A49701:126
The preaching bishop reproving unpreaching prelates Being a brief, but faithful collection of observable passages, in several sermons preached by the reverend father in God, Mr Hugh Latimer, Bish. of Worcester, (one of our first reformers, and a glorious martyr of Jesus Christ) before K. Edw. the sixth; before the convocation of the clergy, and before the citizens of London, at Pauls. Wherein, many things, relating to the honour and happiness of the king (our most gracious sovereign) the honourable lords, the reverend judges, the citizens of London, and commons of all sorts, but especially, the bishops and clergy are most plainly, piously and pithily represented.The preaching bishop reproving unpreaching prelates Being a brief, but faithful collection of observeable passages, in several sermons preached by the reverend father in God, Mr Hugh Latimer, Bish. of Worcester, (one of our first reformers, and a glorious martyr of Jesus Christ) before K. Edw. the sixth; before the convocation of the clergy, and before the citizens of London, at Pauls. Wherein, many things, relating to the honour and happiness of the king (our most gracious soveraign) the honourable lords, the reverend judges, the citizens of London, and commons of all sorts, but especially, the bishops and clergy are most plainly, piously and pithily represented.
London : printed, and are to be sold by booksellers, 1661
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I can tell, for I know him who it is, I know him well. But now I think I see you listening, hearkening, that I should name him. There is one that passeth ⟨p. 38⟩all the other, and is the most diligent Prelate and Preacher in all England: 1And will ye know who it is? I will tell you, it is the Devil: He is the most diligent Preacher of all other, he's never out of his Diocese, he is never from his Cure, you shall never find him unoccupied, he is ever in his Parish, he keepeth residence at all times, ye shall never find him out of the way; call for him when you will, he is ever at home, the diligentest Preacher in all the Realm, he is ever at his Plough, no Lording nor Loitering can hinder him, he is ever applying his business, you shall never find him idle, I warrant you.
I can tell, for I know him who it is, I know him well. But now I think I see you listning, hearkning, that I should name him. There is one that passeth ⟨p. 38⟩all the other, and is the most diligent Prelate and Preacher in all England: 1And will ye know who it is? I will tell you, it is the Devil: He is the most diligent Preacher of all other, he's never out of his Diocess, he is never from his Cure, you shall never find him unoccupied, he is ever in his Parish, he keepeth residence at all times, ye shall never find him out of the way; call for him when you will, he is ever at home, the diligentest Preacher in all the Realm, he is ever at his Plow, no Lording nor Loytering can hinder him, he is ever applying his business, you shall never find him idle, I warrant you.
And his Office is to hinder Religion,1 to maintain Superstition, to set up Idolatry, to teach all kind of Popery. He is ready as can be wished for, to set forth his Plough, to devise as many ways as can be, to deface and obscure Gods Glory.
And his Office is to hinder Religion,1 to maintain Superstition, to set up Idolatry, to teach all kind of Popery. He is ready as can be wished for, to set forth his Plow, to devise as many ways as can be, to deface and obscure Gods Glory.
Where the Devil is resident, and hath his Plough going, there away with Books, and up with Candles, away with Bibles, and up with Beads, away with the Light of the Gospel,1 and up with ⟨p. 39⟩the Light of Candles, yea, at Noondays.
Where the Devil is resident, and hath his Plow going, there away with Books, and up with Candles, away with Bibles, and up with Beads, away with the Light of the Gospel,1 and up with ⟨p. 39⟩the Light of Candles, yea, at Noondaies.
Where the Devil is resident, that he may prevail, up with all Superstition and Idolatry, Censing, Painting of Images, Candles, Palms, Ashes, Holy water, and new Service of mens devising, as though men could invent a better way to honour God with,1 than God himself hath appointed.
Down with Christ's Cross, up with Purgatory Pick-Purse, up with him, the Popish Purgatory, I mean.
Away with Clothing the Naked, the Poor and Impotent; up with decking of Images, and gay garnishing of stocks and stones.
Away with Cloathing the Naked, the Poor and Impotent; up with decking of Images, and gay garnishing of stocks and stones.
Up with mans Traditions and his Laws, down with Gods Traditions, and his most holy Word.
Down with the old Honour due to God, and up with the new gods honour.—
But here some men will say to me, What Sir, are ye so privy of the Devils Counsel, that ye know all this to be true?
Truly I know him too well, and have ⟨p. 40⟩obeyed him a little too much, in condescending to some Follies. And I know that he is ever occupied, and ever busy, in following his Plough. I know by St Peter, 1which saith of him, Sicut Leo rugiens circuit, quaerens qu•m devoret: He goeth about like a roaring Lion, seeking whom he may devour. I would have this Text well viewed.—
Truly I know him too well, and have ⟨p. 40⟩obeyed him a little too much, in condescending to some Follies. And I know that he is ever occupied, and ever busie, in following his Plow. I know by St Peter, 1which saith of him, Sicut Leo rugiens circuit, quaerens qu•m devoret: He goeth about like a roaring Lion, seeking whom he may devour. I would have this Text well viewed.—
There was never such a Preacher in England as he is: Who is able to tell his diligent Preaching? who every day and every hour laboureth to sow Cockle and Darnel, that he may bring out of form, and out of estimation, and room, the Institution of the Lords Supper, and Christ's Cross.—
The Devil by the help of that Italian Bishop yonder, his Chaplain,1 hath laboured by all means that he might, to frustrate the Death of Christ, and the Merits of his Passion. And they have devised for that purpose, to make us believe in other vain things; as to have Remission of sins for praying on Hallowed Beads, for drinking of the Backhouse Bole, as a Canon of Walton Abbey once told me, that whensoever they ⟨p. 41⟩put their Loaf; of Bread into the Oven, as many as drank of the Pardon-Bole, should have pardon for drinking of it. A mad thing, to give pardon to a Bole!—
The Devil by the help of that Italian Bishop yonder, his Chaplain,1 hath laboured by all means that he might, to frustrate the Death of Christ, and the Merits of his Passion. And they have devised for that purpose, to make us believe in other vain things; as to have Remission of sins for praying on Hallowed Beads, for drinking of the Backhouse Bole, as a Canon of Walton Abbey once told me, that whensoever they ⟨p. 41⟩put their Loave; of Bread into the Oven, as many as drank of the Pardon-Bole, should have pardon for drinking of it. A mad thing, to give pardon to a Bole!—
Woe worth thee, O Devil, woe worth thee, that hast prevailed so far, and so long, that hast made England to worship false gods, forsaking Christ their Lord; woe worth thee Devil, woe worth thee Devil, and all thy Angels.—
Wo worth thee, O Devil, wo worth thee, that hast prevail'd so far, and so long, that hast made England to worship false gods, forsaking Christ their Lord; wo worth thee Devil, wo worth thee Devil, and all thy Angels.—
When the Kings Majesty,1 with the Advice of His Honourable Council, goeth about to promote Gods Word, and to set an Order in matters of Religion, there shall not lack Blanchers, that will say, as for Images, whereas they have been used to be Censed, and to have Candles offered unto them, none be so foolish to do it to the Stock or Stone, or to the Image it self, but it is done to God and his Honour before the Image. And though they should abuse it, these Blanchers would be ready to whisper the King in the ear, and to tell him, that this Abuse is but a small matter; and that the same, with all other Abuses in the Church, may be reformed ⟨p. 42⟩easily; it is but a little Abuse,2 say they, and it may be easily amended. But it should not be taken in hand at the first, for fear of trouble or further Inconveniences; the People will not bear sudden Alterations, and Insurrection may be made after sudden Mutations, which may be to the great Harm and Loss of the Realm: Therefore all shall be well, but not out of hand, for fear of further business.
When the Kings Majesty,1 with the Advice of His Honourable Council, goeth about to promote Gods Word, and to set an Order in matters of Religion, there shall not lack Blanchers, that will say, as for Images, whereas they have been used to be Censed, and to have Candles offered unto them, none be so foolish to do it to the Stock or Stone, or to the Image it self, but it is done to God and his Honour before the Image. And though they should abuse it, these Blanchers whould be ready to whisper the King in the ear, and to tell him, that this Abuse is but a small matter; and that the same, with all other Abuses in the Church, may be reformed ⟨p. 42⟩easily; it is but a little Abuse,2 say they, and it may be easily amended. But it should not be taken in hand at the first, for fear of trouble or further Inconveniences; the People will not bear sudden Alterations, and Insurrection may be made after sudden Mutations, which may be to the great Harm and Lofs of the Realm: Therefore all shall be well, but not out of hand, for fear of further business.
These be the Blanchers that have hitherto stopped the Word of God, and hindered the true setting forth of the same.1 There be so many put offs, so many put by's, so many respects and considerations of worldly wisdom.
These be the Blanchers that have hitherto stopped the Word of God, and hindred the true setting forth of the same.1 There be so many put offs, so many put by's, so many respects and considerations of worldly wisdom.
And I doubt not, but there were Blanchers in the old time, to whisper in the ear of good King Hezekiah, 1for the maintenance of Idolatry done to the Brazen Serpent, as well as there has been now of late, and be now, that can blanch the abuse of Images as other like things: But good King Hezekiah would not be so blinded, he was like to Apollo, fervent in Spirit, he would give no ear to these Blanchers, he was not moved ⟨p. 43⟩with these worldly respects, with these prudent Considerations, with these Policies, he feared not Insurrections of the people.
