A Century of Sermons, Life · Floating text 1
May it pleaſe you, Mr. Speaker, and this Honourable Houſe:
OƲr expectations to be heard by Council in this great Cauſe, hath brought us unto you moſt unprepared to deliver that which might be utter'd upon ſo copious Subject. Yet ſince we have that favour from this Honourable Houſe, that we may be heard, or ſome one of us in our own perſons, ſomewhat ſhall be offered to your prudent conſiderations, by the meaneſt and moſt unpractiſed in pleading and forenſecal cauſes of all thoſe that attend you this day. The unexpectedneſs to be thus employed (it was impoſed upon me but yeſterday afternoon, as my Brethren know) is joyned with another diſadvantage, that we have not heard upon what crimes or offences of the Deans and Chapters ſo great a Patrimony as they enjoy is called in queſtion, that we might purge our ſelves of ſuch imputations; but only reports that fly abroad have arrived at our ears, that Cathedral and Collegiate Churches with their Chapters are accounted by ſome to be of no uſe and convenience. I aim at perſpicuity, and therefore I will caſt what I have to ſay into as clear a method as I am able. The uſe and convenience of Deans and Chapters I reduce unto two heads, quoad res, quoad perſonas, firſt in regard of ſome things of great moment; ſecondly in regard of divers perſons, whom I know the Juſtice of this Honourable Houſe will take into conſideration.
And firſt ſince God hath called his Houſe the Houſe of Prayer, I ſhall keep a right order, without derogation to any thing that follows, to preſent them unto you as very convenient for the ſervice of Prayer, which is offered up to God in them daily, both in his Morning and in his Evening Sacrifice. In the antient Primitive Church (as many learned Gentlemen in this Honourable Houſe do know, and as my Brethren that aſſiſt me can atteſt unto it) the Chriſtians did every day meet at Prayers, and for the moſt part at the Bleſſed Sacrament, if perſecution did not diſtract them. Then it is fit in a well-govern'd Church that there ſhould be ſome places in imitation of them, where daily Thanksgivings and Supplications ſhould be made unto God. And whereas it cannot be ſuppoſed, but that divers remiſs Chriſtians do neglect oftentimes their daily duty of Prayer, and ſome are forced to omit that length to which they would produce their Prayer by their multitude of buſineſs, it is fit that there ſhould be a publick duty of Prayer in ſome principal places, where many are gathered together to ſupply the defects that are committed by private men. And though I am ſure the publick Duty of Prayer ſhall find great acceptance and approbation before ſo Chriſtian an Auditory, yet I confeſs I have heard abroad, that the Service of Cathedral Churches gives offence to divers for the ſuperexquiſiteneſs of the Muſick, eſpecially in late years, ſo that it is not edifying nor intelligible to the hearers. For this Objection in part, I will confeſs it is ſtrong and forcible, in part I will mollifie it. It is a juſt complaint, Mr. Speaker, and we humbly deſire the aſſiſtance of this Honourable Houſe for the reformation of it, that Cathedral Muſick for a great part of it ſerves rather to tickle the ear, than to affect the heart with godlineſs; and that which ſhould be intended for devotion, vaniſheth away into quavers and air: we heartily wiſh the amendment of it, and that it were reduced to the form which Athanaſius commends, ut legentibus ſint quàm cantantibus ſimiliores. But though theſe fractions, and affected exquiſiteneſs be laid aſide, yet the ſolemn Praiſe of God in Church Muſick hath ever been accounted pious and laudable; yea even that which is compounded with ſome art and elegancy; for St. Paul ſpeaks as if he had newly come from the Quire of Aſaph, requiring us to praiſe God in Pſalms and Hymns and ſpiritual Songs. Surely he would not have expreſt himſelf in ſuch variety of phraſe, I think, if he had not approved variety of Muſick in the Service of the Lord. Some will ſay per adventure, What if this daily duty of making Prayers to God were intermitted in Cathedral Churches? might it not be ſupplied in other Parochial Churches? I have but thus much to ſay to this objection. Prayer is the Incenſe which aſcends up to heaven, and brings down God's bleſſing upon us, for fourſcore and two years without interruption God hath continued true Religion among us, and bleſſed this Kingdom with peace and proſperity, and not without the daily aſſiſtance of the Prayers of Cathedral Churches; How the Lord will diſpoſe of us if thoſe places be ſilenced touching the frequency of that holy duty, it is only in the foreknowledg of God, and no man can gueſs it.
Secondly, I will proceed to the other Wing of the Cherubin, the great power of God to work our converſion and ſalvation, which is Preaching; and therein the uſe and convenience of Cathedral and Collegiat Churches hath been, and, we hope, may continue ſo, to be very great. May it pleaſe you Mr. Speaker, and this Honourable Houſe; it muſt be confeſſed that in the beginning of the Reformation under Queen Elizabeth of bleſſed memory, many of our Parochial Churches were ſupplied with men of ſlight and eaſie parts; but eſpecial care was taken, that in our Cathedral Churches, to which great concourſes did reſort, men of very able parts were planted to preach both on the Lords day, and on ſome week day, as appears by Dr. Alley, afterwards Biſhop of Exeter, who preached ſuch learned Sermons in the Church of St. Pauls, that he hath left unto us good matter to collect out of him even to this day. And give me leave, Mr. Speaker, to take occaſion from hence to refel that ſlander which ſome have caſt out, that Lecture-preachers are a new Corporation, Ʋpſtarts, and ſuch other words of obloquy. Sir, this is nothing but ignorance and malice; for as the local Statutes of all or the moſt Cathedral Churches do require Lecture-Sermons on the Week-dayes, ſo from the beginning of Reformation they have been read in them by very able Divines. And it is our humble ſuit, Mr. Speaker, unto this Honourable Houſe, that if our local Statutes have not laid enough upon us in the godly and profitable performance of Preaching, that by the aſſiſtance of this Honourable Houſe more may be exacted; particularly that two Sermons may be preached in every Cathedral and Collegiate Church upon the Lords day, and one at the leaſt on the Week-days. Our motion comes from this conſideration, that the Divines, for the moſt part, are ſtudied and able men to perform them; and thoſe Churches are uſually ſupplied with large and copious Libraries, and the Monuments of Antiquity, Councils, Fathers, Modern Authors, Schoolmen, Caſuiſts, and many Books muſt be turn'd over by him that will utter that which ſhould endure the teſt, and convince gainſayers.
In the third place, Mr. Speaker, I ſhall name that whoſe uſe and conveniency is ſo nearly and irrefragably concern'd by the proſperity of Cathedral and Collegiat Churches, that it is as palpable as if you felt it with your hand; and that's the advancement and encouragement of Learning, a benefit of that conſideration, that I am aſſured it doth deeply enter into the thoughts of this Honourable Houſe. And becauſe our years aſcend up by degrees, therefore I will follow this ſpeculation through three of thoſe aſcenſions. Firſt, touching our puny years in Grammar Schools. Secondly, touching young Students in the Ʋniverſities that enter into their firſt courſe of Divinity. Thirdly, touching grave Divines of great proficiency, who maintain the cauſe of true Religion by their learned Pen: And firſt out principal Grammar Schools in the Kingdom are maintained by the charity of thoſe Churches, the care and diſcipline of them is ſet forward by their overſight, fit Maſters are provided for them, and their method in teaching frequently examin'd: and great cauſe for it; for School-Maſters of late are grown ſo fanciful, inducing new Methods and Compendiums of teaching, which tend to nothing but loſs of time and ignorance; ſo that it is not enough to nominate Governors to look unto them once in a twelve-month, or every half year, but there muſt be care without intemiſſion to ſee that they ſwerve not; as likewiſe for this uſe, that the moſt deſerving Scholars be tranſplanted to the Ʋniverſities by their examination and choice: ſo that theſe young Seminaries of Learning depend upon them, and would come to lamentable decay, if they had not ſuch Governors.
For the next rank of young Students that are to begin the ſtudy of Divinity, it muſt be confeſſed by all men that are converſant in the general experience of the world, that they will be far more induſtrious when they ſee rewards prepared which may recompence the coſts which they put their friends to in their education, and make them ſome recompence for their great labours. It is repreſented before them how many tedious dayes and nights they muſt devour prolix Authors that are ſet before them; had they not need of encouragement to undergo it? and where there is not a deſirable Prize to run for, who will toil himſelf much to contend for it? Upon the fear and jealouſie that theſe retributions of labour ſhould be taken away from induſtrious Students, the Ʋniverſities of the Realm do feel a languor and a pining away already in both their bodies. In a populous Colledge, I mean Trinity Colledge in Cambridge, wherein 70 or 80 Students were admitted communibus annis, I have heard by two Witneſſes of that Society, that not above ſix were admitted from Allhalland-day to Faſter Eeve. Let any man ask the Booksellers of Pauls Church-yard and Little-Britain, if their Books, (I mean grave and learned Authors) do not lie upon their hand, and are not ſailable. There is a timorous imagination abroad, as if we were ſhutting up learning in a Caſe, and laying it quite aſide. Mr. Speaker, if the bare threatning make ſuch a ſtop in all kind of literature, what would it work if the blow were given. To this end both the Univerſities have ſent up their humble Petitions to this Honourable Houſe, which we greatly deſire may graciouſly be admitted.
The third Rank are thoſe that are the Chariots and Horſemen of Iſrael, the Champions of Chriſts Cauſe againſt the Adverſary by their learned Pen: And thoſe that have left us their excellent labours in this kind, excepting ſome few, have either been the Profeſſors and Commorants in the two Univerſities, or ſuch as have had Preferments in Colledgiat and Cathedral Churches, as I am able to ſhew by a Catalogue of their Names and Works. For ſuch, and none but ſuch, are furniſhed with beſt opportunity to write Books for the defence of our Religion. For as in the Univerſities the Society of many learned men may be had for adviſe and diſcourſe; ſo when we depart from them to live abroad, we find ſmall Academies in the company of many grounded Scholars in thoſe Foundations; and it is diſcourſe that ripens learning as the ſpark of fire is ſtruck out between the Flint and the Steel. There likewiſe we have copious and well furniſhed Libraries to peruſe, learned Authors of all kinds, which muſt be conſulted in great cauſes: And they that have ſuch great buſineſs in their heads, it is needful that they have otium literarium, a retirement to their ſtudies, before they can bring that forth which will powerfully convince gainſayers.
In the fourth place, Mr. Speaker and this Honourable Houſe, I ſhall alledge that which is the genuine and proper uſe of Cathedral Churches, and for which they were primarily inſtituted; that is, that the Deans and Chapters ſhould be the Council of the Biſhop, to aſſiſt him in his Juriſdiction and greateſt Cenſures, if any thing be amiſs either in the Doctrine, or in the Manners of the Clergie. Some of our Reverend Brethren have complained unto you, that our Biſhops have for many years uſurped ſole Juriſdiction to themſelves, and to their own Conſiſtory, and have diſuſed the Presbyters from concurring with them. I am not He that can aſſoil this Objection, nor will I excuſe this omiſſion, as if it were not contrary to the beſt antiquity. It is not to be denied that Ignatius, Cyprian, Hierom, Auſtin, and others have required that ſome grave and diſcreet Presbyter ſhould be Senatus Epiſcopi, and be Adviſers with him in his Conſiſtory. And as by negligence it hath been diſuſed, ſo if it be eſtabliſhed in the right form again, it will give great ſatisfaction to the Church of God. But it ſeemeth ſtrange to me, that when this reformation is called for, the Corporations of Deans and Chapters ſhould be cried down, who were employed in this work by very antient Inſtitution. What Canoniſt is there that doth not refer us unto them for this ſervice eſpecially. If it be replied that ſome able and conſcionable Miniſters may be aſſumed to aſſiſt the Biſhop in his Juriſdiction, and in his Ordination out of ſeveral Pariſhes in his Dioceſs, I anſwer, that it is very likely that by this courſe the ſole Juriſdiction would fall into the Biſhops hands again: for when Miniſters ſhall be called unto this aſſiſtance, and have nothing but their travail, and their performance of juſtice for their labour, they will ſoon grow weary of it, whereas the Deans and Chapters do owe that duty to this Office, that they have rewards for taking that pains, and ſtand under the forfeiture of their places by the prime intent of their Foundations, if they be not helpful in it. If therefore we deſire that Epiſcopal Juriſdiction may be reduced from the ſole Government of one man to a plurality of Aſſiſtants, this is the native, the proper, the ſure way to bring it to paſs.
The laſt uſe of Deans and Chapters touching things of great moment is, that the Structures themſelves ſhould ſpeak for the Structures; not that I would draw your eyes only to behold the goodly Fabricks, as the Diſciples remembred our Saviour, Maſter what manner of ſtones are theſe? but to put you in remembrance, Mr. Speaker, that after the firſt foundations of Chriſtianity were laid in this Kingdom, the firſt Monuments of Piety that were built in this Kingdom were Cathedral Churches; for Parochial Churches are their Minors and Nephews, and ſucceeded after them. What ill preſage therefore were this to Religion? I will not utter it, that thoſe Churches, which were the firſt harbors of Chriſtian Religion, ſhould in this Age ſuffer in thoſe perſons who are intruſted with their reparation, and have the care and cuſtody of them.
And thus, may it pleaſe you, Mr. Speaker and this Honourable Houſe, I have delivered with as much brevity as I could the great uſe and conveniency of Cathedral and Collegiate Churches in things of great avail and moment; for Prayer and Preaching, and Advancement of Learning and Eccleſiaſtical Government, and the Structures of the Churches themſelves. Divers perſons alſo I have to name that are concerned in their welfare; and I know that the great and Honourable Juſtice of this Houſe will take into conſideration the condition of the meaneſt Subject of this Realm, much more of ſo many.
Becauſe I will aſcend up by degrees, let me firſt offer unto you, Mr. Speaker, the multitudes of Officers that have their maintenance, and no other livelihood but by them, ſome one Cathedral Church having three hundred perſons and more depending upon it, as Singing-men, Choriſters, Alms-men, School-Maſters and their Scholars, with ſundry other Miniſters that attend the Church, and the Revenues of it, ſo that the total number will ariſe to many thouſands. And give me leave, I beſeech you, to ſpeak thus much for the Quire-men and their faculty of Muſick, that they maintain a Science which is in no ſmall requeſt with divers worthy Gentlemen. A Civil Commonwealth delights in ſofter Muſick than in Drums and Trumpets. And by the Education of Choriſters from their childhood in that faculty you have many Muſicians that come to great perfection in that skill; few others that prove to be better than Minſtrils and Fidlers. And thoſe being brought up to no other Education, by the diſſolution of Deans and Chapters, you ſhall not onelyonly reduce them to the utmoſt of poverty, but to the greateſt ſnare of the Devil, and the ground wherein he ſows the ſeeds of all tentations to unavoidable idleneſs, ſince they are not trained up in any other employment.
In the next order, Mr. Speaker, I move this Honourable Houſe to the conſideration of the Tenants, who have proſpered better by holding Leaſes from Deans and Chapters, than Farmers elſewhere do proſper under other Incorporations over all the Kingdom. And the Tenants are ſenſible of their own happineſs herein, and have teſtified it from many places, by tendring their humble Petitions to this Honourable Houſe, that they may continue, as they have done, under their ancient Landlords, which with all ſubmiſſion we muſt humbly crave may be admitted and peruſed by this Honourable Houſe. And I cannot blame them to ſtir in their own caſe; for good Accountants have caſt it up, that if all the Lands of all Cathedral and Collegiat Churches were caſt up into one total ſum at a reaſonable and fair penny-worth, allowing to the Deans and Chapters what they receive yearly, not onelyonly in Rents but in Fines, the Tenants in clear gain do enjoy ſix parts in ſeven at the leaſt. And we are not they that grudg them this bargain, but are moſt willing that our Revenues ſhould be diſperſed in all the veins of the Kingdom.
Be pleaſed, Mr. Speaker, to look now upon the Cities where theſe Cathedral Churches ſtand, many of them, eſpecially thoſe that are not maritime, are very poor in Trade, but are much enricht partly by the Hoſpitality of the Clergy, partly becauſe great numbers of the Inhabitants are choſen to be the Officers of our Churches, partly by the frequent reſort unto them, eſpecially where there are large and well furniſhed Libraries, the great Repoſitories of learning. Theſe Corporations, which are now the ſtrong ribs of the Kingdom, will become Penſioners and Eleemoſynaries, fall to irrecoverable decay, if the help of Deans and Chapters be ſubſtracted from them.
But put into the Scale with theſe Cities, that reſpect which is to be had to the young branches of the whole Kingdom, and the weight will be very ponderous. All men are not born Elder-brothers, and all Elder-brothers are not born to be Inheritors of Lands. Divers of low degree have generous ſpirits in them, and would be glad to make themſelves a fortune, as the phraſe is. What hopes have they to atchieve this in a more ready way, than to propoſe unto themſelves to lead a virtuous and induſtrious life, that they may attain to a ſhare of the endowment of Collegiate and Cathedral Churches? they only are the common poſſeſſion of the Realm, lying open to all that will qualifie themſelves to get a part in them. They are not incloſed in private mens Eſtates, but they are the Commons of the Kingdom.
With all humble leave, Mr. Speaker, now let us proceed to ſpeak a little for our ſelves, in behalf of the Clergy. We hear it by ſuch as are travel'd in parts beyond the Seas, (moſt of this Honourable Houſe know it to be true that I ſhall alledg, in their own experience) that this Kingdom of England, God be praiſed, affords better livelihood to moſt degrees and ranks than the neighbour Kingdoms do: The Knights and Eſquires live more plentifully than theirs, our Yeomanry far more faſhionably than their Peaſants. Then we truſt it will not be thought unreaſonable, that the Clergy may in ſome ſort have a better maintenance than in the neighbour Reformed Churches. Otherwiſe we ſhall become the moſt vile and contemptible part of the State becauſe of our poverty: and we ſhall degenerate into ſuch Prieſts as Jeroboam appointed, the refuſe and moſt baſe of the people, from whom nothing can be expected, but Ignorance, Superſtition, and Idolatry. Neither is our eſtate better than all other Reformed Churches in this caſe: for I have heard it from them that have diligently travel'd over all the Reformed Churches in Germany, that the Clergy among the Swedes have ſuch Collegiate Chapters with means endowed to the uſe of the Government of the Church as we have. And the Reformed in France and the Low-Countries do ſufficiently teſtify how much they deſire, that they were Partners of the like proſperity, becauſe many of their rareſt Scholars have found great relief and comfort by being inſtalled Prebendaries in our Cathedral and Collegiate Churches. I will ſpeak but of a few, whom my ſelf hath known. In the Reign of Bleſſed Queen Elizabeth Dr. Saravia was maintained in theſe Foundations; in the Reign of the moſt learned King James, Caſaubon Father and Son. O the renowned Caſaubon the Father, what a miracle of learning! add unto theſe Dr. Primroſe, Mr. Voſſius, and the great honour of the Reformed Churches, the moſt learned Dr. Peter Moulin. Concerning whom let me add, with your leave Mr. Speaker, what he wrote lately to an Honourable perſon out of France, that by reaſon of great preparations of war in France he feared it would be dangerous for him to live any longer in Sedan: if troubles increaſed he would come for England: but if the Entrates of his Prebend, and what elſe he enjoyed in this Church were cut off, the whole livelyhood of himſelf, his Wife, and Children ſhould be taken from him. A pittiful moaning, and to be regarded. But the teſtimony of an Adverſary is that which may moſt lawfully be uſed to advantage. The greateſt enemy and foul-tongued reviler of the Reformed Church of England was Sanders in his Book of the Engliſh Schiſm, as he terms it. Conſult him in the 163. page, as it is in my Edition, how he envies us, and ſnarles at us for our proſperity of thoſe forenamed Churches; he ſays that the Royal Queen did judg it fit for the glory of her Praelacy, for the ſplendor of her Kingdom, for the firmneſs of her Sect (ſo he calls our Religion) that in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches ſhe would have Provoſts, Deans, Prebendaries, Canons. This was it that troubled him that he ſaw theſe Foundations conduced to the ſtability of Religion: So that I judg by his words a fatter Sacrifice could not be offered up to ſuch as himſelf than the extirpation of them.
I go forward now to that benefit which the King and Commonwealth, taking them in uno aggregato, do reap by them. They that think themſelves cunning in the Kings Revenue do inform us, that we do pay greater ſumms to the Exchequer by Firſt-fruits, Tents, and Subſidies, according to the proportions which we enjoy by them, than any other Eſtates or Corporations in the Kingdom: Beſide Horſe and Arms which we find for the defence of the Realm againſt all Enemies and Invaſions: And this we iſſue forth with moſt free and contented hearts: Neither would we ſtop here. We are not ignorant with what continual diligence and ſtudy this Honourable Houſe doth forecaſt to provide great ſumms of money for two Armies, and ſundry other great occaſions. God forbid but we ſhould have publick ſpirits as well as other men. And if we be call'd upon to contribute in an extraordinary manner to this great charge of the Kingdom which now lies upon it, we ſhall be ready to do it to the utmoſt of our ability, yea and beyond our ability; and if we fail in it let us be branded with your anger and cenſures for our ſordid covetouſneſs.
Now we ſhall come to an high pitch, imploring the ancient and moſt Honourable Juſtice of this Houſe, and for the ſake of that famous and ever renowned Juſtice we hope to find grace in your eyes. We are now by the admittance of Your Honours favour under that roof, where your worthy Progenitors gave unto the Clergy many Charters, Privileges, Immunities, and enacted thoſe Statutes by which we have the free right and liberty in all that we have. We read it in Records, that in the beginnings of many Parliaments in the firſt place, divers favours were confer'd upon us, and we believe the ſubſequent conſultations fared the better for it. Indeed we meet with ſtories likewiſe that the Prior aliens are vaniſhed out of England, that the Orders of St. John of Jeruſalem, and the Knight Templars were diſſolved. It is true Mr. Speaker, and they deſerv'd it; their crimes proved manifeſtly againſt them were moſt flagitious, and ſome of them no leſs than High Treaſon. God be praiſed we are not charged, much leſs convicted of any ſcandalous faults: And therefore we truſt we ſhall not ſuffer the like fate, who have not committed the like offences.
And after our caſting our ſelves upon your Honourable Juſtice, I will lead you to the higheſt degree of all conſiderations, to the Honour of God. The Fabricks that I ſpeak of were erected to his glory, the lands bequeathed to them were dedicated to his Worſhip and Service: And to that end I beſeech you to let them continue for ever, and to the maintenance of ſuch perſons, whom their liberality did expreſly deſtine to be relieved by them; and withall I muſt inform you, and I dare not conceal it from you, it is tremenda vox which I ſhall bring forth, that they have barr'd all alienation with many curſes and imprecations. It is Gods own ſentence upon the Cenſers, which Core and his Complices uſed in their Schiſm, with pretence to do God's ſervice, Numb. 16.38. They offered them before the Lord, therefore they are hallowed. This is not ſpoken after the way of a Levitical form and nicety, for the uſing of thoſe Cenſers was anti-Levitical: but this is an abſolute Theological Rule out of the mouth of the Lord, that which is offered unto the Lord is hallowed. Again Prov. 20.25. It is a ſnare to the man that devoureth that which is holy. This is Proverbial Divinity, every mans notion, and in every mans mouth, foreign, Theology preached in every Street of the City, and every High-way of the Field. Let me only add that ſmart queſtion of St. Paul, Rom. 2.22. Thou that abhorreſt Idols doſt thou commit Sacrilege? I have done, Mr. Speaker, if you will let me add this Epiphonema, Upon the ruins of the rewards of learning no Structure can be raiſed up but ignorance: and upon the Chaos of ignorance no Structure can be built but profaneneſs and confuſion.
In the Afternoon it was put to the Queſtion, and carried by many Votes, that their Revenues ſhould not be taken away; yet not long after, in the ſame Seſſion, after a moſt Unparliamentary manner, they put it to a ſecond Vote, and without a ſecond hearing Voted the contrary.
And now all things tending to violence, it was no longer ſafe to debate theſe things publickly, therefore at his Houſe were held conſtant meetings of the Loyal Clergy, Biſhops often, and others, Morton, Brownrig, Holdſworth, Jefferies, and many more, who from thence wrote Letters all over England to all Divines of learning and reputation, eſpecially of the Ʋniverſity of Cambridge, to know how they ſtood affected; Quae vobis mentes rectè quae ſtare ſolebant? And to engage them to ſtand faſt in the cauſe of the King and Church. Amongſt others Dr. Brownrig (having been formerly acquainted) ſent to old Mr. Dod the Decalogiſt for his opinion; who anſwered, That he had been ſcandalized with the proud and tyrannical practices of the Marian Biſhops, but now after more than ſixty years experience of many Proteſtant Biſhops, that had been worthy Preachers, learned and Orthodox Writers, great Champions for the Proteſtant Cauſe, he wiſhed all his friends not to be any impediment to them, and exhorted all men not to take up Arms againſt the King, which was his Doctrine (he ſaid) upon the Fifth Commandment, and he would never depart from it. Likewiſe Letters were written by them to many Forreign Divines to try their affection in that day of need; Blondel, Voſſius, Hornbeck, and (whom he moſt condoled) Salmaſius were ſent to in vain, though afterwards that great Scholar came off from his rigour, and made ample amends for his error. Voſſius contain'd himſelf for fear of the Parliament, and of loſing his Prebend at Canterbury, in their poſſeſſion, which King Charles the Firſt conferred upon him with great liberality. Deodat wrote firm for Epiſcopal Government from Geneva, and accuſed the Presbyterians of Schiſm. Hugo Grotius ſaid, nothing hapned but what the wiſe King James had foretold, and he now beheld with great horrors. Epiſcopius much pitied the ſufferings of the Kings Divines, and particularly of Dr. Ward, whom he accounted the moſt learned member of the Synod of Dort. Monſieur Amyrald declared himſelf a friend to Epiſcopacy in a Select Tractate ſent hither, which one of that Party borrowed and would never reſtore, and ſo it could not be Printed. He who was thus zealous both in and out of his Pulpit in the King's and Churches Cauſe, could not be long permitted to Officiate in the City of London; one Sunday while he was reading the Common Prayer in his Church a Souldier of the Earl of Eſſex came, and clapt a Piſtol to his breaſt, and commanded him to read no further, the Doctor ſmiled at his inſolency in that ſacred place, and not at all terrified, ſaid he would do what became a Divine, and he might do what became a Souldier, ſo the Tumult for that time was quieted, and the Doctor permitted to proceed.
But the War being begun, and all things in confuſion, the Orthodox and Loyal Clergie were every where Articled againſt, and ejected, committed to Priſons without accommodations, but upon unreaſonable Payments, ſuch as they were unable to make. In the City of London and Pariſhes adjacent one hundred and fifteen Parochial Miniſters were turned out, beſides many hundreds in all Countries more than ever had been in all Queen Mary's, Queen Elizabeth's, and King James's, or King Charles's Reigns by the Biſhops of all ſorts. Some few factious Pariſhioners Articled againſt him at the Committee of Plunderers, and he was adviſed by Mr. Selden that it was in vain to make defences, they would never permit him to preach in that publick Theatre, but he muſt retire to Cheam, and he would endeavour to keep him quiet there; but thither alſo the ſtorm followed him, for the Earl of Eſſex his Army being upon their March againſt the King, took him Priſoner away with them, till after ſome time he was brought before Eſſex himſelf, and others, who knew him, and had often heard him preach at Whitehall, who made him great proffers, if he would turn to their ſide, which he diſdained to accept; They kept on their March, and, as he would ſay, at length the Princes of the people let him go free.
From that time he lay hid in his little Villa, as Gregory the Great in his little Sazimus, which he would pleaſantly call, Senectutis ſuae nidulum. There he conſtantly preached every Sunday Morning, expounded the Church Catechiſm every Afternoon, read the Common Prayer all Sundays and Holy days, continued his wonted Charity to all poor people, that reſorted to it upon the Week days in money, beſides other relief out of his Kitchin, till the Committee of Surrey enjoyned him to forbear the uſe of it by Order of Parliament at any time, and his Catechiſing out of it upon Sunday in the Afternoon. Yet after this Order he ever ſtill kept up the uſe of it in moſt parts, never omitting the Creed, Lords Prayer, and Ten Commandments, Confeſſion, and Abſolution, and many other particular Collects, and always as ſoon as the Church Service was done, abſolved the reſt at home, with moſt earneſt Prayers for the good ſucceſs of his Majeſties Armies, of which he was ever in great hope, till the Tidings came of the moſt unfortunate Battel at Nazby. He was that Morning at an eſpecial Friends houſe ready to ſit down to Dinner, but when the news came, he deſired leave to retire, went to his Chamber, and would not Dine, but faſted and prayed all that day, and then was afraid, that excellent King and Cauſe was loſt; uſing to ſay of Cromwel, Livy.as the Hiſtorian of Marius, He lead the Army, and Ambition lead him, and therefore lookt far nothing but the ruine that came.
He was naturally of a very pleaſant and chearful temper, but ſad news made his ſoul retire a great way further into him, and quite of another humour. Indeed no man was more troubled and anguſtiated in mind for the miſeries and diſtreſſes of this Church and Kingdom; I have often heard his deep Sighs, and his great Complaints, when he did profeſs, he did only breath, but not live. I have ſeen the heavineſs of his eyes, when he ſpake nothing, his grave and ripe wiſdom made him apprehend Fears more deeply than other people did. But when his Majeſties ſufferings in Perſon came, no man could conjecture the load of ſorrow that was upon him, He would ſay he felt his old heart wither within him, and could not but ſigh away his ſpirit; he would often repent He had done no more by Preaching and Writing to prevent it; and after the Kings Death, frequently deſired nothing elſe but to depart from this world of ſin and ſuffering, crying out, Satur ſum omnium quae video aut audio.
But next to the Death of his Royal Majeſty he would bewail the cutting up the pleaſant Vine of the Church of England, and alienating the Churches Patrimony, together with thoſe of the King, Queen, Loyal Nobility, and Gentry, whereby the whole Kingdom of England was then in the hands of unjuſt Poſſeſſors.
For the Citie's abetting this bloudy War, He was now grown to a ſtrong averſation toward London, the place where he was born, baptized, bred, and nothing could ever move him to go thither more, until the Earls of Holland and Norwich both requeſted his Aſſiſtance at their expected deaths.
The Earl of Holland was very penitent, for that he had deſerted ſo good a Maſter in the beginning of the Wars. Norwich was very chearful in the comforts of a good Conſcience. He would much admire, how God ſometimes gives ſecret admonition of things contrary to all humane expectations, for the Earl of Holland had many Meſſengers came, and told him they had Votes enough, and to ſpare, for his life, yet nothing would perſwade him but he ſhould die within a few days, and ſo he did; The Earl of Norwich, that knew of no friends yet would not believe but he ſhould eſcape, and ſo he did.
After this he return'd to his Rural retirement, to end his Old Age in continual Prayer and Study, omitting all exerciſe of body, whereupon he fell into a great fit of ſickneſs; and upon his recovery, the famous Dr. Harvy enjoyned him two things, to renew his chearful converſation, and take moderate walks for exerciſe, aſſuring him, that in his practiſe of Phyſick ſince theſe times he obſerved more people died of grief of mind than of any other diſeaſe, and that his ſtudious and ſedentary life would contract him frequent ſickneſs, unleſs he uſed ſeaſonable exerciſe. Whereupon afterwards, for his healths ſake, he would every Morning, before he ſetled to his ſtudy, take large walks very early to make him expectorate phlegm, and other cloudy and fuliginous vapours, whereby he afterwards continued Vegete and healthful to the laſt.
At this time he did much good in the Country, by keeping many Gentlemen firm to the Proteſtant Religion, who were much aſſaulted by lurking Prieſts, who ſought to perſwade them that it was then neceſſary to joyn with the Roman Church, or elſe they could be of none, for they ſaw (as the others ſaid) the Proteſtant Church quite deſtroyed. But the good Doctor adviſed them better, that the Church of England was ſtill in being, and not deſtroyed, rather refined by her ſufferings. God then tried us as Silver is tried in the hot fire of perſecution, which purifies but waſtes not. Then eſpecially our Church reſembled the Primitive, which grew up in perſecutions,Pſal. 24.1. and as the Earth is ſaid to be the Lords in all its Fulneſs, ſo the Church of England was the Lords in all its penury and emptineſs.
And in theſe loweſt of times he was full of faith and courage, that himſelf ſhould ſtill live to ſee a better world one day, and would greatly blame any of the Kings Friends who deſpaired of ſeeing the time of the reſtitution of all things; His opinion was the Youths at Weſtminſter ſpun a Spiders Web, that could not laſt long, and therefore was very confident of his Majeſties return, and would inſtance in Joſephs caſe, who was ſometime ſold for a ſlave, impriſoned as a Malefactor, yet afterwards advanced to be Governour of the Kingdom; and in David who was hunted over all the Mountains of Iſrael, yea, and forced to fly his Country too, and yet after brought to the Throne, and alſo in Caius Marius, who was forced to hide himſelf in the Flags of a Fenny ditch from the purſuers of Sylla, Livy.ſo that the Hiſtorian asks, Quis eum fuiſſe Conſulem, aut futurum crederet? Who would ever have thought him to have been Conſul, or ſhould live to be Conſul again? And therefore when any would ſay,Seneca. There was but little hope, he would anſwer Tum votorum locus eſt, cum nullus eſt ſpei; They ought to pray the more, and Prayer was a good reſerve at the laſt caſt.
Accordingly he would acknowledge that his many cares for the welfare of the King and Church of England did often ſend him to his Prayers, but gave God thanks, that his Prayers did always expel his cares. After a day ſpent in Prayer, he would tell an eſpecial Friend, he found in himſelf a marvelous illumination and chearfulneſs in the Evening, and that as uſually thick clouds in Winter cauſe dark weather, till they were diſſolved in rain or ſnow; but then the Sun would ſhew himſelf, and the air grow pleaſant again: So ſorrows and cares cloud the mind and ſoul, till we are able to diſſolve them into devotion and holy Prayers, and then poſt nubila Phoebus, and profeſſed, nothing more contributed to his divine joys than his often reading and meditation upon Davids Pſalms, which he conceived they had done very wiſely, who ſet them in the midſt of the Bible, as the Fourth Commandment for Religious Aſſemblies was by God himſelf in the midſt of the Decalogue.
In thoſe doleful days that was done in St. Paul's London which Selymus threatned to St. Peter's at Rome, to Stable his horſes in the Church, and feed them at the High Altar; whereupon our Doctor was very confident their ruine grew ripe apace, and not long after hapned the death of Oliver; of which being ſuddenly told, and the manner of it, he only ſaid, as Tully of a Villain, Mortem quam non potuit optare obiit; and that we ſhould ſee within a little while all the world would ſtink of him, and diſdain his Arbitrary and bloudy uſurpations; and accordingly in a very ſhort time we ſaw all things incline to work about the happy revolution, towards the accompliſhment whereof no man was more active in ſtirring up the Nobility, Gentry, Clergy, and People to deſire a free Parliament, and Petition General Monk to that purpoſe, whereby he ſhould be a Benedictin Monk, or a Bleſſing to the Nation, and not a Dominican, Dominari in exercitu. He preached before the Commiſſioners at Croydon, and firſt read the Common-Prayer himſelf to them, at that great meeting for the peace of the Country. And afterward when his Royal Majeſty was reſtored, he laid aſide his long Antipathy, and came up to London, where one going to congratulate his coming thither; ſo (he anſwered) he did his own, for he hoped in God he did not appear as a Porpoiſe, only once in twenty years before a great ſtorm, but as an Halcyon for a ſign of fair weather; and when he was reſtored to his ancient Pariſh and Church again, being one day viſited by many ſequeſtred and baniſhed Friends, returned again with himſelf, whom he pleaſantly called his Charonitae, a By name which the Romans gave to them who were reſtored to their Poſſeſſions and Country after they had been proſcribed by Sylla. As if Charon had wafted them over the Lake of Death, and brought them back again. At the ſame time he gave to God great thanks for the opportunity of meeting them again in that place, and prayed God that they might all take notice, firſt, of the real faults that brought down the late ſad Judgments, and be ſure to repent of them; and then alſo ſecondly, take into conſideration the ſuppoſed faults or ſcandals that ſeem'd to do it, and as far as was meet take care likewiſe to prevent them for the time to come.
He had been inſtalled one of the Reſidentiaries of St. Paul's Church, a little before the beginning of the Civil War, to which he was now reſtored, whereby he was frequently called to preach there, where he could not ſpare to tell his Country-men ſometimes of their faults, That however his Majeſties moſt gracious Act of Oblivion had delivered them from all humane Penalties, yet unleſs they abhorred thoſe ſins ſo eaſily forgiven by the moſt merciful and moſt courteous King in the world, yet the Anger of God would find them out; and though his Majeſty had obliged the Royal Party to forget their ſufferings, yet the Presbyterians were ever bound to remember their doings. But his deſerts were too eminent and well known to be long in any Orb leſs than the higheſt in our Church, therefore my Lord Chancellor ſent to offer him the Biſhoprick of Gloceſter, which he begg'd his Majeſties and his Lordſhips leave to refuſe, anſwering (as Cato) He had rather Future times ſhould ask why Dr. Hacket had not a Biſhoprick than why he had one.
Afterward it pleaſed his Majeſty to confer upon him the Biſhoprick of Lichfield, and recommend that moſt ruined Cathedral, City, and Dioceſs to his prudent Circumſpection, and Government; He firſt thought that now in his old age the Charge was too great for him, but becauſe Caeſar had commanded it, he would reſign up himſelf to his Majeſties Commands, and willingly put his neck to the burden of the Chair, and to his beſt abilities not be wanting in his duty to God and the King. But he found in himſelf a great reluctancy to leave his old people in City and Country, he had ſo long lived there, that now the place was grown natural, and ſtuck to him like the Bark to the Tree; but again would ſometime ſay, Holbourn was not the ſame Pariſh he left it, a new Generation for the moſt part roſe up in twenty years that knew not Joſeph, nor the piety and conformity of ancient times, and that probably young men might ſuit better with young men, and therefore would accept his Sovereigns gracious offer, and yet always retain a paternal affection and care for them too; and would thereupon ſhew how vain ſome Canoniſts were in preſcribing an eternal obligation between Paſtor and People, whereas he forſakes not the Church who ſerves it in another place, but in ſome circumſtances it is his duty to remove, when better qualified for that other Church, and his removal duly required of him: For we are not to conſecrate our ſtudies and labours to Places, but to Perſons, not to any particular people only, but to the glory of God and beſt advantage of the Catholick Church.
He received his Conſecration December 1661. upon the ſame day that he had forty three years before received his firſt Orders, and the Spring following he took his journey to reſide upon his Charge, with great congratulations of the loyal Gentry, and moſt dutiful ſalutations of the Orthodox Clergy, and unconceivable joy and ſatisfaction of all people. When his Lordſhip came to Coventry he was entertained with a Latin Speech, made by Sir Thomas Norton Baronet, and in holy Orders: and again upon his firſt Entrance into Staffordſhire, by Mr. Powel Schoolmaſter of Stafford with Another; to which his Lordſhip preſently in the ſame language gave an elegant reply to every particular.
The whole Clergy upon this firſt meeting were of opinion that his Majeſty had ſtill the old Apoſtolical ſpirit of diſcerning, having ſent to them a Prelate ſo wiſe and learned, as they could ſcarce have wiſhed one altogether ſo fit for themſelves, and 'tis not to have been doubted, if the ſole election had been in themſelves,Theod. l. 5. c 9. Baron. Ann. T. 4. Damaſc. de Imag. l. 3. but that the Dioceſs would have choſen him as unanimouſly as the people of Conſtantinople did Nectarius, to whom no man diſſented, inſomuch that ſome ſay the place wherein they held the Election was ever after call'd Concord from the univerſal approbation of the Fact.
It is much to be admired that the people (who for the moſt part are none of the beſt Judges) in thoſe antient times ſhould oftentimes chooſe ſo luckily,Paulinus in vita. V. Prefat. Dr. Fell. in vitá Nemeſci. who yet ſometimes choſe men to be Biſhops as St. Ambroſe of Millain, Syneſius Biſhop of Cyrene, and Nectarius an Arch-Biſhop at Conſtantinople, beſides others who had ſcarce received any former Orders, and were ſome of them not well inſtructed in all parts of Chriſtian Religion,Ep. ad Ocean. nor indeed baptized: St. Hierom a learned, but ſharp Writer, might well gird at this practiſe Heri Catechumenus, hodie Pontifex; but againſt our Biſhop there lay no ſuch exceptions, who would ſometimes rejoyce like Greg. Nazianzen, that he had not been made a Biſhop before long labour, and much pains ſpent in preaching and converting others to the Chriſtian Faith, and gave God thanks he had run through all the leſſer Offices, had been long Scholar and Fellow of a Colledg, then been made Deacon, Prieſt, Chaplain, which was equal to Curat, and ſometime Vicar of a poor place, afterwards Parſon, Doctor, Prebendary, Archdeacon, and Reſidentiary of St. Pauls, and had diſcharged all theſe with great pains in his own perſon, in the heat of the day, both in time of peace and perſecution, ſo that he did not leap, but by his merits orderly ariſe to his Epiſcopal honour and dignity.
The City of Litchfield has its name from the old Saxon Lice or Carcaſe, becauſe of the great multitude of Chriſtians thereabouts ſlain in the Perſecution of Diocleſian, which are in the Arms of the City to this day. Therein before the Wars had been a moſt beautiful and comely Cathedral Church, which the Biſhop at his firſt coming found moſt deſolate, and ruin'd almoſt to the ground, the Roof of Stone, the Timber, Lead, and Iron, Glaſs, Stalls, Organs, Utenſils of rich value all were embezell'd, 2000 ſhot of great Ordnance and 1500 Granadoes diſcharged againſt it, which had quite batter'd down the Spire, and moſt of the Fabrick, ſo that the Old man took not ſo much comfort in his new Promotion, as he found ſorrow and pity in himſelf to ſee his Cathedral Church thus lying in the duſt; ſo that the very next morning after his Lordſhips arrival, he ſet his own Coach-horſes on work, together with other Teems, to carry away the Rubbiſh; which being cleared, he procured Artiſans of all ſorts to begin the new Pile, and before his death ſet up a compleat Church again, better than ever it was before, the whole Roof from one end to the other, of a vaſt length, all repaired with ſtone, all laid with goodly Timber of our Royal Soveraign's gift, all leaded from one end to the other, to the coſt of above 20000 l. which yet this zealous and laborious Biſhop accompliſhed a great part out of his own bounty, with 1000 l. help of the Dean and Chapter, and the reſt procured by Him from worthy Benefactors, by inceſſant importunity, the Gentry of Staffordſhire, Derbyſhire, Warwickshire contributing like Gentlemen, whoſe names are entred into the Regiſtry of the Cathedral; unto which work none were backward but the Presbyterians, whom our Reverend Biſhop yet treated with more civility than their croſs-grain'd humours deſerved.
This rare Building was finiſhed in eight years, to the Admiration of all the Country, the ſame hands which laid the Foundation laying the Top-ſtone alſo; All which owes it ſelf to his great fidelity, incredible prudence in contriving, bargaining with workmen, unſpeakable diligence in ſolliciting for money, paying it and overſeeing all; Nehemiah's eye was ever upon the building of the Temple, and therefore the work proceeded with incredible expedition. The Cathedral being ſo well finiſhed, upon Chriſtmas Eve Anno 1669 his Lordſhip dedicated it to Chriſts honour and ſervice, with all fitting ſolemnity that he could pick out of antient Rituals in the manner following.
His Lordſhip being arrayed in his Epiſcopal Habiliments, and attended upon by ſeveral Prebends and Officers of the Church, and alſo accompanied with many Knights and Gentlemen, as likewiſe with the Bailifs and Aldermen of the City of Lychfield, with a great multitude of other people entred at the Weſt door of the Church, Humphry Perſehouſe, Gent. his Lordſhips Apparitor General going foremoſt, after whom followed the Singing-boyes and Choriſters, and all others belonging to the Choir of the ſaid Church, who firſt marched up to the South Iſle on the right hand of the ſaid Church, where my Lord Biſhop with a loud voice repeated the firſt verſe of the 24. Pſalm, and afterward the Quire alternately ſung the whole Pſalm to the Organ. Then in the ſame order they marched to the North Iſle of the ſaid Church, where the Biſhop in like manner began the firſt verſe of the 100 Pſalm, which was afterward alſo ſung out by the Company. Then all marched to the upper part of the Body of the Church, where the Biſhop in like manner began the 102. Pſalm, which likewiſe the Choire finiſht. Then my Lord Biſhop commanded the doors of the Quire to be opened, and in like manner firſt encompaſſed it upon the South ſide, where the Biſhop alſo firſt began to ſing the firſt verſe of the 122 Pſalm, the Company finiſhing the reſt: And with the like Ceremony paſſing to the North ſide thereof, ſung the 132. Pſalm in like manner.
This Proceſſion being ended the Reverend Biſhop came to the Faldiſtory in the middle of the Quire, and having firſt upon his knees prayed privately to himſelf, afterwards with a loud voice in the Engliſh Tongue call'd upon the People to kneel down and pray after him, ſaying,
Our Father which art, &c.