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
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

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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    ought to leave their callings. [' Sig. N. 2. back] Those who would drive them back into Orders, offend grievously. No unfit Pastors should be rc-appointed. hee, I fay, is fo farre from being bounde neuer to leaue his funftion and calling, that hee ought not one minute of an houre to continue in the fame, though he bee called by man a thoufande times. Therefore he that is a minifter, and hath charge of foules committed vnto him, let him if hee bee not furniflied with fuch gifts as his high calling requireth, in the name of G O D make no doubt of it to giue ouer his funftion vnto others that are able for their giftes to difcharge the fame, in the meane time giuing himfelfe to godlie exercifes of life, as God may be glorified, his confcience difburthened, and the common- wealth profited. Theod. But I haue heard of fome that, confidering the naughtinelfe of their calling, and their owne infufficiencie to difcharge the fame, haue therefore left off their funftion, giuing themfelues to fecular exercifes, and in the ende haue beene iuforced to refume their former fundtion vpon them againe, and that whether they would or not. How thinke you of this ? Amphil. I thinke truely that they who compelled them to take againe that funftion which they were not able to difcharge, and i there- fore left it, haue greeuoufly offended therein. This is as if I, knowing a fimple ignorant foole prefumptuoufly to haue taken vpon him a great and waightie charge, yea, fuch a charge as all the wifedome in the world is not able thoroughly to performe, and when he, in taking a view of his owne infufficiencie, ffiuld be mooued to leaue his charge to others better able to execute the fame than hee, I fliould notwith- ftanding not onely counfell, but alfo compell him to refigne againe his former great charge, which I knowe he is neither woorthie, nor yet able, euer to accomplifli. Thinke you not that he that compelleth him to take againe that office or calling which before he had leaft for his inabilitie, fliall not anfwere for the fame ? yes truely, you may be fure of it. In conclufion, he that is fufficiently furniflied with fuch gifts as are neceffarie for his calling, & withal is found able to dif- charge in fome fort his duty, ought not to leaue his fundtion (for to fuch a on that fo doth, Chrifl: faith ‘ hee that laieth hande vppon the plough, and looketh backe, is not fit for the kingdome of God ’). But againe, he that hath not thefe gifts, and graces fufficient for his calling, to the difcharge of his dutie, ought not to occupie a place in the church of God, as the pallor thereof, much lelfe ought he, ^when [’ Sig. N. 3-]