An ABC for Laymen, Title page – Dedication
An A. B. C. FOR LAYEmen, othervvise called, the Lay-mans Letters. AN ALPHABET for Lay-men, deliuering vntounto them such Lessons as the holy Ghost teacheth them in the worde, by thinges sensible, very necessary to be diligently considered.
AT LONDON; Printed by Robert VValdegraue for Thomas Man, and William Brome. 1585.
TO THE RIGHT Honorable, his very good Lord, Syr William Cicill, Baron of Burgley, Lord high Treasurer of England, &c. And to his honourable Patrone, Syr VVALTER MILDMAY, Knight, Chauncellour of her Maiesties Exchequer, GEORGE VVITHER vvisheth Grace and peace, vvith all heauenly blessings, from the father of our Lord Iesus Christ.
IT is an vsuall manner (right honourable) for all those that goe about to publish any work or writing of theirs, to dedicate it to some one or other, eyther to be a Testimony to the World, of their mutuall louelove and friendshippe, or else to witnesse their dutifulnesse or thankfulnes for benefites receyued, or else that vnderunder the protection, defence and fauour of authority, their works may the better pass… and be the safelier guarded and defended against all busie reprehenders. Wherefore vnwilling to break the receiued custome, & looking amongst the Honourable, to when for benefites I am bounde: As I confesse that amongest them I hauehave founde many and great welwillers, so to you two, whome my estate hath compelled to trouble and vse moste, for your constant good will and continued fauour shewed and benefites bestowed, I am aboue all others most bounden, and therefore as a thankfull remembrance hauehave dedicated this simple sily labor vntounto your honors. God in these our days, hath raised vp a number of worthy, learned carefull men for the Church of …od, whereof some bestowe themselues wholy in teaching of their flockes; others for the more generall benefite of the Church, spend part of their time & paines in writing. Of the latter sort, some translate into our tongue the learned works of other, some set out learned Sermons, Catechismes and other treatises for the admonition & instruction of the people: some shew their learning in mightily refuting and confounding the common aduersaries: Yet amongest them all, one thing I see wanting. For where I see that God hath giuen vntounto men two manner of Instructions and teachings: one by his word, another by his creatures, and for to help our dulnesse …o learne by his creatures, hath by his Spirite in his holy Worde, giuen a meruellous number of Lessons drawne from thinges sensible. In the former manner of teaching, God hath blesse vsus (in comparison of our Fathers aboundantly) But in the latter I hauehave not seene any man of our time, that of purpose hath taken paynes. Which want no doubt is some cause, that (by these outwarde thinges, which God hath appointed to bee so many helpes not onelyonly for the present necessities of this life but also to Heauen) Men, ignoraunt of the good Lessons which the Holy Ghoste giueth by them, for want of further and deeper consideration, are detayned vppon earth, and drowned in earthly thinges, and doe not possesse but are possessed of their possessions. Wherefore in some little part to supplye that wante, but cheefelye to giuegive to others of greater learning and giftes, occasion to bestowe this way some part of their leasure: I hauehave collected into the order of an Alphabet these fewe Lessons giuen by the spirite of God: Wherein, as I hauehave cheefely respected the benefite of the ruder sorte, so to accommodate my selfe vntounto them, I hauehave endeuored with playnesse asmuch breuitye and shortnesse as I possibly could, and therein for the moste part, I hauehave deliuered the very wordes of the Holy Ghoste, worde for worde: And wheresoeuer I hauehave gone a little from them, yet there the very wordes giuegive manifest occasion of the collection. Which, that it may of all men the better and with lesse payne bee seene and viewed, I hauehave in the Margent noted not onelyonly eueryevery Chapiter, but also eueryevery verse whence I hauehave gathered the note set downe. If then any may be occasioned by meane hereof, by the sight and vsing of earthly blessings, to lift vp their minds to heauenly contemplation, and thankfull consideration of the Power, Wisedome, and goodnesse of God; then hauehave I my desire, and that which I onelyonly seeke for. Thus I commit your Honours to the protection of Almighty God, whoeuer preserue both you and yours.
Danbury, the 29. of Ianuary. 1585.
An Alphabet for laymen, deliuering vntounto them such lessons as the holye Ghost teacheth them in the worde, by thinges sensible.
Abundaunce.
WHen God blesseth vsus with Abundaunce, Deutr. 10.14.then are wee to call to minde whose gift and liberalitie it is:Psalm. 24.1 namely, that the earth is the Lordes, and all that therein is, and that manifold are his workes, all which hee hath in wisedome made, and the earth is full of his riches.Psal. 104.24 28. Hee gyueth it to men and they gather it, he openeth his hand, and they are filled with good thinges. Yet notwithstanding they must beware of couetousnes. For though they hauehave Abundance, yet their life standeth not therein.Luke. 12.15 But they must remember that they which be rich in this worlde, are charged to be readie to giuegive and glad to distribute. For if they hauehave this worldes good,1. Tim. 6.18 and see their brother hauehave need, and shut vp their compassion from him,1. Iohn. 1.5. the louelove of God dwelleth not in them. And then shall this iudgement light vponupon them, that as their goods increase: so shal they increase that eat them, and no good shall come to the owners, but the beholding of it with their eyes, and they shall beget Sonnes,Eccles. 5.10. & 13. and in their hands shal be nothing els, though they hauehave riches, treasures and honour, and want nothing of all that their heart desireth,Ecclesi. 6.2. yet they shall not hauehave power to eate thereof, but straungers shall eat it vp.
Adamant.
BEcause wicked men are impudent and stif-headded, and also in great number and countenaunce, therefore God promiseth his assistance to his Ministers, and to giuegive them boldnesse and constancie in their calling,Ezech. 3.9. and to make their foreheades as hard as the Adamant, so that they shall not feare the great lookes of them that rebell against God.
Adder.
THE Adder expresseth the nature of obstinate wicked men. For as he is by nature enclined and desirous to sting and to hurt with his poyson whomsoeuer he may:Psal. 58.4.5. so all their counsels tend to the increase of wickednesse and mischiefe. And as this euill in the nature of an Adder can by no meanes be redressed, no not by enchauntment, for he stoppeth his eares against the charmer. So there is no hope of the conuersion of these obstinate wicked ones, who stubbornely refuse to here all wholesome doctrine and good counsell that proceedeth out of the Word, wherof we hauehave example in the counsell that stoned Steuen,Actes. 7.…7. for they stopped their eares. And in the Papists amongest vsus, who will not come into those places, where the Word is read and preached.
Age.
TO liue long is a blessing giuen of God, to them that duely and dutifully honour their Parents.Exod 20.12. 2. Kin. 22.20 But sometime God taketh them away sooner for their benefit. For Age is not to be gloried in, but when it is found in the way of righteousnesse, we must honour the aged,Prou. 16.32. and rise vp before the hoare head.Leuit. 19.32 The children that forgat this dutie, God shewed heauie iudgements vponupon them,2. Kin. 2.23.24. by causing wild beares out of the wood to teare them in peeces, Gods arme is not shortned, his hand is stretched out still. Therfore we must not rashely rebuke an old man,1. Tim. 5.5. but beseech him as a Father. And further we must take heed how we forsake the counsell of olde men,1. Kin. 12.13 14. who by reason of their long experience know much, and betake our selues to the counsell of young men, which for the more part is more bold then wise.
Ambition.
AMbition is a dangerous euil, it doth not only ouertake ye wicked, but it often creepeth into the Godly,Math. 18.1.20. verse, 24. and daungerously infecteth them, so that Christ him selfe diuers times findeth his owne Apostles deeply touched with it, till men reforme this vice, and bee as free from it as litle infants,18. verse. 3. they can not enter into the kingdome of heauen. Nay they can not beleeue so long as they are greedy to be honoured of men,Iohn. 5.44. and seeke not for the honour that commeth from God alone. Let them thinke of this,Genes. 3.5 that hunt after honour and dignitie, and marke from Caine foreward, what mischiefes this wrought in wicked men. It was the cause of the fall of Adam.11. verse 4. It caused men to giuegive the attempt to builde the Towre of Babell. It caused Chore, Dathan, and Abiron, and the rest to rebell against Moses and Aaron.Num. 16.3. It made Haman thinke all his honour riches and estimation nothing,Ester. 3.6. as long as Mardocheus who would not serue his ambitious affection) liued, and such like.
Appels.
APpels made of Gold, and beautifull pictures framed of siluer, are neither so precious nor so comely,Proue. 25.11 as a worde spoken and vttered in due tyme and place.
Almesse.
GIueGive Almesse, sell that which you hauehave and giuegive Almesse, Luke. 11.41.12. verse 33.16. vers. 9.make you bagges which waxe not old, a treasure which can not fayle in heauen: make you friendes of the riches of iniquitie, that when you want, they may receiue you into euerlasting habitation. What a man soweth, that shal he reape.Galathi. 6.7. 2. Corin. 9.6 He that soweth sparingly shall reape sparingly. Our Almesse if it be franckly bestowed is a sacrifice of sweete sauour,Philip. 4.18 and pleaseth God very well, but yet we must doe our Almesse secreatly,Heb. 13.16 Math. 6.2. least we hunt for the praise of men by doing it openly, and so shew our selues to be Hipocrites.
Anger.
WHen we be prouoked to Anger, or see other angrye, then let vsus thinke that he which is slow to Anger is better then the mighty man,Prou. 16.32 and he that ruleth his owne minde, is better th…n he that winneth a Citie,14. ver. 17. and that he that is hasty to anger committeth not onelyonly folly, but also in the iudgement of GOD is a murderer.Math. 5.22 Wherefore let vsus learne so to be angrye that we sinne not.Psalm. 4.4 And when we deale with hotte and hastie men, let vsus abstaine from grieuous wordes, for they stirre vp Anger, Prou. 15.1.and rather vse soft and milde aunsweares, for they put awaye wrath. Further, an angrye man stirreth vppe strife, which he that is slow to wrath appeaseth, aboue all take heed of angring the Prince.Ibidem 18.