No remedy ⟨image 3⟩then but the ministry of this time, if there be any love or fear of God in them, if they would not have all things run to ruin, if they regard either God, themselves, or their brethren, must forthwith without further delay set them selves to feed their flocks, to teach, to exhort, to strengthen, to bind up, to build, to plant, to water, to set, to graft, to leave nothing undone that appertaineth to the feeding & fating of the Lords flocks, to the planting of the Lords Paradise, tilling of the Lords husbandry, dressing of the Lords vineyard, raising and rearing up of the Lords Temple. What great want there is in many, to discharge their duties in this behalf, is very lamentable, and by some means (as much as is possible) to be supplied and remedied, rather than to be made a common theme and argument of railing, which at this day many do. Wherein they show them selves like unto those, which find fault at other mens garments, not for that they love them, or mind to give them better: but for that they are proud of their own, & would scornfully shame and vex other. The cause of this great want needs not here to be disputed: but in very deed, any man may judge how unpossible it was for so populous a kingdom, abounding with so many several congregations, to be all furnished with fit and able pastors, and that immediately after such a general corruption and apostasy from the trueth. For unless they should have suddenly come from heaven, or been raised up miraculously, they could not have been. For the ancient preachers of king Edward's time some of them died in prison, many perished by fire, many otherwise: many also fled into other countries, of whom some there died and a few returned, which were but as an handful to furnish this whole Realm. The Universities were also at the first so infected, that many wolfs and foxes crept out, who detested the ministry, and wrought the contempt of it every-where: but very few good shepherds came abroad. And whereas since that time, now eighteen years, the Universities being well purged, there was good hope that all the land should have been over-spread, and replenished with able and learned pastors: the devil and corrupt patrons have taken such order, that much of that hope is cut off.
No remedie ⟨image 3⟩then but the ministerie of this time, if there be any loue or feare of God in them, if they would not haue all things run to ruine, if they regard either God, themselues, or their brethrē, must forthwith without further delay set thē selues to feede their flocks, to teach, to exhorte, to strengthē, to binde vp, to builde, to plant, to water, to set, to graffe, to leaue nothing vndone that apperteineth to the feeding & fatting of the Lords flocks, to the plāting of the Lords Paradise, tilling of the Lords husbandrie, dressing of the Lords vineyarde, raising and rearing vp of the Lordes Temple. What great want there is in many, to discharge their dueties in this behalfe, is verie lamentable, and by some meanes (as muche as is possible) to be supplied and remedied, rather than to be made a common theame and argument of railing, whiche at this day many doe. Wherein they shewe them selues like vnto those, whiche finde faulte at other mens garmentes, not for that they loue them, or minde to giue thē better: but for that they are proude of their owne, & would scornefully shame and vexe other. The cause of this great want needs not heere to be disputed: but in verie deede, any man may iudge howe vnpossible it was for so populous a kingdome, abounding with so many seuerall congregations, to be all furnished with fitte and able pastors, and that immediatly after such a generall corruption and apostacie from the trueth. For vnlesse they should haue soudenly come from heauen, or been raysed vp miraculously, they coulde not haue been. For the auncient preachers of king Eduardes time some of them died in prison, many perished by fier, many otherwise: many also fled into other countries, of whom some there died and a few returned, which were but as an handful to furnish this whole Realme. The Ʋniuersities were also at the first so infected, that many wolfes and foxes crept out, who detested the ministerie, and wrought the contempt of it euerie-where: but verie fewe good sheapherdes came abroade. And whereas since that time, now eighteene yeares, the Vniuersities being wel purged, there was good hope that all the land should haue been ouer-spred, and replenished with able and learned pastors: the diuel and corrupt patrones haue taken suche order, that much of that hope is cutte off.
