ath cure of
soul, must diligently and substantially work and labour. Therefore saith
Paul to Timothy, _Qui episcopatum desiderat, hic bonum opus desiderat_:
"He that desireth to have the office of a bishop, or a 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 God's work, God's plough, and that plough
God would have still going. Such then as loiter and live idly, are not
good prelates, or ministers. And of such as do not preach and teach, nor
do their duties, God saith by his prophet Jeremy, _Maledictus qui facit
opus Dei fraudulenter_; "Cursed be the man that doth the work of God
fraudulently, guilefully or deceitfully:" some books have it
_negligenter_, "negligently or slackly." How many such prelates, how
many such bishops, 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
from them? But "cursed be he that doth the work of God negligently or
guilefully." A sore word for them that are negligent in discharging
their office, 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, pauci vero
electi_: "Many are called, but few are chosen." Here have I an occasion
by the way somewhat to say unto you; yea, for the place I alleged unto
you before out of Jeremy, the forty-eighth chapter. 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 of 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 the sword from shedding of blood at what time he
was sent against Amaleck, was refused of God for being disobedient to
God's commandment, 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 we say of these rich citizens of London? What shall I say
of them? Shall I call them proud men of London, malicious men of London,
merciless men of London? No, no, I may not say so; th