A Case Concerning the Buying of Bishops Land, Title page – To the Parliament
A CASE, Concerning The Buying of BISHOPS LANDS with, the Lawfulneſs thereof.
AND The Difference between the Contractors for ſale of thoſe Lands, and the Corporation of VVells.
(Ordered, Anno. 1650. to be Reported to the then PARLIAMENT) With the Neceſſity thereof, ſince fallen upon Dr. BURGES.
Auguſt. ad fratres in Eremo. Ser. 52.
Duae ſunt res Conſcientia & Fama. Conſcientia neceſſaria eſt tibi; Fama, proximo tuo. Qui fidens Conſcientiae ſuae, negligit famam Crudelis eſt.
LONDON, Printed in the year of our Lord, 1659.
To the PARLIAMENT of ENGLAND.
THis Nation hath great cauſe to bleſs the God of our liues for ever, who hath ſo gratiouſly kept off the horrid Diſtractions and Confuſions feared by moſt, upon the Death of the Late Lord Protector: and for that he hath alſo put it into the heart of his Preſent Highneſs (Gentis Anglicanae nunc deliciarum) ſo ſeaſonably to Call You together, in the antient way, as a free Parliament, for ſetling this Church and Common Wealth, in Truth, Peace, and Righteouſneſs, according to Law.
Your main Work is Settlement, as Healers of the Breaches. And our Wounds call for Lenitives, not Corroſives. Now is the time to ſhew the depth of Wiſdome, not height of Animoſity; to ſeek peace and purſue it, not to be for warr: and, to let your moderation to be known to all men.
You cannot be ignorant that there ever have been, and will be many Quack-Salving ſpirits, who fancying to themſelves new Models of Government for ſiniſter ends, think You to be very weak if You differ from them. Such will never be for any ſettlement at all; but, run up and down both City and Country, like ſo many Ignes fatui, to inveagle well-meaning men (ignorant of their devices) to ſubſcribe their Factious Petitions. Wherein, under pretence of the Publick, they deſigne to make You, firſt, to hold the ſtirrup; and then to be their footſtool, to get themſelves into the ſaddle.
Little do thoſe turbulent Polypragmatiſts know of what ſpirit they are: much leſs do they conſider that Ignatius Loyola ever lies at the bottome of all thoſe Diviſions which their ſeditious zeal would kindle among You. But I truſt Your Wiſdome will timely ſee through ſuch ſelf-ended Projects, and reſolutely reject ſuch deſtructive Endevours to Divide You, that they might reign.
If Your Counſels miſcarry: and, in ſtead of quenching old fires, new flames break out; Woe, woe to this Nation. For that, in all likelihood, (unleſs men will tempt God to work Miracles as the Devil did Chriſt, to command Bread out of Stones) this will devour Us. And then, who ſhall ſave You? I beſeech You (therefore) to mark thoſe that cauſe Diviſions and offences, and avoid them. For they that are ſuch, ſerve not the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, but their own belly; and, by good words, and fair ſpeeches, deceive the hearts of the ſimple.
Pardon this boldneſs in him that hath, by the ſpace of 40 years, been a diligent Obſerver of, and a faithfull ſervant to Parliaments, ſo farr as they ſeriouſly ſought the Publick Good; and ſo reſolveth to be to You. Upon which account, he humbly maketh this Addreſs: The occaſion, this.
Many, and loud have been the Clamors againſt the late long Parliament, for ſeiſing, and ſelling the Lands of Biſhops, and other Cathedral men. For this, They, their Agents, and all purchaſers are proclaimed guilty of that odious ſin of Sacriledge; and none more than this Your ſervant. Hereupon, he hath often been preſſed to Vindicate the Parliament, and thereby to right himſelf, who hath long felt the ſcourge of tongues, and been made to drink the gaul of Pens, for purchaſing ſome of thoſe Lands; and, for his juſt endeavours to poſſeſs what he hath paid for, by ſome moſt unjuſtly detained from him, in the judgments of the honourable, firſt, the Committe of Parliament; and after, the Commiſſioners, for Removing Obſtructions in the ſale of thoſe Lands. Which laſt (being by ſpecial Act of Parliament impoured thereunto) have Heard and Determined the ſame: but, to no purpoſe, if Contempt may prevail.
Both theſe, are here faithfully ſpread before You; not by way of Complaint, but of Account: You being the moſt proper Patrons of the Vindication of a Parliament; and beſt able to judge both of their frauds that have abuſed the State; and, of their Contumacy who being, upon a full Hearing, Ordered to Reconvey what they have fraudulently gotten into their Conveyance, refuſe to obey any Orders whatſoever. And threaten to bring all before You; not as hoping to get any Orders made againſt them reverſed; but, as promiſing to themſelves a lodging of the Cauſe once more in a Committee, thereby to prevent all further proceedings againſt them elſewhere.
Now, the Good Lord make You all, men that have underſtanding of the times, to know what Iſrael ought to do: And, ſo temper Your ſpirits, and govern Your Councels, that You may be ſuch a Bleſſing to this Nation, as that the Children yet Unborn may call You Bleſſed. This is, and ſhall be the daily prayer of him, that (without art or private ends) is,
Feb. 9. 1658—9. Your moſt humble and real ſervant Cornelius Burges.