Reproof and Respect

1Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father, the younger men as brethren, 2The elder women as mothers, the younger as sisters, in all chastitie.

Honoring True Widows
(Ruth 1:1–5)

3Honour wydowes, whiche are wydowes in deede. 4But yf any wydowe haue chyldren or nephewes, let them learne first to rule their owne houses godly, and to recompence also their elder kynsefolkes: for that is good and acceptable before God. 5And she that is a wydowe in deede, and left alone, hopeth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers nyght and day. 6But she that liueth in pleasure, is dead beyng alyue. 7And these thynges commaunde, that they may be blamelesse. 8But if any prouide not for his owne, and specially for them of his housholde, he hath denyed the fayth, and is worse then an infidell.

9Let not a wydowe be chosen vnder three score yeres olde, hauyng ben the wyfe of one man. 10And well reported of in good workes, yf she haue brought vp chyldren, yf she haue lodged straungers, yf she haue wasshed the saintes feete, yf she haue ministred vnto them that were in aduersitie, yf she haue ben continually geuen to euery good worke. 11But the yonger wydowes refuse: For whe they haue begun to waxe wanton agaynst Christe, they wyll marrie: 12Hauyng dampnation, because they haue cast away their first fayth. 13They learne to wander about from house to house idle: yea not idle only, but also tatlers and busybodies, speakyng thynges which are not comely. 14I wyll therefore that the yonger women do marrie, to beare chyldren, to guyde the house, to geue none occasion to ye aduersarie to speake slaunderously. 15For certaine of them are alredy turned backe after Satan. 16Yf any man or woman that beleueth haue wydowes, let them susteine them, & let not the Churches be charged, that there maye be sufficient for them that are wydowes in deede.

Honoring Elders

17The elders that rule well are worthy of double honour, most speciallye they which labour in the worde & teachyng. 18For the scripture sayth: Thou shalt not moosel the oxe that treadeth out the corne: And, the labourer is worthy of his rewarde. 19Agaynst an elder receaue none accusation, but vnder two or three witnesses. 20Them that sinne, rebuke before all, that other also may feare.

A Charge to Timothy

21I testifie before God, and the Lorde Iesus Christe, and the elect angels, that thou obserue these thinges without hastynesse of iudgement, and do nothyng after parcialitie. 22Lay handes sodenly on no man, neither be partaker of other mens sinnes. Kepe thy selfe chaste.

23Drinke no longer water, but vse a litle wine for thy stomackes sake & thine often diseases.

24Some mens sinnes are open beforehande, hastyng before vnto iudgement, and in some they folowe after. 25Lykewise also, good workes are manifest before hande, and they that are otherwyse can not be hyd.