Concerning a Threefold Order of Bishops, Question 6
The ſixt queſtion.
Where as in the former age much wealth hath bene giuen by princes and many other, to the biſhops, monaſteries &c. vnderunder the name of almes, & ſo great riches ſeeme rather to hurt the biſhops, then to do them good: and monaſteries in the church and common wealth are vnprofitable: what yet ſhould become of ſuch goods which were once conſecrate to the church? For ſeeing the Biſhops and miniſters hauehave ſufficient of their tithes, whereof they may liue well and honeſtly, can the prince with the conſent of the ſtates of the kingdome, turne the reſidue eyther to his priuate vſe, or the good of the commō wealth, eſpecially ſeeyng ſuch goods do conſiſt not onelyonly in tithes, but of poſſeſſions, both in the country & the city. Which queſtion, ſeeing it ſeemeth to bee rather ciuil then eccleſiaſticall, I purpoſed not to trouble you in this point. But whereas many both learned & godly amōgſt vsus, are of this minde, that thoſe thinges which hauehave bene once vowed to holy vſes, cannot be giuen to prophane vſes, though they be publike, I could not but mention the matter vntounto you.
To the ſixt question.
Cōcerning the goods of the church. Firſt of all we ſuppoſe great heed ought to be taken, that none do ſtaine himſelf with handling the church goods. For if God hath taken reuenge of ſuch ſacrileges, euen amongſt the very idolaters: what trow we will his iudgement be againſt thē which hauehave ſpoiled his churches, and hauehave prophaned the thinges which were ſet a parte for his true worſhip.
Moreouer it is euident, that this turneth greatly to the reproch of the name of God and of his holy goſpel, as thogh forſooth papiſtry hath ben abandoned, not for the louelove of the truth, but to rob the church of her goods, and as though new theeues hauehave entered in the roume of the olde. Nowe, euen as aboundaunce doth ouerwhelme the Church, ſo it is to be feared, leaſt ſhe be brought into great ſtraights by want, whileſt many now a daies are no leſſe ſparyng and niggardly in vpholding the true miniſterie, then heretofore kinges and princes themſelues hauehave beene ouerlauiſhyng: we thinke it needefull to keepe a meane in this poynte, which ſo wee take will be the beſt, if firſt a view be taken of the daily expences which are neceſſary to be made: then if ſomwhat be laid vp for many thinges extraordinary, wheras no iuſt reckoning can be made, and both of theſe be accounted not ſparingly or ſlenderly, but bountifully and liberally, ſeeyng that the Church by the goodnes of God hath plenty. Therfore that number is to bee made of pariſhes and paſtors which may very well ſuffiſe the people, and eueryevery one is to hauehave an honeſt liuing allowed. Order alſo is to be taken for the elders, who are to aſſiſt the paſtors that they may conueniently diſcharge their duety. It would be alſo iniurious, that the widowes and childrē of the paſtors which are dead, ſhould be brought to beggery, who in a care of their calling, were conſtrained to lay aſide the care of prouiding for their familie. Schooles alſo and vniuerſities, ſeing they are the Seminary of the church are not the leaſt part of the care thereof. Care alſo is to bee had of almes houſes & hoſpitals, & of churches, that they be kept in reparations, and new builded if need require. Laſt of all (as I ſay before) ſeeyng the churches hauehave plenty, order muſt be taken, what ſhal be brought into the Church treaſury yeerely, from whēce may be fetched that which may ſuffiſe in tyme of warre or famine, leaſt then it be to ſeeke when it ſhould be in a readineſſe. When all theſe things ſhall faithfully & frankly be brought by ſupputation into one ſumme ſtill yeerely: Good and ſufficient men are to take order for their collecting, ſuch a way as ſhall be without trouble or ſtrife. That which ſhall be found to be ouerplus, is not to be lauiſhed out with other publike reuenues, but to be layed vp by it ſelfe (for theſe are of an other nature, though not alwayes gottē after the honeſteſt ſort by the couetous prieſts) and we thinke that it may be taken & beſtowed for the ſeruice of the kingdome, when the publike neceſſitie thereof doth require it, eſpecially if the people be ſo much the more eaſed.
End of the text · Theodore Beza, Concerning a Threefold Order of Bishops (1585)