Lastly, here the Romish Clergy are justly to be taxed, whose number is infinite: but it is lamentable to see how few among them be such as the Lord here seeketh for. Their Orders ⟨p. 159⟩of Regulars are exceeding many, beside all their Secular Priests, and it is almost incredible, how many thousands there be of Dominicans or Franciscans, or in some one of their orders: and yet amongst the many millions of their Monks, there is scarce to be found one of many, who for his learning & other gifts, is fit to be sent to the work of God: nay, their ignorance was palpable and ridiculous to the world, until 1of late being by Luther, and others of our Church, made ashamed thereof, they have laboured (especially the Jesuits) to become learned. How foul a thing is it that amongst so many, the Lord should have cause to complain; Whom shall we send? The Jesuits indeed, 2many of them are learned, but for other qualities, they are fitter to be plotters, & practisers in State matters, Spies or Intelligencers, reconcilers, seducers, and subverters, then Ministers: and fitter to be instruments of policy to evil kings, then Ministers of the Gospel unto God. But take away them, and some ⟨p. 160⟩few selected Monks (and those but few out of many thousands) & then even for learning also God may cry, and call & proclaim in their Monasteries; whom shall I send? And if it be a shame and misery to a Church to want such as God may send, or to have but a few, then the Romish Church is shameless, which shames not to have so many, and yet amongst them all, whom God may send, almost none.
Lastly, heere the Romish Cleargie are iustly to bee taxed, whose number is infinite: but it is lamentable to see howe fewe among them be such as the Lord heere seeketh for. Their Orders ⟨p. 159⟩of Regulars are exceeding many, beside all their Secular Priests, and it is almost incredible, how many thousands there bee of Dominicans or Franciscans, or in some one of their orders: and yet amongst the many millions of their Monkes, there is scarce to bee found one of many, who for his learning & other gifts, is fit to be sent to the worke of God: nay, their ignorance was palpable and ridiculous to the world, vntill 1of late being by Luther, and others of our Church, made ashamed thereof, they haue laboured (especially the Iesuites) to become learned. How foule a thing is it that amongst so many, the Lord should haue cause to complaine; Whom shall wee send? The Iesuits indeed, 2many of them are learned, but for other qualities, they are fitter to be plotters, & practisers in Statematters, Spies or Intelligencers, reconcilers, seducers, and subuerters, then Ministers: and fitter to be instruments of pollicie to euil kings, then Ministers of the Gospel vnto God. But take away them, and some ⟨p. 160⟩fewe selected Monkes (and those but fewe out of many thousands) & then euen for learning also God may cry, and call & proclaime in their Monasteries; whom shal I send? And if it be a shame and miserie to a Church to want such as God may send, or to haue but a fewe, then the Romish Church is shamelesse, which shames not to haue so many, and yet amongst them all, whom God may send, almost none.
- 1Most of all their Priests & Monks are ignorant drones.
- 2The Jesuits have learning but no conscience: and are rather Statesmen, then Divines.The Iesuites haue learning but no conscience: and are rather Statesmen, then Diuines.
