And herein we see what we ought too deem of such as pretend too preach Gods word in these days, and in the mean while are so fearful, that they dare not open their mouth, until they have well bethought them, whether the things that they intend too speak, may offend or delight the ears of him and of her. What a sort see we in the Popedom which row between two streams, and would fain have it known, that they be such as would fain have leave too preach purely? But yet for all that, they do so bepaint the doctrine which they utter: as they play the crafty merchants, and there is nothing but falsehood in them, according also as Saint Paul useth the same similitude,1 in speaking of such as abused Gods word too purchase the favour of the world, and too maintain it. Now the saying of such men is, that they must strike sail, hold with the hare, and hunt with the hound, eschew occasion of stumbling blocks, and that it is not for a man too strive against the stream. As who should say, they be much wiser than God, •ho speaking by Saint Paul, telleth us, that Jesus Christ must be preached throughly, and men must ⟨image 361⟩not go about too bury him any more: for seeing he is risen unto glory, he will have the voice of his Gospel ring loud and shrill, without any dissimulation, as I said afore. Moreover, even where there is no persecution of sword nor fire, the world sees that they which name themselves ministers of the Gospel, would fain curry favel in such wise, as there should be no shift but our Lord Jesus Christ must stoop, and writhe his truth too and fro at mens pleasures. Now adays when the preachers perceive, that it is no pleasant thing for them too put men under the yoke of our Lord Jesus Christ: what, say they? Shall we offend great men, and such as are in authority over us? Should we not rather win them by gentleness? Yes, but they be wild beasts dossing with their horns against our Lord Jesus Christ, and cannot abide that there should be any discipline in the Church: and yet for all that, men must preach still too their liking. What a traitorousness and villainy were that? Yet notwithstanding, a man need not go far too find such preachers of the Gospel, that is too say, of lewd choppers and changers, which turn all topsyturvy, knowing not what their duty is.
And heerin wee see what wee ought too deeme of such as pretend too preache Gods woord in these dayes, and in the meane whyle are so fearefull, that they dare not open their mouth, vntill they haue well bethought them, whether the things that they intend too speake, may offend or delyght the eares of him and of hir. What a sort see wee in the Popedome which rowe betweene two streames, and would fayne haue it knowen, that they bee such as would fayne haue leaue too preache purely? But yit for all that, they doo so beepeynt the doctrine which they vtter: as they play the craftie merchantes, and there is nothing but falshood in them, according also as Saint Paule vseth the same similitude,1 in speaking of such as abused Gods woord too purchace the fauour of the world, and too maynteyne it. Now the saying of such men is, that they must stryke sayle, hold with the hare, and hunt with the hound, eschew occasiō of stumbling blocks, and that it is not for a man too stryue ageinst the streame. As who should say, they bee much wyzer than God, •ho speaking by Saint Paule, telleth vs, that Iesus Cerist must bee preached throughly, and men must ⟨image 361⟩not go about too bury him any more: for seeing he is rizen vntoo glorie, he will haue the voyce of his Gospell ring loud and shirle, without any dissimulation, as I sayd afore. Moreouer, euen where there is no persecutiō of sword nor fyre, the world sees that they which name themselues ministers of the Gospell, would fayne currye fauell in such wyse, as there should bee no shift but our Lord Iesus Christ must stoope, and wrythe his truthe too and fro at mennes pleasures. Now adayes when the preachers perceyue, that it is no pleasant thing for them too put men vnder the yoke of our Lord Iesus Christ: what, say they? Shall wee offend greate men, and such as are in authoritie ouer vs? Should wee not rather win them by gentlenesse? Yis, but they bee wyld beasts dossing with their hornes ageinst our Lord Iesus Christ, and cannot abyde that there should bee any disciplyne in the Church: and yit for all that, men must preache still too their lyking. What a trayterousnesse and villanie were that? Yit notwithstanding, a man neede not go farre too fynd such preachers of the Gospell, that is too say, of leaud choppers and chaungers, which turne all topsiteruie, knowing not what their dewtie is.
- 12. Cor. •. d. 17. & 4. a. 2.
