[165] Acosta, l. vi. c. 23. p. 579. Nothing so much hurteth this church as a rabble of hirelings and self-seekers: for what can natural men, that scarce have the Spirit, do in the cause of God? A few in number that are excellent in virtue, will more promote the work of God.--But they that come hither being humble, and lovers of souls, taking Christ for their pattern, and bearing in their bodies his cross and death, shall most certainly find heavenly treasures, and inestimable delights. But when will this be? When men cease to be men, and to savour the things of men; and to seek and gape after the things of men. With men this is utterly impossible; but with God all things are possible: Because this is hard in the eyes of this people, shall it therefore be hard in my eyes, saith the Lord? Zech. viii. 6. pag. 580. I may say to some ministers that cry out of the schismatical disobedience of the people, as Acosta doth to those that cried out of the Indians' dulness and wickedness. It is long of the teachers. Deal with them in all possible love and tenderness, away with covetousness, lordliness, and cruelty; give them the example of an upright life, open to them the way of truth, and teach them according to their capacity, and diligently hold on in this way, whoever thou art that art a minister of the gospel, and (saith he) as ever I hope to enjoy thee, O Lord Jesu Christ, I am persuaded the harvest will he plentiful and joyful. Lib. iv. p. 433, et passim. But (saith he) we quickly cease our labours, and must presently have hasty and plenteous fruit. But the kingdom of God is not such: verily, it is not such, but, as Christ hath told us, like seed cast into the earth, which groweth up by degrees we know not how, p. 433, 434. Jerom's case is many another's: Concivit odia perditorum: oderunt eum hæretici, quia eos impugnare non desinit: oderunt clerici, quia vitam eorum insectatur et crimina. Sed plane eum boni omnes admirantur et diligunt. Posthumianus in Sulp. Severi Dialog. 1. And Dial. 2. Martinus in medio cœtu et conversatione populorum, inter clericos dissidentes, inter episcopos sævientes, cum fere quotidianis scandalis hinc atque inde premeretur, inexpugnabili tamen adversus omnia virtute fundatus stetit.--Nec tamen huic crimini miscebo populares, soli illum clerici, soli nesciunt sacerdotes, nec immerito: nosse illum invidi noluerunt: quia si virtutes illius nossent, suorum vitia cognovissent. [166] How the Jesuits have hereby distracted the church, read Mariana, et Archiepisc. Pragensis Censur. de Bull. Jesuit. et Dan. Hospital. ad Reges, &c. Aug. Ardinghelli Paradoxa Jesuitica. Galindus, Giraldus, &c. Arcana Jesuit. [167] That God above that knoweth the heart, doth discern that frail men in some of their contradictions intend the same thing, and accepteth both. L. Verul. Essay iii. p. 15. [168] Saith Cleanthes (in Laert.) The Peripateticks are like letters that sound well, but hear not themselves.