A Censure of Simony, Conclusion
The Authors Conclusion, contayning his ingenuous protestation, and zealous gratulation.
AS it is in the naturall body: so in the politike. The fairest and best constituted body may hauehave some bad inbred Humours, or Impostumes, or Vlcers, which as they bee growne to greater height, require the bitterer Pills and Potions, the sharper Lancers, the hotter Cearers, and more eating Corr…siues. Now although the remedie bee applied onelyonly to the ill-affected part, or member: yet, such is the mutuall sympathie of all the parts, that they all ioyntly suffer, as one; all complaine alike of the bitternesse, sharpnesse, and smartnesse of the physicke, impatient of it, as if each part were the Patient. Which waighing with my selfe, I might iustly suspect, least this Censure of Simonie (consisting of so many Ingredients, composed as it were into one plaister or pill, according to the iudgement and prescript of so many Doctors, proportionated to the qualitie and quantitie of the disease) being found to be so bitter and sharpe as it is, although it be applied onelyonly vntounto some ill affected members in this goodly and beautifull body politicke, yet the most intire, vnco…rupt, and most noble parts, out of some tender sympathie, might complaine, as if without discretion I applied it to the whole: but that I know, there is no one member of the body naturall, can better put a difference betweene its owne integritie, and its fellowes infirmitie, then those of the politick can. So that for me, as it were but the simple Apothecarie of so many Doctors, to goe about to protest, that this Censure is not generall, as applied to the whole: what were it else, but to argue, as if any impotency of sinister conceit (where there is no iust cause giuen) could take impression in such noble generous brests, the intire members of this beautifull body, or as if I could be guiltie of mine owne innocency. But herein must my protestation breake forth: nay, rather let it be turned into a ioyfull gratulation: How many are there, how many (I say) not a few, both of the truly generous Nobilitie, and of the truly noble Gentrie, euen all the truly vertuous of both, whose Patronages are not tainted with the least touch of Simoniacall corruption? Yea how many, and some of mine owne knowledge (whom I should not stick for their honour sake to name, but that the raritie of them in regard of mine owne knowledge, might seeme to breed enuie, and therefore I will reserue their names, till I can get a greater number, and shall haply hauehave occasion to touch vponupon this argument againe) many, I say, who in the vacancie of the Benefices within their Presentation are not Patients, looking to be sought to, and sollicited (a thing which commonly hath no good sauour) but themselues are Agents and Sollicitors, sending to the Vniuersities, and inquiring after the worthiest men for such a place and charge of Soules, on whom, thus carefully sought, and iudiciously found, they freely collate the Benefice, sending the worthy Scholler (haply now pooring on his bookes in his priuate Cell, and dreaming on no such matter) the Presentation sealed vp in a Box: so farre are they from expecting, that any Schollers modestie should be made so much as to blush, by being a Suitor, much lesse his honestie be blamed, for presenting his suite sealed vp in a Bagge. Wherein, mee thinkes, I see a noble emulation betweene the Laitie, and the Clergie of England, and (let mee speake it in the Apostles sense) betweene the children and the fathers. You are the gracious Sonnes, the sacred persons Patrons, are your spirituall Fathers, who hauehave begot you by the Word of Truth. O blessed emulation, free from the least enuie, sauing that it may well bee the enuie of other Nations. Emulate still yee sacred Fathers of the Church, and you noble heauen-bred Sonnes of such Fathers, of such a Mother. Contend on Gods Name, who shall bee able to lift vp whitest and purest hands, freest from Simoniacall briberie, when you shall all stand together at the great Barre: that as you were carefull to call worthy persons to the Pastorall Cures within your Patronage, bidding them, Come, not abiding till they should come without a Calling: so it may bee said to you at that day, being of the number of Gods Elect, and called to the great assembly of the Great Shepherd, collected by his Angels from the foure windes,Matth. 25.34. Come yee blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from before the foundation of the world. O blessed recompence! As you freely called the blessed Ministers of Christ, inuiting them to come to their Ecclesiasticall or Leuiticall inheritance here in the Kingdome of Gods grace, prepared for them by Gods speciall appointment, and vnderunder God by your speciall care, as Gods Feoffees in trust:Matth. 25.21. so then at that day, You that hauehave beene faithfull in a little, shall bee made Rulers ouer much, and enter into your Masters ioy. What shall I say more? Your vertues hauehave almost rapt mee with you into that third Heauen, where also I see other of your workes following you, and giuing full testimonie to what I hauehave said. And here I hauehave a new occasion to breake forth into a second Gratulation; where I must begin with you the worthy Knights and Gentlemen of the Lower House of Commons. For I heare that now of late you hauehave by one vnanimous Vote, for your parts, passed a Bill in your House, that Patrons also shall take the Oath of Simonie, in as large and ample manner as the Presentee doth. Here let mee also congratulate my owne happinesse, that my maine Petition and Desire is granted, before I could come to make it knowne vntounto you. And blessed bee God, who hath put into your hearts this godly care. You hauehave begun it, and it is alreadie more then halfe done, nay, as good as altogether done. For you hauehave commended it to the Honorable Lords both Spirituall and Temporall of the Vpper House. And is it not then as good as done? For comming to the Temporall Lords, their pure vn-simoned hands will easily subscribe: and doubt not then of the sacred hands of the Lords Spirituall; whom, if the matter laboured of some difficultie, you should finde as the Triarij, to redintegrate all. And what is wanting then, but (which is neuer wanting vntounto you, and to the Church of God) the Kings Royall assent, which shall crowne this noble Act. From the influence of whose Spirit (no doubt, next vnderunder God) as from a most carefull Nursing-Father of Gods Church, this motion came first to bee inspired into you, as the will and affections receiue their prime direction from the Soueraigne Dictate of the intellectuall Power. And to make this good, mee thinkes, I see the very foot-steps of his Maiesties Spirit and ingenie leading you along vponupon the ground of reason, and equitie. For, with what reason and equitie, shall hee that purchaseth, both be punished in purse, and pinched in conscience, by taking the Oath; and he that selleth, shall inioy his Chapmans pecuniarie mulct, as a reward of his owne equall, if not superiour, sinne, and his conscience called to no account for it. As if a Law were made to punish him that is robbed, and not the Thiefe; or to punish him that is oppressed by vsurie, and not the Oppressor. If any Recusant, though hee professe to bee the Kings Liege Subiect, yet refuse to take the Oath of Allegeance, who will sweare for him, that hee is, and will bee a loyall Subiect? so that Patron, that shall bee vnwilling, either that a Law shall bee made for him to take the Oath of Simonie, or being made, will be loth to take it, who will sweare for him, that he neither is, nor meanes to bee a Simonist?
From my House in Friday-street. May 24. 1624. Soli Deo Trin-Vni Gloria.
FINIS.
Errata.
PAge 2. line 23. reade vnderstand. p. 3. l. 8. for, gi, r. giuen. p. 5. l. 10. for, it, r. is. p. 9. l. 2. r. appropriate. p. 16. l. 6. r. quenquam. p. 17. l. 29. for is, r. it. p. 26. l. 22. r. Simonie, p. 29. l. 9. blot out the former, him. p. 32. l. 1. r. the right. and l. 7. r. Damasus. p. 38. l. 37. r. sectantur. p. 49. l. 27. r. supitis. p. 41. l. 21. r. sugere. p. 42. l. 15. r. such sacred. p. 42. l. 20. r. Glose. p. 45. l. 8. blot out the latter not. and, l. 22. r. euasion. p. 65. l. 23. r. gaines. p. 83. l. 18. r. potentia. p. 88. l. 17. r. fearefully. p. 96. l. 13. r. infima. p. 105. l. 17. foreign. p. 113. l. 3. r. oath. Other smaller faults, as some mispointings, or so; I must referre to the judicious Reader to correct.
End of the text · Henry Burton, A Censure of Simony (1624)