Speech in Behalf of the Clergy 2, Text
SIR BENIAMIN RVDIERD HIS SPEECH IN BEHALFE OF THE CLERGIE, AND OF Pariſhes miſerably deſtitute of Inſtruction, through want of Maintenance.
CONFIRMED BY THE Teſtimonies of Biſhop IEWEL, Maſter PERKINS, and Sir HENRY SPELMAN.
DEVTER. 33.11.
Bleſſe O Lord Leuies ſubſtance, and accept the worke of his hands; Smite thorough the Loynes of them that ryſe againſt him, and of them that hate him, that they ryſe not againe.
Printed at Oxford, 1628. And are to the ſold by Ph. Stephens and Ch. Meredith at the Golden Lyon in Pauls Church-yard.
SIR BENIAMIN RVDDIERD'S ſpeach in behalfe of the Cleargy.
Mr Pimne. I did not thinke to hauehave ſpoken againe to this bill, becauſe I was willing to belieue that the forwardnes of this Committe would hauehave prevented me, but now I do hold my ſelfe bound to ſpeake, and to ſpeake in earneſt.
In the firſt yeare of the King, and the ſecond convention, I firſt moued for the encreaſe and enlargement of poore Miniſters Liuings; I ſhewed how neceſſary it was to be done, how ſhamefull it was, that it had beene ſo long neglected. This was alſo commended to the Houſe by his Matv. There were then, as now, many accuſations on foote againſt ſcandalous Miniſters. I was bold to tell the Houſe, that there were ſcandalous Livings too which were much the cauſe of the other: Livings of fiue Markes, of fiue pounds a yeare, that men of worth and of parts would not be mufled vpto ſuch pittances. And that there were ſome places in England, which were ſcarce in Chriſtendome, where God was litle better knowne then amongſt Indians. I exampled it in the vtmoſt skirts of the North, where the prayers of the common people, are more like ſpels and charmes then deuotions; the ſame blindneſſe and ignorance is in divers parts of Wales, which many of that Countrey doe both know and lament.
I declared alſo, that to plant good Miniſters in good Livings, was the ſtrongeſt and ſureſt meanes to eſtabliſh true religion, that it would prevaile more againſt papiſtry then the making of new lawes, or executing of old. That it would counterworke courte-conſcience and luckewarme accommodation. That though the calling of Miniſters bee neuer ſo glorious within, yet outward poverty will bring contempt vponupon them, eſpecially amongſt thoſe, vvho meaſure men by the acre, and vveigh them by the pound, vvhichwhich indeed is the greateſt part of men.
Mr Pimne, I cannot, but teſtifie how being in Germany, I vvas exceedingly ſcandalized to ſee the poore ſtipendiary Miniſters of the reformed Churches there deſpiſed & neglected by reaſon of their poverty, being otherwiſe very graue and learned men. I am afraid that this is a part of the burthen of Germany, which ought to be a warning to vsus.
I hauehave heard many obiections and difficulties even to impoſſibilities againſt this bill: to him that is vnwilling, there is ever a beare or a lion in the way. Firſt let vsus make our ſelues willing, then will the way bee eaſie and ſafe enough.
I hauehave obſerved, that vvee are alwayes very eager & fierce againſt papiſtry, againſt ſcandalous Miniſters, and againſt things which are not much in our power; I ſhould be glad to ſee that wee did delight as well in rewarding as in puniſhing, and in vndertaking matters within our owne reach, as this is abſolutely vvithin our power. Our owne duties are next vsus, other mens farther off: I doe not ſpeake this, that I doe miſlike the deſtroying or putting downe of that which is ill, but then let vsus bee as earneſt to plant and build vp that vvhichwhich is good in the roome of it; for vvhy ſhould vve bee deſolate. The beſt and the gentleſt vvay to diſpell darkenes, is, to let in the light; vvee ſay that day breakes, but no man ever heard the noyſe of it; God comes in the ſtill voyce; let vsus quietly mend our. Candleſtickes, and vve cannot vvant lights.
I am afraid this backwardnes of ours, vvill giuegive the adverſary occaſion to ſay, that vve chuſe our religion, becauſe it is the cheaper of the two; that vvee vvould vvillingly ſerue God vvith ſomewhat that would coſt vsus naught. Beleeue it Mr Pimne, he that thinkes to ſaue any thing by his religion, but his ſoule, vvill bee a terrible looſer in the end. Wee ſow ſparingly, thats the reaſon vvee reape ſo ſparingly, and hauehave no more fruite. Mee thinkes whoſoeuer hates papiſtry, ſhould by the ſame rule hate covetouſnes, for that's idolatry too. I never lik'd hot profeſſions and cold actions. Such an heate is rather the heate of diſtemper and diſeaſe, then of life and ſaving health.
For ſcandalous Miniſters, there is no man ſhall bee more forward to hauehave them ſeverely puniſhed, than I will be: when ſalt hath loſt his ſavour, let it be caſt out vponupon the vnſavory place, the dunghill. But Sir, let vsus deale with them, as God hath dealt with vsus. God before he made man, made the world, an handſome place for him to dwell in; ſo let vsus provide them convenient livings, and then puniſh them in Gods name, but till then ſcandalous liuings cannot but hauehave ſcandalous Miniſters. It ſhall ever bee a rule to me, that where the Church and common-wealth are both of one religion, it is comely and decent, that the outward ſplendour of the Church, ſhould hold a proportion, and participate with the proſperity of the temporall ſtate: for vvhy ſhould vve dwell in houſes of Cedars, and ſuffer God to dwell in skinnes.
It was a glorious & religious worke of King Iames, (I ſpeake it to his vnſpeakeable honour, and to the praiſe of that Nation, who though their Countrey bee not ſo rich as ours, yet are they richer in their affections to Religion) within the ſpace of one yeare he cauſed to be planted Churches through all Scotland, the Highland & the Borders, worth 30l a yeare a peece, with a houſe and ſome glebe land belonging to them; which 30l a yeare, conſidering the cheapenes of the Countrey, and the modeſt faſhion of Miniſters liuing there, is worth double as much, as any vvhere vvithin an 100. miles of London. The printed Act and Commiſſion vvhereby it was executed, I hauehave here in my hand, deliuered to me by a noble Gent. Of that nation, and a worthy member of this houſe Sir Francis Steward.
To conclude, though Chriſtianity and Religion bee eſtabliſhed generally throughout this kingdome, yet vntill it bee planted more particularly, I ſhall ſcarce thinke this a Chriſtian Common-wealth. And ſeeing it hath beene moued and ſhewed in Parliament, it will lie heavy vponupon Parliaments, vntill it be effected. Let vsus doe ſomething for God here of our owne; and no doubt God will bleſſe our proceedings in this place the better for ever hereafter. And for mine owne part, I will neuer giuegive ouer ſoliciting this cauſe as long as Parliaments and I liue together.
TO confirme the complaint of this worthy and religious Knight: there followes the teſtimony of two excellent men of God, whoſe piety and zeale may moue ſome to conſider of the matter more ſeriouſly, then they hauehave done hitherto, eſpecially if they will pleaſe to reade vvhat is vvritten more at large in their ſermons of this argument.
The Reverend and learned Biſhop Iewell in his ſermon before Queene Elizabeth on Pſal. 69.9. The zeale of thine houſe hath eaten me vp. ſaith thus. In England, ſince the Goſpell hath beene receiued, the maintenance of learning hath beene decayed; and the lacke of learning vvill be the decay of the Goſpell. Loth I am to ſpeake, yet the caſe ſo requireth, that it is needfull to be ſpoken: I truſt I ſhall ſpeake in the hearing of them that vvill conſider it. Maintenance of learning vvhereby an able and ſufficient Miniſtry may growe and be eſtabliſhed in all the Churches of this Realme, is to bee vviſhed for. The good eſtate of this noble Kingdome, the comfort of poſterity, the ſtay of religion, the continuing of the Goſpell, the removing of darkeneſſe hangeth vponupon it. One asked ſometimes how it vvas, that in Athens, ſo good and great a Citty, there vvere no Phyſitians: to vvhom this anſwere vvas made, becauſe there are no revvards appointed for them that practiſe phyſicke. The ſame anſwere may bee made for our times; the cauſe vvhy the Church of God is ſo forſaken, is the vvant of zeale in them that ſhould either for their courteſie, or for their ability be foſterers of learning, and encreaſe the Livings, vvhere occaſion is, and giuegive hope and comfort to learned men. What ſaid I? encreaſe? nay the Livings and proviſions which heretofore vvere given, are taken avvay.
HaueHave patience, if any ſuch bee here (as I vvell know there are) vvhom theſe things touch. Suffer mee to ſpeake the trueth, it is Gods cauſe; the Livings of ſuch, as are in the Miniſtery, are not in their hands, to vvhom they are due. All other labourers and artificers hauehave their hire encreaſed double as much as it was wont to be; onelyonly the poore man that laboureth and ſweateth in the vineyard of the Lord of hoſtes hath his hire abridged and abated.
I ſpeake not of the Curates, but of the Parſonages & Vicarages, that is of the places, vvhichwhich are the caſtles and towers of fence for the Lords temple. They ſeldome paſſe now adayes from the patron, if he bee no better than a gentleman, but either for the leaſe, or for preſent money. Such merchants are broken into the Church of God, a great deale more intollerable, then vvere they, vvhom Chriſt vvhipped and chaſed out of the Temple. Thus they that ſhould bee carefull for Gods Church, that ſhould be patrons to provide for the conſciences of the people, and to place among them a learned miniſter, vvho might be able to preach the Word vntounto them, out of ſeaſon, and in ſeaſon, and to fulfill his miniſtery, ſeeke their owne, and not which is Ieſus Chriſts. They ſerue not Ieſus Chriſt, but their belly. And this is done, not in one place, or in one countrey, but throughout England. A gentleman cannot keepe his houſe, vnleſſe he hauehave a Parſonage or two in farme for his proviſion.
O mercifull God! vvhereto vvill this grow at laſt? if the miſery which this plague vvorketh vvould reach but to one age, it vvere the more tolerable: but it vvill bee a plague to the poſterity, it vvill bee the decay and deſolation of Gods Church: young men vvhichwhich are toward and learned ſee this, they ſee, that hee vvhichwhich feedeth the flock hath leaſt part of the milke; he which goeth a warfare, hath not halfe his vvages; therefore they are vveary and diſcouraged, they change their ſtudies, ſome become prentiſes, ſome turne to phyſicke, ſome to law, all ſhunne and flie the miniſtery. And beſides, the hinderance that thus groweth by the vvicked dealing of patrons, by reaſon of the Impropriations, the vicarages in many places, and in the propereſt market townes, are ſo ſimple that no man can liue vponupon them, and therefore no man vvill take them. They vvere vvont to ſay, Beneficia ſine cura; benefices without charge: but now may be ſaid, Cura ſine beneficio: charge or care without benefit.
But there be many which can ſay, ſuch as bee miniſters in the Church ſhould teach freely, vvithout hope of recommence, or hire for their labour; our preachers are no bettet than Peter and Paul, and the other Apoſtles. They are no better than the holy Prophets, vvho liued poorely, poverty is a commendable ſtate, So ſay ſome in like devotion, as did Iudas. What needeth this waſte? this might hauehave beene ſold for much and given to the poore, not that hee cared for the poore, but becauſe he was a theefe, and had the bagge, and bare that which was given. I doubt not there are many vvhichwhich teach Chriſt for Chriſts ſake, vvhichwhich ſay in their ſoule, the Lord is my portion; vvho ſeeke you and not yours; I doubt not there are ſuch.
But for the hope of poſterity, I report mee to all you vvhichwhich are Fathers and hauehave children, for vvhom you are carefull: although your ſelues hauehave a zeale and care for the houſe of God, yet vvill you breed them vp, keepe them at ſchoole, and at the Vniverſity, vntill 30. or 40. yeares old, to your great charges, to the end, they may liue in glorious poverty, that they may liue poorely and naked like the Prophets and Apoſtles. Our poſterities ſhall rue that ever ſuch Fathers went before them, and chronicles ſhall report this contempt of learning, among the puniſhments and murraines, and and other plagues of God, they ſhall leaue it vvritten in vvhat time, and vnderunder vvhoſe raigne this vvas done.
In the meane time, what may be gueſſed of their meaning, who thus ruine and ſpoile the houſe of God, vvhichwhich decay the proviſion thereof, & ſo baſely eſteeme the Miniſters of his Goſpell? they cannot ſay to God, the zeale of thine houſe hath eaten me vp: howſoever in other things they doe vvell; howſoever they ſeeme to rejoyce at the proſperity of Sion, and to ſeeke the ſafety and preſervation of the Lords anointed: yet needs muſt it bee, that by theſe meanes forraine power, of which this Realme by the mercy of God, is happily deliuered, ſhall againe be brought in vponupon vsus. Such things ſhal be done vntounto vsus, as we before ſuffered in the times of popery; the truth of God ſhall bee taken away, the holy Scriptures burnt and conſumed in fire, a marveilous darkenes and calamity muſt needs enſue. &c.
The oxe that treadeth out the corne is muſled, hee that goeth to warfare, receiueth not his vvages, the cry hereof goeth vp into the eares of the Lord of hoſtes; he vvill not abide ſo great contempt of his word and preachers, his owne name is thereby diſhonoured: our Saviour ſaith: Luc. 10. hee that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me. and Saint Paul, 1. Theſſ. 4. hee that deſpiſeth theſe things, deſpiſeth not man but God; and thinke vvee, that hee will ſuffer his holy name to bee deſpiſed? nay his wrath is already kindled, he hath already begunne his judgements, and therefore many places are left deſolate, there is none that can warne them of their ſinne, none that can moue them to repentance, none that can preach vntounto them forgiuenes through Chriſt, none that can inſtruct them in the comfort of everlaſting life.
For this cauſe you liue ſtill in your ſinnes, in adultery, in covetousſnes, and in pride, without any feeling of conſcience, without any feare of God, thus we provoke God to anger; many walke (of whom we cannot thinke but with vveeping) they are the enemies of the Croſſe of Chriſt; the name of God is blaſphemed among them. &c. Theſe words happily ſeeme ſharpe and over vehement, but the darkeneſſe of our hearts againſt God, and the lacke of zeale for his houſe, inforce me to them: wee are almoſt fallen into the loweſt pit; wee are left without zeale as ſenceleſſe men, & as if vve had cleane forgotten our ſelues, as the Heathens which know not God: therefore vnleſſe we repent, the kingdome of God ſhall bee taken away from vsus: hee will ſend vponupon this land a famine of the word. Ieruſalem ſhall bee overthrown and made an heape of ſtones, the man of Sinne, and they which hauehave not the louelove of the trueth ſhall prevaile with many, and withdraw them from obedience to the Prince; this noble Realme ſhall be ſubject to forraine nations; all this will the zeale of the Lord of hoſtes bring to paſſe.
I could hauehave ſpent thi time in opening of ſome other matter, but nothing, in my judgement, is more worthy your good conſideration and ſpeedy redreſſe, &c. Wherefore he concludes with a graue exhortation to her Majeſtie, as followeth.
O that Your Grace did behold the miſerable diſorder of Gods Church, or that you might forſee the calamities that vvill follow! It is a part of your kingdome, and ſuch a part, as is the principall prop & ſtay of the reſt: I will ſay to your Majeſty, as Cyrillus ſometimes ſaid to the godly Emperours, Theodoſius and Valentinian, Ab ea quae erga Deum eſt pietate Reipub. veſtrae ſtatus pendet, The good ſtate and vvelfare of your common-weale hangeth vponupon true godlines, you are our governour, your are the nurſe of Gods Church, Wee may open this griefe before you; God knoweth if it may bee redreſſed it is runne ſo farre: But if it may bee redreſſed, there is no other beſides your highnes, that can redreſſe it. I hope I ſpeake truely that which I ſpeake without flattery, that God hath indued your Grace with ſuch meaſure of learning and knowledge as no other Chriſtian Prince; He hath given you peace, happines, the louelove and the hearts of your Subiects. Oh turne and employ theſe to the glory of God, that God may confirme in your Grace the thing which he hath begunne. To this end hath God placed Kings & Princes in their State, as David ſaith, that they ſerue the Lord, that they may ſee, and cauſe others to ſee to the furniture of the Church. The good Emperour Iuſtinian cared for this as much, as for his life. Conſtantine, Theodoſius, and Valentinian, and other godly Princes called themſelues vaſſales, the ſubjects and bond-ſervants of God. They remembred that God furniſhed them in their houſes, and were not vnmindfull to furniſh his houſe.
When Auguſtus had beautified Rome, with ſetting vp many faire buildings, hee ſaid. inveni lateritiam, marmoream reliqui. I found it made of bricke, but I leaue it made of marble. Your Grace, when God ſent you to your inheritance and the right of this Realme, found the Church in horrible confuſion, and in reſpect of the true worſhip of God, a Church of bricke; or rather, as Ezekiel ſaith, dawbed vp with vntempered morter. Your Grace hath already redreſſed the doctrine, now caſt your eyes towards the Miniſtery, giuegive courage and countenance vntounto learning that Gods houſe may bee ſerued: So ſhall you leaue a Church of God, and a teſtimony that the zeale of the Lords houſe hath eaten you vp.
Let vsus hauehave care for the houſe of God, whoſoever is not after this ſort zealous, is a man of a double heart, wee may not halt betweene two opinions: If the Lord be God follow him, but if Baal be hee, then goe after him. Hee that is not with Chriſt is againſt him. Many talke of the Goſpell, and glory in their knowledge, but it is neither talke nor knowledge, which ſhall ſaue them in that day: he that feareth the Lord, and ſerveth him with a pure heart, and may truely ſay, the zeale of thine houſe hath conſumed me, hee ſhall be ſaued; if they ſhall not eſcape, which hauehave zeale without knowledge, what ſhall become of vsus which hauehave knowledge without zeale.
And you whoſoeuer you are, that hauehave decayed the Lords houſe, and abridged the proviſion and maintenance thereof, and ſee the miſerable wracke of Gods Church, if there be any zeale of God in you, if you hauehave any fellowſhip of the ſpirit, if any compaſſion and mercy, if you louelove God, if you deſire the continuance of the Goſpell; Oh remember you hauehave the patrimony due to them that ſhould attend in the Lords houſe; you take vntounto your ſelues wrongfully that which was not lotted for you. GiueGive vntounto Caeſar thoſe things that belong vntounto Caeſar, and vntounto God the things which appertaine vntounto him, and make for the beauty and furniture of his houſe. Enrich your ſelues by lawfull meanes, and without the ſpoile and waſte of Gods Church. Let not the Miniſterie by your meanes bee deſpiſed. You enriched them heretofore in the dayes of Popery, which mocked, and blinded, and deuoured you: ſpoyle not them now, that feed, and inſtruct and comfort you.
That reverend man of God Mr Perkins in his ſermon of the duties and dignities of the Miniſtery giueth 3. reaſons of the rareneſſe and ſcarceneſſe of good Miniſters. The firſt is, the contempt and diſgrace of their calling by wicked and worldly men. 2. The difficulty of diſcharging the duties of their calling. The 3. reaſon is more peculiar to this age of the new Teſtament namely: Want of maintenance and preferment for men that labour in this calling. Men are fleſh and blood, and in that reſpect muſt be allured and wonne to embrace this vocation by ſome arguments, which may perſwade fleſh & blood: the world hath in all ages bin negligēt herein, & therefore God in his law tooke ſuch ſtrict order for the maintenance of the Levites; but eſpecially now vnderunder the Goſpell, this calling is vnprovided for, when it deſerues beſt of all to be rewarded: certainly it were a worthy Chriſtian policy to propound good preferments to this calling, that thereby men of the worthyeſt gifts might bee wonne with it; and the want thereof is the cauſe, why ſo many young men of ſpeciall parts and greateſt hope, turne to other vocations, and eſpecially to to the Law, wherein at this day the greateſt part of the fineſt wits of our Kingdome are imployed, and why? but Becauſe they hauehave all the meanes to riſe; whereas the Miniſtery for the moſt part yeldeth nothing but a plaine way to beggerie: this is a great blemiſh in our Church, and ſurely I wiſh the Papiſts, thoſe children of this world, were not wiſer in their kinde in this point then the Church of God: the reformation hereof is a worke worth the labour of a Prince and people, and ſpeciall care is to bee had in it, elſe it will not be reformed: for doubtleſſe had not God himſelfe in the Old Teſtament taken ſuch ſtraight order for the livings of the Levites, they had bin put to no leſſe extremities then is the Miniſtery of this age, and this reaſon added to the other makes them perfect, and all put together make a reaſon infallible: for who will vndergoe ſo vile a contēpt, & vndertake ſo great a charge for no reward: and where there is ſo great contempt, ſo heavy a burthen, and ſo meane a reward, what Marvell if a good miniſter be one of a thouſand?
Rulers & Magiſtrates are hereby taught, if good Miniſters be ſo ſcarce, to maintaine & increaſe, & do all good they can to the Schooles of the Prophets, to Vniverſities, Colledges and Schooles of good learning, which are the Seminaries of the Miniſtery: herein the example of Samuel is very worthy to be followed, in whoſe dayes the Schooles of the Prophets flouriſhed; & evē Saul himſelfe, though hee did much hurt in Iſrael, yet when hee came to the Schooles of the Prophets, his heart relented, he could do thē no hurt, nay he put of his robes & prophecied amongſt them. So ſhould Chriſtian Princes and Magiſtrates advance their Schooles, and ſee them both well maintained, and well ſtored; the reaſon is evident and forcible, a good miniſter is one of a thouſand, if therefore they would hauehave the number encreaſed, let thē maintaine the Seminaries. And againe if Antichriſt to vphold his kingdome (the kingdome of Satan,) be ſo carefull herein to erect Colledges and indow them with liuings to be Seminaries for his Synagogue, and vſe ſo great meanes to ſowe his tares in the hearts of young men, that ſo they may ſow them in the hearts of the people abroad, ſhall not Chriſtian Princes be as carefull, or rather much more zealous for the encreaſing of the number of Godly Miniſters? ſhall Baal hauehave his 400. Prophets and God hauehave his Elias alone? great ſhame muſt it be to Ahab, or to any King, whoſe kingdome is in that eſtate.
Adde herevnto that paſſage of an excelling and worthy knight, Sr Henry Spelman, in his tract, de non temerandis Eccleſiis.
Perhaps Lay Approprietaries thinke they may hold Parſonages & tithes by example of Colledges, Deanes and Chapters, Biſhops of the land, and of diverſe of our late kings and Princes. Before I ſpeake to this point, I take it by proteſtation that I hauehave no heart to make apologie for it; For I wiſh that every man might drinke the water of his own Well, eate the milke of his own flock, and liue by the fruit of his owne vineyard: I meane that every member might attract no other nutriment, but that which is proper to it ſelfe: yet are they greatly deceiued that draw any juice of encouragement frō theſe examples, for all theſe are either the Seminaries of the Church, or the husbandmen of the Church, or the Fathers and nurſes of the Church; all de familia Eccleſiae, and conſequently belonging to the care of the Church, and ought therefore to be ſuſtained by it. For Saint Paul ſayth. Hee that provideth not for his owne and namely for them of his houſehold, he denieth the faith; and is worſe then an infidell. 1. Tim. 5. Therefore before the ſtatute of ſuppreſſion of Abbies, thoſe that were not meerely Eccleſiaſticall perſons, yet if they were mixt, or had Eccleſiaſticall juriſdiction, they might by the lawes of the land participate Eccleſiaſticall livings, and tithes particularly. And this ſeemeth to take ſome ground out of the word of God. for the provinciall Levites (as I may tearme thē) whō David ſevered from the Temple, and placed abroad in the countrey to bee rulers of the people, in matters pertaining to God and the Kings buſines, 1 Chron. 26.30.32.(That is ſpiritually and temporally) had their portion of tithes notwithſtanding, as well as the other Levites that miniſtred in the Temple.
For a farewell; heare what Saint Auguſtine ſaith homil. 48. ex lib. 50. homil. tom. 10. maiores noſtri ideo copiis omnibus abundabant quia Deo decimas dabant & Caeſari cenſum reddebant. Our Aunceſters did therefore abound in all riches becauſe they did pay tithes vntounto God, and tribute vntounto Caeſar: but now they are not willing to doe either.
Act. 28.24.
Some were perſwaded with the things that were ſpoken, and ſome beleeued not.
FINIS.
End of the text · Benjamin Rudyerd, Speech in Behalf of the Clergy 2 (1628)