The other part, touching th• instruction of the people, standeth much in the faithful, diligence of those, to whom th• charge of preaching shall be committed. But when I remember tha• ⟨p. 95⟩horrible confusion, which before was maintained even by those, which would be esteemed chief pillars of religion, I do more fear to be plain in this matter, then in all that, which before I have spoken. For it may be that in speaking the simple trueth I may displease those, whom willingly for no earthly profit I would offend. Nevertheless seeing the cause is not mine, but pertaineth to Christ Jesus, and to the feeding of that flock, which so earnestly and tenderly he did commend to Peter,1 and to all his faithful pastors to the worlds end, what soever man shall judge, I dare not cease in Gods name to require of you a severe reformation of those things, which were before utterly disordered.2 And first in the name of the Lord Jesus I require of you,3 that no dumb dog, no poisoned and pestilent ⟨p. 96⟩papist, none, who before hath persecuted Gods children or obstinately maintained Idolatry, be placed above the people of God to infect and poison (fo• other profit they shall do none) the souls of those, whom Christ Jesus hath redeemed with his precious blood. Secondly that-benefice upon benefice be heaped upon no man, but that a sufficient charge with a competent stipend be assigned to the workman. For ô how horrible was that confusion,4 that one man should be permitted to have 2.3.4.5.6. or. 7. benefices, who scarcely in the year did so often preach: yea, that a man should have the charge of them, whose faces he never saw. Let that pestilence, proceeding from avarice, be utterly avoided. Let not men at their pleasures preach when and where they list, but so soon as a Godly order ⟨p. 97⟩may be established, let the parts and bonds be assigned to every one. London in times past was indifferently provided for,5 but alas what barbarous ignorance was in the rest of the Realm.
The other part, touching th• instruction of the people, standeth muche in the faithful, diligence of those, to whome th• charge of preaching shalbe committed. But whē I remembre tha• ⟨p. 95⟩horrible confusion, which befo•e was mainteined euen by those, which wolde be estemed chief pillers of religion, I do more feare to be playne in this matter, then in all that, which before I haue spokē. For it may be that in speaking the simple trueth I may displease those, whome willingly for no earthly profet I wold offende. Neuertheles seing the cause is not myne, but perteyneth to Christ Iesus, and to the feeding of that flocke, which so earnestly and tenderly he dyd commend to Peter,1 and to all his faithful pastors to the worldes end, what soeuer man shal iudge, I dare not cease in Gods name to require of you a seuere reformation of those thinges, which were before vtterly disordered.2 And first in the name of the Lorde Iesus I require of you,3 that no dūme dogg, no poisoned and pestilent ⟨p. 96⟩papist, none, who before hath persecuted Gods children or obstinately mainteined Idolatrie, be placed aboue the people of God to infect and poison (fo• other profet they shal do none) the soules of those, whome Christ Iesus hathe redemed with his pretious blood. Secondly that-benefice vpon benefice be heaped vpō no mā, but that a sufficient charge with a competent stipend be assigned to the workeman. For ô how horrible was that cōfusiō,4 that one man shulde be permitted to haue 2.3.4.5.6. or. 7. benifices, who skarsely in the yeare dyd so often preache: yea, that a man shulde haue the charge of them, whose faces he neuer saw. Let that pestilence, proceading from auarice, be vtterly auoyded. Let not men at their pleasures preach when and where they list, but so sone as a Godly order ⟨p. 97⟩may be established, let the partes and bondes be assigned to euery one. Londō in tymes past was indifferently prouided for,
- 1John. 21.Iohn. 21.
- 2Isaiah. 56.Esai. 56.
- 3No dumb dog• nor poisoned papist ought to have any charge of Chris•• ••ock.No dūm dog• nor poisoned papiste oght to haue any charge of Chris•• ••ock.
- 4Plurality of benefices reproved.Pluralitie of benefices reproued.
- 5London.
