A Discourse of the Religion of England, Section 21 – Section 23
SECT. XXI. Secondly, To the Interest of the Church and Clergy.
IN the next place, let this Comprehensive state be examined, with respect to the Interest of the Church of England. The Doctrine of Faith and Sacraments by Law established, is heartily received by the Non-conformists, and it is like to be the Basis of their standing in England, as long as Protestant Religion stands. How far they approve Episcopacy and Liturgy, hath been above declared. Their dissent is in some parts of Divine Worship (as they say) not appointed of God, but devised by men; also in the frame of the English Hierarchy, as it differs from the Ancient Episcopacy; and they avow they are under no obligation to extirpate or impeach that ancient Form. The Ministers of this Perswasion are Godly and Learned, able and apt to teach the people; and no small part of the Congregations in England feel the loss of them. Doth the Lord of the Harvest command that such Labourers be thrust out of his Service? And will the chief Shepherd at his appearing justifie this usage of his faithful Servants?
The Bishops and dignified Clergy, and those of their Perswasion, have the advantage of Law and Power. But can they believe that the Church of God in these Nations, is terminated in them alone? It is hoped that Christ hath a larger Interest in these Realms. Shall it be said of the English Prelacy, That it cannot stand without the ejection of Thousands of Orthodox, Pious Ministers? Or that it dreads a general diffusion of knowledg in the people? Or that this is a Maxime thereof, No Ceremony, no Bishop; as if the Bishop's work were at an end, and his office of no force, if Ceremonies were left indifferent? Is an Ecclesiastical Government, that pleads Apostolical Institution, and Universal reception, so weak and feeble, that godly and peaceable men, preaching only the indubitable truths of Christianity, would undermine it? If any should preach what is Schismatical and Seditious, they are liable to Restraints and Censures, according to their demerits. Why will the established Clergy refuse their Brethren, and set them at such a distance? Is it their honour, strength, or safety, that such men should be numbred among their opposites?
The intrinsick and permanent State of Prelacy, is not advanced by these present Rigors. It is not more rooted in the hearts of people, nor are many gained over that would stick close to it in a time of tryal. The dread, that is of its Censures, ariseth from the subsequent temporal Penalties. And however it be, its Chariot drives but heavily. It cannot measure its strength by the number of Conformists, among whom there are many that are a reproach unto it, and many that are very indifferent men; and there are the Latitudinarians, that are accounted but luke-warm Conformists; and many that submit, may not like the imposing; and men may think divers Injunctions (that are not simply unlawful) to be burdensome and inconvenient, and would be glad to shake off the yoke. A great Prelate before the late Warrs, is reported to say, That the Conforming Puritan was the Devil of the Times. And of those that zealously affect the established Order, there are not a few that disgust the behaviour of Church-men, and are ready to upbraid them with the known moderation of many whom they have ejected; yea, the more considerate Sons of the Church, do observe and bewail such dangerous miscarriages by Simony, Pluralities, Non-residency, and Profaneness, as threaten a second downfall. The world takes notice what men are cast out; and what is the condition of multitudes that are retained in the Service of the Church. There are a sort of men of great Worth and Reputation in the several Orders of this Kingdom, that indeed affect Episcopacy, but see the inconvenience and danger of this Severity, and would have things carried with Discretion and Equity, and are ready to do good offices for the depressed Party. If the Affairs of the Commonwealth should go backwards, can the Clergy alone be at rest in their Honour, Power and Wealth? Though of later times it hath been said, No Bishop, no King; yet it is not evident, That the present frame of Prelacy hath an immutable Interest in the Regal Name and Power.
The Religion of any State will sink, if it be not held up in its venerable Estimation among the people; and it cannot be long held in reverence, if it hath neither the reality, nor appearance of Devotion and Sanctity. That which is divested of the Disguises and Impostures of Romish Superstition, had need to be spirited with Life and Power. Minds touch'd with Devotion, will look either to the way of true and real Godliness, or to the Popish Bodily Exercise. It is here sincerely wish't, That the Clergy may hold their state in safety and honour; That they may never be laid low for want of meet Revenue or Dignity; That they may always preserve a reverend esteem of their Persons and Office. But then the Bishops must not be the Head of such Ministers, as for ignorance and lewdness are a scandal and scorn to their Neighbours; nor of such as incourage profaneness, and deprave seriousness and diligence in Religion and strictness of life, under the scandal of Puritanism, Fanaticism, or such like names of reproach. They must so manage their Government, that under it the sound knowledg of God may encrease through the Land; that holiness and righteousness may flourish; that their influence may dispose men to do those things that are honest, and pure, and comely, and vertuous, and praise-worthy. To this may be added the setling of the Church in a due extent, that it may incompass so much as may enable it to vanquish whatsoever is inconsistent with it; and to keep within compass whatsoever may be tollerated under it.
The great danger and damage which may be dreaded to ensue this moderation, (which nevertheless may possibly not ensue it) is but the cutting off some Luxuriances from some in the Highest Order; or the sharing among many what was ingrossed by a few. And the Church doth not change for the worse, if some diminution of greatness in a very few persons makes way for a more general amplitude, stability and peace; and the Clergy enjoy an Estate of Power, Plenty and Honour, with less envy and hazard of undermining.
SECT. XXII. Thirdly, To the Interest of the Nobility and Gentry.
THere is another Interest, that of the Nobility and Gentry, which is worthy of regard in this Inquiry. The Latitude and Liberty here discoursed, is thought to give too great advantage to the Citizens and the Commonalty; as also to make all sorts more knowing, and less servile; and consequently, less obsequious to the wills of great men. And the doubt is, whether the Nobles and Gentlemen of England can maintain their Authority and Splendor, with the Freedom of Citizens and the common people. Surely in the times of their Ancestors they were in as much splendor and power, as they have been in the memory of this Age; and yet in those times both Citizens and Yeomanry were rich and free, brave and worthy in their own rank. And it may be the higher Degrees in England would never be so advanced, as some have conceited, if the meaner sort were reduced to the condition of the French Peasantry. For there is another Spirit in the English People, which peradventure may not be vanquished at less charges then dissipation of the strength and riches, and all the glory of this Land▪ Besides, Trade which is the Life of England, must be managed by a people not of a slavish and sordid condition. And in a Trading Nation, things do so pass to and fro, and run from one hand to another, that New Men by their Wealth will be always getting up into the rank of Gentlemen, and former Gentile Families will be decaying. There is a Liberty for every Native to purchase Lands; and though some of our Tenures began in the Vassalage of meaner men to great ones, yet they are now by custom of later Ages, become so far free, that they are fit for any ingenuous persons to take them up. Moreover, the English Gentry are Commons, according to the main frame of this Polity; and that great Convention where they meet in their chiefest Power, is the Commons House of Parliament, in which they represent the universality of the Commons of all Counties, and Cities, and Burroughs: And therefore the free Estate of the Commons, is the true Interest of Gentlemen. And how groundless and fruitless is all evil emulation between the Gentry and Citizens, or Traders! For they mutually uphold each other, or both must fall to the ground. Many Gentile Families are the Off-spring of former Citizens; and many Citizens are the sons of Gentlemen. And when the Estates of ancient Gentry are sinking, their Marriage with Citizens is an ordinary means of underpropping them. And if Traders fail, the Revenue of the Gentry must fail also; whose Lands did never bear that Price, nor yeeld that Annual Rent that of late they have done, till the Nation became great in Foreign Trade. If emulation of Gallantry be any matter of grudg between them, the Citizens may leave the Gentry to their own Garbs, and retain a grave habit to themselves, in which they may sufficiently express their Wealth, as their Predecessors did before them. For it is generous so to do. And as for the Nobility and Gentry, their Honour lyes in upholding their Families, and bearing sway in their Countries; and they do the one by discreet and liberal Frugality; and the other by having and using greater Abilities then the vulgar, for their Countries Service.
SECT. XXIII. The general Security that comes by this Latitude.
THE chief Prejudices have been considered; and these three Important Interests being known aright, are found not to oppose, but to require this Latitude of Religion. Furthermore, our common Security and Freedom, earnestly perswades it: For the Severities of Law against Dissenters, may at length come home to them or theirs, who take themselves to be far out of the reach thereof. And the inforcing of those Penalties may need such ways and means, as may trouble them who are tender of the Lawful Rights and Liberties of English-men. But the Common Peace being once firmly setled in this Comprehensive state, all Necessity of Powers and Proceedings extraordinary, will disappear, and vanish away.
Finally, The more Pacifick we are at home, the more Powerful and Formidable shall we be abroad. But our Breaches are too well known, and make little for our Reputation or Advantage in Foreign parts. What can it avail, to disturb a People that would settle in peace, and whose Peace is accommodated to the Publick Weal, and bound up together with it? It must needs be fruitless and unfortunate, and cause perplexities and miscarriages in the chiefest Affairs of State. It is a saying of the wisest of Kings, He that troubles his own House, shall inherit the wind.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Corbet, A Discourse of the Religion of England (1667)