Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Furthermore whereas it is said that God blessed the substance of Levy, & accepted the work of his hands, and that he breaketh the backbones of all them that set themselves against him: thereby Moses doth us to understand that we have need to pray our Lord Jesus Christ to maintain those whom he hath chosen and shouled out to preach his §30word. For all Satan's seeking is to pluck up all the seed, as we see is come to pass. For the devil hath found out subtle shifts to make many sorts of shepherds, Churchmen, and Clergymen. We know that the number of the Popish Clergy is infinite. There are such a sort of offices, and so many liveries of men of the Church as they term them, that a man cannot tell at what point to be. If a man should reckon up the orders of Friars, he should be at his §40wits end, there is such a rabble of them as would amaze a man. Ye shall see their grey Fryers, white Friars, black Friars, and Friars of all sorts. Again there is such a huge heap of states and offices in the Popedom: as Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Archdeacons, Deans, and other inferior offices; as would make a man to wonder. Besides this, there are a sort of Sacraments, to deceive men the better, and to give a pomp and majesty to all their §50gewgaws, which are but slights to serve Satan withal. For they be all illusions framed in his workhouse. And of all this rout there is not so much as any one tail that doth his duty in teaching Gods word. We see then how Satan's wiliness is such, that he will bring in masking toys enow, and juggling-tricks enow to hold still the world in error and superstition, under pretence that they may say, we have prelates, we have men §60of the Church, we have Clergymen. And in the mean while the things which our Lord Jesus Christ ordained are abolished.

Furthermore whereas it is saide that God blessed the substance of Leuie, & accepted the worke of his handes, and that hee breaketh the backebones of all thē that set thēselues against him: therby Moses doth vs to vnderstande that wee haue neede to pray our Lord Iesus Christ to maintaine those whom hee hath chosen and shouled out to preach his §30worde. For all Satans seeking is to plucke vp all the seede, as wee see is come to passe. For the diuell hath founde out suttle shifts to make many sorts of shepeherds, Churchmen, and Clergimen. Wee knowe that the number of the Popish Clergie is infinite. There are such a sort of offices, and so many liueries of men of the Church as they terme them, that a man cannot tell at what point to bee. If a man should recken vp the orders of Friers, hee shoulde bee at his