The Preachers Plea, Text
THE Preachers Plea: OR, A ſhort Declaration, touching the ſad condition of our Clergy, in relation to the ſmalneſſe of their maintenance, throughout the Kingdome.
By WILLIAM TYPING. Eſq
LONDON, Printed by W. WILSON, for Chriſtopher Meredith, at the Signe of the Crane in Pauls Church-yard. 1646.
THE Preachers Plea.
WE live in doubtfull times; I feare a Cloud of bloud hangs over us, as a ſtreame of bloud hath already ran round about us. Me thinkes the frame of our ſpirits, preſage it; for wee have had various diſpenſations of Gods dealings with us. Firſt, ſhewers of judgments, then gleams of mercy ſcattered in the Land; yet the ſame temper lies ſtill brooding
on our hearts. Puniſhments will not awaken us, bleſſings cannot melt us. Perdidimus utilitatem calamitatis noſtrae, miſeri facti ſumus, & peſſimi permanemus. What ſhould God doe with ſuch a ſinfull people? We have been, and will continue a ſtubborne generation. Is it not ſtrange that in ſuch a gratious ſeaſon as this, when ſuch an inundatlon of loving kindneſſe have broken in upon us from the Lord, and hee hath holpen us ſo miraculouſly in our pinching neceſſities, farre beyond what we could expect, or hope for. Yea, that now, whilſt his mercies are hot, and reaking in our memories, the worke of our God ſhould ſo ſticke in our hands, and our begun Reformation move, like Pharaohs Chariots when the Wheelos were off, with ſuch a dull and ſlow progreſſion. The Lord grant our Preſervations prove not reſervations to greater judgements. I feare, leſt what Salvianus ſighed our againſt another people, ſhould prove our fatall doome. Sopor infunditur ut perditio ſubſequatur. The Truth is, nothing, gives beauty and gloſſe to our cauſe, but our glorious victories. Take us abſtracted from our happy ſucceſſes, (and they are none of ours) and what miſerable Chriſtians ſhall wee appeare. Was there ever any Chriſtian Nation under heaven, that after ſo many Covenants to reforme, ſo many cleare demonſtrations from heaven, of Gods acceptance of our Covenants, have yet abounded in ſo many and various Sects, Schiſmes, Hereſies, Blaſphemies, and that with ſo high a hand, and in ſo uncontrolable a way, as this out Nation. Adde to this, what a world of time hath beene crumbled away in debate on Church-government; yet how little Progreſſe is made therin? How farre are we at this day, from an eſtabliſhment thereof throughout the Kingdome? Something indeed hath been concluded on by our Worthy Patriots, in order to the Preſbyterian way: but what is a branch to the Tree; what is this to the ſetling of the whole body, and Bulke of a Church-government, and of Eccleſiaſticall Diſcipline in the Realme; for want whereof, ſinne abounds, and many fearefull Tranſgreſſions goe unpuniſhed. And how doth our unhappy Church (notwithſtanding this good hand of God upon us) lie ſtill deſtitute, afflicted, diſgraced, impoveriſhed, cloathed with her old Ragges, fed with her old maintenance, ſerved with her old Chaplaines, having neither meanes nor Miniſters ſerviceable for any uſe almoſt, but to ſtand as Monuments of her ſhame. The conſideration whereof hath (I muſt confeſſe) very often, much ſadded my heart; and at this time preſt mee to this Diſcourſe. Surely, what ever mens hearts may deſire, their eyes ſhal never ſee able Miniſters in our Church, untill there be able maintenance to encourage them: For Workemen will not bee got without wages, nor will the wages bee any invitation to the worke, if it be ſet forth as formerly, in a baſe and deſpicable proportion. It's true indeed, wee have formerly had to the ſcorne of our Church and Kingdom, and to the undoing of thouſands of ſoules, the loweſt of the people for the ſerviee of Gods houſe. Ignorant & contemptible perſons through the corruption of this worſer age, have beene advanced to the moſt honourable calling the world could yeeld. And from whence proceeded this iniquity? why ſcandalous meanes uſhered in ſcandalous men: ad tenuitatem beneficiorum, ſequebatur ignorantia ſacerdotum. Poverty brought in ignorance into the Church, & ignorance brought in ſcorne. For what eve mens integrity and parts may be, a torne coate ſeldome findes reverence or regard amonſt the common ſort of people; who for the moſt part meaſure out their reſpect to their Paſtors, not according to their inward abilites, but according to their outward garbe and greatneſſe. The Parliaments frame the 27. of Henry the 8. (who gave away impropriations from the Church, or did that which amounted to the ſame) to this day, have (I feare) ſomething to anſwer for, that in ſo large a tract of time, have found out no expedient, whereby to reduce the Patrimony of the Church into a competency.
It was but reaſon when they had taken away the joynture of the Church, to aſſigne ſome livelihood to maintaine her. Truly want amongſt all conditions of men, is a very melancholy thing: but it muſt needs lie neareſt the heart of a laborious Paſtor, becauſe over and beſides his owne perſonall ſufferings, the honour of God is concerned therein. For let reaſon ſpeake, is it not ſinne and ſhame, that the ſervants of the moſt high God, who in a peculiar manner draw nigh to him in the ſervice of his Church, ſhould be ſo courſly entertain'd, as to have little better then Daniels dainties, to preſerve them, or live like poor Lazarus with the crums that fall from rich mens Tables. Certainely the ſlighting of an Embaſſadour reflects upon the Soveraigne, and the Mr. Takes himſelfe to be diſhonoured, when his ſervant is abuſed, or held in a baſe eſteeme, and can we reaſonably imagine the Lord of Heaven & Earth, who, when hee might juſtly have made us the reproach of all Nations for our ſinnes, hath now ſo gloriouſly exalted us in the ſight of men, will not take it unkindly, yea in high indignation, if after all our endeavours in a bleſſed Reformation we ſhould looke on his Embaſſadours with a regardleſſe eye? but I hope better things. I truſt the time is comming, and will haſten on, when burning and ſhining lamps ſhall bee ſet up in every corner of the Land, and oyle enough provided to keepe them flaming. But till the ſecond be brought to paſs, I expect not the firſt, until there bee a tolerable ſubſiſtence provided in every Pariſh, it's impoſſible there ſhould be (what wee have ſo long expected) a conſtant faithfull preaching Miniſtery throughout the Kingdome. Men may fancie to thēſelves what they pleaſe, talke of Elders, debate on government; but beleeve it, theſe things will never be brought into act & exerciſe, ſo as God ſhall bee glorified, and the people edified thereby, till this be done. This is the hinge on which all muſt turn. I know not how the iniquity of the times have brought it about, but ſo it is, God is not in credite among Chriſtians as in dayes of olde. Nor hath his ſervants and ſervice (Pudet haec dici potuiſſe) that reverend regard, which former age hath given them.
Time was when men of honour and high Parentage, cheerfully devoted themſelves to the ſervice of the Church, as Hilary, Eaſill, Fulgentius, & divers others, though Nobly borne, yet thought it there higher honour to make themſelves inſtrumental to the work of the Goſpell. But alas as the meanes and fortunes of the Church grew low, ſo devotion and affection to the ſervice thereof declined with them, & the encouragements to learning being taken away, mens ſpirits were ſoone becalmed toward that way. I hope, I ſhal not here be offenſive to any in ſpeaking for thoſe, who bluſh to ſpeake for themſelves, and in pleading for due honour to a deſpiſed calling.
I think it were a noble Chriſtian pollicy; and now is the golden opportunity, to ſet forth good preferment for this high and honourable imployment, that thereby men of the worthieſt parts, and moſt exquiſite endowments of nature and learning, might be invited thereunto. The want whereof hath beene the cauſe that ſuch as have been of the darkeſt and dulleſt conſtitutions, and to whom nature hath been, ſome way or other an unkinde Stepmother, and have bin thought fit for nothing elſe, have formerly been condemned to this worke. When as men of the moſt refined wits and greateſt hopes have been ſetled by their parents and guardians, to other vocations, as in eſpeciall the Law, that being looked on as a ſtep to honour and dignity, but this reputed as a downright way to beggery. Some there are, but I beleeve they are ſuch as partake more of the Serpent then of the Dove, who upon this chaunge of Church-government, ſeeme to be very anxious, leſt the Praelaticall power ſhould only put on a new coate, as it weare, and faſhion, and retain his former pride and ſtatelineſſe, under the forme of the Presbytery. Therefore cry out, keep them poore to reſtraine their pride, raiſe not the winds that ſhould fill their ſailes, for meanes will but make them ſwell.
Thus wanton witts fall heavily upon the Miniſters of the GOSPELL in theſe cenſorious times, and praejudge them for their pride whereas God knowes for the preſent they ſtand in that deſpicable condition in divers places, that they ſcarce have cloaths to cover them. Yet I dare be bold to ſay, never were there any times ſince the foundation of the Goſpell in this Kingdome, wherein the people of this Land have beene more engaged to their Paſtors (I relate more ſpecially to this Citie) for their prayers, painfulneſſe in preaching, & all offices of Chriſtian love and piety then in theſe our dayes. What ever unkinde blaſts they lye under, ſure I am, the right hand of the Lord hath done gloriouſly for us by their meanes, theſe are the Doves of the valley, which have brought in more Victories by their cryes and teares to heaven, then all our armies by their ſtrength, yet theſe are the men (as ſome calumniate) whom no bonds are like to hold, no bounds to reſtraine, unleſſe they bee held in with bit and bridle. But let men of this temper and condition ſpeake as ſmoothly as they pleaſe, & bring the moſt plauſible arguments their wits can deviſe, to cover their naughty hearts withal: yet ſhall I never beleeve hee loves a godly Miniſter that pleads to keepe him low, or that hee is ſoundly good that ſwells at good mens greatneſſe. If the Miniſters of the Goſpell be good, its neceſſary they ſhould be great, I meane that their maintenance be raiſed to ſuch an ample proportion, as ſhould not onelyonly ſhelter them from ſcorne, but adorne their Callings. The Prieſts and Levites under the Law, as they drew nigheſt to God in regard of Office, and were next to his preſence, in regard of place (for they were by Gods expreſſe command to pitch their Tents round about the Tabernacle) ſo alſo was the Lord pleaſed to make honourable proviſion for them, by aſſigning the tenths and other liberal allowance for their ſupport. Now whether the tenths of all mens profits, do in theſe times, as under the law, in duty appertaine to the Miniſters of the Goſpell, I intend not here to diſcuſſe. But ſure I am, maintenance is their right, and the diſpenſers of the Goſpell are not inferiour to the Miniſters of the Law, therefore Religion and reaſon ſuggeſts, they ſhould have that proportion or a better part, at leaſt a ſufficiency to buy bookes, keep Hoſpitality, and live like Miniſters in a reaſonable condition.
It was well with Gods Miniſters, when they were at Gods finding, as under the Law; but we, alas, have ſtrait Bowels, and cloſe hands, and God knowes, there is too much of ſelfe in all our boſomes; (& that which checks our forwardneſs, I feare in this particular is) we have too much of their Bread in our owne poſſeſſions. I beſeech thoſe whom this great buſineſſe doth moſt properly concerne, to lay their hands upon their hearts, and ſeriouſly conſider and conſult, which way this Epidemicall ſickneſſe in the Church may bee removed. It would make a mans heart bleed, to ſee how many drunken, ignorant, ſuperſtitious, Prophane Miniſters, are crept into every corner of the land, more abundantly, (I think) in Oxford-ſhire, than in any County againe in the Kingdome: where (to the aggravation of this miſerie) they are in divers places on a ſuddaine turned conſtant Preachers, which ſeldome or never preached before; but yet continue Drunkards ſtill. For the turne of the times hath frighted them into a forme of Preaching, to ſave their livings; but are as ſcandalous as ever in their lives: and ſurely till the baſeneſſe and poverty of the proviſion ſet out for them be reformed, this miſchiefe will not be capable of redreſſe. For you cannot caſt unworthy Teachers out of the Church, untill you have introduced more worthy ſubſiſtance into the Church; if you doe, you may locke up the Church doores; for what men of any gifts will ſupply the cures? It is cōputed that there are in the Kingdom nine thouſand two hundred Pariſh Churches, and upward, whereof neare foure thouſand are impropriate Churches. Beſides many Parſonages are poore, and unable to give entertainment to a godly and diligent teacher, as being abridged and ſpoyled under pretence of long Leaſes, and rate Tithes, in ſtead of Tithes in kinde. In ſome places, ten pound, eight pound, ſix pound, five pound ten ſhillings, per annum, is the Paſtors entertainment for himſelfe and family. This is better known in the Countrey, then it is here laid to heart. Yea in this famous City, which God hath even miraculouſly preſerved from the common calamity, as a little Zoar to hide his righteous Lots in; how have we repayed the loving kindneſſe of the Lord? There are at this preſent (as I am very credibly informed) two and thirty Pariſh Churches in this City, utterly deſtitute of any Paſtors, to break the bread of life to the people; and this defect is given in, chiefely to ariſe from the ſcant and tenaceous ſubſiſtence which the places yeeld to the reſpective Miniſters thereof. To inſtance in Buttolph Alderſgate, where the allowance for the Miniſter is but 16. l. per annum (ſaving 7. l. more, or thereabouts, given by Edward the ſixt, (very hardly paid,) and did not the vicinity of of other Churches in this Populous City, hold forth ſome eaſe and accommodation to ſupply the want of the deſerted Churches aforeſaid, the Inhabitants there muſt neceſſarily have been reduced into as ſad a ſtrait as thoſe in the Countrey, who through the perſecution of theſe times have loſt their Teachers.
Now if things muſt ſtand at this ſtay, what will become of us, and where ſhall wee ſee the fruit of our Reformation? Wee give God good words with our mouthes, but if wee acknowledge him our Lord, where is his honour? Oh that we would ſit downe a while, and reflect into our ſelves, forget our ſwelling thoughts, and look a little backe to the dayes of our Calamity. How did our Pulſes beat three yeares ſince, what Prayers, and Cries, and Teares did wee then ſend up to heaven, in that our low condition? and how did we then lift up our hands and hearts to the moſt high God, and ſweare, and ingage, that we would endeavour a Reformation, as in Religion, ſo in Diſcipline and Government alſo: but what Reformation in Religion and Government, are we or our Poſterities like to joy in, if no effectuall care or courſe ſhould be taken, (as yet I humbly conceive it is not) for the advancement of godlineſſe, and godly Preachers throughout the Kingdome. But we thinks I heare ſome reply, there is no cauſe of this complaint, for the Honourable houſes of Parliament have already made proviſion for augmentation of ſmall livings out of Deane and Chapter Lands, and Delinquent Impropriations. To this I humbly anſwer, that how plauſible ſoever this proviſion may ſeeme at firſt ſight, yet I ſuppoſe it will ſtand at a great diſtance from a full ſupply. For the firſt of theſe, namely Dean and Chapter Lands: Theſe are in part already diſpoſed of another way: as for inſtance, in the County of Oxon, the Deane and Chapter in Chriſt-Church is comprehended under the Articles for Oxford: And the Deane and Chapter at Weſtminſter, and that at Windſor, proviſion is made out of them ſtill, (as I am credibly informed) for divers perſons, that were ſetled in thoſe houſes, and had not ſlewed any diſaffection to the Cauſe. And this being agreeable to common equity and juſtice, I beleeve the ſame rule is obſerved in all other ſuch places alſo. So that the Deane and Chapter Lands are not all diſpoſed of, at leaſt for the preſent, to the ſaid intended uſe.
Beſides all this, divers Counties there are in the Kingdome, which have no Deane and Chapter peculiarly belonging to them: and where there are ſome ſmall Proportions of theſe Lands, lying ſcattered in ſeverall Counties, this is no way conſiderable to ſo great a want. Now for Impropriations, ſince the benefit that ſhall ariſe from them to this uſe, muſt iſſue onelyonly from thoſe that are ſetled in the hands of Delinquents, it cannot bee conceived, that theſe ſhould hold forth any great benefit or ſuccour to the Church: moſt of your Impropriations doubtleſſe being in the hands of Colledges, and Hoſpitalls or of ſuch perſons as are well-affected to the Cauſe.
But that which is alſo a maine obſtruction and Remora to this great Worke, is, (let it bee ſuppoſed, but not granted) that theſe Proviſions before ſpecified, could poſſibly raiſe the maintenance of the Church to ſome reaſonable Competencie: yet how ſhall the Remedy bee applyed? how, or by what meanes ſhall it bee transferred to thoſe that want it? Will you ſuffer Malignant Pariſhes to lye deſtitute of the meanes of their ſalvation, till they feele their miſery, and finde hearts to complaine above. Or can you imagine, that ſuch Pariſhes, as have for this twenty, thirty, forty yeares together been nuſled up under an unpreaching Miniſterie, will all on a ſuddaine hunt about from one County to another for Dean and Chapter Lands; or make inquiſition after Delinquent Impropriations, that out of them, or either of them, they may extract ſome conſiderable ſuſtenance for a godly Miniſter? Surely, you may as well ſuppoſe the Pillars of a Church may hap to walke, or that dead bones will ſtirre, or that a man in a ſwoone will call for a Cordiall, as conceive, that men of unregenerate hearts, and that are alienated from the life of grace, through the ignorance that is in them, will ever ſeek out for an able and ſufficient Paſtor, and meanes for his ſupport. Leave ſuch poore ſoules to the unhappy guidance of their owne corrupt hearts, and doe nothing for them, till themſelves complaine, and then the Lord have mercy on them. Where Viſion failes the people muſt needs periſh; but what will follow? ſurely it will fall heavie ſomewhere in the end. Oh thinke of this, I beſeech you, (I relate to thoſe whom this great buſines doth moſt properly concerne) for plaineneſſe is moſt becoming in the Cauſe of God) thinke of this, whilſt the LORD vouchſafes an opportunity in your hands for th eredreſſe hereof, Yee cannot now ſuffer the Labourers in Chriſts Vineyard to be meanly provided for upon ſo cheap tearms as formerly: For theſe things now cry ſo much lowder in the eares of God, by how much your ingagements have been deeper to reform them. Alas, doe not your hearts yearne, and the bowels of your compaſſions role within you, when you, living here by an eſpeciall providence, under the droppings of heaven, under the plentifull Preaching of the Word, do underſtand of the ſoule-afflictions of your brethren in your reſpective Counties? How would they rejoyce in ſome places to glean after your Harveſt? to heare one of thoſe Sermons once in a monethmonth, which you have, or might partake of, (if your leaſure would permit) every day. The Lord direct your ſpirits that yee may no leſſe ſpeedily than carefully provide that due honour and reward bee given to them that labour in the Word and Doctrine: and that yee may not expoſe poore ſenſeleſſe ſoules to everlaſting ruine, by ſuſſpending your helpe, and leaving of them to ſeek for that which they care not to finde; nay, which they extreamly decline, to wit the means of their ſalvation; but that you would be pleaſed rather to command the Committees of each Countie, to look into the ſtate of the Miniſtery, and to certifie the defects in that particular.
And for the remedy of this great ſickneſſein the Land, the poverty of the Clergy; I think there cannot bee a more effectuall expedient than the buying in of Impropriations. I doubt not, but every man who hath any thing of Chriſt in him, his hand will bee inlarged, and heart inflam'd to ſo worthy a worke.
And in truth, Free-willl Offerings are the moſt accepttable Sacrifices to God. Where we give what is our owne, and coſts us ſomething, ſurely is more pleaſing to the Almighty, then where wee beſtow that wherein we have no intereſt, farther forth than as the iniquity of the times doth caſt it into our hands, though that may come in to help alſo.
Adde to this, that ſome comfort and incouragement would ariſe to the dejected ſpirits of the poore Clergie in divers parts of the Kingdome; if ſuch Vicarages and Parſonages as are exceeding ſmall, as fifty pound per annum, or under, might bee freed in theſe pinching times, from having any Contributions or Quarterings laid upon them. And here (although it may ſeeme a digreſſion from the buſineſſe in hand) yet I cannot but vent my troubled thoughts for the ſpirituall bondage and affliction this whole Nation in all the parts thereof, groans under in theſe diſtempered times, for want of that care and conſcience ſhould bee had, to inſtruct the ignorant in the maine grounds and principles of Religion. Catechiſing is now growne almoſt quite out of uſe amongſt us. Hence it is, ſo many ſtrange, abhorred unheard of opinions have lately ſprung up in divers quarters of the Land; for mens fancies are buſie things, and will ſet themſelves on work where they are not wrought on; and where the underſtanding is left like fallow ground until'd, and hath no ſeeds of Gods word caſt into it, no marvaile if the Divell ſow his tares O that the Honourable Houſes of Parliament would bee pleaſed to take this into their deep & ſerious conſideration, that ſome Directory for Catechiſing may ſpeedily bee ſent into all Churches of the Kingdome, leſt in the roome of formality and ſuperſtition, (for the purging out whereof ſuch care is taken) Atheiſme and palpable prophaneneſſe creepe not in amongſt them. I ſay no more, hee that is wiſe will ponder theſe things, and the man of underſtanding will lay them to heart.
FINIS.
End of the text · William Tipping, The Preachers Plea (1646)