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Chapter 10ParrLament.1.10

Of Pastors and Shepherds, and the Schisms of Christendom

The High Calling of Pastors

Pastors are called to be examples of good life, proclaimers of God's Word, and guides into truth.

The example of a good life is required of all Christians, but especially of the church's pastors and shepherds. For in Scripture they are called fellow workers with God, dispensers of God's secrets, the light of the world, the salt of the earth—from whose hands everyone else should take encouragement and a living knowledge of God's will and vision, so they may become children of the light and taste of timely wisdom.1 They have—or should have—the Holy Spirit in abundance to proclaim and set forth the Word of God in truth and faithfulness. If ignorance and blindness reign among us, they should instruct us with the truth of God's Word, set us in the truth, and direct us in the way of the Lord.

Deliverance Through a Godly King

The author thanks God for King Henry VIII, who as a new Moses has delivered the people from the spiritual bondage of the Bishop of Rome, a persecutor worse than Pharaoh.

But thanks be to the Lord, who has now sent us such a godly and learned King in these latter days to reign over us—who, by the power and force of God's Word, has taken away the veils and mists of error and brought us to the knowledge of the truth by the light of God's Word, which was kept hidden and suppressed so long that the people were nearly starved and hungering for lack of spiritual food: such was the charity of the spiritual curates and shepherds.2 But our Moses—our most godly, wise governor and King—has delivered us out of the captivity and bondage of Pharaoh. By this Moses I mean King Henry the Eighth, my most sovereign, gracious lord and husband—one who, if Moses had prefigured anyone besides Christ, would through the excellent grace of God be fit to stand as another clear image of Moses's conquest over Pharaoh.3 And by this Pharaoh I mean the Bishop of Rome, who has been, and still is, a greater persecutor of all true Christians than Pharaoh ever was of the children of Israel. For he is a persecutor of the gospel and of grace, a promoter of every superstition and counterfeit holiness—bringing many souls to hell with his alchemy and counterfeit coin, deceiving poor souls under the pretense of holiness. But so much the greater will his damnation be, because he deceives and robs under Christ's mantle.4

A Lesson from the Bishop of Rome

The author warns against the deceptions of the Bishop of Rome and calls pastors to hold fast to God's Word, seeking unity and holiness.

May the Lord protect everyone from his tricks and deceptions, especially the poor, simple, unlearned souls. And this is the lesson I want everyone to learn from him: that only when they begin to dislike what he does do they begin to love God—and certainly not before. As for the spiritual pastors and shepherds, I think they will hold fast to the Word of God even to death in order to defeat all God's enemies, if necessary—setting aside every concern for honor, dignity, riches, wealth, and their own personal gain; also following the examples of Christ and his chosen apostles in preaching and teaching sincere, pure, and wholesome doctrine, and whatever makes for peace, with godly lessons by which they may build others up, so that everyone may walk in their calling in holiness of life, in unity and harmony—unity that all true Christians should desire.

The Tragedy of Schism

The author laments the divisions in Christendom, which the devil sows, and contrasts the confusion of many opinions with the one truth of God's Word, which brings salvation and liberty in Christ.

It's much to be lamented—the schisms, divisions, contentions, and disputes that have been, and still are, in the world about the Christian religion—and that there is no agreement or unity about it among the learned. Truly, the devil has been the sower of the seed of sedition, and he will keep upholding it until God's will is fulfilled.✦ There is no war so cruel and evil as this: for war with the sword kills only the body, but this kills many souls. Because the poor and unlearned remain confused, and almost everyone believes and acts according to their own way.✦ And yet there is only one truth of God's Word, by which we will be saved.✦ Happy are those who receive it, and most unhappy are those who neglect and persecute it.✦ Because it will be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for them—and rightly so, if we consider the kindness, goodness, and mercy of God, who has shown his love to us far greater and beyond measure than he ever did to the Hebrews.✦5 After all, they lived under shadows and figures and were bound to the law.6 And Christ—though we were his greatest enemies—delivered us from the bondage of the law, and fulfilled all that was prefigured in their law and also in their prophecies, shedding his own precious blood to make us the children of his Father and his brothers; and he has made us free, setting us in godly liberty.✦✦✦

Christian Liberty Rightly Understood

The author clarifies that Christian liberty is not a license to sin.

I don't mean a license to sin, as many are happy to interpret Christian liberty whenever it is discussed in a godly way.7

Ignorance and Hypocrisy Among the People

The author grieves over the people's ignorance of the works of the Spirit and their lip-service, and calls for heart-worship in spirit and truth.

Truly, it's no good spirit that moves people to find fault with everything, and, when things can fairly be taken well, to twist them into an evil sense and meaning. There are many in the world who talk about holiness and good works, but it's very rare and uncommon for anyone to declare which works are the good and holy ones. The works of the Spirit are almost never spoken of. And so very few know what they are. I can confirm that the people's ignorance is great—not only in this matter, but in many others that were most necessary for Christians to know.8 Because I've had solid proof of this, it makes me say so with no little sorrow and grief in my heart over such miserable ignorance and blindness among the people. I don't doubt that we can all say, "Lord, Lord," but I fear God may say to us, "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."✦✦ God desires nothing but the heart, and says he will be worshiped "in spirit and truth."✦

The Blind Leading the Blind

The author warns that those who follow human doctrines instead of Christ's teaching are like the blind leading the blind, and affirms that only the gospel is perfect doctrine.

Christ condemned all hypocrisy and false piety, and taught sincere, pure, and true godliness; but we, worse than insane or blind, won't follow Christ's teaching. Instead, we trust human doctrines, judgments, and sayings, which dim our eyes—and so the blind leads the blind, and both fall into the ditch. Indeed, in my simple and unlearned judgment, no one's doctrine should be prized or preferred like Christ's and the Apostles', nor taught as a perfect and true doctrine except as it accords and agrees with the teaching of the gospel.

Carnal Pastors and the Love of Mammon

The author condemns pastors who exalt human inventions above the gospel and persecute opponents, showing themselves to be lovers of Mammon rather than of Christ.

But still, those he called spiritual pastors—though they are thoroughly carnal, as their fruits make very clear and plain—are so blinded by love of themselves and the world that they exalt men's inventions and doctrines above the doctrine of the gospel.✦ And when they can't support their own inventions and doctrines with even a jot of Scripture, they then persecute those who stand against them with the greatest cruelty.✦ Are people like this lovers of Christ? No, they aren't: they are lovers of the wicked Mammon, regarding neither God nor his honor.✦ For filthy lucre has made them almost mad—but frantic they certainly are.✦9

Lamentation with Charity

The author calls for a lamentation that accords with Christian charity, and urges all Christians to walk according to the Spirit, not the flesh.

Shouldn't all good Christians deeply lament this miserable state of spiritual people in the world? But still, I can't approve or praise every kind of lamentation—only the kind that can coexist with Christian charity. Charity is patient and kind; it doesn't envy; it doesn't reproach anyone; it doesn't spitefully throw people's faults in their faces, but refers all things to God—being angry without sin, correcting others without slandering them, always carrying a store of gentle words to pierce stony-hearted people.✦✦10 I wish that all Christians, just as they have professed Christ, would likewise strive to follow him in godly living. For we have not put on Christ in order to live any longer for ourselves, in the vanities, delights, and pleasures of the world and the flesh, letting the lust and carnality of the flesh have free rein.✦✦11 For we must walk according to the Spirit, and not according to the flesh; for the Spirit is spiritual and longs for spiritual things, and the flesh is carnal and desires carnal things.✦✦

Read the original English

The example of good living is required of all Christians, but especially in the ecclesiastical pastors and shepherds: for they be called in Scripture workmen with God, disbursers of God’s secrets, the light of the world, the salt of the earth; at whose hands all other should take comfort, in working knowledge of God’s will and sight, to become children of the light, and taste of seasonable wisdom. They have, or should have, the Holy Spirit abundantly to pronounce and set forth the Word of God in verity and truth. If ignorance and blindness reign among us, they should with the truth of God’s Word instruct and set us in the truth, and direct us in the way of the Lord. But thanks be given unto the Lord that hath now sent us such a godly and learned King, in these latter days, to reign over us; that with the virtue and force of God’s Word hath taken away the veils and mists of errors, and brought us to the knowledge of the truth by the light of God’s Word, which was so long hidden and kept under that the people were nigh famished and hungered for lack of spiritual food ─ such was the charity of the spiritual curates and shepherds. But our Moses and most godly, wise governor, and King hath delivered us out of the captivity and bondage of Pharaoh. I mean by this Moses, King Henry VIII, my most sovereign, favourable lord & husband ─ one (if Moses had figured any more than Christ) through the excellent grace of God meet to be another expressed verity of Moses’ conquest over Pharaoh. And I mean by this Pharaoh, the Bishop of Rome, who hath been, and is, a greater persecutor of all true Christians than ever was Pharaoh of the children of Israel. For he is a persecutor of the gospel and grace, a setter forth of all superstition and counterfeit holiness; bringing many souls to hell with his alchemy and counterfeit money, deceiving the poor souls under the pretence of holiness; but so much the greater shall be his damnation, because he deceiveth and robbeth under Christ’s mantle.

The Lord keep and defend all men from his jugglings and sleights, but specially the poor, simple, unlearned souls. And this lesson I would all men had of him: that when they begin to mislike his doing, then only begin they to like God ─ and certainly not before. As for the spiritual pastors and shepherds, I think they will cleave and stick fast to the Word of God even to the death to vanquish all God’s enemies, if need shall require; all respects of honour, dignity, riches, wealth and their private commodities laid apart; following also the examples of Christ and his chosen apostles in preaching and teaching sincere, pure and wholesome doctrine, and such things as make for peace, with godly lessons, wherewith they may edify others, that every man may walk after his vocation in holiness of life, in unity and concord, which unity is to be desired of all true Christians.

It is much to be lamented, the schisms, varieties, contentions and disputations that have been, and are, in the world about Christian religion ─ and no agreement nor concord of the same amongst the learned men. Truly, the devil hath been the sower of the seed of sedition, and shall be the maintainer of it, even ‘til God’s will be fulfilled. There is no war so cruel and evil as this: for the war with the sword killeth but the bodies, and this slayeth many souls: for the poor, unlearned persons remain confused, and almost every one believeth and worketh after his own way. And yet there is but one truth of God’s Word, by the which we shall be saved. Happy be they that receive it, and most unhappy are they which neglect and persecute the same. For it shall be more easier for Sodom and Gommor at the day of judgement than for them; and not without just cause, if we consider the benevolence, goodness, and mercy of God, who hath declared his charity towards us greater and more inestimable than ever he did to the Hebrews. For they lived under shadows and figures and were bound to the law. And Christ (we being his greatest enemies) hath delivered us from the bondage of the law, and hath fulfilled all that was figured in their law and also in their prophecies, shedding his own precious blood to make us the children of his Father and his brethren; and hath made us free, setting us in a godly liberty.

I mean not license to sin, as many be glad to interpret the same when Christian liberty is godly entreated of.

Truly, it is no good spirit that moveth men to find fault at everything, and when things may be well taken, to pervert them into an evil sense and meaning. There be in the world many speakers of holiness and good works, but very rare and seldom is declared which be the good and holy works. The works of the Spirit be never, almost, spoken of. And therefore very few know what they are. I am able to justify the ignorance of the people to be great, not in this matter alone, but in many other which were most necessary for Christians to know. Because I have had just proof of the same, it maketh me thus much to say with no little sorrow and grief in my heart, for such a miserable ignorance and blindness amongst the people. I doubt not but we can say, all ‘Lord, Lord’, but I fear God may say unto us ‘this people honoureth me with their lips, but their hearts be far from me’. God desireth nothing but the heart, and saith he will be worshipped ‘in spirit and truth’.

Christ condemned all hypocrisy and feigned holiness, and taught sincere, pure and true godliness; but we, worse than frantic, or blind, will not follow Christ’s doctrine, but trust to men’s doctrines, judgements and sayings, which dimmeth our eyes: and so the blind leadeth the blind, and both fall into the ditch. Truly, in my simple and unlearned judgement, no man's doctrine is to be esteemed or preferred like unto Christ’s and the Apostles’, nor to be taught as a perfect and true doctrine but even as it doth accord and agree with the doctrine of the gospel.

But yet those that he called spiritual pastors ─ although they be most carnal, as it doth very evidently and plainly appear by their fruits ─ are so blinded with the love of themselves and the world that they extol men’s inventions and doctrines before the doctrine of the gospel. And when they be not able to maintain their own inventions and doctrine with any jot of the Scripture, then they most cruelly persecute them that be contrary to the same. Be such the lovers of Christ? Nay, nay: they be the lovers of the wicked Mammon, neither regarding God nor his honour. For filthy lucre hath made them almost mad, but frantic they be, doubtless.

Is not this miserable state of spiritual men in the world much to be lamented of all good Christians? But yet I cannot allow, neither praise, all kind of lamentation; but such as may stand with Christian charity. Charity suffereth long, and is gentle, envieth not, upbraideth no man, casteth frowardly no faults in men’s teeth, but referreth all things to God; being angry without sin, reforming others without their slanders, carrying ever a storehouse of mild words to pierce the stony-hearted men. I would all Christians that like as they have professed Christ would so endeavour themselves to follow him in godly living. For we have not put on Christ to live any more to ourselves, in the vanities, delights and pleasures of the world and the flesh, suffering the concupiscence and carnality of the flesh to have his full swing. For we must walk after the Spirit, and not after the flesh; for the Spirit is spiritual and coveteth spiritual things, and the flesh carnal, and desireth carnal things.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Matt.13.24-Matt.13.30 — He put before them another parable, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field." Matt.13.25 — but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away Matt.13.26 — But when the wheat sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared. Matt.13.27 — But the servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where then does it have weeds?' Matt.13.28 — But he said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?' Matt.13.29 — But he said, 'No, lest while gathering the weeds you uproot the wheat along with them.' Matt.13.30 — Let both grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, 'First gather the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.'
  2. ↩Judg.17.6 — In those days there was no king in Israel; each person did what was right in their own eyes.
  3. ↩Jas.1.21;Rom.1.16;Eph.1.13 — Therefore, having put away all filthiness and the abundance of evil, receive with meekness the implanted word that is able to save your souls. Rom.1.16 — For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes: to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Eph.1.13 — In him you also, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation—in him, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
  4. ↩Luke.11.28;Matt.13.23 — But he said, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.' Matt.13.23 — But the one sown on good soil — this is the one who hears the word and understands it; indeed, this one bears fruit and yields, one a hundredfold, another sixty, another thirty.
  5. ↩Matt.10.15 — Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that city.
  6. ↩Rom.5.8-Rom.5.10 — But God demonstrates his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom.5.9 — Much more then, having now been justified by his blood, we will be saved through him from the wrath. Rom.5.10 — For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
  7. ↩Gal.4.1-Gal.4.7;Rom.8.1-Rom.8.4 — Now I say, for as long as the heir is a child, he differs nothing from a slave, though he is lord of all things, Gal.4.2 — but he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by the father. Gal.4.3 — So also we, when we were children, were enslaved under the elemental forces of the world. Gal.4.4 — But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, Gal.4.5 — in order to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Gal.4.6 — And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba, Father.' Gal.4.7 — So you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. Rom.8.1 — Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom.8.2 — For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. Rom.8.3 — For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. Rom.8.4 — so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
  8. ↩1Pet.1.18-1Pet.1.19;Rom.8.14-Rom.8.17;Heb.2.11 — knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things—silver or gold—from your futile way of life handed down from your fathers, 1Pet.1.19 — but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot Rom.8.14 — For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Rom.8.15 — For you did not receive a spirit of slavery again to fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, in which we cry, "Abba, Father." Rom.8.16 — The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Rom.8.17 — And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. Heb.2.11 — For both the one who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all from one; for this reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers.
  9. ↩Matt.7.21;Luke.6.46 — Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Luke.6.46 — Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?
  10. ↩Isa.29.13;Matt.15.8;Mark.7.6 — And the Lord said: "Because this people draws near with its mouth and honors me with its lips, but its heart is far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by humans." Matt.15.8 — But "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." Mark.7.6 — But He said to them, "Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me."
  11. ↩John.4.23-John.4.24 — But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. For the Father seeks such as these to worship him. John.4.24 — God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
  12. ↩Matt.7.16-Matt.7.20 — You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? Matt.7.17 — So every good tree produces good fruit, but the bad tree produces bad fruit. Matt.7.18 — A good tree cannot produce evil fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce good fruit. Matt.7.19 — Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matt.7.20 — So then, by their fruits you will know them.
  13. ↩Matt.5.18 — For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle will pass from the Law until all is fulfilled.
  14. ↩Matt.6.24;Luke.16.13 — No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Luke.16.13 — No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
  15. ↩1Tim.3.3;Titus.1.7;1Pet.5.2 — not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money Titus.1.7 — For an overseer must be above reproach, as God's steward—not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain. 1Pet.5.2 — Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion but willingly, according to God; not for dishonest gain but eagerly.
  16. ↩1Cor.13.4 — Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy; it does not boast; it is not puffed up.
  17. ↩Eph.4.26 — Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
  18. ↩Gal.3.27;Rom.13.14 — For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Rom.13.14 — But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its desires.
  19. ↩2Cor.5.15 — and he died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
  20. ↩Gal.5.16;Rom.8.4-Rom.8.5 — But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the desire of the flesh. Rom.8.4 — so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Rom.8.5 — For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
  21. ↩Gal.5.17 — For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do the things you wish.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩Source 'disbursers of God's secrets' modernized as 'dispensers of God's secrets' (Pauline steward/dispenser of the mysteries), not money-disbursement.
  2. 2 ↩Final clause is ironic: the people's spiritual famine is blamed on the poor 'charity' of the former curates and shepherds.
  3. 3 ↩Source 'expressed verity' rendered as 'clear image' (a manifest, living figure of the type), not philosophical 'truth' in the abstract.
  4. 4 ↩'Alchemy and counterfeit money' kept as fraud/false spiritual currency; not literal metallurgy.
  5. 5 ↩Source spelling 'Gommor' rendered as standard 'Gomorrah'.
  6. 6 ↩'Shadows and figures' keeps the typological sense: Old-covenant signs prefiguring Christ, not mere dimness or images.
  7. 7 ↩Source 'godly entreated of' means handled/discussed as a subject in a godly manner, not 'pleaded for'; the sentence guards true Christian liberty against antinomian misreading.
  8. 8 ↩Early modern 'justify' here means 'show to be true / prove,' not forensic justification.
  9. 9 ↩Source pairs 'almost mad' with intensifying 'but frantic they be, doubtless': rendered as correction/escalation (not mere mild contrast), keeping the biblical set phrase 'filthy lucre'.
  10. 10 ↩Source 'charity' is kept as the theological virtue (not mere almsgiving), matching the 1 Corinthians cadence and the chapter's concern for Christian love in reform.
  11. 11 ↩Source 'concupiscence' rendered as 'lust' for modern readability while keeping the moral force of disordered fleshly desire; 'have his full swing' as 'have free rein.'

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