of Humane or Civil constitution but of Divine and Supream Ordination flowing not from Aarons Priesthood but the Eternal Law made by the Majesty of Heaven and wrote in the Tables of mans heart from the beginning God the great Maker of all things not onely ordering the whole world of mankind to attendance at large on him but also the best and choicest of them to be his special train to whom he gave his own portion for Maintenance this appears in Melchisedeck who hundreds of years before the Levitical Priesthood was setled received Tythes of Abraham as he was Priest of the most high God and this not as many of the Ancients to whom I do reverence and in opposition to whom I would not be understood say as a requital of that honour which Melchisedeck had done him in giving him bread and wine but as instructed by God and specially required to take that as the Res Dominica substantia Dei census or Lords Rent which Abraham was to pay in in ackowledgement to him who was the supream Majesty and by whose power and permission he was then a Conquerour over those Kings and Armies which disturbed the holy seed Now because God knew that in time devotion would flag and Ieshurun spurn with the heel against his Maker when he was fat therefore God in probability conjoyned the Kingly and Priestly Office in the same persons to wit the Patriarchs and Heads of Familie that both might seem to accomplish the end of God the Priesthood sanctifie the Kingly Office and the Kingly Office secure the Priesthood that as the one hath right to receive so the other should have might to compel what is due to be paid from the greatest contrarient Mistake me not I intend no controversie I am to offer my thoughts as an Orator not to dispute as a School-man I shall leave debates to Theologues It becomes me onely to evince the reasonableness and necessity of a Ministry from what is obvious to me in Reason and Authors So ancient is the Office of Priesthood that a Learned man of our own saies That as Melchisedeck Priest of the most high God in Gen. 14. is said to have neither Father nor Mother neither begining nor end of days so may it fall out in search after the Antiquity and dignity of Priesthood that we shall not find out its Original and first Rise it being Primaeval and beyond mention of Record yet in the holy story I read that before the Law there was a Priesthood the Patriarchs were of this In the Law there was a Priesthood Levi and his Posterity in their Families were of that thus amongst the Jews And to this for a long time was appended ths Office of Government and Civil distribution So careful was God to intrust power in pious hands that he took away all fear of their abusing it out of the peoples mindes and gave them a lesson by what they saw in the Temporary Priest to expect with admiration the Eternal Priest and Law-giver Christ Jesus who should be compleatly furnished to all purposes of power and purity that he might perfume their Sacrifices and prostrate the enemies of his Church and this onely in a Spirituall way for his Kingdom is not of this world But a Ministry he has ever had since his departure and I am sure ever will so long as his Word abides which saies The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against the Church Nor did the Jews and Christians onely set apart persons for holy employments giving them Priviledges Tyths and Honour but the very Heathens did thus perhaps from the instinct of Nature The Egyptians chose their Priests and Kings from amongst Philosophers Alex. ab Alex lib. 2. cap. 8. The Greeks Kings and Priests were both one And we read of Iethro Priest of Midian and of the Priests of the Philistims of Baal Molech Ashtaroth and other mentioned in holy Writ and prophane stories In our Nation while the Samothei Sarronites or Druydes continued they had great Priviledges their persons and all that repaired to them were exempted from all secular Services and Taxes all Laws made and Judgements stood to which they declared the best of every thing offered to them Plutarch saies That the Laws did enjoyn reverence and Honour to Priests and holy men because they impart the holy things of the Gods not onely to themselves their children friends and families but to all men indifferently And Plato brings in Socrates affirming That amongst the Egyptians no man could be a King 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unless he were a Priest and if any man got Rule or by Usurpation obtained the Kingdom he was compelled after such obtainment to be Priested that he might be what the Law required both King and Priest Romulus the Founder of the City of Rome Empress of the world set apart Priests and highly priviledged them So did after him Numa his Successor and so did all times downward that were orderly observing the Maxim of Plato which surely he had by Tradition from the Jews as well as by dictate of Nature Not to remove or change those Priesthoods which were ancient and preserved by our Progenitors From the times of the Apostles Christianity held the Order of Priesthood or Ministry sacred And those Emperors and Princes who were good and virtuous did their Duty to them as their Spiritual Fathers Socrates tells us That the Emperour Constantine the Great would not sit down in the Council of Nice with the holy Bishops there convened before they besought him to sit and Sozomen affirms That he refused to give Judgement against the Clergy and when the Arrians brought Accusations against the Orthodox Bishops he took and burned them not permitting their publication saying These Accusations will have proper hearing at the last day of Iudgement Yea Eusebius testifies that he would make great Feasts for the Fathers of the Church set them down with him at the Table largely reward them when they departed command observation of their Canons kiss the wounds of those Bishops and Presbyters that had been tortured and lost their eyes in times of Persecution and would often say If he saw any sin committed by a Priest he would câ—…ver it with his Imperial Robe So writes Theodoret What Honour has been done the Church since appears in stories Emperors Kings and Princes did take their Crowns from the hands of the Clergie for such Bishops were receive Institution from them pertook of the Sacraments of the Church from their hands made them of their Council and Closet employed them on Embassies and other high affairs of State out of pure love and zeal and out of experience of their fidelitie and fitness and not from that pusillanimity and manless subjugation which by many in our Age scornfully is called Priest-riddenness as I may so say their term being Priest-ridden when they express a man addicted to the
written for For although many out of Zeal to their own opinions and perhaps from heat of Opposition lanched out into the Ocean of Argument in the rough Storm of their Passion and would make the Port of their own Ambition and Self-will resolving by the strength of their Wits to force the same belief on others which they took to themselves yet the Sober Grave Pious and Temperate of the Clergie both Bishops and Presbyters took great heed to their waies that they offended not with their Pens or Tongues and ever kept close to Legal proceedings and to the Customes of this Church and the consent of the Orthodox saving onely in Rites which being Adiaphorous did not break our Unitie with other Protestant Churches Hence was it that when Disputes about Government were they distinguished between things and things yea they claimed not the Entire Government from Christ and his holy Institution lest they should place a Ius Divinum in the Hierarchie and condem the Government of other Churches but they warily considered in Episcopacie what was Ministerial and what was Honorary what was Essential and what Ornamental what was Ministerial in Episcopacie our Bishops confessed they held in Common with other Presbyters from Christ and his holy Apostles to Teach to Distribute the holy Sacraments with all other parts of Ministry was equally valid whether done by them or other Presbyters according to that of S. Ambrose The Orders of Bishops and Presbyters is one and the same both are Priests to which agreeth S. Ierom in his Epistle to Nepotian and Evagrius So the 35. Canon of the Councel of Carthage Conform to which is S. Thomas his Determination and that of the Master of the Sentences who both say That Quantum ad nomen non distinguebantur Episcopi Presbyteri sed quantum ad rem hoc est ad scisma vitandum I meddle not with the Controversies handled betwixt the Learned Blundel and the no less Learned and Nobly accomplished D. Hammond Let the world read and judge them My drift is only to purge the Bishops of England as Constituted by Law from all the supposed Arrogation of Powet and Dignitie in concreto from Christ as if they had placed a Ius Divinum on the whole Body of Government which ought to be acknowledged a mixt Government partly Divine and partly Civil what in it is Ministerial they with other Presbyters claimed from Christ his Apostles and their Successors yea and presidencie too they are thought to have had by the same Authority but what was Civil to wit their Baronies from the Favour and Indulgence of their Princes who to express their Zeal to God and his Gospel did Dignifie Religious men with outward Lustre and endowed them and their Successors with Revenewes proportionable requiring of them acknowledgements of this their Bounty Hereupon in the Parliament of Carlisle 25. Edward 1. It is Declared by the Bishops and the whole Peerage and Parliament That the Estate of Prelacie in the holy Church of England was founded by the King and his Progenitors within this his Realm of England for the better instructing of the People in the Law of God the advance of Hospitality and Works of Charity and other Christian Offices The same hath been adjudged and declared in Edward the 3. his time and ever since they were called Elemosynarii Re gis And therefore unless Kings when in power when Fontes honoris praemii nay unless Parliaments conjoyning with them and corroborating their Acts were powerless and invalid which is foppery to utter there was no fault in Clergie-men being Subjects and upon advantage to their Spirituall Function as this was and was intended for taking this Office and Honour and they thought not to be either disregarded or molested therefore but rather pitied it being torment enough to them to lose their Livelihoods in their old age and to be acquainted with want who are unfit to labour and ashamed to begge since therefore it hath pleased God to permit Suspension of this Sacred and Venerable Government here I do humbly begge the Ages Ingenuity if not to pitie yet at least not to help on the sufferings of those Aged Fathers and Worthy Doctors who are humbled by it that to do were absurd in the sight of men and execrable before God who by his Prophet Zachary in the first of his Prophesie v 15. saith I am very sorely displeased with the Heathen that are at ease for I was but a little displeased and they helped forward the affliction My practise shall ever be to Mourn over my Spiritual Fathers as the old Prophet did by his fellow Prophet slain by a Lion for it is sordid to Triumph over the Ruins of others and noble to answer all Insultings as the Emperour Charles the 5. did a Malicious Prelate of the Papacie who craved leave of the Emperour then being at Wittenberg that he might digge up the body of Luther there entombed in the Church but the Emperor answered No such matter I have no Warre with the dead for as the Orator saith well To contest with him that is already Mastered is altogether to be abominated Episcopacy interred What remains to Learning but the Universities and Tythes Two things strongly by some aimed at but I hope more strongly guarded by the Law and those powers that have the Distribution and Care of it The Universities of England shall need no other punishment then what Amotion of Church Honours and Preferments will occasion them who is there that in this Interstitium will dispose a Son to a Colledge life in whom he sees any Nobilitie of Wit and after-Hopes when as but bare Commons and perhaps a Country Cure or a Pettie Mastership of a House is the Top of that Ladder which he may climb to Honos alit artes Honour summons men to Atchievements of Fame The Philosopher tels us that Honour is the reward of Virtue and t is given to the best men Alas men of Gallant Emulations and choise Editions will not cloy their souls with studies dull and Improlifique as Aeneas Sylvius wittily Many mens valour lies dormant because they want a Field wherein to display it This is well limited by the Comaedian where Blepsydemus proposes the Question to Chremylus Whether it were not prudent to bring a Physician into the City Chremylus answers him Who now will be a Physician in the City There is no Reward nay Art it self is not much made of there It was the Honour and care of our Ancestors to incorporate Universities and erect Schools and them to beautifie and endow not onely to necessity but comfort and plentie and it will be the reproach and shame of any time to impair and demolish them or suffer them to be impaired or demolished If they fall they will draw the other stars after them Rev. 12. 4. yea if this great Star fall from its heaven of regard and support not onely a third
of the Oxe that treadeth out the corn the labourer is worthy of his hire And were there no other Argument for Tythes as Maintenance yet the Right of them would be Evinceable out of the Rule of meer Analogie and Proportion which the Apostle hints when he saies If we have sowen unto you spiritual things is it a great matter if we reap your carnal things 1 Cor. 9. 11. where the Apostle by an Elegant ratiocination convinces the Corinthians that their contribution to their Teachers and the Apostles is far beneath their deserts that still they are the Ministers Debtors Why we sow the seed of immortality and life amongst you we enfranchise you of heaven and make you citizens of the heavenly Ierusalem you pay us but in corruptible things as Silver and Gold with what is like your selves mortal and impermanent and does not the disparitie between the Work and the Wages argue you stil debtors to us In all Professions and courses of life there is a return of Labour and a gain ordinarily proportionate to the toil the Merchant when he ventures a long voyage expects a large profit and he has it and well deserves it a servants wages the price of his toil is his due and 't were injurie to detain it from him a Souldiers pay is his due and 't were dishonestie to keep him if we could without it the Physician and Lawyer have Fees for their counsels and pleadings and all Artists prizes for their Works and Wares and 't is fit they should be contented for them and must the Church-man be the onely Capuchin or Mendicant Must he onely live upon Alms and Charitie I confess it was wont to be his advantage to have nothing yet possess all things there was a time when Christians brought all they had and laid it at the Apostles feet had all things in common contributed to the necessities of the Saints had bowels of affection and were not only ready to open their purses to their Teachers but even if need were to lose their right eyes for them Gal. 4. 15. Then then there needed no Imperatorial Edicts and Synodick Constitutions for Church Maintenance which is the reason why Agobard Bishop of Lyons saith That before his time there was nothing in the Holy Fathers or in Synods publickly constituted about ordaining of Churches and endowing them with maintenance there being so great a fervor of devotion and holy love to the Church in peoples mindes that such compulsions were prevented by peoples Free-wills But when corruptions of manners had ravished away the Worlds Virginity and turned men from fervently devout into a churlish penurious Tepiditie so that their Mammon was more dear then their religion then was it necessary for the Church to pray ayd of powerd Patrons whose awe should redeem the Church from the thraldom of a Dependent maintenance and at this door perhaps came in the Concessions and fixed Dues of the Church which since have been in use and therefore in kinde as well as in proportion been counted due I have nothing to say for the incomes of the Papacie for the Revenues they politickly have gained to maintain their pomp and greatness let Baal plead for himself what exceeds the Line of Tythes as maintenance I am to account Eccentrique and not to plead for because 't is the honey that Ionathan must not taste Procul hinc procul ite prophani Tythes in the Christian world have been payd many hundreds of years Aventine a good Author tels us that Charlemain by his Decree recalled Tythes imployed to secular uses setling them where he thought they ought to be upon the Church And Charles the great left his Dominions and the people of them free from all Tribute and payments save onely such as were payable to the Church in the right of Tythes I forbear more Authorities because the clowd of them in forraign stories is so great that to mention them were to swell my Apologie into almost an infinitie of pages For their payment in this Nation for many hundred of years there is ample testimony in our Lawes and Records for above nine hundred years and therefore they being Ultra memoriam hominis are presumed to have a good Commencement and may prescribe had they no Law but that of use and custom But there needs no plea of time and custome where there is Legal and Civil right to them by both Civil and Canonique Sanctions for besides that of Arch-Bishop Egbert who appointed That every Priest should teach those under his charge that they ought to offer the Tenth of all their Substance to the Church and that the Priests ought to receive Tythes of the people Iornalensis tells us Offa King of Mercia gave and established the Tenth of all things to the Church the like is done in the general Councel at Winchester in Ann. 855. Amongst the Lawes of King Alured I finde this Tythes the First-born and Fatlings give to God So in the Laws of Edward and Gunthrun the Dane Ethelstan Edmund Edgar Knute Canons of Elfric confirmed by the Lawes of William the Conquerour and ever since continued as an undoubted right of the Church which every good man is bound to defend by sober and warrantable means and not otherwise for Magna Charta which was but a Declarative Law says That the Church of England may be free and have all her Rights that is saith the Learned Lord Cook that all the Ecclesiastical persons shall enjoy all their lawful jurisdictions and other their Rights wholly without any diminution or substraction whatsoever This Law called Magna Charta was anciently so sacred that it was to be publickly proclaimed not only in Churches but also at the Crosses and most notorious places in Market Towns and those cursed that violated it as Parisiensis relates to us Notwithstanding which there are many amongst us that openly protest against Tythes qua maintenance as burthensom Popish and to be changed as a great grievance But I pray Why burthensom more then rent to a Land-Lord The one when time serves will be grievous as well as the other were Land-Lords out of power as well as Church-men there would be as loud an out-cry against them as against the Clergie the country-mans gain is his Religion he can willingly to save Tythes consent to the Ministers writ of ease so his seed be seasonably in the ground and his crop brought home uninjured he has his whole years wishes he is as wel satisfied to take his ease on Sundayes as to go to Church and his profit he findes as good from land 5. miles from a Church as from what is nearer he accounts every penie losse out of purse that 's paid for a few prayers and to hear a man talk an hour or two and so forth to use the language of some of them as if we were not commanded to honour God with our substance and as if to
that those men who have some gifts and think they are rich in them having need of nothing when alas they are blind and naked Rev. 3. 17. make Calves of those gifts they have and by them tempt the people to Idolize them and their gifts yea and to contemn the Ministry and Ordinances of the Church crying up themselves as the instruments that brought men from Superstition into the glorious light of Truth and liberty of the Gospel Thus they thrust their sickle into anothers Harvest and reap where they sowed not Alas every man is not a lawfull Labourer in the Vineyard that breaks through the hedge and toyles therein without and against the leave of the lawful Master of the Vine-yard No man in the Church is to do any thing but he that is a Church-man upon penalty of presumption Good intents do not warrant bad actions nor do ready Wills alwayes argue just Calls The Priests onely were to touch the Ark What had Uzza the Levite to do with it 'T was enough for him to touch the barres of itâ—… though the Ark was agitated to and fro yet had he not warrant to take hold on it He should have minded the Ministration he was appointed to but his care out-runing his Call his life was taken away God struck him with death who first assaulted him by a bold presumption 'T is a wonder to me that any man should think his own Arrogancie warrant for his actions especially in matters of the highest and most important consequence whereas in secular and civil affairs not a mans own word but his Superiours authority and qualification enables him Who dares take upon him to raise Forces lay Taxes levy Contributions punish offenders or negotiate with Forraign States but those who are the designed Officers thereto and yet in the matters of God in the dispensation of his holy mysteries every man will be a Priest and a Prophet as if it were pardonable onely to be disorderly in Religion and as if God had connived at lawlesse Liberty where the danger of miscarrying is most fatal The Apostle speaking of the Priesthood saies No man taketh this honour upon him but he that is called of God as was Aaron asserting thereby that Aarons Priest-hood was not by his own assumption he was not a Priest because he would be so but he was so because God called him thereto and honoured him thereby yea our Lord Christs Priest-hood and the glory of it was from his Father who said unto him Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee which Priest-hood of Christ continuing in the Churches Succession by virtue of that of our Lord to his disciples As my Father hath sent me so send I you is also to exclude all men from Lawful officiating who are not Called thereto in a Church Order and by Church hands And if Uzziah a great King and a good man in the sight of God 2 Chron. 26. transgressed against God in taking the Office of the Priests on him Why shall we think they of a meaner degree may And therefore let not the people say of the Ministry of this once glorious Church which some men would rejoyce to see with Christ Jesus on the Crosse exposed to shame and torment as the Rebellious and Idolatrous Israelites did of Moses when he was in the Mount with God Exod. 32. 1. As for this man Moses we know not what is become of him crying out for gifted men as they call them in opposition to their learned Ministers as they did for their molten Calfe let them not venture Eternity upon the Prescripts of blind Guides who have no better warrant no other Credentials to entitle them to Church labour then their own impudence having a yearly and a monthly faith a faith of times not Gospel as Turtullian elegantly on such to trust is to build on stubble and straw and lean on Egyptian reeds which will falter and deceive us in our greatest need being like those Flores horae which I have seen very pleasant but dead and withdrawn in a trice for this to do were to provoke God to remove our true Teachers into corners and to make the word of Life a dead letter to us To make the Gospel hidden to us as to those that are lost For my part my repair shall be to God and his holy Ministers in all spiritual doubts and disconsolacies and from them I shall never be ashamed to receive correction and instruction I am of his mind who had rather be a Member of the Church then head of the heathen Empire I admire those Ages most which had greatest devotion to the Church and condemn that wherein the Clergy is decried I love to see Solomons throne guarded with learned worthies smile who will at the decay of Schools and scorn of Presbyters mine eye shall pity my tongue shall speak my pen shall write for them yea were I as happy as Solomon was for wealth I would make their tables be full and their cups to run over This were indeed to help the Lord against the mighty the mighty Goliahs of Rome who by this way of vilipendency hope to give our Clergies flesh to be food for the birds of the Air whose triumphs rife from the Churches viduation from her learnings contempt and prosternation Hence are thy Jubilies O Church once beloved but not now beloved hence your Ovations O children of the Papacy to see the Protestant Clergy miserable and poor and blind and naked to see them hopelesse to out live the wildernesse of hardship and probable to dye issuelesse if no after-springs should grow to disquiet you is much your interest This evil to deprecate and as far as in us lies to prevent were indeed to help the Lord against the mighty hoasts of Atheists which are come forth to revile the armies of the living God these no less mischievous then the former subject faith to reason and proclaim the Ministry and all Church administrations secular deceits and subtile frauds invented upon rules and designs of state policy What Calderinus said of the Masse that say they of Churches Sermons Sacraments Let us go to the common errors these dispute heaven hel Scripture conscience severity of life into meer nullities giving them no better footing then civil symbolizing with people amongst whom we live and with whom converse and making them obligatory and restrictive to us as we understand them or as others may to whom by contrary living we are to give no offence not allowing them that power and Energy which God hath imprinted on them and which are experienced to be in them by the attestation of the Saints Martyrs who have found these working on them to a grand provocation of holy caution and circumspection checking them when they were ready as it were to engage in actions displeasing to God and detractful from the honour of their holy profession It is a sad and inglorious note of ingratitude
if there be any sorrow like my sorrow We pity the fond zeal of carnal men and giddy professors who begin well but are hindred in their way by wiles of men crafty and by their own lusts regnant in them who have a clamorous Magnificat for Diana and an Hosanna for Christ who are contented with nothing but discontents changes and every thing that fights against the power of godlinesse and proclaim a Treaty with all the infernal Furies the Divel the world and the flesh And in fine we pray for Charity which the Apostle calls the bond of perfection and terms greater then faith or hope because more durable the grace that only accompanies us to heaven there stays with us and the grace that makes us live heavenly upon earth without which all grace is but as sounding brasse or a tinkling cymball yea without which the gifts of Prophecying understanding mysteries and all knowledge faith able to remove mountains distribution of all we have to the poor yea martyrdom it self is nothing 1. Cor. 13. These and other things we professe to concur in with all sound Protestants and if this to believe and thus to do be to be scandalous Popish disaffected we would not be of good report nay we pray we may carry this Crosse of Christ to our graves and account this Reproach great Glory We can comfort our selves in these buffetings revilings contempts as in the sufferings of Christ which are to be fulfilled by us as by the holy men of all ages foregoing members of his body the Church Col. 1. 24. For as S. Ierom saies 'T is a great glory to reach from earth to heaven from dust and ashes to a being of immortality of Servants to be made Sons and of beggars heirs heirs of a Kingdom and that of heaven too the most durable and supream dignity our nature is capable of For we can through the power of Christ wish our selves accursed for his sake and resolve to be and suffer his rebuke without smiting again though we had power and command thereto since thus God hath allowed Religion to be defendedâ—… non saevitiâ sed patientiâ non scelere sed fide and we hope while we thus walk to Sion with our faces thitherward we shall be suffered to passe safe and if we fall with the good man in the Gospel into the hands of men cruel and inhumane shall have Powers like good Samaritans to restore what is unjustly taken from us and pour oyle and wine into our wounds yea we pray though not for preferment not for gain by wording godlinesse yet for permission to worship the God of our Fathers though after the way which some men mis-naÌ„me Superstition Formality Will-worship not thereby intending Rivalry with any other way of worship but desiring to attend upon Gods discovery in the use of that means which we are perswaded is according to the word of God written in the Law and in the Prophets and to which the judgments of many holy Martyrs and men have given testimony and this we trust your favour will permit since to others no more nor no truer Protetestants then we this liberty is indulged as a means to propagate the Gospel and since that of Casiodore ought to be in the mindes of Governours Neminem gravare debet Imperium quod ad utilitatem debet respicere singulorum This O Powers is the sense of those who are well-willers to learning who would not have troubled the world with any taste of their fears and sufferings or defence of their innocency did not their silence amidst the many provocations of bold and defamatory challengers in some sense and in easie peoples opinions though not in Truth confesse them guilty impunitatem consequuntur mali dum modesti tacent yea did not they fear Crowns of thorns preparing if some may have their wills for their captive heads for which Crowns of gold and silver for a memorial in the Temple of the Lord are I hope appointed as the Phrase is Zach. 6. 11. 14. so true is that of the Orator Nihil est tam sanctum quod non aliquando violetaudacia For mine own part I professe before God Angels and men I am moved to this service to the Muses not out of Passion not out of Vain-glory not to gratifie any party I Love or displease any party with whom in principle I coÌ„ply not these would be uningenious motives and receive their defeat and brand to be unproper foundations for so Christian a work that which rouses me up is that glory of God peace on earth and good will to men all which are propagated by Learning and the promise of God to own those that in a right and pious way own him I look upon the primitive Fathers and Christians who thought not so meanly of their faith and art as to forbear owning them for fear they might be lost with their party or lie too open to the worlds knowledge of them I love a sober freedom in a cause that concerns whatever is dear to man his soul his eternity his fame all which are in hazard if Learning and Learned men grow obsolete Our Lord says If the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch There is nothing so great a spur to me next the glory of God as the Presidents of former times and the courage of holy men who were more ready to suffer then deserve so ill requitall of their integrity Synesius tells us nothing is more rhetoricall then sufferings the blood of Martyrs was seed to the Church and made their persecutors turn admirers yea sometimes sufferers it is surely a great distrust of God which makes men faint in a good cause how much more Evangelical and Christian were the minds of Polycarpus Athanasius Cyril Cyprian Iustin Martyr Arnobius Epiphanius Luther Melancthon and all the holy Fathers and Reverend Bishops of the Church who dealt with men like Solinus his Agriophagi who fed upon Panthers and Lions and breathed out nothing but bloud and wounds then are ours while we are to deale with Christian Magistrates well disciplned souldiers and common people who have heard of Christ and seem to cry a daily Hosannah to him Why should we not believe that God will protect and men pardon if not be perswaded to love those who call to them as Ionas did almost out of the Whales belly in the language of the Disciples to their Lord and Master Carest thou not that we perish Who O who knowes the mind of God perhaps God is now dealing with our Governours as with Artaxerxes to contribute to the restoring of the destroyed places of religion and learning It may be not by might nor by power but by his Spirit by a jawbone by rams horns all the rampiers raised against learning may with Iericho's wals fall down and therefore it concerns us all to wait the good pleasure of God and to cast our bread upon the waters to do
reliquos tractatores illos semper vera dicere istos ut homines in quibusdam aberrare To conclude If what I have written please and prevaile I shall be glad Rectè factorum verus fructus est fecisse nec ullum virtutis est precium dignum illis extra res ipsas if not I have what I expected 'T is hard to kick against the pricks so God have no dishonour nor Learning discredit I care not what becomes of me Mihi pro minimo est ut ab illis judicer qui dicunt bonum malum malum bonum ponentes lucem tenebras tenebras lucem libens excipio in me de trahentium linguas maledicus venenata spicula Blasphemorum ut ad ipsum non perveniant as Saint Bernard clegantly That amidst the censures of good and calumnies of bad men shall be my comfort which was the Prophets My judgement is with the Lord and my reward with my God E. W. To the Honour of God An Humble APOLOGY For LEARNING And LEARNED MEN. IF ever it were fit to salute the World with a tract calm and serious if ever it became truth to contest by sober harmless Rhetorick for its birthright then may this plea not be preposterous nor its design unwelcome to those who are qualified to the proportion of its project I am no Amphipyros I carry no firebrand in my Pen To plead for not to exasperate against Truth or to set the World on fire by uncivil and exprobratory sarcasms do I attempt this Work There are too many whose rapes on the innocency of paper make the Press almost execrable and render the modest World resolute against publishing things in their own nature noble and usefull lest what was by them Christianly intended a brazen Serpent to heal through the misconstruction of peevish and uncharitable censoriousness should be termed a fiery Serpent to sting This inconvenience singly upon meere prudential grounds would have deterred me from penning this Apology were not the honour of God duty to Truth and love to Learing much more swasive with me then vulgar discouragements yea did not the noble Presidents of former times cal me since abler pens will not to engage in or rather humbly to endeavour attenuation of that quarrel which I hope is causelesly revived against the Muses It is and ever hath been the Policy of Satan to disturb truth and by that to foster the success of his diabolick practiques his experience in these methods of mischief tels him the high advantage that thereby accrewes to his Kingdom and the progress thereof One while he raises war against her and summons all those that hold of him in capite to attend his standard hoping by profess'd hostility to suppress the very being of truth to chase it into the wilderness to solace it self there with want obscurity like that Athenian Themistocles who banished Aristides called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the just and after all his imployments of note reduced him to a condition unable either to support himself alive or pay his bearers to the grave Thus did he by Christ and his holy Apostles their successors and the primitive Martyrs against all which he raised virulent and sanguinary persecutions accusing them of faction disloyalty vice and every thing that was odious and fameless The falsehood of which criminations certified to the consciences of many civilized heathens as well as Christian writers put them upon Apologies and lenifying discourses which to the Powers then in being they with great success directed and by which Christianity found much relaxation and relief from the cruel and insatiable persecutions of Ethnick Tyrants On these accounts did Methodius Apollynaris write against Porphyrius Iohannes Grammaticus against Proclus Iustin Martyr to the Roman Senate and to Antoninus Pius the Emperour Themistius the Philosopher in the time of Valentinian Quadratus and Aristides to the Emperour Adrian and sundry others no age being so obcaecated and deserted by God but afforded a propitiator by whom if Truth got not into favour yet it was preserved from utter extirpation And because force could not effect without the consort of fraud and God had so moderated powred Rulers that they thought fire and sword ill effects of Politick Government therefore Satan attempts to beguile those Princely Natures into actions as conductive to his design though less clamorous and this he does by with-drawing those favours of Grandees which invigor'd Learning and nourished men of deserts and worth hopefull to attain the effects of such munificence and by appreciating things and persons more tralatitious and vulgar Thus though Iupiters thunderbolt doth not hit Aesculapius for restoring Hippolytus to health yet sad it is to see Agatho a base Minstrel out-shine in favour all the Philosophers of his time That as Iulian the Apostate to extirpate Christianity did disgrace the Orthodox Bishops decorate any with the honour and office of Priesthood make away Church Maintenances and Church Priviledges forbid Christian Schooles and places of Learning for instruction of their youth permitted not the Christians to meet together not to have benefit of Law any share in Government or any degree of Dignity nay to lay load on their shoulders gave command to the Iews to build again the Temple at Ierusalem not out of love to their Religion but on purpose to grieve the Christians and vexe their Souls while they saw their precious Saviour by them dishonoured so doth he by these artifices project the dishonours of Learning and learned Men that in the dark of ignorance and decay of arts he may form and compleat that monster which like Crobilus invited guests to his lewdness and rob'd them so invited of their purses or as the Lamiae by their beauty court comers that they may devour them and though for this cheat he may have specious pretensions yet this beautifull Epona may as Fulvius Stellus his Epona have but a Mare for the Mother which is but an inglorious genetrix That as was anciently said of Eucrates a crafty Sycophant that would do any thing for an advantage Eucrates has more tricks then one no trap will easily take him so may we say of this Serpent the Devil whose agent every Godless Man is He knoweth how to be an Angel of Light to deceive if it were possible the very Elect. Truth and Learning its hand-mayd have ever been the objects of the Devils fury and for many thousands of years he hath laboured by his Instruments the denigration if not the total extirpation of them Anciently when God was pleased to reveal truth from Heaven and speak to Men by Visions and Dreams when he conducted holy Men to holy things by infallible impartment of his Spirit and by calling to them This is the way walk in it then Arts and Sciences were as useless as milk is to grown Men or crutches to persons vigorous agile Then was God all in all to Man there
betyded these Heroes Xâ—…nocrates the Philosopher was a famous man so true of his word that the Judges would take his bare word his voire dire when others oaths would hardly passe yet this so gallant a man did the Athenians sell being glad to be rid of him nay desirous that their discourtesie to him might break his heart and so they hear no more of him Cleanthes was kept so poor that wanting parchment to write Zeno's precepts in he was constrained to buy it with money he earned in the night by drawing and carrying water this doing to support himself to read Philosophy to his Country-men in the day Socrates the wisest man by attest of the Delphick Oracle that was of his time whom Plato brings in as upbrayding the Athenians for condemning him I have got this great fame and renowne for no other thing but virtue Yet the people will no nay but he must dye and dye he does by their hands but Eunapius observes that after the violent and inhumane butchery of Socrates the Athenians never did any action noble or generous Scipio Africanus was so ill treated that he cries out O ingratefull Country thou shalt have none of my bones Tully complains of his hard fortune when he saies to Philiscus who seems to extenuate his misery Does not ignominy and banishment appear great evils to thee Is it a light thing to live an outlaw without friend without country a scoffing stock to insulting enemies and a dishonour to wonted friends c. It were endless to quote the sundry instances of this nature that stories abound with It shall suffice mee to mention a passage of Pope Pius the Second who expressing the changes of people saies The love of ones Country-men is a Monument which Wise men rarely have few of the wisest and bravest men of the World dying or being buried in their own Countries but fain to seek graves far from the places of their births and lives being denied them of those whom they have deserved of and from whom they might well have expectect better pay Notwithstanding which ingratefull barbarity of men the learned Tribe have been supported to better hopes and by the blessing of God have lived to enjoy the favour and auspicious Sunshine of Princely indulgence Kings growing their nursing Fathers and Queens their nursing Mothers who being themselves learned and bred by learned Men so encouraged all Arts by donaries and expressions of largess that no preferment or glory followed any course of life but that which was Philosophical and Bookish Thus did Constantine the Great in whose praise Eusebius writ four whole Books settle on the Church and on learned Men all those congiaries titles oblations and other waies of support which Apostate Iulian afterwards null'd and converted into lay-fees Thus did the Emperour Marius Antoninus Philosophus settle great honours upon the City of Athens placing there at his own cost and pay many Doctors in all Arts to the benefit of all Nations and this he did not more by the Incitation of Cornelius Fronton Claudius Herod Iunius Rusticus and Apollonius Nicomediensis men famous in their times and his Tutors then from his own inclination for he was very Learned and loved Learned men So that the Historian saies That many took upon them the outside and mask of Philosophy that they might be enriched by him The like munificence and freeness have all noble Spirits and all Golden and Silver Ages continued and augmented to the Learned In founding and endowing houses for their cohabitation furnishing them with Learned Men to teach Arts in them liberally paying them therefore exempting them from all Services Impositions quarterings of Soldiers or entertainments of publick Ministers of State That so they might the better settle to study and attend their vocations And for encouragements herein what personal dignities have they collated on them 'T is endless to mention those Myriads which all the Learned have when onely the Civilians men of great learning and of honourable profession are noted by Ludovicus Bologninus to have 130 grand Priviledges and all men learnedly bred and members of Universities and houses of Law are by consent of Christendome as well as our own Nation accounted Gentlemen and warranted to write themselves so be their extract how meane and ignote soever Add to this further propagation of learning the vast Libraries made and dedicated to the Muses by Princes and Princely Subjects in all times That famous One at Ierusalem built by Alexander Bishop of that City out of which Eusebius sayes he gathered his History That which Pamphilus the Martyr placed at Caesarea famous even to the time of St. Ierom That of the Emperour Theodosius Iunior excelling that of Ptolomaeus Philadelphus That not almost to be credited One of the learned Emperour Gordianus in which were 62000. Volumes Nay that that that Library in Folio in Pergamus which had in it 200000. Volumes That of M. Galeatius D. of Milan built by him at Papia That of Lewis the 12. at Blois with that in Orleance and the two in Paris one in the King of Navar 's Colledge the other in the Monastery of St. Victor That of Alphonsus King of Arragon and Cicily of infinite quantities of Books in all Tongues and Arts. That of Adrian the Emperour both at Rome and Athens The Vatican enlarged by the Heidlâ—…bergh Library thither carried The famous Libraries of Our own Nation though much impaired by Our late unhappy Wars That of St. Iames his commonly called the Kings Library That of Oxford commonly called Bodleyes Library That at Westminster commonly called Sir Robert Cottons Library And that other neer St. Peters Church commonly called the Bishop of Lincoln his Library Syon Colledge Library The now lost Libraries of our Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches Learned Bishops and Praelats University and Colledge Libraries in whose hands soever they be Yea particular persons Libraries These all do conjoin to make head against those impieties which sway loose natures to a despising of learning or a vulgar account of learned Men. Now if any sottish person ask with Iudas To what purpose this waste and hath an evil eye because others have had good and benign aspects on learning I should think him worthy of no better reply then that of our Lords to the repining labourer Might not men do what they would with their own have they not well chosen who honour God with their substances do they not by their hospitality entertain mortall Angels nay for these works of piety and charity do not they speak who are long since departed I trow they do their works do praise them in the gates the loynes of the learned do bless the memories of their founders and benefactors But were all other arguments waved though sundry in their place God permitting I intend to offer yet the Devils malice against it and his craft to beguile the greatest wits
the study of the Gaules Nor let any think that the learning we have had so long from Iaphet and his posteritie was only opticall such as of the Stars and their influences the world and its circuit or only naturall the skill of beasts and plants and how to use and improve them but it was also more politique and speculative we had much improvement of reason by excellent Lawes and rules of life by understanding the uses and customes of Nations skil'd we were in languages for besides the Samothei Sarronides and Druyds we had many notable Greeks who came over with Brute and here stayed teaching in publique schools and Leland affirms that before Oxford was built there was erected neer it two schools for instruction of youth in Latine and Greek which were called Graecolada and Latinolada After Bladud the young Prince earnest to promote learning both in himself and others repaired to Athens there stayed and studied and brought back with him many famous Philosophers whom after he came to the crown he placed in a School at Stamford The like schools did King Caradoe long after erect at VVinchester of which holy Tathajus was President But most famous were the schools of Chester Carleon and Bangor in all which were men excellently learned in all Arts both sacred and secular but especially in those of Chester in which as I learn out of Godfrey of Monmouth in the time of Prince Arthur which was about the yeare of Christ 530 there was above 200. nay after Bale 2500. Philosophers who were excellently arted and taught all comers By all which it appears that not only learning and arts have been in other remote parts of the world as amongst the Iews Phoenicians Chaldaeans Aegyptians Persians Greeks Romans but that even from us they had much of their litterature and the rudiments of knowledg and what of humanity and glorie we have attained to we ought gratefully to attribute to those foundations which were laid by those times and since further by the good hand of God raised to greater conspicuity since Christianitie came amongst us We have hitherto seen what fruit the Tree of ingenious nature hath brought to the Harvest of the Muses now we will summon in Christianitie to bring in her presentment And here to the honour of God and our own humiliation we must testifie that we of this Nation before Christianitie was amongst us were under as grosse a barbarity and rigour of Ethnique Tyranny as the most savage Indian nay as the worst of people we worshipped Devils and not God Dis Saturn Iupiter Mars Minerva Apollo Diana and Hercules to whom we dedicated the Porches of our Temples and Gates of our Cities nay Mela Diodorus Strabo Pliny Coesar averre that we sacrificed men inhumanely tortured strangers who came to us by stuffing them up in Images made of Hay into which we put wild Beasts with them and set them all on fire that we went naked painted our bodies fed on raw flesh at least on Herbs and Trees had Women in common knew neither how to sowe or how to skill Trades but only to lead a life of rapacity but it pleased God to bring us out of this Aegypt into Canaan by the conduct and instrumentality of our Christian King and Countryman Lucius Who to the honor of God our nation and his own eternal fame was the first Christian King of this land is called by the Britains Lever Maure the Prince of great renown or the first fruit of Christianitie as being the first that imbraced the faith of Christ and caused his people so to doe he came to this Empire about the year of Christ 1791 and being observed to have a singular sweetness and debonnairnesse of nature grew propitious to Elvanus Avalonius and Melvinus Belgius both British Doctors who so effectually wrought on him that they in a short time converted him to the faith of Christ God preparing him by a good temper and facility of constitution to hearken to their indeavours and God also instructing them to a seasonable promotion of his providence to so sacred an issue the good King had now laied his hand to the Plough and resolved not to look back his eye was forward how he might make his people participants with him in the blessing of baptisme he hears that the Churches succession was then in Rome And to Pope Eleutherius he sends a most humble and earnest Petition and Epistle That by the Apostolique authority he and all his people may be admitted to the Church and her holy things and be partakers of her Sacraments and Rites The Pope or Bishop of Rome understanding this kept Jubiles answered his desire incontinently and with his two spiritual Fathers who carried his request and their own praise returned as joynt in Commission Phagan and Dervian two of the Roman Clergy from whom by the Pope so authorized he and his People received the sacrament of Baptism and embraced the Faith of Christ which was about the year after Christ 180. which Kingdom of ours thus converted was according to Sabellicus and others of no less authority the first that universally embraced Christ in all the world So that the first Christian King Lucius and the first Christian Emperor Constantine that the world had were Britains born bred amongst us and this we ought with all holy triumph and glory to God to mention as a high Priviledge as run the words of Pitsaeus our Learned Country-man No sooner did God call this noble King to his Worship but he gave him a heart to honour God by adorning Religion with what was necessary to its prosperity and encrease He therefore builded many Churches for entertainment of people to partake of holy Mysteries them separated from common to religious uses He constituted Episcopal Sees erected Religious Houses and endowed them with liberal maintenance and that they might with more security be inhabited gave them large Priviledges and by this and other his right worthy acts was preserved the true Religion and British fame till about the year 400 which was near two hundred twenty one years after his first coming Afterwards about the year 400 I find the name English mentioned for then the Angles came Pagans into this Land About the year 616. I read them baptized by the command and example of Ethelbert the fift King of Kent and the first Christian King English a man he was of no ordinary endowment having with high place all virtues and noble sciences matched Venerable Bede tells us that at the instance of Augustin the Monk this King made Canterbury a Bishops See and him Bishop and Primate there builded several Churches commanded the People to frequent them and the Priests to pray preach and sing in them Endowed many Religious houses about the years 598 and 605. the Charters to which and the Priviledges by them passed are evident in stories He also builded the
Church of Saint Pancras See Ethelwerdi Hist. c. 2. About the year 700 great was the company of learned men of the English race yea so numberfull that they upon the point excelled all Nations in learning piety and zeal and within a century grew so holily ambitious that their own Countrey could not limit their Zeal but they must out of a Divine charity visite Germany with the Faith that they did they made not more hast then good speed God wonderfully co-operating with them so that in short time they converted almost all Germany founded many Monasteries there and sundry Cathedral Churches setting Arch-Bishops and Bishops in these their new erected Diocesses The like in France did holy Alcuinus about the year 790 when being employed by Offa King of Mercia Embassadour to Charles the great upon composing differences between the two Crowns and setling things for their mutuall good and peace for the future he grew into such request with the French King That he was taken for the most beloved Tutor of Caesar who from him took the Institution and Method of Learning and not contented with the narrow fame of Tutor to that Noblesse and Eminentissimo addicted his study and time to the ordering and regulation of publick Civil affaires in which he gained so great love with the People and esteem with the Prince that no request was denied him that his modesty could make or merit promise him to obtain His mind more fixed on Art then Air called on him to write his memorial on the Marble of some Monument sacrated to Learning First he moves the King to Found the Schooles at Paris which he ordered after the manner of ours here and placed Scotus and others his Scholars whom he sent for out of England students there and so Transplanted the Flowers of England into France The same did he exhort the Emperor to do at Pavia in Italy where he placed an Academy Iohan Scotus being the first Professor there So that we may cry out with the Poet Quae regio in terris nostri non plena laboris What Nation of this earth hath not by us been made A Learned Nursery of Wits and seat of Trade Now grows Our Nation to its Zenith Fame is no friend to continuance the Verticle is near when Admiration from abroad and Luxury at home threaten our Change Riches and Returns carry Assailants beyond Fear and Friendship to Hope their Anchor No sooner are we the Pearl but the Saxon Merchants lay all at stake to purchase us They Arm and Transfreight and about the year six hundred eighty nine obtain the Rule over us A deboyst and fierce Nation they were Naturally given to Ingurgitation and Venery to spoyl and blood yet God so overawed them that their Kings were very pious and perswadable by the holy men of these times by whose advice many Religious works and equitable Lawes were from time to time made yea and old Laws preserved and refined as is evident in the Memoriall of their Laws collected by Master Lambard and revived by my Noble friend Sir R. Twisden What they did to the shame of after times is worthy honourable mention their end being godly though perhaps in time without their privity their charity was abused King Inas one of them built the famous Monastery at Glassenbury and the Cathedral Church at Wells Another Kenred is commended to be devout towards God and good to his Countrey He builded the Abbey of Evisham though Egwin after Bishop of Worcester have the name Offa King of Merica a third of them granted the tenth part of all his goods unto Church-men and to the poor He builded the Abby of Bath and placed Benedictine Monks in it and after the Church at Hereford with great Revenues I pass by Ethelbert and his Charity and Religion because I have mentioned them before and intend no repetition but an addition of one most Christian speech of his Son Ethelbert who lived but a little while and dyed by treachery The more great quoth he men are the more humble ought they to bear themselves for the Lord putteth proud and haughty men from their Seats aud exalteth the Humble and Meek Ethelred King of Mercia a fourth of them gave large possessions to the Abby of Croyland Pro amore coelestis patriae for the love he bore to heaven They are the words of the Charter confirmed by Kenulph an 806. A fifth of them Kedulph built a great Church at Winchcomb in Kent and founded an Abbey also there highly honouring the Church and Churchmen Adde to these Alfred who is said to Found at least to repair the Universities of Oxford and sundry others who were so devout that they left off their Crowns and abjured the world thinking nothing too good for him that had layd down his life for them Nor did they do less honour to the Reverend Bishops and Churchmen of their times then became them to do to Fathers who carry an Invaluable Treasure in earthen vessels and are good Ambassadors to wooe us to be reconciled to God For all their actions and judicial administrations were by their counsel and consent We read of Dustane Ethelwold Osward Swithune Adelstone and many others sole Favorites in their times Nay we read not in all these times of Rule and misrule both changes falling out under the Saxons that any persons were impowred to meddle with Church men or Church matters but only Church Governours but rather that the Clergy and all their Priviledges were kept inviolable No secular power to enter upon them nor no Taxes to be levied on them or their Tenants unless says the words of a Charter to the building of Castles and Bridges which are for common defence and cannot be remitted to any but that they shal rest in their houses as in a Sanctuary or in mine own chamber and if any of his Ministers of Justice shall disturb them he does it at the peril of the loss of his right foot these are the words of the Charter So good in short were these times that I think the Learned may truely say as our Lord did of Nathanael Behold true Israelites in whom there was no guile and as the Iews did of the Centurion Luke 7. 5. They loved our Nation and built us Churches But God purposed to give us over to be spoiled by strangers and therefore sent the Danes like the plagues of Egypt to blast and encumber us They quaffed down the wealth and plenty of the Nation accounting this spot of earth but a despicable nothing to satisfie their voracity like the locusts in Egypt they overspread the whole land 't was an ill wind brought them hither and a most severe judgement of God continued them here they are needy and numerous and must be in action their work is to ruine every thing of beauty and order No place no condition no Sex prescribed against their fury They came by command of no
of the North parts VVilliam Longchamp Bishop of Ely Chancellour In Henry the second 's time Thomas a Becket Chancellour Sylvester Giraldus Bishop of Saint Davids and Daniel Eccles of his Privy Counsell Gilbert Foliot Bishop of London Baldwin Arch-Bishop of Canterburie and Hugh Bishop of Durham Ambassadours into France and the Bishops of Ely VVinchester and Norwich principal Justices of his Courts In King Iohn's dayes Gray first Bishop of Norwich then Arch-Bishop of Canterburie and Lord President of the Councell also Peter Bishop of VVinchester after Governour to Henry the third Temps Henry the third Gray Lord Deputy of Ireland Stephen Langton Arch-Bishop of Canterburie and Iohn Derlington of the Privie Councell Temps Edward the first Hugh Manchester and VValter Winterbourn the one Ambassadour into France the other the Kings Confessor Temps Edward the third Iefferie Hardebie and Iohn Grandison of the Privie-Councell Iohn Hilton his Ambassadour to the Pope and Thorsby Arch-Bishop of York Chancellour Temps Richard the second William Wickham Bishop of VVinchester Chancellour VValtham Bishop of Salisburie Treasurer Thomas Cardinall the Kings Confessor and Richard Lavenham and Richard Waldeby his Favourites Temps Henry the fourth Iohn Colton Arch-Bishop of Dublin Stanburie Bishop of Bangor and Dr. VValter Hunt Temps Henry the fifth Thomas Arundel Bishop of Yorke Chancellour Stephen Portington Thomas Crawley Arch-Bishop of Dublin and Lord Deputy of Ireland Robert Mascall the Kings Confessor and an Ambassadour abroad VVilliam Linwood Dr. of both Lawes and Divinitie Ambassadour to Spain and Thomas VValden Ambassadour to Poland and Delegate to the Councell of Constance Temps Henry the sixth VVilliam VVainfleet Bishop of VVinchester Chancellour and Iohn Love Bishop of Rochester both of his Councell Temps Henry the seventh Prudent honest faithfull Morton amicus certus in re incerta Arch-Bishop of Canterburie and Chancellour one worthy of whatever his Majestie had to give for he loved much Fox Bishop of Exon Ambassador in Scotland Fisher Bishop of Rochester Alcock Bishop of Ely and Dr. Henry Hornby all in great esteem Temps Henry the eighth this was the squint-eyed time when a stranger coming over hither cryed out Bone Deus qualis religio in Angliâ hîc suspenduntur Papistae illic comburuntur Antipapistae Even in this time many Bishops and Clergy-men were in high place Fox Bishop of Hereford Longland Bishop of Lincoln the Kings Almoner Aldridge Bishop of Carlisle Leigh Arch-Bishop of York VVest Bishop of Ely VVarham Arch-Bishop of Canterburie and Chancellour Ruthall Bishop of Durham all or most of these of the privy Councell Gardiner Bishop of VVinchester Ambassadour into France and Dr. Pace Dean of Pauls Ambassadour to most Princes in Christendome I say nothing of the five last reigns as pregnant of favours to the Church as any preceding them our memories excuse their recitall here and so long as the book of Gods remembrance is kept their kindness will be had in mention before God That which is the most pertinent conclusion to this I shall borrow from that very worthy and judicious Knight Sir Henry Spelman That amongst the many Chancellours of England there hath been no lesse then 160. Clergy-men amongst the Treasurers 80. almost all the Keepers of the Privy Seal all the Masters of the Rols till 26. Hen. 8. all the Itinerant Justices and Judges of the Courts till Edw. 3. time Clergy men Now God forbid the Clergy and faithfull Minsterie should in these big looking times of reformation grow contemptible who have in all times hitherto whether of peace or warre born away a very great share of worship and valuations but if the dayes of visitation are come and the dayes of recompence are come wherein the Prophet is counted a fool and the spiritual man mad as the phrase is Hosea cap. 9. v. 7. If the Messengers of God are with the holy Apostles made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions Heb. c. 10. v. 33. Then may they safely crie with the woman in the siege of Samaria Help O King of Saints and with the Kingly Prophet David My God make hast for my help Psal. 71. v. 12. and in those cries assuredly they will be heard and the time will come when that promise shall be fulfilled to them All they that are incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded they shall be as nothing and they which strive with thee shall perish 41. Isa. v. 11. Let no man condemn this humble interposition either as unnecessarie or unseasonable for truly it highly becomes any Gentleman who hath had his breeding from a Clergy man as most persons of any quality in this Nation have had Tutors in Universities and great houses being for the most part of this Tribe and who knows what the use and pleasure of Learning is to imploy his utmost interest in mediation for them as the great instruments of literature and instituting youth for there is no Parent that in generation doth so much to the Childs felicity as doth the Tutor in his cultivation and nurtriture the Fathers of our bodies may leave us honours and riches but they cannot make us pious wise valiant civil intelligent eloquent these next the blessing of God grow from institution conversation and example of our Instructors 'T was wel said of Diony sius to Helidore Caesar can give thee honours and wealth but he cannot make thee an Oratour Experience of this made all ages eye with gratitude and veneration their Philosophers and religious men as eminent benefactors and devote themselves and theirs to their service and acCommodation Philip of Macedon gave more thanks to the Gods for Aristotle in whose dayes his renowned Sonne Alexander was born then for his Sonne and heire then born because he hoped that by his education under so renowned a Tutor he would become so learned that he might be worthy to be his Sonne and to succeed to his Commands Pericles the great Athenian Prince so doted on his Master Anaxagoras that being sick he went to him and prayed him to be carefull of his life if not for his own yet for Pericles sake and the better to counsell him how to rule wisely Did not Dionysius the Tyrant send for his Master Plato in a royall vessel riding to the Sea-side to meet him in his triumphing Chariot bringing him into the City not like a Philosoper but a Conquerour Did not Alexander honour Phocion and doe all by his advice when he was present with him Was not that the best time of Nero wherein his Master Seneca and Burrus Captain of the Pretorian bands were as powerfull so most wise and learned Had not Octavian his Mecoenas and Agrippa by whom he was guided and counselled Had not Trajan his Plutarch whom he loved as his other self Did not Scipio Africanus honour his Master Panaetius and give to Polybius the title of his Companion at home and abroad what think you Had Domitian good regard to Quintilian the
Oratour when he committed his Nephews to his care Was not Charles the great in love with our Alcuinus when he took him into his bosome and owned him to all the world as his beloved Master Yea was not Learning in high account when Craesus the Lydian King sent a solemn Embassie to Anacharsis then at Athens under the name of the great Philosopher with mighty presents and an Epistle from the King in which were these passages That he desired to correct the barbarous manners of his people and to see the Commonwealth reformed to be principled to live wel to regulate the Court and to doe other matters of import which cannot be effected without Thee for nothing truly laudable is feasible without the assistance and interposition of Wisdom And a little after adds Though I am squint-eyed lame bald distorted dwarfie black crump-shouldred in fine a monster amongst men yet they are his very expressions these deformities are toyes to those more reall blemishes of my Mind for that I am so unhappy to have no Philosopher with me for hee onely lives the life of lives who is propped up by wise men There are more Instances of Archelaus Antigonus Pyrrhus Kings infinitely tender of and noble to Learned men But take one for all Ptolomaeus Stoter the Eighth King of Egypt whom Historians call Literarum Literatorum amantissimus This man bore away the Garland from all the other 11 Ptolomies Men more warlike and One gives the reason Non propter victorias bello partas sed propter scientias studio comparatas These in stead of many more render Philosophers and learned Men under what name soever accountable as the Images of Vertue and Pillars of Kindgoms and Governments And God forbid that those who are our present Governours should lesse favour Learning and learned Men then former Powers and Governours have done or think any so worthy their ears or hearts as those that are as it were the soul and life blood of Common-wealths Without which Tribe to live were to die and to be happie were to be miserable For as the Philosopher said Nihil majus deorum immortalium munere hominibus datum est Philosophiâ And if Learned men are so to be loved then surely are the Clergie as the great Conducts of it to be appreciated They They are and ever have been the great Luminaries in this our Sphere the grand instruments of our conversion from Paganism of our reputation and glory throughout the World Who converted this Nation to Christianity from Paganism was it not the Clergy Who moved our converted Kings and their pious Subjects to build Churches and endow them to make good Lawes for their preservation and reverence was it not the Clergy Who taught the people Letters when they were ignorant and sought after and home brought Arts of all Natures to the maturation of our repute was it not the Clergy Who have been good Counsellers Treasurers Judges yea and if need were holy Martyrs to dye for as well as live in the true Religion have not the Clergie Turn over our Chronicles for I speak to Englishmen and shall make use of English Authority to confirm what I write on this Head Was not Alfred excited to build Schools at Oxford by Neot a learned Benedictine And did not Cardinal Pulleyn who fled the distractions of King Stephen's time return to Oxford and there moved with compassion to see the desolate Schools as it were restored Learning almost lost to life again at his own costs and charges calling for Professours and Masters out of all parts of the Kingdome Hee himself also labouring with them Who enlarged the Universities by building more and more Colledges to the small beginnings sacrated to the Muses but Clergy-men I will particularize their bounty that those who would tear them in pieces now they think there is none to help them may read and blush at their ingratitude and impudence There is hardly in any of both the Universities a Colledg but hath either had a Clergy-man for its Founder or Amplifier I will begin with my Mother-University quae habet ubera verè vino meliora fragrantiâ unguentis optimis in holy S. Bernards phrase The first Colledg that I find built in Cambridg was S. Peters Colledg about the time of Ed. 1. by Hugh Blasham first Prior then Bishop of Ely who endowed it nobly and compleated it about the year 1284 After in Edward the Second his time Robert Litlington and Robert de Aylsham and Iohn de Felmingham made additions of two Buildings to it all Clergy men The Colledg of S. Michael on part whereof Trinity Colledg now stands was built by Henry de Stanton Canon of York and Wells about the yeer 1324. The Colledg now called Clare Hall quondamque University Colledg was founded by the Body of the University in Anno 1326. Richard Baden Vicechancellor S. Benets Colledg built by the Order of Benedictines in Edw. the Thirds time about the year 1350 and their Statutes confirmed by Tho. Lisle Bishop of Ely Trinity Hall begun by divers Priests but finished to compleating by William Bateman Bishop of Norwich Gonvile Colledg begun by Edward Gonvile Priest and Parson of Terrington in Norfolk and a great summ of money left by him to Doctor Bateman Bishop of Norwich to perfect it The Colledg called anciently Domus Dei but since added to Christs Colledg was begun by Wil. Bingham Pastor of S. Iohn in London Queens Colledg augmented much by Andrew Ducket Pastor of S. Butolphs in Cambridg and Principall of Bernards House Katherine Hall founded by Robert Woodlark Dr. of Divinity Chancellor of the University Anno 1475. and Provost of Kings Iesus Colledg founded by Iohn Alcock Bishop of Ely Anno 1497. S. Iohns Colledg anciently was a house of Canons regulars founded by Nigel Bish. of Ely about 1130. and in an 1280. temp E. 1. Hugh Balsham B. of Ely joyned the secular schol to the religious men Yea was not the liberall Endowments of Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond on that University and the Professors thereof given at the request and upon the recommendation of Fox Bishop of Winchester and Fisher Bishop of Rochester her Executors to whom she by Will left great summs of mony to perfect that her charity Lo the Clergy's bounty to Cambridg They have One blessing more for Oxford like the field which the Lord hath blessed Their Mother Colledg University Colledg restored and augmented if not wholly built by William Bishop of Durham in the time of the Conqueror Merton Colledg by William Merton Bishop of Rochester Anno 1276. Exeter Colledg and Harts Hall by Walter Stapleton Bishop of Exeter Anno 1320. Oryel Colledg and S. Mary Hall were founded by Adam Brian Edw. the Second his Almoner An. 1323. Canterbury Colledg added to Christs Church by Simon Islip Archbishop of Canterbury about Anno 1553. New Colledg and Winchester Colledg buitl by William
Wickham Bishop of Winchester about the yeer 1370. Trinity Colledg first founded by Hatfield Bishop of Durham 1370. Lincoln Colledg by Richard Fleming Bishop of Lincoln an 1420. and enlarged by Thomas Rotheram Bishop of that Sea anno 1479. Glocester Colledg built by the Monks of the Order of S. Benet after added to S. Iohn Bapt. Colledg All Souls Colledg begun by Hen. Chichly Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Magdalen Colledg built by William Wainfiet Bishop of Winchester Brasen Nose Colledg built by William Smith Bishop of Lincoln Corpus Christi Colledg by Robert Fox Bishop of Winchester Christ Church her princely Foundation laid by Card. Wolsey Archbishop of York in an 1540. And to sum up all Did not the late Archbish. of Canterb. Dr. William Laud make a Princely addition to S. Iohn Baptist's Colledg of which he was once Master and no lesse august addition to the renowned Common Library 'T is known he did and his Memory will be kept amongst the Learned for it These publick to omit their private charities to their kindred and places of birth to which they have in no age been wanting proclaim them worthy of all good maintenance and of so much of that lustre to boot as may render their Persons more venerable and their Doctrine while according to Scripture more prevalent with the people I say then the Clergie are the great Masters of Learning and the most notable Advancers of it I do not exclude all others from the honour of any Discovery or Bounty they have made or expressed I know we of this Nation have had in all times as learned a Nobility and Gentry as any Isle in the world has or ever had Our Annals tell us of some of the Laity that for their own pleasures have been versed in Books and Writers of Books Constantine the Great wrote many noble Tracts Henry the First sirnamed Beuclark wrote much made many pious and excellent Lawes Henry the Second was a learned Prince and much addicted to regard learned Men Petrus Blesensis sayes of him Illos judicare solebat quos constituit aliorum Iudices Richard Canon for his Learning and Writing grew most deare to King Richard the First and was his Companion to the holy Land Edward the Third not learned onely to his own delight but to others advantage Ralph Glanvile and Henry Bracton very learned Writers in H. the Thirds time and chief Justices Chaucer and Gower Poets the refiners of our Language in anno 1440. Humphrey Duke of Glocester son to H. 4. a learned Prince so commended by Pope Pius the Second Of him our Story saith that he was the Moecenas of all the Learned in England France and Italy neither did any of that degree repairing to him depart unrewarded Fortescue Chancellor to Hen. 6. a learned Man and great Writer Iohn Harding a great Writer in anno 1461. Tiptoft afterwards Earl of Worcester in 1471. Dudley temp Hen. 7. Fitzherbert chief Justice temp H. 8. a grand Writer Sir Iohn Bourchier Governour of Calais temp H. 7. Sir Thomas More Sir Thomas Elliot Anthony Cope Wil. Salisbury Sir Iohn Reyes grand Writers temp H. 8. Io. Leland Sir Walter Raleigh Sir Fr. Bacon Mr. Selden Sir Henry Spelman Sir Edward Cook the incomparably learned King Iames who was thought the Merlin and Phoenix of Regality There are others whose Works are like Maries Spikenard very odoriferous to learned nostrils yet they must have no mention here because of their magnitude But these how many soever we may judg them to be are but one of a City and two of a Tribe a few to the hundreds of Writers of Clergy-men which Iohn Bale Iohn Pits Hollingshed and our other ancient Records mention whole volumes would be filled with the bare mention of who they were and what they wrote Yea if to them wee should adjoyn the elaborate published Labours of the Reverend Bishops such as Babington Andrews King both the Abbots Davenant Prideaux Hall the glory of this last and worst age that aged learned and constantly devout the Arch-bishop of Armagh together with the many orthodox Presbyters who have worthily and learnedly written on arguments of all natures What has been published by the Laity would be but a molehill to their mountain like little David a dwarf to their mighty Goliah of labour and charity to enrich and propagate Religion and Learning And yet though they have by the blessing of God been the instruments of our conversion from darknesse to light from barbarousnesse to civility from obscurity to eminence from disturbance to Order from key-coldnesse to zeal from self-love to charity sympathizing with others the Saints of God in their sorrows There are some nay too many like undutifull children would pay them in their old age with scorn denying them that reverence which the Apostle sayes is due to them for their works sake and that support which is by the law due to them or at least curse their basket and their store which wee ought to bless as Moses did Alas poor Church-man what hast thou done thus to deserve a wound in the house of thy friend Whom hast thou injured that thou art denyed almost a cup of cold water though thou ask it in the name of a Prophet Who was more charitable then thou who lesse scraping then thou who more knowing then thou who more generally beneficent then thou Did ever any intelligent people put out their own eyes let out their life bloud curse their Physicians quarrell with the bountie of Heaven in filling their barns and making their cups run over I trow no. Yet would these return this evill upon the Church-man who is the common life and soul to us all And herein I do protest such men are highly unreasonable as well as impious the Cynick said of the Megarians long ago what I now may say of such of my own Nation Better be their Horse Dogge or Pander then their Minister they will feed and pamper their Stallions and Running Horses and Dogges like Caligula who was so addicted to his Horse Incitātus that he would cause him to feed out of golden vessels and out of such to drink swore to his health and good fortune promising he would make him Consul if he lived long enough or like Nero and Heliogabalus who prized no favourites but Leachers and thought no honour too great for those who after his Master Seneca and Burrus two virtuous men had deserted him were most in his delight These I say men will keep to high food and large allowance but the Minister he must to short Commons nay to live upon nothing they expect Christ should by a Miracle feed his Ministers as once he did the People with five loaves and a few fishes without assistance from them or any contribution to their needs In this truely they are partial and in a sort unjust for they preserve to themselves the fortunes that either their Parents left them
Clergie Truely I much bemoan the distemper that is hereby notified this our evil eye argues strongly our evil heart that causes us to decline for no Age or Nation of the world ever was so much in the dark as not to have and nourish those that attend their Religion saith Cardinal Pool and H. 8. lib. 1. Many covet earnestly the Clergies Maintenance their Support but not their sweat not their labour They have a nearer way to the Wood as the Proverb is then by Arts they cry up the Spirit and cry down the Prophets to whom the spirit of Prophecie is peculiar and after a kind subject and thus unawares I hope not of maliciousness wickedness that 's in the design of Satan and his Instruments they destroy the Church and Religion too for that was wicked Maximinus his charge to his Officers Not to put any to death but onely the Rulers and Pastors of the Church as the only props and propagators of the Gospel as Eusebius records it And here I humbly begge the Pardon and Charitie of my Countrymen while I write a little modestly and with all submission in behalfe of the ancient and venerable order of Episcopacie not to raise up any Divel of division or to cast any Odium upon the Government under which I live I defie the uncivil and impudent Practises of those whose Language is Master call for fire from heaven of whom that cannot be said that the Apostle saies of Michael the Arch-Angel who in his contest gave not a Railing accusation my words shall be soft and few considering that in multitude of words there is vanity It is a Government ancient used and continued in the Church ever since the Apostles times a government which God hath honoured with success to all spiritual and holy purposes under this the Church of God throve and from this came forth eminent Champions to defend the Truth against both Paganism and Heresie and to settle the mindes of Christians in it by their dying for it In the times of the Heathen Emperours to be a Bishop and a Martyr were terms convertible Martyrdom being annexed to that Office none going to Pot but the Bishops which many understood to be the meaning of S. Paul He that desires a Bishoprick desires a good work that is Martyrdom and those that entred upon the charge of Presiding were sure to be called to account nay ordinarily to dye for their Zeal There are sundrie instances in Eusebius of Symeon Ignatius Polycarpus Pothenus Alexander Philaeus Anthimus Tyrannion both the Sylvanus's Peleus and Nilus Peter of Alexandria Phileas Hesychius Pacuvius and Theodor and multitudes of Bishops more as well as Presbyters and other holy men that suffered shortly after the Apostles times besides those since in all places which to rehearse would be infinite And therefore though the Passion of many of the Vulgar be such that they think Primitive Episcopacie conserved and continued much in our late but now Discontinued Church-Government and the Roman Papal Hierarchy to be under the same condemnation and both Antichristian yet the learned and moderate of the Reformed Churches abhor the foppery of such conceits and confess our Politie to be productive of more Energical and Powerfull Preachers more consciencious and holy Professors and Believers then any Church in Europe under any Government had or hath and have to that purpose both sent their Novices hither to learn the Method of Preaching and Literature in our Universities and also received our advice in the Weightiest Matters of Doctrine as Oracular and such as ought to be stood by And therefore they of the Separation who decry our Ministry as Antichristian because it is of Episcopal constitution and the Orders conveyed by those hands Antichristian had need resolve defiance to Reason and Conformity to other Churcheâ—… and their Doctors or else they must stand single in their Antipathy to us while we keep close to our Original Episcopacie and strayed not from the Rules of Purer times for Calvin justifies the Primitive Bishops and their Canons and Councels and speaking of the Popish Bishops says If they were true Bishops I would yield them authority in this thing he means not true in regard of Ordination but true in order to their Conversation did they live and preach after the holy example of Primitive Bishops as you shall see after lib. 4. cap. 5. where he describes the Popish Bishops The like respect did the Gallican Church declare in An. 1562. Martin Bucer and the German Protestants in Anno 1541. So Iunius in his Exercitations upon Bellarmines Book of the Clergie but most largely and with incomparable ingenuitie the Learned Zanchy in his Commentarie upon the Fourth Commandement where largely he asserts Episcopacie to be the most Ancient Church Government to be not contrary to the Holy Scriptures but Contributive to Order and Peace and to Edification of the Church And as much doth the Learned Bochartus confess in his late Epistle to D. Morley and therefore when any of the Learned Reformists speak against Episcopacie it must be taken as against that of Papacie where the Bishops for the most part are wilde and ignorant being children not yet taken from Nurse nor instructed in the first Rudiments of the Faith or if they be more learned which he saith is rare and unusuall then think they the Office to import nothing but a Title of Greatness and Splendor where no greater care is had to see that the Pastors of the Church feed the Flock over which they are set then a Taylor doth of the season in which t is fit to plough The Learned then agree in a pure Evangelick Primitive Episcopacie which arrogated not Domination over the Lords Heritage but served to ends of Order and Piety and such an Episcopacy as to the Main I hope I may without offence to the People of God say ours was and this I Infinuate not onely to prevent the Advantages that our Adversaries will take hold of to our Reproach but also to justifie those many holy Martyrs Bishops and Presbyters who ever since our Reformation yea in the Bloody daies of Queen Mary lived and dyed in the Approbation and Justification of it and did not Abjure it or their Orders from it I do not nay I cannot defend the Encroachments and Illegal Innovations of some late Men and Times whose forwardness to Transcend the Bounds of Policie and sober Pietie by Rigid Exaction of Obedience in things not Warranted nor agreed to in the Councels of the Church and State hath brought such a Rent amongst us that it hath left no room for Charitie nay it hath made all Government in the Church almost Execrable But I pray Favor for the Constitution and the worthy Officers in it that It and They may not be Traduced lest the Reproach of them fall upon Christ and the Religion which hath by it been preserved and propagated and by them
be the immortal Herald of its subject and shall erect an Altar to memory even in the minds of enemies of whom it shall be had in true honour and those shall be ashamed who look upon learned men as decayed Temples which neglects have defaced and time will hastily incinerate And therefore the Poet sang well Nascentem extinguite flammam Ne serae redeant post aucta pericula curae For as the Orator said Plus proderit demonstrasse rectaÌ„ protinus viam quà m revocare ab errore jam lapsos Me thinks I hear our Neighbours from beyond the Sea cry out to us in behalfe of learning and learned men O England is this thy kindnesse to thy friend Dost thou thus repay thy Teachers and Statetists for their pains care study indefatigablenesse Do ye thus reward the Lord O foolish people and unwise The Lord who hath kept you upon Eagles wings who hath set you as a beacon upon an hill who hath fed you with the finest of the flower who cast the net of his Gospel in your British seas taking into his Church you who were barbarous in the shadow of death bringing you into the glorious liberty of the sons of God giving you a noble succession of godly learned zealous Bishops Doctors and Presbyters who have preached the word in season and out of season and lived lives of holinesse and exemplary charity amongst you Can ye without sorrow consider your misery and leannesse if your Teachers should be removed into corners and your scholers grow like the Mountains of Gilboa upon which the dew of greatnesse and support fals not Come hither and help us Our fields are white unto harvest our Schools Churches Purses are yours only be called by our name Forget your fathers house and we shall delight in your beauty This O this may come to passe if God do not prevent it but he can command deliverance for Iacob and bid our Governours as of old Be ye a covert to the out-casts from the face of the spoiler and he will do it for they shall be a willing people in the day of his power and they cannot more glorifie God in any thing then in keeping learning The King of Heavens daughter in salva arcta custodia then in treating her houourably and putting a Ne exeat regnum upon her I hope God will put a Spirit into and continue it in them to resolve for learning and learned men as the people did for Ionathan 1 Sam. 14. 45. Shall Ionathan dye who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel God forbid As the Lord liveth there shal not one hair of his head fall to the ground yea to offer their power and protection to her and hers I never was like Bulas in Dion who was so crafty that he was seen and not seen taken and not held such an one as no body could tell what to make of him I blesse God my aim was never to be more politick then honest Times evil like those of old in which freedom of speech and opinion was criminall would perswade to silence then perhaps it would be prudent I say not pious to hearken to Peters counsels save thy selfe If I had lived in Rome when Appius Claudius did I should have used his words and bemoaned the age as he did Wo is me the piety of our Ancestors is not seen in our manners gravity is censured pride justice folly valour madnesse temperance and modesty restivenesse and those things onely admired which are of ill report and which have ruined many powerfull Common-wealths thus he then not without cause And since I live in a time 〈◊〉 to be tree â—…pray God keep it so if it be or make it so if it be not Free not to fury not to uncharitableness but to love and good works free to men pious and peaceable free to Learning and Religion I may minde men of what Isocrates wrote That freedom of discovery what mens thoughts are so they do it submistively and without bitterness is the greatest signe of affection Men are most bold with friends because to them most welcome Time is Gods creature and so are Men who make times good or bad and therefore I publish to all men my censure that so far I love the age as it is pious and learned and the men of it so far as they will suffer it so to be or reform it to be so if it be not While this Land is as was Goshen a comfort to Iacobs it shall be the subject of my prayses when it becomes as God I hope will never suffer it so to be a Moriah whereon Isaac the child of Promise Religion and Learning must be slain it shall be the object of my tears I am of his mind who preferred to be a disciple of wise Philosophers above rule over Nations rudâ—… and irreligious The Lord deliver us from his Candlesticks remove from a famine of his word from pride vain-glory and hypocrisie from envy hatred malice and ignorance these will discourage Vertues from coming to unlade at our Ports these will force the trade of Arts from our havens If Philosophers be poor and prophets not esteemed in their own countries they will take the boldnesse to be gone without Letters of Licence and to 〈◊〉 their forâ—…es Every Countrey welcomes Wise men and every winde carries them to their own Plantation Quaelibet Patria ingenioso Patria Moors and Affrican Savages will give Sardinius entertainment when his Country-men will not endure him Christ refused by his own to whom in love he came hath sanctified misusage to all his for if it were so in the root it must be in the branches If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub how much more shall they call them of his houshould saith our Lord Matt. 10. 25. My prayers shall ever be that the glory of true Religion and Learning may never depart from this Isle till Shiloh come to Judgement Let those inherite the wind they hunt after who are taken with houses and vineyards oxen asses and houshould trash not remembring the Afflictions of Ioseph I will think how to live profitably in my generation and die comfortably when God shall appoint my change While I live it would be pain and greif to me to say of Learning as Peter did of his Master I know it not Much less will it become mee to curse it as that ground which brings forth briars and thorns Gebal Ammon and Amaleck the dreggs of men and abjects of the people will doe that if they dare I shall say alluding to that of Tully Ne immortalitatem contra Doctrinam et Doctos acciperem He who hath his eyes open must cry out with Balaam How goodly are thy Tents O Iacob and thy Tabernacles O Israel The Lord spread thy gardens by the rivers side as the Trees of Lign-Aloes which the Lord hath planted and as Cedar Trees besides the