ces the world getteth many children. Among the lay people the
world ceaseth not to bring to pass, that as they be called wordly, so
they are wordly indeed; driven headlong by worldly desires: insomuch that
they may right well seem to have taken as well the manners as the name of
their father. In the clergy, the world also hath learned a way to make
of men spiritual, worldlings; yea, and there also to form worldly
children, where with great pretence of holiness, and crafty colour of
religion, they utterly desire to hide and cloak the name of the world, as
though they were ashamed of their father; which do execrate and detest
the world (being nevertheless their father) in words and outward signs,
but in heart and work they coll and kiss him, and in all their lives
declare themselves to be his babes; insomuch that in all worldly points
they far pass and surmount those that they call seculars, laymen, men of
the world. The child so diligently followeth the steps of his father, is
never destitute of the aid of his grandfather. These be our holy holy
men, that say they are dead to the world, when no men be more lively in
worldly things than some of them be. But let them be in profession and
name most farthest from the world, most alienate from it; yea, so far,
that they may seem to have no occupying, no kindred, no affinity, nothing
to do with it: yet in their life and deeds they shew themselves no
bastards, but right begotten children of the world; as that which the
world long sithens had by his dear wife Dame Hypocrisy, and since hath
brought them up and multiplied to more than a good many; increased them
too much, albeit they swear by all he-saints and she-saints too, that
they know not their father, nor mother, neither the world, nor hypocrisy;
as indeed they can semble and dissemble all things; which thing they
might learn wonderful well of their parents. I speak not of all
religious men, but of those that the world hath fast knit at his girdle,
even in the midst of their religion, that is, of many and more than many.
For I fear, lest in all orders of men the better, I must say the greater
part of them be out of order, and children of the world. Many of these
might seem ingrate and unkind children, that will no better acknowledge
and recognise their parents in words and outward pretence, but abrenounce
and cast them off, as though they hated them as dogs and serpents.
Howbeit they, in this wise, are most grateful to