If he teacheth well, it is ours, & we have that we came for, if he liveth well, it is his own, and he shall receive the reward. But let us hear what Chrysostom saith to this matter.1 If the priests live well saith he, it is their advantage, but if they teach well, it is yours. Be not curious to boul•e out that, which pertaineth unto another man. For oftentimes good learning cometh forth from an evil man, as vile earth bringeth forth precious gold. Is precious gold despised for the vile earth? Therefore as the gold is chosen, and the earth forsaken, so likewise take you the learning, & leave ⟨image 90⟩the manners. Again he saith, let us take the doctrine but not the man ners. Herbs are not necessary for the bees, but the flowers are. So you likewise gather the flowers of doctrine, and leave their fashions of living. Here this holy Doctor willeth us not to despise y• word, though the Preacher be evil. Let us take that is ours, and let go that is his. The doctrine is ours, y• life is his I had rather have a sincere preacher of Gods word, which shall declare Christ unto me purely, rebuke my sinful living, comfort me with the sweet promises of GOD, show me how I ought to institute my life according to y• will of god. &c although his manners be somewhat corrupt and dissent from his preaching, than to have a wicked Papist, a pestilent Pharisee & a superstitious Hypocrite, which shall outwardly ⟨p. lxxxix⟩like a crafty fox pretend a certain gravity, and a popeholy manner of living, and yet corrupt the holy scriptures, confound Gods word with mens traditions, lead the people into superstitious errors, flatter the hearers, preach for lucre, manckle the doctrine of Christ, & obscure the way of trueth. Of such Christ warneth us to take heed in the Gospel of Matthew,2 saying, Beware of false Prophets, which come unto you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolfs. Against these Christ in another place thundereth,3 saying, woe be to you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye are like painted sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of bones of dead men and of all filthiness. So ye likewise appear outwardly righteous to men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy ⟨image 91⟩and wickedness. Again, ye are they, that justify your selves before men,4 but God knoweth your hearts.
If he teachethe well, it is ours, & we haue that we came for, if he lyueth well, it is his owne, and he shal receaue the rewarde. But lette vs heare what Chrisostome sayth to thys matter.1 If the preste• lyue wel sayth he, it is theyr auauntage, but if they teache well, it is yours. Be not curioꝰ to boul•e out that, which pertayneth vnto another man. For oftentymes good learnyng comethe forthe from an euyll manne, as vyle earth bryngeth forth precious gold. Is precious golde despysed for the vile earth? Therfore as the golde is chosen, and the earth forsakē, so lykewyse take you the learnyng, & leaue ⟨image 90⟩the manners. Agayne he saythe, let vs take the doctrine but not the mā ners. Herbes are not necessary for the bees, but the floures are. So you lykewyse gather the floures of doctrine, and leaue theyr fashons of lyuyng. Here this holy Doctore wylleth vs not to despyse y• word, thoughe the Preacher be euell. Lette vs take that is oures, and let go that is hys. The doctrine is oures, y• lyfe is hys I had rather haue a syncer preacher of Gods worde, which shal declare Christ vnto me purely, rebuke my synful lyuyng, conforte me wyth the swete promises of GOD, shewe me howe I ought to institute my lyfe according to y• wyl of god. &c although hys māners be somewhat corrupte and dissent from his preachyng, thā to haue a wicked Papist, a pestilēt Pharese & a supersticious Hypocrite, whiche shall outwardely ⟨p. lxxxix⟩lyke a crafty foxe pretēd a certayne grauite, and a popeholy manner of lyuynge, and yet corrupte the holye scriptures, confounde Gods worde wyth mens tradicions, lede the people into supersticious errours, flatter the herers, preach for lucre, māckle the doctrine of Christ, & obscure the waye of trueth. Of suche Christ warneth vs to take hede in the Gospell of Mathew,2 sayeng, Beware of false Prophetes, whiche come vnto you in shepes clothyng, but inwardly they are rauening wolfes. Agenst these Christ in another place thondereth,3 sayeng, wo be to you Scribes and Phareses, hypocrites, for ye are lyke paynted sepulchres, which outwardly appere beautifull, but within are full of bones of dead men and of all fylthynes. So ye lykewyse appere outwardely ryghteous to mē, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisye
- 1In Math Cap. xxiii.
- 2Math. vi•
- 3Math. xxiii
- 4Luke. xvi. Psal. i.
