Read the Bible

¹ Rebuke not an Elder, but intreate him as a father, and the yonger men as brethren: ² The elder women as mothers, the yonger as sisters with all puritie.

³ Honour widowes that are widowes indeed. ⁴ But if any widow haue children or nephewes, let them learne first to shew pietie at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. ⁵ Now she that is a widow in deed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. ⁶ But she that liueth in pleasure, is dead while she liueth. ⁷ And these things giue in charge, that they may be blamelesse. ⁸ But if any prouide not for his owne, & specially for those of his owne house, hee hath denied the faith, and is worse then an infidel. ⁹ Let not a widow bee taken into the number, vnder threescore yeeres old, hauing bene the wife of one man, ¹⁰ Well reported of for good works, if shee haue brought vp children, if shee haue lodged strangers, if she haue washed the Saints feet, if shee haue releeued the afflicted, if shee haue diligently followed euery good worke. ¹¹ But the yonger widowes refuse: for when they haue begunne to waxe wanton against Christ, they will marry, ¹² Hauing damnation, because they haue cast off their first faith. ¹³ And withall they learne to bee idle, wandering about from house to house; and not onely idle, but tatlers also, and busibodies, speaking things which they ought not. ¹⁴ I will therefore that the yonger women marry, beare children, guid the house, giue none occasion to the aduersary to speake reprochfully. ¹⁵ For some are already turned aside after Satan. ¹⁶ If any man or woman that beleeueth haue widowes, let them relieue them, and let not the Church be charged, that it may relieue them that are widowes indeed.

¹⁷ Let the Elders that rule well, be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. ¹⁸ For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not mousell the oxe that treadeth out the corne: and, The labourer is worthy of his reward. ¹⁹ Against an Elder receiue not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. ²⁰ Them that sinne rebuke before all, that others also may feare. ²¹ I charge thee before God, and the Lord Iesus Christ, and the elect Angels, that thou obserue these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partialitie. ²² Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither bee partaker of other mens sinnes. Keepe thy selfe pure. ²³ Drinke no longer water, but vse a little wine for thy stomackes sake, and thine often infirmities. ²⁴ Some mens sinnes are open before hand, going before to iudgement: and some men they follow after. ²⁵ Likewise also the good works of some are manifest before hand, and they that are otherwise, cannot be hid.