A49701:138
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.
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.
He feared not,1 lest his people would not bear the Glory of God; but he (without any of these respects, or Policies, or Considerations) like a good King, for Gods sake, and for Conscience sake, by and by plucked down the Brazen Serpent, and destroyed it utterly, and beat it to powder: He out of hand did cast out all Images, he destroyed all Idolatry, and clearly did extirpate all Superstition.
He would not hear these Blanchers, and worldly wise men, but without delay followeth Gods Cause, and destroyeth all Idolatry out of hand.
This did good King Hezekiah, for he was like Apollo, fervent in spirit, and diligent to promote Gods Glory.
And good hope there is, that it shall be likewise here in England; for the Kings Majesty is so brought up in knowledge, virtue and godliness, that it is not to be mistrusted, but that we shall have all things well, and that the ⟨p. 44⟩Glory of God shall be spread abroad through all parts of the Realm,1 if the Prelates will diligently apply their Plough, and be Preachers rather than Lords.
And good hope there is, that it shall be likewise here in England; for the Kings Majesty is so brought up in knowledge, vertue and godliness, that it is not to be mistrusted, but that we shall have all things well, and that the ⟨p. 44⟩Glory of God shall be spread abroad through all parts of the Realm,1 if the Prelates will diligently apply their Plow, and be Preachers rather than Lords.
But our Blanchers which will be Lords, and no Labourers, when they are commanded to go and be resident upon their Cures, and preach in their Benefices, they will say;
What! I have set a Deputy there, I have a Deputy that looketh well to my Flock, who shall discharge my duty. A Deputy (quoth he) I looked for that word all this while. And what a Deputy must he be, trow ye? Even one like himself, he must be a Canonist, that is to say, one that is brought up in the study of Popes Laws and Decrees, one that will set forth Papistry as well as himself, and one that will maintain all Idolatry and Superstition, and one that will nothing at all, or else very weakly, resist the Devils Plough; yea, happy it is, if he take no part with the Devil;1 and where he should be an enemy to him, it is well, if he take not the Devils part against Christ.
What! I have set a Deputy there, I have a Deputy that looketh well to my Flock, who shall discharge my duty. A Deputy (quoth he) I looked for that word all this while. And what a Deputy must he be, trow ye? Even one like himself, he must be a Canonist, that is to say, one that is brought up in the study of Popes Laws and Decrees, one that will set forth Papistry as well as himself, and one that will maintain all Idolatry and Superstition, and one that will nothing at all, or else very weakly, resist the Devils Plow; yea, happy it is, if he take no part with the Devil;1 and where he should be an enemy to him, it is well, if he take not the Devils part against Christ.
But in the mean time, the Prelates take their pleasures, they are Lords, and no Labourers; but the Devil is diligent at his Plough, he is no unpreaching Prelate, he is no Lordly Loiterer from his Cure, but a busy Plough-man; so that amongst all the Prelates, and among all the pack of them that have Cure, the Devil shall go for my money; for he still applieth his Business. Therefore ye Unpreaching Prelates, learn of the Devil to be diligent in doing your Office. Learn of the Devil: And if ye will not learn of God and good men, for shame learn of the Devil; ad erubescentiam vestram dico, I speak it for your shame, if you will not learn of God nor good men, to be diligent in your Office, learn of the Devil.
But in the mean time, the Prelates take their pleasures, they are Lords, and no Labourers; but the Devil is diligent at his Plow, he is no unpreaching Prelate, he is no Lordly Loyterer from his Cure, but a busie Plow-man; so that amongst all the Prelates, and among all the pack of them that have Cure, the Devil shall go for my money; for he still applieth his Business. Therefore ye Unpreaching Prelates, learn of the Devil to be diligent in doing your Office. Learn of the Devil: And if ye will not learn of God and good men, for shame learn of the Devil; ad erubescentiam vestram dico, I speak it for your shame, if you will not learn of God nor good men, to be diligent in your Office, learn of the Devil.
Howbeit there is now very good hope, that the Kings Majesty being by the help of good governance of his most Honourable Counsellors, trained and brought up in Learning and Knowledge of Gods Word, will shortly provide a remedy, and set an order herein; which thing, that it may so be, let us pray for him; pray for him good people, pray ⟨p. 46⟩for him, ye have great cause and need to pray for him, Amen.
Rom. 15. Quaecunque scripta sunt, ad nostram doctrinam scripta sunt.—
IN Taking this Part of Scripture, (most Noble Audience) I played as a Truant, which when he is at School, will choose a Lesson wherein he is perfect, because he is loath to take pain in studying a new Lesson, or else feareth stripes for his slothfulness. In like manner ⟨p. 47⟩I might seem now in my old age, to some men, to take this part of Scripture; because I would wade easily away therewith, and drive my matter at my pleasure, and not to be bound to a certain Theme.
IN Taking this Part of Scripture, (most Noble Audience) I played as a Truant, which when he is at School, will chuse a Lesson wherein he is perfect, because he is loath to take pain in studying a new Lesson, or else feareth stripes for his sloathfulness. In like manner ⟨p. 47⟩I might seem now in my old age, to some men, to take this part of Scripture; because I would wade easily away therewith, and drive my matter at my pleasure, and not to be bound to a certain Theam.
But ye shall consider that the foresaid words of Paul are not to be understood of all Scriptures, but only of those which are of God written in Gods Book, and all things which are therein,1 are written for our Learning. The Excellency of this word, is so great, and of so high dignity, that there is no earthly thing to be compared do it.
