Toby. I will not say against it, but there are other as well as the•e, which do the ⟨image 67⟩like:1 when any thing is spoken of the observing of such discipline, as Jesus Christ hath appointed, and his Apostles and Disciples, and all the true ancient Church have put in ur•, and practised according to the holy word of God. To be short, they can be contented to hear the preachers cry out against the wickedness of Priests and Monks, but in no wise they may not away to hear of their own. They would fain have a Gospel preached without repentance, & without amendment of life. They would have such liberty under title of the Gospel, as to be let lose to their own pleasures. They would be unburdened of the Popes yoke (whom they call Antichrist,) but will not be burdened with Christs yoke. They would be very well content, neither to have Priests nor Monks, for their finding was costly, and the restoring of Church goods very hard to hear of: And therefore are contented to have Ministers and Preachers, but not so many as they had Priests, for saving of charges in maintaining them: wherein they show them selves to be good husbands, but great hinderers to the poor flock of Christ,2 which remain without such food, & such abundance as is necessary for them, and all for lack of ⟨image 68⟩such preachers & such number as is needful. But the worst is,3 that they would have our poor Ministers and Preachers heads under their girdles, as if they were their servants, and toss them from post to pillar at their pleasure. And if the Ministers will not do it, but if some of them (well understand their office,) use such sufficient honour unto them as they ought, to the end that Jesus Christ and the ministry of his Church be not despised and dishonoured, straight ways they cry out, that such Ministers be both ambitious and rebels, and that they will take upon them the Magistrates office. To be short, if any Minister go about to bring in such discipline and reformation of the Church as the Gospel requireth, strait ways they say: Why come you hither to trouble us? Can not you live quietly your selves, and suffer other to do so to? You would pluck the sword out of the Magistrates hand, but ye would be well swaddled with it for your labours. We have it by the haft, and you shall wring it from us by the edge if ye will needs have it.
Tobie. I wil not say against it, but there are other as well as the•e, whiche doe the ⟨image 67⟩like:1 when any thyng is spoken of the obseruing of such discipline, as Iesus Christ hath appointed, and his Apostles and Disciples, and al the true auncient Church haue put in vr•, and practised according to the holy word of God. To be short, thei can be contented to heare the preachers crie out against the wickednesse of Priestes and Monkes, but in no wise thei maie not awaie to heare of their own. Thei would faine haue a Gospell preached without repentance, & without amendment of life. Thei would haue suche libertie vnder title of the Gospell, as to be let lose to their owne pleasures. Thei would be vnburthened of the Popes yoke (whom thei call Antichrist,) but will not bee burthened with Christes yoke. Thei would be very wel content, neither to haue Priestes nor Monkes, for their findyng was costly, and the restoryng of Church goodes very harde to heare of: And therefore are contented to haue Ministers and Preachers, but not so many as thei had Priestes, for sauyng of charges in maintainyng them: wherein thei shew them selues to be good housbandes, but great hinderers to the poore flock of Christ,2 which remaine without such foode, & such aboundāce as is necessary for them, and all for lacke of ⟨image 68⟩such preachers & such number as is needful. But the worst is,3 that thei would haue our poore Ministers and Preachers heads vnder their girdles, as if thei were their seruantes, and tosse them frō post to piller at their pleasure. And if the Ministers will not do it, but if some of them (well vnderstād their office,) vse suche sufficient honour vnto them as thei ought, to the ende that Iesus Christ and the ministerie of his Church be not dispised and dishonoured, straight waies thei cry out, that suche Ministers be bothe ambicious and rebelles, and that thei will take vpon them the Magistrates office. To be short, if any Minister go about to bryng in such discipline and reformation of the Churche as the Gospell requireth, strait waies thei saie: Why come you hether to trouble vs? Can not you liue quietly your selues, and suffer other to doe so to? You would pluck the sworde out of the Magistrates hande, but ye would bee well swadled with it for your laboures. We haue it by the haft, and you shall wryng it from vs by the edge if ye will needes haue it.
- 1The enemies af the discipline of the Church.The enemies af the discipline of the Churche.
- 2Lack of good Ministers of the Gospel.Lack of good Ministers of the Gospell.
- 3The contempt of the Ministers of the Gospel.The cōtempt of the Ministers of the Gospell.
