Would the people
learn to be wanton? they may also see a pattern among their
teachers. Would they learn to be drunkards? they may also have that
from some of their ministers; for indeed they are ministers in this,
to minister ill examples to their congregations. Again, would the
people learn to be covetous? they need but look to their ministers,
and they shall have a lively, or rather a deadly, resemblance set
before them, in both riding and running after great benefices and
parsonages, by night and by day; nay, they among themselves will
scramble for the same. I have seen, that so soon as a man hath but
departed from his benefice as he calls it, either by death or out of
covetousness of a bigger, we have had one priest from this town, and
another from that, so run for these tithe-cocks and handfuls of
barley, as if it were their proper trade and calling to hunt after
the same.
A covetous minister is a base thing; a pillar more symbolizing Lot's
wife, than a holy apostle of Jesus Christ.
The unbelieving world slight the Scriptures because carnal priests
tickle the ears of their hearers with vain philosophy and deceit,
and thereby harden their hearts against the simplicity of the gospel
and word of God; which things the apostle admonished those that have
a mind to close in with Christ, to avoid, saying, "Beware lest any
man," be he what he will, "spoil you through philosophy and vain
deceit, after the traditions of men and rudiments of the world, and
not after Christ.
Pages:
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519