of the ministry, not from sincerity, but as St. Paul says,
huckstering the word of God. Let not any one suppose that it is here
intended to detract from those many exemplary men of which the Church
of England may boast, learned, eminent, and of spotless fame, for
they are more numerous in that than in any other church of Europe:
nor from those most learned universities which constantly send forth
men endued with every form of virtue. And these seminaries would
produce a still greater number of inestimable scholars hereafter if
sordidness did not obscure the splendid light, corruption interrupt,
and certain truckling harpies and beggars envy them their usefulness.
Nor can any one be so blind as not to perceive this--any so stolid as
not to understand it--any so perverse as not to acknowledge how
sacred Theology has been contaminated by those notorious idiots, and
the celestial Muse treated with profanity. Vile and shameless souls
(says Luther) for the sake of gain, like flies to a milk-pail, crowd
round the tables of the nobility in expectation of a church living,
any office, or honour, and flock into any public hall or city ready
to accept of any employment that may offer. "A thing of wood and
wires by others played." Following the paste as the parrot, they
stutter out anything in hopes of reward: obsequious parasites, says
Erasmus, teach, say, write, admire, approve, contrary to their
conviction, anything you please, not to benefit the people but to
improve their own fortunes. They subscribe to any opinions and
decisions contrary to the word of God, that they may not offend their
patron, but retain the favour of the great, the applause of the
multitude, and thereby acquire riches for themselves; for they
approach Theology, not that they may perform a sacred duty, but make
a fortune: nor to promote the interests of the church, but to pillage
it: seeking, as Paul says, not the things which are of Jesus Christ,
but what may be their own: not the treasure of their Lord, but the
enrichment of themselves and their followers. Nor does this evil
belong to those of humbler birth and fortunes only, it possesses the
middle and higher ranks, _bishops excepted_. "O Pontiffs, tell the
efficacy of gold in sacred matters!" Avarice often