First for knowledge: As wham a simple man or woman that hath herd little or no preaching of God's word,1 by reason whereof they have almost no knowledge of God or his commandments, neither of the profession of baptism, neither of faith, neither have they in a manner any knowledge at all of the way of salvation by Christs death. Is it not needful (think you) for such ignorant persons to hunt & seek out some discrete & learned minister of God's word, & to knowledge unto him their great ignorance, & to require at his mouth the knowledge of the law of the Lord & of the way of salvation?2 Is it not written, that the ⟨p. 75⟩priests lips should be sure of knowledge, that men may seek the law at his mouth, for he is a messenger of the Lord of hosts? It is mete therefore ye priests should have good knowledge in God's holy word, for they are appointed to be shepherds over the flock of Christ, to feed the souls of God's people with the delicate food of God's word, & specially with that holy bread of life Christ Jesus, that cane down from heaven to save all his people from their since. But alas for pity, the spiritual shepherds into many places of the world & specially in England are very rude, unlearned & unable to teach other men, because they themselves lack the knowledge & right understanding of the holy scriptures. For how should they teach other being unlearned their selves? Doubtless it hath been herd of in not a few places of England,3 that the parishioner hath ben better learned in holy scripture than the parson or vicar, which thing is much to be lamented. Is it not a great shame, yea is it not utterly against nature; that the sheep should be wiser and better learned than the shepherd. But no men are so much in this behalf to be blamed, as ⟨p. 76⟩the Babilonical bishops, partly for admitting such doltish dodipoles to the office of priesthood: and partly for the instituting to fat benefices and to the cure and charge of christen souls so many unlearned idiots, which neither can nor will feed them with the spiritual food of God's word. Our Lord redress this matter. Amen.
Fyrst for knowlege: As whā a simple man or womā that hath herd lytle or no preachynge of Goddes word,1 by reason wherof they haue almoste no knowlege of God or hys cōmaundementes, neither of the professiō of baptime, neither of fayth, neither haue they in a maner any knowlege at al of the waye of saluacion by Christes death. Is it not nedeful (thinke you) for such ignoraūt ꝑsones to hunt & seke out some discrete & learned minister of goddes word, & to knowlege vnto hym theyr great ignoraūce, & to requyre at hys mouth ye knowlege of the lawe of the Lorde & of the waye of saluacion?2 Is it not wrytten, that the ⟨p. 75⟩prestes lyppes shuld be sure of knowlege, that men maye seke the lawe at hys mouthe, for he is a messenger of the Lorde of hoostes? It is mete therfore ye prestes shulde haue good knowlege in goddes holy worde, for they ar appointed to be shepeherdes ouer the flocke of Christe, to fede the soules of goddes people with ye delicate fode of goddes word, & specially with that holy breade of lyfe Christe Iesu, that cāe downe frō heauē to saue al his people frō their synnes. But alasse for pitie, the spirituall shepherdes into many places of the worlde & specially in England are very rude, vnlearned & vnable to teache other mē, because they thēselues lacke the knowlege & ryght vnderstādyng of the holy scriptures. For howe shulde they teach other beynge vnlearned their selues? Doutlesse it hath bene herd of in not a few places of England,3 that the parishoner hath bē better lerned in holy scripture than ye parson or vicare, whych thing is muche to be lamented. Is it not a great shame, yea is it not vtterly against nature; that the shepe shuld be wyser and better learned than the shepeherde. But no men are so much in this bebalfe to be blamed, as ⟨p. 76⟩the Babilonical byshoppes, partly for admittyng suche doltysh dodipoles to the office of presthed: and partlye for the institutynge to fat benefyces and to the cure and charge of christen soules so many vnlearned idiotes, which nother cā nor wyl fede them with the spiritual foode of Goddes word. Our Lorde redresse thys matter. Amen.
- 1For knowledge.
- 2Malac. 2.
- 3It is very strange that the sheep should have more wit & learning than the shepherd.It is very straunge that the shepe shuld haue more witte & learninge than the shepperd.
