I do never read those words of Micheah, considering the avarice and rapacity of our false teachers and shepherds, 1who do feed themselves, not the Lords flock, but that me thinks I see before mine eyes that great 2and hideous Cerberus the dog and porter of Hell, with his three heads, which he hath for to devour, eat, and swallow up all that cometh unto him, if one do not cast a sop into his mouth, even as Aeneas and Sibyl did, according to Virgil's description, who hath set out his rage and unsatiable madness, speaking after this sort.
There Cerberus, infernal hound, with throats wide open three,3
Doth howl with barking noise, at Limbo mouth full huge to see.
Whose neck when Sibyl saw with startling snakes to swelling sixth,
A sop of bread with sleepy seeds and Honey sweet commixt.
Against his throat she threw, he gaping wide his threefold jaws,
All hungry caught that gub, & couching strait with stretched paws.
He bowed his boisterous back, and on the ground himself he spread,
Encumbering all the cave, and grovelling lay with slumbery head.
⟨p. 52⟩We have a great number of such dogs, who although 4they are mute for to preach the word of God, for to cry against the abuses, vices and offences, for to chase and drive away the Wolves from the fold & to defend the sheep, nevertheless are not mute, but great criers against the true servants of God who cease not to bark, bite & devour, except for to have them quiet, one do cast them some bone or sop in their mouth. Now think if that infernal monster & mad dog, who hath but three heads and one belly, be so hungry and insatiable, what ought we to esteem of so many Cerberus, and of so many gluttons who have so many heads & bellies, which are as the great golfs of the sea. It is not then without cause that y• prophets comparing such shepherds to those great mastiffs & dumb dogs, shameless idle knaves 5and insatiable, & unto Lyons & ravening Wolves who have eaten nothing until Evening, who do flay the skin, eat the flesh, afterwards do break the hones and cast them into the pot for to eat and devour them, and yet cannot be satisfied and filled. Wherefore I cannot believe but that Solomon by the spirit of GOD hath foreseen and spake of that generation, and that he minded to paint 6it out unto us, when he said:
I doe neuer read those wordes of Micheah, consideringe the auarice and rapacite of our false teachers and shepheards, 1who doe feede themselues, not the Lordes flocke, but that mée thinckes I sée before mine eyes that greate 2and hidious Cerberus the dogge and porter of Hell, with his thrée heades, whiche hée hath for to deuoure, eate, and swallowe vp all that commeth vnto hym, if one doe not cast a sop into his mouth, euen as Aeneas and Sibyle did, accordinge to Virgiles discription, who hathe sette out his rage and vnsatiable madnesse, speakinge after this sort.
There Cerberus, infernall hound, with throates vvide open three,3
Doth havvle vvith barking noise, at Lymbo mouth full huge to see.
Whose neck vvhen Sibly savve vvith startling snakes to swelling fixt,
A sop of bread vvith sleepy seedes and Honny sweete commixt.
Against his throat she threw, he gaping wide his threefolde iawes,
All hungry caught that gub, & couching straite with stretched paws.
He bowed his boistrous backe, and on the ground himselfe he spred,
Encombring all the caue, and groueling lay with slombry head.
⟨p. 52⟩We haue a great number of such dogs, who although 4they are mute for to preach the word of God, for to crye against the abuses, vices and offences, for to chase and driue away the Wolues from the folde & to defend the shéepe, neuerthelesse are not mute, but great cryers against the true seruaunts of God who cease not to barke, bite & deuoure, except for to haue them quiet, one do cast them some bone or sop in their mouth. Now thincke if that infernall monster & mad dog, who hath but thrée heads and one belly, be so hungry and insatiable, what ought we to estéeme of so many Cerberus, and of so many gluttons who haue so many heads & bellies, which are as the great goulfes of the sea. It is not then wtout cause that y• prophets comparing such shepherds to those great masties & dumme dogs, shamelesse idle knaues 5and insatiable, & vnto Lyons & rauening Wolues who haue eaten nothing vntil Euening, who do flay the skinne, eat the flesh, afterwards doe breake the hones and cast them into the pot for to eate and deuoure them, and yet cannot bée satisfied and filled. Wherefore I cannot beléeue but that Salomon by the spirite of GOD hath foreséene and spake of that generation, and that hée minded to paynte
- 1Shepherds feeding themselves.Shepheards feeding themselues.
- 2Bze. 34. 2. 2. Serberus the porter of hell.
- 3Vir Aene. 6.
- 4Dumb dogs and criers.Dūme dogs and cryers.
- 5Esa. 56. c. 11
- 6Prover. 30. b. 14.Prouer. 30. b. 14.
