Trulie sir , I haue almost forgotten you , it is so long since I did sée you . If you knew the intent purposed wherfore I came to the preaching , or the profite which I haue reaped thereby , I suppose you woulde rather condemne me for my intention , than commend me for the commoditie that I haue gained at the mouth of the Preacher .

Few such words Autophilus may suffice . They sounde of the spirite of iniquitie . I woulde be sorie that your minde shoulde méete with your mouth herein .

Woulde you wishe mee to sweare , as I am an honest man and a Christian , I speake what I think , and which you , if you vrge me , shall vnderstand at large .

I perceiue your complexion is cholericke , take heede you vnplat not your patience , and sweare not by your honestie . But since you haue called your intent in question . May I craue the cause of so greate hast , for your pace declareth , you were loth to come too late .

Be there none here but we our selues ?

None at all as I suppose .

Will you conceale it , if I make manifest my minde vnto you ?

Perswade your selfe , that I am your friende in these thinges wherein neither God is dishonoured , nor your Christian brethren hindered .

Tush I like not conditions , perhappes it concernes my credite to conceale the cause heereof .

If either your credit or commoditie bid honestie farewell , I am not méete to make your secret friend . I hope there is no daunger in broaching so honest a matter as this is . Why therefore should you make it so curious ?

I thought how I should find you Autophilus , you made the matter so curious , I feare mee in the ende I shall finde you an hypocrite .

You cut mee off before I come to a full period : the sense is yet vnperfect . If there had beene no greater occasion to haue mooued mee to come to this place , than the profite I thought to haue reaped at the hande of the preacher , we had not met heere to daie .

Is there anie thing more commodious ( miserable man ) than to séek to saue thy soule ? Is anie thing more necessary than to hear the word preached , or any iewell more precious than wisedome ?

O Sir , I came to receiue money this daie , to the value of two hundred pounds , & as I am an honest man I estéeme more of two hundred pounds , than of thrée hundred preachings . For if you thinke that I came so spéedilie to heare a Sermon , you are greatly deceiued , notwithstanding hearing the report of the man to be famous , that he was a stranger and an excellent fellow , I thought good to go sée him for companie sake . But shall I tell you Philoxenus : in that minde I am in , I will neuer heare him againe whilest I liue .

Doe you not like of him as a good messenger , that will without feare or fauour discharge his duetie , and manfullie declare that message which was ministred vnto him .

Messenger or not , I know not what hee hath in charge , but one thing I am sure of , that such as hee , are farre vnméete to bee made magistrates , héere is nothing nowe a daies in the mouthes of a greate number of them , but crying out against couetousnesse , vsurie , briberie , belly chéere , surfetting , dronkennesse , and suche like .

Tell me Autophilus , wherefore he is vnméete to be made a magistrate ?

Wherefore ? because pride , couetousnesse , vaineglorie , whooredomè , lecherie , shoulde kisse the stock●s .

And no lesse worthie , for if I may bée iudge , the gallowes is too good for them . But in déede such hath bene the corrupt nature of the wicked and vngodlie of this worlde , that they haue alwaies loathed such as woulde simplie & in singlenes of hart tel them , or fréelie reproue them for their manifest sinne & manifolde transgressions . In the prophet Esay his time the people cried out to the séeers and prophets that they would speake flattering things vnto them . Esai . 30. Abner coulde neuer abide Rispah Isboseth , to tell him of his going into Rispah his father Saules concubine : 2. Sam. 3 Mich. 2. The Prophet Micha telleth vs that the sinne companions of his time liked well of such Prophets as would prophesie vnto them of Wine and strong drinke . The same cankred corruption , if not more grieuous , is at this day . The wicked would haue their sinnes smothered The wicked best like of those ministers which either can saie nothing , or else flatter and sooth them vp in their sins , taking them as it were by the hande , and lulling these gracelesse babes a sléepe in the cradle of securitie : They best like of those which dawbe with vntempered morter , and sowe entising pillowes vnder their elbowes : which preach vnto them of Wine and good Ale , of rioting , reuelling , and running vnto all manner of vngodlie excesse : Amos. 8 I remember the Prophet Amos hath a complaint against the rulers of his time , that they woulde make hauocke of the poore and needie for olde shooes . If the same Prophet were now liuing , he would adde to this another complaint as grieuous , that the ministers of our time are so wicked and vngodlie , that they wil smoother the sinnes of men , & sell the truth of GOD for mourning gowns , fortieth cocks , & tieth sheues . I woulde to God that wofull experience proued not this to be true : for vndoubtedly although a man were so blotted and blurred , that all the wafer in the sea could not washe him , yet shall you finde one flattering tongue or other , that will support him in his sins , and iustifie him in his vncleannesse , and although he were as black as the blacke horse mentioned in the Reuelation , yet shall ye find a blacke Prophet with a blacke mouth , and an headlong tongue will colour him as white as the white shéepe that is new come from washing , and if a false tongue coulde doe more than that , it is set to sale for a small price . Thus the children of GOD are berefte and robbed of their garmentes , when flatterers giue titles , and iustifie the wicked in their abhominations .

I tell you troth Philoxenus , to speake what I thinke , I vtterlie mislike of these sawcie marchauntes which checke and controule their superiours : there is nothing but the lawe , damnation , damnation . What man ? Wee liue vnder the gospell , and therefore , if they will néedes bee preaching let them preach the gospell . I warrant you S. Paul being a minister of the gospell , vsed no comminations , nor threatninges , but obsecrations and beséechings , as it manifestly appeareth in sundry parts of his Epistles . 2. Cor. 20. 2. Cor. 10.1 .

If thou hadst béene in Herods court , thou wouldest haue béene one of the first that shouldest haue termed Iohn Baptist a sawcie Iacke for his controwling of Herode . Thou art one of them which woulde haue thy sinnes smothered , although incessantly thou offendest against the maiestie of God . But what discréete father is he , which if his childe should play the vnruly and stubborne boy , woulde stroke his heade & tell him he were a good son , & not rather fatherly reproue him , and sharpely correct him with a rod . What prudent maister will commende his seruaunt for neglecting his commaundement ? In like sorte will you be trucebreakers of the Lords couenants , & yet looke to be flattered ? will you impeach the Lordes honour , blaspheme his holy name , tread & trample vnder foote his glory , and yet heare of mercy ? will you steale , murder , commit adultery , & yet heare of nothing but the gospel ? wil you rest in sin , liue in error & ignorance , sling ouerthwart the fields after your owne disordered lusts , walke in the by-paths of vngodlines , Discrete Ministers not vnlike to skilfull Chirurgians . & yet make no reckoning to be rebuked ? what skilfull Phisition or experienced Chyrurgian , will apply a supplying salue to an old festred sore ? and not rather vse searing , launsing , cerzing and searching of it to the bottome ? no , no , grosse humors must haue strong purgations , festred sores must haue sharpe salues . Knobby timber must haue hard wedges : & rough horses must haue rough riders . It is a lamentable thing to consider the waful estate and condition of our daies : such pillage and pollage , such guile and disguising of matters , such swearing , tearing , & tossing of the name of God like a tenisball , from one blasphemous to an other , such leasemongring and inhauncing of rentes , such pride , rioting , and ruffanisme , such drunkennes and surfeting ; such wantonnesse and chambring , that wickednes doth rage as a water floude , and iniquity hath gotten the vpper hande : and yet notwithstanding men fret like chafed Bulls when they are brotherly reproued for their wickednes . As touching saint Paul , it is true that he is a Minister of the gospell : But it is not true that he alwaies dealeth with the spirit of mildnes & lenity , for with the proud & arrogant he dealeth more sharply , & more roughly : looke thorow the Euangelists with a single eie , & sée howe sharpely Christ Iesus-dealeth with the scribes & pharises , although they bragged & boasted as much of their vpright conuersation as do our english hypocrites : although they sat in Moses chayre & taught the law , Luke 18. Math. 23. Iohn 8. yet are they called of the son of God a wicked & an adulterous generation , blind guides , painted sepulchres , the sonnes of the deuil . There were in saint Pauls time such as made their brags and vaunts of the law : Phil. 3. yet are they called of the Apostle dogs , euill workers , enemies of the crosse of Christ . Wherefore there ought to be a singular wisedome and discretion in the ministery , to distribute the worde of truth aright , to breake to euerie one his portion of the bread of life , to preach the lawe to whom the law belongeth , and the gospel to whom the gospell appertaineth , Iudgement to whom Iudgement belongeth , and mercie to whom mercie appertaineth . Order preposterous to preach the gospel before the lawe . For to preach mercie & forgiuenesse of sinnes before men see their sinnes and know their miseries : by the preaching of the lawe is to preach the gospell vnprofitably : hee that doth not sée his sinnes in the law as it were in a glasse is ignoraunt what miserie is in himself , and what mercie is in God .

Well Philox. I perceiue you are become a fether of a left wing , I knewe when it was not so with you , howbeit this geare will take no colour : neither can I sée but that a great number haue done more harme then good by their preaching . It is a piteous case to sée howe those townes which haue had honest simple men , and quiet soules that would not meddle with other mens matters are now troubled and molested by a companie of sawcie fellowes who can abide no good fellowship , no sportes , no pastime , no not so much as vpon the Sunday . Was not good fellowshippe ( thinke you ) vsed before they were borne ? I can tell you Philox. there bee a thousande of this minde , that if the bloudie pretence of the proude Spaniard had taken place , we might haue thanked these busie fellowes for it .

It was with me Autoph . sometime as it is now with thée , both blinde in iudgement , and corrupt in conuersation : I did prostitute my selfe vnto all kinde of wickednes , hauing no sense of my sinnes , no feare of punishment , no féeling of the iudgements of God , vntill such time as the Lord by the preaching of his word , & the powre of his holy spirite , gaue me new eies to sée better , & a newe heart to discern better : afterward , as a man come out of a dumpe , I wondred at the grosse & palpable darkenes wherein I was before , neither haue I had this féeling in my selfe : but also I haue known & do know many which before their conuersion , & inward alteration of mind , Mark this ye ciuill honest men . were reputed for as ciuill honest men as euer trode vpon a shoe , as substantiall men as any were in the parish they dwelt in , as simple dealers , honest liuers , good housekéepers , as any of their neighbours , neither was it néede to tell them of it , and yet now that the Lord hath effected an alteration & change in them , they thinke far otherwise of themselues , their eies be opened , & their iudgements illumined . For now they sée , that which they saw not before . Luke . 16. Now they vnderstand that there is great ods betwixt the iudgment of God & the iudgment of men , & that God oftentimes in iust iudgement condemneth whom the world vniustly iustifieth . I speak this Autoph . because thou callest me a fether of the left wing , wherin thou dealest after the accustomed maner of hypocrites which speak reprochfully of men conuerted vnto God . For the world loueth his own & bristleth & stormeth when as God plucketh away one fether from his wings . True prechers of the worde called sowers of sedition . That which thou obiectest against the ministers & zealous folowers of the gospell is no nouelty , how that they are the cause of strife , sedition , wars , broyles , hurliburlies wherwith the world is disquieted : against which slandrous spéeches & offensiue outcries , the godly must confirme their mindes with the notable saying of our sauior Christ in the gospel I came not to send peace but a sworde , Luke . 12. for I came to set a man at variance with his Father , and the Daughter against the Mother , & the Daughter in law against her Mother in law , and a mans foes shall be they of his owne houshold : for the word of peace doth seperate as it wer the gold from the drosse , the wheat from the chaffe & the good from the bad : & from hence it is the the wicked become so outragious , & do whet their téeth to persecute the painfull laborers in the Lordes vineyarde calling them the troublers of the common wealth : 1. King . 18. vnto whom wée answer as Elias answered to King Achab , that not hée , but the King was the troubler of the Countrie : Euen so not the ministers which teach the worde painefully , but these vngodly ones which defame them despitefully , trouble the common wealth , and hurt the health of the Church . The vnbeléeuing Iewes at Thessalonica cried out against Paul and Silas saying these felowes that haue troubled the whole world are come hither also . But Paul speaking against the Iews his enemies & persecutors , said , they , as they haue killed the Lord Iesus & their own Prophets , so doe they perseeute vs : they please not God , & are aduersaries to all men , resisting vs that we shoulde not preach the gospell vnto the Gentils to their saluation , that they may still fulfill their sinnes , and so at last , the endlesse anger of God may fall vppon them . It is to be feared , it is with vs , as it was with the Iewes in the prophet Ieremie his daies , a few that imbrace the worde of the Lorde with profit . The rebellious Iewes obiected against Ieremie , that since the time they beganne to leaue the worship of their idol gods , and to hearken to the preaching of the worde of God , they neuer had any iot of felicity , but that mishaps by troupes fell one vpon the necke of an other : hereupon they saide to Ieremie : when we made sacrifice to the Quéene of heauen ( that is to say , to the sunne ) all thinges went well with vs , we had abundance of corne , &c. After the same maner say many of our time , it was well when we heard masse , when we went on pilgrimage , when wée worshipped before images , when we gaue to monks and priests : the feare of God was greater , and there was more loue and good fellowship in a day then there is now in half a yeare .

A thousande are of that minde Philox. neither can you make them beléeue , but then it was a good world , when a man might buy as many egs for a peny as would serue him halfe a dozen meales .

What drunkennes , what astonishment , what madnesse hath dazeled the eies of men that they should sée nothing ? what sleighty elusions of Sathan hath couered their spirites that they shoulde beléeue nothing ? Is this the thanke that we render vnto God for the preaching of the gospell ? what madnes can bée compared vnto this ? The Lord doth offer vs saluation fréely without monie or monie worth : and we had rather féede like swine on huskes and shales , pay for popish dotages & dirty deuises . The Lord doth offer vs drinke of the welsprings of Israell , the fountaine of euerliuing water , and we had rather drinke of the filthy puddle of mens deuillish inuentions . He sendeth his ministers amongest vs to sowe the incorruptible séed of his holy word , to rouse vp these lumpish spirites of ours & to bring vs to repentance : & we accuse his word to be the cause of our sins & miseries , & his ministers to be the sowers of sedition & discention . But tel me this one thing Autoph . art thou perswaded that the preaching of Noe , was the cause of the ouerwhelming of the old world with waters ? or the good perswasions of Lot , the cause why Sodome , and Gomorra was burned with fire & brimstone from heauen , or the forewarning of our sauiour Christ vnto the Iewes to be the cause of the destruction and desolation of that famous city Ierusalem ?

How should I be so persuaded , sithens it was the fulnes of their abhominations which kindled the wrath and indignation of God against them ?

In like sorte it is not the word of God which maketh our sins & miseries abound , causeth dearth or penury , stirreth vp sedition , strife or contention : it is our sins & enormious offences that draweth the heauy iudgments of God vppon vs , let lewde tongues therefore for shame leaue off to blaspheme & to lash out at randome against the gospel of Iesus Christ : let vs remoue far from vs the causes of our miseries , namely , contempt of the word of God , couetousnes , oppression , swearing & tearing of the name of God for vaine trifles , prophanation of the Lords Saboth , drunkennes , surfeting , rioting , &c. and let vs know assuredly , that the happy and prosperous victory which God hath giuen to the professors of his gospell in putting a snaffle in the mouthes , and an hooke in the nosthrels of mercilesse Tyrants and bloudie persecutors of his children , it was for his name sake , his worde and his truthes sake . Therefore let vs with humblenes of heart beséeche the Lord of his entire goodnes to send daily more and more painefull labourers into his vineyard , to water the vine of Englande with the moysture of his holy worde , and that all idoll pastors and hirelings may be rooted out .

Yet more adoe about hirelings , I pray you whom doe you call hirelinges or idoll pastors , it may bée that I shall mistake you ?

The very same Autoph . whom thou callest simple fellows and quiet soules , which care not whether the people committed to their charge , sinke or swim , stand or fall , liue or die , be saued or damned : which either for feare or fauour dare not once mewe or open their mouthes to reproue the sins of the wicked : which are more fit for the tauern than the temple , for the plough than the pulpit : which are more fit for the slaile than to féede the flocke of Christ . The shepheard if he want knowledge may confer with his Dog , & if the séely husbandman want wisdome he may aske counsell of his whip , for the lips of these idols preserue no knowledge .

Now as I am an honest man , and a Christian , I haue hearde many vnreuerent spéeches , and reprochfull raylings , & yet neuer hearde I any thing against honest men so vncharitably spoken .

Beware how thou iudgest , lest thou condemne the prophets themselues . Esai . 50. Esay calleth the ministers of his age , blinde watchmen , dumbe dogs , gréedy dogs . The prophet Ezechiel , Ezech. 22. termeth the prophets , conspirators , gréedy raueners , deuourers like Lions . The prophet Zacharie , Zach. 11. in zeale of the spirit , termeth them no better than idols , I could recken many more sharpe sayings of the Prophets against such biters of the Lords people , but take these for a tast and cease to call the godly & zealous followers of the Lord , despitefull and malicious dealers , because they will not iustifie the wicked in their waies , say that good is euill & euill good , make darkenes light , Esay . 5. & light darkenes , call sower swéet , & swéet sower , to whom the Lord doth threaten that horrible woe of reuenge .

Shall you make me beléeue that the prophets speak of those , which such as you are , call dumbe ministers , & not rather of the enemies of Gods truth ? neuer whilest you liue . Why man these loue God , regard his truth , exhort & edifie to the vttermost of their power : I pray you call to minde that saying of the prophet Zacharie , who dare despise the day of small things , & things of no reputation ? who dare reproue the Lordes souldiers lapping water like dogs ? The stately champions being sent home , who dare vpbraid ? Elizeus , his plowing , Peters , fishing , Paul , All this concludeth nothing for the supporting of a blinde guide . his tentmaking , Mathews , pilling and powling ? who were they that despised Iesus Christ because he was a Carpentors son ? Let these men beware lest hereafter they be like them in torments whom now they do imitate in taunts . Who would vpbraid Luther with his monkery , since S. Paul , was so long a Pharisée & S. Augustine , a Manichée . Why doe you despise these brethren ? Do you thinke that they which bring them into the church know not what they do ? You might as well accuse the one as the other , if you durst . I am sure there is as great care as may be taken by the bishops and their substitutes at this day to admit such to the ministery as be learned , and such as they are wel perswaded of by men of good calling and credit to haue liued an honest and godly life , what can bishops do more ? they be no Gods .

You are not the first Autoph . that haue answered this matter with such a flimflam , howbeit this coine will not goe for currant , when as it is tryed by the touchstone of Gods truth . But doe the prophets speake of those which regard not the truth of God ? If the were granted to go for good coin , must not men therfore be roughly spoken vnto when they commit wickednes ? Is the sinner so tender that he may not be touched ? Idoll pastors saith Autoph . loue god , & regard his gospel : I doubt when the Iudge shall hold his Assise , & the booke of account must be laid open , there shal néed no Proctour to plead against them , no clark of Assise to read their inditements , no great inquest to cast them , for their owne consciences shall both accuse & condemne them for the contrary . Is not this the true badge , & cognisance wherby the shepheards ouer the flock of Christ are knowne to loue the son of God by , The cognisance of carefull Ministers feeding of the flocke . If thou louest me , feede my sheepe . Where is then the loue of those shepherds that neuer had any care of féeding of the flocke of Christ ? what shall become of them which haue pinched & pined to death the soules of their poore brethren , for want of spiritual sustenance , when they shall drinke as a iust recompence of their iniquities the bitter cup of Gods eternal wrath and indignation in the kingdome of darknes , & in the fearful presence of Satan , where the doleful drums of Gods anger shal continually sound in their eares : where shal be wéeping , howling , and endlesse lamentation ? It were ten thousand times better for them to heare of their sinnes nowe , that they may be brought to repentance , & make their hearts smart for the same , then hereafter to cry woe & alasse that euer we were borne , when the day of repentance is past , and the gate of mercy is shut vp . That which you inferre of Elizeus his plowing , Peters fishing , Pauls tent making , together with the rest , maketh nothing at all for the maintenance of a blind guide : we despise them not for that which they haue béene , but we lament for that which they are . Neither are we ignorant that the Lorde hath chosen the simplest and basest of the people , to set abroach the glad tydings of the Gospell , and to confounde the wisedome of the wisest . As touching the care of Bishops in constituting of Ministers , Philoxenus could find in his hart to iustifie them , if their owne carelesnes did not condemne them . I would they had a litle better learned that lesson of S. Paul to his Timothie , 1. Tim. 5. Care in constituting ministers . Laie hands sodainly on no man . Which lesson if it were as well practised , as I would to God it were , then should men of sounde doctrine , polished with good giftes of the mind , adorned with good Art , and furnished with all kinde of science and knowledge , receiue this calling : then should such as be constant in the faith , painfull to til the Lordes husbandrie , faithful , zealous , watchful , laborious , & of a tried conuersation , be sent to labour in the Lords vineyard , whereas oftentimes wee sée the contrarie , that ignorant men of corrupt conuersation haue that calling granted vnto them .

This is a new learning in déed , when such gréene heads dare presume to reproue their elders , as though they knew not what to do , vnles they were aduised by you . Vndoubtedly for mine own part , I wil tell you Philox. if I had xx . benefices , I had rather bestow xir . of them vpon those against whom you so bitterly inueigh , then one vpon a controuler , whom it séemeth you fauour so much .

Do you cal it a new learning to reproue the sinner ? Did not Iohn the Baptist being but a base & contemptible man , reproue king Herod to his beard ? Luke 3. Did not Dauid being a child reproue & tel the elders of their faults ? & saith , I am wiser than the aged , Psal. 119. because I haue kept thy commandements . 1. King . 18 Was not Micheas singular when he reproued & resisted 400. false prophets ? 1. King . 22. Was not Elias mightie , when he withstood all the false prophets of Baal ? God hath made the vile & basest to confound the proud , & very babes to confound the mightie . Out of the mouth of babes & sucklings ( saith the prophet ) hast thou ordained strength to stil the enimie and the auenger . Psal. 8. To flatter men in their sins , were the next way to make them rot in their filthines , & therfore sinners must make their rekoning to be rebuked . Let the wicked therfore cease to make hue & crie ouer the country , saying such are proud malitious men , because they wil not run to the same excesse of riot , but rather reproue the wais of the vngodly : vnles they wil take in the prophets , Christ & his Apostles , & charge them with the same crimes . Let them consider that of the prophet Esay . O how beutiful are the feet of the embassadour that bringeth the message from the mountaine , & proclaimeth peace , that bringeth the glad tidings , and preacheth health , and sayeth vnto Sion , thy God is thy king : Let them consider that of our Sauiour Christ , Hee that heareth you , heareth me : and he that despiseth you , despiseth me , and he that despiseth me , despiseth him that sent me . But shall I tell you wherefore the word of God is hated of the world , and the Ministers thereof enuied : because it containeth sharp corrosiues against secure consciences , because it requireth mortification of the flesh , quickning of the spirit , a liuely faith , and vnfained repentance : and this is one of the especiall causes wherefore Autophilus fauoureth the good Ministers so charitably as he doth , insomuch as if he had twenty Ecclesiasticall liuings , he had rather to bestowe ninetéene of them vppon blinde watch men , than one vpon a vigilant shephearde , that hath care to look vp the lost shéepe of Israel . Here if I should but glaunce at our English Simoniacks , I knowe that I should rather displease than content . Wherfore I will say nothing of Church robbers , marchant buiers of Ecclesiasticall dignities , following the steppes of their grand patriarch and predecessor Simon Magus . I wil not say that they are more wicked & vngodly than the Iewes , for they wold not put the price of bloude in their treasurie : but these merchauntes haue so enlarged their consciences , that they can find in their hearts to make merchandise of mens soules for money . Symonie put to his shift . I will winke at the iugling that is now a daies touching this sinne of Symonie , and the pretie fine plaies betwixt maister Parson & his Patrones , as if they would cast a mist before his sight that made the eie , by making a faire glose vpon a bad matter , and putting a golden coat vppon an ill fauoured bodie . But heare you Sirs , all this will not pay the shot , when the reckoning comes to be made . I could say howe that Gentlemen Papists bestow most commonly their Ecclesiasticall liuings vpon dirt dawbers , & such as are in no indifferent measure graced for that calling : that thereby they may bring the Gospell of Christ Iesus into contempt . Tse , tse , not a worde of the corruption of couetous Gentlemen in this point , how farre they will séeke within sixe moneths for sir Iohn lacke latine , lack learning , lacke conscience , and religion , that will make no bones to commit Symonie . Oh what kéeping counsaile on both sides ! Maister Parson sweares , that if he haue twentie pound yerely rent of an hundred , he hath the whole giuen him : The Patrone saith , as he is a Gentleman , he hath giuen him al , and yet his conscience witnesseth , that he hath giuen him the third parte . Thus if both they can plaie fast and loose cleanlie , to dazle the eies of the world , they care not , if for companies sake , they goe both together to their craftes maister , which taught them the tricke of suche sleightie conueyances . In the meane time , neither the Patrone , if he may sheare the sheepe , while maister Parson sheareth the hogges , and scumme the best fat from his pot : neither maister Parson , if he may haue a litle liuing , careth what doth become of poore soules , for whom Christ Iesus vouchsafed to shed his most precious bloud : but by whose meanes so euer it commeth to passe , that the flocke of Christe suffereth spirituall famine , he shall as surelie answere for the same , as hée which beholdeth that so horrible an offence , liueth for euer . For this is the cause , that where there ought to bée such as are able to teache , 2. Tim. 3 to reprooue , correcte , and instruct , such as ought to bée starres , Dan. 12 to giue light to the Church , both in regarde of their doctrine and conuersation , there are wandering Planettes , giuing no light , neyther in their doctrine , nor in theyr deedes : Agaynst whome the curse of GOD is threatened . Iere. 23 Woe bee vnto the shepheardes of Israel that feede themselues , should not the shepheards féed their flockes ? Yee eate vp the fatte , yee cloathe your selues with the wooll , Ezech. 34. the best fedde doe you slaie , but the flocke doe you not feede , the weake haue you not , strengthened , the flocke haue you not healed , the broken , haue yée not bound together , the driuen away , haue yet notbrought againe , &c.