the miserable fruits and effects of Simonie p. 93. CHAP. XVI Of the cutting off or curing of Simonie pag. 107. The Corollarie directed especially to all Lay-Patrons and Lay purchasers of the sacred Portion Pag. 114. To the high and honorable Court of Parliament now assâ—â—bled pag. 125. The humble Petition of the Author in behalfe of many poore Soules that perish for want of foode ibid. The Authors Conclusion containing his ingenuous Protestation and zealous Gratulation A CENSVRE OF SIMONIE HEre first I may seeme to vsurpe the Mathematicians priuiledge in begging a Suppositum that such a thing there is aâ— Simony For in the opinion of many Simony hath lost its being in rerum natura as being long agoe antiquated and out of date dead and buried with Simon himselfe And if as Chrysostome saith the gift of giuing the Holy Ghost was peculiar to the Apostles so that not euen Philip baptizing gaue the Holy Ghost withall For this gift was proper onely to the twelue and if Simony be sirnamed of Simon the Sire and Simons Sinne was about the buying of the Holy Ghost then that gift ceasing and Simon being deceased where is there left so much as the name of Simony to lend a title to our intended Treatise The Germanes haue very good Lawes to punish drunkennesse but they find it very hard to define what drunkennesse is So in England we haue good Lawes to punish adultery but wee find a great difficultie in conuincing any of committing the act of adultery So it may bee said of Simony First therefore let vs see what Simony is CHAP. I. Wherein Simony is defined first generally and largely then more strictly and exactly FOr the Definition of Simony briefly we may reduce it to the Authoritie and Testimony of two especially to wit the Canonists and Schoolemen who haue beene the most exact obseruers and Collectors of what hath been deliuered by the most learned Doctors of the Church from time to time touching the nature of this matter For the Câ—nonists let Gratian speake who saith Simonia est studiosa cupiditas vel voluntaâ— emendi vel vendendi aliquid Spirituale Simony is an intentiue desire or purpose to buy or sell some spirituall thing And in another place hee addeth Simonia est emere vel vâ—ndere res Corporales Ecclesia It is Simony to buy or sell the Corporall goods of the Church For Schoole-men let Thomas Aquinas speake who succeeded about one hundred yeeres after Gratian hee saith in effect the same Simonia est studiosa voluntas emendi vel vendendi aliquid Spirituale vel Spiritualâ— annexum Simony is an earnest desire of buying or selling any spirituall thing or that which is annexed to that which is spirituall On these two Definitions in effect One depends the whole Law of Simony hauing the testimony of the whole Church from the Primitiue age thereof till this present Zanchie vsing the very same Definition concludeth Sic definierunt Theologi All Diuines and Doctors haue so defined it And not without good reason For in these two Definitions is concluded whatsoeuer may be said of Simony whither wee respect the Obiect or the Subiect of it in the Obiect whether wee vnderstand the Spirituall gifts or Corporall goods of the Church in the Subiect I meane not the Subiect of Predication as Logitians speake but of Inherence whither wee vnderdend the Affection onely or the Action also Be it Actuall or bee it onely Intentionall All is Simony As Gratian also saith Simonia committitur circa ordinem circa Beneficium Simony is committed both in respect of Orders and in respect of the Benefice it self The Councel of Constance hath decreed the same That Simony is as well committed in the Title as in the Order But hereunto Gratian puts an obiection Non videntur Spiritus Sancti donum emere qui non pro consecratione sed pro electione munera largâ—â—â—tur cum nullius spiritualis gratia aliquos faciat electio participes that is They seeme not to buy the gift of the Holy Ghost who bestow their rewards not for the Consecration but for the Election But he addeth the answer Sed ficut Ecclesiasticarum rerum â—â—ptores simoniaci iudicantur quia Ecclesiasticis officijs 〈◊〉 adiunctae sunt vt alterâ—◠〈◊〉 aliero aliâ—ui non proueniat ita quia per electionem peruenitâ—r ad consecrationem perinde simoniacus habetur qui pro Electione praemia largitur ac si pro consecratione munera dedisset But saith he as buyers of Ecclesiasticall things are iudged simonicall because those things are so annexed to Ecclesiasticall duties as one cannot haue the one without the other so because by election a man comes to his consecration hee is accounted no lesse a Simonist who bestoweth gifts for the Election then if hee had gi-his money for Consecration Now if the former Definitions seeme too large especially to such as would faine packe vp all Simony in the same fardell with the gifts of the Holy Ghost as Commodities of one and the same kinde to gratifie these we might reduce All to the same termes and say Simony is a Desire or Act of buying or selling the gifts of the Holy Ghost So Master Caluin in Act. 8. approues this to be the most proper Definition of Simony Onely the Question is what kindes of gifts of the holy Ghost may bee here implied the Merchandizing and Chafering whereof either is or may well be called either Simony or at least a branch of it Lyra in Act. 8. saith Simon volebat emere potestatem dandi Spiritum Sanctum intentione Lucri inde recipiendi propter quod ab ipso nominatur vitium Simoniae quo aliquis vendit aut 〈◊〉 Spiritualia Simon would buy the power of giuing the Holy Ghost with intention of gaining thereby as Saint Augustine saith Quod venderet emere volebat He would buy that which he purposed to sell againe For which respect from him is named the sinne of Simony when any man buyeth or selleth Spirituall things Now wee may reduce all those gifts of the Holy Ghost concerning his Ministers for these onely are pertinent to our purpose in hand to these two heads either those gifts giuen by imposition of hands in Ordination whereby Ministers receiue a ministeriall power to preach the Word to administer the Sacraments to remit and retaine sins which is the dispensation of the Keyes Or else those whereby a Minister receiueth a particular Charge ouer this or that flocke which being done by canonicall and orderly calling it is a gift no lesse ascribed to the Holy Ghost then that other of Ordination So the Apostle expresseth in his charge to the Clergie of Ephesus Act. 20.28 Take heed to your selues and to the whole flocke of God Whereof the Holy Ghost hath made you Episcopos or Ouerseers See here to be an Ouerseer whether Episcopus by a note of Excellencie as the Superior Ouerseer or Superintendent ouer
shall bee as superfluous to speake of more as it would bee infinite and impossible for an vnexperienced Simplicitie to diue into the Mysterie of this iniquitie and sound all the deepes of it As for Impropriations though they were originally maine brances of the Leuiticall Stock and so the merchandizing of them also might claime kindred with Simonie yet because they are slips broken off and transplanted out of the Garden and Paradise of God the Learned Treatise of that godly Scotish knight Sir Iames Semple as also that other of Sir Henry Spelman an English Knight both of the Lay Tribe two noble and pregnant witnesses doth more iustly intitle it selfe to this Argument Onely I would to God these two worthy Treatiâ—es were throughly studied and conscionably applied and printed in the hearts and consciences of all Impropriators to their eternall saluaâ—ion by being conscionably perswaded to shake their hands of such sacred things restoring them to Christ the onely true Proprietary the wronging of whom in this kind will one day proue fearefull sacriledge whatsoeuer men thinke of it now CHAP. XI Of the highest degree of Simonie committed in Ordination COncerning Simonie committed in Ordination although haply the money giuen for a simple Ordination be but small vnlesse it be for some egregious Dunce to which as Salomon saith of a dull-edged instrument a man must put the more strength and as it were the more weight to the lighter scale Yet of all other kindes of Simonie this is the most pernicious and damnable yea the lesse a man giueth or receiueth in this respect it is an argument of the lesse esteeme he makes of so holy and excellent a Calling As the Lord saith of Iudas his selling of Christ for thirtie pieces of siluer A goodly price that I was prized at of them Now this is so properly Simonie as it is the very sinne of Simon himselfe which is to buy the gifts of the Holy Ghost A sinne so detestable as that the Church of Rome it selfe though now the Mother and Nurse of abominations hath cried out against This sinne For we must put a great difference betweene the now Church of Rome and that which it hath beene formerly and that euen within these three or foure hundred yeeres For in former times as that Church hatched fostered many enormities both of Doctrine and Manners which by degrees crept in till Antichrist should come to his full stature yet there was place left for reproofe deuout and learned men might speake and write freely of the abuses of it But now within lesse then these hundred yeeres since the Councell of Trent this Church is growne to that superciliousnesse and height of pride that no man may once mention the least speâ—k or blemish of that foolish Virgin or rather filthy Whoore nay those that haue alreadie in their writings left any record or Monuments of Romes sin and in espeâ—ial of this of Simonie it must passe through the fire of their Index Expurgatorius Take one example among other Clau-Espencaeus in his Commentaries vpon his Epistle to Titus where he toucheth the corruptions of the Church of Rome in matter of Simonie there hee must bee purged For the purpose in that Impression at Paris by Michael Sonnius Pag. 65. Deleatur ab illis verbis sed annon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vsque ad Idque adeo in confesso est And Pag. 74. Circa medium deleantur illâ— verba Adeo Romanam Curiam repurgare sibi non permisit And Pag. 76. Deleatur ab illis verbis Vinere qui capitis vque ad Sacra sunt vaenalia Romae pag. 78. lin 8. Deleatur ab illis verbis Et cum alia vendaâ—t alij vsque ad Coelum est vaenale Deusque Which places because they are not obuious to euery Reader and that it may appeare how their Index cannot so blur the truth or bleere mens eyes but that the Whoores filthinesse will be discouered I haue thought good to set downe the former alledged places at large sauing where whole pages are expurged too long here to be insâ—â—ted In the first place those Verses out of 〈◊〉 are to be cashered Si quid Roma dabit nugas dabit accipit curum Verba dat heu Romae nunc solâ— pecunia regnat Hoc est Roma viris auibus quod noctua i. captatrix If Rome giues ought t is trislles gold shee takes Gâ—ues words at Rome alacke now money makes Alone the market Rome is that to men Which th'owle is to the birds Where also other most beastly stuffe such â—s my Author saith breeds horrour in the very mention all contained in the Roman Taxa Camerae where all sorts of most horrible sinnes are dispensed withall at such a rate as Presbytericide or Priest killing Parricide Matricide or killing of ones parents though willingly also Simonie as deseruing to bee ranked among such sinnes all which and much more are not onely dispensed with for so much money but the offenders made capable of any honour or preferment in the Church all that rabble must bee expurged out of the Author notwithstanding the Taxa Camerâ— remaines still in force and none of all these reformed as the Author saith which must also bee expurged Adeo Romaâ—am Curiam repurgare sibi non permisit c. no reformation will bee indured Againe these Verses must out so famous in many Authors Vinere qui capitis Sanctè discedite Roma Omnia cum liceat non licet esse bonum All you that would liue holy hence from Rome Where all things else but goodnesse find a roome And these also related by my Author must out Quis quis opes sacras nummo reperire profano Quâ—rit eat Romam sacra sunt vaenalia Romae Who sacred grath seekes with vnhallowed gold Get him to Rome where sacred things are sold. And this which followeth Et cum alia vendaut alij And whereas others sell other things vaenalia â—obis Templa Sacerdotes Altaria Sacra Coronae Ignes Thura Prâ—ces Coelum est vanale Deusque Wee doe sell Temples Priests Altars Sacrifices Crownes Fires Incense Prayers Heauen God are sold for crownes But it is labour in vaine for Rome to goe about thus to purge out of mens writings the memory of her inbred corruptions out of which source whatsoeuer Simonie is now in any part of the Church hath issued Enough to stigmatize and branâ— this sinne with the greater note of infamie if it should bee found as well in Iuda where religion iâ— maintained in her integritie as in that Idolatrous reuolted Israel where that grand Ieroboam of Rome for base bribes admits into the Priesthood the basest of the people I loue not to be an vâ—guis in this vlcer yet being to speake of this sin as it is committed in the highest degree to wit in Ordination leauing it to Cham to diuulge his owne Fathers nakednesse if any such nakednesse were it shall suffice to doe herein as Lycurgus
will plant my Seat vpon the North Pole What is this that the Deuil will pitch his Seat vpon the North But that euery proud and impious man doth either aspire or vsurpe principalitie ouer such as bee like him such as are remote from the heate of charity and from the light of wisedome This and much more this deuout man Now to draw all that hath beene said in this Chapter by those holy and ancient men of the Church to a corollary or conclusion If such be the Office of a Bishop if as Origen saith it makes the ambitious drunke with vaine-glory If as Saint Cyril to bee punished with fearefull flames if hee must render a strict account for himselfe and for all vnder his iurisdiction If as Saint Augustine nothing be more easie pleasant contentfull to men if perfunctorily and carelesly performed but nothing more vnhappy miserable damnadle with God for which that holy man wept at his Ordination If a Bishop bee a name rather of labour then honour and of dutie rather then dominion If not to be sought nor vndertaken but for meere charitie sake when necessitie compelleth If as Saint Chrysostome hee beare the burthen of all bee most inexcusable exposed to all tongues distracted with daily and nightly cares subiect to all censures liable to all iudgements if others sins bee imputed to his misgouernment if the losse of each soule so precious shall bee required of him if to affect it be to cast him out of Gods fauour if a priuate life be much more sweet more secure and safe if it be not a bed of rest but of break-sleepe if their preaching be most solicitous most assiduous if he be like a ship continually tossed with waues and driuen with contrary windes if not many Ministers bee saued but much more doe perish if subiect euen in despight oftentimes to bee diuerted and driuen from his owne disposition if onely pride in such be enough to cause an vniuersall decay and corruption if their account be most seuere both for their doctrine what and how with what diligence with what deuotion performed and for their life how answerable to their doctrine how holy how religious how euery way exemplary to their flocke how carefull in relieuing the poore how circumspect in electing good Ministers in reiecting the vnworthy if this Office make men rather greater then better hoysing vp the sayles of each passion to all winds of temptation especially when it findes pride auarice ambition and the like If as Erasmus a Bishop put on the person of a Father a Mother a Nurse all importing manifold Offices If as Aaron with his Bells hee must be euer sounding forth the word of Truth if for the multiplicitie and difficultie of the duties of this calling chained one within another many wise and graue men of God haue shrunke their shoulders from it if as Contarenus a Bishop must bee aboue a man of an Angelicall spirit if the very desire and seeking of it imply arrogancie auarice and ambition if it bee not enough to serue his Cure by a deputie if it giue him no dispensation to bee a Courtier and Negotiatour if thus hee bee vnlike Christ and his Apostles If as Poole it be so dangerous to be Non-resident if a Bishoppricke be rather to bee feared then desired If as Bernard it be vsually made rather a secular merchandize then a spirituall meanes to gaine soules vnto God if such be to bee abandoned as betrayers not shepheards hauing the seat not the zeale being successors not imitators if any ambitious Bishop be a Iudas a Deuill an Apostate Angel that would haue all like himselfe to domineere ouer if thus hee be excluded from inioying of Christ if this Office be a Ministration not a domination then to say no more but what so many holy graue learned Fathers haue said alreadie What reason can any reasonable man pretend to excuse not onely the purchase but the least pursuite of such a preferment from the imputation of extreame vnreasonablenesse CHAP. XIIII Of the Censures and Penalties of Simonie and Simonists COme wee now to obserue the censures and penalties which haue been generally imposed vpon Simonie and Simoniacks Aquinas following his Ancients calls Simonie Haeresiâ— quaedam Gregory calls it The prime Heresie in the Primitiue Church Altare vel Decimas vel Spiritum Sanctum emere vel vendere Simoniacam Haeresin esse nullus fidelium ignorat To buy or sell the Altar as the Sacrificer doth his Masse or Tythes or the Holy Ghost there is none of all the faithfull that knoweth not this to bee Simoniacall Heresie Irenaeus calls Simon Magus The Father of all Heretickes Yea saith Aquinas The impious Heresie of the Macedonians and of those of his Sect impugners of the Deitie of the Holy Ghost is more tolerable then that of the Simonists For those in their dotage yet confessed that the Holy Ghost was a Creature and seruant of the Father and the Sonne But these doe make the same Holy Ghost to be their owne seruant For hee that takes vpon him to buy or sell any thing takes vpon him also to bee the master and proprietary of that which hee so buyeth or selleth Yea so odious is the sinne of Simonie that Pope Deodate said That no Catholike is to bee refused but for auouching the Truth and to make knowne the madnesse of Simonie is to bee exhorted with most earnest intreatie For saith he none is so vile or infamous which may not be admitted for a competent witnesse against a Simoniacke as being the most vile and infamous of all men Therefore euen a bond-slaue a whoore a criminall person may accuse a Simonist yea euen a seruant his master And euery sinfull man may sing a Masse But a Simonist may not So he But some will say This is but the Brutum Fulmen of a Pope Yea it ought so much the more to make vs whom the condition of so many Popes hath made to abominate the very name of Pope to bee afraide and to startle at the very name of Simonie more then at a cracke of Thunder If Heathenish Abimelech so highly honour Marriage and the sacred Lawes thereof as hee sharpely reproues Abraham for hazarding his faire wife how shall not faithfull Abraham and Sara blush the more at such a Mans reproofe Gregory saith Specialiter c. Let both the Clergie and people the Electors specially and absolutely know that that man is not onely vnworthy of the Priesthood but will bee found also obnoxâ—us and culpable of other crimes whosoeuer hee bee that pâ—â—sumeth to buy the gift of God with money So that the like punishment and penaltie is equally due both to the elected and to the Electors if they shall assâ—y to violate the sinceritie of Priesthood with a sacrilegious intenâ— So hee Whence we may learne that the sinne of Simonie neuer goeth alone whether in the Buyer or in the Seller but as the Master Bee
aut pramium comparare aut peccatorum desiderat indulgentiam promereri reddat Decimam etiam de nouem partibus studeat eleemozynam dare pauperibus Tithes saith hee are the tributes of poore soules If thou giuest thy Tithe hee saith not if thou sellest it thou shalt not onely receiue abundance of fruits but also shalt obtaine health of body and soule Nor doth the Lord God require a reward but honor For our God who hath vouchsafed to giue vs the whole hath also vouchsafed to receiue of vs a Tenth not for his owne profit but without question for ours But if it be a sinne to giue slowly how much more grieuous a sinne is it not to giue at all or not to giue all the Tithes of thy warfare of thy trade of thy craft For when as thou mayest by paying thy Tithes obtaine both earthly and heauenly rewards why art thou defrauded of this double blessing through thy couetousnesse For this is a most iust and common Law with God that if thou bringest not thy Tenths thou shouldest be brought to a Tenth thou shalt giue to the impious Souldier that which thou wilt not giue to the Priest God is alwayes readie to blesse but hee is hindered by the malice of men For Tithes are required of duâ— and they who will not pay them doe inuade others goods And looke how many poore soules in that Parish where he dwelleth that payeth not his Tithes shall perish for hunger of so many murthers shall be stand guiltie before the Tribunall of the eternall Iudge because that which God hath allotted for the poore he hath reserued to his owne vses He therefore who desireth either to purchase to himselfe a reward or to procure the pardon of his sinnes let him pay his Tithes Also let him not be negligent to giue almes of the Nine parts to the poore Thus this holy Father Now for a Corollarie or Conclusion of this point touching the Censures of sacrilegious Simonists I will make a briefe relation of those obseruations which Rebuffus hath collected in his last question of his Tract of Tithes I omit to set downe his Authors quoted by him referring that to the Reader at his pleasure or leasure Hee that payeth not his Tithes but either selleth them or detayneth any part of them hee fighteth against God Secondly He shall be alwayes poore In times past when foure kindes of Tithes were duely paid men grew rich Now when one is not well paid men are brought to a Tenth And the Lord doth not remoue their plagues Thirdly They are cursed of God with penurie with pestilence with sudden death and with a perishing name Fourthly They shall want necessaries that denie God their duties Fiftly They are the heires of eternall death Sixtly They shall bee subiect to bodily infirmities and diseases Seuenthly They shall be associated with the Deuils which as some say are the Tenth part of the Angels Eightly Hee that will not giue his due to God shall giue that to the profane Souldier which he will not giue to the Priest Ninthly Such is a Thiefe and infamous person Tenthly Such shall be guiltie before Gods Tribunall of murthering so many poore soules as haue perished for want of not paying the Minister maintenance Eleuenthly Such are sacrilegious persons consequently lyable to eternall damnation and ought euery Lords day to be denounced by the Minister excommunicate Twelfthly defrauders of Tithes ought to want Christian buriall Thirteene If such cannot bee compelled by Ecclesiasticall Censures the Secular sword is to bee implored Fourteene Hee that oweth his Tithes cannot denie them vpon pretext of any debt due vnto Him because Tithes admit no such compensation nor any appeale In a word all Detayners or Defrauders of Tithes in what manner soeuer whether it be Sacrilegious or Serâ—oniacall are the sonnes of perdition notwithstanding any custome vsurpation or violent occupation They are in the state of damnation and all that partake with them either by counsell aide consent or defence directly or indirectly They are all of them theeues and robbers of Gods goods Pillers and Pollers of the Saints Church-robbers and excommunicate persons excluded from the benefit of Prayer remission of sinnes and all benefit of the Church and without restitution before death no receiuing of the Sacrament no Confession of sinnes no absolution of the Priest will doe them any good But with Iudas they are traytors and robbers of Gods treasure They are Infidels and vngracious vngratefull persons and shall bee eternally damned in hell And as the Philistins were punished with Mico and Locusts with Emrods and manifold miseries so long as they detayned the Lords Arke So shall the Defrauders of Tithes bee continually exercised with punishments and wax old in miseries vntill they make a full restitution For such are well worthy to bee smitten with Diuine reuenge to be punished with Gods own iudgeing hands as either to be punished with wicked children or to die a sudden death or to bee slaine or to haue their house and goods consumed with fire from heauen Such is the reward of sacrilegious Simonie or simoniacall Sacriledge But he that shall vse no fraude or couen in his Tithes shall be rewarded of God with eternall life which the Father Sonne and holy Ghost vouchsafe to grant vnto vs. Amen So hee Whence wee may obserue how detestable the sinne of Sacriledge and Simonie is although otherwise I doe not approue of euery particular passage cited by my Author as some of them smelling of the Romish Caske But let it suffice to make such sinnes the more odious to all louers of the Truth CHAP. XV. Of the miserable fruits and effects of Simonie THe effects and fruits of Simonie are no lesse miserable then the Censures are grieuous and the punishments thereof intollerable For as Simon is the Father of all Simonists So Simonie is the Mother of all Mischiefes in the Church For Simonie doth vsually poyson and corrupt two Well-heads whence the streames of good life doe generally flow vnto all the people that is the Parson and the Patron These be as the two great Lights in the Firmament of the Church from whom the sublunary and subordinate people receiue the direction and conduct of their life Now for the Parson or Minister hee is the Salt of the earth the Light of the world the Guide of the simple But whom Simonie maketh vnsauoury darkneth blindeth Wherefore as Saint Chrysostome saith When the Candle is extinguished when the Pilot is drowned when the Captaine is captiued what remaines for the remnant Let no man despise thy youth said the Apostle to Timothy Why Because nothing doth more impeach and disaduantage a Ministers labours and frustrate all the fruit of his calling then contempt iustly contracted vpon his person And nothing makes him more contemptible then Simonie And what so captiuates their spirituall Captaines what makes them so mute in Gods cause what doth so euirate their masculine profession that they dare
three of those Examiners which he will to ioyne with him in the Examination of a fit succeeding Incumbent And these examiners being men of qualitie shall sweare by the holy Euangelist that setting aside all humane affection they shall faithfully execute their Office And let them take heed that vpon the occasion of their Examination neither afore nor after they finger any fee least otherwise as well they the receiuers as their giuers incurre the sinne of Simonie from which they cannot be absolued vnlesse they forgoe all their Benefices vpon what condition soeuer formerly obtained and become incapable of any afterwards And at euery Prouinciall Synod they may bee called to account and if they be found faultie to bee punished as the Synod shall appoint Nâ—w vpon euery such foresaid Examination those whom the Examiners approue of most for their sufficiencie shall be commended to the Bishop and of those let the Bishop choose him whom hee shall iudge most fit and vpon him and none else shall the Patron conferre the Benefice All other formes of institution let them be holden for surreptitious notwithstanding any exemption or priuiledge heretofore to the cantrary whatsoeuer or to whomsoeuer Thus this Councell And although I confesse this Chapter as also the whole Councell containing the whole Mystery of iniquitie is very perplexedly compiled as if the Councell meant no such matter though so speciously pretended as the judicious Reader may easily discerne when hee reads the Chapter it selfe being full of reseruations and equiuocations yet the reading of this Riddle may open a way to stop and stay this fretting Gangrene the Pearles gathered out of this mud may serue to hold our Simoniacall Merchant from dealing in other merchandize A sword framed out of this Forge may cut off the head of Simonie and a line drawne from the windings of this Circle may regulate and confine all irregular and Simoniacall persons Yet after all these wayes which haply may proue either irksome to him that hath not gone them before as for the Patron to be put to the Oathor wearisome to make them passable there is a shorter cut I confesse to a more speedy reformation but that it is very hard to hit vpon It cannot better be described then by setting downe an example or two of those that haue gone this way And heere wee haue a noble Precedent in the Emperor Henry the Fourth It is recorded by the late reuerend Bishop of Winchester in his Booke of Christian subiection and Antichristian rebellion the third part and taken out of Lambertus Scafn in Anno 1075. that this Henry the Fourth in the vacancie of the Abby of Fuld being sollicited very ambitiously by sundry Monkes and Friars competitors for the place on the sudden as led by a diuine spirit chose one Ruzelin a good honest poore Monke that dreamt of no such matter The like also this Emperour did vpon the vacancie of the Abby of Loressan For conclusion it were to bee wished that for the more carefull cure of this cursed cankered sinne all not onely profest Recusants but Church-Papists such as will come to the Chuâ—ch but once a moneth at most may bee by Act actually and potentially depriued dispossessed of all presentatiue power whatsoeuer in disposing of any Church-liuing And that for the better discouery euery Patron presenting shall presently take oath not onely of Allegeance but of Supremacie this being the Lidius Lapis or touchstone to discerne a true Christian from a counterfeit Catholike and a good Patron from a craftie Romish Latron For can the flocke bee in safetie when the dog is of the wolfes prouiding And will not such a wolfe bee sure to prouide such a dog as the Holy Ghost speaketh of by his Prophet Esa. 56.10 11. either some dumbe dog or lazie and sleepy mungrell or ranging spaniell or rauenous hound Such as are muzzled either ignorant and cannot or can and will not or would but dare not barke at sinne and sinners Or whose mangie manners are enough to infect his whole flocke or whose rangeing Non-residence giues the wolfe leaue to prey the more securely or whose rapatious and rauenous auarice deuoureth no lesse then doth the wolfe or in one word all of these of necessitie some grand Simoniacke so deepely drenched and bemudded with Simonie that he is for euer after so vnspongiable is this pitchy sinne both a laughing stocke to the wolfe and a stumbling blocke to his owne flocke For a Simonist he must needs bee and that some vnlettered Capito whom Popish Patrons amongst vs preferre to their Benefices accounting such money well got which they bestow in tam pios vsus vpon such pious vses as the maintenance of their Masse-Priests So that by this meanes the wolfe must bee maintained by the Simoniacall Pastor The Corollary directed especially to all Lay-Patrons and Lay-Purchasers of the Sacred Portion NOw before I shut vp my little Treatise I intreate all Lay-persons especially Patrons of Benefices and also all such Fathers as make no difference betweene the purchase of a Benefice and of a Farme to leaue as a portion for their children that they would patiently peruse and wisely weigh these few lines which as they proceed from a heart inflamed with the zeale of Gods glory of the propagation of his Church and of the Soule-saluation of all those whom it especially concerneth So I desire they may be affectuously imbraced and effectually followed of all For sith I speake vnto wise men let me speake the more freely in few words but they are the words of our Lord Iesus Christ What shall it profit a man if he win the whole world and lose his owne soule Hereby the Lord implies that a mans soule is infinitely of more value then the whole world Now if it be so in the whole what is it in euery little part What shall it profit a man if he winne a little piece of the world and lose his owne soule What gained Esau for selling his birthright and typically his soule for a messe of broth or Achan for a wedge of gold or Iudas for selling both his soule and his Sauiour for thirtie pence or Gihezi for selling his Masters gift for two talents or Ananias and Saphira for detaining what was vowed and consecrate Now God is the same iealous God still that hee was from the beginning And the Apostle saith concerning sacrilegious persons Be not deceiued God is not mocked for whatsoeuer a man soweth the same shall hee also reape But wherefore all this First this concerneth all Patrons to looke vnto it such as account it no lesse lawfull to sell a Benefice or to vsurpe by strong hand or cunning either the whole or a part to his owne proper improper vse then to sell his horse or house Now to all Patrons is my speech chiefly addressed The Benefices in your Patronage are but a gage committed to you of trust And it is no small trust The soules of Gods people are