Thys thing which I shall speake here to young mene whiche must be fede fyrst wyth mylke and such tender meat , I wold lykewyse yow that be elders and more auncyente in chrystes doctryne , to practyse the same dylygently , euery man in hys owne house at home , for lytyll yt shal avayle thus openly to preache vnto you , vnlsse ye vse the same in your housholdes , the whyche pryuat and domestycall instructyone I thynke so profytable and necessarye in chrystes churche , that wythout yt our open sermones though they be neuer so good and learneyd shall lytell synke or remane in younge mennes hartes , by reasone theyr myndes and senses be so wanderynge and set vpon tryffles ratheyr than to marke anye good thynge , suche thynges as be holsome and for ther soules healthe fewe of theme reygarde vnlesse they be broughte vp frome theyre youth in the feare of god . To you now there fore young men , I speake that be chrystened . Your parentes whethere they be alyue or deade , brought you of a good and a chrystene mynde to be chrystenede , that ye myght be dead frome thys world and synne . Remembre wherfore god dyd call you to that lyfe not that you shuld liue here and hepe vp riches in this world , but that you should inheryte the kyngdome of heauen . The whiche kyngdome shal be geuen only to them that feare god , & worke rightuesnes , yf we lyue wyckedly and contynue in synnes , so as the fashion of yonge menne and maides is to doo , perpetuall damnatione and fyer euerlastynge shall folwe , for god is a iust iudge . Agaynne yf we wyll walke in the commaundementes of the Lorde we shall fynde ioy and lyffe euerlastynge , in heauen withe the Aungelles and all godly saynctes . But yf you wyll not ceasse from your sinnes & wickednes but still remayne and wallowe in your noughttynes , loke for nothynge els but euerlastynge fyer withe the deuil . You yong persons you be bound to be obedyent to your Parentes in all thynges saue onely such as perteynes to god and your soule ward , in all other matters yf you lyue not obedyent to them , ye haue no excuse before god the fyrste and pryncypal honor muste be to god , the next after to our parentes what profyt is it , yf thy parentes do tender the neuer so much , make the ther heire of all they haue , and pamper the vp with all maner of delycates . And thow to lose the fauore of God , with out the which , there is no health no quietnes , euen as though a man for one lyttell peace of lande full of wides and bryers , shuld for sake all the whole ryches and treasure of the world . And at lenght the lord shall also fynde these out whan he shall iudge the worlde . All yought for the most part folow the commen sort of people hauing no dyfferenc betwixt good and badde , and other not knowyng thynges sprytuall , or els not regardynge them , fyrste loke ye be obedyent to the word of God , and harken to yt dayly and dylygently . And if your parentes do grug theirwith or be offended , do you rather feare and regard your heauenli father which hath both power of bodi & soule , than your fleshli parents whiche haue no pouer ouer you but onli inwardli thinges whiche is rather then to be esteymed , God whyche is almyghty & whyche hath promysed heuen , or your parentes here whyche geue you but earthly thynges and suche as be transsitory & casual to euery blaste of fortune , Truly god I knowe vndoubted some parents whyche do all they can that there chyldren , shuld not heare the worde of God , O foules and peruerse people , vnworthe to be named chrysten men . Man must nedes here in this world haue some god to serue , otheyr the god of heauen or els the deuyll the great aduersary of mankynd , it must nedes folow , for so sayth chryst that no man can serue two lordes at ons . Thei whyche wyll not serue god , do serue the deuyl , & be all the minysters of the deuil which do not lede a chrystiane lyfe , And for thys cause chrystenmens chyldren whan they be christened be told to abrenounce al the workes of the deuil , and so they promyse here after if the liue , to lead a christien life to folow what so euer Christ cōmaundeith to eschue what so euer god forbideth . And this voue pleaseth god right well . Periured and for sworune you be yf ye break your voue , say not now . I made no promyse at my baptyme . Thy parents & thy god fatheres promysed in thy be halfe , whome also here I charge and warne , that thys voue be performede and dyscharged . It hath bene taken for an heygh matter of godlynes yf a yong man had voued him selfe into some monesteri there to remayne in seruice of God & perpetuall pouerti . but vnlese they had bene entyced in with promysys and fayere flattery wordes , they wold neuer haue concented to that wycked madnes , to bynd them selues in abbayes , where as was nothyng lese than the seruice of god excercised . Now for the most part of yought they nether knowe what god , what the deuell , what good , or what euell meanes . Nether is god nor the deuill ani such thyng as the painters make them . Yf you know how mercyfull god is how good , how meke . how gentyll , how sufferynge , howe pacyent and iuste he is ? than you know god , for by thes propertes we lerne what god is . Contrarywyse , the deuyll is nothyng els but vnmercyfulnes , hattred , enuy , murder , lying , mockyng of our neyghbour , and al thyng that is nought , forthermore they be the chyldren of god whyche folow god in vertu in innocency , mercy , pety , and vnfeyned charite . Againe thei be the children of the deuyll , whyche be lying , cruell , vnmercyfull , dysobedyent to their parentes , periured . Thei whiche be obedyent to god , doo all such as please god . They that serue the deuyll , doo that please hym . Wylt thou now serue god , then sett thyne eys of thy mind and marke chryste , be iust , gentyl , meke true , faythfull . Thow hast abrenounced all the workes of the deuyll in thy baptysme , now what be the workes of the deuyl , I shal bryuely declare . To bakbyte and speak yll of men , to moke , to dyspyse , to scoffe at widews and aged men , to geue no reuerence to thy parentes , and chefly to neglect the worde of god , and to blasphem hys name , wordly men loue to go pompusly arayde , wyth ther hosse Iagged the play & make mery as thowgh they shuld euermore lyue , & neuer perysh , they ryot and reuell they vse most impudent dansces , they go vp and doune from one streat to an other all the nyght long wyth theyr crying & routtyng they take away from aged men and infyrme persons their naturall reste and quietnes . They lytell regard there parentes commaundementes , what so euer they speke vnto them , they make ●yght an a moke at yt , yea & that is worsse the greatter forte of them can not say the Lordes praier right , and yf they can say the wordes , the strynght and sprit therof thei haue not . They bable vp ther praiers as the nounes were wount to do theyr psalter . But such yong men as serue and add yet themselues to chryst be not polluted with such manner of wickednes . Then such lewed and wicked persons whych leade there tyme so abhominably , let them nothing hynder you in your vertuous doyngs , wether thei be preestis or lay men or what so euer they be , for the pompe and pryde of thys world , yet neuer pleased God . nor neuer shall . And yet it is plaine such thynges do greatly delyte and sturre vp yong men such as haue not yet learned to folow reason nor cōcyder the ende and death of man . Yt is nothyng els all thys but vanyte , to pastyme , to sport , to dryncke , to feight , to set idle , to solace . O Lord how petifully is our youth brought vp , euen from there chyld age . wherfore when they cum to be men afterwarde ther fruites appere therafter . In like as our first parentes in paradyce a place of all pleasure , were forbid from thaple , that aboue all thinge thei shuld be ware and be circumspectid therin . But after that through the deueles instigation they had committid in takyng of thaple , they fell into all maner of myserys , where with we be all now oppressed to thys day . Euen so lykewyse , it is now amongest youth which supposeth the Glory of thys worlde to be nothinge elles but all pleasure and delite and all together honei , whan in dede it is bitter poison , and verili euerlasting damnation . I do not here speke agaynst honeste myrth and such maner of excersyce of the body as be cumly . But bicause I perceaue the deuell thus to go about with such delytes and baytes to snare yong men and maides , and so to seduce them frome all goodnes yf they wyll consent vnto hym that at leynght he makyth them cleane desperat , bothe with out all feare of god and all shamfastenes . which is the onely ornament of all yong age in so much that nether they regard god , nether truthe , nor iustice , goodnes nor honesty nor no other vertu wherof also proceideth there greater dystruction that they wyll not harken to the word of god , nor be not brought vnto yt by ther parents . O you parentes litell do you know what a charg lieth apon your backes . And you chyldren , whan wyll you remembre and consyder what yt is , you promysed to god in your baptysme ? Yt is not to be neglected , I tell you , that you voue & promysse vnto god ? he requireth our fayth , & suche vnfaithfull false couenant brekeres he wyll punysh and that most sharpely . The lorde setyth before vs tow wayes , the one , to lyfe , the other to dystrucsyon . Marke nowe well ye chyldren of the lorde . The one is sharp thornie & full of briers , which few men do walke , but after that yt be entred ones , yt ys very playne and pleasant & bryngeth to euerlaisting life . The other semeth fyrste delectable , as though it shuld conducte vs to all maner of goodnes , but at leyngeh and last ende , yt castith vs head loung doune to hell , where the deuill and all his aungelles be kepte faste abydyng the daye and iudgment of god . Therfore saythe Christ . Mathew vii . Enter in be the straeyt wycket , for brode is the way that leadeth to perdition , and large is the dore and many enter in ther at . And agayne strayet is the dore and the way narrow which leadeth into heauen , and fewe there be that fynde it . The lyfe of all true christians foloweth thys strayet waye , in the which waye they be daily excercised and tourmoyled in perturbatyones of thys worlde , And they neuer cease nor rest , to they haue fineshed there course and come where thei wold be . Say some . Then shall I not kepe company with my fellowes and aquaintance , shall I not make mery with my gosseptes and solace with them ones or twise a wicke ?

I am no mounke nor fryer . what man is able to kepe so straite a rule , you must consyder we be men , what wold you we shuld do ? here my consel , good sonne , what thou shalt do , for I know what the world is wount to abiect and saye , here , I say , and obaye the word of god . And vndoubted thou shall sone perceyue thys strayte waye now to thy seauynge , shortely to be easy and pleasant . And I do not doubt but at leynght thou shall gyue me great thankes for my counsell , whiche haue kepte the frmoe suche dystruction and ieoperdy . I wold wysh to all you yong men and children , the eyes of your mind open that ye myght see the ende that such men come to , One is slane beynge droncke and madde , an other hath his arme or legg stroke of , an other goyth a robbynge & feyght wrongfully for other mens money and so stroken donne and slayne lyke a beste , An other is hangged for a smalle tryfle . And who can recyte vp all the kyndes of death and disttructiō , that such dysobedyent persons as these come vnto ? what nede we any example to be brought whan dayly experyence declareth what ende & mischef these wretches com to . And the same I speke also to yong wemen and maydes . They be wanton and incontynent they haue and drawe to such felowes after their owone sort more lecherous than any gote , they scoffe & moke euery yong mane that cometh by them , they delyte . most in baudi songes . Some labore and bryngeth forth pryuely , and so they turne other to be common stewes or eles be dryuen to extreme pouertie , and so liue in contempte and miseri all their life long . What honest yong man wold be copled or content to be ioyned in maryage with such a beaste ? Then what coste of aparel haue thei the most basse & beggerli wemen which haue right nought yet how sumptuously they muste go arayed , Amongst the very gentyls a man shal not find more excesse and pryde in vesture , wherfore learne be tyme you Chrysten yonglynges to feare the lorde god . And with hole harte & mynde harken to the worde of hym euery mornyng the fyrste thing ye do , and euery sonday . And let it nothyng perturbe you , though ye be gruged or contemned therfore for the seruyce of god , for thys it ys that pleaseth god most heighli , it is no mater whether we lyue or dye to the lorde , that is ynoughe for vs , what shuld passe for more ? And thinke this rather and study how you may folow hym . And care not for thys vayne sort of men thys rascall rable of ruffeynns whiche can nothyng els but eate and playe & 〈◊〉 the streyts to be sene of other . And the same I speke to yong maydes lykewyse , yf god send vs long lyfe here , and we spend it in wantones , in the world to cum we shall be cast into perpetuall fier . Hyere my in hys lamentationes .iii. sayth , it is good for a man if he bere his yoke in his youth . And good it is for a man yf he teach hys soule in hys youth to beare the yocke of goddes commaundementes , if we wyll be contente to serue god , then shall the see & tempest of our tentations soone swage , for the lorde wyll neuer forsake vs . Thei which be elder men , and haue receued light of god in his gospell , know what I sai , & greatly complayne ther mysery and ingnorance in which they haue bene brought vp and led . Oh ( saye they ) yf we hadde harde such knowledge in the scripture which now we here , thankes be to god , we wold neuer haue runned in the anger of god as we haue . Yong age maie be wel compared to tendre graftes or buddes apte to be bended which waye you wyll , yf ye take them in time and while thei be tendre , but yf they be ons grouen and paste in bignes , it is but loste labor what so euer ye do , breake them you shal sonner than bend them , after they be come to there nature . The same thing we see likwise in brute beastes . Take me a lyon and bring hym vp amongest men , he wyll be tame . And lyke yt ys with children , yll education and bryngyng vp maketh much in marring a man . filthe wordes and baudy talke is a greate token of a corrupte harte . You must take better hede than ye haue done yet , what company your chyldren kepe , what communycation they vse , & this shal make you christen people . children be as much consecrated to god , as though they were a nointed preestes , or shauen into any order of relygyon . Consyder groundly with thy selfe and tremble , yf thou be in the anger of god , canste thou slepe quyetly or take any reste ? Yt wyll vexe an honest man yf hys neybour beare hym dyspleasure . And a gentyll chyld yf he see hys father sore angred with hym , he can not tell what to do to a voide his displeasur with flatteryng , with wepyng he assayeth all wayes he can to be reconsyled a gayne vnto his father . Then how much more owght we to proue all meanes we maye , to be reconciled to our heauenly father , whome we haue offended so oft euery howere , whiche hath bothe geuen vs oure body and soule . They be but tryfles that our fatheres bestowe apon vs in comparyson to them that we receue of god . The lorde our father ones plaged the world with the floode of waters , onely reseruynge eyght personnes , whome he preseruede from the waters through hys mere grace only . Sodome and Gomore with many cyties moo he dystroyed with fyer , besydes what an infinite numbre of men haue bene slayne in battayle ? who wyll not feare thys lord ? he is slow to anger , he graunt tyth vs tyme to repente yeares suffycient . He sendith hys prophets before to admonish vs of his anger to come . Then yf we take no hyed by hys admonishments , hys vengance wyll strycke when we leaste thynke of yt . We know no ende of our lyffe , death crepeth euery day whyle we be moste in our ruffe , and daylye in our pastymes . No man hath a commyssyon of hys lyfe how longe to lyue . Then why obaye we not the preceptes of god , and cease from oure sinnes which slaye the soule . Many deceyue themselues when they sinne secretly , supposyng that god dothe not beholde them , yf thou shuldyste walke in a deserte or in the most darkeste wode where no man could cum to the nor see the , yet god wolde see thy workes . Take hyde of hys vengaunce whiche is so sharpe , for we be redy to offences dyueres , wher with we greatly prouoke the anger of god . Worke ye the dedes that please god for these two go alwayes together , to cease frome sinne and to worke charyte . If we cease not from sinne , we can not worke no goodnes that pleaseth god . Let vs demaunde our chyldren thus , what fayth profesest thou , doste thou profese that faythe whiche the apostolyke church hath left ? Tel me the artycles of thy faith . I beleue in god the father almyghty maker of heauen and earthe . etc. Let yong men be learned this crede perfectly , and let them saye yt not with mouthe . But haue yt in there hartes , that they may set all there trust a pon God theire maker , that bothe he wyll and also is able to defende them . Thys it meanyth , almyghty God is the maker of all thynges of heauen of earth of thynges vysyble and thynges in visible . All thynges that be , haue there beyng of god , for with out hym nothynge is made .

Corne , wyne , oyle , wolle , and all thynges els , yea the Aungelles of heauen . All come of god , here we muste consider that all these thinges were created for vs .

Oh what a mercifull father is this , whyche hath ordened such thynges for vs so vnworthe wretches ?

what wyll not he graunt vs hereafter , what wyll he denye now to hys chylderen ? vnto elder men and such as be more growne in ther fayth the mystery of the Trynyte must be declared , so much as mans weknes may comprehend . There is one god whiche made all thinges , bothe that are in heauen & that are in earth . If thou doste trust in god , thou mayst be sure the deuill can not hurte the , much lese no mortall creature . To beleue in god , is to haue a constaunte truste in god , and to driue al thine hope in him , al other thynges and creatures set a parte , and that shall cause vs to loue god truly , other els it ys but a feyned & hypocrytycall loue . It foloueth in the Crede . And in Iesus chryst hys only sonne . All mankynde was damned vtterly for their greate and many folde offences , but chryste hath borne vpon his Backe all our sinnes satysfyenge hys father for vs , and deliuering vs from euerlasting death , that now we should lyue to our master chryste , who soeuer doth inwardly beleue this , wyll conforme hys lyfe honestly according to the commandements of god , eschuyng all maner of vice , so muche as in hym lyeth .

There is nothyng more abhorrede amongst true chrysten men than syne . Almyghty god fyrst made Adam & Eue our fyrst genytoures , and put them in paradyse , geuyng them an eisy commandiment , which they transgressed , deceyued through the sottyltie of the deuyl , wherof we al take our ofsprynge . Ye know what they did , and what happened to them the same infection now is gendered in vs . What man doth not see thys and proue it daly in hym self , but chefly in children as we may se , this more apereth by lytil & lytil . For they begyn to lie , to stele , to be light , to stand chekmeat with their parents nothing regarding god , what so euer is spoken , yf we se any such vices spryng vp in them , we must reforme them in tyme with rodes & strypes , lest the euil in vale & get the head , so that the hole man shal be poysened with the venime therof . And so they procure to them selfes euerlasting damnation , vnlese they redrese them selues by tyme & withstand such infections while they be fresh & gryne . There is no yonge man such a babe how yong so euer he be , but he can vnderstand what is good and what is euyll . For this is the law of nature writen in all mens hartes , doo to other as thou would be doune to thy self , let vs intermyt nothing in them which become to a more perfect reasone & vnderstandynge , that they geue not themselues to the deuyll . Here I admonysh all children that yf you se your parents slack in hearyng the word of god , folow not their steps nor be not lyk them . Al persons shal render a count to the lorde , & euery man shal answere for hym self . Desire to go and heare sermons often , And the lord shal geue you plentifull grace to know hym , and shal open you a way to all vertues . The lorde shall preserue you frome all them that contemne hys holy word . Wherfore dyd chryste dye ? to delyuer vs from euerlasting death . The excedyng great charite of god , dyd not spare his only begotten sone , but for vs all dyd bestow hym vnto the most cruel death , that who so euer dooth beleue in hym shall not perysh , but haue euerlastyng lyfe .

Therfore let vs loue hym agayne , and accordynglye honour hym for such benefytes , as he most ryghtuosly doth deserue .

What gretter loue can theyr be my dere beloued childrn ? If thou shuldest fall in a depe pete of water , & a stranger comynge by draweth the out , Or If thou shuldyst ly sore syke at the poynt of death , that no mane shulde se any recouery in the , there cometh a physicion and restoreth the to health , thou culdeste not shew no lyke kyndnes agayne correspondent to such pleasures done to the. Much greatter pleasures haue we receyued of christ , which hath plucked vs out of the mouth of the deuyll , delyueryng vs from hell , and promysed euerlastynge lyfe and Ioy with the Angelles . O dere chyld , say thus in thy mynde , I wyll neuer syne more , seynge that syne is such a fowll and abhominable thynge . Yea and yf I were constrayned to synne with a thousand deathes , yet wyll not I consent therto . Christe was the sone of god , before heauen and earth was mad , whyche at the time appointed of the father was made man with out any infectyon of synne , and liued with vs in earthe , And at last suffered for the synnes of al the worlde . Learne my chyldren pacyence : Chryst dyd beare hys crosse a pon hys owne backe , was knocked and scoffed , was scourged , and was crouned with thornes . Mortify your membres in tyme , leste the euill growe inward and at length breake forthe to your greate peryll and daunger , yt folowyth in the crede . The thyrde day he rose a gaine from death , ascended vp . et . c. beare thys ( you chyldren & elders also ) I do not mumble vp these wordes with out intellygence . They be golden wordes and worthy to be wrytten in all mens hartes with the fyngar of god . Chryst ys risen agayn from death , and so shall we : doest thou doubt that thy body shall ryse agayne ? Chryst sayth it which can not lye , he syttyth on the righte hande of the father , from thence he shall come to reuenge the wycked , and to reward the godli with heauen . All thynges are geuen hym in hys hand of the father . And though we yet here remayne in earth weyke & brickle vessels , yet do we tari & loke fore ioyes to come , promysed vs by christ . And to whom did he promyse this ? To such as once knowyng the trueth , be content to lede a vertuous & an honest lyfe , as do suffer in thys present worlde much aduersyte , for who so euer intend to lyue godly in chryst Iesu must nedes suffer persecution . In so much the lord hath so premonyshed vs , let vs be content what so euer happen , what so euer aduersyte we suffer for the gloryfyeng of hys name . And yf thou were in seruyce with some myghtie lord or prynce , it could not be chosen , but thou shuldyst a byde many pereis , take much paynes , susteine greate cold , for the optainyng and encreasyng of thy lyuyng . Than rather susteyne you the seruyce of thy lorde god , and doubt not of thy rewarde , for he hym selfe hathe promysed to rewarde that in his endlesse kingdom . I beleue in the holy ghost . &c. which dyd teach and now dothe teach all the faythfull the truyth that Christ preached vnto vs . The operatyon of hym is to make vs dyspyse the world with all hys concupyscence . Yonglynges , here I admonysh you , whan so euer ani yll thoughtes tari long in your mindes , be you certain it ys the deuyll that hath styrred vp the fyer . Caste hym out throughe prayer and almose dede . The good spryte dothe ingender in vs the remembrans of eternall thinges and that be good , And let not the thyng that is good , dwell in a corrupte place . If we be slacke & neglygente now whan we be called of our mercyfull father to hys heauenly feast , he dothe but well and worthily , yf he call backe a gayne hys grace so gentilly of his mere tendernes offered vnto vs . Truly we be well worthy of many scorgynges and betynges , if we return again to our old vices , after we haue receiued and knowen the grace . Your goyng is much vnseable , your iagged & cut apparell so dasshyng a bout you , do declare a mad and a foolysh mynde , you be proude and puffed vp , you gyue no reuerence to your elders . The holy gost dyd not teache you thys , why do you neglecte hys inspyratyon ? feyght agaynst sathan with all his pompe and that with contynuall prayers . Resyst the vyces whiche growe in you . Good chyldren , lerne to pray gladly our lordes prayer , so shall you proue to good men , and shall be bothe worshyp to the commenwealth and an ornament to chrstyes relygion . Flee from such company whose mynde is all set to doo myscheyfe , These be wycked persones , which go about al they can toppres the veryte , by their maneres , their counsels , and lyfe : how be it , they be not able to euerte , although thei sumwhat obscure it , but onli in ther owne hartes , which delyte in lyes . God is mercifull and very gentill , therfore call apon hym in chrystes name . And dyspise not the grace of god , after the fasshyon of sum yong men to foolyshe and lyghte , whiche yll prouyd for them selues both heare & in the world to come . But these flowers and life of theirs will sone vade , & than shall they perceiue & forthynke in their myndes , what thei haue doune . I beleue that catholik churche et . c. There is but one faith of all that euer haue ben , bothe prophetes and Apostelles , And thys vniuersall churche is not conteined in one place here , but in all places of the world chrystes church is dysꝑsed . be you not deceiued so to think christes church only to be , whych is gouerned vnder the wycked pope . The lorde hath hys people in euery place . The true church is that whiche hath the worde of god , the olde and new testament , whiche hathe here sacramentes , baptyme , and the lords bread . Yf any thynge be taught the a gaynste the ryght doctryne of the gospell by any man how holi so euer he be , be it to the accursed . Yf the papystes do teach the true honor , worshyp , and dygnyte of chryste . folow and embrace that doctryne . But elles yf they teach any other thynge , that is their owne dremes and traditions , a voyde yt quickly , leste you bee defyled with the leuen therof . And be not quick in beleuing them that say . Our forefatheres , the byshops with all the generall counselles , gathered to gether in the holi ghost , haue appoynted this ( though yt be dyrectly agaynste the worde of god ) therfore you must beleue it vnder payne of eternall damnation Let them auaunte with their baggage and phantasyes , wherewith they haue infectted and deluded all the world so long . Let the youth learne the worde of god exactly , so shall they easely iudge of the faythe and worde of god , and shall not lyghtly swarue from goddes ryght doctrine . The shepe of Chryst heare and perceyue hys voyce and folowe hym whyther so euer he goyth .