Nor was this, before those who ordered and administered the public Worship, were grown negligent, and slothful, easing themselves of the chief duties of Pastors, viz. Those which were laborious and required any intense exercise of their faculties. Particularly, it was, after diligent and frequent preaching (which was the happiness, even of the Fourth, and part of the Fifth Age, and their security too, (some stop being hereby put to that degeneracy into which all was sliding down) and the excellency also of those Bishops, who were the lights and ornaments of those times,) was growing out of fashion. When that of Maximus was too true, Qui reipsa doceant aut doceantur admodum pauci. When those, who had the charge of Souls, declined the work, but were eager after the power, profits and dignity of the place; and so retaining the name of Pastors, were really no such thing: Which Prosper thus bewails, But we (modestly including himself, that they who were guilty might take less exception) delighted with things present, while we hunt after the advantages and ⟨p. 191⟩honours of this life, make all hast to be Prelates, not mthat we may be Better, but Richer; nor that we may be more Holy, but more Honoured. Neither do we regard the Lord's Flock, which is committed to us, to be fed and preserved; but we carnally (mind) our pleasures, domination, riches, and other allurements. We will be called Pastors, but we strive not to be such. We decline the labour of our office, affecting (only) the profit and dignity, &c. This way of Worship was well suited to the humours of such Pastors; and they were more thoroughly and generally of this temper, in Prosper's time, before it could have free entertainment.
Nor was this, before those who ordered and administred the publick Worship, were grown negligent, and slothful, easing themselves of the chief duties of Pastors, viz. Those which were laborious and required any intense exercise of their faculties. Particularly, it was, after diligent and frequent peaching (which was the happiness, even of the Fourth, and part of the Fifth Age, and their security too, (some stop being hereby put to that degeneracy into which all was sliding down) and the excellency also of those Bishops, who were the lights and ornaments of those times,) was growing out of fashion. When that of Maximus was too true, Qui reipsa doceant aut doceantur admodum pauci. When those, who had the charge of Souls, declined the work, but were eager after the power, profits and dignity of the place; and so retaining the name of Pastors, were really no such thing: Which Prosper thus bewails, But we (modestly including himself, that they who were guilty might take less exception) delighted with things present, while we hunt after the advantages and ⟨p. 191⟩honours of this life, make all hast to be Prelates, not mthat we may be Better, but Richer; nor that we may be more Holy, but more Honoured. Neither do we regard the Lord's Flock, which is committed to us, to be fed and preserved; but we carnally (mind) our pleasures, domination, riches, and other allurements. We will be called Pastors, but we strive not to be such. We decline the labour of our office, affecting (only) the profit and dignity, &c. This way of Worship was well suited to the humours of such Pastors; and they were more thoroughly and generally of this temper, in Prosper's time, before it could have free entertainment.
- mSed nos praesentibus delectati, dumb in hac vita commoda nostra & honores inquirimus, non ut meliores, sed ut ditiores; non ut sanctiores, sed ut honoratiores simus, praeesse festinamus. Nec gregem Domini, qui nobis pascendus tuendusque commissus est; sed nostras voluptates, dominationem, divitias, & caetera blandimenta carnaliter cogitamus. Pastores dici v•lumus, nec tamen esse contendimus. Officii nostri vitamus laborem; appetimus utilitatem & dignitatem. And after, Greges Domini pascendos, Pastores facti, suscipimus: & nosmet ipsos pascimus, quando non Gregum utilitati prospicimus, sed quod foveat & augeat nostras voluntates attendimus. Lac & lanas ovium Christi, oblationibus quotidianis, aut decimis fidelium gaudentes, accipimus: & curam pascendorum gregum ac resiciendorum à quibus perverso ordine volumus pasci, deponimus, de vit. contempl. l. 1. c. 2.Sed nos praesentibus delectati, dum in hac vita commoda nostra & honores inquirimus, non ut meliores, sed ut ditiores; non ut sanctiores, sed ut honoratiores simus, praeesse festinamus. Nec gregem Domini, qui nobis pascendus tuendusque commissus est; sed nostras voluptates, dominationem, divitias, & caetera blandimenta carnaliter cogitamus. Pastores dici v•lumus, nec tamen esse contendimus. Officii nostri vitamus laborem; appetimus utilitatem & dignitatem. And after, Greges Domini pascendos, Pastores facti, suscipimus: & nosmet ipsos pascimus, quando non Gregum utilitati prospicimus, sed quod foveat & augeat nostras voluntates attendimus. Lac & lanas ovium Christi, oblationibus quotidianis, aut decimis fidelium gaudentes, accipimus: & curam pascendorum gregum ac resiciendorum à quibus perverso ordine volumus pasci, deponimus, de vit. contempl. l. 1. c. 2.
