T h e   p i s t l e
o f   P a u l
v n t o   T i t u s .

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      cclxxxiij

T h e   p i s t l e   o f   p a u l
v n t o   T i t u s .

      The fyrst Chapter.

PAul the servaunt of god and an Apostle of Jesu Christ/ to preache the fayth of Goddis electe/ and the knowledge off the trueth/ which trueth is in servynge god in hope of eternall lyfe/ which lyfe god that can not lye/ hath promysed before the worlde began: but hath at the tyme apoynted openned his word by preachynge/ which preachynge is committed unto me/ by the commaundment of god oure saveoure.

      To Titus his naturall sonne in the commen fayth.

      Grace mercie and peace from God the father/ and from the lorde Jesu Christ oure saveoure.

      For this cause left J the in Creta/ that thou shuldest performe that which was lackynge and shuldest ordeyne seniours in every citie as J apoynted the. Yf eny be soche as no man can complayne on/ the husbande of one wyfe/ havynge faythfull children/ which are not sclandred off royote/ nether are disobedient. For a bisshoppe must be soche as no man can complayne on/ as it be commeth the minister off God. not stubborne/ not angrye/ no dronkarde/ no fyghter/ not geven to filthy lucre: butt herberous/ one that loveth goodnes/ of honest behaveour/righteous/ holy temperat/ and suche as cleveth vnto the true worde of doctryne/ thatt he maye be able to exhorte with wholsom learnynge/ and to improve them that saye agaynst it.

      For there are many disobedient and talkers off vanitie/ and disceavers off myndes/ namly they off the circumcision/ whose mouthes must bestopped/ which pervert whole houses/ teachynge thynges which they ought nott/ because off filthy lucre. Won beynge of themselves/ which was a poyet of their owne sayde: The Ctretayns are alwayes lyars/ evyll beastes/ and slowe belies. This witnes is true/ wher fore rebuke them sharply/ that they maye be sounde in the fayth/ and not takynge hede to iewes fables/ and commaundmentes of men/ which turne from the trueth. Vnto the pure/ are all thynges pure: but vnto them that are defiled. They confesse that they knowe god: but with dedes they denye hym and are abhominable/ and disobedient/ and vnto all good workes discommendable.


      The. ij. Chapter.

      BVt speake thou that which becommeth whol some learnynge: That the elder men be sober/ honest/ discrete/ sounde in the fayth/ in love and in pacience. And the elder wemen lyke wyse that they be in soche rayment/ as becommeth holynes/ not falce accusars/ not geven to moche drinkynge/ | [Fo. cclxxxiiij] but teachers of honest thynges/ that they nurter the yonge wemen for to love their husbandes/ to love their children/ to be of honest behaveoure/ chast/ huswyfly/ good/ and obedient vnto their aune husbandes/ that the worde of god be not evyll spoken of. Yonge men lyk wyse exhorte that they be of honest manners.

      Above all thynges shewe thy silfe and insample of good workes in the doctryne/ shew vncorrupcion/ honestie/ and the wholsome worde which cannot be rebuked/ that he which withstondeth maye be ashamed/ havynge no thinge in you that he maye disprayse. The serauntes exhorte to be obedient vnto their owne masters/ and to pleasein all thinges/ not answerynge agayne/ nether be pickers/ but that they shewe all good faythfulnes/ that they maye do worshippe to the doctryne off god oure saveoure in all thynges. For the grace of god/ that bryngeth health vnto all men/ hath apered and teacheth vs that we shulde denye vngodlynes/ and wordly lustes/ and that we shulde live honestly/ righteously/ and godly in this present worlde/ lokinge for that blessed hope/ and glorious aperenge of the myghty god/ and of oure savioure Jesu Christ: which gave hymsilfe for vs/ to redeme vs from all vnrightewesnes/ and to pourdge vs a peculiar people vnto himsilfe fervently geven vnto good workes. These thinges speake/ and exhorte/ and rebuke/ with all commaundynge. Se that no man despise the.


      The. iij. Chapter.

      WArne them that they submit themselves to ruele and power/ to obey the officers/ that they be prompt vnto all good workes/ that they speake evyll off no man/ that they be no fythers/ but softe/ shewynge all meknes vnto all men. For we oureselves also were in tymes past/ vnwyse/ disobedient/ deceaved/ in daunger to lustes/ and to divers manners off voluptusnes/ livynge in maliciousnes/ and envie/ full of hate hatynge one another.

      But after that the kyndnes and love of oure saveoure to man warde apered/ not of the dedes off rightewesnes which we wrought/ but off his mercie/ he saved vs/ by the fountayne of the newe birth/ and with the renuynge off the holy goost/ which he shed on vs aboundantly/ thorow Jesus Christ oure saveoure/ that we once iustified by his grace/ shulde be heyres off eternallly fe/ thorowe hope. This is a true sayinge.

      Off these thynges J wolde thou shuldest certifie/ that they which beleve God/ myght be stodious to go forwarde in goode workes. These thynges are goode and proffetable vnto men. Folisshe questions/ and genealogies/ and braulinges and stryfe aboute the lawe avoyde/ for they are vnproffetable/ and superfluus. A man that is the auctor off sectes/ after the fyrst and the seconde amonicion avoyde/ remembrynge that he that is soche/ is perverted/ and synneth/ even damned by his awne iudgement.

      When J shall sende Artemas vnto the or Tichicus be diligent to come to me vnto Nichopolis. For J have determined there to wynter. Brynge Zenas the lawear and Apollos on their iorney diligently/ that nothynge be lackynge vnto them. And let oures also learne to excell in goode | [Fo. cclxxxv] workes as far forth as nede requyreth/ that they be not vnfrutfull. All that are with me salute the. Grete them that love vs in the faythe. Grace be with you all/ Amen.

      Written from Nichopolis a citie of Macedonia.