250, LIVES OF THE PURITANS. " said, that your lordship had written to him, that you " would gladly bestow one on me ; and that your lordship " thought, and so did other of my friends, of which he " was one, that I was much too scrupulous in that point. " Whereunto I always say, if I be too scrupulous, as I 44 cannot think that I am, the matter is such, that I had " rather my conscience were a great deal too strait, than a " a little too large. For I am seriously persuaded, that I 44 shall never offend God by refusing to have a benefice, " and lie from it, so long as I judge not evil of others ; =4 which, I trust, 1 shall not ; but rather pray God daily, 44 that all who have cures may discharge their office in his 44 sight, as may tend most to his glory and the profit of his " church. He replied againstme, that your lordshipwould " give me no benefice, but what you would see discharged 44 in my absence, as well or better than I could discharge it " myself. Whereunto I answered, that I would be sorry, " if I thought not that there were many thousands in " England, more able to dischargea curethan I find myself. " And therefore 1 desire they may take both the cure and " the profits also ; that they may be able to feed both the 44 body and itl?e soul, as I think all pastors are hounden. " As for me, I can never persuade myself to take the profit, " and another take the pains : for if he should teach and 44 preacti as faithfully as ever St. Austin did, yet I should " not think myself discharged. And if I should strain my ," conscience herein, I strivewith it to-remainhere, or in any " other university, The unquietness of it would not suffer 't me to profit in my study at all. 4= I am here, at this present, I thank God, very well 44 placed for study among,a company of learnedmen, joining " to the friers minors ; 'having free access at all times to'a " notable library among the friers, men both well learned " and studious. 1 have entered acquaintance with divers " the best learned in the town; and for my part was never More desirous to learn in all my life than at present. " Wherefore, I am. bold, knowing your lordship's singular " good will towards me, to open my mind thus rudely and " plainly unto your goodness, most humbly beseeching you '== to suffer me to live without charge, that I may study "quietly. " And whereasI know well your lordship is careful how " I should live, if God should call your lordship, being. " now aged, I desire you will not let that care trouble you " For if I had no other shift, I could het a lectureship, I MAE
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