Monks, ye say, be God's Servants: and Monks life is the Service of God. And herein ye use such earnest talk, 1as though, if the whole generation of Monks were removed, God should sit without Service. In deed S. Augustine showing us, 2what good Service the Monks of his time did unto God, 3saith thus: Isti non Deo seruiunt, sed suo ventri: These Monks serve not God: they serve their bellies. Again he saith, lactantia •ò est periculosior, quò sub nomine •eruitutis Dei decipit: Hypocrisie, or vaunting of Holiness is the more dangerous, for that it deceiveth us under the name of God's Service. Again he saith, Fallit dolosa imagine Sanctitatis: It deceiveth us by the deceitful countenance, or Image of Holinesse• Again, touching these Monks, he saith, Non apparet, utrùm ex proposito Seruitutis Dei venerint, an vitā inopem, & laboriosam fugientes, vacui pascì, & vestirl voluerint: We cannot tell, whether they became Monks for purpose to serve God, or else being ⟨p. 509⟩weary of their poor, 4and painful Life, were rather desirous to be fed, and clothed doing nothing. And therefore he calleth the Alms, that they get, Sumptus lucrosae egestatis:5 & Simulatae pretium Sanctitatis: The charges of gainful poverty: and the price of feigned Holiness. Again he saith, Venalem circumferunt Hypocrisim: They carry their Hypocrisy about to sale.
Monkes, ye saie, be Goddes Seruantes: and Monkes life is the Seruice of God. And herein ye vse sutche earnest talke, 1as though, if the whole generation of Monkes were remoued, God should sit without Seruice. In deede S. Augustine shewinge vs, 2what good Seruice the Monkes of his time did vnto God, 3saithe thus: Isti non Deo seruiunt, sed suo ventri: These Monkes serue not God: they serue their bellies. Againe he saithe, lactantia •ò est periculosior, quò sub nomine •eruitutis Dei decipit: Hypocrisie, or vountinge of Holinesse is the more dangerous, for that it deceiueth vs vnder the name of Goddes Seruice. Againe he saithe, Fallit dolosa imagine Sanctitatis: It deceiueth vs by the deceiteful countenance, or Image of Holinesse• Againe, touchinge these Monkes, he saith, Non apparet, vtrùm ex proposito Seruitutis Dei venerint, an vitā inopem, & laboriosam fugientes, vacui pascì, & vestirl voluerint: Wee cannot tel, whether they became Monkes for pourpose to serue God, or els beinge ⟨p. 509⟩weary of their poore, 4and paineful Life, were rather desirous to be feadde, and clothed dooinge nothinge. And therefore he calleth the Almouse, that thei geatte, Sumptus lucrosae egestatis:5 & Simulatae pretium Sanctitatis: The charges of gaineful pouertie: and the price of feined Holinesse. Againe he saithe, Venalem circumferunt Hypocrisim: They carrie their Hypocrisie aboute to sale.
- 1August. De Opere Monachor. Ca. 12.
- 2August. De Sermone Domi. in Monte.
- 3Eodem loco. Augustin. De Opere Monachor. Ca 22.
- 4Monks. Goddes Service.Monkes. Goddes Seruice.
- 5Augustin. De Opere Mona•hor. Ca. 28.
