Of the pillars of the Church

IN old time they were the Churches pillars,
That did excell in learning and in piety,
And were to youth examples of sobriety,
Of Christs faire field the true and painefull tillers:
But where are now the men of that society?
Are all those tillers dead? those pillars broken?
No, God forbid such blasphemy be spoken;
I say, to stop the mouthes of all ill-willers,
Gods field hath harrowers still, his Church hath pillars,