John Trapp on Zechariah 13:5

Verſe 5. But he ſhall ſay, I am no Prophet] [non-Latin text not transcribed] I am no Monk, no Clerk, I am not book-learned was the ignorant mans, plea in Chryſoſtomes time, and ſo it is ſtill to this day; though it ſerves not his turne. But here the like ſpeech is taken up for a better purpoſe. Hoc et enim principium eſt reſipiſcentiae, ſaith Calvin here. Here begins their repentance, viz. in a free acknowledgement of their ignorance and utter unfi[illegible: 1 letter]neſſe for the office they had uſurped.Si ventribene, ſi lateri. Horat.

I am no prophet] (as for ſelf reſpects that my belly might be filled, and my back fitted, I ſinfully took upon me to be one) but I am an husbandman: and can better hold the plow then handle a text, feed and follow a flock of ſheep, then feed the flock of God (that have golden fleeces, precious ſoules) taking the overſight thereof, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. 1 Pet. 5.2.

for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth] q.d. Shephardy and husbandry I have been ever trained up to, and can better therefore skill of then of Preaching, which is certainly Ars artium & ſcientia ſcientiarum, the Art of Arts, the ſcience of ſciences as One ſaid. Whereunto Melancthon. addeth that it is the miſery of miſeries. And of the ſame minde was his Colleague Luther, when he ſaid, An houſholders pains is great, a Magiſtrates greater, but a Miniſters greateſt of all: and afterward added, that if it were lawfull for him to leave his calling, he could with more eaſe and pleaſure dig for his living, or do any other hard labour, then undergo a Paſtorall charge. The myſtery thereof is not an idle-mans occupation, an eaſie trade, as ſome fondly conceit. The ſweat of the brow is nothing to that of the brain: beſides dangers on every hand for the works ſake, and armies of cares that give neither reſt nor reſpit, [non-Latin text not transcribed] 2 Cor. 11.25. agmen ſubinde irruens. Illyr. but are ready to overwhelme a man. This made Luther affirme that a Miniſter labours more in a day many times then a husbandman doth in a moneth. Let no man therefore, in taking up the miniſtery, dreame of a delicacy: Neither let ſlow-bellies either invade it, or hold it (as popiſh aſſes and ſome impudent Alaſtores now-adayes do) to pick a living out of it. It was an honeſt complaint of a Popiſh writer, we, ſaith He, handle the ſcripture tantum ut nos paſcat & veſtiat, only that it may feed us and cloath us. And Cardinall Cajetan not without cauſe cryes out,Com in Mat. 5. that thoſe amongſt them that ſhould have been the ſalt of the earth had loſt their ſavour: and were good for little elſe, but looking after the rites and revenues of the Church. Now for ſuch as theſe that ſerve not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, but their own bellies, that like body-lice live upon other mens ſweat, or like rats and mice, do no more but devoure victuals and run ſqueaking up and down; good is the counſell of the Apoſtle, Let him that ſtole ſteale no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth, Eph. 4.28. let him earne it before he eate it 2 Theſſ. 3.10. This is hard to perſwade thoſe Abby-lubbers that live at eaſe in cloyſters, feeding on the fat and drinking of the ſweet: and thoſe Idoll-ſhepheards that feed themſelves and not the flock. O Monachi veſtri ſtomachi. Eraſmus truely told the Electour of Saxony, that Luther, Scultet: Anna. pag. 52. by medling with the Popes tripple crown, and with the Monkes [illegible: 2 letters]t paunches, had procured himſelf ſo great ill will amongſt them. One of them brake out in a ſermon into theſe angry words: If I had Luther here, I would teare out his throat with my teeth;Act. and Mon. and then make no doubt with the ſame bloody teeth to eat my maker at the Euchariſt. How much better were it for ſuch falſe prophets with quietneſſe to work and eat their own bread 2 Theſſ. 3.14. then to drink the blood of other men with their lives (as David ſpake in another caſe) yea with their ſoules which periſh by their inſufficiency and gaſtrimargy? Sed venter non habet aures. 1 Chr. 11.19. But the belly hath no eares. Eaſe flayeth the fooliſh. Non minus difficulter à deliciis abſtrahimur, quam canis ab uncto corio: Among other ſcaudals and lets of the Jews converſion this is not the leaſt, that they muſt quit their Goods to the Chriſtians?Spec. Europ. And the reaſon is, for that in baptiſme they renounce the devill, and all his works, part whereof (ſay the Papiſts amongſt whom they live) are the Jews goods; being gotten either of themſelves or of their Anceſtours by uſury. Now this is ſuch cold comfort to men of their mettall, that they have little mind to turn Chriſtian. And as little doubtleſſe have ſuch as with theſe in the text, have got their living by lying: and through covetouſneſſe with fained words made marchandiſe or prize of mens precious ſoules, to return to the hard labour of husbandry or any other lawful but painfull employment. Yet this was done both in Wicklifes dayes by many Fryars that fell to him, and embraced his opinions: and in the reformation by Luther; many Monkes and Nuns betook themſelves to honeſt trades; renouncing their Popiſh vowes and orders; yea Scultetus reporteth that at Auſhborough in Germany, by the powerfull preaching of Dr. John Speiſer Ann. 1523. ſome harlots forlooke the publike ſtews, and married to honeſt men, lived chaſtly, and were great pains-takers.