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A28884 The pride and avarice of the clergie, viz. parsons, vicars & curats, hindering the reformation discovered in a plain and familiar dialogue between Philalethes and presbyter / by Abraham Boun, gent. Boun, Abraham. 1650 (1650) Wing B3836; ESTC R30307 53,217 195

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as I have described The Prebendaries and their appurtenances are justly cashiered see now if it be not high time to pluck up those also Pr. It doth not appear to me there is any evill in these names you shall find many godly and Orthodox Divines Parsons Vicars and Curats who shew themselves glad to be quit of all the Ceremonies and heartily desire a through reformation and some of these are not ashamed of the name Priest Ph. I pray sir forsake these Apocryphal and Popish names for a great part of the Religion of Antichrist is wrapped up in such names of his Creation as Cardinals Abbots Priors Arch-Bishops Lord Bishops Deanes Arch-Deacons Chancellrs Commissaries Parsons Officials Vicars Curats Priests c. Pr. For all these names and Orders but the four last we have nothing to do with them and what harm is in any of these four names or what offence comes by them I know not Ph. I shall endeavor to let you know somewhat of that evill which I conceive of them 1. First in their Institution and original they having no foundation in the Scripture are of Antichrists devising and in their nature and use contrarie or unlike to the Ministers of the Gospel who are only Pastors and Teachers For their original they grew up in this manner The Diocesan Bishop who in corrupt times was conceived to have the care of all the Churches in his Diocess which for the most part were endowed with all the Tythes of the Parish did usually appoint the Preists or Ministers which indeed were but the Bishops Curates or Clerks Fullers holy State Lib. 2. cap. 12. p. 87. citeth Conci Toledon An. 589. Can. 9. Now when the Bishop had given to the Minister the cure of souls and care of the Church with all the Tithes and profit● thereof undiminished by his Institution he was called the Rector or Parson which verie Institution being accepted was an acknowledgment that the right to the Church was originally in the Bishop and that made the Parson but the Bishops Curate or rather servant or Clerk and so it continued until the dissolution of the Bishopricks 2. Secondly the Vicar as a Clergie-man said was created or rather made by the Devil or the Pope for when the Parson grew too great or the Patron had founded a Monasterie or other superstitious house towards the maintenance thereof the tithes of several Parishes which formerly belonged to the Churches were appropriated and this was done by the Patron with consent of the Bishop and the incumbent Priest if there were any and sometimes this Appropriation was made by vertue of the Popes Bull and then the care of the Church was in the Governour of the house or otherwise according to the foundation who served the cure as they called it that is performed the Idolatrous service by a Monck of their house who was called the Vicar and to him there was allowed for his paines sometimes a stipend in monie sometimes the small Tithes c. such a proportion as he could agree for with his Master the Governor of the house And when the house came to the Crown by dissolution it stood charged with that stipend● or else the Vicar had the smal Tithes or such part thereof as formerly was agreed for and the Bulk of the Tithes became a Lay fee and were sold out and enjoyed as the superstitious house held them and the Composition or endowment of the Vicar remained and so continues as his portion to this day for serving the Church c. But usually he had his institution from the Bishop 3. Thirdly the Curate grew in this manner when the Bishop held a Parsonage in commendam in his own hands to augment his Bishoprick or a Parson grew idle or had severall Church-livings then they hired some inferior Priest for what they could to supplie the cure for a year a moneth or as they could agree and he was called the Curate who came and went according to his pay and at the discretion or will of him that hired him and so he continues to this day I tell you these things not because I suppose you know them not but to put you in minde how unlike these orders are to the Ministers of the Gospel for you see the Gospel had nothing to do to approve or disapprove of the pretended Minister Parson Vicar or Curate but all was originally in the Pope or in the Bishop his Vicegerent from whom the Bishop originally received his power which continued here in force for manie hundred years Cath. Devin. Respons Cook l. Caudrey Case pa. 4. And for the name Priest its true it is a contract of Presbyter but as it s used it commonly signifies a Popish Mass Priest and is a a derogation from the Office of the Lord Christ for I know none other sacrificing Priest in Gospel-sense but Christ who was the last Priest and the last Sacrifice Pr. Well I account there is no evill in these nams yet for offence sake I shall be willing to leave them and do conceive that the Ministers of the Gospel who are to continue to the perfecting of the Saints are properly Pastors and Teachers who ought to be maintained liberally and to have all incouragement by payment of all things due unto them Ph. I have alreadie told you what I conceive of their maintenance and particularly what I think of tithes But there is one thing which I wonder at why the Ministers should stand so much upon superstitious offerings and mortuaries Pr. They have been anciently belonging to the Church and although they of the Separation say they were the things of Idolaters I doubt not but they may be used being converted from their Idolatrous use Ph. As for those offerings which it seems you agree to be Popish as indeed the most of those Offerings were which were offered at the Altar called the Altarage of the Church some to Saints Idols or Devils to whom the Churches were dedicated others to the Virgin-Marie Some for Tapers and Lights and other superstitious uses others taken from the Jewes by the Papists I conceive all these unfit to be given to or received for the service of God for that some things of Idolaters not Idolatrous in State as their goods and houses may be made use of for maintenance of the service of God But those things of theirs which were Idolatrous in State that is such as were invented by Idolaters for perfecting their Idolatrie and served for no other use as all Popish Ceremonies and popish offerings ought not to be used by Christians And for those Jewish offerings it is no more lawful to use them to retain Circumcision and other Ceremonies of which Paul saith If you be circumcised Christ profits you nothing Gal. 5. 2. for that the retaining of Circumcision is a forsaking of Christ and makes us bound to fulfill the Law and with that all other Jewish Ceremonies are abolished And touching Mortuaries they are a foolish and