The Preaching Bishop Reproving, Part 2
Part of a Sermon preached by Mr. Hugh Latimer at Paul's Church in London, the Title of which Sermon is The Plough.
—I Told you in my first Sermon (honourable Audience) that I purposed to declare unto you two Things. The one, what seed should be sowen in Gods Field, in Gods Plough-Land.
And the other who should be the Sowers. That is to say, what Doctrine is to be taught in Christ's Church and Congregation, and what men should be the Teachers and Preachers of it. The first part I have told you in three Sermons past, in which I have essayed to set forth my Plough, to prove what I could do. And now I shall tell you who be the Plowers; for Gods VVord is a Seed to be sowen in Gods Field, that is, the faithful Congregation, and the Preacher is the Sower. As it is in the Gospel,Math. 13. 3. Exivit qui seminat seminare semen suum. He that soweth, the Husbandman, the Ploughman went forth to sow his Seed, so that a Preacher is resembled to a Plowman, as it is in another place; no man that putteth his hand to the Plough and looketh back, is apt for the Kingdom of God. That is to say, let no Preacher be negligent in doing his office. Albeit this is one of the places that hath been racked, as I told you of racking Scriptures. And I have been one of them myself, that have racked it, I cry God mercy for it, and have been one of them that have believed and have expounded it against religious persons that would forsake their Order which they had professed, and would go out of their Cloyster: Whereas indeed it toucheth not Monkery, nor maketh any thing at all for any such matter. But it is directly spoken of diligent preaching of the Word of God: For preaching of the Gospel is one of Gods Plough-works; and the Preacher is one of Gods ploughmen: Ye may not be offended with my similitude, in that I compare preaching to the labour and work of plowing, and the Preacher to a plow-man. Ye may not be offended with this my similitude; for I have been slandered of some persons for such things. It hath been said of me, Oh Latimer! nay, as for him, I will never believe him while I live, not trust him, for he likened our ever blessed Lady to a Saffron. Bag; where indeed I never used that similitude.—
But in case I had used this similitude, it had not been to be reproved, but might have been without reproach: For I might have said thus; as the Saffron-Bag that hath been full of Saffron, or hath had Saffron in it, doth ever after savour and smell of the sweet Saffron that it contained: So our Blessed Lady, which conceived and bare Christ in her womb, did ever after resemble the manners and vertues of that precious Babe which she bare. And what had our Blessed Lady been the worse for this?—
Ye may not then I say, be offended with my similitude, because I liken Preaching to a Plow-mans labour, and a Prelate to a Plow-man.
But you will now ask me, whom I call a Prelate? A Prelate is that man, whosoever he be, that hath a Flock to be taught of him, whosoever hath any spiritual Charge in the faithful Congregation, and whosoever he be that hath Cure of souls.
And well may the Preacher and Plow-man be likened together, First, For their Labour in all seasons of the Year; for there is no time in the year, in which the Plow-man hath not some special work to do; as in my Country, in Leicestershire, the Plow-man hath a time to set forth his Plow, and other times for other necessary works to be done.
And then also they may be likened together, for the diversity of works, and variety of Offices that they have to do.
For as the Plow-man first setteth forth his Plow, and then tilleth his Land, and breaketh it in Furrows, and somtime ridgeth it up again; and at another time harroweth it, and clotteth it, and somtime dangeth and hedgeth it, diggeth it and weedeth it, purgeth it, and maketh it clean: So the Prelate, the Preacher, hath many, divers Offices to do.
He hath a busie work to bring Parishioners to a right Faith, as Paul calleth it; and not a swerving Faith, but to a Faith that embraceth Christ, and trusteth to his Merits, a lively Faith, a justifying Faith, a Faith that maketh a man righteous without respect of works as ye have it very well declared in the Homily.Prelates have a busie work to do. He hath then a busie work, I say, to bring his Flock to a right Faith, and then to confirm them in the same Faith; now casting them down with the Law and threatnings of God for sin; now ridging them up again with the Gospel, and the Promises of Gods Favour; now weeding them, by telling them their Faults, and making them forsake sin; now clotting them by breaking their stony hearts, and by making them supple-hearted, and making them to have hearts of flesh, that is, soft hearts, and apt for Doctrine to enter in; now teaching to know God rightly, and to know their duty to God and to their Neighbours; now exhorting them, when they know their duty, that they do it, and be diligent in it; so that they have a continual work to do. Great is their Business, and therefore great should be their Hire. They have great Labours, and therefore they ought to have good Livings, that they may commodiously feed their Flock: For the Preaching of the Word of God unto the People,Strawberry Preachers once or twice a year. is called Meat: Scripture calleth it Meat, not Strawberries, that come but once a year, and tarry not long, but are soon gone; but it is Meat, it is no Dainties. The people must have meat that must be familiar and continual, and daily given unto them to feed upon. Many make a Strawberrie of it, ministring it but once a year; but such do not the Office of good Prelates: For Christ saith, Quis (putas) est Servus prudeus & fidelis? Qui dat cibum in tempore. Who, think you, is a wise man, a faithful servant? He that giveth meat in due time: So that he must at all times convenient preach diligently: Therefore saith he, Who, trow you, is a Faithful Servant? He speaketh it, as though it were a rare thing to find such a one; and as though he should say, there be but a few of them to find in the world: And how few of them there be throughout this Realm, that give meat to their Flocks, as they should do, the Visitors can best tell: Too few, too few, the more is the pity, and never so few as now.
By this it appeareth, that a Prelate, or any that hath cure of souls, must diligently and substantially work and labour: Therefore saith Paul to Timothy, Qui Episcopatum de siderat, hic bonum opus de siderut. 1 Tim. 3.1He that desireth to have the Office of a Bishop or Prelate, that man desireth a good work: Then if it be a good work, it is work; ye can make but a work of it. It is Gods work, Gods Plow, and that Plow God would have still going: Such then as loyter, and live idly, are not good Prelates or Ministers. And of such as do not preach and teach, God saith by his Prophet Jeremy, maledictus qui facit opus Dei fraudulenter, guilfully or deceitfully; some Books have negligenter, negligently or slackly. How many such Bishops, how many such Prelates (Lord for thy mercy) are there now in England? And what shall we in this case do? Shall we company with them? O Lord, for thy mercy shall we not company with them? O Lord, whither shall we flee rfom them? But cursed be he that doth the work of God negligently, or guilfully: A sore word for them that are negligent in discharging their Office,Idle Ministers make evil people. or have done it fraudulently; for that is the thing that maketh the people ill, But true it must be that Christ saith: Multi sunt vocati, Math. 11.pauci vero Electi, many are called, but few chosen. Here I have an occasion by the way, somewhat to say unto you; yea, for the place that I alleadged unto you before out of Jeremy. Ier. c. 48.And it was spoken of a spiritual work of God, a work that was commanded to be done, and it was of shedding-blood, and destroying the Cities of Moab. For (saith he) cursed be he that keepeth back his Sword from shedding of blood. As Saul when he kept back his Sword from shedding of blood (at what time he was sent against Amalek) was refused of God, for being disobedient to Gods Commandments, in that he spared Agag the King: so that, that place of the Prophet was spoken of them that went to the destruction of the Cities of Moab, among the which there was one called Nebo, which was much reproved for Idolatry, Superstition, Pride, avarice Cruelty, Tyranny, and for hardness of Heart, and for these sins was plagued of God and destroyed.
Now what shall I say of these rich Citizens of London? what shall we say of them? shall I call them proud men of London, malicious men of London, O London see thy self in this glass.merciless men of London? No, no, I may not say so, they will be offended with me then; yet must I speak, for is there not reigning in London, as much pride, as much covetousness, as much cruelty, as much oppression, as much superstition,What would he have said if he had seen so many eminent Ministers as are now in London? as was in Nebo? Yes I think, and much more too. Therefore I say repent O London, repent, repent. Thou hearest thy faults told thee, amend them, amend them. I think if Nebo had the preaching that thou hast, they would have converted.
And you Rulers and Officers, be wise and circumspect, look to your charge, and see you do your duties, and rather be glad to amend your ill living, then to be angry when you are warned and told of your fault; what a doe there was made in London at a certain man, because he said (and indeed at that time on a just occasion) Burgesses (quoth he) nay Butter-flies. Lord! what a doe there was for that word. And yet would God they were no worse then Butterflies. Butterflies do but their nature, the Butterflie is not covetous, is not greedy of other mens goods, is not full of envy and hatred, is not malicious, is not cruel, is not merciless.Note. The Butterflie glorieth not in her own deeds, nor preferreth the traditions of men before Gods Word, it committeth not Idolatry, nor worshippeth false Gods; but London cannot abide to be rebuked, such is the nature of men, if they be pricked they will kick, if they be rubbed on the gall, they will winch: but yet they will not amend their faults, they will not be ill spoken of. But how shall I speak well of them? if you could be content to follow the Word of God,Look to it Citizens. and favour good Preachers, if you could bear to be told of your faults, if ye could amend them when ye hear of them, if ye would be glad to reform what is amiss: If I might see any such inclination in you, that you would leave to be merciless, and begin to be charitable, I would then hope well of you, I would then speak well of you. But London was never so ill as it is now. In times past, men were full of pity and compassion; but now there is no pitty,Is this amended at this day. for in London their Brother shall die in the streets for cold, he shall lie sick at the door between stock and stock, I cannot tell what to call it, and perish there for hunger, was there any more unmercifulness in Nebo? I think not.
In times past,Iniquity aboundeth and love waxeth cold. when any rich men died in London, they were wont to help the poor Scholers of the Universities with exhibition. When any man died, they would bequeath great sums of money toward the relief of the poor. When I was a Scholer in Cambridge my self, I heard very good report of London, and knew many that had relief of the rich men of London, but now I can hear no such good report, and yet inquire of it, and hearken for it; but now charity is waxen cold, none helpeth the Scholer, nor yet the poor.
And in those dayes, what did they when they helped the Scholers: Marry, they maintained and gave them livings that were very Papists and professed the Popes Doctrine:Oh shame. and now that the knowledge of Gods Word is brought to light, and many earnestly study and labour to set it forth, now almost no man helpeth to maintain them.
O London, London, repent, repent, for I think God is more displeased with London, then ever he was with the City of Nebo. Repent therefore, repent London, Hearken London.and remember that the same God liveth now that punished Nebo, even the same God and none other, and he will punish sin as well now as he did then, and he will punish the iniquity of London as well as he did them of Nebo. Amend therefore.
And ye that be Prelates look well to your Office, for right prelating is buisy labouring, and not lording. Therefore preach and teach, and let your Plough be going. Ye Lords I say that live like Loiterers,Hear ye Bishops. look well to your Office, the Plough is your Office and Charge, if you live idle and loiter, you do not your duty, you follow not your vocation, let your Plough therefore be going and not cease, that the ground may bring forth fruit.
But now me thinketh I hear one say unto me, wot you what you say? is it a work? is it a labour? how then hath it hapned, that we have had so many hundred years, so many unpreaching Prelates, lording Loiterers, and idle Ministers?
Ye would have me here to make answer, and to shew the cause hereof?
Nay, this Land is not for me to plough, it is too stony, too thorny too hard for me to plow.Note. They have so many things that make for them, so many things to say for themselves, that it is not for my weak team to plough them. They have to say for themselves long customes, ceremonies, & authority, placing in Parliament, and many things more. And I fear me this Land is not yet ripe to be plowed.
For as the saying is,Prelacy hath lain a withering this 20 years. It is hoped it will not be so churlish as formerly. it lacketh withering: this Geare lacketh withering, at leastwise it is not for me to plow.
For what shall I look for among Thorns but pricking and scratching? what among Stones but stumbling? what (I had almost said) among Serpents but stinging?
But thus much I dare say, that since lording and loitering hath come up,Note. preaching hath come down, contrary to the Apostles times, for they preached and lorded not; and now they lord and preach not.
For they that be Lords will not go to plough; it is no meet office for them, it is not seeming for their Estate. Thus came up lording loiterers, thus crept in un-preaching Prelates; and so have they long continued; for how many unlearned Prelates have we now at this day?
And no marvel, for if the Ploughmen that now be, were made Lords, they would clean give over ploughing, they would leave off their labour, and fall to lording too outright, and the Ploughstand. And then both Ploughs not walking, nothing should be in the common-weal but hunger.
For ever since the Prelates were made Lords and Nobles, the Plough standeth, there is no work done, the people starve.
They hawk, they hunt, they card, they dice, they pastime in their Prelacies with gallant Gentlemen, with their dancing minions, and with their fresh Companions. So that ploughing is set aside; And by their lording and loitering preaching and ploughing is clean gone.
And thus if the Ploughmen in the Country, were as negligent in their Office as Prelates be, we should not long live for lack of sustenance.—
But they that will be true Ploughmen must work faithfully for Gods-sake, for the edifying of their Brethren. And as diligently as the Husbandman ploweth for the sustentation of the body: so diligently must the Prelates and Ministers labour for the feeding of the Soul.
Both the Ploughs must be still going as most necessary for man.
And wherefore are Magistrates ordain'd, but that the tranquility of the Common-weal may be confirm'd limiting both Ploughs.
But now for the fault of unpreaching Prelates, me-think I could guess what might be said for excusing of them.
They are so troubled with Lordly living, they be so placed in Palaces, couched in Courts, ruffling in their rents,Note. dancing in their Dominions, burdened with Ambassages, pampring of their panches, like a Monk that maketh his Jubilee, mounching in their mangers, and moiling in their gay Mannors and mansions, and so troubled with loitering in their Lordships that they cannot attend it.
They are otherwise occupied, some in Kings matters, some are Ambassadours, some of the privy Counsel, some to furnish the Court, some are Lords of the Parliament, some are Presidents and Comptrollers of Mintes.
Well, well, Is this their duty? Is this their Office? Is this their calling? should we have Ministers of the Church to be Comptrollers of the Mintes? Is this a meet Office for a Priest that hath cure of Souls, is this his charge?
I would here ask one question: I would fain know who controlleth the Devil at home at his Parish, while he comptrolleth the Mint? If the Apostles might not leave the Office of preaching to be Deacons, shall one leave it for minting?—
In this behalf, I must speak to England; Hear my Country England, as Paul said in his first Epistle to the Corinthians chapt. 6. For Paul was no sitting Bishop, but a walking and a preaching Bishop: But when he went from them, he left there behind him the Plough going still, for he wrote unto them, and rebuked them for going to Law, and pleading their causes before Heathen Judges. I speak, saith he, to your shame, is there not a Wiseman, &c.
So England, I speak it to thy shame, is there never a Noble man to be a Lord President, but it must be a Prelate? is there never a Wiseman in the Realm to be a Comptroller of the Mint? I speak it to your shame, I speak to your shame: if there be never a Wiseman, make a Water-bearer, a Tinker, a Cobler, a Slave, a Page Comptroller of the Mint. Make a mean Gentleman a Groom, a Yeoman, make a poor begger Lord President.
Thus I speak, not that I would have it so, but to your shame, if there be never a Gentleman meet nor able to be Lord President.
For why are not the Noblemen and Young Gentlemen of England, Note.so brought up in knowledge of God and in learning, that they may be able to execute Offices in the Commonweal?
The King hath a great many of Wards, and I trow there is a Court of Wards, why is not there a School of Wards, as well as there is a Court for their Lands; why are they not set in Schools where they may learn? or why are not they sent to the Universities, that they may be able to serve the King when they come to age.
If the Wards and Young Gentlemen were well brought up in learning and in the knowledge of God, they would not when they come to age so much give themselves to other vanities. And if the Nobility were well trained in Godly learning,Note. the people would follow the same train. For truly, such as the Noblemen be such will the people be, and now the only cause why Noblemen be not made Lord Presidents, is because they have not been brought up in learning.
Therefore, for the love of God, appoint Teachers and School-masters, you that have charge of Youth, and give the Teachers Stipends worthy their pains, that they may bring them up in Grammer, in Logick, in Rhetorick, in Philosophy, in the civil Law, and in that which I cannot leave unspoken of, the Word of God.—
It is as unmeet a thing for Bishops to be Lord Presidents, or Priests to be Minters, as it was for the Corinthians to plead Matters of Variance before Heathen Judges.Note this ye Nobles. It is also a slander to the Noblemen, as though they lacked wisdome and learning, to be able for such Offices, or else were no men of conscience, and not meet to be trusted.
A Prelate hath a charge and cure otherwise, and therefore he cannot discharge his duty, and be a Lord President too; for a Presidentship requireth a whole man, and a Bishop cannot be two men.
A Bishop hath his Office, a flock to teach, to look unto; and therefore he cannot meddle with another Office, which alone requireth a whole man. He should therefore give it over to whom it is meet, and labour in his own business, as Paul writeth to the Thessalonians: Let every man do his own business, and follow his calling. Let the Priest preach, and the Nobleman handle the temporal matters. Moses a marvellous man, a good man, Moses was a wonderful fellow, and did his duty, being a married man; we lack such as Moses was. VVell, I would all men would look to their duty, as God hath called them, and then we should have a flourishing Christian Common-weal.
And now I would ask a strange question? who is the most diligent Bishop and Prelate in all England, that passeth all the rest in doing his Office?
I can tell, for I know him who it is, I know him well. But now I think I see you listning, hearkning, that I should name him. There is one that passeth all the other, and is the most diligent Prelate and Preacher in all England: The Devil a busie Preacher.And will ye know who it is? I will tell you, it is the Devil: He is the most diligent Preacher of all other, he's never out of his Diocess, he is never from his Cure, you shall never find him unoccupied, he is ever in his Parish, he keepeth residence at all times, ye shall never find him out of the way; call for him when you will, he is ever at home, the diligentest Preacher in all the Realm, he is ever at his Plow, no Lording nor Loytering can hinder him, he is ever applying his business, you shall never find him idle, I warrant you.
And his Office is to hinder Religion,Satan the great hinderer of Religion. to maintain Superstition, to set up Idolatry, to teach all kind of Popery. He is ready as can be wished for, to set forth his Plow, to devise as many ways as can be, to deface and obscure Gods Glory.
Where the Devil is resident, and hath his Plow going, there away with Books, and up with Candles, away with Bibles, and up with Beads, away with the Light of the Gospel,Note. and up with the Light of Candles, yea, at Noondaies.
Where the Devil is resident, that he may prevail, up with all Superstition and Idolatry, Censing, Painting of Images, Candles, Palms, Ashes, Holy water, and new Service of mens devising, as though men could invent a better way to honour God with,Note. than God himself hath appointed.
Down with Christ's Cross, up with Purgatory Pick-Purse, up with him, the Popish Purgatory, I mean.
Away with Cloathing the Naked, the Poor and Impotent; up with decking of Images, and gay garnishing of stocks and stones.
Up with mans Traditions and his Laws, down with Gods Traditions, and his most holy Word.
Down with the old Honour due to God, and up with the new gods honour.—
But here some men will say to me, What Sir, are ye so privy of the Devils Counsel, that ye know all this to be true?
Truly I know him too well, and have obeyed him a little too much, in condescending to some Follies. And I know that he is ever occupied, and ever busie, in following his Plow. I know by St Peter, 1 Pet. 5.which saith of him, Sicut Leo rugiens circuit, quaerens qu…m devoret: He goeth about like a roaring Lion, seeking whom he may devour. I would have this Text well viewed.—
There was never such a Preacher in England as he is: Who is able to tell his diligent Preaching? who every day and every hour laboureth to sow Cockle and Darnel, that he may bring out of form, and out of estimation, and room, the Institution of the Lords Supper, and Christ's Cross.—
The Devil by the help of that Italian Bishop yonder, his Chaplain,Pope the Devils Chaplain hath laboured by all means that he might, to frustrate the Death of Christ, and the Merits of his Passion. And they have devised for that purpose, to make us believe in other vain things; as to have Remission of sins for praying on Hallowed Beads, for drinking of the Backhouse Bole, as a Canon of Walton Abbey once told me, that whensoever they put their Loave; of Bread into the Oven, as many as drank of the Pardon-Bole, should have pardon for drinking of it. A mad thing, to give pardon to a Bole!—
Wo worth thee, O Devil, wo worth thee, that hast prevail'd so far, and so long, that hast made England to worship false gods, forsaking Christ their Lord; wo worth thee Devil, wo worth thee Devil, and all thy Angels.—
When the Kings Majesty,Note. with the Advice of His Honourable Council, goeth about to promote Gods Word, and to set an Order in matters of Religion, there shall not lack Blanchers, that will say, as for Images, whereas they have been used to be Censed, and to have Candles offered unto them, none be so foolish to do it to the Stock or Stone, or to the Image it self, but it is done to God and his Honour before the Image. And though they should abuse it, these Blanchers whould be ready to whisper the King in the ear, and to tell him, that this Abuse is but a small matter; and that the same, with all other Abuses in the Church, may be reformed easily; it is but a little Abuse,Why our reformation is so imperfect say they, and it may be easily amended. But it should not be taken in hand at the first, for fear of trouble or further Inconveniences; the People will not bear sudden Alterations, and Insurrection may be made after sudden Mutations, which may be to the great Harm and Lofs of the Realm: Therefore all shall be well, but not out of hand, for fear of further business.
These be the Blanchers that have hitherto stopped the Word of God, and hindred the true setting forth of the same.Note this wel. There be so many put offs, so many put by's, so many respects and considerations of worldly wisdom.
And I doubt not, but there were Blanchers in the old time, to whisper in the ear of good King Hezekiah, Note.for the maintenance of Idolatry done to the Brazen Serpent, as well as there has been now of late, and be now, that can blanch the abuse of Images as other like things: But good King Hezekiah would not be so blinded, he was like to Apollo, fervent in Spirit, he would give no ear to these Blanchers, he was not moved with these worldly respects, with these prudent Considerations, with these Policies, he feared not Insurrections of the people.
He feared not,Note. lest his people would not bear the Glory of God; but he (without any of these respects, or Policies, or Considerations) like a good King, for Gods sake, and for Conscience sake, by and by plucked down the Brazen Serpent, and destroyed it utterly, and beat it to powder: He out of hand did cast out all Images, he destroyed all Idolatry, and clearly did extirpate all Superstition.
He would not hear these Blanchers, and worldly wise men, but without delay followeth Gods Cause, and destroyeth all Idolatry out of hand.
This did good King Hezekiah, for he was like Apollo, fervent in spirit, and diligent to promote Gods Glory.
And good hope there is, that it shall be likewise here in England; for the Kings Majesty is so brought up in knowledge, vertue and godliness, that it is not to be mistrusted, but that we shall have all things well, and that the Glory of God shall be spread abroad through all parts of the Realm,Note, Who hindred a more perfect reformation. if the Prelates will diligently apply their Plow, and be Preachers rather than Lords.
But our Blanchers which will be Lords, and no Labourers, when they are commanded to go and be resident upon their Cures, and preach in their Benefices, they will say;
What! I have set a Deputy there, I have a Deputy that looketh well to my Flock, who shall discharge my duty. A Deputy (quoth he) I looked for that word all this while. And what a Deputy must he be, trow ye? Even one like himself, he must be a Canonist, that is to say, one that is brought up in the study of Popes Laws and Decrees, one that will set forth Papistry as well as himself, and one that will maintain all Idolatry and Superstition, and one that will nothing at all, or else very weakly, resist the Devils Plow; yea, happy it is, if he take no part with the Devil;Little hope of good by Curates. and where he should be an enemy to him, it is well, if he take not the Devils part against Christ.
But in the mean time, the Prelates take their pleasures, they are Lords, and no Labourers; but the Devil is diligent at his Plow, he is no unpreaching Prelate, he is no Lordly Loyterer from his Cure, but a busie Plow-man; so that amongst all the Prelates, and among all the pack of them that have Cure, the Devil shall go for my money; for he still applieth his Business. Therefore ye Unpreaching Prelates, learn of the Devil to be diligent in doing your Office. Learn of the Devil: And if ye will not learn of God and good men, for shame learn of the Devil; ad erubescentiam vestram dico, I speak it for your shame, if you will not learn of God nor good men, to be diligent in your Office, learn of the Devil.
Howbeit there is now very good hope, that the Kings Majesty being by the help of good governance of his most Honourable Counsellors, trained and brought up in Learning and Knowledge of Gods Word, will shortly provide a remedy, and set an order herein; which thing, that it may so be, let us pray for him; pray for him good people, pray for him, ye have great cause and need to pray for him, Amen.