The Book of Common Order, commonly called John Knox's Liturgy

EBISTIL
ghalta ar dhath egfamhail oile dochur
impe da cumhdach don taobh amuigli,
ar anadhbhar go bfuil fi lochtach don
taobh afloigh, & gebe da dtug Dia, do
thidhlocadh, bheith eolach agceart cha
namhna fgribhaidh, & deachtaidh, &
labhartha na gaoidheilge, is mo ata dfia
chaibh air an tiodhlucadh fin fuair fe
6 Dhia, do chaitheamh re cumhdacli,
& re comhmoradh na firinde ata, a Soifgel
De, ina a caitheamh re cumhdach
breige, no egora, no feachrain anadha-
idh an Tfoifgeilfm, An tadhbhar prind-
fibalta do bhrofnaidh mhe, do chum an
tfaothairfe do dhe'namh .i. gradh De ar
tiis, & ar eagla go naigeoradh fe oram
antalenta .i. an tidhlucadh tug fe' dhamh
do chur ar dimbuil, agas gnidh Eagluife
De, agas do dhenamh cuidighe lenibra-
ithribh Criofdaidhe, ata abfeidhm thea
gaifg, agas chomhfhurtachta, agas ar ab-
fuil dith leabhar, & maille ris na hadhbharaibhfm,
do bhrofnaidh gomdr mhe
med mo dhochais as do dhaingnefi,
agas as do bhuaine, fa flighe dhiadha do
ghlacais as toige, agas as tanfhoirfeacht
EPIST.LE
quires some other remarkable colour to be given it as a cover from
without, inasmuch as it is corrupt vi-ithin ; and to whomsoever God
gave knowledge to write the language and to compose well, and to
speak in Gaelic, so much the greater is his obligation to use this gift
given him of God to defend and to build up the truth which is in the
gospel of God, rather than to use it for defending a lie, or wickedness,
or departing from that gospel. The principal reason which
moved me to undertake this work was, viz., the love of God first,
and fear lest he might demand of me the talent, viz., to abuse the
gift he had bestowed on me, and love to the Church of God, and to
help the Christian brethren who have need of teaching and of comfort,
and who have no books ; and along with these reasons I was
much moved by my hope in your firmness and consistency in the divine
way which you chose from your youth and from the days of your im-