A Humble Motion, Text (2 of 2)

A Humble Motion · Text (2 of 2)

p. 60Heere an other ſteppeth foorth and ſaieth, that in ſtead of thoſe you finde fault withall, you would hauehave a Pope in eueryevery pariſh, and the Queene ſhould be ſubiect to your Paſtor, and that by the diſcipline, the juſt power of hir royall magnificence ſhalbe abridged, & in that ſenſe ſlaunder vsus with the abuſe of the wordes of Eſaye,Eſay. 49.23.Isa 49:23 that Kings and Queenes ſhall worſhip with their faces to the earthe, and licke vp the duſte of the churches feete. Firſt conſider, that to be a Pope ouer one Pariſh,Chriſts diſcipl. diminiſheth not the Queenes ſupremacy. is farther from the crowne and power of a kingdom, than an Archb. or L.B. ouer many pariſhes and ſhieres, yea, Metropolitane of all England: And yet the Paſtour hath no Papall authority to doe as hee liſteth, but hath his voyce only as the reſt,1 Tim. 4.14. Act. 20.28. 1. Cor. 5.4.1 Tim 4:14Acts 20:281 Cor 5:4 and is ſubiect to the Elderſhip. Neither can he excommunicat without the conſent of the churche: but as Peter and Iohn were ſent by the Apoſtles from Ieruſalem,Act. 8.14. & cap. 15.2.22.Acts 8:14 and Paule and Barnabas from Antiochia, and Iudas & Silas to Antiochia were ſent by the church: ſo eueryevery paſtor is ſubject to the churche and cenſure, as well as other men, ſaue onelyonly that he hath an office that euerye man cannot hauehave. Then it is a ſlaunder alſo to ſaye, that we make hir ſubiect to the Paſtor, for whatſoeuer authority any prince can hauehave ouer their ſubiects, that we giuegive vntounto hir, teaching eueryevery ſoule to bee ſubiecte to the higher power, neither is it to bee feared whiche p. 61ſome men dreame of, for we affirme not (as god knoweth) that the homage that Eſay ſpeaketh of, is of anie ſuch nature, that hir royall crown and dignity ſhoulde bee ſubiect to any man whatſoeuer, but onelye vntounto Chriſt, which I am perſwaded hir moſt excellent Majeſty moſt freely, and of godlye zeale doeth imbrace: Namely, that Ieſus Chriſt the Lord of life, is Lord of Lordes, and King of Kings, and that his lawes are to bee preferred, before all Princes lawes, and that they ought to bee obedient vntounto them, and not contrary. Heere of it commeth to paſſe, that hir Maieſtye counteth it no ſubiection to kneele down in the preſence of a miniſter in prayer to God, to heare him preach, and admoniſh hir of hir duty, to deliuer to hir as from god the ſacramentes, and by hir royall authoritye to command and enforce all hir ſubiects to doe the like, and in all other things to ſubmit them ſelues to the ordinance of Chriſt: and in doing this, hir royall Maieſtie doth greatly honour the church, after the meaning of Eſay, who ſpeaketh in a borrowed ſpeech from earthly potentates, to ſhewe the obedience and honour of Princes to Chriſt in the churche, and their care to aduance his church. So then, heerin hir highneſſe worſhipping God after his owne Lawe, and thereby making hir ſelf as a member of the church and not head, and reputing Chriſt onelyonly for heade, to whome in all things ſhe giueth homage, and taking hir ſelf only vnderunder him as chiefe governour ouer all hir people, to ſee eueryevery man, aſwel church-officers as others, to do their duty according to Gods law, hauing the lawful ſword to puniſh them that do it not, & to defend their churches in their right, doeth leeſe no one little iote of hir princely ſupremacye,Rom. 13.1.2.Rom 13:1Rom 13:2 for ſhe hath the honour of the p. 62building of the Temple with Salomon,2. Chron 2: 1. Chron. 28.11, 12.39.2 Chr 21 Chr 28:111 Chr 28:121 Chr 28:39 to ſee by hir royall authority eueryevery thing done according to the paterne of God, and the Prieſts and Leuites to take their courſes as God hath appointed,2. King. 12.4 8, 9. 2. Chron. 24.4 9.2 Kgs 12:42 Chr 24:4 and with Ioaſh to cō mand the Prieſtes to looke to the repairing of the temple, and to proclaime in hir dominions, that men ſhal do after the law of Moſes, and by hir authoritye with Iehoſaphat to ſet the Prieſtes and Leuites,2. Chron. 19.8.2 Chr 19:8 and of the chief of the families, for the judgement and cauſe of the Lord: & for the eſtabliſhing of hir ſupreame magnificence aboue all perſons, the Lorde will giuegive vntounto the harts of al ſorts of people to do hir cōmandemēt, & of the rulers vnderunder hir, according to the word of the Lord, as he did for the aduancement of the throne of Ezechias:2. Chro. 30.6.12.16.2 Chr 30:62 Chr 30:122 Chr 30:16 ſo that by his direction and commiſſion, the Prieſtes and Leuites did ſanctifie themſelues, to ſtand in their places after the manner according to the lawe of Moſes the man of God. Out of all which I gather, that the diſcipline hindreth not, but that by hir ſupreame authoritye ſhe may compell all the people to keepe the commandement of God, and the miniſters to be, and do, after the law of Chriſt his ſonne. And by hir commiſſion ſhe may hauehave, as ſhe hath already, rulers and officers in eueryevery ſhire and great towne, as commiſſioners in cauſes Eccleſiaſtical, to be as it were, hir eyes, eares, and hands, to hearken after the due and orderly proceedings of the miniſters, Elderſhips, and Synods: to compell them to doe euerye thing after Gods word, by ciuil authority: and if need be, to puniſh them which handle Gods holy thinges out of order, and to force the people to bee obedient vntounto the ordinance of Chriſt Ieſus: ſo that ſhe ſtill ſhall remaine ouer all perſons, in all things ſupreame gouerneſſe, p. 63(and hir ſelf, vnderunder none, but God in his ſonne Ieſus Chriſt) in that full and royall authority, ſuperiority, preeminence, ſupremacy & prerogatiue, which the Lawes already eſtabliſhed do nowe giuegive vntounto hir, and hir Maieſties iniunctions, and the articles of the Convocation houſe, & other writings Apologeticall of hir royall authority and ſupreame dignitye, doe declare and explane. Now I ſay, ſeeing hir highnes doth acknowledge Chriſt to be hir heade, and renounceth the Pope, is it not for hir ſafety, by hir authority to ſet vp that which remaineth of Chriſts moſte holy lawes, and to banniſh all the Popes cannons? May not hir princely minde perceaue it to bee ſo, if ſhe remember that it is ſaid of Chriſt: By me Kings raigne,Prou. 8.15.16.Prov 8:15Prov 8:16 and princes decree juſtice: by me princes rule, and the nobles and all the judges of the earth.

An other reaſon may be drawen from the common effectes of the church gouernment. For if it be true,Chriſts diſcipl. maketh learned and good men, therefore it is beſt for a monarch or king. that a certaine Politick counſellour gaue to a heathen Emperour, Omnes imperiti & vitioſi, bono Principi ſuſpecti eſſe debent: that a good Prince may ſuſpecte & ſtand in feare of al ignorant and wicked men: then ſeing that both heauen and earth do witneſſe, that our ſoveraigne is a good prince, that church-government which breedeth moſte learned and good men is beſt, and ſureſt for hir ſafety. What our diſorders do breed all the world ſeeth, it maintaineth blinde guides, how can it make a learned people? and howe wicked men doe ſhrowde them ſelues vnderunder them, this one thing may ſtande in ſtead of many: that partly by colour of Law, they can ſo moleſt a good man that would teach them and make them good, and partly by commutation of pennance, licenſes, diſpenſations and tollerations, p. 64any euill man eſpecially if hee be rich, can tell howe to eſcape their ſlender cob-webs well enough, that men are diſcouraged from preſenting or dealing any way againſt wicked men. And let a good miniſter once ſuffer a harlot to be preſented, ſhe is ſo reformed that ſhe wil hauehave two or three baſtards on in an others neck, doe the miniſter and the pariſh what they can to the contrary. But how ſuch ſhould or might be ſcourged out, with the through preaching of the Goſpel in eueryevery church, & the good vſe of the diſciplin of Chriſt, and knowledge and wiſedome planted in mans heart, it may appeare by this, that for ciuill, wiſe, and good behauiour, compare them which are vnderunder continual teaching of Paſtors, with them that be further remoued, you ſhall finde a great difference. And how can it chooſe but nouriſh learning, when the wiſdome of the word ſhineth in eueryevery church, by a ſtanding Paſtor, and Teacher? Will it not inflame mens heartes, with the bewty thereof? There ſhall you ſee yong & olde called from blindenes to light, from wickedneſſe to vertue and piety: muſt it not needs turne a great manye more, where it wanteth? Conſider what M. Fox ſaieth of M. Thomas Bilney of Hadley,Booke of mart. pag. 445. that the ſame churche ſeemed in his time, rather to bee lyke an Vniverſity, than a poore towne of clothing. Tel me whether a Non-reſident, or idle & dumb miniſter can or hath done the lyke? and verely when men know their duties to hir Maieſty, it is the waye to make them doe it: but if they be not taught, how ſhall they know.

But of all others,Chriſts diſcipl. an enemy to flat terers, who ſpoile good rulers. I finde that flatterers are reported of ſome to be moſt dangerous to the ſafty of a prince, as in the life of Alexander the great, when hee delte hardly with them that tolde him the truth, & yeelded p. 65to flattery, to beare the reputation of lupiters ſonne, he was neuer without one treaſon, or tumult or another, and in the ende, (as ſome eſteeme) poyſoned. Now the diſorders of our church, what are they, but a very maſſe of flattery, and a pit that caſteth out flatterers: for while men contrary to their own knowlege ſay all is well, and there is nothing contrary to Gods word, and that by ſubſcription and other means, they would driue men to allow of eueryevery thing, & that this by order is ſo, that a man were better to ſweare or lie, (which are manifeſt breaches of Gods morall Lawe) then to breake one of theſe traditions, is not this to make vsus, not onelyonly ſecure, but to thinke that even the law of God is not comparable to ours. How may this indanger a vertuous Prince; if the Lorde by his grace did not vphold hir? Againe, if it bee ſuſpected that a man doe meane to ſpeake plainly, and truly before hir Maieſty, is there not order prouided by our diſorders and for their maintenance, that if it bee poſſible ſuche ſhall not come in place? Laſtly, thoſe great dignities and ſpirituall promotions may eaſilye beget flatterers. Mee thinketh I ſee a further ſore heere, than I can hādſomely expreſſe. I praye God to deliuer hir Majeſtie from all flattering, lying, and deceatfull tongues.

One thing more there is which maketh for the honour and ſafety of our noble Lady & miſtreſſe: namely, that by this meanes when al thinges ſhalbee reformed by Gods word,Chriſts diſciplin furthereth the league with religious Princes. as it is certain that ſhe cānot hauehave more hatred than ſhe already hath of the wicked, ſo the Chriſtian princes of al parts wilbe a great deale the ſurer, and the league with them the more certaine, and that which is more, many wilbe drawne by hir example, being a monarch, and a mighty people, to go forwarde p. 66in religion:Chriſts holy Diſcipline for all wiſe and good potentates, muſt needs think, that this chriſtian Lady and Queen increaſeth much in zeale, wiſedome & courage, and her people growe in the feare of God, and conſtancie in religion: therefore is it our beſt to make much of her and her people, & it is a ſhame for vsus if we ſhould not be as forward in zeale, and as valiant in the cauſe of God, as a woman & mayden Queene. Howe much wil theſe and ſuch like thoughts and ſpeches turne to her immortal fame, & preſēt ſafty? for if it were honorable to king Ioſias, from age to age, more & more to eſtabliſh religion in the purity thereof: and that Solomon was noe longer honorable and ſafe, then he kept the ſame rule: howe much more ſhal it be for her renown and ſafety, to deale more wiſely then Solomon the wiſeſt, and to be as zealous as Ioſias, who was for zeale as highly commended as euer any.

And here fal down two vayne & fond reaſons,Chriſtes diſcipline no hazard to her majeſtie, nor Argument of inconſtancie if ſhe ſet it vp. that if ſhe ſhoulde reforme the Church, ſhe ſhould be reputed inconſtant, and purchaſe greater hatred: for hatred, can there be greater then to ſeeke her life, and to robbe her of her crowne and dignitie? this hath bin ſought after (al the worlde knoweth) by hatred, and can there be greater by diſcipline? al wiſe men wil alſoe thinke that inconſtancie is in going backwarde, & not in going forwarde.Luk. 14.28.26. Pſal. 84.7. Rom. 1.17.Luke 14:28Luke 14:26Ps 84:7Rom 1:17 It is inconſtancie to begin abuilding and not to make an end if one be able: and not to finiſh a good worke well begone is inconſtancye, but this is the very nature of a chriſtian, to growe from faith to faith from ſtrength to ſtrength, and from vertue to vertue, that we may appeare before GOD in Sion.

Concerning the nobillitie and comminaltye of this p. 67land,is good for Nobil. & Com. The third ſpecial reaſon.there is a greate cauſe both for the one and the other, to ſeek after diſcipline as God commandeth it: firſt the one leſeth a right in ciuil offices, & functions,Chriſtes diſciplin giueth the right to the nobilitie & cominaltie. for when it appertaineth not to the eccleſiaſtical functions to medle with workes meere ciuill, as is before declared, then doe they vſurpe vppon the temporall eſtate, to medle with theſe callings, which muſt needs be an injury, and therefore in times paſt (as lawyars ſay) there hauehave bin diuers lawes made to bridle this inſolencie, and it is a matter puniſhable at the ſeſſions, if they medle with any ſubject,Maſt. Lambert juſtice of peace booke. 2 cap. 4 pag. 338. to cal him before them or to put him to an oth, otherwiſe then in cauſes matrimonial, and of reſtament, but if they do not onelyonly beare vppon their ſhoulder the commiſsion of peace and other great commiſsions, but alſo in their ſpiritual courts againſt lawe, call her majeſties ſubjects before them in matters which pertain to the ciuil judges, then it doth appeare that ſuch diſorderly gouernment is not to be ſuffered, as a thing plainly injurious to the nobillitie, and comminaltie: beſides, that howſoeuer peraduenture ſome godly Princes hauehave repoſed greate truſt in ſuch perſons, yet is it a greate diſhonor to the nobilitie and gentillitie of this land, that there coulde not be wiſe and honeſt men ynoughe founde out amongeſt them to deale in ciuil cauſes, but that miniſters muſt be taken from the ſtudye of diuinitye wherwith they ought to beautifie the Church, to the ſtudie of lawe and executing of commiſſions, for they which by the nature of their calling, and manner of bringing vp, they are moſt vnfit.Chriſts diſcip. affordeth to al ſortes godly & lerned techers. And how can a chriſtian man delight in that gouernment, which by the nature thereof, wil take out of his chappel a learned wiſe and zealous miniſter, whome he knoweth to be p. 68honeſt and of good conuerſation,Chriſts holy Diſcipline is good and mainteine in other places ſuch as are cleane otherwiſe, may not al the cominaltie hauehave litle delight in that diſſipline, which in one yeare coulde ſtop the mouthes of a hundreth godly and faithful preachers, and not in thirty yeares to roote out thirty blinde guides, otherwiſe then nature it ſelfe and the meere bleſsing of God hath afforded?Chriſtes diſcipline excomunicateth none for trifles.Can they delight in that which contrary to lawe can cal them for eueryevery trifle, & excommunicat them, which is to deliuer them to the Diuel, if they doe not appeare? I will not here vſe ſuch tearmes which my matter and propoſition requireth, becauſe I ſee the people in their wound, and it is not good to ſtirr and cheriſh an il ſore, but rather to heale it, in as much as God hath appointed an other way. Therefore we lye here at her majeſties feet, crauing, begging, & humbly ſuing, that ſhee woulde looke wel vntounto her ſelfe, tender the honor of her nobillitie, and hauehave compaſsion vponupon her poore people, who for lack of Chriſtes holy diſsipline, hauehave greate cauſe to doubt of her ſafetie, and to feare their own miſerie, and to ſuſpect the preſent happines.

What a godly thing were it,Chriſtes diſcipline good for children, and moſt equal and juſt for al perſons. that the nobility & cominaltie had ſome helpe in every place by a learned miniſterie, euen in the infancie of their children, to breede that feare of god, which might preuent worſe matters, which we ſee come to paſſe when the raines are layed looſe in their neckes, and there hath bin litle diſſipline? What a comforte were it that a man might be ſure, no licenſes could ſteale away his daughter, & what eaſe were it for the people, and readines to find out the truth and perfection for juſtice? that in cauſes eccleſiaſtical a man might be cenſured in the Church p. 69where he liueth:for Nobilitie and Commi. the wicked coulde not beare it out with chaunging or perjurye, neither woulde the innocent be ſo ſoone oppreſſed (as touching the nature of the thing, I ſpeake not of the perſon) but eueryevery one ſhoulde hauehave occaſion to be delt withal according to ſight, rightly and honeſtly.

Now we are to conſider of the times of peace & war, here one ſpeaketh ſoughtly & ſayth,The 4. ſpeciall reaſon. if your majeſtie ſhoulde ſet vp diſſipline, you ſhoulde hauehave preſent rebellion. What might this man hauehave ſayd vntounto Luther, a poore ſimple Fryar,1518. that ſet vppe the Goſpel almoſt vnderunder the Alpes of Itallie, which remaineth ſo ſteady, that al the power of princes cannot take it away: and when diuers Popes who ſought his life, and that with ſtrong hand, died, he liued an olde man and ended his dayes peaceably.No reaſon to feare rebellion by ſetting vp of diſcipline. In the entrance of her highnes gratious raigne, there was more pollicy in reaſon, to hauehave ſoe objected againſt the ſetting vp of the Goſpel, but nowe God be thanked, the caſe is altered, as I hauehave before ſhewed, I doe not doubt but that the liuely fayth, which her good & princely hart hath in Chriſt Ieſus, and that royal magnanimitie which ſhe hath alwayes ſhewed, if ſhe might be let to ſee the certaine truth of the venerable doctrine of Chriſts diſcipline, would eaſily perſwade her that ſhe could not doubt, but hauehave as good ſucceſſe with this, as with the firſt, & the long experience of Gods merciful and aſſured protection, nowe in a time leſſe dangerous, woulde make a matter of ſo great neceſſitie, to be cheerefully ſought for, and ſpedilye put in practiſe. Moſes firſt brought the people out of Egipt, after he declared the lawe, and laſtly erected the tabernacle, ſo I doe not doubt, but as God hath mightely bleſſed p. 70her in the two firſt,The Church gouernment of Chriſt hee will as greatly honour her in the laſt.

But mee thinketh this man in this caſe miſſeth the true rules of pollicie,The Papiſtes looke for achaunge ſoe longe as we want Chriſtes holy diſcipline. for where the Papiſts are ſo full of plots, is it not becauſe they are in hope that things will change? and why do they hope? but becauſe they beholde the image of their father the Pope and hys markes: they thinke he is not ſo gone, but that if they did their duty, he might returne. Therefore they are buſie, and many nets are ſpread for the feet of our inno cent Princeſſe (whom God bleſſe and maintaine) and engins of diuers forts are made to breake in ſunder our peace. Will you bee without feare? With all ſpeed, and yet with wiſedome and vnderſtanding, ſet vp Diſcipline & reformation that is amiſſe after Gods booke,Pſal. 122.3. & 48.5.Ps 122:3Ps 48:5 and you ſhal ſee their hope wil be turned into feare, they will ſee Ieruſalem ſo to be built, as a Cittie at vnitie in it ſelfe, that when they behold it, they will marueill and be aſtonied, and ſuddenly driuen backe. Thus was it with the people of God after their captiuitie: they neuer had quietnes till Nehemias that worthie Prince aroſe, who though hee were neuer ſo much put in fear, that he was driuen to cauſe y^e people to work with one hand, & hold the weapon with the other,Nehem. 6.16.Neh 6:16 yet he neuer ceaſed til he had finiſhed the wal, & made all things in his order about Ieruſalē. Wherof, when al the enemies did hear, euen all the heathen that were round about, they were afraid, and their corage failed them, for they knewe that this worke was wrought by God, and ſhall wee, who by her gracious and godly gouernment, are brought out of the ſpirituall Babilon, into the fellowſhip of the Citizens and ſaints of God, doubt more of his bleſſing, if we ſhould p. 71ſtriue to garniſhe gods Citie with this goodlye wall of Eccleſiaſticall Diſcipline?maintaineth peace. ſhould not all Papiſtes be forced to ſay, that the Lord hath done this? eſpecially now, when he hath ſo wonderfully driuen backe our enemies. Iehoſophat after that hee had eſcaped in the battaile where Ahab was ſlaine, and had bene admoniſhed by Iehu the ſonne of Hananie the Seer, for taking part with the wicked, gaue himſelfe to reformation, and not onelyonly in Iuda, but euen from Beer ſheba to mount Ephraim, hee brought the people againe to the Lord God of their fathers. What folowed? could there any preuaile againſt him? No no: It is written, that the feare of God was vponupon all the kingdomes of the earth, when they had hard that y^e Lord had fought againſt the enemies of Iſraell,2. Chro. 19. & cap. 6, 20.29.30.2 Chr 19 ſo the kingdome of Iehoſhaphat was quiet, and his God gaue him reſt on euerie ſide. Shall wee thinke that the Lordes hand is ſhortned, if we be as zealous as he?Exod. 10.26.Exod 10:26 Moſes would not leaue a hoofe behind him in Egypt: did he ſpeed any whit the worſe in the end? and ſhall we thinke that if ſome Achitophel ſhoulde fortifie ſome wicked Abſalom, to reſiſt his liege Ladye and peaceable mother; that God woulde not ſtir vp a thouſand Huſhais to ouerthrowe all his counſailes?

Let vsus remember wherein our peace conſiſteth, and the ſtrength thereof: is it not in ſeruing of God, and walking in his commandements, and putting our truſt in his mercy? Then muſt wee take heede of all thoſe Baalamites, who vnderunder pretence of preuenting rebellion, giuegive craftie counſail for the diuell: to make vsus careleſſe, in our dutie towards God, that when wee refuſe to goe forward, wee might fall backward: and then God proclaime warre againſt vsus and ſay, if they p. 72will not obey,The Church Gouernment of Chriſt Ierem. 12.17. Eſay 57.21. 2. Kin. 12.27.Jer 12:17Isa 57:212 Kgs 12:27then will I vtterly deſtroy and plucke vp that nation. And againe, there is no peace to the wicked ſaith my God. So was it with Ieroboam, who to eſtabliſhe his kingdome ouer the ten tribes to himſelfe and his poſteritie: he altered the precepts of God and made two Calues, the one in Dan, and the other in Bethell, leaſt the people going vp to worſhip at Ieruſalem after Gods lawe, ſhould rebell and fall away from him: but this turned to bee ſuch a ſinne, that it rooted out his houſe, & many other houſes after him, and in the end, the whole ten tribes, whereof hee was king, were ſpued out of that land, ſoe dangerous athing it is to chuſe that pollicie, which is againſt gods lawe and commaundement.

Nowe in peace as one ſaith,Chriſts Diſcipline is for the vvealth and honour of the realme. ſmall things are made great, riches & honour are multiplied. Let vsus ſee whether theſe diſorders doe not maintaine the contrary, I cannot ſay but God hath bleſſed vsus in our peace with both, and yet I muſt ſay, that the ſtate of our churches and church gouernement is rather a hinderer. Firſt there lacketh that orderly ſeeing to the poore which were expedient, and men for the moſt part are left to them ſelues, ſo that by idlenes and libertie, great pouettie are among vsus, which fal into many noiſome thinges, which might very well be amended by Chriſtes diſcipline. Secondlye there are among vsus, ſuffered & nouriſhed by order in Cathedral churches a cloiſter of idle men, who liuing vponupon the goods of the Church and Common wealth, do litle or no ſeruice for the ſame. It is a heauy burthen in a common wealth to ſuffer men to liue in pleaſure and eaſe like oxen in a ſtall, to doe almoſt no labour. For moſt of theſe (I wil not ſay all) doe litle or nothing, as by the p. 73nature of this order they are occaſioned: Is not this to be amended? they wil ſay they are rewardes of learning, but it is ſcarce good pollicy (as I take it) that when men hauehave learning, they ſhoulde be maintained to idlenes, and put their learning to no vſe. But they do preach, that is to ſaye, ſome of them ſometimes doe preach, and ſome do hier others to preach for them. But to looke neerely to the thing, one man may do as much as all the orders of the houſe (in the place of the houſe) do require. Then if one of neceſſitie ſhould be there, all the reſt of the liuings might well bee ſpared for the helping of churches which hauehave ſmal liuings, and to further the encreaſe of learning.

But as touching honor, it may be that they would ſay, that wee ſhould looſe one eſtate, and ſo the Common-wealth decaied in wealth and honour. The honour of a Common-wealth ſtandeth, not in an eſtate which is of an other nature, but in the honourable and wiſe cariage of true Common-wealth men, counſellours, Iudges, Iuſtices and Captaines. Now when their liuing ſhould bee imployed to better vſes, it would bee a greater honour, and riches of more profitable encreaſe. This would (ſay they) turne to the domage of the common treaſure, which by firſt fruits in the remooue of L.Bb. and Cathedrall Prelates, is ſomewhat augmented. Not a whit: for if it were ſo that the money ſhould be caried out of the land, as in times paſt it hath bin to that powling Citie of Rome, then it were ſomething that were ſaid, but ſeeing it is to bee beſtowed in the land, it can be no loſſe. For in the conuaiance, that benefite might be reſerued: yet I pray you, how did out treaſure hold out, when that a great deale more was wanting, which hath come in p. 74within theſe 80. yeares. If our forefathers in blindnes, thought nothing to much for the Churches aduauncement, neither almoſt had any ende in giuing their lands and goods that way, ſhall wee thinke that God cannot another way bleſſe vsus as much, if we parted from alitle, for the competent and decent erecting of his miniſtery? but God be thanked, the Common-wealth (as I hope) may the rather be encreaſed: for if things be wiſely handled, the Miniſtery may bee well and decently maintained, and yet there wil ariſe ſuch a portion of good lands, to be beſtowed at her Maieſties pleaſure, as may make a large recompence by a yearely certaintie, and this will be a great deale more honor to our Common-wealth, to hauehave Gods houſe well and rightly built, and his ſeruants comely entertained, then for the making of one L.B. vnneceſſarily, there ſhould be a hundreth Bb. beſide to the realme,1. Tim. 3.1.1 Tim 3:1 as poore almoſt as beggers. It would be more honor & wealth to the realm, then to maintain a ſort of idle, red or blew coats, to hauehave in eueryevery pariſh, an honeſt, & learned B. who in a competent liuing would feed the poore, and by giuing and lending, keepe many a good Subject in heart, that he might be able to ſerue his Prince in time of need.

In time of peace,Chriſtes diſcipline cutteth of contention. a great waſter of proſperity is contention and ſtrife, and many houſes lie waſt by ſuch inordinate iarring and ſuites of lawe: here to let paſſe howe many ſuits are bred and fed by theſe diſorders, as about aduowſons, priuiledges and preſentments. This one thing wil ſhew the excellency of diſcipline, for the wealth of the Realme and quiet of ſubiectes, that the Church is to cenſure ſuch a party, who is apparantly troubleſome and contentious, and without p. 75reaſonable cauſe, and vponupon a meere will and ſtomack doth vex and moleſt his brother, & trouble the countrie. And the daily ſhowring dew of the preaching of peace, will bring foorth many counſellours of peace, and many, when they ſee that ſuch a thing is vncomlie, and to bee anſwered before the Church, will bee well aduiſed what ſuits they take in hand. Thus when the authoritie of the Churche and good preaching, cutteth aſunder the cords of diſcord, men muſt needs increaſe in wealth, and ſo at all times ſhall bee able to beare any burthen that the Common-wealth ſhal require, and this will bee a great deale better, then if the treaſure lay vnprofitably and without vſe in Coffers, and to the honor of the Realme farre more excellent, when men ſhall be in all places, found able to relieue themſelues and other.

Now as concerning warres,The 5. ſpeciall reaſon. wee may learne of the children of this world, that it is the beſt pollicy to aduaunce the Lords holy Diſcipline, and that as well in the preparation for warre, as in the time of war it ſelfe. This doth altogether further our eſtate. The Bb. of Rome hauehave Seminaries erected, for the training vp of yong men in their abhominable errors, out of which, as out of the dragons mouth, there go theſe vncleane frogs the Ieſuits and Seminary Prieſts, who go about as it were, by night cloſely and ſecretly croking, at the conſciences of her Maieſties ſubjectes, to bring them from their dutifull obedience and ſubjection. Now in vvarre it is an ordinarye pollicye to hauehave a countermine, becauſe the enemie moſt commonly vſeth to vndermine vvhere he cannot vvel come nere in fight. So if vve had Diſcipline, and eueryevery Pariſh his learned Paſtor, theſe creeping crokers would be ſo narrowlie p. 76looked vntounto,Diſcipline after Gods word Chriſtes diſciplin foreſt aleth all ſedition and rebellion.that they could not hauehave any hole to hide their heads: and the people, would be ſo wel inſtructed in the knowledge of God in Chriſt Ieſus, and of their duty to their true Soueraigne, that al the frogs in thoſe mooriſh Seminaries, ſhould not be able once to moue them, and by this meanes, ſo prepared for war, if neede be, that whereas nowe there go a great many only with their bodies, and ſome only of a naturall louelove to their Countrey, then would they goe with a reſolute iudgement, and of conſcience to God, they would willingly do any ſeruice, and that, which in this caſe is not ſmall, they would not ſo eaſily bee drawen after any great man, or meane man, to ſedition and rebellion. For how ignoraunt men, are like children carried with eueryevery winde, all ſtate men do vnderſtand. Therefore, ſeeing as is already prooued, and al men by too too lamentable experience may knowe, that the nature of our Church gouernement, as it is now vnperfect, doth very ſlowly bring forth, true reſolute chriſtian men of knowledge: we may eaſily perceiue, that it is dangerous for the ſtate to ſuffer it in the Common-wealth, and to let the church bee ouer run with ſuch careleſſe and blind guides.

Beſides this,Quietnes in charges for war commeth by Chriſtes holy diſcipline, and wiling ſoldiers. when men hauehave knowledge and vnderſtanding, what is fit for Gods glory, and their duty at ſuch a time: they will not murmure and grudge at eueryevery trifling charge, which commeth to paſſe, for the ſupplie of the warres, but willingly and cherefully, do any thing that may become good Subiectes, in caſes of neceſſity: But what I ſee both in this, and in the other for lacke of good teachers, maketh my heart to bleede, and my pen cannot vtter. Wherof thinke you, was it that Abraham ha in his houſe, 318. men, ſo p. 77ready at an howers warning,is good againſt warre. Gen. 14.14. & 18.19.Gen 14:14Gen 18:19to go with him to purſue them which had taken Lot, but by the good inſtruction & Diſcipline of his houſe, which he is commended for to hauehave, according to Gods waies? What made the Reubenites, the Gaddites, and the halfe tribe of Manaſſes, ſo willingly to leaue their wiues and Children, on the hither ſide of Iorden, and to go before their brethren againſt Canaan,Ioſh. 1.12.Josh 1:12 & to bind themſelues on paine of death, eueryevery man to bee obedient to Ioſhua, and to go whither ſo euer hee would ſend them? Was it not becauſe they knew the Lord, and that Ioſhua was appointed by him,The keeping of Gods orders good for warlike prouiſion. 1. King. 10.26.1 Kgs 10:26 to bee their gouernour? was there euer king prouided more royally of al ſtore of good things, for peace and for war, then Solomon? Was there any at any time, that did more aduaunce Gods ordinances, then he did in the time, hee got all this aboundance? Who went forward more in al proſperity, and in all plenty and prouiſion for warre, then Vziah, ſo long as he ſought the Lord God, in the dais of Zechariah that vnderſtood the viſion of God? but when his heart was lifted vp, & he preſumed to break the order that God had appointed in his Church, hee became a pittifull leaper, and ſo for his tranſgreſſion, loſt his great honour, which he had of the Lord.2. Chron. 26.2 Chr 26 See then, that it is good pollicy, for prouiſion of good and faithfull ſouldiers, and all manner of ſtore of munition, for honorable ſeruice in war, to folow gods word, and his ordinances in the gouerning of our churches.

In vvar it ſelfe, there is nothing more needfull,Chriſtes diſcipline beſt to make ſoldiers obedient. then faithfull obedience, vvhichwhich vvhere can it be more truly found, either in Captain, or common ſouldier, then vvhere the conſcience is catechiſed in the vvaies of the Lorde: vvhichwhich if it bee vvrought by this, in the p. 78things of preparation, it will be alſo as firme in the very time of vvarre it ſelfe: I vvill not ſay, but ſome thing is, and may be done, as the ſtate of the Church novve ſtandeth, for God be thanked, there bee diuers good Preachers: but the queſtion is, of the beſt and ſureſt pollicie: If now then by a fewe, much good is done, what vvould it be, if eueryevery congregation were rightly informed, and truly reformed? a thouſand to one.

In warre vntounto obedience,Cotage & patience, by Chriſtes diſcipline. there is to be linked courage and patience, courage to beare the aſſault of the enemy, his force and terror of warlike weapons, and patience to endure all diſtreſſes, pennury and ſcarcity. Now if men be not wel reſolued by good knowledge of their dutie, they will flie, for feare of the one, & fall to mutinies, for griefe in the other. Therefore if there be in eueryevery congregation, a worthy teacher, hee will be able ſo to prepare theit hearts, that they ſhall ſtand immooueable, with liuelines of ſpirit, to goe through the one, and with modeſt quietnes to go vnderunder the other: which thing, is not poſſible to bee, where the order of the Church, ſuffereth or foſtereth ſo many vnfit and rawe ſchollers, which hauehave more neede to bee taught, then to teach others.

Againe, the preſence of an honeſt, wiſe, and graue Miniſter (the Captaines can tel) doth more then many freſh water ſouldiers do think, eſpecially in extremity, for he ſhall ſweetly comfort them in grief, mightily imbolden them in feare, meekly ſtay them in rage, and prudently preuent many euils. Hereof was it, that Ioab, that valliant warriour, when hee was beſet before and behinde, by the Aramites and Amonites, hauing deuided his armie,….Sam. 10.9. and ſet his battaile in araye, could and did vſe theſe words of encouragement: be p. 79ſtrong, and let vsus be valiant for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the Lord doe that which is good in his eies. Hereof was it, that when Saneherib, king of A ſhur, beſiedged Ieruſalem with a mightye hoaſt, and ſent his ſeruantes to raile vponupon God, and to make weake the hands of the people:2. Cron. 32. Eſay. 36.Isa 36 There was great ſilence by the ſeruantes of Hezekiah that godly king, and no man ſtirred, for he had cauſed them to be inſtructed in the wayes of the Lord.

Laſt of al,Ordering the Church aright bringeth ſtrength and victory in war. that you might know how good a pollicy it is, for ſtrength & victory in war, to hauehave the church ordered aright, with the proper offices, and proper works, namely what corage it may worke, and what good ſucceſſe it may bring in the end, conſider well the battel which Abijath the ſonne of Rehoboam had with Ieroboam the ſonne of Nebat. The firſt being king of Iuda bringeth into the field, 400000. able figh ting men, the other being king of Iſrael had 800000. valiant men of war. Abijath ſetting his men in aray,2. Cron. 13. calleth vntounto Iſrael, and admoniſheth them to remember that they had forſaken their God, and therefore ſhould not proſper: amongeſt other thinges he commeth to this preſent point: and ſayth: HaueHave you not driuen away the Prieſts of the Lord, the ſonnes of Aaron and the Leuites, and hauehave made you prieſtes like the people of other countries, &c. And againe, but we belong to the Lord our God, and hauehave not forſaken him, and the prieſts the ſonnes of Aaron miniſter vntounto the Lord, and the Leuits in their offices, &c. and againe. Behold, this God is with vsus as a Captaine, and his prieſts with the ſounding trumpets to cry alarum againſt you. O yee children of Iſrael, fight not againſt the lord God of your fathers, for you ſhal not proſper. p. 80Loe here what courage, and confidence, the true order of Gods miniſterie may breede and bring forth. in the day of a dangerous battel, let vsus heare the ſucceſſe. Ieroboam cauſed an ambuſh to compaſſe Iuda behinde, ſo that the battel was behinde & before: but the men of Iuda cryed vntounto the Lord, the prieſts blew the trumpets, and the people gaue a ſhoute: and the men of Iſrael fled before them, and were ſlaine with an exceeding greatſlaughter, ſo that there fel downe wounded of Ifrael, 500000. of choſen men, and Iſrael was brought vnderunder, and Iuda preuailed, becauſe they ſtayed vponupon the lord God of their fathers. Oh happy ſucceſſe: oh wonderful victory, bleſſed is that people who can followe this example, to reforme themſelues after Gods lawe, and to order the churches with theſe holy adminiſtrations, & ſanctified works which God hath appointed, & to leaue the proude, antichriſtian, prophane, vncleane, lame, blinde offices and officers, of countries eſtranged from God, and the vnholy & defiled rites and ceremonies of the vnrighteous Babilon, from whence we are returned vntounto the city of the liuing God.

Let vsus nowe looke vntounto the church,The fixt ſpecial reaſon of the Church. and ſee whether al be well and ſafe: namely whether it were not better & ſafer to hauehave reformation after Gods word: the Church is called Gods houſe,1. Tim. 3.15. 1. Cor. 12.28. Cap. 4.1. Heb 5 4. Mat. 25.14. 1. Cor 12.6. 1. Pet 4.10. 1. Cor. 11.23. Act. 20.27.1 Tim 3:151 Cor 12:28Heb 5:4Matt 25:141 Cor 12:61 Pet 4:101 Cor 11:23Acts 20:27 the miniſters are Gods ſtewards, ſet in by him, and noe man is to take this honor except he be called, and thoſe he putteth in office hauehave talents, theſe worke the workes of God, both to ſpeake the oracles of God, and to miniſter of the abilitie which God miniſtreth, deliuering that which they receue of the Lord, & teaching the whole counſell of God that the church may obſerue whatſoeuer p. 81Chriſt hath commaunded,Mat. 28.20. 1. Tim. 6.14.Matt 28:201 Tim 6:14 & that without ſpott and vnrebukeable vntil the appearing of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. When therefore it is already declared, and al men may ſee that many offices, workes, & rites, are added to that of Chriſtes out of the houſe of Anti-Chriſt, & that many of theſe, want that which Chriſt hath appointed, and that the houſe of God is daubed with vntempered morter of mans deuiſe, with hey & ſtubble not agreeing with the foundation, and that the church is his trueſpouſe, and with vsus is maimed,Chriſt many waies calleth vsus to reforme out churches after his word. in many members, and her nakednes & woundes couered, with the filthy and ſtinking clouts and patches borowed of that damnable whore of Rome, Chriſtes mortall enemie. I cannot tell howe it can be ſafe for our churches if they be not reformed, for if we be the temple of God, and he dwelleth amonge vsus,2. Cor. 6.26.2 Cor 6:26 we are to knowe, that he calleth vsus to come out of Babilon, and to ſeperate our ſelues, & to touch noe vncleane thing that he may receiue vsus: & if we ſuffer our lord Chriſt to ſtand and knocke at our doores,Cantie. 5.2. as it is ſayd in the Canticles, til his head be ful of dewe, and his lockes with the droppes of the night: & we as halfe a ſleepe and halfe a wake, are loath to goe out of our warme beddes, to put one our clothes, and to foule our feet: it may come to paſſe, that when we would open vntounto him, he wil be gone, and when we ſhal ſeeke him, we ſhal not find him, and call for him, & he not anſwere: and that counterfeit watchmen, of the wicked Sinagogue, ſhall finde vsus, and beat vsus, as in times paſt, and take awaye the vaile of Chriſt from vsus: then will wee thinke, that it had bene better to hauehave beene zealous, and opened vntounto him, that he might hauehave come in,Reue. 3.20.Rev 3:20 & ſupped with vsus, and we with him.

p. 82To leaue out all other thinges,Chriſts orders, taught in the goſpel, Chriſts church gouernment, beſt for vnitie and honour of the miniſtery.eſpecially, becauſe they are partly contained in the former reaſons: there are two things, that men marueilouſly ſtand vponupon, for the vpholding of this Antichriſtian lordlines, and vſurpation of Church gouernment: the dignitie of the Miniſtery, and the vnity of the Church: two thinges of very great waight, whereof the one is ſo great, that eueryevery miniſter ought to looke very carefully to it, ſtudying to ſhew himſelfe approoued, a workeman that needeth not to bee aſhamed,2. Tim. 2.15. Titus 2.15.2 Tim 2:15Titus 2:15 deuiding the worde of truth aright: ſpeaking, exhorting, and rebuking withal authority: the other is ſuch, that if it be not looked vntounto, the contrary thereof, is the ruine and downfall of the Church,Oala. 5.15. as it is written: if you bite and deuoure one another, take heed leaſt you be conſumed, one of another. Now ſay they, if there were not L.Bb. the pore miniſters would be borne downe, and made no account of, but they are a countenaunce and defence vntounto them, and whereas, eueryevery one would be maiſter, and doe as they liſt, by them, men are kept in awe, and things are made quiet: therefore you know not what you do, when you go about to pull them down. Surely, a goodly ſhew at the firſt ſight, but not ſuch as will abide the breath of God. Is not Chriſt ſufficient, that hath promiſed to be with his ſeruants vntounto the worlds end, to countenance and defend his miniſtery, as wel as he did three hundreth yeares together, when al the power of earthly authoritie was againſt it, and ſhall he need now a deuiſe which hee long ſince forbad: ſaying, it ſhall not beſo with you, but he that will be greteſt, let him be your ſeruant,Luke 22.25.Luke 22:25 eſpecially, when hee hath reared vp the chriſtian magiſtrate, to bee a nurſe-mother to his church, and to defend all the miniſters for p. 83well doing,be beſt for the churches ſafty. as ſhe doth all other ſubiectes in their callings: and is not Chriſt by his owne order, as wel able to keepe his church in vnity, as by that which hee abhorred: and may not alſo the ciuill ſword (if need require) helpe to bridle the inſolent and vnruly?

But in very deed, theſe men are greatly deceiued, who thinke, that either vnity, or good miniſters, are furthered by their lordſhips: for as their callinges are not of God, ſo they countenance ſuch as are like them ſelues, corrupt offices and workes, Cathedrall churches, non-reſidence, pluralities, dumb Idoll miniſters, &c. Theſe, if they ſubſcribe, and ſhewe them ſelues conformable, though they ſlay neuer fo many ſoules, ſhall be borne out and countenaunced to the vtmoſt. I would we had not too lamentable experience: what a countenance is this? that though a man liue neuerſo honeſtly-preach Chriſt neuer ſo ſoundly, wiſely, and profitably, yet if he anſwere not their expectation, in that baſtardly gouernement, and canonicall obedience, he ſhall be as much regarded, as though he were the vileſt man aliue: and I would it were not true, that very wicked men are maintained, while good men are put out, and can any thing bee more to the contempt of the Miniſtery & rent of the church, and making of ſeiſme, then when men are quiet, and follow their calling, with great care of the peace of the church, they ſhould be called forth to ſubſcribe, to humain conſtitutions, as vntounto the boke of God: & without due time of examination, conſideration, & reſolution, to be ſuſpended or depriued, and toſſed from court to court, what can make the goſpel more hated, then to ſee bad fellows, & dumb Idols to be ſet free, with credite and commendacion, & they that hauehave woon many to the p. 84feare of God,Engliſh books, ſeene & allowed, & duty to her Maieſty, by diligent preaching: euen againſt the law of God and man, to be intangled with troubles, torne and turmoiled with diuers moleſtations.

And is this the fruit of vnity, that is pretended? to beginne the quarrell with the quiet, and to purſue it with all violence, to make them, who in towne and country were very greatly at vnity, tooke ſweet counſell togither, for the profiting of the church, to be now ſundred as ſtrangers? O Lord deliuer my ſoule from ſuch honour and vnitie, and deliuer thy pore ſeruants from ſuch bondage and contempt, and thy Churches from ſuch reptoches and diſturbance.

But if theſe diſorders were remooued, and Chriſts Diſcipline planted, where were all theſe miſchiefes? they would be throwen into the bottome of the Sea: then would be the glory and beauty of the miniſtery, in the true worke of eueryevery calling, and the power of the ſpirit,Chriſts Diſcip. taketh away the cauſeof contention, &c. which accompanieth the ſame: then would be the vnity of the Church, when their cauſes of contention ſhould be taken away, and the houſe of God, ioyned and built with the right ſtuffe & gold of God, and Gods grace in the middeſt of it. Then ſhould the Papiſt quaile, to ſee the glory of Chriſtes kingdome: then ſhould the Annabaptiſt waile, that he hath abuſed Gods people: Then ſhould the Atheiſt be forced to ſtand amazed, at the woonderfull brightnes of the chaſt and holy ſpouſe of God, looking forth, as the morning,Cantic. 6.9.Song 6:9 faire as the moone, pure as the ſunne, terrible, as an army with banners: For this I hope, all deuines will grant me,All diſorder & ſciſme, by breaking Chriſts orders. that there neuer was, or can be in the church, by the members thereof, any diſhonour, ſciſme, diſorder, or diſquietnes, but by the breach of p. 85the law, and order of Chriſt: whereof,teach Chriſts diſcip. for our ſaſty in all the complaints of Gods ſpirite, you ſhall finde theſe, and ſuch like phraſes. Diuiſions and diſcenſions,Rom. 16.7. 1. Cor. 11.18.22. 2. Theſ. 3.14. Gal. 16.16 cap. 1.7.5.8 Math. 15.6.9.Rom 16:71 Cor 11:181 Cor 11:222 Thess 3:14Matt 15:6Matt 15:9 contrary to the doctrine ye hauehave receiued. I hauehave receiued of the Lorde, that which I alſo deliuered vntounto you. Withdraw your ſelues from eueryevery brother, that walketh in ordinatly, and not after the inſtruction which hee receiued of vsus. As many as walke acording to this rule, peace ſhalbe vppon them.2. Tim. 4.3.2 Tim 4:3 It is not the perſwaſion of him that calleth you,Reuel. 3.14.20Rev 3:14Rev 3:20 you hauehave made the commaundement of God of no authority by your traditions: & ſuch like: therefore I may boldely holde,Iude. 3.4. that Chriſts Church gouernement is beſt for the Church euerie way, and namely for the honour and vnitie thereof.

And here I moſt humbly beſeech the reuerend fathers, by the mercies of God our father,An humble ſpeech to the Bb. by the conſolation which is in Chriſt leſus our Sauiour, & by the fellowſhip of the ſpirit, by whom we be renewed, ſetting apart, al affection to themſelues, and faction with others, in a ſimple and ſingle eie, to conſider theſe few things. Firſt, that ſeeing by themſelues, in their publike ſermons, and writings, and other bookes, ſet forth with authority and priuilege: The ſeekers of reformation, may learne,Sermons of Thomas, B. of Lincoine pag. 5 that the gouernement and direction by Gods worde, preuaileth more, than any deuiſe of man: and that there are infinite examples, of vnarmed men, who obeying gods commandements, hauehave ſcatered the moſt puiſſant armies of the infidels,Antimartinus page 26. and of moſt mightie Emperors, who for mingling ſomtime, and ſometime chaunging the precepts of the Lorde, with their inuentions, hauehave com vnderunder moſt vile bondage: And y^t wher the people are not taught, they can not ſerue God, the Prince is not ſo dutifully obeied, p. 86the rebellion in the North is proofe of that.D. Some in his treatiſe of deciding certaine queſtions. pa. 8 D. Bilſon in his defence of the Queenes ſupremacy part 2. pag. 233. And that this authority which you hauehave, was not ordained by the cōmandement of Chriſt, for his Apoſtles, but by ſufferance of other Bb. and that onelyonly with this prerogatiue, that in all doubtes of doctrine or diſcipline Archbb. and patriarks might aſſemble the reſt of their brethren, or conſult them with letters, & ſee that ob. ſerued which the moſt part of them determined.Luther on 1. Pet. 5. ver. 2.1 Pet 5:2 So that the Biſhops are greater, then Miniſters or Elders, rather by cuſtome, then by any truth of the Lords appointment, and ought to gouerne the church in common,M. Nowelin his Catechiſme fol. 40 B. and that there is deſcribed out of Gods worde, a certaine order of gouernance and forme of Eccleſiaſtical diſcipline, which ought to be obſerued in eueryevery Church, if it be well ordered: which by deſire of impunitie, and libertie to ſin, is long ſince decayed. And ſeeing we hauehave moſt plainely and perfectlie teaching, the whole diſciplin out of the word of god, & ancient writers, and Cannons of the Church, tranſlated into the Engliſh tongue. Peter Martirs Common-places, Caluins-Inſtitutions, Bullingers Decads, Bezaes confeſſions, the Apoligie of the Proteſtants of Fraunce, and diuers others: Whereof, ſome I hauehave ſeene lying openly to be read in ſome of your gret chambers, ſome are commanded to bee ſtudied, by the vnlearned miniſtery,Keeping out of Chriſts Diſcrpline, litle comfort to the Bb. and all printed with publike allowance. Here I ſay, you are to conſider, whether it be equal and iuſt, for you to do contrary to your doctrine: to puniſh others for ſeeking humbly, that reformation in Diſcipline, which by your meanes, they hauehave learned to be according to Gods worde. or what comfort you can hauehave in your conſciences, (if God ſhould but a little call you to account) to ſtand ſo ſtiffe for that, you cannot p. 87but confeſſe to bee of mans cuſtome, againſt that which was of Chriſts inſtitution. And laſtly, whether you can be ſayd to hauehave a care of the ſafety of her Majeſtie, and the good floriſhing eſtate of this land, eſpecially now, when God calleth vsus vntounto repentance and reformation by many troubles, when you do ſo aegerly fight for that, which made the mightie Emperors, vile ſlaues, and that againſt ſuch a thing, as made the naked men great conquerours.

Secondly, ſeeing that nowe thirtie yeares, taking vponupon you, the gouerning of all the Churches in England, you hauehave put out more godly,Litle good in 30. yeares by all our Bb. gouerning. learned, and zealous Miniſters, for your owne traditions: then you hauehave remooued, of other vnfit and vngodly, for breaking Gods commaundements: and that S. Paule hauing but a while preached at Creta, an Iſland of an hundreth Cities, left Titus there after his departure, to ſet all things in order, and namely, a learned miniſtery in eueryevery Citie,Titus 2.5. cap. 3.12.Titus 2:5 (and that without helpe of the ciuill Magiſtrate) appointing him to ſtaye but till winter, and then to come to him to Nicapolis. Conſider I beſeech you, that in ſo many winters and ſummers, in this little Iſland, you hauehave done ſo little good, and cry out ſtill, it is impoſſible to hauehave a learned Miniſterie, when you hauehave the moſt renowned Prince in the world for religion, to backe you with ciuill power and countenance. As it is to her immortall fame, to giuegive you this libertie & authority, thinking it not to much to aduanceyou to great dignity and honour: ſo, wey with your ſelues, what may bee thought of you, that hauehave ſo meanely diſcharged the great truſt committed vntounto you.

Thirdly, where you ſaye, that the godly ſeekers of p. 88reformation,The Bb. diſturbers The godly ſeekers of reformation, contend not for trifies.contend about trifles, (which is not ſo) and that they ought not for ſmall matters, to diſturbe the peace of the Church, and prouoke her Maieſtie. Conſider I pray you: whether that, when you doe ſo earneſtly ſtand to maintaine them, and are not as earneſt againſt the greater offences, ſuffering thouſands of ſoules to periſh, by ignorant miniſters and non-reſidents, you tithe not mint, and leaue out the waightie matters of the law, and whether you ought not for the peace and good of the Church, to yeeld to your brethren,Gen. 13.8.9.Gen 13:8Gen 13:9 in that you count ſmal matters (as Abraham did to Lot) eſpecially, ſeing youcannot deny, but that they ſeek that which God commandeth, & refuſe that which is of mans ordinance, & that, not as new fangled heads, and ſingular, but with the agreement and conſent of moſt approoued, both olde and new writers, and as moſt reformed Churches hauehave alſo determined and practiſed. Conſider I beſeech you herein, whether the word of God went from you,1. Cor. 14.36.1 Cor 14:36 or came onelyonly vntounto you, and that when in ſo many years, you hauehave found theſe thinges to be inconuenient,The Bb. make thēſelues ſlaues to their owne orders. it vvere not your duty, to do as the Apoſtle ſaith, that in lawful things, which were not profitable, he would not bee brought in ſubiection vntounto any thing,1. Cor. 6.12.1 Cor 6:12 which while you neglect: Conſider I pray you, whether it bee not you, that diſturbe the peace of the Church, and prouoke the good and peaceable minde of our gracious Soueraigne, againſt your brethen, and that you hauehave not neede to take heede, leaſt the maiſter of the houſe come ſuddenly vponupon you, and find you beating your fellows,Math. 24.49.Matt 24:49 and ſeperate you, &c.

Laſtly, wheras you miſtruſt ſome Machiauilian plot, by deepe ſleights, to maintaine this contention, for p. 89the bringing forth of diuers miſchiefs,Admonition to the people of Eug by T.C. page. 155. Antimartin. page 24.25. noyſome to religion and godlines, and hurtfull to your ſelues. Conſider I beſeeche you, whether it bee not in you to preuent it: For if you would leaue diſcountenauncing of your brethren, for that which you call ſmall matters, and ioyne with them in humble ſuite to her Maieſtie,It is in the Bb. to remedy many miſchiefs. to take away all the ſtumbling blocks of offence, or at leaſt wiſe, obtaine ſome godly toleration, if you wold not leaue your brethren, nay oppoſe your ſelues, exprofeſſo, againſt them, and hauehave your eares ſo open to popiſh information, and malicious accuſation, and force them by oth, to be their owne accuſers.Luke. 6.26.Luke 6:26 Yf you could ſee what it is, to bee ſo highly commended, by open recuſants, and deſperate Atheiſts, and that the worſer ſort of people, vnderunder the ſhadowe of your proceedings, begin to make an head, and to bee ſtrong againſt the goſpell, and the ſincere profeſſors thereof: you might eaſily cut in ſunder, and breake to powder, all the pollitike reaches which you feare: For what is it, that the ioyned labours of faithfull brethren might not do? But when you make light of theſe things, wey with your ſelues I pray you, whether you hauehave not great cauſe to ſuſpect, your own inconſiderat doings, and to feare, if God preuent it not, your dealing with your brethren (as Eliab with Dauid) be not voluntary inſtruments of your own ouerthrow,1. Sam. 17.28.1 Sam 17:28 and of the goſpell, while you weaken your ſelues, by cutting of frō you, your faithfull brethren, by vniuſt ſeperation, and that (which many men bewaile, when they beholde the increaſe of your giftes, and other your dealinges) whither it be not fulfilledin you, which is prophecied againſt them that teach the feare of God by mens preceptes, namely, a ſtrange worke and a woonder: The p. 90wiſedome of the wiſe ſhal periſh,Eſay. 29.13.14Isa 29:13Isa 29:14 &c. I pray God giuegive vsus all grace, that we be not wayward conceited, and opiniate by contention & vaine glory, prouoking one another, and enuying one another, but that our care may be vnited to tender the yong lambes, for whome Chriſt Ieſus our Lord and Sauiour, did ſhed his moſt precious bloud.

Seeing then,The end of the ſpeciall reaſons. that the Diſcipline of Chriſt, doth moſt properly teach eueryevery ſoule to execute and practiſe good lawes, both for the conſtant doctrine, continually taught, & alſo for the Elderſhip being at hand, without charge of penaunce, reforming the diſobe dient, and that the other gouernment miniſtreth leſſe able men, and practiſeth the cenſures a far of, by a perſon vnfit, with chaunge of penaunce, and that wicked men, louelove this, and hate that, and that this kepeth out good men, and that helpeth them in: ſeing, by the orders of Chriſt, the Queenes ſafty is beſt prouided for, being a thing of obedience vntounto proſperity: and by it, al the helpes of Antichriſt be remooued, and the other orders, hauehave alwais hurt the lawfull authority of princes, and to be chiefe B. in one countrey, is all one, as to be chief Biſhop in one Empire, and theſe hauehave hurt kings, as well as our Popes the Emperour: and that by the common law and theſe offices, there is a hope left, for the deadlieſt enemy to her Maieſty to enter in, & that papiſts (who in conſcience can neuer be true, nor by rewards bee made faithfull) are fit for ſuch offices, to couer themſelues and others, that for lacke of teaching, and by licenſes, the breed of Papiſts is not hindred, neither can the doubtfull be eueryevery where reſolued, and that Chriſts lawes do take away all theſe, and make faithfull and obedient ſubiects, keeping out the p. 91recuſants, and bewraying the Ieſuits, and that the ill orders do hardly intreat the doers of ſuch good works and that Chriſts Diſcipline, doth giuegive all kings their iuſt titles, prerogatiues, and dignities ouer all perſons in their dominions, and that in all cauſes, keeping out al ignorant, wicked, and flattering men, making ſtrong y^t league with chriſtian Princes, to her immortal fame, and feare to the enemy, ſeeing that by this holy diſcipline of GOD, the Nobility and Comminalty hauehave their right: are freed from diuers wrongs and diſturbances, receiuing comfort to themſelues, & their children, being terrible to the wicked, & eaſie to the godly: ſeeing that by Diſcipline, there can be no feare of rebellion, but a ſure confirmation of peace, when all hope ſhall be taken away from the knowne aduerſary of recouering ſtrength in this Lande, beholding the Lords hand to proſper this worke, and that the Lord ſhal not be prouoked againſt vsus, for our diſobedience: and that by this, the wealth and honour of the realme are increaſed, and contentions, and brawles, and vnneceſſary pleas preuented and alaied: & that idle men, of all ſorts, might be ſet in order, and poore men greatly comforted. Seeing that this maketh beſt for war, as in the preparation to preuent all ſeducers of the dutiful ſubiect, and by inſtruction, to make men reſolute, in the right, ſo that they wil not be drawen after great or ſmall, nor murmure at any paines, or charges reaſonable, but be alwaies willing, ready, and cheerefull to ſerue her Maieſty: and that GOD hath giuen them great ſtore of munition, and faithfull ſouldiers, who followed his ordinaunce, and puniſhed the contrary, and that in the war it ſelfe, it maketh courage to fight, and patience to beare extremities, vnited to iuſt obedience p. 92of the Magiſtrate,Church-gouerne. after gods word making Princes in time of danger bold and confident, and in the end victorious.

Laſtly, ſeeing that Chriſt hath ordained all manner of offices and workes of his Church, for the right ordering and eſtabliſhing thereof: and therefore it is vnneceſſary, and an vngodly thing, prouoking Gods anger to defile it with the things of Antichriſt, and that Chriſt doth call vsus to repentaunce, and that hee hath promiſed ſufficiently to defend his Church in honour and vnity, by his owne order and meanes by him appointed, and hath added for that purpoſe, the ciuill Magiſtrate, and that by theſe diſorders, all diſhonor to the good Miniſterie, and diſturbaunce to the Church hath bene broched, and neuer any diſhonor, confuſion, or diſquietnes, did or can come to the Church, by the members thereof, but by violating the ſacred lawe of Chriſt. I beſeech, and humbly mooue your honors to conſider, whether it be not the beſt and ſureſt pollicie, for our eſtate in England, to reforme all diſorders after the worde of God, and to ſet vp that Church gouernment which Chriſt hath ordeined, and the Apoſtles practiſed and no other.

Nowe,The laſt proofe taken from the iudgement of Chriſt. if in ciuill pollicie, all that I ſayd were nothing, (which I am verily perſwaded is not ſo) yet vntounto Chriſtians, there is further matter, and more reaſon for vpholding of that diſcipline which God ordained For we by profeſſion (if wee bee not counterfeit) by beliefe alſo of the heart,Rom. 10.9. 1. Tim. 4.8.Rom 10:91 Tim 4:8 looke not onelyonly to hauehave promiſes of this life,2. Cor. 5.10.2 Cor 5:10 by Chriſt our Lord and ſauiour, but alſo of the life to come, and do know that we ſhall all appeare before the ſeat of Chriſt,Act. 10.42.Acts 10:42 who ſhall come againe to take account of his ſeruants, & of eueryevery man,Rom. 2.6.Rom 2:6 and render vntounto eueryevery one according to the workes p. 93which he hath done in his body, either good or bad,is beſt againſt the great day. and that theſe are to bee iudged by the lawe of God,Iam. 4.12.Jas 4:12& not of man: Therefore, when we know theſe things are the commaundements of God,1. Cor. 14.37. Rom. 16.26. 1. Tim. 1.9.10 11. Gal. 5.21.1 Cor 14:37Rom 16:261 Tim 1:91 Tim 1:10Gal 5:21 and that ſuch as continue obſtinate in the breach thereof, without repentance, ſhall not inherite the kingdome of heauen: it were not good pollicy for vsus to obtain a litle peace, wealth, honour, and eaſe in this world,Luke. 16.25. Rom. 2.9. 1 Cor. 9.25.27.Luke 16:25Rom 2:91 Cor 9:251 Cor 9:27 to purchaſe al miſerie, diſquietnes, anguiſhe, ſhame and torment in the world to com, for louelove of our bodies, to leeſe both body and ſoule: for an earthly crowne, to leeſe a heauenlie,Heb. 11.25.Heb 11:25 for the pleaſures of ſin for a ſeaſon,2. Cor. 4.17.2 Cor 4:17 to leeſe the pleaſures of the righteous God for euer, and to auoyd a light and momentany affliction among men, to leeſe an eternall & exceeding waight of glory:Reuel. 6.15.16.17.Rev 6:15Rev 6:16Rev 6:17 when kings of the earth, great men, rich men, and the chiefe Captaines, the mighty men, and eueryevery bond man, and free man ſhall couet to hide them ſelues in the great and terrible day from the lambe: when hee that hath not on the wedding garment ſhall be ſpeechleſſe,Math. 22.12. cap. 25.26.28. cap. 24.48. Reuel. 19.20.Matt 22:12Rev 19:20 and the euill ſeruant and ſlothfull, ſhall hauehave his tallent taken from him, and ſuch as thinke he will deferre his comming, and begin to ſmite his fellowes, and eat & drink with the drunken, ſhall bee cut off and caſt into vtter darkenes: when the beaſt and the falſe Prophet ſhall be taken & caſt aliue into the lake of fire, burning with brimſtone, and all vncleane thinges whatſoeuer,cap. 21.10.27. worketh abhomination or lies,cap. 22.18. ſhal be kept out of the holy and heauenly Ieruſalem, and they that adde or take away from Gods booke:2. Theſ. 1.7.2 Thess 1:7 ſhall hauehave the plagues therein written, and leeſe their part in the booke of life, when the lord Ieſus ſhal ſhew himſelfe from heauen, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, rendering vengeance p. 94vntounto them that do not know God, and which obey not the goſpell of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, which ſhall be puniſhed with euerlaſting perdition, from the preſence of the Lord, & the glory of his power, when he ſhal come to be glorified in his ſaints, & to be made marueilous in thē that beleeue:Luke. 16.29. Math. 17.5.Luke 16:29Matt 17:5 then ſhall it be found the beſt and ſureſt pollicy, to hauehave heard Moſes & the prophets,Epheſ. 2.20.Eph 2:20 y^e beloued ſon of god: then ſhal it be known that the temple of the Lord is built vponupon the foundation of the apoſtles & prophets,cap. 4.11.12.13. Ieſus Chriſt being the chief corner ſtone: and that he hath giuen gifts for the gathering together of the ſaints, for the worke of the miniſtery, & for the edification of the body of Chriſt, til we all meet togither, in the vnity of faith, and knowledge of the ſoone of God vntounto a perfect man, and vntounto the meaſure of the age of the fulnes of Chriſt.

Nowe,The ſecond part of y^e booke anſwering the obiection, of prouiſion for the learned miniſterie. while wee of good and ſingle meaning, open the neceſſitie of reformation, other which neuer peraduenture deſerued any thing of the Commonwealth, ſtand gaping to run away with the ſpoiles, of ſuch goods as may bee well beſtowed, vponupon the great need of many churches. I hauehave thought good therefore, partly, becauſe it may appeare, that in this ſtile, I ſhout not againſt any mans perſon, or enuy or deſire his goods: and partly, becauſe it ſeemeth amongeſt many, to be a great obiection: how ſufficient liuings ſhould ariſe,How liuing may be had for a leathed miniſtery is a great obiection for the maintenaunce of a learned Miniſterie: and eſpecially, that it is high time to conſider of it, before that by leaſing, chopping, and changing of ſuch things as might ſupply the want, it be made in deed a hard matter, which as yet, may very well and eaſily be done. I hauehave thought good (I ſay) and appertaining to this treatiſe, to ſhew a way how, the Churches, p. 95may hauehave ſufficient liuing for an able miniſtery, wherin as in the reſt: I only make an humble motion, & as it were, the light opening of a window, put your wiſedomes in minde of this thing, which I take to bee one principall matter, worthy conſideration, knowing that with farre more deepnes of iudgement, and ſoundnes of counſell, you are able to enlarge, either where it wanteth, or to cut of where it aboundeth.

Two thinges in this, I hope I ſhall not neede to ſtand vppon, that is, firſt to ſhewe that there are many mean liuings for miniſters, partly by impropriations, and partly by the littlenes or ſituation of the pariſhes,Many means liuings for miniſters. for this is in the knowledge of al men very cleare, that there are diuers liuinges, that are not worth aboue 20. markes yearly, ſome twenty pounds, which come nothing neer that competency, that were fit for the man of God: who in this laſt age, not hauing gifts extraordinary, is driuen to ſtudy much, and thereby his charges be increaſed, by buying of books and order of diet & ſome thing for the decenſy of that calling, would be conſidered in the comlines of aparrell and houſeholde, that it bee not contemptible, and laſtly,1. Tim. 3.2.1 Tim 3:2 it is required, that he ſhould keepe hoſpitallity, all which, by many degrees cannot come ſo low as twenty marks or twenty pound, as if we looke vponupon the proportion of Gods prouiſion vnderunder the law, which the holy Ghoſt teacheth to be our paterne 1. Cor. 9.8.9.10.Miniſtesought to hauehave very good maintainance. Num. 38. & 28 it may appeare: there ſhall wee find, that for the maintenaunce of the Miniſterie, they had not onelyonly the tenthes and conuenient dwelling places, but euen all the firſt fruites, and of all offeringes of diuers ſortes, and they vvere bound to three feaſtes euerye yeare, (beſides eueryevery newe moone and Sabbaoth) wherein eueryevery p. 96male was to appeare before the Lorde,How a learned miniſtery may hauehave Deut. 15. & 16 & 12 Leuit. 23.Deut 15Lev 23but hee might not come emptie: yetin al theſe, and many mo charges, they proſpered, though it ſeemed neuer ſo chargeable, ſo long as they willingly ſerued God after his order, and for ſo much as our land, by the bleſſing of God, may well be accounted among the fertile and rich ſoiles of the world: I hope we are not ſo vngratefull, as to recompence God, with a vile and baſe entertainement of his ſeruaunts, vnderſtanding very well,1. Cor. 4.11.1 Cor 4:11 that it is a ſmall matter, that the Miniſter ſhould reape carnall things of them, vponupon whome they ſowe ſpirituall things.

The other thing, which I truſt I ſhall not neede to ſtand vppon is this: that ſeeing there is neede, and that very great, that the miniſtery ſhould be better pro uided for: It were the dutie of the Common wealth, to conuert thoſe thinges (which by their foundation were firſt ment and ordained for the ſeruice of God,The Church liuings are to be beſtowed one the miniſters. and now hauehave bene, and are in the opinion of al men beſtowed to that vſe) in the time of reformation, ſhuld be kept for that very vſe, that the reforming of things be not thought rather a bait to feede our bellies, then to proceed of any godly zeale, or louelove of religion, for who would not thinke it a plain mockery of God, and a ſcorne of godlines, that men going about to beautifie the Church, ſhould rob and ranſacke the ſame: and pretending to further the ſeruice of God, ſhould giuegive occaſion to prophaneit? This were the moſt diueliſh pollicy in the world, and the onelyonly ingen almoſt, to ouerthrow both Prince and people: For God ſaith, if men offer the blinde and the lame vntounto a prince,Mal. 1.7. cap 3.9.Mal 1:7 hee would not be content, nor accept the perſon, and ſhal we thinke that God can put it vp at our handes, if the p. 97things of his holines ſhould be lightly regarded,Sufficient maintenance. & that his embaſſadours ſhould bee ſo ſpitefully ſhauen,2. Cor. 5.10. 2. Sam. 10.4.2 Cor 5:102 Sam 10:4 and their coates cut off to the middle. No, no: hee will not take it in good part: for in the zeale of his wrathfull indignation, hee pronounceth ſuch men accurſed,Hag. 1.9.10.Hag 1:9Hag 1:10 with a curſe, becauſe they hauehave ſpoiled him, and maketh the heauen ouer them to ſtay it ſelfe from dew, & the earth to ſtay her fruit, becauſe his houſe lieth waſt. I hope rather we will hearken vntounto Solomon, who ſaith: Honour the Lord with thy riches,Prouerb. 3.9. and with the firſt fruites of all thine increaſe: ſo ſhall thy barnes be filled with aboundance, and thy preſſes ſhall burſt with newe wine. Be it far from vsus in ſo cleare light of the goſpel, we ſhould be flower in this duty, then our forefathers, who did they know not what.

The matter then I will ſtand vponupon, is the thing which may thus be imployed, what it is, and how it is to be ordered: The firſt point what it is, may partly bee vnderſtood by that which is already ſpoken:VVhat may ſcrue to make ſufficient liuing for a learned miniſtery in England. for I meane the Archbb. and L.Bb. liuings, and al the Cathedral churches, houſes and lands, & whatſoeuer profits adioyned excepting the free ſchools, & alms houſes, or ſuch like, which vntounto ſome of them belong. The nature of reformation, as may appeare by that which is already declared, and the good of our land requireth, that theſe dignities or ſpirituall promotions, which are not of Gods planting, ſhould be pulled vp by the rootes, & the men of thoſe places (ſuch as are fit for learning and reuerend behauior) applied and tied to ſome congregation, where they ſhould labor to feed ſoules: then would there be many a faire pallace voyd of a maiſter, and goodly houſes, churches, and lands voyd of owners. Here I take it to bee the duty of the common wealth to keepe theſe p. 98liuings ſtill for the maintenance of the Miniſtery, ſeeing there is a very great need of them, and to chaunge onelie the order and manner of the applying: that whereas before they ſerued to vpholde a lordly pompe, idlenes and brauerie in ſome fewe: they might nowe by a wiſe and godly diſtribution, be communicated vntounto many: for the benefite of many Churches. The lands, houſes, and pallaces may be ſould, and the money beſtowed to the redeeming of impropriations and increaſe of ſmall liuings: and ſurely, this is of all other moſt equall, that where the people do pay their tenthes vnderunder the name and proprietie of the Churches vſe, they ſhould bee ſo applied indeede. And againe: ſeeing the corruption of our time, hath made impropriations, as fee ſimple landes, they which hauehave reaſonable recompence for the value of them they poſſeſſe, ſhould by no meanes thinke them ſelues iniured. It is no reaſon that ſeeing the people do already ſtand burdened with ſuch a great charge, that they ſhould bee oppreſſed with a ſecond, eſpecially when there is a meanes to releeue them. And it is againſt all conſcience, that the Miniſterie ſhould be left without iuſtand comely prouiſion & maintenance. But of all other,Forſlow not the time till the Bb. and Cathedrall Prelates hauehave waſted all. it were moſt vnvviſe, and vngodly, to foreſlowe the occaſion, eſpecially when the Commonwealth was neuer ſo rich, by yearely fruits and commodities. And it is yet more horrible wickednes, that priuate men (although peraduenture ſome of them hauehave done ſeruice) ſhould preuent the Church, and commit ſo great ſacriledge. For if they deſerue, there is ſufficient beſides to reward them. There is no good Chriſtian, or man, either of valure for fortitude, and wiſedome, or of eſtimation for religion and honeſtye, or of any good name for iuſtice and clemency, can bee of ſo baſe and p. 99ſeruile a mind, as to grope after the ſpoile and hauocke of the Churche, or to ſuffer himſelfe to bee rewarded with thoſe goodes, which ſhould by all reaſon and conſcience,A good man will not enrich himſelfe, with that which ſhould ſerue to the ſoule benefit of many. be imployed to the ſeruice and immediate honour of almightie God. But I hope theſe ſpeaches ſhall not neede, and that the example of Nehemiah that honourable and zealous Prince, will bee followed in this caſe, he hauing the feare of God before his eies, being twelue yeares gouernour ouer the people that returned from Babell:Nehe. 5.10.14. when his labour was to builde the wall of Ieruſalem, and to ſet vppe the puritie of religion: that hee might giuegive good example to the Princes and Rulers, and that the people might no way bee ouer charged, that ſo the buſineſſe of the Lord might go chearefully and proſperouſlie forward, as it did indeede. Hee not onelyonly tooke nothing to him, which was due vntounto him, as hee was chiefe Gouernour, but alſo ſpent of that which he had of his ovvne, for the common charges of the wall, and fedde many at his table, lent his money to the poore, redeemed them that vvere captiue, and cauſed his ſeruaunts to doe the like in their place, and that all of them came to helpe forvvard the vvorke. The example of Iehoaſh King of Iuda, is very memorable for this purpoſe,2. Kings 12.2 Kgs 12 when the prieſts had neglected the repayring of the decaied places of the Temple (notwithſtanding the Kings commandement) till the three & twentieth yeare of his raigne. The charge and money for that buſineſſe vvas committed to others, who vvere ſo farre from gaining by it, that they ſhewed ſuch faithfulneſſe in doing of it, that it was not thought needfull that they ſhould giuegive any accounts of their dooing. If euer it pleaſe GOD to giuegive reformation amongeſt vsus, I pray God that this mercy in framing of the heartes of p. 100al ſortes and degrees, after the good of theſe examples, may bee alſo a bleſſing vponupon vsus, as I hope that through his tender compaſſion and bounty it will.

Now as great a matter ſtandeth in the ſecond point, how this ſhalbe ordered: one ſaith that it would be very good, that it ſhould be all, and all the other church liuings likewiſe taken out of the miniſters hands, and that they ſhould hauehave their ſeuerall penſions or ſtipends of a reaſonable ſort,To put al the miniſters to their penſions were not good. for this ſaith he, would be eaſieſt and quieteſt, ſo that they ſhould be troubled with nothing, but to follow their bookes, and looke to their charge: if it might be ſo indeed, as theſe words do roundly beare vsus in hand in very good ſhew, it were the beſt, and euerie miniſter would be glad of the quieteſt way, and moſt benefit to the church. Another peraduenture is of a diuers mind, & thinketh it very inconuenient, eſpecially at this time, when there is a ſettled prouiſion for moſt places, and that by ſuch a meanes, as is no great trouble to the miniſter, that wil not wilfully be a loyterer. It is better to keepe a good way which we hauehave, then to follow a new, and change for the worſe: and truly this latter, agreeth moſt with pollicy for the ſtate, and with benefite for the church: for the ſtate, it is found a point of tryed policy to alter as few things as may be, (eſpecially when they are good and well) wherein the people hauehave had a long cuſtome or intereſt, for this is a way vntounto murmurings, diſcontentment, ſtirs and ſedition, and the people will quickly ſuſpect, that for the priuate gaine of ſome fewe, ſuch thinges are inuented, when they ſee plainly that it is very well already. I doubt it will bee found a hard meaſure to ſome, an vnluckie peece of worke to begin, heauy in the carriage, and a day of blacknes vntounto poſteritie. Secondly, there muſt bee offices erected and p. 101augmented, and a great many men muſt hauehave leaſes or ſome other authoritie and office to gather the fruits: and what will come of this (which requireth many deuices) a man cannot tell at the firſt fight, neither ſhall he ſee all the miſchiefs till it be practiſed: but this muſt needs fall out, that many men for gathering the fruites, for receauing and paying againe, muſt hauehave a fleece, and ſo the church ſhalbe ſhortned & ſhorne of her right, by a needles occupation: when the people ſhal pay peraduenture well the more, for he that hireth muſt liue by it: againe, when the right & property is out of the churches hold: it may offer occaſion in time, that it ſhall bee taken away altogeather, and then there will be iniury to the church and oppreſſion of the people.

But the other is eueryevery way better: Firſt, it is eaſier to be done when there remaineth no more but the due examinations of the liuinges,The ready way to prouide for miniſters. and to redeeme the impropriations, and to augment the ſmaller liuings: it is without all ſuſpicion, for we ſee the practiſe, we know it to be good, and neede not feare any ill to come of it: and it is more iuſt, for then the whole liuing goeth that waye it ſhould, and the people wil the better away with it, partlye, becauſe they ſee it is beſtowed according to their mind, & partly, becauſe they are likely to be better vſed and the miniſter for his part ſhall be better able to keepe hoſpitality, & to feed the pore by the vſe of ſuch things as ariſe by that meanes, and that which is no ſmall commodity, hee may let out part or all, as hee ſhall find moſt for his eaſe, and beſt for his profite, and if there doe any benefit ariſe, this openeth the doore to him, wheras the other way penneth him in to one certaine place, bee it good or be it bad: and it may be, that his neighbours of good will for his eaſe, will gather his fruits for him, and p. 102he ſhal ſaue al, that by the other way ſhould be loſt, both to him and the people: Briefly, the more one looketh in the compariſon of theſe two wais, the more he ſhal perceiue, that the order nowe eſtabliſhed, is the beſt: if the impropriations were redeemed, and the ſmall liuinges increaſed. Now for the furthering of this good worke, there are two things to be added, which will helpe this matter very well:Vniting of ſmal liuings one help to the miniſtery Firſt, the vniting of diuers little pariſhes in one, a thing of common practiſe, out of which commeth this commodity, the liuing is increaſed: and by the number of the people, there are the more wiſe men to bee choſen for Eccleſiaſticall officers: and the church ſhal be the more cumly, and as eaſily taught in a maner.Benefices without cure may be ſome helpe, vnited to the ſmaller liuinges. The next is, there are certaine thinges ſcattered heere and there without cure, theſe may bee ioyned to helpe the ſmaller liuings.

Then as touching the impropriations: in ſome there is great eaſe,Reſigning and redeeming of Impropriations by Bb. & Cathedrall liuings wil be a good meanes to main taine a learned miniſtery. & in ſome there is no great hardnes. Thoſe which be in L. Bb. hands, and pertaining to theſe great churches, may eaſily be redeemed, if they be ſent from whence they came: there need be no charge: and I dout not, but the third part will bee thus redeemed: but if there bee any in the Queenes poſſeſſion, or of any temporall man, or in Colledges, the landes and houſes and other temporalities of the L.Bb. and other great Churches may be imployed to redeeme them: If the conſideration and account of theſe things, bee committed to wiſe and godly men, inhabiting in eueryevery ſhire,Ioſh. 18.4.Josh 18:4 vvhere ſuch liuings & churches are (as Ioſhua appointed 3. of eueryevery tribe to walke through y^e land to deſcribe it) it wil eaſily be found out, that y^e liuing of the miniſtery will be brought to a good and cumly meaſure: and that eueryevery Church would hauehave at the leaſt two hundreth markes p. 103yearly for the Paſtour and teacher, and ſome aboue two hundred pound,Tith wood me dowe, &c. might helpe in ſome places. which might alſo bee holpen in ſome places by tithe wood and medowe, and a greater ſiſe of paſture, where ſuch things are either not paied, or not according to the value of the tenths by much.

But here groweth a queſtion:The overplus of Bb. and Cathedral liuinges may pay firſt fruites, tenthes, ſubſidies &c. What if the L.Bb. and the Cathedrall churches come to more then will ſerue for the redeeming of the impropriations, or leſſe: If more, (as I am verely perſwaded it will) it may ſerue to recompence the wonted firſt fruites and tenthes, which were from theſe ſeas and churches, it may ſerue to erect in all ſhires, a Lecture of al ſciences, that ſuch as cannot put their ſonnes to Cambridge and Oxford, may hauehave them in the free Schooles, and after by thoſe Lectures brought through all arts: which would greatly increaſe learned and wiſe men in this land, and make a floriſhing time.

But if it ſhould fall ſhort of our reckoning,If Bb. and Cathedrall liuings be too little: a general beneuo lence will make it vp. there is yet an eaſie helpe, that is, a free beneuolence, and as it were an offring of all ſortes of people, yong and old through this land: this way hath the church of God beene verie much holpen and aduanced, and who is it that will not be willing to further ſuch a worthy, honorable and holy worke. In the time of Moſes,Exod. 36.5.6.Exod 36:5Exod 36:6 when hee built the Tabernacle, & made the altars & prieſts garments,Our for fathers liberal in giuinge to the Church. things of a wonderfull great charge, for gold, ſiluer, ſilke, pretious ſtones, incenſe and all coſtly thinges: The people came ſo willingly, and offered ſo plentifully, that there was to much, ſo that Moſes proclaimed that they ſhuld offer no more.2. Chron. 31.4.2 Chr 31:4 And when Hezekiah commaunded to bring a part to the prieſts and leuites, to incourage them in the lawe, they brought in ſuch abundance, that they did eat and were filled, and yet there remained plentie p. 104in heapes that they had made. And in Dauids time for the building of the Temple,1. Chron. 29.6.1 Chr 29:6 the Princes of the families, and the Princes of the tribes of Iſraell, and the captains of thouſandes, and of hundrethes, with the rulers of the kings worke, offered willingly, and gaue for the houſe of God, fiue thouſand talents of golde, and 10000. peeces, & 10000. talents of ſiluer, 18000. talents of braſſe, 100000. talents of Iron, and they with whom precious ſtones were found, gaue them to the treaſure: and the people reioyced when they offered willingly, for they offered willingly vntounto the Lord, with a perfect hart, and Dauid the king alſo reioyced with great ioy. And there is no reaſon to feare the contrary in our time, of which it is written: the people ſhall offer willingly in the time of the aſſembly.Pſalm. 110.3.Ps 110:3 I doubt not therefore of Gods merciemercy and bleſſing, if wee were as forward to go about ſuch a matter, with ſinglenes of heart, and ſimplicity of Godly wiſedome, and would follow after it with earneſtnes of zeale, and painfulnes of knowledge, forgetting our own eaſe, pleaſure, wealth and will, to preferre the true worſhip of God, the benefite of our ſoules, the glory of the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt, vntounto the praiſe of God the father, and this would bee the glory of our land. For thus ſpeaketh God vntounto his owne people, whom he honoureth with his word. Bring ye all the tithes into the ſtorehouſe,Mal. 3.10.Mal 3:10 that there may be meat in my houſe, and prooue me nowe herewith, if I will not open the windowes of heauen vntounto you, ſaith the Lord of hoaſtes, if I will not open the windows of heauen vntounto you, and power you out a bleſſing without meaſure, & I will rebuke the deuourer for your ſakes: and he ſhall not deſtroy the fruit of your ground, neither ſhall your vine be barren in the field, ſaith the Lord of hoaſts.

p. 105If I ſhould ſtay here, I might be accuſed either of vnjuſtice or cruelty, of vniuſtice, bicaus I hauehave but ſleightly ſpoken of her Majeſties due, in the firſt fruits, tenths, and ſubſidie of the Cleargy (as they call it) and of preſentations neuer a word. The firſt of theſe is the greateſt doubt: for if the common wealth ſtand in need (as it is likely in this troubleſome time) then there is good reaſon, that al men help without any priuiledge, in aſmuch as eueryevery one hath part of the benefit & comfort, otherwiſe, I am perſwaded that the royall and chriſtian heart of her Majeſty, would as willingly part from it, and eſpecially the firſt fruits and tenths, knowing howe they came in, as euer Dauid did,1. Chron. 29.3.4.1 Chr 29:31 Chr 29:4 who conſidering that it was the houſe of God and not man, and becauſe hee had a delight in the houſe of his God, beſides the great preparation which he made, of gold, braſſe, yron, ſiluer, & pretious ſtones of diuers ſorts for y^e ſanctuary, he gaue of his own, three thouſand talents of gold of Ophir, & ſeuen thouſand talents of fined ſiluer.

Firſt it may bee ſeene,Howe firſt fruites, tenthes & ſubſidies of Bb. & Cathedral churches may be payde notwithſtanding they be ſolde to redeme impropriations whether the ouerplus of the lands, after the impropriations bee redeemed, there be not ſufficient to repay the valu of ſo much, as the abundance of thoſe firſt fruits tenths and ſubſidies of L.Bb. and Cathedrall churches do amount, which if it do (as I verely thinke it will, and ſpare if thinges bee handled wiſely & with a perfect heart) thē there need no further dealing for recompence:1. by the overplus. & al other churches may be as in times paſt: but if not,2. by the foreſaid beneuolence. then the foreſaid beneuolence may ſtop the gap for the redeeming of the foreſaid impropriations, that the landes may remaine to this vſe of buying out of the ſaid firſt fruits, which wold be a great eaſe to the church, and the burden would not be great, at once to giuegive, eueryevery man a little of his ſuperfluity, to p. 106hauehave a continuall benefit for euer: Beſides that, the miniſterie would be better able, and willing at all times, if need be, to giuegive a beneuolence, to further all neceſſarie purpoſes to the eaſe of the common welth, as a recompence of this kindnes.

Beſides this if need be,3. By the renting thoſe churches which are increaſed. thoſe liuings that be increaſed by the reſtored impropriations, or otherwiſe: may be ſet vp to hier and greater firſt fruits, tenths and ſubſidies: and where three or fower, leſſe or more bee made one, they may followe the rate of ſo many, ſo that there need bee no diminiſhing of the treaſure of the land by this alteration, except it pleaſe her highnes, of her gracious bounty, vppon the triall of gods rare bleſſinges towardes her and her people, to mittigate ſome part, as a drink offering of a ſweet ſmelling ſacrifice vntounto almighty God: knowing that he can a thouſand maner of wais ſend it in againe by other means, with great intereſt and increaſe, as it is written.Prou. 11.25.Prov 11:25 The liberall perſon ſhall hauehave plenty, & he that watereth ſhall alſo hauehave raine. He that ſoweth ſparingly,2. Cor. 9.6.8.2 Cor 9:62 Cor 9:8 ſhall reape ſparingly, and he that ſoweth liberally ſhal reape alſo liberally, and God is able to make all graces abound towards you, that ye alwais hauing all ſufficiency in all thinges, may abound in euerie good worke.Prou. 10.22.Prov 10:22 The bleſſing of the Lorde, it maketh rich, and he doth ad no ſorrows with it.Deut. 28.1.3.5.6.7.12.Deut 28:1Deut 28:3Deut 28:5Deut 28:6Deut 28:7Deut 28:12 Againe, if thou ſhalt diligently obey the voyce of the Lord thy God, bleſſed ſhalt thou be in the city, and in the field, in thy basket, and in thy dough, whē thou commeſt in, & when thou goeſt out, the Lorde ſhall cauſe thine enemies that riſe againſt thee, to fall before thy face, they ſhall come out againſt thee one way, and flie before thee ſeuen waies, and the Lorde ſhall bring vponupon thee his good treaſure, euen the heauen to giuegive rain to thy land in due ſeaſon, p. 107and to bleſſe all the worke of thy hands, and thou ſhalt lend vntounto many nations, and ſhalt not borrow thy ſelf.

As touching Preſentations, it would be a very good and commendable thing,Of preſentations. if they were contained in the free gift of Prince and people, to bee reſigned to euerie church, which by the laws of Diſcipline, ought to hauehave their free choice of their miniſters. It will be no loſſe to the patrons, except a man wil ſtand vponupon a dignity. For eueryevery man holdeth it Symony, for patrons to take anie rewards or gaine, and men are ſworne againſt it. But if it ſhal not be thought good ſo to do, the order that now is of preſenting of able and ſufficient Clearkes may remain, ſo there be ſufficient caution that the Cannon of Chriſt be not broken, the order of his Diſcipline violated, nor the church wherto he ſhalbe preſented robbed of their right in election. Yet in all theſe things I prefer not mine owne iudgement or wiſedome,An humble caution of the Author. neither doe I ſet it down as the iudgement of al or many of them that ſeeke the reformation: but as I hauehave often ſayd, I ſubmit this my priuate motion, to your honorable wiſedomes, and to all godly learned men, that if a better and eaſier way may be found, this may bee reiected, onelyonly I craue that the thinges and my reaſons, firſt and laſt, may bee rightly waighed, and that if a better cannot bee found, this may be wiſely conſidered and not neglected.

Now in the ſecond place it were cruelty (ſaith ſom) to put down theſe ſpirituall lords, and great men of the church, and to turne them into ſmall liuings, but eſpecially to turne out the vnfitte men: it were pittie to ſee them, their wiues and their children to be put to miſery and begging. If a man ſhould make compariſon with their doinges, what pitty eought there to bee ſhewed vponupon them, which iuſtly for breaking Gods commandements p. 108are turned out, when there is no pitty ſhewed to ſuch as ſtande to Gods trueth,Mat. 25.6.7.12.13.Matt 25:6Matt 25:7Matt 25:12Matt 25:13 and breake onelyonly the traditions of men:1. Cor. 9.16.1 Cor 9:16 To the one, the ſcripture pronounceth woe, and therefore why ſhould they be pittied?Mat. 15.9.Matt 15:9 to the other, the ſcripture ioyneth in league as it were, pronouncing vntounto thē mercy, & ſaith with them againſt the other. In vaine doe you worſhip God, teaching for doctrine the traditions of men, why ſhould not they be pittied?

As touching the L.Bb. and great clergy men, which hauehave ſoe laden themſelues with thicke claye, that they hauehave much adoe to get vp in the pulpit of God:Haback. 2.6. doe they not know that it is their duty, that they may pleaſe him who hath choſen them to bee his ſouldiars, not to intangle themſelues with the affairs of this life,2. Tim. 2.4.2 Tim 2:4 and that they ought for the peace and wealth of the church, to followe the example of their Lord and Maiſter Chriſt Ieſus and to hauehave his minde in them, who being God, made him ſelfe of no reputation and tooke vppon him the forme of a ſeruant,Philip. 2.5.Phil 2:5 and was made like vntounto men, and was found in ſhape as a man, and humbled himſelfe & became obedient vntounto death, euen the death of the croſſe,2. Cor. 8.9.2 Cor 8:9 & he being rich became poore that wee through his pouerty might be made riche: then is it a ſmal matter for them to leaue their thouſands,The Bb. & Cathedral prelats, if they be fit, may be applied to ſome particuler churches of good liuing. and bee content with their hundrethes: and ſurely I hope ſo of the men that they wil: for God forbid that they ſhoulde be of that curſed crue of vnbeleeuers: who they knowe louelove the praiſe of men more then of God: & ſeeking honour one of an other,Ioh. 5.44.John 5:44 ſeeke not the honour that commeth of God alone: or of thoſe vnfaithful ſtewardes, which ſeck their owne,Philip. 2.21. cap. 3.19.20.Phil 2:21 and not that which is Chriſt Ieſus, or of thoſe damnable bellye gods: whoſe glory is to their p. 109ſhame, and mind earthly things, when all the true Miniſters hauehave their conuerſation in heauen.

As for the other, which by no meanes can be fitted to bee workemen, and to labour in Gods building and husbandry: although they are worthie of nothing for their preſumption and raſh entring where they ſhould not,Mat. 5.13.Matt 5:13 but as vnſauery ſalt to be caſt forth and trode vnderunder foot of men, eſpecially ſuch vnthrifts, as beeing broken from liuing by their trades, or are thruſt out of their vntimely occupation of a ſeruiture, do chooſe as their refuge, and for an eaſie life to be in the miniſtery:2. Cor. 13.10.2 Cor 13:10 yet becauſe the Church is to correct her children to edification and not deſtruction: and the lawe of charity wiſheth to do good vntounto al men, yea vntounto them that hauehave done vsus euill,Vnable miniſters being diſplaced may hauehave ſome ſtocke: or a ſtipende for their life time. and it may pleaſe God by this meanes to giuegive them repentaunce, it may bee a verie good thing, that theſe hauehave a ſtipend for their life time, or ſom ſtock to helpe them that are not able to get their liuing otherwiſe by their trades: and eſpecially ſuch as beeing verie honeſt men at the beginning of her Maieſties raigne, were drawen in of ſimplicity, not knowing the great burden of the calling: onelyonly heerein they hauehave greatlie offended, that through idlenes they hauehave not, in al this time, attained to any knowledge fit for that calling, and they hauehave bene diuers waies admoniſhed, yet ſome may be one degree more charitably thoght of, becauſe they hauehave ſo ſmall liuing, that they are driuen to labour and care, to make it holde out, beeing burdened with verie many and too heauy paiments.

And in this point, the honorable and noble care of King Henry the eight, hath purchaſed his due praiſe in giuing ſtipendes or penſions, for the life time of them that were turned out of the Abbies and Monaſteries p. 110which were no more worthy to bee ſuffered in a common welth, then theſe L.Bb. and vnpreching prelacie: & it wil be found a better thing & eſier for the church, a little while to beare the burden of theſe mens penſions, or ſtockes, then to ſuffer the Church to be damnified by them for euer: for wee ſee that it is a broode of ſuch a nature that will hardly be weeded out, except this good way of turning them out togither be taken in hand: and while men will looke to doe it by little and little, a time wilfal out, that they wil wax too ſtrong: & oppreſſe the good miniſters as the Cananites did Iſrael vnderunder Iabin twenty yeeres.Iudg. 4.1.2.Judg 4:1Judg 4:2 Delay is dangerous, and curſed is hee that doth the worke of the Lord looſely or negligently.

But what ſhould I run through eueryevery thing: I knowe your honorable wiſedomes can doe a great deal more ſufficiently in the conſideration, ſearching, & applying, of eueryevery thing to his proper place, that God hath raiſed vp at your hands, very notable men which are endued with giftes:Exod. 35.30.34.Exod 35:30Exod 35:34 which like vntounto Bezaleel and Aholiab are filled with an excellent ſpirit of wiſedome and vnderſtanding, and knowledg in al the worke of God, and to teach other likewiſe. Therefore as this is eueryevery way the fitteſt time for ſuch a holy and honorable purpoſe, ſo I thought I was in conſcience to make known, that which hath diuerſly and many times bene aduiſed of in my minde, as it were by an humble motion to bring to your remembraunce, that which I hope you cannot be ignorant of: and in ſome ſorte to enter you in that, which I truſt you are willing and forward vntounto, and to drawe that out with a coal, as it were rudly, which you by good aduiſe and mature judgment, may bring forth & make perfect with great profit, beuty and glory. And I referre p. 111al that I hauehave done, vntounto your honorable wiſe and godly cenſure, that if I hauehave ſwarued any thing from the word of God, or good reaſon agreing to the ſame, it might be reiected, proteſting that I meddle not with any mans perſon, but with the cauſe, and vnderſtand & meane when I reprehende ſome mens doinges in the naming of the perſons, onelyonly by the title of their place, the thing which is the ground and occaſion of ſuch doings: which being taken away, I ſuppoſe the euil of ſuch perſons wilbe purged. And thus in all humbleneſſe, deſiring your Honours, and all wiſe menne, to conſider in the feare of God of eueryevery thing, without prejudice to the truth, or affection to men or times: from my very ſoule I commend you to the tuition and gouerment of almighty God, and whome from the bottome of my heart, in feare and trembling, I doe pray and beſeech, to powre downe the ritches of his graces vppon vsus all, in al wiſedome and ſpiritual vnderſtanding, that wee may walke worthy of the Lord, and pleaſe him in all things, and namely vponupon his Annointed and gratious handmayde, Elizabeth our deare Soueraigne Lady & Queene, to bleſſe her with longe dayes, and good among vsus, with daylie increaſe of honour before God & men, and joy of heart in the holy Ghoſt: and that we al which are vnderunder her, may worſhip our true and euerlaſting God, according to his worde: in truth, ſincerity and vprightnes, and liue in al faithful duty to her Majeſtie, and godly louelove one with another, being bleſſed with peace wealth and godlines, from generation to generation, through Ieſus Chriſt our Sauiour, to whome with the Father and the holy ſpirit, one God, be al honour & glory for euer AMEN.

End of the text · John Penry, A Humble Motion (1590)