Godly Private Prayers for Householders to Meditate Upon, To the reader – Title page
¶ Maister D. his councell, to all that are his: as also a briefe lesson for all estates.
KEepe counsell. Vse not manye wordes. Tell the truth. Be slow to speake. Brydle thine anger. Appease debate. Hinder no mans good name. Take heede of drinke. Remember thy ende. Be mercifull. Trie before thou trust. Repose no confidence in a reconciled aduersarie. Sorowe not for that which can not be got agayne. Reioyce not in thy neyghbours crosse. Striue not with thy ouer match. Reueale not thy secretes to thy wife, nor to thy children: for women, and children, say all they know. Three things vndid the Romanes reigne: priuie grudge, yong heaves, and priuate gayne. Beare with others, as thou would hauehave others heare with thee. Be not to rashe, hasty, bolde, nor wyse in thine owne conceyte.
Doe not speake all thou knowest.
Doe not beleeue all thou hearest.
Doe not doe all thou canst.
Doe not say all thou seest.
Beholde the ende ere thou beginne,
HaueHave mynde on death, and feare to sinne:
For death shall reape that lyfe hath sovvne,
And lyfe shall spring vvhere death hath movvne.
If thou by God arte set on hie,
Remember yet that thou shalt die.
Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the Soule,
Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the Mynde,
Abstinence is good for the health and vvealth of the and bodie.
If thou flie ydlenesse, Cupid hath no might,
His Bowe lyeth broken, his fire hath no light.
FEARE GOD, And keepe his Commaundements.
GODLY priuate prayers for housholders to meditate vponupon, and to say in their families.
MARK. 11.24.
¶ What so euer ye desire when ye praye, beleeue that ye shall hauehave it, and it shall bee done vntounto you.
ROM. 10.13.
¶ Whosoeuer shall call vponupon the name of the Lorde, shall bee saued.