An Acquittance from a Demand, Section 8
SECT. VIII.
The ſeventh Reaſon taken from the Oppreſsion of the Labouring Miniſters, by paiment of a fifth Tart, with Objections againſt them, and Anſwers for them.
7. BEcauſe by the taking away of the fifth part from them, they are (in effect) put every fifth year to ſerve the Cure, without any wages, and if the fourth years fruitfulneſs were but doubled, as by the bleſſing of God every ſixth year was trebled to the Jews, Levit. 25.21. when the ſeventh was to reſt, and ſo to bring forth none encreaſe: or that they might out of all the former years, not by ſcandalous nigardice, but by ingenuous Providence, lay up a portion, which might make a competent ſupply, for that annual diminution, they might be very well content with the one, or with patience and ſilence endure the other. But as the caſe is with them, by paiment of publick impoſitions, rated by thoſe who to ſpare themſelves (and ſometimes to ſpight us) aggravate our charge without either Mercy or Juſtice: by the tax of thisgI call it an Egyptian Tribute, in regard of the proportion, the fifth part, which was paid to Pharaoh by his people, Gen. 41.34. though otherwiſe contrary to that which many of us have cauſe to complain of, for the Egyptian fifth part was laid up, as proviſion for prevention of famine, to thoſe that paid it: our paiment of a fifth part is our preſent oppreſſion, without the expectation of any good for hereafter. Egyptian Tribute, by the open and wilfull defraudings of ſome of them, as if it were rather their right then any wrong to us to rob us of the tenth by many accidental expences which come upon divers of us, after the proportion of the common report of the value of our livings (exceedingly one rated ſometimes of purpoſe, to advance the fifth part to the greater advantage of thoſe that require it) wherein they expect no leſs liberality from us, then when all came in without ſuch paiments, and went out at the market upon farre more profitable prizes, then now they do, receipts and disburſments rightly reckoned together, the allowance will be little for the ſubſiſtence of the Miniſters in ſervice, and their Families; nothing at all to be ſaved to pay debts (contracted partly by precedent plunderings, partly by the charge of enforced removals, from place to place) which draw in damage at both ends a termino a quo & ad quem, (from the place whence they come, and whither they go) nor to raiſe any reaſonable portions for their children, nor to make any competent proviſion for their wives, in caſe of widowhood, when they ſurvive them. For mine own part (and I doubt not but there are others of my Brethren of my minde) though the R. of Br. (if duly payed and not unduly charged) would be as Beneficial as I would deſire, yet as it is to me (with all the defalcations and burdens incident unto it) if my conſcience could be diſcharged, from obligation to the Paſtorall Charge of it, and would allow me to reap where I ſowe not, I ſhould be contented to give it up, and to be confined to a fifth part only: eſpecially if I had D.H. his either preſent means, or future hopes.
Obj. If any object, That the Ordinance of Parliament alloweth a fifth part of the Sequeſtred Benefice to the outed Miniſters, and if we like not to take upon us the Incumbency (upon theſe tearms, we may give up the work and wages both, or rather (at the firſt) we ſhould have refuſed to undertake the one, and to take the other.
I anſwer
Anſw. Firſt, That the Ordinance for ejecting of ſcandalous Miniſters,would not have paſſed, in the Houſe of Peers, without the allowance of a fift part to their wives and children: and therefore there was at the firſt a kinde of neceſſity, to allot them ſuch a portion, though otherwiſe many godly and worthy Members of the Houſe of Commons were againſt it, as before hath been obſerved.
Secondly, Though ſome Countrey Committee men have (againſt all equity and ingenuity) urged the letter of the Ordinance, as if (like the Rule of Ignatius Loiola)hAd literam, ad literam, fine gloſſa, ſine gloſſa. Reg. Societ. Jeſu To the Letter, to the Letter, without a Gloſſe, without a Gloſſe, it were punctually to be obſerved in all caſes, without Exception or Limitation. The Committee for Plundred Miniſters at Weſtminſter, have (by their uſuall practice) expounded it otherwiſe, allowing ſometimes no fifth part at all, and that they might very juſtly do, in divers caſes: As
1. Where the Benefice will not bear it, and leave a competent Subſiſtence for the Incumbent.
2. Where the outed Miniſter hath means of Subſiſtence of his own, or by his wife.
3. Where the Father or Grandfather is rich enough to maintain the wife and children, in which caſe, theiFor this ſee Mich. Doltons Juſtice of Peace, p. 84. fine, and p. 85. princip. printed for the Company of Stationers, au. 1619. Law the charge upon them.
4. Where the Party put out continueth ſcandalous, and diſaffected to the Government, and contumaciouſly oppoſeth the Reformation, either of Church or State: For it ſeems juſt and reaſonable that he ſhould thereby forfeit the fifth parts, as well as the four parts before, for his former miſcarriage. And for ſuch as were ſcandalous, the*See the quotation of Mr. Prinne at the beginning of the firſt Section. late King (though tender to his party) required none allowance, and ſometimes they allowed leſſe then a fifth part, as if the Delinquent had any means at all that was to be reckoned to make up a fifth part, as if the fifth part were 40 l, and he had 20 l of his own, he was to receive but another 20 l of the Incumbent Miniſter.
Thirdly, The Miniſters acceptance of a Paſtoral Charge, with the burden of priment of a fifth part, ſhould be no prejudice, either to their ſuing or ſpeeding for deliverance from it: becauſe it was then impoſed, when they were driven from their own places, and plundered by the Malignant party, of all they had: in which extremity they were glad to take pains, upon any tearms: he that hath nothing will not refuſe to do ſervice, though he have not ſo good pay for his pains, as Micah his Prieſt had, Ten Shekels of ſilver a year, a ſuit of apparel and Victuals, Judg. 17.10. and thence it was that the Houſe of Lords (at the firſt) made no ſcruple, to order that not a fifth part, or third only, but akWitneſs the caſe of D. R. from whom the Rectory of F. in Eſſex was ſequeſtred, and he was by Order of the Houſe of Lords, to have half the profit of the Benefice, and M. l. now (or late) Miniſter at Br. but the other half, to ſerve the Cure, and this Sequeſtration to laſt but half a year, as a perſon of eminent place, parts, and integrity, told me not long agoe. full half of the maintenance of a Preaching Miniſter, ſhould be paid to him, who was not to preach, and as if this were too great a favour to be long enjoyed, it was to hold out but half a year.
But now theirlI mean not by any thing I have ſaid of the Houſe of Lords, any diminution of dignity to thoſe truly noble and worthy Patriots of that Houſe, who have been faithfull and conſtant to the cauſe of the Commonwealth, againſt the boundleſſe Prerogative of an abſolute Monarchy: for upholding whereof thirty eight Earls and Lords revolted from the Parliament to the King, who are particularly named in M. Mays Hiſtory of the Parliament of England, lib. 2. cap. 5. pag. 87. nor from theſe would I detract any honour due unto them, though I have no reaſon to like their reſolution, in this particular. Lordſhips have no ſuch power (in favour of their Chaplains) to oppreſs the Miniſters put into their places by the Houſe of Commons (who now without them are reputed a compleat Parliament) they may both with good Conſcience complain, and upon juſt reaſons (ſuch as have been given in this cauſe) expect, that that burden which at firſt was laid upon them, and taken up by them, by a double neceſſity (as hath been ſhewed) ſhould not ſtill be continued when it is in the power of their Patrons to relieve them.
Object. But it is againſt Charity to deprive the offender of all his means, and to leave his wife and children who offended not without any maintenance.
Anſw. Firſt, I grant it is ſo, and not in the caſe of Miniſters only, but of others, who put out of Office, have no fifth part aſſigned them or theirs, out of the Offices they have loſt, and not alone while they are living, but when they are dead, and then much rather, as hath been proved.
Secondly, I hold that we are bound by the rule of Scripture, to give bread and drink to an hungry and thirſty enemy, Proverbs 25.21. Romans 12.20. but I take not this to be a meer miniſteriall Duty, but a Chriſtian Duty common with us, to all others of our Chriſtian Profeſſion, and therefore
Thirdly, I wiſh the caſe of all indigent perſons may be taken into compaſſionate conſideration, and ſuch means ordered and ordained (for their relief) as is moſt juſt and reaſonable: and it is moſt juſt and reaſonable, that a common duty (as that charity is) ſhould be exerciſed in ſuch a proportion, as that it may not be oppreſſive to any particular perſon, as the paiment of the fifth part is, even to thoſe who are poſſeſſed of Benefices of good value, for as in part I have ſaid before,
1. The Pariſhioners in moſt places make no conſcience to pay them their dues, or to rob them of their portion, becauſe they take them for intruders into other mens Rights.
2. They care not how heavily they load them in taxes to eaſe themſelves.
3. The Miniſters have not ſuch ready means to require or recover their dues, as the Clerks of particular Patrons have formerly had.
4. Some of them are burdened, with providing for thoſe who (according to the Law fore-mentioned) are put upon them for relief, to which adding the paiment of a fifth part (with the relief of the poor, beſides many extraordinary charges, no leſſe then if they enjoyed the whole Benefice to themſelves) adde to all theſe the many harſh uſages they meet withall, from their ill affected people, their condition becometh ſo diſpleaſing to themſelves, that they are as capable of pity with thoſe that know it, as of envy with thoſe that know it not.
Fourthly, For the particular way or means of extending Charity to ſuch perſons as for offence to the State have forfeited their places of imploiment, and benefit annexed thereto: I will not take upon me to give any directions, but if there were a Committee appointed to that purpoſe, and liberty given for others (as in ſome caſes it hath been) to make propoſals unto them, I doubt not but ſuch an Expedient might be offered to their approbation, as might be more comfortable for Sequeſtred Miniſters, and no ways grievous to any, as the paiment of a fifth part is, to moſt on whom it is oppoſed.