Certain sermons preached before the Queens Majesty, and at Pauls crossCertaine sermons preached before the Queenes Maiestie, and at Paules crosse

Have patience, if any such be here, as I well know there are, whom these things touch. Suffer me to speak the truth, it is Gods cause. The livings of such as are in the ministry, are not in their hands, to whom they are due. Al other labourers and artificers have their hire increased double, as much as it was wont to be: Only the poor man that laboureth, & sweateth in the vineyard of the Lord of hosts, hath his hire abridged & abated. I speak not of the Curates, but of Personages & Vicarages, that is, of the places which are the castles & towers of fence for the Lords temple. They seldom pass now a days from the patron, if he be no better then a gentleman, but either for the lease or for present money. Such merchants are broken into y• church of God, a great deal more intolerable than were they whom Christ chased & whipped out of y• temple. Thus they y• should be careful for Gods church, that should be patrons, to provide for y• consciences of the people, & to place among them a learned ⟨image 74⟩Minister, who might be able to preach y• word unto them out of season, & in season, & to fulfil his ministry: seek their own, & not y• which is Jesus Christs. They serve not Jesus Christ, but their belly. And this is done, not in one place, or in one country, but throughout England. A gentleman cannot keep his house, unless he have a Parsonage or two in farm for his provision.

Haue patience, if any such be here, as I well know there are, whom these things touch. Suffer me to speake the truth, it is Gods cause. The liuings of such as are in the ministery, are not in their handes, to whom they are due. Al other labourers and artificers haue their hire increased double, as much as it was wont to be: Onely the poore man that laboureth, & sweateth in the vineyard of the Lorde of hostes, hath his hire abridged & abated. I speak not of the Curats, but of Personages & Uicarages, that is, of the places which are the castles & towers of fence for the Lordes temple. They seldome passe now a dayes from the patrone, if he be no better then a gentleman, but either for the lease or for present money. Such marchāts are brokē into y church of God, a great deale more intolerable thē were they whō Christ chased & whipt out of y tēple. Thus they y should be careful for Gods church, that should be patrones, to prouide for y consciē ces of the people, & to place amōg thē a learned