Secondly, although the Priests or Elders be especially ordained to do their ⟨p. 174⟩office by Gods word, from whence cometh it, that it is so out of use in all the Papacy? For I doubt not of that I speak, and also it is manifest throughout the Scripture, and by all the ancient Counsels and Doctors, that those which be called Priests at this day, be no more like that they bear the name of, then black is like white. For after their manner, what is it to be a Priest? It is to have authority to Sacrifice and to offer up Jesus Christ for the quick and for the dead: that is to say, in one word, to turn the roots upward, as much as in them is, of all the ground of our salvation, as in other places hath been said. And from thence is it sprung that of Governors, they have made hireling Sacrificers for wages. And so there is become two sorts of Priests, that is to wit the Beneficed, and the poor hirelings, which live under the other, and be more busied in offerings aswell in their daily butchery for money, as Judas was, as also affirming their office to save and damn for money, yea ⟨image 188⟩of those which be so occupied to damn them selves, that they are forced to have Vicars under them to damn others. And to advance this occupation, they must yet have goodly Bulls and Dispensations, to distribute to all that cometh, paying honestly for it: to the end that those which live to eat up, devour, and damn all the world, as much as in them lieth, also may devour and damn one another by privilege. For truly it is easy to see in this confusion which is apparent to all the world, and to those which be of the best of them, if their belly do not overcome their consciences, that the Devil findeth him self as it were cumbered and overladen to receive so many at once, and would invent some manner of way, that each may come in bys rank and order, drawing and tolling after him his company: a thing certainly most miserable and pitiful amongst the Christian people.
Secondly, although the Priestes or Elders be especially ordained to do their ⟨p. 174⟩offyce by Gods woorde, from whence commeth it, that it is so out of vse in all the Papacie? For I doubt not of that I speake, and also it is manyfest throughout the Scripture, and by all the auncient Counselles and Doctours, that those which be called Priestes at this daye, be no more lyke that they beare the name of, then blacke is lyke whyte. For after theyr manner, what is it to bée a Priest? It is to haue authoritie to Sacrifice and to offer vp Iesus Christe for the quycke and for the deade: that is to saye, in one worde, to turne the rootes vpwarde, as much as in them is, of all the grounde of our saluation, as in other places hath bene sayde. And from thence is it sprong that of Gouernours, they haue made hyreling Sacrificers for wages. And so there is become two sortes of Priestes, that is to weete the Beneficed, and the poore hyrelinges, whiche lyue vnder the other, and bée more busyed in offeringes aswell in their dayly butchery for mony, as Iudas was, as also affyrming theyr office to saue and dampne for money, yea ⟨image 188⟩of those which be so occupyed to dampne them selues, that they are forced to haue Uicars vnder them to dampne others. And to aduaunce this occupation, they muste yet haue goodlye Bulles and Dispensations, to dystribute to all that commeth, paying honestly for it: to the ende that those which lyue to eate vp, deuour, and dampne all the worlde, as muche as in them lyeth, also maye deuour and dampne one another by priuiledge. For truelye it is easye to sée in this confusion whiche is apparaunt to all the worlde, and to those whiche bée of the best of them, if theyr bellye doo not ouercome theyr consciences, that the Diuell fyndeth hym selfe as it were combered and ouerladen to receyue so manye at once, and woulde inuent some maner of way, that eache maye come in bys ranke and order, drawing and tollyng after him his companie: a thyng certaynly moste miserable and pitifull amongst the Christian people.
