Bishop Gilbert Burnet: Reformation of the Church of England: 3.1.94ff.

DEAN COLET THROWS A GRENADE DOWN THE EPISCOPAL CHIMNEY AT CONVOCATION 1511? Burnet seems confused (?) on the date here. Dean John Colet, ensconced in Paul’s letters, putting Aquinas and Scotus to the side, preaches a red-hot sizzler at St. Paul’s for a Convocation of Archbishops, Bishops and assembled clergy. Warham, Fisher and Wolsey are in the wings. Pages 86ff. gives extracts from the sermon. We give this as a flavor: His text was. “`Be ye not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed in the renewing of your mind.’ He told them, “he came thither that he might admonish them to apply their thoughts wholly to the reformation of the church." He goes on thus: “Most of those who are dignitaries, carry themselves with a haughty air, and manner; so that seem not to be of the humble spirit of Christ s ministers, but in exalted state of dominion: not observing what Christ taught…the pattern of humility, said to his disciples, whom he set over his church, “It shall not be so among you;” by which he taught them, that the government of the church is a ministry that primacy in a clergyman is nothing but an humble servitude.” It gets hotter like red-white-hot lava after that.