Phillip Stubbes's Anatomy of the abuses in England in Shakspere's youth, A.D. 1583 / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

Stubbs, Philip, active 1581-1593.

Date:: 1877-1882

Credit: Phillip Stubbes's Anatomy of the abuses in England in Shakspere's youth, A.D. 1583 / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$charge ? And what do they then ? Runne ftragling and rouing oner countries, from towne to towne, from citie to citie, from fhire to fliire, and from one place to another, till they haue fpent al that euer they haue, and then the moft of them either become beggers, or elfe attempt wicked and vnlawfull meanes to line by, to the great dif- honour of God, and flander of the word. Theod. Me thinke this is a great abufe, that fo manie, or any at all, fliould be called into the minifterie, not hauing flocks and charges prouided for them before. Amphil. It is a great abufe indeed. For if paftor come of Pafco, to feed, if he be not a fliepheard that hath no flock, and if he be not a feeder, that giueth no fuftinance, nor a father that hath no childe, then are they no fliepheards, nor no watchmen fent from the Lord, that haue neither flocks, nor charges to watch ouer. For ^he that is made a. fliepheard (or a minifter) that hath no particular flocke readie to receiue him, is fo far from being a lawfiill fliepheard, by reafon of his former admiflion, that he is rather made a paftor by the church that hireth him to be their watchman and guide, than of him that firft called him into that fundtion. And therefore woulde I wifti that bifliops and others to whome it doth {Ex officio) apperteine to call, and admit paftors, and teachers in the church of GOD, to bee verie carefull heerein, and not raflily to lay their handes vpon any, before they haue had fufficient triall, as well of their life and doftrine, as alfo of the flock and charge where they ftial be refident, that they go not like maifterlelTe hounds, vp and downe the countries, to the flander of the Gofpell. Theod. Why ? Then I perceiue you would haue none called into the minifterie, before there be a place void for him : is not that your meaning ? Amphil. That is my meaning indeed. Theod. But are you able to prooue your aftiimption out of the word of God, or elfe I will giue but fmal credit to you in fuch matters of controuerfie as this is ? Amphil. I haue not, neither doe I meane to fpeake anie thing vnto you touching thefe matters, but what I am able (I truft) to ® prooue by the worde of GOD. And yet I grant Errare poffium (for Hominis ejl labi, ts* decipi, Man may bee deceiued and fall) but roaming all over the country, I condemn. [* leaf M s. taclc] Bishops should stop these men running about like masterless dogs. No one should be ordaind till a place is ready for him. Bible examples prove this. [MeafM6]$