the same, with all other like abuses in the church, may be reformed easily.  “It is but a little abuse,” say they, “and it may be easily amended.  But it should not be taken in hand at the first, for fear of trouble or further inconveniences.  The people will not bear sudden alterations; an insurrection may be made after sudden mutation, which may be to the great harm and loss of the realm.  Therefore all things shall be well, but not out of hand, for fear of further business.”  These be the blanchers, that hitherto have stopped the word of God, and hindered the true setting forth of the same.  There be so many put-offs, so many put-byes, so many respects and considerations of worldly wisdom:  and I doubt not but there were blanchers in the old time to whisper in the ear of good king Hezekiah, for the maintenance of idolatry done to the brasen serpent, as well as there hath been now of late, and be now, that can blanch the abuse of images, and other like things.  But good king Hezekiah would not be so blinded; he was like to Apollos, “fervent in spirit.”  He would give no ear to the blanchers; he was not moved with the worldly respects, with these prudent considerations, with these policies:  he feared not insurrections of the people:  he feared not lest his people would bear not the glory of God; but he, without any of these respects, or policies, or considerations, like a good king, for God’s sake and for conscience sake, by and by plucked down the brasen serpent, and destroyed it utterly, and beat it to powder.  He out of hand did cast out all images, he destroyed all idolatry, and clearly did extirpate all superstition.  He would not hear these blanchers and worldly-wise men, but without delay followeth God’s cause, and destroyeth all idolatry out of hand.  Thus did good king Hezekiah; for he was like Apollos, fervent in spirit, and diligent, to promote God’s glory.

And good hope there is, that it shall be likewise here in England; for the king’s majesty is so brought up in knowledge, virtue, and godliness, that it is not to be mistrusted but that we shall have all things well, and that the glory of God shall be spread abroad throughout all parts of the realm, if the prelates will diligently apply their plough, and be preachers rather than lords.  But our blanchers, which will be lords, and no labourers, when they are commanded to go and be resident upon their cures, and preach in their benefices, they would say, “What?  I have set a deputy there; I have a deputy that looketh well to my flock, and the which shall discharge my duty.”  “A deputy,” quoth he!  I looked for that word all this while.  And what a deputy must he be, trow ye?  Even one like himself:  he must be a canonist; that is to say, one that is brought up in the study of the pope’s laws and decrees; one that will set forth papistry as well as himself will do; and one that will maintain all superstition and idolatry; and one that will nothing at all, or else very weakly, resist the devil’s plough:  yea, happy it is if he take no part with the devil; and where he should be an enemy to him, it is well if he take not the devil’s part against Christ.