
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& AND fynally we ought to leave all sclaunder, lyes, & strife:
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For nothing is more wickedder in mannes or womans lyfe.
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2 CONsidering that wee shall gyve accomptes, before the lorde,
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Of all our dedes, our wicked thoughtes, and every ydell worde.
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ESUeme not this as vanytie, and nedelesse matters eke:
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For than in the (good brother myne) is wysdome farre to seeke.
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AMENde thyself by the preceptes, and beare me no disdayne:
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And than passe I nothyng at all thoughe it be thankelesse payne.
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