A Censure of Simony, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
Of the vnreasonablenesse of Simonie, particularly in regard of the Office and Function of a B. or Minister of the Gospel.
THe Apostle, 1. Tim. 3.1. saith, This is a true saying; if a man desire the Office of a Bishop (or Minister of the Gospell) hee desireth a good worke. Now such is the Office of a Bishop, and Minister of Christ, as if it bee well weighed, a man will bee well aduised how hee seekes or sues for such an Office, much lesse be at the cost to purchase it with any price. For the Office of the sacred Order of Bishops is not altogether so easie, as the world takes it to be. Origen saith, Qui defiderat Episcopi munus,Origen. in Matt. cap. 15. ob parandam apud homines gloriam, aut ab hominibus adulationem, aut ob quastum capiendum ex his, qui accedunt verbo, dant que causa pietatis: talis Episcopus non desiderat bonum opus, ne que potest esse sine erimine, ne que vigilans, ne que sobriu…, quum sit ebrius gloria, qua se intemperanter …gurgitanit. He that desireth the Office of a Bishop, to purchase glory and estimation with men, or to be called of men Rabbi, or to get gaine of those that come to the Word, and doe giuegive for … sake: such a Bishop desireth not a good worke, nor can hee bee without crime, neither vigilant, neither sober, bring drunke with glory, wherein he hath intemperately drenched himselfe. And in his twentie foure Tract vponupon Matthew:Origen. in Matt. Tract. …4. Quidam plurima machinantur vt Episcopi vocentur ab hominibus, quod est Rabbi: quum deberent intelligere, Episcopum fieri oportere irreprehensibilem, & caetera quae sequuntur, vt si non dicatur ab hominibus esse Episcopus, tamen sit apud Deum: Some doe attempt many wayes to be called of men Bishops, that is Rabbi: when in the meane time they should vnderstand, that a Bishop must bee vnreproueable, and so forth, as followeth in the *1. Ti. 3.2. &c. Cyril. Epist. 6.Apostles description, so as although of men hee bee not called a Bishop, yet with God he is a Bishop. And Cyril saith, speaking of the Office of Ministers: If so bee wee execute this Office aright, wee shall receiue a reward, yea and prayse too: but if otherwise, if peruersly, what flames shall bee sufficient to punish vsus? Wee shall heare that voyce, Thou hast destroyed mine heritage, thou hast slaine my people. As for Lay-men, they shall indeed render eueryevery one a particular account for his owne life: But we who beare the burthen of Sacerdotall offices, wee shall answere, not onelyonly for our selues, but also for all beleeuers in Christ.Aug. Valeri…. Epist. 148. And Saint Augustine writing to Valerius, whom he calls his louing Father, saith, Ante omnia peto, vt cogitet religiosa prudentia tua, nihil esse in hac vita, & maximè hoc tempore facilius, & laetius, & hominibus acceptabilius, Episcopi, aut Presbyteri, aut Diaconi Officio, si perfunctoriè atque adulatoriè res agatur: sed nihil apud Deum miserius, & tristius, & damnabilius. Item nihil esse in hac vita & maximè hoc tempore difficilius, laboriosius, periculosius Episcopi, aut Presbyteri, aut Diaconi Officio: sed apud Deum nihil beatius, si eo modo militetur, quo …oster Imperator iubet. Et hinc erant Lachrymae illae, quas me fundere in ciuitate Ordinationis meae tempore nonnulli fratres animaduerterunt, nescuntes causam doloris me…, &c. Aboue all things I desire (saith he) that your religious prudence would consider, that there is nothing in this life, and most of all at this time, more easie, more pleasant, and more acceptable to men, then the Office of a Bishop, or a Priest, or Deacon, if the Office bee carelesly, or men-pleasingly performed: but with God nothing more miserable, wofull, and damnable. Also that there is nothing in this life, and most of all at this time, more difficult, painfull, and perillous, then the Office of a Bishop, Priest, or Deacon: but with God nothing more blessed, if the combat bee so managed, as our Captaine commandeth. And hence were those many teares, which certaine brethren, not knowing the cause, saw mee shed in the Citie, in the time of mine Ordination.Aug. de Ciuit. De…. lib. 19. c. 19. And the same Father elsewhere saith: vponupon the words of the Apostle, Qui Episcopatum desiderat, bonum opus desiderat: Exponere voluis, quid sit Episcopatus; quia nomen est operis, non honoris: vt intelligat non se esse Episcopum qui praeesse dilexerit, non prodesse. And a little after he saith, Locus superior, sine quo regi populus non potest, et si ita teneatur, atque administretur, vt decet, tam…n indecenter appetitur. The superiour place (of the B.p) without which the people cannot bee gouerned, although it be so maintained and managed, as is meete, yet … is vnseemely for a man to hunt after it. So that (saith he) Ocium sanctum quaerit charitas veritatis; negotium iustum suscipit necessitas charitatis. Quam Sarcinam si nullus imponit, percipiendae atque intuendae vacandum est veritati: si autem imponitur, suscipienda est propter charitatis necessitatem: In this case, saith he, The louelove of truth seekes a holy retirednesse: and it is the necessitie of charitie that vndergoeth a iust imployment. Which burthen if no man impose it, then a man is the more vacant to exercise his priuate life in the study of the Truth:Chrys. in Act. 1. homil. …. foreign. but if it bee imposed, it must bee vndergone for very necessitie of charitie. Saint Chrysostom saith: I suppose no man, though neuer so thirstie of glory would euer be made a Bishop, vnlesse necessitie imposed it vponupon him. For who is sufficient for these things. For as that holy man further saith: If thou knewest (saith he) that the Bishop ought to beare the burthen of all; that if others be angrie, they are pardoned, but not he: that others sinning may hauehave excuse, but not he: thou wouldest not so hasten, thou wouldest not so runne to the Prelacy. For hee (the Bishop) is exposed to all tongues, is subiect to all censures, both of the wise and vnwise: he is perplexed with perpetuall cares, night and day. He is enuied of many, he is obserued of many. Doe not tell me of those, who are ambitious of fauour, that louelove to sleepe, that come to their Episcopall office, as to a bed of rest. I speake not of these: but of those, which watch for your soules, which preferre the saluation of their people before their owne safetie. Tel me, if a man hauehave but ten children vnderunder his gouernment, liuing continually with him, he is forced without intermission to take care of them: what then shall not be suffer, that hath so many, not domesticks, but such as hauehave others also vnderunder their authoritie? But hee is in great honour, say they. What honour? *foreign.Three halfe-peny wretches doe raile vponupon him in the market place. Why doth he not then stop their mouthes? A proper reason. For now you are farre wide of the office of a Bishop. Moreouer, vnlesse he giuegive himselfe to please all, both those that liue idlely, and those that follow their businesse, hee heares a thousand accusations on eueryevery side. None is afraid to accuse and traduce him. For they are afraid to speake euill of Princes, but not of Bishops, because the feare of God is of no force with them. Who can expresse their sollicitous care in preaching and teaching? Who can tell what plunges they are put to in their elections? His minde differeth nothing from a ship tossed with waues. He is pressed on eueryevery side with his friends, and with his foes, with his owne kindred, and with forreners. If he be vehement and zealous, they say, he is cruell: if not vehement, they say, hee is cold. But these two contraries must concurre, that so he may neither bee contemned, nor hated. How is hee preuented, how pressed with businesse? How many is hee inforced to offend, volens nolens? foreign, &c.How many must he rebuke, will he, nill hee. I speake not vnaduisedly, but as I am affected, and as I thinke. I doe not thinke, that among Priests there are many, that shall be saued, but farre more that shall perish. The reason is, because this Office requireth an high and excellent spirit. For there bee many occasions to driue him from his owne disposition, and he hath neede of many eyes. Doe yee not see how many things are behoofull for a Bishop to hauehave, that he be apt to teach, that he be patient in suffering of euils, that hee bee constant and faithfull in the Doctrine of the Word? What a difficulty is this? And when others sinne, it is imputed to him. I neede say on more (saith he) if but one depart this life, v…i…itiated, or vnbaptized, is hee not altogether condemned? For the destruction of one onelyonly soule is such a losse, as it cannot possibly bee estimated. For if the saluation of one soule was so precious, that for this the Sonne of God became Man and suffered so great things: consider then what punishment the destruction of one soule will bring. Doe not tell me therefore. The Priest hath sinned, or the Deacon… all their sins redound vponupon the head of those, that chose them. Therefore …f any shall approach to the chiefe Priesthood (to wit, a Bishoprick) … to a function full of care and trouble, no man will easily vndertake it. But now we doe no otherwise affect this Dignitie, then as ciuill Magistracies, namely, that we may be magnified and honoured with m…n, while we are cast out of fauour with God. What gaine doth this honour bring? How doth it appeare to be nothing?foreign. &c. When thou shalt desire the Priesthood, set before thee on the one side those accusations, which it necessarily must suffer; on the other side a life free from publike imployment, and compare the measure of the punishment. For if thou sinnest the sin of a priuate man, thou shalt not suffer so great punishment in comparison: but if thou sinnest in the Priesthood, thou art vndone. A Bishop cannot sinne priuely. For it is well with him, if not offending, he-can bee free from slanders, much lesse if hee doe offend, can hee escape. If either hee bee angrie, or laugh, or desire a little sleepe to refresh him, there be many readie to taunt him, many that will be offended, many that will censure him, and prescribe Lawes vntounto him, many that will renew the memorie of former Bishops, and despise the present, and they doe it not to praise them, but to pinch him.foreign. Warre is sweet to the vnexpert. For wee fight not against those, who by might oppresse the poore, nor hauehave we the courage to stand in defence of the flocke: but after the example of those shepherds, whom Ezechiel mentioneth, We kill and deuour. Which of vsus is so carefull and sollicitous for the sheepe of Christ, as Iacob was for Laban… flock? Who can expresse what cold he suffered by night? And doe not tell mee of any night-watchings, or any such care taken. It is altogether contrarie. Princes and Rulers … not so great honour, as he that is a Prelate of the Church. If he goe into the Kings Court, who hath the precedence of him? There is an vniuersall decay and corruption. Those things I speake,foreign, &c. foreign. not to inforce shame vponupon you, but to refraine your eager desires. But perhaps there is none such: God grant it▪ that so our wordes may vanish into the …ire, and proue … wordes; and so may proue a… potions, which being preuented by the Patients instant recouery, are throwne away. For considering the w…ight of a Bishops office, and the weaknesse of many aduanced to high places, I cannot imagine, saith he, that any man, though neuer so ambitious, vnlesse meere necessitie constraine him, would euer bee consecrated a Bishop. Thus farre this holy and good Bishop Saint Chrysostome.
The same Father in another place, saith: Not onelyonly ciuill Magistrates,Chrys. ex varijs in Matth. locis, hom. 20. but also Prelates of the Churches must render an account of their administration: and that a more strict and mightie account, then any other. For to whom the ministery of the Word is committed there shall be a rigid examination: whether he hath neither through slothfulnesse, nor enuy omitted to speake any thing which hee ought to hauehave spoken, and hath declared by his deedes that hee hath taught all good duties, and hath concealed nothing from his hearers, which might be profitable for them. Againe, He that hath obtained a Bishopricke, the more highly he is exalted to the top of honor, the more strict reckoning shall be required of him, not onelyonly of his doctrine, and care for the poore, but also of his examination of those that are to be ordained Ministers and of infinite other duties. And in his Commentarie vponupon Titus:Chrys. in Epist. ad Tit. cap. 2. hom. 1. The higher the dignitie is, the greater are the dangers of a Minister. To omit other things, which fall out daily▪ if at any time it happen, that either a friend, or some …ther occas… …ee a meanes to promote an vnworthy person to the dignitie of a Bishopricke, and commit vntounto him the waightie gouernment of a Citie, into what tormenting fires doth he throw himselfe? For he that in his more priuate manner of life hath not beene religious; certainly hee must needes bee much worse, when hee comes to …ndertake the gouernment of the Church. Therefore it is by all meanes to bee wished, that hee that hath beene formerly indued with …, he may remaine so still, hauing taken vponupon him such a ministeriall function. For now, both vaine glorie doth more eagerly haunt him, together with the louelove of m…ny, and superci…ious pride: whenas Domination it selfe begets a licentiousnesse of being offensiue, and contumelious, and to giuegive ill language, and innumerable other. And if hee that offends one soule, had better hauehave a mill-stone hanged about his necke, and be drowned in the bottom of the Sea: then he that shall scandalize so many Soules, and whole Cities, and People, Men, Women, Children, Citizens, Countr…men, his neighbours, and others further off, which are vnderunder his charge, what shall he suffer? Therefore such a man hath more need of the grace and peace of God; for vnlesse these bee the prop of his gouernment, all must perish, and fall to the ground. For although thou beest neuer so expert in gouerning, vnlesse in this thy gouernment, thou hast that grace and peace which is of God: the storme will inuolue and drowne in the deepe, both thy ship, and those that saile with thee. For which cause, I am possessed with a great admiration of those men, which are so desirous of such burthens. Thou most vnhappy and miserable of all men, doest thou not see what that is, which thou so desirest? If a man diligently weigh the truth of the matter, such a one is not aduanced to a Lordship, but rather he is a seruant to innumerable Lords, which doe continually couet, and speake contrary things. So he and much more to this purpose. And vponupon the Epistle to the Colossians▪ Chrysost. …n Epist. ad Coloss. c. 1. hom. 3.We doe execute an Ambassage. But we desire not this honour for our selues, God forbid: for we know the vilenesse of it: but for your sakes, that those things which are vttered by vsus, you may the more diligently attend vntounto, that you may receiue profit thereby, lest you heare slothfully and negligently the things which are deliuered. Let no man attend to mee, but to the dignitie of my Ambassage. So this holy Bishop.
Erasmus.In a word, Erasmus in his Epistle Dedicatorie, before Saint Chrysostomes Commentarie vponupon that Epistle to the Galatians, saith, that a Bishop sustaines three persons: one, of a Father, in his Sacerdotall authoritie: another▪ of a Mother, in the desire of bringing forth, and bringing vp her children: a third, of a Nurse, in feeding the Soule with … Doctrine. And as Aaron might not enter into the Tabernacle and Sanctuarie, but with his golden Bels, or else he must die: so the Minister of the Gospell must hauehave the golden Bels of the Gospell alwayes … in his mouth, whereby the sheepe of Christ may be fed.
Seeing then that the office of a Bishop is a…ended with so many cares, exercised with so many duties, inuolued in so many dangers, exposed to so many stormes, obnoxious to so heauy iudgements liable to such sharpe censures: who can blame Saint Chrysostome for admiring, how any man should ambitiously seeke & pursue after such place…, much lesse bee at the cost to purchase them? Yea, how many, w…ighing with themselues the insupportable burthen of this Office, which would make the shoulders of Angels to stoope vnderunder it, hauehave not onelyonly refused it being offered (and that not with a formall N…l…, …) but hauehave hid themselues; and …unne from it as farre as they could. How often did Nilamm…, a holy man of God, seriously and really refuse a Bishoprick so often vrged vponupon him? Zozom. …col. hist. lib. 8. c. 19.who at length in the middest of his feruent prayer, which he offered vp to God, yeelded vp his spirit to him that gaue it. Besides, sundrie of the Fathers, Claud. Espens. de Episc. fuga.and those whom Claudius Espencaus mentioneth, de fuga Episcopatus, that shunned those high places, as measuring them rather by their waight, then by their height: wee could produce examples at home, as of that learned Deane Nowell, of reuerend memorie, and that learned and godly Gilpin, who both liued within the memorie of this present age, when both there was so much grace in the World, as freely to offer, and in them as constantly, as modestly to refuse.
Gaspar Contarenus, a learned Cardinall, one that liued, and was one in the Councell of Trent, but who was much more honest then many of his fellowes, Gaspar Contar. Card. de Offici… Episcopi, lib. 1.writing of the office of a Bishop, hath these words: Episcopus medius est inter diuinos spiritus, & humanum genus. Ex quo perspicuum est, Oportere Episcopum tum Angelicae, tum humanae naturae quadam ratione participem esse: quod cum de se nullus, quanquam virtutibus ornatissimus, polliceri possit: idcirco Episcopatum optare, absque arrogantiae crimine, aut auaritiae, aut ambitionis, nequit vllus. A Bishop (saith hee) is a middle person betweene the diuine Spirits, and humane kind. Whence it is plaine, that a Bishop in some regard ought to partake both of the Angelicall, and the humane Nature: which thing, seeing no man, although the most vertuous, can promise of himselfe: therefore for any to desire a Bishopricke, he cannot doe it without suspicion of arrogancy, or of auarice, or of ambition. But the want of the due consideration of the waightinesse of a Bishops office, hauing opened a wide window in the Church for such arrogant, auaricious, and ambitious climing spirits to enter at, that come not in by the doore, gaue the same Author occasion a little after in the same Booke, to vtter this lamentation of that present state of the Church of Rome:Contar. ibid. Non possum hoc in loco non magnopere miserari nostra tempestatis calamitatem, cum paucos admodum Christiani popul… moderatores comperias, qui degant in ciuitatibus fidei eorum commissis. Verum satis officio suo fecisse putant, si procuratori regendam vrbem tradiderint, ipsi verò reditibus potiantur; ac magni quidem cuiusdam in Romana Curia pompam comitantur, regnorum que tractant, ac bellorum negotia; de populo verò, cui prasunt, an in Christiana Religione proficiat, an deficiat, ne nuncium quidem accipiunt, egenos que gregis sui omnino negligunt & ignorant: Hoccine est Episcopum gerere? hoccine Discipulos Christi imitari, praecepta que Euangelica seruare? Probus ergo Episcopus operam dabit, ne alteri tradat gregem suum curandum, sed quàm breuissimo tempore ab ouili aberit, nisi aliqua ratione à Pontifice euocatus alicui officio inseruiat, quod ad emolumentum Christianae Reipublicae spectet. Verum non hanc dari sibi occasionem op…et, ne que tale quid ambiat; sed aegrè ac ferè inuitus huiusmodi onus suscipiat; quo expedito non aliud procuret, sed quàm c…tissimè ad gregem redeat. I cannot here (saith hee) but greatly pity the calamitie of our time, when you shall finde very few Gouernours of the Christian people, that reside in those Cities committed to their charge; but thinke they hauehave performed their dutie sufficiently, if they shall commit the gouernment of the Citie to a Proctor, while themselues inioy the reuenues; and they accompanie the pompe and traine of some great one in the Court of Rome, and doe manage the affaires of States, and of the Warres, but of the people ouer whom they beare rule, whither they goe forward, or backward in Christian Religion, they doe not so much as heare one message; and for the poore of their flocke, they are altogether negligent and ignorant of them. Is this to be a Bishop? Is this to imitate the Disciples of Christ, and to obserue the Euangelicall precepts? Therefore a good Bishop shall labour, not to commit his flocke to anothers Cure, but to bee absent from the Fold as little space as may bee, vnlesse for some reason he be called away by the Pope for some speciall seruice, for the good of the Christian common-wealth. But let him not wish or desire this occasion to be giuen him, nor let him make suite for any such thing; but let him very hardly, and in a manner vnwillingly vndertake this taske; which being dispatched, let him not procure another, but with all speede let him returne to his flocke: so he. As Cardinall Poole, being intreated by a Bishop for one moneths absence from his flocke, notwithstanding hee had admonished him formerly not to leaue his flocke: answered (giuing him leaue, Remaines.but for no longer time) I shall take this comfort by your departure, that you shall bee beaten the lesse. This Cardinall also being in election and nomination for the Pope dome, and being charged with ambition in ouer-hastie aspiring to that Dignitie: answered, Ibid.That hee thought not the burthen of that great office to be so light, but that he was of the minde, that it was rather to be feared, then desired. As for them, which vnderstood not, and thought more basely of so great a place, he lamented their case, and was sorry for them.
Deuout Bernard complaining also of the course of his times, saith, among many other things, in his Ser. ad Cler. Quem dabis mihi de numero Episcoporum, qui non plus inuigilet subditorum euacuandis marsupijs, quàm vi…ijs extirpandis?Bernard. sermo ad Clerum. Vbi est, qui flect at iram? Vbi est, qui pradicet annum pl…cabilem Domino? Propterea relinquamus istos, quia non sunt Pastores, sed traditores, & imitemur illos, qui viuentes in carne, plantauerunt Ecclesiam sanguine suo. Et quidem isti sortiti sunt Ministerij locum, sed non zelum. Successores omnes cupiunt esse, imitatores panci. Vtinam tam vigiles reperirentur ad curam, quàm alacres currunt ad Cathedram, &c. Whom wilt thou shew me… among all the row of Bishops, who is not more vigilant in emptying his peoples purses, then in rooting out their vices? Where is one that pacifieth wrath? Where is he, that preacheth the acceptable yeere of the Lord? Therefore relinquish we these, because they are no Tutors, but Traytors, and imitate we those, who while they liued in the flesh, planted the Church with their bloud. These indeed hauehave chosen the place of the Ministerie, but not the zeale. All affect to bee Successors, few Imitators. I would to God they were found as watchfull ouer their Cure, as hastie to runne to the Chaire, &c. And againe in the same Sermon, he saith: Quatuor his qui praesunt in Ecclesia Dei, necessaria esse pra omnibus reor: videlicet, vt per ostium intrent, vt in humilitate se contineant, anaritiam declinent, munditiam tam corde, quàm corpore seruare studeant. Sed quid prodest, si Canonicè eligantur (quod est per ostium intrare) & non Canonicè viuant? Dixit D…minus ad duodecim, Nonne ego vos duodecim elegi, & vnus ex vobis diabolus est? Domine Iesu, cum esset electio illa in manu tua, & non haberes aliquem contradicentem & reclamant… tibi, quare elegisti diabolum Episcopum? Cur bone Iesu non elegisti bonum, & instum, & sanctum, sicut Petrus bonus, & instus, & sanctus fuit? Vel si elegisti diabolum, cur te i…ctas elegisse? Fratres, sic facit Iesus bodiè, eligens sibi multos diab…s Episcopos. Vbi (proh dolor!) reperiemus Episcopos, qui post adeptam dignitatem, in humilitate se contineant? Nempe superbia eis occasio est, vt ad tantam dignitatem aspirent, vt in Ouile Christi impudenter irrumpant, cum tamen per Psalmistam Dominus dicat, Non habitabit in medio domus mea, qui facit superbiam. Vae mihi Domine Iesu, si tecum ere in d…mo tua, & non in medio domus tua; nan tu semper in medio os. At isti non sic. Sunt quidem cum Iesu, sed non in medio domus eius, quia amant, & faciunt superbiam, parentes suos extollentes, pauperes antem negligentes, & deprimentes. Malè vinunt, & subiectos male vinere volunt, Et idcirco comparantur Apostata Angelo, qui dixit in corde suo, P…nam sedem meam ad Aquilonem &c. Quid est Diabolum ad Aquilonem sedem velle ponere, nisi superbum quempiam & impium, super suos similes, à charitatis calore, vel sapientiae, luco alienos principatum appetere, vel adeptum tenere? &c. For those (saith he) that beare rule in the Church, foure things are principally necessarie: to wit, That they enter in by the doore, that they containe themselues in humilitie, that they eschew auarice, that they studie to keepe cleannesse as well in heart, as in bodie. But what doth it auayle to bee canonically chosen (which is to enter in by the doore) and not to liue canonically? The Lord said to the twelue, HaueHave not I chosen you twelue, and one of you is a Deuill? Lord Iesus, seeing the election was in thine owne power, and thou hadst none to contradict, or controle thee, why didst thou chuse a Deuill? Why, good Iesus, didst thou not chuse a good, a iust, and a holy man, such as Peter was? Or if thou …busest a Deuill, why dost thou boast of it? Brethren, so doth Iesus now, chusing many Deuil-bishops. Where (alas!) shall we find Bishops, who after they hauehave got the dignitie, containe themselues in humilitie? For pride prouokes them to aspire to so great a dignitie, to make an impudent irruption into Christs sheepefold; though notwithstanding the Lord saith by the Psalmist, The proud man shall not dwell in the midst of my house. W…e is …, O Lord Iesus, if I shall be in thy house, and not in the midst of thy house: for thou art alwayes in the midst. But those not so. They are with Iesus, but not in the midst of his house, because they louelove and liue in pride, extolling their Parents that promoted them, but despising and depressing the poore. They liue a naughtie life, and would hauehave their people to liue so too. And therefore they are compared to the Apostate Angel, which said in his heart, I will plant my Seat vponupon the North Pole. What is this, that the Deuil will pitch his Seat vponupon the North? But that eueryevery proud and impious man, doth either aspire or vsurpe principalitie ouer such as bee like him, such as are remote from the heate of charity, and from the light of wisedome? This and much more this deuout man.
Now to draw all that hath beene said in this Chapter, by those holy and ancient men of the Church, to a corollary, or conclusion: If such be the Office of a Bishop; if (as Origen saith) it makes the ambitious drunke with vaine-glory: If (as Saint Cyril) to bee punished with fearefull flames; if hee must render a strict account for himselfe, and for all vnderunder his iurisdiction: If (as Saint Augustine) nothing be more easie, pleasant, contentfull to men, if perfunctorily and carelesly performed; but nothing more vnhappy, miserable, damnadle with God, for which that holy man wept at his Ordination; If a Bishop bee a name rather of labour, then honour, and of dutie, rather then dominion; If not to be sought, nor vndertaken, but for meere charitie sake, when necessitie compelleth: If (as Saint Chrysostome) hee beare the burthen of all, bee most inexcusable, exposed to all tongues, distracted with daily and nightly cares, subiect to all censures, liable to all iudgements; if others sins bee imputed to his misgouernment; if the losse of each soule, so precious, shall bee required of him; if to affect it, be to cast him out of Gods fauour; if a priuate life be much more sweet, more secure and safe; if it be not a bed of rest, but of break-sleepe; if their preaching be most solicitous, most assiduous; if he be like a ship continually tossed with waues, and driuen with contrary windes; if not many Ministers bee saued, but much more doe perish; if subiect, euen in despight oftentimes to bee diuerted and driuen from his owne disposition; if onelyonly pride in such, be enough to cause an vniuersall decay and corruption; if their account be most seuere, both for their doctrine, what, and how, with what diligence, with what deuotion performed; and for their life, how answerable to their doctrine, how holy, how religious, how eueryevery way exemplary to their flocke; how carefull in relieuing the poore, how circumspect in electing good Ministers, in reiecting the vnworthy; if this Office make men rather greater, then better, hoysing vp the sayles of each passion to all winds of temptation, especially when it findes pride, auarice, ambition, and the like: If (as Erasmus) a Bishop put on the person of a Father, a Mother, a Nurse, all importing manifold Offices: If, as Aaron with his Bells, hee must be euer sounding forth the word of Truth: if, for the multiplicitie and difficultie of the duties of this calling, Ca…enatosque …, Mutandos … grau…oribus. A…son.chained one within another, many wise and graue men of God hauehave shrunke their shoulders from it: if (as Contarenus) a Bishop must bee aboue a man, of an Angelicall spirit; if the very desire and seeking of it, imply arrogancie, auarice, and ambition; if it bee not enough to serue his Cure by a deputie; if it giuegive him no dispensation to bee a Courtier, and Negotiatour; if thus hee bee vnlike Christ, and his Apostles: If (as Poole) it be so dangerous to be Non-resident; if a Bishoppricke be rather to bee feared, then desired: If (as Bernard) it be vsually made rather a secular merchandize, then a spirituall meanes to gaine soules vntounto God; if such be to bee abandoned, as betrayers, not shepheards; hauing the seat, not the zeale; being successors, not imitators; if any ambitious Bishop be a Iudas, a Deuill, an Apostate Angel, that would hauehave all like himselfe to domineere ouer: if thus hee be excluded from inioying of Christ: if this Office be a Ministration, not a domination: then to say no more, but what so many holy, graue, learned Fathers hauehave said alreadie: What reason can any reasonable man pretend, to excuse not onelyonly the purchase, but the least pursuite of such a preferment, from the imputation of extreame vnreasonablenesse?