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
part of the water the people will become wormwood bitter and cruel so that many men dye by their heat and passion but a third part of the Sun Moon and Stars to follow the Metaphor 8. Rev. will be darkened farewel learned Counsellors Parliament men Souldiers then comes the Woe Woe Woe to the inhabitants of the Earth verse last I need not say from them come the learned Preachers and Disputants many think them better lost then found better disbanded then kept in pay they are among the Supernumeraries for a pinch and no more but from them proceed the Learned Physitians a sort of men incomparably Learned and at this day so famous for all humane Science that I think I may boldly say the Colledge of them at London with the several Doctors and practisers of Physick throughout the Nation are as knowing as the Physitians of any Nation in Europe and as well deserve honour and respect as any their Predecessors in that faculty yea from them come the grave and knowing Lawyers both Common and Civil Men of no Trite note hitherto whose breedings for many years have been Academick and for the most part of them Generous For our Laws were not heretofore written nor discoursed on by vulgar pens or green heads but grand Sages Reverend Bishops learned Scholars I find Egelrieus B. of Chichester long ago a most expert man in our Laws Nigellus B. of Ely and Treasurer to Henry 1. had most incomparable knowledge in Exchequer Rights and wrote thereof dexterously Bracton Britton and Glanvil noble Writers skill'd in the Laws two of them said to be Doctors of the Civil Laws and who so reads the well composed year-books the notable Abridgement by Fitzherbert the Reports by Sir Edward Cook and Sir Iames Dyer the Commentaries of Littleton Plowden and other the judicious Tracts and Arguments of Law which have been authoritatively published will confess if passion and prejudice do not Obfuscate his Reason and Judgement that the compilers of them were not men meanly bred or loosly seen in Arts but opiparously accomplished and were there no other of that Noble Societie to plead for Learning there is one Selden whose pains and proficiencie will out-live to his Honour and Students profit the Furie of all Gain-sayers so true is that of Plato Learning and good institution will make the Egyptians more wise and Famous then their power for it is approved the best prescript by which to recover Wisedom and Fame Nay from these come almost all Gentlemen of Parts and Qualitie the ground of whose after improvement and eminent Fulnesse is there laid Without these we shall have in aftertimes but Lean and Letterless Parliament men Pithless Justices Hair-braind Governours t will be a sad time when that of the Bishop of London in Queen Maries daies of the Lords may be said of Rulers with more truth Those Lords understand no Latine Monstrum horrendum informe ingens cui lumen ademptum In a word a general failing of Vital and Animal Spirits by which the Commonwealth should be actuated and the glory of the Nation preserved which will not be if the Mothers breasts yield no Milk wherewith to suckle her Babes For my part I wish their Renown and pray for their continuance and encrease Peace be O Lord within their walls and Prosperity within their Pallaces And no less wish I to the Clergie and their yet left Portion Tythes or Legal Maintenance though this Pittance be everywhere Maligned and begrutched them by some of the Covetous and ignorant Laiques of the Nation as if forsooth it were Popish Oppressive and to be cast out with other parts of Church-Trash and useless Trumperie as they call what I doubt they understand not 'T is a loud cry they make but to little purpose The Orator tells us That how much easier it is to make then to heal a Wound so much easier is it to accuse then to defend yet I hope the Arduity will not be unconquerable nor the defence of them be wholly waved as I hope by those whom it immediately concerns the learned heretofore giving great helps to succeeding endeavors I intend no controversie I propose no Antagonist but the Hydra-headed multitude whom I shall answer as the Arch-Angel did the Divel The Lord rebuke thee I shall offer but a Widows Mite let it not be refused while I come with my Turtle Dove let me be received to Sacrifice Tythes as Maintenance are very Ancient Gods quit-rent from mankind in testimony of his Dominion and Soveraignty over them called by the Ancients Vectigal Dei in the Old Councels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The goods of the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Church Offerings and of later times Patrimonium Crucifixi The Tribute and portion of God the patrimony of the Crucified They were paid as is thought by some of the Learned by Abraham to Melchisedeck King of Salem and Priest of the High God Gen. 14. 20. Not onely as an Honorarium quoddam as some of the Learned aver but according to Lyra a Due Cui debebatur tanquam Sacerdoti saith he on that Text and S. Paul to clear that Tythes as Maintenance were Moral and Perpetual not Ceremonial and Levitical neither Commencing nor determining with the Jewish Paedagogie and Priesthood saith Levi also who received Tythes payd Tythes in Abraham for he was yet in the loyns of his Father when Melchisedeck met him Heb. 7. 9 10. So then if Tythes were paid before Levi was and paid after to Levi as descending from that Priesthood which was Antecedaneous and must be perpetual as to the main to the end of the world then are Tythes as Maintenance no more Jewish and Temporary then Scripture is or any thing else that was in use amongst the Jews and ought to be in use in the Church to the end of the world I apply not this to the Quota pars the manner of decimation but to Tythes so far as they are maintenance plentiful and proportionate to the Service required from Ministers for them I urge the Apostles Canon I Cor. 9. 13 14. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live upon the things of the Temple and those which wait at the Altar are partakers with the Altar even so saith he hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel And if the Priests Levitital were to Live by their labour and attendance shall not the Priest-hood Evangelical and perpetual subsist it self upon the Gospel and its Professors that would be unreasonable and sensless for God requires no more then he gives if he expect the Labourers pains he will think the Labourer worthy of his hire So saith our Lord Iohn 10. 7. applied by St. Paul 1 Tim. 5. 18. to the Ministers of the Gospel who who ought to be rewarded for their pains and travel where he saith The Scripture saith Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth
Atheism and irreligious Desperation that rears such Principles for when the heart is courted to believe nothing good or bad but what is fortunate or unfortunate then relucts it the Counsels and restraints of Divine Precepts and consciencious checks and flyes only to a fond and blind Chance or Oracle of Contingency accounting every thing that 's prosperous good and that 's dejected naught Faelix faustumque scelus virtus vocatur T was a damnable lewdness of Aruns his wife who to enjoy lustfully her Brother tells him that when a Kingdom is in pursuit small Evills as she called them were not to to be boggled at This leads then upon Designes in themselves rash though sometimes by the permission of God successfull as it did Regilianus the more bold then Judicious Emperour whose spirit being too great to buckle under the Command of power kindled towards an adventure of enlargment either by loss of life or gain of Honour Crowns the Meta ultima of Humane Felicity he judg'd not Profferers of their service to Men irresolute And therefore his Conclusion was to try what Witt and Boldness would offer him as the Trump that should carry the Game into that hand which held it In a Bravado he makes a Banquet and to it invites his Fellow-soldiers There he feeds them high and they to testify their acceptation drink freely In the midst of their mirth One probably appointed by him propounding whence the word Regilianus was derived a Grammarian by chance there was asked of the Company to give the etymologie of Regilianus who replyed Regilianus à Rege nomen ortum habet the Souldiery warmed with good liquor cryed out Meritò itaque Rex eris and so it passed for currant and he was Emperour which was by means not probable to such an end no more then a Cockle-shell is likely to empty the Ocean O Ambition thou art coccle in the goodly Corn of a virtuous mind thou art the wild Vine which bringest death into the pot of fairest hopes thou art the Harlot whom whosoever embraceth goeth down to the Chambers of death thou art the Divel that courtest men up to the pinnacle of the Temple that thence they may be hurled down to irrecoverable ruine They who are deserted by God and applauded by men fall into thy snares Thou hast traps for thine admirers of all sorts all ages in all Countries There is none that thy madnesse precipitates not but he that is kept by the Keeper of Israel who neither slumbreth nor sleepeth And therefore every man should look about him to keep this fury from his elbow as the great exciter to disorder and ruine This put Alexander upon invasion of others Dominions his own bounds were too narrow to limit his emulation Alexander great in the world thought the world a little ease a cage to him This Ambition made Absolom rebel Pompey fire Rome with quarrels Herostratus an obscure fellow that hee might be remembred burn the famous Ephesian Temple nay it endangered a crack in the glorious Eutaxie of Heaven which could not be expiated but by the dejection of Lucifer that first quickned it This is usually the companion of Changes distracted times and alterations produce this Monster Those who think they deserve better then God knows they do and have lesse then they are in their own opinion able to manage make out to the prey and rather will have it as Simeon and Levi had reparations for the indignity offered their Sister by force then not at all To these who would build when God is demolishing and plant when he is eradicating that is applicable which was said to Baruch Seekest thou great things for thy self seek them not It is a mercy to the soul more indicative of Gods indulgence to be restrained from accomplishing swelling Designes then to have Kingdoms Wealth Learning Beauty or what-ever is the darling of this mutable and pompous World It was good counsel which Turktill Abbot of Croyland gave his Monks Keep that fire Let O man of God this holy Lamp of zeale never go out in the Temple of thy soul cherish it with daily supplyes from that Ocean which is never dry but abounds and will increase thee while thou seekest in humility to be enabled to a devout lustre and calefaction of others True and well-ordered zeal will purifie and purge the soul from all restivenesse and stupid indifferencie and inflame it to a revenge on beloved sins On this score Moses abhorrs the golden Calf Abraham quits his Country the Saints and Martyrs their lives nay this to do did our Lord Jesus descend from heaven to earth as he testifies Iohn 18. 37. This is the ballast that keeps the soul from tottering and losing way in its steerage to heaven This keeps it close to old truth and makes it mistrust new as false lights though they glister never so amazingly This carries the soul to Christ with earnest and vehement petitions to be kept safe amidst temptations This will perswade the soul to esteem highly of holy Truths and holy men who speak according to the Law and testimony and to reject whatsoever comes with Nicodemus in the night undiscerned and stealingly upon us not daring to abide the test or the examen of Scripture 't will weigh glorious Nothings the Wens and Excrements of Religion in the balance and if they bee not weight publish them to be light matters of Deceit 'T will separate 'twixt the Sheep and the Goat the Chaffe and the Corn and in all things carry it self gratefully to God whose mercy has onely made the difference for what has it which it hath not received 1 Cor. 4. ver 7. Were this as much in deed as in word amongst us we should not huckster it in Religion as we doe nor could we thus dishonour the nobility of our souls by mean and vulgar regards of them as in the loosenesse of our principles and practices we not onely seem but really shew we do while we prefer our bodies before our souls our corruptible before our incorruptible selves When we are sick in body we send for the most noted learned and experienced Physician we can meet with No Quack no Emperick no barbarous Farrier-like practiser will serve the turn we cry yea and that wisely too Best is best cheap but in Affairs 'twixt God and our souls in the resolution of doubts about heaven and that conversation which must bring us thither through the Mercy of God any one serves the turn Ioane as the Proverb is is as good as my Lady the most rude and illiterate most acceptable rather chuse we the Bramble then the Vine rather those that know nothing but pride and prattle then those Bees of glory the learned Ministers who are laden with honey and would be glad to lodg what they have pluck'd by the assistance of God from the Flowers of Study and Meditation in the hives of humble
they justly deserve who make the Clergy-man their Butt to level at such are directly contrary to that of the holy Apostle To have those that labour in the word and doctrine in double honour for their callings sake did they minde this Canon they should give them hearty and humble reverence the one from their bodies by courteous demeanours the other and better from their hearts by cordial love and effects of friendlinesse whereas now to our shame we may confesse it many are so far from reverence to them as Ministers that they use them not civilly as men born and bred well but rather as persons spurious and rejectitious whom their Families and Allies have disowned and who ought to be set at table with servants and fed upon Husks and Offals A madnesse unnatural unreasonable the very Heathens judged the Priest-hood so sacred that none were fit for it but the best Romulus the founder of Rome when he appointed Priests to attend the gods ordered them not from amongst the vulgar but those that excelled others in virtue and blood rich in estate and of comely person And the Romans when they thought of sending an Embassage to Marius to divert his course from Rome the ruine whereof he threatened and towards which he was on march with a potent Army decreed That it should be of the Priests and holy men as of those who are of all others most noble and eminent Divine Plato gives caution that as we should not sin against God in word or deed so neither against Divine men and he adds the reason stocks and stones birds and beasts beauty and strength power and policy are nothing to these Of all things a holy man is most honourable because he not onely bears the image of God but as the Apostle saies is the temple of the holy Ghost Yea Philo tells us That the Law equalled Priests in Majesty and honour with Kings lib. de Sacerdotum honoribus pag. 832. O Lord that Heathens should condemn us in a thing so just and necessary that vice should so putrifie the Age that no carriage is thought fit to use to the Minister but what 's rough and full of unkindnesse that men chuse rather to follow a multitude to do evil then a Iohn Baptist though a burning and shining light that the example of a Radbod a Duke of Friesland who when he was perswaded by S. Vulfran a famous Bishop about the year after Christ 718. to be baptized and had one foot in the water asking the question Whether more of his Ancestors were in hell or in heaven to which was answered him In hell most according to that of our Lord He that believeth not is condemned already withdrew his foot and heart from Baptisme saying 'T is equal and more reasonable to follow the most then fewest should be more attractive then the sober counsel of an Apostle and the practise of civilized Moralists and Heathens who durst not treat them at any rate beneath reverence I am loth to bode ill to my Country and these times but surely this injury will not be passed over lightly by him who is said by the Prophet to forbear Israel notwithstanding their Apostacy Idolatry and Oppression till they despised his Messengers and abused his Prophets then his jealousie broak forth and was not to be quenched with prayers tears oblations no the first fruits of the body could not expiate this sin of the soul It was a trespasse horrid a Crimen laesae majestatis Coelestis which would not be satisfied for without death Cautum debet facere non sequacem error alienus Casiod l. 7. And I wish those black mouths which vomit out their malice and fury against God Religion Government the Church and her Servitours do not in the anguish of their souls on their death-beds if not before cry out as that great Parisian Doctor did from his beer when brought to be buried Parcite funeribus mihi nil prodesse valebit Heu infoelicem cur me genuêre parentes Ah miser aeternos vado damnatus ad ignes Forbear your tears they cannot now prevail Accursed wretch that ever I was born Beshrew my parents that did me entail By sin to hell before I saw the morn I the rather note this because I judge it one of the Ages crying sins Stentore clamosiora to disrespect the Clergy alas bring but the persons of the Clergy into contempt and their Ministry will be ineffectual A poor Clergy will cause a base Religion God keep the Church-men from depending on his hearers for maintenance 't will be but the bread of sorrow and the water of affliction that is voluntarily given him by the people Alas we do not do by the Minister as Phaortes the Indian King did by his gods chiefly the Sun when Apollonius Tyanaeus asked him What wine he drank his answer was Such a quantity I my self drink as I sacrifice to the Sun we can think no revenue too great for the Lay-man every pittance too much for the Minister which is the observation of Judicious Calvine upon that curse wherewith the Jewish Nation was cursed for robbing God Tunc avaritiam dominatam fuisse apud eos ut quisque propriis commodis addictus negligereâ—… Templum Sacerdotes And truely did not a more then ordinary blessing of God lengthen out the Ministers in-come and miraculously augment it while it is decreasing by expence one would wonder how their families should be kept children provided for books bought and other necessaries had out of their allowances and dues and when they have so little and that so laden with charges and Taxes will men not onely cast an evil eye on them but turn a heavy hand against them God forbid we should so sin against God and against that Canon which saies While we have time let us do good to all especially to the HOUSHOLD of faith Gal. 6. 10. I am confident our Governours will never account Tythes as it is Church maintenance among grievances but rather hold themselves bound to expresse that to the Church and Church-men which Aristoxenus the Cyrenian did to his flowres moisten them with wine and honey and perfumes not only that they might smell fragrantly but put forth vigourously give them countenance and comfort and shame those by their Christian example who are contrary And I the rather hope it because there are many of our Rulers that comfort the Timerous Clergie as Ioseph did his brethren be not afraid we fear God and while they do this they dare not discourage our ministring Ioshuahs but encourage them as they did their Chieftain Ioshuah Deut. 1. 28. the words is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strengthen him against oppositions fortifie him with courage devoyd of fear The Hebrew word signifies not onely a comforting but such an one as is to prevailing and overcoming so is the Root rendred Iudges 1. 28. 2 Kings 3. 26. Ier. 20. 7. Gen. 41. last God