Reproof and Respect 1Rebuke not an elder: but exhorte him as a father and the yonger me as brethren 2the elder wemen as mothers ye yonger as sisters with all purenes. Honoring True Widows 3Honoure widdowes which are true wyddowes. 4Yf eny wyddowe have chyldren or neves let them learne fyrst to rule their awne houses godly and to recompence their elders. For that is good and acceptable before God. 5She that is a very wyddowe and frendlesse putteth her trust in god and continueth in supplicacion and prayer nyght and daye. 6But she that liveth in pleasure is deed even yet alive. 7And these thynges commaunde that they maye be without faut 8Yf ther be eny that provideth not for his awne and namly for them of his housholde the same denyeth the fayth and is worsse then an infydell. 9Let no wyddowe be chosen vnder threscore yere olde and soche a one as was the wyfe of one man 10and well reported of in good workes: yf she have noresshed children yf she have bene liberall to straugers yf she have wesshed the saynctes fete yf she have ministred vnto them which were in adversite yf she were continually geve vnto all maner good workes. 11The yonger widdowes refuse. For when they have begone to wexe wantone to the dishonoure of Christ then will they mary 12havynge damnacio because they have broke their fyrst fayth. 13And also they learne to goo from housse to housse ydle ye not ydle only but also tryflynge and busybodyes speakynge thynges which are not comly. 14I will therfore that ye yonger weme mary and beare childre and gyde the housse and geve none occasio to ye adversary to speake evill 15For many of them are all redy turned bake and are gone after Satan. 16And yf eny man or woman that beleveth have widdowes let the minister vnto them and let not the congregacion be charged: that yt maye have sufficient for them that are widdowes in dede. Honoring Elders 17The elders yt rule wel are worthy of double honoure most specially they which laboure in ye worde and in teachinge. 18For the scripture sayth: Thou shalt not mousell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne. And the labourer is worthy of his rewarde. 19Agaynst an elder receave none accusacion: but vnder two or thre witnesses. 20Them that synne rebuke openly that other maye feare. A Charge to Timothy 21I testifie before god and the lorde Iesus Christ and the electe angels that thou observe these thynges with out hasty iudgement and do nothynge parcially. 22Laye hondes sodely on no man nether be partaker of other mes synnes: kepe thy silfe pure. 23Drynke no lenger water but vse a lytell wyne for thy stommakes sake and thyne often diseases. 24Some mennes synnes are open before honde and goo before vnto iudgement: some mennes synnes folowe after. 25Lykwyse also good workes are manyfest before honde and they that are other wyse canot be hid. |