The Plain Mans Spiritual Plow, Chapter 33
CHAP. XXXIII. Of the Oxen which labour and draw on the Soole of Impietie.
THe Aratre or Soole of Impietie, is drawne forth with ten impious*Gregor. moral: in Iob. li. 1. c. 16. Nomine boum …liquando habetudo fatuorum diſignatur. &c. Oxen, which allude in number, nature and quality to thoſe fiue yoke of Oxen, with the which he ploughed, who, being called to the mariage feaſt of the Kings ſon, refuſed to come, and would bee excuſed: and theſe are ſo many kindes of wicked and euill diſpoſed perſons, which being coupled together, conſent and agree to plough iniquitie & vngodlineſſe: and being ten, they compleat and furniſh fiue yokes or couples, as a perfect number of maligne & diueliſh works in the field of this world. In this, for the firſt yoke, is placed, the prophane Atheiſt, and the beaſtly Epicure. In the ſecond, the maleuolent Heretike, & the Romiſh Ieſuite. In the third, the factious Schiſmatike, and the contentious Seditionary. In the fourth, the recoiling Apoſtate, and the thriftleſſe idle labourer. In the fift, the carnal Proteſtant, and the Hypocrite. The firſt denieth the eternal eſſence and being of God, which was, which is, and ſhall be euer the ſame: as ſuch which ſaid in Iob: 1. Atheiſts Iob. 21.7.Who is the Almightie? and in the Pſalme,Pſal. 14.1 There is no God, or God is not. Iob calleth them vngodly, and Dauid calleth them fooles: for they be neither of any religion towards God, nor wiſe for themſelues, nor profitable to the Church. And of the next affinity to theſe are the Cyclopicall Epicures, 2 Epicureswhich diriding all diſcipline, eſpecially the doctrine of the reſurrection, and defying the Lord Ieſus, they make their bellies their gods, conſolating their hearts with this loathſome loare: Let vsus eate and drink and be merry here whiles we liue: for we may die to morrow, and then ſhalt hauehave no pleaſure neither in this world, nor any where elſe. Sap. 2. Mat.Of this kind were thoſe vngodly ſinners in the dais of Salomō: thoſe ſaduces in the time of Chriſt, & thoſe grunting ſwine, which when St. Paul met at Epheſus, & fought with them,1. Cor. 15. Ignat. epiſt. 3. (though in quality beaſts) after the manner of men.
The former Oxe in the ſecond yoke,The ſecōd yoke. 1. Heretikes. is he which doth not only inuent and broach a diueliſh error, and damnable opinion in the Church, to the ſeduction & hurt of the people, but labours moſt eagerly by all arguments, waies & meanes to maintaine & defend the ſame againſt the manifeſt & approued truth of Gods word. Of this kinde was Arrius, Eutichius Manichaeus, Sabellianus Valenteneanus, and ſuch others in the time of thoſe bloody perſecutions of the Church by the Roman Emperors, before & after the raigne of bleſſed Conſtantine, by whoſe impiety both the Tyrants were much prouoked againſt the Chriſtians, and the Saints much offended. To theſe are combined in the ſame yoke thoſe impropriate Catholicks,…. Romiſh Catholikes which depending on the Biſhop of Rome, hauehave with his impiety, not only ſwallowed vp into their caniculare wombes, all the Satanicall hereſies broached and defended by thoſe auncient Heretickes in the Church: but alſo hauehave vomited and caſt forth the ſame on the poore people of this time, to the ſeducing of many ſimple ſoules laden with ſinne, and the great diſturbance of the Chriſtian peace. And therein, they are not contented,Caſſiod. in Pſal. either through the deſire of riches, and an odious boaſting of pride and vaine-glorie to perſecute others, which conſent not with them in their errours, and trecherous deſignes: but through vnmercifull crueltie and rage, to perſecute the poore and needie, without any regard,Rende more of this in my Preparatiue to Contentation. Chap. 3. 4. 5. &c. either of honour, or of gaine: neither are they aſhamed (albeit they be intituled, Catholickes, and perſons of eſpeciall orders and note) to oppoſe themſelues againſt the Lorde Ieſus Chriſt and his Miniſters, in their ſtudies, in their Doctrines, and in their liues: of the which, the firſt is moſt impious: the ſecond moſt diuelliſh: the third moſt filthy.
In the third Yoke, The third Yoke.are firſt, thoſe which infringe the vnitie and record of the Church, renting therin (as much as in them lieth) the ſeameleſſe coate of the Lord Ieſus,1. Sciſmatiskes. making queſtions and doubtes of things, which in themſelues are indifferent, and which neuertheleſſe by the impoſition of lawes are neceſſarie: as touch not, handle not, taſte not: that we prophane not our ſelues, and our holy religion: ſuch were in the time of the Apoſtles, and of this kinde are they in this time, which through their preciſe curioſitie,1. Cor. 7. exaſperate the ordinance, and offend the weake brethren, to the affliction of Ioſeph. To theſe are aptly added, the troubleſome Seditionaries, 2. Seditionaries.who in their polypragmoſynie, miniſter vehement cauſes, and occaſions of warres, brawles, contentions, commotions and tumults, in well ordered Common-wealths: with a purpoſe to alter and change the conſtitutions thereof after thelr owne fantaſticall opinions: Such were Iudas and Theudas, about the time of Chriſt,Act. and his Apoſtles: and of this kinde, the Chronicles and Hiſtories make large mention in eueryevery age. The Lorde in his wiſedome, preſerue and defend both our Church and Common-wealth, from the labours of thoſe peſtilent plowers, and vnthriftie Oxen.
In the fourth Yoke, The 4. Yoke.we finde him, who hauing taken the Plough of Pietie in hand, looketh backward, as did Cayn, Iudas, Lots Wife, Demas, and Iulian the Apoſtatate,1. Apoſtates. Heb. 6.6. & 10.26. which are therefore compared to vnſauoury Salte, good for nothing: to Candles, whoſe lights are quenched out: ſo are they moſt hard to bee recouered and brought to life againe. The nature of thoſe Oxen (as Salomon teſtifieth) is to plough and ſowe for brawlings and contentions at all times: whom Iob alſo condemneth, as ſuch, who with a peruerſe iudgement,Gregor. in Iob lib. 20. cap 16. Perturbata tranquillis, dura leuibus, aſpera mitibus tranſitoria aeternis, ſuſpecta ſecuris anteponunt. 1. Preferre things troubleſome, before things quiet: hard things before ſoft: ſharpe before me…ke: tranſitorie, before eternall: and things ſuſpected, before thoſe which are ſecure. And with thoſe are aptly conioyned, the Idle Labourers (wherfore Bernard 2. Idelers. Bern.ſpeaketh) which ſlugging on the waues of this Ocean, with an vnſtancht ſhip, are miſerably wracked in the depth of the ſame. For as the trees which grow not ſterue, or are very neare to ſteruing: ſo ſuch as proceede not from vertue to vertue, and from one grace to another, with them that are new borne in Chriſt, are readie to fall into thoſe noyſome ſnares of the diuell,1. Tim. which drowne men in perdition, and looſe that which they hauehave, with that idle ſeruant, who hidde his Lordes talent in the earth, without vſe. (For deficiens, & non proficiens, are of one affinitie). This when S. Paul had noted in the Galathians,Gal. 3.1. he reproued them ſharply. And obſeruing the ſame in the Corinthians,1. Cor. 10.12. he did not onelyonly ſet before their eyes, the fearefull example of the Iſraelites, which periſhed in the Wilderneſſe: but admoniſhed, that hee who thought he ſurely ſtood, ſhould beware of falling.
In the fift Yoke The fift yoke.are placed ſuch, as proteſt for the Lord Ieſus, in word; but in their workes they doe both denie and defie him. Of this kinde complained Ignatius, Carnall Proteſtants. Ignat. Ep. 1. ad Iralianos Gregor. Aug. As wel for this, as for the former Reade my Preparatiue to Cō tentation.the Antiochian Biſhop and Martyr, whom he called vaine bablers, ſeducers of the minde: not Christian, but Christ-ſellers. Another ſaid of them: Lingua omnis, Chriſtum loquitur, ſed vita neminis. Chriſt is confeſsed by eueryevery mans tongue, but by no mans life. The worke of the true Christian ſhould indeed expreſſe his louelove, leaſt he be called a Chriſtian in vaine: but theſe men will yet be called Chriſtians, who in their actions and liues, are no better then Atheiſts, and Epicures: yea, notwithſtanding their profeſſion: we may eaſily perceiue, that theſe perſons, being of a peruerſe nature, for the glory of this world, louelove tribulations,Greg. in Iob. li. 20 ca. 15 and for the ſame ſerue willingly to all toiles, and deuoutly ſubmit their neckes (with the oxe) to the yoke of irkeſome labours, the which the Prophet Hoſeah Hoſ. 10vnderunder the perſon of Ephraim deſcribes: for the oxe accuſtomed to the yoke or triture, albeit hee be vnyoked, yet nor compelled, dooth often (of his owne ac…ord) returne to the yoke againe: euen ſo, the mind of the carnall man dedicated to the ſeruitude of this world, and accuſtomed to the fatigation of things temporall, although he may be freed from the ſame, yet haſteneth with terror, ſweatings and toiles, and by the vſe of a wretched cuſtome, ſeekes for the tritary of hard labours: ſo that he will not ceaſe to beare the yoke of worldly ſeruitude, albeit he be releaſed & may be free. Theſe bee drenched with wormewood: and yet they feele not the bitternes of that wherewith they bee repleat. But what ſaith the Lord? What right hauehave ye to preach my Word, Pſal. 50.and to take my Law in your mouth: ſeeing yee hate to bee reformed, & hauehave caſt my word behind you? Againe, Wherefore call ye me Lord, Lord, when ye wil not do that which I command you? With theſe are combined thoſe hollow-hearted perſons,2. Hypocrites. which vnderunder the ſame name, or at the leaſt vnderunder the title of louelove Chriſtians, pretend great holineſſe, zeale & deuotion, ſo farre beyond all others, as that the godly plaine Chriſtian, and indeed the right Proteſtant, is contemptible in their curious eies, no leſſe then ſometimes the poore Publican repenting, was diſdained of the proud Phariſie. Theſe draw neer to the Lord with their mouthes, but in their hearts they are far away from him▪ reſembling the painted Sepulchres. But howſoeuer they ſimulate, that good which indeede they hauehave not, and diſſemble that euill which lieth hidden in their harts, & ſo glance in glory before the face of men, the Lorde ſearcheth their reines, & ſeeth them well enough, and diſcouereth thē to be proud, malicious, couetous, yea, deuoid of true religion, and ſo abhominable. Therfore howſoeuer they be eſteemed wiſe & honourable in the ſchoole of their followers, they are (as one wel ſaid) Stulti & ignobilis quos ab aeternae hereditatis conſortio repellit ſeruitus mentis; Greg. in Iob. li. 21. cc. 19.They are very fooles & baſe perſons, whom thraldome of their minds hath alienated from the company of the eternall inheritance. Moreouer, theſe Oxen, for their furniture in this buſineſſe, hauehave alſo (as anſwerable to Pieties Plough) their Yokes, 1. The yoke of Impiety.their Necke-bowes, their Keyes, and their Chaines or Ropes. Their yoke is not that which the true chriſtians beare with great courage & comfort: nor only that ſeruile yoke of the Law, whereto the Iewes were conſtrained to bow their neckes: but the heauy yoke of preuarication & ſin, to the which they are in eueryevery ranke proſtituted & conſtrained by the law of their members & a cankred conſcience, wherein they hauehave a conſuming worm euer gnawing their ſoules, which are as the Neck-bowes 2. Necke-bowes.of this yoke, ſtrengthened or holden in by the Keyes 3. The Keyes.of Satans ſuggeſtion & policie: and finally, they are tied together with fiue chaines or yron ropes,4. The Ropes. which are the fiue chiefe ſenſes, as wel of ſoule as of bodie, vnderunder natures corruption and their ſinfull abuſe: as whereby neither ſeeing, nor hearing, nor taſting, nor ſmelling, nor feeling perfectly, they put light for darkneſſe, and darknes for light; ſweete for ſo wer, and ſower for ſweete; good for euill, and euill for good: therefore worthily reproued by the holy Prophet, & threatned with a terrible woe. Iſa. 5.