¶ All menne are bounde to kepe the Morall cōmaundemētes of the Law.
The Moral Law Remains Binding
The moral commandments of the law given through Moses still obligate all Christians, even though the ceremonial and civil precepts are not binding; those who claim the Spirit teaches contrary to Scripture are to be rejected.
The law that God gave through Moses, although it doesn't bind Christian people as far as its ceremonies and rites are concerned—nor is it required that its civil precepts and ordinances must of necessity be adopted in any commonwealth—still leaves no one, however perfect a Christian he may be, exempt or free from obedience to those commandments that are called moral.1 So they are not to be heeded who claim that holy Scripture is given only to the weak, and who continually boast of the Spirit from whom, they say, they have learned the things they teach—even though those things are most clearly contrary to holy Scripture.23
Read the original English
THe law, which was geuē of god by Moses, althoughe it binde not christian men, as concerning the ceremonies, and Rites of the same: Neyther is it required, that the ciuile Precepts and ordres of it, shoulde of necessity be receiued in anye common we ale: yet no manne (be he neuer so perfecte a christian) is exempte and loose from the Obedience of those commaundementes, which are called Moral. Wherfore they are not to be harke ned vnto, who affirm that holy Scripture is geuen onlye to the weake: and doo… boaste them selfes continually of the spirit, of whom (they say) they haue learned such thyngs as they teache, although the same be most euidentlye repugnante to the holye Scripture.
Notes
John Ponet's Short Catechisme (1553) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit