The copy of an epistle sentThe copie of an epistle sent

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