Page:The Journal of English and Germanic Philology Volume 18.djvu/334

 330 Gilbert naturally alluded to the subject in some of his writings besides those already quoted. His ideas are representative of his age and intellectual environment, and worthy of observation in themselves. He was greatly concerned for the proper training of the clergy, knowing that without suitable teachers the masses could not attain the enlightened religious condition that Protes- tantism demanded. Careful instruction of the people was in his eyes one of the chief duties of a faithful minister. 41 Hence the schooling of young men suited to the ministry was to be carefully looked after. He thought this one of the functions of a religious foundation, as he indicates in his plan for the reformation of the chapter of St. Thomas at Strassburg: Since the care of souls is the greatest and most difficult of arts, and one which, unless the Spirit cares for the necessity of the Church by a miracle of grace, cannot be learned without daily instruction and practice, the Sacred Fathers not illiberally received adolescents and youths into the colleges of the canons, that even from boyhood, before, by the contamination of the world, their spirits were corrupted with evil opinions, they should be instructed for the sacred ministry, and become accustomed to flee the snares of the world, and to bear discipline. . . . Therefore it is proper that in a college constituted in this way there should be a place for adolescents and youths, who in one place, under their peculiar ruler and regulator, should be trained in clerical discipline. 42 And in De Regno Christi Bucer calls for a most strict reform of the English universities, which were not, he believed, doing their duty in the production of religious teachers. 43 In addition, he would have the king open other schools for the prepara- tion of Christian ministers, where the poor as well as the rich might fit themselves for the service of Christ and the Church. 44 As might be inferred from his desire to provide suitable religious teachers, Bucer would have every facility given them for exercising their function. The very first of the fourteen laws which, in De Regno Christi, he urges on King Edward VI, is entitled 'De Cathechizandis et Deo Educandis Liberis.' The duty of giving their children religious teaching, and bring- 41 See Bucer 's De Vera Animarum Cura, Veroque Officio Pastoris Ecclesiasti- ci, passim. 42 Scripta Anglicana, p. 194. Cf. p. 198. 43 76., p. 61. 44 Ib., p. 166.