The apology of the Church of England, and an epistle to one Seignior Scipio…

22. AND now (Sir) what reason have we to expect at this time a better Event of things? for, for what cause, upon what hope and Expectation is the Council held? be pleased Sir, to consider with your self but this one thing, what kind of Men they are, upon whose Fidelity, Learning and Judgment the weight of the whole Council, the debating all those great Questions, and the sum of the whole Affair depends? they are indeed called Abbots and Bishops grave Men, and great Names, and, as it is thought, of great account in the Management of the Church of God; but if you strip them of the Names, Robes, and Personages of such Men, what have they that is at all like a Bishop or an Abbot? for they are no Ministers of Christ, no Dispensers of the Mysteries of God; they do not attend the reading, nor teach the Gospel, nor feed the Flock, nor till the ⟨p. 172⟩Ground, nor plant the Vineyard, nor light the Fire, nor carry the Ark of the Lord, nor perform the Embassy of Christ, nor Watch, nor do the Work of an Evangelist; they do not fulfil their Ministry, they entangle themselves in secular Affairs; they hide the Treasure of their Lord, and take away the Keys of the Kingdom of God; they neither go in themselves, nor do they suffer others to enter; they beat their Fellow Servants; they feed themselves and not the Flock; they sleep, they snore, they feast, they fare deliciously; they are Clouds without Water, Stars without Light, dumb Dogs, slow Bellies, and as St. Bernard said, they are not Prelates but Pilats; not Teachers, but Seducers; not Pastors, but Impostors: the Servants of Christ (saith he) serve Antichrist. And these are the only men to whom the Popes will allow a Place and Vote in the Council; in their Judgments and Power will they have the whole Care and Administration of the Catholic Church to be: Pope Pius hath now chosen these alone to put his Trust in; but O good God! what kind of Mortals, what sort of Men are these? and yet as they think, all these Queries are ridiculous: for it is not, say they, one farthing difference, whether they be Learned or Pious or no, or what they will or think; for in truth it is sufficient if they can but ride upon a Mule, and with great State and Noise make the public Cavalcade to the Council, and when they cam• there say nothing.

22. AND now (Sir) what reason have we to expect at this time a better Event of things? for, for what cause, upon what hope and Expectation is the Council held? be pleased Sir, to consider with your self but this one thing, what kind of Men they are, upon whose Fidelity, Learning and Judgment the weight of the whole Council, the debating all those great Questions, and the sum of the whole Affair depends? they are indeed call'd Abbots and Bishops grave Men, and great Names, and, as it is thought, of great account in the Management of the Church of God; but if you strip them of the Names, Robes, and Personages of such Men, what have they that is at all like a Bishop or an Abbot? for they are no Ministers of Christ, no Dispensers of the Mysteries of God; they do not attend the reading, nor teach the Gospel, nor feed the Flock, nor till the