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 O earth, for  I call  yon  to witness  my  complaint,  since men, to  whom  I have  given understanding, hear  me  not.

I have brought  up  children, and exalted  them;  but  they have despised  me. The ox knows  his  owner, and  the  ass his master's  crib; but  Israel has not  known  me,  and  my people  has  not  understood. How badly,  I say,  do  men requite me,  whom  I have created and  redeemed,  that they might  serve  me; to  whom I have given  so  many  earthly blessings for  the  support  of the  body,  but  my  Body  and Blood for  that  of  their  soul! Surely they  are  become  like to senseless  beasts,  or  more dull rather  than  they,  for  they do not  know  their  benefactor. Ignorant as  they  are,  the brutes still  know  their  masters; they  obey  and  serve  at their  bidding  those  at  whose stalls they  are  fed  with  only  a little  hay; but  these  ungrateful ones,  to  whom  it  has  been given daily  to  enjoy  my  table and my  heavenly  feast,  alas! have no  regard  for  their  benefactor.

But first  my  complaint  is directed  to  you,  O priests, who despise  my  name! Have I not chosen  you  to  be  my ministers  and  dispensers  of the  mysteries  of  God,  giving you such  a power  as  I have given neither  to  the  kings and princes  of  the  earth,  nor yet to  the  angels  themselves? But how  rarely  is  there  one among you  who  seriously considers this  in  his  heart! Who lights  up  my  altar  for nought? Who sacrifices  to me  of  his  own  will? Is it not  like  people,  like  priest; all seek  the  things  that  are their own? Each one  hastens to  his  own  house,  but  my house  is  desolate.

Often to  perform  the priest’s office,  daily  to  stand at the  holy  altars  and  offer sacrifice to  God,  is  held  in low  esteem,  as  the  duty  of common  priests,  who  must live by  the  altar. But they whom I have  exalted,  and brought up  very  delicately, even they  have  despised  me. For they  are  grown  fat,  and thick, and  gross,  and  forsake God their  Creator: and  they who eat  of  my  bread,  and live in  splendour  on  my  patrimony, even  they  are  greatly supplanting  me. Would the nobles  of  a royal  court thus deem  themselves  honoured, if  the  country  people were daily  to  sit  at  the  king’s table, and  themselves  to  be busied  with  farming  and  cattle, and  other  meaner  occupations?

Will not  more  be  required of those  to  whom  more  is given? For the  laity  will be more  easily  excused  by  the