Out of this text also we learn what difficulty & hardness is in the office of preaching, if it be truly and well done: continually whether it happen and come to pass that he speaketh, or it come not to pass, the preacher standeth in danger of obloquy and contempt: We may see an example hereof in Jonah that preached by the word of God, the destruction of Nineveh: which if it had come so to pass, they would have called Jonah a cruel tyrant, and ⟨p. clxvii⟩seeker of blood. And now that he seeth the city spared, he feareth least he should be accounted a false prophet: not only among his own countrymen the Israelites, but also among the Gentiles, and then all his preaching should be taken for a mockery. This contempt so sore feareth Jonah, and is therewithal so troubled, that he offendeth God grievously. I may accommodate y• same fortune unto my self and others right well. When we speak for a reformation of the church, schools, and policies, In to the church we wish to be put such ministers as can & would teach the doctrine of the apostles, and that they should not be known by their vestments, ⟨image 177⟩and shavings, but by their doctrine: Then, such as would minister the sacraments gravely, religiously, and simply, as Christ and his Apostles did. In Baptism, nothing to be used but the word and the simple and bare water. In the supper of the Lord, to use the Ceremonies and Rites of Christ and his Apostles, and all occasions of superstition to be avoided. But although this doctrine be as true as Christ & his Apostles be, yet I perceive displeasure, & great enmity rise here upon to me & to other: yea, not only unto us that be subjects, but also to the kings majesty & his most honourable council. But the lord keep us out of temptation, & give grace and strength to do all things ⟨p. clxviii⟩to y• glory of God, & to pray for our enemies. And as touching schools, specially y• universities, they must be amended, and good heads & rulers appointed in the Colleges, or else the word of god should be hindered always by such as ought most to set it forth. Such godly men as have wherewithal should help & provide to have schools to bring up youth in every where, through this realm: & then should godly & learned children occupy the place of superstitious & ignorant men, wherewithal this realm of England is sore, & to much (god amend it) pestered & hurt withal:
Oute of thys texte also wee learne what difficultie & hardnes is in ye office of preaching, if it be truely and wel done: cō tinually whether it happē and come to passe yt he speaketh, or it come not to passe, the preacher stādeth in daūger of obloquie and contempt: We maye se an example hereof in Ionas that preached by the worde of God, the destruccion of Niniue: whych if it had come so to passe, they woulde haue called Ionas a cruell tyraunte, and ⟨p. clxvii⟩seker of blud. And now that he seeth the citi spared, he feareth least he shoulde be accomted a false prophet: not only among hys owne countrimen the Israelites, but also amonge the Gentils, and then al his preachynge shoulde be taken for a mockery. Thys contempte so sore feareth Ionas, and is therwythal so troubled, that he offēdeth God greuously. I may accommodate y• same fortune vnto my self and others right wel. When we speake for a reformacion of the church, scholes, and polycyes, In to the churche we wyshe to be putte such ministers as can & would teach the doctryne of the apostles, and that they should not be knowen by theyr vestimentes, ⟨image 177⟩and shauings, but by their doctryne: Thē, such as would minister the sacramentes grauely, relygyouslie, and simply, as Christe and hys Apostles dyd. In Baptisme, nothynge to be vsed but the woorde and the symple and bare water. In the supper of the Lorde, to vse the Ceremonies and Rites of Christ and hys Apostles, and al occacions of supersticion to be auoidid. But although this doctryn be as true as Christ & his Apostles be, yet I perceiue displeasure, & greate ennimitie ryse here vpō to me & to other: yea, not onely vnto vs that be subiectes, but also to ye kyngs magesty & his most honorable councel. But the lord kepe vs out of tēptacion, & gyue grace and strength to do all thinges ⟨p. clxviii⟩to y• glorye of God, & to praye for our enemyes. And as touchyng scholes, specially y• vniuersities, they muste be amended, and good heades & rulers apoynted in the Colleges, or els ye word of god shuld be hindred alwaies bi such as ought most to set it forth. Such godly mē as haue wherwtal shuld helpe & prouide to haue schols to bringe vp youthe in euerye where, through thys realme: & thē shuld godli & learned childrē occupy ye place of supersticious & ignoraunt men, wherwithal this realme of Englād is sore, & to much (god amende it) pestered & hurt withal:
