Chap. 3. the. 1. Diuision.
Now I come to M. Doctors arguments which he bringeth to establish this disorder.
And first he sayth ministers of the worde may not occupie themselues in worldly businesse, as to be marchants, husbandmen, craftes men, and such like, but they may exercise ciuil offices. Wher first of all I perceyue, M. Doctor is of this mynde, that the order of God is not to be broken for small gayne, or when a man must take great toyle of the bodie to breake it: but if it may be broken with getting of honor, and doing of those things which may be done without toyle, and with great commendation, then it is lawfull to breake it. In deede so the Poet (but in the person of an vniust and ambitious man) sayde, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. that is. If a man muste do vniustiy, he must do it to beare rule.
Secondarily, I do see that M. Doctor will not be shackled and hindred from his ministerie, by a payre of yron fetters, but if he can get a payre of golden fetters, he is contented to be hampered and entangled from doing the office of ministerie committed vnto him. For vnlesse these should be the causes which should moue him to take the one, and refuse the other, verily I see none.
This is to deride, & not to answere. M Bucer writing vpon the. 4. to the Ephes.* 1.1 rehearsing such worldly businesse as withdrawe the minister from his function and therefore be not meete for him to exercise, sayth thus: Such businesse, as warfare, market affayres, marchandise, hucksters craft, the ouersight of Innes, Tauerns, and bathes: to exer∣cise vnliberall craftes, as to digge mettals and stones, to burne lyme, to carie sande, to be schauengers, and such like. You haue not yet proued that Gods order is broken, if the ci∣uill offices which I speake of be committed to Ecclesiasticall persons. Your iesting tauntes I leaue to those that professe that cunning.