ag:" where indeed I never used that
similitude. But it was, as I have said unto you before now, according to
that which Peter saw before in the spirit of prophecy, and said, that
there should come after men _per quos via veritatis maledictis
afficeretur_; there should come fellows "by whom the way of truth should
be evil spoken of, and slandered." But in case I had used this
similitude, it had not been to be reproved, but might have been without
reproach. For I might have said thus: as the saffron-bag that hath been
full of saffron, or hath had saffron in it, doth ever after savour and
smell of the sweet saffron that it contained; so our blessed lady, which
conceived and bare Christ in her womb, did ever after resemble the
manners and virtues of that precious babe that she bare. And what had
our blessed lady been the worse for this? or what dishonour was this to
our blessed lady? But as preachers must be wary and circumspect, that
they give not any just occasion to be slandered and ill spoken of by the
hearers, so must not the auditors be offended without cause. For heaven
is in the gospel likened to a mustard-seed: it is compared also to a
piece of leaven; and as Christ saith, that at the last day he will come
like a thief: and what dishonour is this to God? or what derogation is
this to heaven? Ye may not then, I say, be offended with my similitude,
for because I liken preaching to a ploughman's labour, and a prelate to a
ploughman. But now you will ask me, whom I call a prelate? A prelate is
that man, whatsoever he be, that hath a flock to be taught of him;
whosoever hath any spiritual charge in the faithful congregation, and
whosoever he be that hath cure of souls. And well may the preacher and
the ploughman be likened together: first, for their labour of all seasons
of the year; for there is no time of the year in which the ploughman hath
not some special work to do: as in my country in Leicestershire, the
ploughman hath a time to set forth, and to assay his plough, and other
times for other necessary works to be done. And then they also maybe
likened together for the diversity of works and variety of offices that
they have to do. For as the ploughman first setteth forth his plough,
and then tilleth his land, and breaketh it in furrows, and sometime
ridgeth it up again; and at another time harroweth it and clotteth it,
and sometime dungeth it and hedgeth it, diggeth it and weedeth it,
purgeth and maketh i