S. Austen also saith,1 consider that it is the office of priests, when they be demanded of y• law, to answer. If he be a Priest, let him know the law of the Lord, if he knoweth not the law of the Lord, he declare the evidently that is he is no priest. For it pertaineth unto the Lords priest to know the law, and when he is asked, to make answer of the law. Lord be merciful unto us, what will a great number of our priests say to these words of S. Austen? I fear much, that if he were not so ancient a Doctor, and a saint all ready approved by the Church, surely many priests for madness would nothing fear to accuse him of here•y, and to affirm that he preacheth heretical doctrine, so jeopardous a thing at this time is it to speak against these ignorant Rabbins, which although they know nothing, yet will they ⟨p. lxxx⟩be Judges over all men, and ready straightways to condemn them. It is not the long robe, the flaring tippet about the neck, the anointing of the fingers, the broad shaving of the crown, that make the the Priest, but knowledge and con•ynge in the law of the Lord, and so called unto priesthood. The Prophet Malachi saith, the lips of a Priest keep knowledge,2 and at his mouth shall they require the law, for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts.3 So saith S. Austen here that Priests ought to be so well learned in the holy scriptures, that wham any man demandeth a question of them concerning the law of God, they should be able to answer. If he be a priest, saith he, let him know the law of the Lord. If he knoweth not the law of the Lord, he declareth evidently, that he is no priest. ⟨image 82⟩S. Austen here affirmeth,4 that he only is a priest, which hath knowledge in the law of the Lord. If there want the knowledge, it is an evident argument, saith he, y• there is no Priest. It is happy that saint Austen is gone and a saint. For if he were now alive & a Bishop again, as he was in times paste, and should go on visitation through out the diocese, I think surely he would depose a great sort of Priests, as men more fit for the cart than for the church. For S. Austen measureth all priesthood by knowledge. It pertaineth unto the Lords Priest, saith he, to know the law, and when he is demanded, to make answer of y• law.
S. Austen also sayth,1 cōsyder that it is the office of prestes, whan they be demaunded of y• lawe, to answer. If he be a Preste, let hym knowe the lawe of the Lord, if he knoweth not the lawe of the Lorde, he declare the euidently that is he is no preste. For it pertayneth vnto ye Lordes preste to know the law, and whan he is asked, to make answer of ye lawe. Lord be mercifull vnto vs, what wyll a great nomber of our prestes saye to these wordes of S. Austen? I feare moche, that if he were not so aūcient a Doctore, and a sayncte all redy approued by the Chyrche, surely many prestes for madnes wolde nothynge feare to accuse hym of here•y, and to affirme that he preacheth hereticall doctrine, so iopardous a thynge at this tyme is it to speake agēst these ignorant Rabines, which although they knowe nothyng, yet wyll they ⟨p. lxxx⟩be Iudges ouer all menne, and redy streyghtewayes to condemne them. It is not the long robe, the flaryng typpet about the necke, the annoyntynge of the fyngers, the brode shauynge of the crowne, that make the the Preste, but knowledge and con•ynge in the lawe of the Lorde, and so called vnto prestehode. The Prophet Malachy sayth, the lyppes of a Preste kepe knowledge,2 and at hys mouthe shall they require the lawe, for he is the messanger of the Lorde of Hoostes.3 So sayth S. Austē here that Prestes ought to be so wel learned in the holy scriptures, that whā ony man demaundeth a question of them concernyng the lawe of God, they shulde be able to answer. If he be a preste, saythe he, let hym knowe the lawe of the Lord. If he knoweth not the lawe of the Lorde, he declareth euidently, that he is no preste. ⟨image 82⟩S. Austen here affyrmethe,4 that he only is a preste, whyche hath knowledge in the lawe of the Lorde. If there wante the knowledge, it is an euident argument, sayth he, y• there is no Preste. It is happy that saynt Austē is gone and a sayncte. For if he were now alyue & a Byshop agayne, as he was in times paste, and shulde go on visitacion thorow out the dioces, I thynke surely he wold depose a great sorte of Prestes, as mē more fytte for ye carte than for the chyrch. For S. Austen measureth all presthode by knowledge. It pertaynethe vnto the Lordes Preste, sayth he, to knowe the lawe, and whan he is demaunded, to make answer of y law.
- 1In Aggeū ProphetāIn Aggeū Prophetā
- 2Ma•ac. ii
- 3Priests ought to be learned in y• law of godPrestes oughte to be learned in y• law of god
- 4Who is a priest after S. Au•••• mindWho is a preste aft•r S. Au•••• mind
