A word in season

Verse 7. Whereof the Mower filleth not his hand, neither the Gleaner his Lap.

Here the Holy Ghost maketh a comparison between Grass which yieldeth no fruit, and true corn which is fruitful; that thereby he may the better commend unto us the former similitude, and withdraw our minds from the false dread and terror which that vain and counterfeit show bringeth. Fruitful corn (saith he) is such, that he which moweth it shall fill his hand, and he that gathereth the sheaves shall have plenty to carry into his barn. Here ye see, is a truth, and not a vain show. But grass on the house tops maketh a show of that which is not true, because it is fruitless. So the Pope and his Prelates, with other Tyrants and Persecutors, have a resemblance and a counterfeit show that they are the Church. They hold and enjoy ⟨p. 43⟩Dignities, Prebends, Benefices, as grass hath his stalk and ear; but indeed they are none of the Church, like as grass is no Corn: for it withereth away before it can bring forth fruit.

Here the Holy Ghost maketh a comparison between Grass which yieldeth no fruit, and true corn which is fruitful; that thereby he may the better commend unto us the former similitude, and withdraw our minds from the false dread and terror which that vain and counterfeit shew bringeth. Fruitful corn (saith he) is such, that he which moweth it shall fill his hand, and he that gathereth the sheaves shall have plenty to carry into his barn. Here ye see, is a truth, and not a vain shew. But grass on the house tops maketh a shew of that which is not true, because it is fruitless. So the Pope and his Prelates, with other Tyrants and Persecutors, have a resemblance and a counterfeit shew that they are the Church. They hold and enjoy ⟨p. 43⟩Dignities, Prebends, Benefices, as grass hath his stalk and ear; but indeed they are none of the Chrrch, like as grass is no Corn: for it withereth away before it can bring forth fruit.