But in the meantime the prelates take their pleasures.  They are lords, and no labourers:  but the devil is diligent at his plough.  He is no unpreaching prelate:  he is no lordly loiterer from his cure, but a busy ploughman; so that among all the prelates, and among all the pack of them that have cure, the devil shall go for my money, for he still applieth his business.  Therefore, ye unpreaching prelates, learn of the devil:  to be diligent in doing of your office, learn of the devil:  and if you will not learn of God, nor good men, for shame learn of the devil; ad erubescentiam vestrum dico, “I speak it for your shame:”  if you will not learn of God, nor good men, to be diligent in your office, learn of the devil.  Howbeit there is now very good hope that the king’s majesty, being of the help of good governance of his most honourable counsellors trained and brought up in learning, and knowledge of God’s word, will shortly provide a remedy, and set an order herein; which thing that it may so be, let us pray for him.  Pray for him, good people; pray for him.  Ye have great cause and need to pray for him.

A SERMON ON THE PARABLE OF A KING THAT MARRIED HIS SON, MADE BY MASTER LATIMER.

   MATTHEW XXII. [2,3.]

   Simile factum est regnum coelorum homini regi qui fecit nuptias filio
   suo.

   The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which married his
   son, and sent forth his servants to call them that, &c.

This is a gospel that containeth very much matter; and there is another like unto this in the fourteenth of Luke:  but they be both one in effect, for they teach both one thing; and therefore I will take them both in hand together, because they tend to one purpose.  Matthew saith, “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which married his son;” Luke saith, “A certain man ordained a great supper:”  but there is no difference in the very substance of the matter, for they pertain to one purpose.  Here is made mention of a feast-maker:  therefore we must consider who was the feast-maker:  secondarily, who was his son:  thirdly, we must consider to whom he was married:  fourthly, who were they that called the guests:  fifthly, who were the guests.  And then we must know how the guest-callers behaved themselves:  and then, how the guests behaved themselves towards them that called them.  When all these circumstances be considered, we shall find much good matters covered and hid in this gospel.

Now that I may so handle these matters, that it may turn to the edification of your souls, and to the discharge of my office, I will most instantly desire you to lift up your hearts unto God, and desire his divine Majesty, in the name of his only-begotten Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, that he will give unto us his Holy Ghost:—­unto me, that I may speak the word of God, and teach you to understand the same; unto you, that you may hear it fruitfully, to the edification of your souls; so that you may be edified through it, and your lives reformed and amended; and that his honour and glory may increase daily amongst us.  Wherefore I shall desire you to say with me, “Our Father,” &c.