By this, then, it appeareth that a prelate, or any that hath 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.
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