This is your generation, this is your
dispensation, this is your wisdom. In this generation, in this
dispensation, you be most politic, most witty. These be the things that
I hear of your demeanour. I wished to hear better report of you. Have
ye thus deceived me? or have ye rather deceived yourselves? Where I had
but one house, that is to say, the church, and this so dearly beloved of
me, that for the love of her I put myself forth to be slain, and to shed
my blood; this church at my departure I committed unto your charge, to be
fed, to be nourished, and to be made much of. My pleasure was ye should
occupy my place; my desire was ye should have borne like love to this
church, like fatherly affection, as I did: I made you my vicars, yea, in
matters of most importance.
"For thus I taught openly: 'He that should hear you, should hear me; he
that should despise you, should despise me.' I gave you also keys, not
earthly keys, but heavenly. I left my goods that I have evermore most
highly esteemed, that is, my word and sacraments, to be dispensed of you.
These benefits I gave you, and do you give me these thanks? Can you find
in your hearts thus to abuse my goodness, my benignity, my gentleness?
Have you thus deceived me? No, no, ye have not deceived me, but
yourselves.
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