Theophilus. You never saw a man that delighteth less 1to speak evil and backbite, and to hear evil speaking and tales: But truth constraineth me, and you ought to understand, that to speak truth for the health of ones neighbour, is not to speak evil, backbite, and slander any man. Would to God I could speak as much good of them, as of the Apostles. For I do love better to praise their virtue, charity and mercy, then to despise their vices, cruelty, avarice, and rapacity. But what will you that I speak? If I do see a poor man, who is wandering alone in a forrest, or wood full of thieves, am not I bound to give him warning of the danger he is like to fall in?
If I say nothing unto him, am not I guilty of his death sith that I knew the danger: And if I encourage him to enter, and tell him that there is no danger, am not I then more culpable and worthy to be taken for a murderer of my poor brother? But if I do admonish him of the dangers and of the thieves. Do I wrong unto the thieves in calling them by their name? Should I do better and according to Gods commandment to call them good people for to save their honour, and that I should put my brother into their hands to have them to cut his throat?
What goodness can I find in those, who from the greatest 2to y• least are all excommunicated & judged Simoniacs and Heretics, unworthy of all Ecclesiastical honour and ⟨image 60⟩office? not only by the authority of the holy Scriptures, 3but also by their own councils, decrees, and Canons.
For how many Councils, Decrees and Canons be there that do forbid to demand and take, gifts, rewards, presents, hire or silver, nor any thing whatsoever it be, for cream, baptism, orders, laying on of hands: for y• earth, nor Sepulture, neither for Sacraments nor whatsoever office is in the Church, under pain of excommunication, and to be holden and reputed Simoniacs, Heretics, and Sacriledgers, and deprived and deposed from their offices and honours? and not only they that receive the money, but also those who do give it for such things.
Theophilus. You neuer sawe a man that delyteth lesse 1to speake euill and backebite, and to heare euill speakinge and tales: But truth constrayneth mee, and you oughte to vnderstande, that to speake truth for the health of ones neighbour, is not to speake euill, backebite, and slaunder any man. Would to God I coulde speake as much good of them, as of the Apostles. For I doe loue better to praise their vertue, charitie and mercy, then to dispise their vices, crueltie, auarice, and rapacitie. But what will you that I speake? If I doe sée a poore man, who is wandring alone in a forrest, or woode full of théeues, am not I bounde to giue him warning of the daunger he is lyke to fall in?
If I say nothing vnto him, am not I guyltie of his death sith that I knew the daunger: And if I encourage him to enter, and tell him that there is no daunger, am not I then more culpable and worthy to be taken for a murtherer of my poore brother? But if I doe admonish him of the daungers and of the théeues. Doe I wrong vnto the theenes in callyng them by their name? Shoulde I doe better and according to Gods commaundemet to call them good people for to saue their honour, and that I should put my brother into their handes to haue them to cutte his throate?
What goodnesse can I finde in those, who from the greatest 2to y• least are al excommunicated & iudged Simoniacks and Heretickes, vnworthy of all Ecclesiasticall honour and ⟨image 60⟩office? not onely by the authoritie of the holy Scriptures, 3but also by their owne councells, decrées, and Canons.
For how many Councells, Decrées and Canons be there that doe forbid to demaunde and take, giftes, rewardes, presents, hire or siluer, nor any thing whatsoeuer it bée, for creame, baptisme, orders, laying on of hands: for y• earth, nor Sepulture, neyther for Sacraments nor whatsoeuer office is in the Church, vnder payne of excommunication, and to be holden and reputed Simoniackes, Heretickes, and Sacriledgers, and depriued and deposed from theire offices and honours? and not onely they that receiue the money, but also those who doe giue it for such things.
- 1The difference between to speak […] evil and to speak truth.The difference betvveene to speake 〈…〉 euill and to speake truth.
- 2All Papistical Priests excommunicated,All Papisticall Priestes excō municated,
- 3To take money for y• sacraments & ec•lcsiastical offices Gela. Papa. l. quae […] Baptiz ••dis Item Ca••st […] Grego. Nazianze c 1. 3 Q•i stude: Ambr. de my•te ca. cum ordina••ntur Item can Q•busdam & pueriTo take money for y• sacramēts & ec•lcsiastical offices Gela. Papa. l. quae 〈…〉 Baptiz ••dis Item Ca••st 〈…〉 Grego. Naziāze c 1. 3 Q•i stude: Ambr. de my•te ca. cum ordina••ntur Item can Q•busdam & pueri
