Sermons upon Deuteronomy

The second manner of keeping was in good life, by showing example and by being zealous to hold the people still in order when they saw them start aside, as we know that the world is over frail, yea and that we be so inclined to naughtiness and vice, that it is a great matter to us if we be not utterly dissolute. Therefore it stood the children of Levy in hand to employ themselves thereabouts. And here we see, first that God meant not to make idols in his Church, when he ordained Shepherds and other men to have some oversight and authority there. And if it were so in the time of the Law; much more ought it to be so at this day. For (as we shall see again anon) the Priests had the Ceremonies and many like things, so as they were sufficiently occupied about them, although they had not meddled at all with teaching. But nowadays all those things are ceased, and there remaineth no more buy the preaching of the Gospel, and the ministering of the sacraments, which are but few in number, and have not so much ado as was under the figures of old time. That is the cause why I said, that if the Priests which were before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ were bound to be Gods messengers in preaching his word and in giving good instruction to the people, or else they were after a sort degraded from their office: what shall become of it nowadays, when such as are ordained shepherds in the Church, have none other charge but to teach folk publicly and privately, and therewithal to minister the sacraments? Seeing it is so, then is there no excuse for such as say they have any charge or spiritual government in the Church, if therewithal they have not the doctrine in their mouth. Whereby it is apparent, that in the Popedom there is nothing but confused disorder, and that all those which nowadays do name themselves Bishops and Prelates, are but scarebugs set up by the devil to blear the eyes of the ignorant, and are folks unworthy to be counted of the flock, forasmuch as they have perverted Gods order, and made such a bottomless pit, that a man cannot discern any remnant of that which our Lord Jesus Christ had ordained among the faithful.

The seconde manner of keeping was in good life, by shewing example and by being zelous to holde the people still in order when they sawe them start aside, as we knowe that the worlde is ouer fraile, yea and that we be so inclined to naughtinesse and vice, that it is a great matter to vs if we be not vtterly dissolute. Therefore it stoode the children of Leuie in hande to imploy themselues thereabouts. And here we see, first that God meant not to make ydols in his Church, when he ordeined Shepherds and other men to haue some ouersight and authoritie there. And if it were so in the time of the Lawe; much more ought it to bee so at this day. For (as wee shall see againe anon) the Priestes had the Ceremonies and manie like thinges, so as they were sufficiently occupied about them, although they had not medled at all with teaching. But nowadays al those things are ceased, and there remaineth no more buy ye preaching of the Gospel, and the ministring of the sacraments, which are but feaw in number, and haue not so much adoe as was vnder the figures of old time. That is the cause why I said, that if the Priestes which were before the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ were bound to be Gods messengers in preaching his word and in giuing good instruction to the people, or else they were after a sort disgraded from their office: what shall become of it nowadayes, when such as are ordained shepherds in the Church, haue none other charge but to teach folke publikely and priuately, and therewithall to minister the sacraments? Seeing it is so, then is there no excuse for such as say they haue any charge or spirituall gouernement in the Church, if therewithall they haue not the doctrin in their mouth. Wherby it is apparāt, that in the Popedome there is nothing but confused disorder, and that all those which nowadayes doe name themselues Bishops and Prelates, are but scarebugs set vp by the diuell to bleare the eyes of the ignorant, and are folkes vnworthy to bee counted of ye flock, forasmuch as they haue peruerted Gods order, and made such a bottomles pit, that a man cannot discerne any remnant of that which our Lord Iesus Christ had ordained among the faithfull.