There be two trades in this Land, without which the Realm cannot stand; and one is the Queens soldiers, and the other is the Lords soldiers, and the Lords soldiers are handled like the Queens soldiers, for from the Merchant to the porter, no calling is so despised, so contemned, so derided, that they may beg for their service; for their living is turned into an alms. One saith, that Moses is Quis, that is, the Magistrate is some body: but Aaron is Quasi quis, that is, the Minister is no body, because no body is despised like him. Receive a Prophet in the name of a Prophet: nay, Receive a Prophet ⟨p. 305⟩in the name of an enemy, as Ahab received Elijah;1 Art thou here mine enemy? If Paul had lived in our days he would not have said, Despise not the Prophets, but persecute not the Prophets, for he should have seen not only despisers of the Prophets, but mockers of them, not only mockers, but slanderers of them, not only slanderers, but hunters and biters,2 and smiters of them. Joseph was troubled so soon as he began to feed his Fathers sheep, so the Pastors are troubled so soon as they begin to feed their fathers sheep, every man thinks to find friends against them, and though there be no law to hurt them, yet no man fears to accuse them, because authority doth disfavour them, they cannot tell how to preach, nor what to say, because there be so many Ahabs which would have them say that which pleaseth them,3 though it be not true. Charm the charmer never so sweetly, let his song be never so pleasant, yet many adders are ready to stop their ears, & stop his mouth, like a bird which was smitten in her song, of the Archer whom she singeth unto,4 even as Saul let his spear fly at David, while he played upon his harp to solace and comfort▪ and drive the evil spirit from him: so while we play upon Davids harp to solace and comfort, & drive ⟨p. 306⟩the evil spirit from you, many let the darts of reproach, and the arrows of slander fly at us;5 saying, as the woman said to Elijah, If thou hadst not been, my child had not dyed: If we had not been, their peace had not dyed; if we had not been, their sports had not dyed; if we had not been, their customs, and their titles, and their honours had not dyed. And why should not Herod and Archelaus dye,6 which sought the death of the child?
There be two trades in this Land, without which the Realme cannot stand; and one is the Queenes souldiers, and the other is the Lordes souldiers, and the Lords souldiers are handled like the Queenes souldiers, for from the Merchant to the porter, no calling is so despised, so contemned, so derided, that they may beg for their seruice; for their liuing is turned into an almes. One saith, that Moses is Quis, that is, the Magistrate is some bodie: but Aaron is Quasi quis, that is, the Minister is no bodie, because no bodie is despised lyke him. Receiue a Prophete in the name of a Prophet: naye, Receiue a Prophet ⟨p. 305⟩in the name of an enemie, as Ahab receiued Elias;1 Art thou here mine enemie? If Paule had liued in our dayes he would not haue said, Despise not the Prophets, but persecute not the Prophets, for he should haue seen not onely despisers of the Prophets, but mockers of them, not onely mockers, but slanderers of them, not onely slanderers, but hunters and biters,2 and smiters of them. Ioseph was troubled so soone as hee began to feed his Fathers sheepe, so the Pastours are troubled so soone as they beginne to feede their fathers sheepe, euerie man thinkes to finde friends against them, and though there be no lawe to hurt them, yet no man feares to accuse them, because authoritie doth disfauour them, they cannot tell how to preach, nor what to say, because there bee so manie Ahabs which woulde haue them say that which pleaseth them,3 though it be not true. Charme the charmer neuer so sweetely, let his song be neuer so pleasant, yet many adders are readie to stop their eares, & stop his mouth, like a bird which was smitten in her song, of the Archer whom she singeth vnto,4 euen as Saul let his speare flie at Dauid, while he played vpon his harpe to solace and comfort▪ and driue the euill spirite from him: so while we play vpon Dauids harpe to solace and comfort, & driue ⟨p. 306⟩the euill spirite from you, many let the dartes of reproach, and the arrowes of slaunder flie at vs;5 saying, as the woman said to Eliah, If thou hadst not beene, my childe had not dyed: If wee had not bene, their peace had not dyed; if we had not bene, their sports had not dyed; if wee had not bene, their customes, and their titles, and their honors had not dyed. And why should not Herode and Archelaus dye,
- 11. King. 21. 20.
- 2Gen. 37 4.
- 31. Kin. 22. 13
- 41. Sa. 19. 20
- 51. King. 17. 18.
- 6Mat. 2. 15.
