A Censure of Simony, Chapter 11
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, Eccl. 10.10.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:Zach. 11.13. 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 spe…k or blemish of that foolish Virgin, or rather, filthy Whoore; nay those that hauehave alreadie in their writings left any record or Monuments of Romes sin, and in espe…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 vponupon his Epistle to Titus; where he toucheth the corruptions of the Church of Rome in matter of Simonie,See the Index Expurgatorius, in quarto, according to the copie printed at Madrid, by Alph…sus Gomezius, the Kings Printer, 1584. The copie printed at Salmur, by Tho. P…rtaw. 1601. there hee must bee purged. For the purpose, in that Impression at Paris, by Michael Sonnius, Pag. 65. Deleatur ab illis verbis, sed annon foreign, vsus que ad, Id que adeo in confesso est. And Pag. 74. Circa medium deleantur ill… verba▪ Adeo Romanam Curiam repurgare sibi non permisit. And Pag. 76. Deleatur ab illis verbis, Vinere qui capitis, v que ad, Sacra sunt vaenalia Romae. & pag. 78. lin. 8. Deleatur ab illis verbis, Et cum alia venda…t alij, vsus que ad, Coelum est vaenale, Deus que . Which places, because they are not obuious to eueryevery 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 hauehave thought good to set downe the former alledged places at large; sauing where whole pages are expurged, too long here to be ins…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 sol… pecunia regnat.
Hoc est Roma viris, auibus quod noctua. i. captatrix.
If Rome giues ought, tis trislles; gold shee takes,
G…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 …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 onelyonly 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 Camer… remaines still in force, and none of all these reformed; as the Author saith, which must also bee expurged, Adeo Roma…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
Qu…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 …obis
Templa, Sacerdotes, Altaria, Sacra, Coronae,
Ignes, Thura, Pr…ces, Coelum est vanale, Deus que .
—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 bran… this sinne with the greater note of infamie, if it should bee found as well in Iuda, where religion i… 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 louelove not to be an v…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 of old, who to deterre the Lacedemonian lads, from that more then beastly vice of drunkennesse, caused their drunken slaues to bee made a spectacle vntounto them, by whose example they might take the deeper impression of dislike and hatred against that sin. So let vsus take, though a briefe view of the Church of Romes sinne in this kinde; omitting particular instances, and contenting our selues with generalls; their good lawes being occasioned by their euill manners.
Ex malis moribus, bone leges. Gratian. causa. 1 2. pars. quaest. 1. ….Pope Leo saith: Gratia si non gratis datur, … accipitur, gratia non est. Simonia…i autem non gratis accipiunt. Quid ergo dant? profecto quod habent. Quid habent? Spiritum vtiqus mendacij. Quomodo hoc probamus? Quia si spiritus veritatis (testante ipsa veritate, de qua procedit) gratis accipitur: procul dubio spiritus mendacij esse conuincitur; qui non gratis accipitur, vel datur. If grace, saith hee (speaking of the grace that is conferred by imposition of hands in Ordination) be not giuen or receiued freely, it is no grace. But Simoniacks do… not receiue freely. What giuegive they …? Surely such as they …. What hauehave they? Verily the spirit of lyes. How … this? Because if the Spirit of truth (the Truth it selfe being witnesse, from whom it proceedeth) is receiued freely: then doubtlesly it is conuinced to bee the spirit of lye…, which is not receiued or giuen freely. And Gregory, ibidem: Gregorius S… grio Episcope Augustodunensi.Quic … stu…et p…r protij d… tionem sacrum ordinem accipere, Sace… dos non est: sed … … dic… concupiscit. Whos…euer affecteth to receiue holy orders by the gif… of money, bee is no Priest: …ut courts onelyonly to be called by a… emptie title. And a little after, Quisquis per pecuniam …, ad hoc, vt fiat h…retics…, promo…etur. Whosoeuer is ordained by money, is euen hereunto promoted to bee an heretick…. And Pope G…latius: Q…s constiterit, &c. If it shall appeare that any vnworthy persons hath bought the sacred Dignitie with money, being conuict, let him bee depriued. But what if some worthy man buy with his money? I answere, That cannot bee, if hee be worthy. But let him be what he will, if he buy, it argues vnworthinesse.
Also Saint Ambros… is alledged: Reperiuntur quamplurimi, negotiatione muneris mer…ari ve…le gratiam Spiritus Sancti, Ambros. de P… …r…li cura.dum illi pretium do…a…t, vt Pontificalis Ordinis sublimicatem accipiant, &c. There are found many, that by the merchandise of money would buy the grace of the Holy Ghost, while they giuegive money, to receiue the dignitie of the Pontificall Order. Whereupon a fearefull Anathema is decreed to such, as so giuegive or take. Likewise it is cited out of the Councell of Chalcedon: Si quis Episcopus per pecuniam Ordinationem fecerit, &c. Concil. Chalced.If any Bishop shall Ordaine for money, and shall purchase the grace of the Holy Ghost at a price, which indeed cannot bee sold: and shall for money ordaine a Priest or Deacon, or shall promote any degree or order within the Verge of the Clergie for filthy lucre, hee that shall attempt this, let him vponupon conuiction bee depriued of all. Si quis verò mediator, &c. And if any shall bee a mediator or stickler, for such foule and nefarious corruption in giuing and receiuing; of a Clerke, let him be degraded: and if a Laick, accursed. And out of the eight Synod: Qui per pecuniam, &c. Hee that shall consecrate any for money, or is consecrated of another, let him be cashe…red from the Priesthood. And many other authorities are there alledged to this purpose. And Ambrose saith; Inexpiabi…is est culpa venditi Ministerij, & vindicta gratiae coelestis transit in Posteros. Ambros. ibid.The sinne of selling the Ministry is vnpardonable, and the reuenge of Diuine grace passeth along to the posteritie, like Gehezies leprosie.
But as it is obiected, ibid. Ventum est. Simoniaci, &c. Simoniacks, though they thinke that the grace of the Holy Ghost is vendible, yet they professe the faith, and true religion, and consequently are no Heretickes. It is answered: Simoniaci, &c. Simoniackes, although they seeme to hold the faith: yet they are inthralled to the perdition of infidelitie: as Gregory saith; Cum omnis auaritia, &c. Sith all auarice is Idolatry, Greg. in regist.whosoeuer doth not carefully auoid this, and especially in bestowing of Ecclesiasticall dignities, is subiect to the perdition of infidelitie: although hee seeme to hold the faith in words, which in deeds hee denieth. And after; Cum omnis. Those that impose for money, are accounted more intollerable Heretickes then the Macedonians, who denying the Deitie of the Holy Ghost, grosly affirmed him to bee onelyonly the Seruant of the Father and the Sonne: but these make him to be their seruant. And also worse then those Iewes, that blasphemed the Holy Ghost, in ascribing Christs miracles to the power of Beelzebub. And to speake truely, Iudae comparantur Proditori qui Iudaeis occisoribus Christum vendidit: They are compared to Iudas the Traitor, who sold Christ to the murtherous Iewes. And therefore, Ex Concilio Bracharensi; Placuit. It seemeth good vntounto vsus, Concil. Brachar.that for ordination of Clerkes, Bishops take no rewards, and that the grace of God by imposition of hands bee not sold for money, but giuen freely, as the Lord hath commanded. For it is an ancient Decree of the Fathers, Anathema sit danti & accipienti: Ibid.Cursed be the giuer and the receiuer.
Ob. But some obiect: It was vsuall in times past, to bring the reward of southsaying to the Prophet: as Balack sent to Balaam: and Saul came to Samuel with a gift in his hand. Now prophe…ie is a gift of the Holy Ghost. But that in the Old Testament was wont to bee sold.
Answ. Wee neuer read that the good Prophets tooke any reward at the handes of those that brought it. Elisha flatly refused any part of those riches which Naaman would hauehave presented him with. It was enough for Balaam, and such wicked Prophets, to prophecie for rewards; as the Lord complaineth of such, saying, The Prophets diuine for money: but wee read not,Mich. 3.11. that the good Prophets did receiue any such rewards. Yea, in stead of receiuing any thing, Samuel feasted Saul, and his. Sed fac eum accepisse, say he did receiue it. What was it? The fourth part of a Sicle, a matter of twentie half-penies: so Sauls reward hee brought to Samuel came but to fiue half-pennies. Which yet if Samuel did at all receiue, St…pes magis sunt estimand… tabernaculi, quàm munera Propheta: They are rather to bee esteemed the maintenance of the Tabernacle, then rewards of the Prophet. Et haec magis in sumptum Propheta, quàm muneri Prophetiae reputanda sunt: licet potuerunt hi, qui ariolos, &c. Though they that accustomed to goe to southsayers, might out of an euill custome thinke that the Prophets would doe so, to wit, receiue gifts. But Gratian concludes vponupon that fourth part of a Sicle, containing fiue half-pennies, which Saul carried to Samuel: Nostri ergo Sacerdotes si volunt vendere prophetiam, & columbam in Cathedris suis proponere, quas Dominus flagell… subuertit: quinque tantum obolorum sint mercede contents: qui vtinam non pr…tium villarum, sed quinque obolos acciperent: Therefore our Priests (saith he) if they will sell the gift of prophecie, and set the Doue (to wit, the Holy Ghost) to sale in their Cathedralls, or Seats which the Lord ouerthrew with his whip, let them be content with the reward of fiue half-pennies onelyonly; I would they would not receiue the worth of whole Villages, but onelyonly fiue half-pennies. In a word,Greg. Epist. 114. Theodorico & Theoberto Rogib. Francorum. Gregory speaking against Simoniacall ordination raigning in France, our next neighbour, and exhorting Theodoricke and Theobert then raigning there, to call a Synod for the reformation of such Simoniacall Heresie and corruption, saith, In Sacerdotibus fides sit eligenda, cum vita. Quae autem opera esse valeant Sacerdotis, qui honorem tanti … qua r… agitur, vt ipsi quo que qui sacros Ordines apperunt, non …etā corrigere, non … sacet e…tur, sa…agant congreg…e. Hinc fi… … peres à Sacris ordimbus prohibi…, despecti que resili…t. Et … innocentia displicet, dubium non est, quod … delicta commendet; quia vbi aur…m places, ibi & vitium. Hinc igitur non s…lū in Ordinatoris & Ordinati …, verum etiam excellenti… ve…trae regnam Episcoper…m culpa, quorum magis intercessionibus … de …uerat, pregraua…ur. Si enim dignus is Sacerd…i… creditur, cui non actionis …ur…a, sed pram…r…m copia suffragatur, restat vt nihil sibi in honores Ecclesiastico… gra…itas, …, sed totum … obtineat. Et … Sacerdotes non proficere, sed perire p…ti… indicantur. Let faith with good l…f… be made choyce of in Priests. But what workes can a Priest …, who is conuicted of obtaining the honour of so great a Sacrament by rewards. By which meanes it comes to passe, that euen they which desire holy Orders, take no care to correct their life, or to compose their manners; but labour t…th and … to gather riches, wherewith the sacred honour is purchased. And hence also it commeth, that innocent and poore men, being prohibited and despised, start backe from holy Orders. And while innocencie is not set by, no doubt but there a bribe doth promote vices: because where gold is in request, there also vice is intertained. And hereupon not onelyonly a deadly wound is inflicted vponupon the soule of the Ordainer, and Ordained, but also the Kingdome of your Excellence, is burthened and oppressed through the … of Bishops, by whose intercessions rather it should be relieued. For if he be thought worthy of the Priesthood, whom not his good merits, but ample gifts promoted, it remaines that grauitie, that ind… stry can ple…d no right at all for it selfe vntounto Ecclesiasticall dignities, but that the profane louelove of gold possesseth all. But while vices are recompensed with honour, well may Priests bee iudged no… to prosper, but to perish rather. And he conclu…es with an exhortation to the two Kings. Proinde Paterno salutantes affect… *Non…um ver …, Praecipimus & mandamus.petimu… excellentissimi Filij, vt hoc tam detestabil… … de regni ve…tri stud…atis fluibus pro…i…r…, & nulla apud vos exc…satio, nulla contra animam vestram suggestio locum inueniat: quia facientis pr…culdubi… culpam habet, qui quod potest carrigere, negligit emendare. Wherefore (saith hee) greeting you with a fatherly affection, We pray you most excellent sonnes, that you studie to banish this detestable mischiefe out of the coasts of your Kingdome, and latine excuse or pretence, let no suggestion finde place with you against your owne soule: because he is doubtlesse guiltie of the deede it selfe, that hauing power to correct it, neglects to reforme it.
Well, to conclude this point, whether this … gallicus were so purged, and banished one of the coast of France as no reliques remaine, I know not. But if it were, I pray God, that for the nee…nesse of the neighbourhood it hauehave not …iled ouer (as many other French fashions hauehave done) and set footing on the Albion shoare, there to spread the infection. I well hope, that the Cinque Ports are so well fortified, as they will not suffer such base wares to come to be entred at the Custom-house, and so to passe vendible here: where Religion is purely plan…ed, Faith truly professed, the practice of Pietie so freq…ently pr…ssed, and well charged Canons mounted. The cinque Ports are the fiue Senses, which Religion so guardeth, as no such Simoniacall corruption can enter at any one Port. Would it enter at the Port of sight, the Eye? That, hath learned to turne away from such vanitie, or not to looke with delight, or not to be dazled, much leffe blinded with such glittering objects▪ or to bee en…moured with the beautie of faire white and red earth. Or at the Port of touch, the Hand? That, hath learned (not in superstition, Touch not: but) in sinceritie, Touch no vncleane thing; yea, though a gift should leape and fasten it selfe vponupon the hand, yet to shake it off into the fire, as Paul d…d the Viper, without any hurt, or swelling at all. Or at the Port of hearing, the Eare? A religious eare loues not malè audire, as to be charmed with any such siluer-sounding musick, though for Time, Number, and Measure, it be neuer so compleat. Or at the Port of the Smell? It, takes the Incense of any such sa…rifice in snuffe and high disdaine. Or at the Port of Taste? It cannot rel…sh such foreign, bitter-sweets, though sweet in the mouth, yet bitter in the belly, which the stomack of Conscience can neuer digest, or away with all, as the Apostle said, concerning the incest committed by one among the Corinthians, that they had altogether proued themselues to be cleere in that businesse:1. Cor. 7.11. so, may not any man say, that the Church of England is altogether free from this kinde of Simonie? How many may say that truly, which Saul did fainedly, I hauehave kept the Lords Commandement, in this point. But some will say, as Samuel said,1. Sam. 15. What m…aneth then the ble…ting of the sheepe, and the bellowing of the Oxen which I beare? There …oes a rumour of I know not what. Some false fame. How? Simonie committed in giuing and taking holy Orders? Absit. In France indeede, our neighbour Nation: but the Sea is betweene, enough to drowne such Simonie, and so neuer suffer it to arriue at vsus. When Saint Ambrose spake of this sinne,Ambros. de dignit. Sacerdot. cap. 5. saying of a Simoniacall Bishop, Ab Archiep…scopo … nuper Episcopus ordinatus, centum que ei solidos ded…, vt Episcopalem gratiam consequi mer…ssem; quos si … dedissem, …odi… Episcopus non essem; vnde mihi melius est aurum de saccello inuehere, quàm tantum Sacerdotium perdere, aurum ded…, & Episcopum comparau…; qu…s tamen solidos si viuo, recepturum me illico non diffido; Ordino Presbyteros, consecro Diaconos, & accipio aurum, nam & de alijs nihilominus Ordinibus pecunia quaestum profligare confido, &c. doth any man thinke that this holy man euer me…nt or thought of any such Simoniacall B…shop beyond any part of the Sea from Millan? much lesse,
Vt penitus toto diuisos orbe Britannos
Simoniae argueret tantae?—
Far…e be S…int Ambrose instance from England, as wee are from Mill…n, where he was then Bishop. I hope, nay I dare say that there is no Bishop in England, though of small meanes, who accompteth Ordination-fees among his reuenues. Absit. …mo absint, qui talia somniant. Wee disdaine to stoope to any such Lure, or base Lucre.Aquila non capit musca…. Let no man take vsus for such rude Artists, as that while we teach others the way to heauen with our tongues, wee should commit such a solecisme, as to point to the earth with our hand. Or such shallow Diuines, that, as if wee had neuer beene trayned vp in Vniuersitie studies, we should make such a glosse vponupon the holy Text, Let not thy left hand know, what thy right hand doth: that a man may therefore practise pietie with the one hand, and Simonie with the other. But if such there should chance to bee, that dare sell the holy Ghost, as there was euen among the twelue one Iudas, that did sell his Lord & Master Christ: What then? What successe had Iudas? after restitution, suspension. Ecclesiasticall suspension were too good for such. VVhen Esau had sold his birth-right, wherein was included the Priesthood, hee was so desperately cut off from the blessing, that hee found no place for repentance to obtaine so much as one blessing, though hee sought it with teares: Hast thou not one blessing, Heb. 12.…7.my father? Not one. The blessing remained with Iacob, to whom God had promised, & giuen it with the Priesthood. Yet profane Esau liued, and inioyed the fatnesse of the earth, and the d…aw of heauen. True. But how? He must liue by his bowe; by killing and destroying. The very life of Simoniacall ordainers, and ordained: like the Theefe which cl…ming vp into the sheep fold another way, comes not, but to steale, to kill, Ioh. 10.10. Gen. 31.and to destroy. While Iacob, he that is called by God to the Priesthood, and to bee a Shepherd, keepes and feedes the flocke, but kills none; insomuch as Laban missed none of all his sheepe, while they were in Iacobs keeping. Gihezi for his though after-selling,2. King. 5. purchased Naamans leprosie to himselfe, and to his posteritie for euer; all selling ordainers are Gihezites, and therefore leapers, and so shut out by Gods Law from his holy Congregation, euen the communion of Saints, as vnhallowed and vncleane persons. Simons do… me was, Thy mony perish with thee: thou hast no part, Act 8.nor lot in this businesse: thy heart is not right; thou art in the gall of bitternesse, and in the bond of iniquitie. Here is a hard choice for all Simonists, especially Simoniacall ordainers, that sell (quantum in se est, Spiritus Sancti, quod certe nihil est) the holy Ghost, they may choose whether they will hauehave Esaus curse, or Naamans leprosie, or Iudas his suspension, or Simons perdition: or rather all of these together, sith such Simoniacks are of Edoms line, Gihezies posteritie, successors of Iudas, and Simons owne sonnes. But how can such a faire body, of so sound a constitution, as is this noble Church of England, euer hatch or harbour tales vomicas, such impostum…ted humours, and not vomit them out of her mouth? Impossible it is, that such weedes should grow in this Garden, the very Paradise of God. But if they should, the Lord roote them out, and euer preserue this his Eden with the flaming sword of the fierie Cherubims, that neuer any Simoniacall Ordainer, or Ordained, may dare to set his filthy foot on this holy ground, or thrust in his foule hand, to take of the Tree of Life, to purchase to himselfe that power of Christ, of which hee said to his Disciples, Freely you hauehave receiued, freely giuegive. I will conclude with that of Cyprian: Cypr. de Spiritu Sanct… in fine.Dominus Gihezi mercenarium lepra condemnat, & Iereboam vend…ntem Sacerdotia cum Apostatis locat. Hic Simonem gratiae Dei nundinatorem à Sanctorum consorti… exheredat, cuiu… detestabiles ausus vltrix ruina confundit & quassat. Hic Balaam ad maledicendum conducto silentium imponit; & per Asinam redargutum, colliso ad parietem pede vacuum pecunia, oneratum coutumelia, claudicantem ad propria remisit confusum: The Lord doth condemne mercenarie Gihezi with the leprosie, and ranketh Iereboam, selling the Priesthood, with Apostataes. He dis-inheriteth Simon from the communion of Saints for bartering of the grace of God, whose detestable darings a reuengefull ruine doth confound and shake. Hee imposeth silence vponupon Balaam, being hired to curse: and being reproued by his Asse, dashing his foot against the wall, he sent him back confounded, emptie of mony, loaden with infamie, and returning halting home.