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NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS
OF THE
F A B R I Q^V E
of the Church and
Church-mens
liuings.
By VViLLiAM Too KER Dodloiiti
Diuinitie, his Maieftics Chaplainc
in oriiinarie.
A VST ST. Pfal. J4.
Quart in fraafiine vultit magnificare nomtn Dmini ?
Quart duospopulos tx ynt yullufactre f
Why will you inprxcifenefle magnifie the name of
the Lord? Why will you make two peoples vnto
him of one ?
j LONDON
Printed by Melchiftdeeh Bradwoi
for Ithn I^artoit. 1604.
The Contents.
I
of Paritie attd JmpAritie of gifts.
^ Of Competemie and Incompetencie of
mens lutings, and of the rewards of
mensgtfts or maintenance fo called.
Of Parity and Imparity of mens ImngSy
which arifeth out of the <equalttie or
inequ&litieof mens gifts, and of prefer-
ments fo called.
4
of fingularity andpluralitie of Benefices,
and of thecaufe thereof videlicet, Di-
fpenfations. ,
5 t
Of the friends and enemies of Pluralities.
Of fupportance and keeping of the fa-
bri^ueofthe Church vprtght.
TO THE MOST
MIGHTIE PRINCE
I A M E s by the grace of God
King of Efsglavd, Scotland,
France and Ireland,
Defender of the
Faith.
Oft gracious Souc-
raigne, in all humi-
line I offer to your
learned cenfurCjthc
fruits of my labour, the firft fruits
whergof, as like wile ofmy dutiful
diipofition feuen yeeres before
your Maieftiescomming, as tricl^
fengers of my denoted affection,
I lent into Scotland to meet with
A 2 you.
The Epistle
you, as it were a farre of: Second-
ly I prcfcnted you widi a Booke
at my waiting vpon you in your
late progrefle: And nowagaine,
in time of Parliament, and Sy-
node, the time of reprefentati-
on of all our Church and com-
mon-wealth I haue prefumed of
the like gracious acceptance, alTu-
ring my fclfe that nothing com-
meth amifletoyouof fcholaftical
exercife, that tcndeth to umon^ox:
to nourifhing a fellowlhip and
communion in Eccleliafticallorci-
uill affaires. It remaineth that I
giue, dedicate, and addiif my
felfe and all my ftudies to'your
Highneffc fcruicc: I refume often
into my hands your
and weighing the ponderous fen-
tencc
Dedicator! e.
tcnces ofthat Bookcj I finde none
to import more good to the
Church J then that golden fen-
tencc, or rather incomparably
more precious then all the golde
of Ophy r, in the 41. page of that
Booke; ip2inty the mother ofconfiu
/(on, andenimyto njnitie, Tt>hkh is
the mother oforder -.That is, parity
in the Church once eflablilhed in
the gouernementEccIefiaflicall,
will draw on paritieinthepoliti-
callorciuilleftate. The confide-
ration whereof hath occafional-
ly lead me into this difcourfe, as I
thinke not vnrequifit at this time,
in which parity is fo much ap-
plauded;Your Maieftieknowcth
by particular experience who
they arc that hate all emincncie of
A 3 gifts
The Epistle
gifts, and prscemincncy ofautho-
ritie, and miflike ( vnleffc it be in
themfelues all gouernmcnt and
fuperioririe, who they arc that
would a^quall the Scepter okheir
Prcsbytcrie, or rather aduance it
aboue the Scepter of PrinceSjwho
they are that haue filled all the
world full of needleffe contro-
uerfies^ called all things in qusefti-
on in the church difciplinejfro the
highcfi: CherubinSpto the loweft
pin of the tabernacle 3 who they
are which reproch all iurifdk^ion
ofBifhops, though it be the very
fame that was inthetimcof Con-
Jlantinexht ^rcsitP^heodoJi'us, and
other godly Princes times, and
contemne all degrees of the Vni-
uerfities & other digniteis of Ga^i
thedrall
Dedicatorie.
thedrall Churches: who they arc
that would take away all plurali-
ties, and maintenance of learned
men, and reduce all inequalities
to an equalitie, and arc profcfled
enemies to the Hierarchy of the
Church, and would bring all to
popularitie,or Democracy, and
afterwards to Anarchie, if their
dcfignes might take cfFed and
place. Looke what pleafure or
paines they take of the fadion in
demolition of churches, whether
it be by hand, or hand-writing, fo
much or^ great dealemore, my
delegation & trauel is according
to my fmall talent, for the fup-
portancc, and vpholding of the
fabrique of the fame. Your Ma-
icftic as a Chriftian mufl:
bcarc
The Epistle.
bcare the whole frame, wee of
your clergy as fupporters. Moft
matters are wel calmed with your
good moderation ( if no after
tcmpefl:dotharile)asmy hope is
and praicr to almightie God for
the pcrpetuitie of the peace of
Gods Church, and for your Ma-
iellics and your royallilTucs
happic preferuation.
London. 2.
Tour MdeJiies mojl
humhU chap/erne
W. Too K E R.
OF P A RIT I E
and imparitie of
mensgifts.
N common expe-
rieiice of this life,
&iii the vfiiali traf-
fickeof mens wits,
whether it bee in
Church or Com-
mon-weale, is moft
clearely feene, as in a Chryftall glalTe,
the great diuerfitie of mens gifts;
iJi'Lens, becaufe they are giuen vnto
meiii neuerthelefle, as defcend-
ing from God , who although he owe
vs nothing, yet bcfloweth all things of
his abundant bountie and fuperabun-
dant grace. In contemplation and
view of fbraanygratious gifts ihining
roundabout vs, no man may grudge
B or
ofpmtie and'mpmne
of coinplaine againft his God, that he
hath giuen him nothing; for the poo-
reft wretch is inrichedwith fomcpor-
tion of the fubftance of his grace : no
one can glorie or bragge, no not tlie
richeft of his creatures, Angels and
Archangelsjthat they haiie recciucd all
things.
Thisinfinit varietie and garnifltof
Gods gifts doth Ihew it feife eucric
where, but no where fo much refplcn-
diiheth as in the Garden or Paradfe of
Gods Church heere vpon eartli mili-
tantj whereby we may gather what is
the glorious gliftering of the Church
triumphant : There are diuerfities of
i.Cor.u. gifts, butitistbefelfe-famelpirit, dif-
fcrenccs of adminiftrations , but k is
thefelfe-fame Lord; dinersmanersof
operationsjbut iris thefelfc-lame God
which worketh all in all: and all this is
giuen to profit withall or edification,
which is all in all. To one is giuen the
word ofWifdome; to another, the
word ofKnowledge; to another,Taith
healing, Power operatiue,Prophefie,
Difcerning of fpirits , to other,' diuers
hinds
of mens gifts. 5
kindsoftongues, or interpretation of
tongues : and the Spirit that workcth
in euerie one, diuidcth to eueric one
euen as he will. To Ibme one man are
giuentwOj or three, or hue talents of
the grace of God, to be well vied and
to be employed to Gods gloryjbecaule
they are the talents of his Sandluarie:
and when a man commeth to make his
audit, the account will be heauic to be
made, ifthe occupier be either a lloth-
full and vnthriftie leruant or an euill
ftorer. The incomparable excellency
of all fuch gifts doth eftfoones draw
me to the admiration of the gifts,fome-
times to the praile of God the giuer,
who hath giuen fich gifts to men, ne-
tier to dildaine or reproch the men
whom God himfelfe hath honoured
with fuch high titles , inuefted with
fuchfacred fundions and offices gra-'
tioufly vouchlafed offuchpraseminent
gifts which are for the honour and ler-
nice of himfelfe, leaft of alt to equall all
thofe men in matter of preferment,
whom Gods owne right liand hath gi-
1 • /- .
uen a precedencie, and made inferiour
B 2 and
Mil
r
4 Ofparhk and imparme
and vnequall one vnto another by a
certaine prerogatine of his celeftiall
gifts.
This is certainCj God neiier gaue a-
ny (uch gifts, bnthewould haue them
to be honored j and it is as certaine^the
gifts are diners which are to be honou-
red : which becaiiie I would haue it the
plainer to appeare, I will inlarge a little
more of the diuerlitie of mens gifts, to
make a way to that which folloTv eth in
this fhort Dilcourfc of competencie
and incompetencie of mens linings,
which is called maintenance j and of
equalitie and inequalitie of linings,
which is termed preferments j and con-
fequently, of fingularitie and pluralitic
ofBenences, and ofthecanfe thereof,
which is Difpenfation; and laftly, of
the enemies and friends of the lame.
As in a great Lords or Princes houle,{b
it is in the Church of God, which is
Gods houle , there are diners offices
and diners lernices, and euery one is
promoted to an higher or lower place,
according to the qualitieof his delerts
and gifts 5 whereupon groweth fuperi-
oritie
of mens gifts. 5
oritie or inferioritie in cuery well-difci-
plined hoiiie.
In the Oeconomie of the Church
there are many orders and degrees of
men all tending from imperfedion vn-
to perfection, that the man of God
may be made perfed. Some excell one
another in the lame gift: Some, and
thole few,excel in ail thofe gilts. Some
are noiiices new planted them-
Iclues, and newly implanting others.
Some, whofc praile is in the Golpel by
long continuance and well delcruing;
God forbid all ihould be proportioned
to one and the like reward. Some Tea-
chers,ableto giue milke and notllrong
meat; other, both milke and ftrong
meat. I haue nouriihed you with milke
and not with meat: lome haue need of
milke, and not offtrong meat. Euery
one that vleththe milke ofCatechilme
or inllrudion is vnskilfullof tlie word
of righteoufnelle, for he is a babe in
Chrillianitie, but ftrong meat belong-
ethtothem that are ftrong or perfed,
euen thofe which by reafon of vie,
haue their wittesexercifed todilcernc
B 2 both
6 ofpantiedndiwj/Arkie
both good and euill.
The Church of Chrift alvaies had
Readers, Catechifts, Preachers : by
Readers, I meanc not onely Readers in
Diuinitie coiitrouerfiall,'fuch as are in
the Vniuerficies j but Readers of the
Scriptures, which is an inferior office;
And Catechifts, whether you take
Catechifir.efor generall inftruclion,or
for fummarie teaching of the Articles
and principles of faith, which is a com-
pendious kinde of preaching, Rich as
Deogratias and Heradai^t Carthage,
and alfb Preachers of the word, which
is a more honourable calling : Who '
will gaine~fay thcleto be all wqorthy
of reward ? VVlio will fay them to be
dcignid or thought woorthie of the
like reward ? The Apoftles had their
Deacons , the Apoftolicall men
their Euangelifts companions and
fellow labourers: the ancient BilRops
their afliftants and coadiutours, but
they had not the like honor and the*
fame reward. Neither is it probable
they had the like gifts 13. in
the Church which was at Antipch,
there
0f mem gifts, 7
there were certaine prophets and tea-
chersj as Barnabas zwAStmoo that was
called Nigerand Lucita, and Manahen
and Sauli doubtlellc their gifts were
diners, and inequall the one to the
other. Yea the Apoftles themlelucs
were not indued with knowledge and
other gifts all alike; fome ot them
arc laid to be Column&y as Saint lames
and Cephas and John pillars of
Church; Paule planted; Apollo wa-
tered the Church of God : ^poUo is
laid'to be cA/^W©- Kh/of, mightie or
powcrfull and eloquent 5 orskilfull or
ful ofperfwafion in the Scriptures5but
as a wife archited or builder of
the Church J or to lay the foundations
of many Churches, and to take care of
many congregations, or labour more
then all. The more laborious the
workeman isjthe more woorthy ofthe
greater reward; according to the gift
and grace of God men doe labour in
the worke of the Lord. Euen as it is in
the hofte of heauen or firmament of
his power, one Itarre differeth from
another in glor)'', and yet all ftarres of
B 4 what-
Y'
' "li
S\
/■
8 ofpAritie andmpari tie
whatiocuer magnitude, are Fa fa luciij
vef&isfuUoflight, fois it in the Hie-
rarchy of his Church; all Minifters &
Paftors, and Teachers are profitable
inftruments and neccilary implements
of the fame houle, although not all of
the fame honour and dignitie, nor
equall one to other in place or pre-
ferment, or like fuperioritie, or en-
dowed with paritie or idenditie of
Gods gifts: yet all replenifhed infome
meaflire with fulnefic, as fandlified
veffcls with the light of Gods grace:
The diuerfitie of gifts are in all forts of
men of great multiplicity and variety,
and euery one hath not all but as plea-
feth God to difpenfe to euery one:
and therefore the like in^equalitie may
be amongft Minifters, as amongft
othpr men. Now albeit S. Paule fetteth
doWne Js tt were a certaineldaa or a
perfect fmpUr of an abfolute Minifler
for all to aime vnto the fame, yet I
nothing doubt many more come
fhort, then attaine vnto thefamcj Tit,
i.5.<z^.H77Vlpyo6'i'£>K^«T©-, If a ixian be
without reprehenfion or blame, the
husband
cf mens gifts. * g
husband of one wife, hauing faitlifull
children ^ not accufable of riot or vn-
traclable, for a Biiliop muft be blame-
leffe or without reprehension , &c.
iuL'a,T@-, able tO Cxllort ill
Sound dodlrine,'^
to conuince the gain-Saier : S. Pau/e
vleththe word thriSe, i.Tmoth. 3. A
Biflrop mult be blameleffe or without
rcprehenfion, that is, both for his
doctrine and gifts, and for his life
and coniierlation J and lb in the wordc
'£hcw7iQt or Bidiop.iocludcth all Mini-
fters J who muft be perfedly endued
with all the enablements by S. Paul in
that & other places largely defcribed;
yet againe, who doth not know that
eueryBillhop and Minifter cannot be
of perfedeft knowledge and incom-
parable gifts which are there requi-
red, as in the point of perfedion or
thatwhichisSuperlatiue, which can
agree but to one. Are all Prophets?
Are all Dodors? doe alllpeake with
tongues ? Do all interpret? My Illatiue
therefore is tharof neccfl[itiej"tlKMi-
nifters euery where v/hich are tea-
chcrs
chers of the people, whether in mat-
ter ofbeliefe or of vertuous life and
the knowledge of the fame, can nei-
therinftru<a: nor teach, but according
to the proportion of their own know-
ledge and of their owne gifts where-
with they are endued : And for all to
attaine to the point of perfedion of
gifts is a thing incredible, and to ob-
taine the fame gift is a matter impoflS-
ble 3 and neuerthelefle, they may co-
uet after and feeke for thebeft gifts, at
left let before their eies as imitable
and admirable, the Idaea or fampler
of aBifhoporMinifter, furnifhed or
enriched with all thefe gifts : Tou-
ching degrees of learning and other
requifites for the Minifteryjit is worth
the while to confider, and weigh that
Kitrtnj.ai which Saint Hierom hath profeffedly
ce*aou.tf.2^, Jifputed aiid written of the fame: As
Orators and Philofbphcrs (faith he)
when they defcribe what Orator and
Philofopher they would wilh to haue,
. do none iniury to Vemojlheats or Pd-
/f, (who perhaps arc not fbpcrfed)
but defcribe the things without the
pcrfons ;
1
/
of mUts gifts, I r
pcrfons: So in the defcription of a Bi- i[j
fhop, and in the cxpoiition of thofe
things that be written, a gUffe SAcerdo^
tij of Priefthood or Miniftery is fet
before vs. In that Saint PauL (faith he)
rcquireth a Bifhop without a fault, or
without reprehenfion j he comprc-
hendethinoncallvertues, and requi-
reth almoft athing Contnxry to nature.
And fpeaking of variety ofgiftsof Ec- r.
clcfiaiUcall men, (he (aith) Many doe
treat well vpon the Golpels, but in
expounding the Apohlej are not like
themlelues: others that very well vn-
derftand the new Teftament, yet in
die Plalmes and old Teftament are
dumbe: This I (ay (laithS. Hierom)
hecaule euery one cannot doe all; And
againe, God hath giuen diuerle pre-
cepts and manifold vermes, all which
euery of vs cannot haue at once. So it
commeth to palfe, that which is ex-
cellent and perfed: in fome, is in other
but in part: And he that hath not all,
is not blameable, nor condemned for
that he hath not, but iuftified & com-
mendedfor that he hath. An inftance
he
12 Ofpdritie And imparitie
he giucth of this in Biiliops and Mini-
fters : Triiely God would haue all Bi-
fhops and Miniiters to be fuch as the
veflell of Eledtion teacheth diem to
be. Firft, in that he faith, a Bidiop
muft be without feiilf, either there is
none fuch, or a very rare man: Who
is there that hath not fome wart or ble-
raifh in a body otlierwifc faire, as Pe-
ter himfelfe had : dien to be the huf-
band of one wife, (bber, &c. admit
you do find them 5 that which follow-
cth ^'c/kx77)c©-^ he that can teach, with
the other vertucs ye Jhall liardiy finde:
I am of opinion you fliall hardlie
finde fuch as fhall be acculed of none:
efpecially yee fhall hardly finde him
that i's sw>"t77)c©-, able to refift the ad-
uerfaries , or conuince erronious opi-
nions. So that there u none, or hee U
very rare, that hath all that a BilBop
ought to haue, and yet though one or
two things in the catalogue of Bi-
fhops vertues be wanting, he (ball not
thereupon want the name of a iuft Bi-
Ibop or fit, neither fhall be condem-
nedfordiathehathnot, but fhall be
crowned
of mens gifts. 13
crowned for that he hath: for to hune
(ill andwant nothwg, is his peculiar vcr-
tue who finned not, and in whofe
mouth is found no guile. To want
fbme one or other gift, is ordinary; to
be equal] or matciies one to another,
is rare and extraordinary; to excel one
anothetjis commendable; tobeinfc-
riour and one beneath the other, is not
difpraifable; to be an exad Preacher
and Pulpit-man, is profitable to the
Church: leant iliall you find two men
of the lame gift; lb me haue gracefull
eloquution & vtterance, or a Iweet de-
liuerance; Ibme others, fubtiltie and
lharpenellc ofwit; Ibme make great
lliew ofReading and Learning; fomc
are able to anatomize the conlciencc;
Ibme better moiie and ftirre vp affedi-
on; fome the gift of explication; Ibme
of application : all trees are not of one
growth or proceritie, all fruits of one
ripeneflfe and maturitie, all flowers of
one hue and beautie. All Students in
an Vniucrfity ofone Handing and pro-
ficiencie,all Minifters of one degree of
learning, or of one qualitie in gifts, or
of competence And imompetencte
in cocquality of the preferment apper-
tcining to the gifts, my colledion is
out of the parity and imparity of mens
gifts, and lb by conlequence of mens
deferts rifeth the cquiity or inequali-
ty of mens linings : howbeit,allmuft
haue competencies; of which I will
treat in the next place.
Chap. i.
ofcompetencie andmcompetencie
of mens linings.
T is commonly dcba<i!,
ted, what is a compe-
tent lining for a Mini-
fter of the Word, and
what is incompetent,
and what is thecanlc
of fnch incompctencie, and whetlier if
any mans lining be incompetent and
infufficient, lomevvhat may be drawen
or derined from other men their in-
crealesand liifficiencies, and the fame
added to the infnfficiencie and fmall
maintenance of another: and lb to ac-
commodat and fita!lmcnas/'r^7r«//ci
did his bed for men of all ftatnrcs by
cutting
cfmenslmings. 15
cutting of fomcjand ftretching out the
Ihorteft to the length of the other.
As for C<7Wji'^r«fw/<fofeftate andthc
benefit of contcntation, is a matter cc-
'iJ?* nerally prclcribed vnto all, whether
J ; they be of Laity or Clergy, ofhigh or
' ^ ® low degree, Counleller or mcane per-
Ibn jPrince or fubiedjand delcribed by
the Apoftle 5 hailing vtBum ^ veHi'
timii food and raimentjlet vs therewith
be content. Wherein the rule is. Let
cuery man ftay or remainc in tliccah
iilyiAi" ling whereunto he is called, and not
acoif- alpire higher or aboue his degree, as
fjjfc the faihion ofIbmc is, to towre loftier
or(l,aii{ ftill with the wings of reftlefle ambiti-
(ipetcii; on : and Diuines of all other muft en-
kaul! dcuour themftlues to attaine the be-
iVaaait nefit ofthis contentation, not defirous
ciM»i of filthie lucre or vnmeaftirable pur-
ckffl chafes, or ftudying nothing els; from
jiciiif.- which imputations I thinke they ar«
lefaiK freeft of all men ; for if we looke into
d W their priuatc eftates, fb many paiments
otoic- ordinarily in a maner ifluing out of
'nnh their lining, their hofpitalitie extend-
est/ ing to the vttermoft of their abilitie,
iiting thck
16 Of competencie andincompetericie
their pouertieeiiery where fhewingit
lelfe.with naked face, before and alter
their dcceaies; infomuch , tliat if any
of th«m tliriue through his induftricj
alwaics foreprifed the biclling ofGod,
all their defire and prouidence is, but
to faue themfelues from reprochc of
the world andflarke beggcrie. And I
fee no caufe they fhouid not make lio-
ncil prouifion for themfelues and their
familie,and thriue in the feare of God,
being free and no bond-men, being ci-
tizens and no aliens from the Com-
mon-wealch in which they line.
But to returne where I was, with-
out apparent digrelTion. All the que-
ftionis. What is a competent lining,
and whatis incompetent and vnfitfor
a man of the Church ? And whether
tliis competencie confiil: in the quanti-
tie and number ofBenefices, as ofma-
ny, or in the qualitie or goodnefle of a
Benefice,as ofone ? And whether that
Benefice which is fit for one able and
fufficientMiniffer, be alfocompetent
and fit for another fbmewhat infiiffidi-
enter perfon, hauing the fame eflepce
or
cfnens Imings, 17
or being in the Miniftery5becaufe they
arc both iayd to be ofone coat : And
further, whatfquare or meafurc euery
one that iTialbe Co promoted to a com-
petent lining fhall be meafiired by ?
And laftly, who ihalbc Judge ofcom-
pctciicie and incompetencie, as of the
whole matter ?
To beginne with that firft, which I
propofed lahj The Judge
of all this muft be the Laj)^, or the Ma-
gilJrate who is Lex loquens ^ J meanc
theiupreame Magiftrate who is inter-
elfed in all Eftates, the Prince and
other Judges and Minifters of Ecclefi-
afticall La"wes; for if euery man ihould
be Judge, and not according to Lawes
on tliis behalfe prouided , we Ihould
haue an olde a doe to accommodate
euery man.
Now for the Law, it hath alreadie
defined who thai haue a Benefice,with
cureofibules, whofe clearely valuers
thirde pound and aboue : and wlio
fball haue vnder the value aforefayd;
'videlicet, a Preacher duelie qualified
with gifts , authorized to preach by
C the
f
18 Ofcompetemk Miimompeteme
tlic Biihop 5 or either of tlie Vniucrfi-
tiesj or graduated in Diiiinitic, or (hall
cnioy a Benefice of thircie pound, or
abouc that value; and for other Bene-
fices vnder that value, men of meaner
gifts,and of vnder delerts,may obtaine
the fame. All which is fo well fetled
already, that itneedeth no innouation
which IS dangerous, nor further limi-
ration or reftridion which is incom-
modious, if efpccially this be well loo-
ked vnto and executed by the Fathers
of the Church and Spirituallludges,
all is well. As for the norme or Iquare
whereby they lhall be fquared alway,
is the paritie and imparitic of mens
gifts and merits, obleruing by the way
this for a rule. Where no exception is
to be taken to the life and conuerfati-
on of the man , admitting they arc
Both to be preferred to a competent k-
uing, and both honcft and godly men,
the learneder of the two muft carry it
away. And in cafe the lining cateru
parihui, be mcanc or finall, it may be
competent and fit for a meane learned
man ; for if it be abiblutely incompe-
tentj
ofwensliuings. ip
tent, it is fit for no man : and to make
all mens linings competent a like, and
to range them in an equalicie,is a work
of the wiieli man aline, whether the
proportion ofeqnalitie prone to be A-
rithrneticall or Geometricall,itlhalbc
a worke to bufie die wifell; man.
To come therefore to that which
was principally propofed and in the
firft place, What is a competent li-
ning for an Ecclefiafticall man : I
donbtnot, if yonlliould allemblean
hundred men , they may chance to
prone of an hundred mindes: Qmt ca.
j)tta tot fenfa ; So many men ib many
mindes. How often hane I heard it
blaterated by diners new-fangled fel-
lowes, that fortie or perhaps fiftie, or
at the v':termofi: an hundred pound is
fiitficientforanhoneft man, or forth?
honefieft of vs all. And by an honeft
man, as they weigh in their ballance
of confideration Honefry itfelfe, they
ineane the graiieft Diiiine, the lear-
nedeftPreacher, the profoundelt Do-
^or of longed ftiidy and continuance:
fo that by this propordon, if the moft
C 2 reucrend
20 ofcomfetenc'ie andincompetemte
reiiercnd Father of the Primitiue
Church were aliue, the learuedell Bi-
iTiop of the auncient flouriffiing
Church J the excellentellDodor and
painfulleft Paftours were conuerfant
amongfl; theirij fuch as Cyprim BiBiop
of Carthage, aBifnop and Martyr/ucii
as Chryfoftome Archbifhop of Conjlan-
tinople^ the golden mouthed Dodlor,
fiich as K^mbrofe Bilhop of (Jlidlaine,
fuch as Epiphan 'iui Billiop of ConftaKtia
mCyprm, a man of incomparable in-
duftrie & paines taking in the church,
or as S. AuHin Bifhopof Hippo in A-
fiique^ and an hundred more whom I
could rehearfe, were amongft them.
if^. Hlerome-sN\io was a Presbytcr,and
no Bifhop,termed Kjl'lagtHer crhii ter-
rarurn, were at their finding, or to be
preferred by them ; if all the famous
men for writing or preaching were a-
mongft them, they mufl: haue but a li-
uing competent & fitting one of their
honefi: men, and muft not haue a li-
uing for men of their eftate. There is
no refpedto be had to their Epiico-
pall honour or Docloralldegree,or to
any
\
cf mens litmgs. 2 r
ma any termes of liofpitalitie, or to tlieit
ItBi- attendance & familie, or other things
hna coincident to their callings or ertate,
Mini fo t'lc fiirniniing or increafing of
xifffit their Librarie, which ibine yeeres may
BilBop chance to coif them the whole or halfc
/r/iicli profits of their benefice: The Minifter
or Paftour of what qnalitie ibeuerjgra-
loijQf duat or vngraduat, mufthaiie no more
jjjjijij, than one of their honeft men, the reft:
muft be exonerat fome other way, as
j. matter of fuperfluitie.,
As competent i^en is all that which
is fiifficient and enough for the main-
tenance of a Minifter in his place, fo
alio it is that which is agreeable to the
credit and dignitie of his place, and a
meet reward futable to his degree ta-
ken in fthooles, anfwerable to the
efaBM eiriinency of his gift, and fomewhat
^ proportionable to his paines and con-
tinuall labour in the Church of God:
ifthei' Minifter be called to fight
with wants, and encounter with ne-
ceffitieshis calling of all other is a la-
0CO' borious calling, and his worke cannot
chooft but be often interrupted. If his
m C 3 1«PP^
2 2 of competencie mA incompetemie
happc therefore be to arriue vpon a
Benefice'of ao.I.or 30.I. by the yccre,
and that be to foiall or incompetent
for the fupportance of his eltatc, I fee
no reafon why another may not be
added to the iormer for the ampliati-
on of his lining ^ and bettering of his
eftate, neuerthelefle with fuchcauti-
0ns & limitations of diftance of miles,
and number of fcrinons, many or
more, as in cafe of pliiralitie the law
hathprouidcd. Hecre oftcrethitfelfc
to be difcufled whether competency
confifl; in the quantitie and number of
benefices'or in the qualitie and good- \
nefle of a benefice as of one. The vul-
gar opinion and popular error is to ac-
count eiiery two benefices of fhiall va-
liditie and little woorth to be two li-
uings, or two good benefices collated
vpon one man, to be two mens linings
and too much for one : whereas two
good benefices ioined together make
but one competent lining. And one
benefice equivalent to tw o maketh
Ifill but a lining for a learned man.
^Vho would not be glad to haue both
his
ofmeris Ituings, 3 3
'3 his benefices adioine and lie necre to-
^ gether, or in cafe they lie, to the di-
fiance of thirtie miles or Ivnder,' dif^
fe ioined the one from the other, fo that
'h the dutic of places, in gining of fa-
1®- cred and facramentall things be al-
fiii waics difcharged J byhimfelfe or his
JUti- fufficient depntie, it amounteth but tO
ilcs, one mans lining flill, for pluralities of
«ot linings is an offence or fcandall, quAtd-
«fe tius, or in regard that fauour or Indu^-
itltltf gence is affoorded to an vnwoorthy
WW man whom the law fhould not fa-
bi uour: And non Reftdej^ce is a faulte,
»(W qUiXteniti as men vnder a charge, are de-
eviil- flitute of infirudiion or disfurnilhed
to3c- of fpirituall food and teaching* I will
illva- not poffitiuely fbt downe what is com-
wolf petent : for that which is competent
id or fufficient for a man of meane gifts,
ai® may be altogether incompetent for a
m man of incomparably greater gifts,
nalc Let this fuffife, that magu S' mnr*} funt
00c tn Relatione, great and leffe are in re-,
jlfll lation : out of my owne iudgemcnt I
a/j. will fet downe nothing : yet I will re-
od member \^'h5t a man of graue iudge-
his ? 4
24 Ofcompetencie 4»d wcompetericie
ment and long -experience did Tome-
time delineate & fet downe for a com-
petent lining for a preacher well ftii-
died, richly gifted, double or treble
graduated in the Vniuerfities. Settle
•5113 ' ^ ofyoLir com-
* ^ paffe in a that is the-
center or parifh Church,
draw your perimeter or
j ^ circumference ^ femidi-
ameter the parifh fhall
be in circuit and breadth
fo manie miles as may
make a competent lining
intythes for a learned and Ecclefiafti-
call man. Howbeit becaufe this opi-
nion fhall be neither approoued nor
reprooued by me, and becaufe this de-
lineation and proied tendeth to the
disbounding and difunion of parifhes
which is caufelefle and to an alterati-
on ofmatters fb wel fctled, which can-
not eafily be agreed vpon hy the pet-
irons of parfjhes,&c is wholly needlcfle.
Let that ftand for competent which
the fauour of Princes and Nobles, pri-
niledge of lawes, and ad of Parlia-
ment
^
ofmem liuings. 2 5
ment doth cali vpon the Minifters,
I fay all that which the defert of men
of learning dotli inure or lawfully
procure towards the maintenance of
their degrees or furniihing of their
libraries, or nourifhing of their fami-
lies, or holding on termes of holpita-
litie, and giuing to the poore; In cafe
any lining be incompetent, as fundrie
liuings be, let the blame thereof reft
where deferuedly the blame doth lie:
Let them furrender that are willing to
yeeld vp the Impropriations. Such as
the Abbeys difpoiled the Church far
and neere, as for the coadtiue power
of law to enforce a furrender, were
fummum iui, and for power perfwa-
flue, it is all in vaine: I fay not onely
euery learned man indeed ihouldhaue
two Benefices to make vp the compe-
tency ofhiseftatej but men of little
woorth, and many vnwoorthy men
fhould hauc euery one his fingle Be-
nefice, and of all thefe crauers not one
of them fhould lacke: But forafiuuch
for the hardneffe of mens hearts, this
is not likely to come into the hands of
the
2 6 ofcompetencieandincompetenc'ie
the holy Church againe from pro-
phane hands, andbyreafon they are
bought and foldc, by other vnlawfull
merchandize chopped and changed,
and to fpcake as men would haue vs to
(j^eakc, at the ltd degenerated into a
lay fee; I could in all godly zeale de-
fire and wilh the proprietaries and
leafees of fuch impropriat linings , to
imitate the godly precedents of foine
Cathedrall and Collegiat Churches
intheVniuerfities&; elfe where, who
ofpure andperfeddeuotion, enlarge
tlie Vicars endowed, withibmeaddi-
tion or ftipend, or the Donatiue wddi
fome more ample contribution, for
the labourer is woorthy of his reward:
as for the loiterer he is woorthy of no-
thing. There is no reafon to difrobe
learned men of their linings which
they hold by law, and haue continued
therein in many Princes times, be-
cauie the Impropriations leaue not a
competcncic for the Vicars and Cu-
rates of the place. Let it be rather de-
talked from thole who are ten times
woorfethentlie Abbey lubbers were.
ofmenslmings. 27
for they offended in idlencfle andful-
neife of bread, and yet reliened with
their bread the coiintrey round about,
and did many things to the glory of
God, although they erred in the
meanes which kadeth thereunto: but
the other offend in auarice and pride,
and vnmercifulneffe to the poore in*all
manerofwickednefle and fuperfluitie
of malicioufncfle; A medicine for this
ihall be, if the Bilhop lliall prouide
for eucry fuch deflitute place, a godly
Curate, an edifying and inflmdiue
feruice, with fbme augmentation of
ftipend from the proprietaries or lea-
lies, for certaine fermons in the yeere,
for eiiery fuch lining will prooue in-
competent for a learned man, as the
cafe now flandeth; Leauer (laid well)
in a ferrnon in king Edward the fixt
daies,Nothing is fo Papifticall as
impropriations: nodiingfb
Anabaptifticall as pa-
rity of linings.
Chap,
2 S OfpArkie or equ.tlttie
Chap. 3.
0/paritie or equditie and imparhie
of mens Itutngs.
Rom parity or imparity'
of mens gifts ipringeth
parity or imparity of
mens liuirtgs 5 for al-
though fome are fo ma-
leuolent and iniurioiis to allot an equa-
litie in the affignment of Church li-
uings 3 yet none I hope fhall be found
fo vnconlcionable to allowthat which
is abfblutely incompetent for an Ec-
clefiafticall lining. A necelTary proui-
fion muft be made for all, and this ma-
xime or rule is generall : He that mi-
niftreth about holy things, may eat of
the things of the Temple j euenfothe
Lord hath commanded thofe which
preach the Gofpell, to line on the Go-
ipell. He that waiteth on the altar,
muft line on the altar or partake with
altars oblations. No man planteth a
vineyard, but eateth of the fruit. No
man feedeth a flocke, but eateth ofthe
milke of his flocke No man goeth
to
and mpmtie of mens imings. 2p
to this Spirituall warfare at hisowneDcut.if.-^
charge. The law of Nature teacheth
tiiisvi»^ ^iofes kxc alfo. Thou lhalt not
muzzle the mouth of the oxe that trea-
dethoutthecorne. Hath God care of
oxen and hath he not much more care
of men ? Ifwe fow Ipirituall thingSjWe
are worthy of carnall. Confent of all
nations is the law of Nature. In the
Schoole of Naturall reafon this is
taught: They that watch ouervs, and
labour for vsjinuft be recompenfed by
vs. For this caufe we pay tribute vnto
Kings 5 wages or ftipends vjito Soul-
diersj falary vnto Judges; tithes vnto
Clergy-men: becaule the King gouer-
nethall; theSouldier fightethforall;
tlie Judge or learned Lawyer heateth
&: determineth all; the Leuite &Prieft
prayeth for & preacheth vnto all, catc-
chileth & inftrudeth all. Let him that
is catechized make him that catechi-
(eth partaker in all his goods or in all
good tilings. Hieromjiifer i .Mallachy.
Quodquifacerenoluerit, Dominifiaudat^'
He that will not do this^
defraudethCodj &c. We inuft giue
.V vnto
30 of f-aritkor equdttie
^'iguj}. 119, to God tliat which is Gods: giuc vnto
jermjuptr Cicfar that which is Ca?(ars. There is
""" nation fo barbarous that will robbe
his Gods J no people or generation lb
pernicious and hurtiull to godlinefle,
thatwilprofefledly robbe the feruants
and Minifters of his or their God.
Tithes, oblations, donations are not
the goods, or debts of the Church-
men or Clergy as they arc either good
or badClergie-men 3 but as they are,
fimply Clergie-men: vnlefle therefore
Chriftian men will be w orfe than hea-
then,they are bound in confcience and
conllrained by the law of Qod, to pay
their due to Gods Mmifters, that God
may for paiment of the tenth part lend
downe his blelhng ypon the other
nine parts : eipecially open the- win-
dowes of heauen and powre downe
his fpirituall rainc and blelTing. This
matter being controuerfilelle , That
tithes prajdiall and perlbnall of all and
cuery fort belong to Church-men by
alllawes j that lands, and glebes, and
houfes,as to the Leuites ofolde, cities,
and iiiburbes and fields j fo tothcLer
uitcs
and impart tie oj mens Ihmgs. 3 r
liitcs of the Ney/teftament, by the li-
beralitie and endowments of Princes
and other zealoiifly denoted perfons
appertaine,all whicii maketh for a per-
petnitie and ertablilhinent of good
things thorowont all generations, and
for athankeful reknowledgementthat
we haiic all rcceiued thelc and many
moe good things from the hand of
heauen. I will infift no longer in this
matter, whereof all books diuine and
humane, allftoriesEcclefiafticall and
prophane are full fraught.
Sithencc therefore no queftion is
to be llirred about this, vtdelicet, That
a portion of our (iiblbance is due to ho-
ly Church and to fuch as attend the
feruiceofGod : it will rather be que-
ftioned, What portion is due, and bow it
jimldbe proportioned whicliis payable
to the MiniftersjWhether to allalike it
ought to be equally diftributed, fith
all are equally Miniiters touching the
eflenceofthe Miniftery,and do all mi-
nifter about holy things; or whether
fome muft haue more, and fome leflej
fith all are one mans feruants, that is,
God
5 2 ofpAritle or equalttie
God and man , the man I cfiis Chrid:,
Andwhethcr itbenot an
acceptation of perfonsor iniufticefor
Aeqmlibmimqmlta tribuere aut injequA-
libm aqudu, to diftribnte to thofc who
are eqiiall vncqiiall things, or to vne-
quail perfons equall things; that is to
accept the pcrlbns of men^which is an
o^pofite and repugnant to diftributiuc
lurtice. Firft heare, that it may be bet-
ter vnderftood, in laying outthe equa-
litie 5 and calling forth the line and le-
uell of this diftribution of liuings of
the Church, the eye of ciuill or eccle-
fiafticall luftice mull bee fixed vpon
the magnitude or exiguitie, vpon the
greatnelle or fmallnelfe of mens me-
rits J that he that meriteth more iTiould
alwayes haue more, he that meriteth
lelfe fhould haue lefle reward : of
which equalitie the Law it lelfe ought
to be the keeper and obleruer. And
this may be xtxmtA.TLproportmAblec-
qualitiejnotablblute nor Arithmetical
which is very ncere Anabaptillicallj
which dillindion is once fit to be layd
downe ^ becaufe there is often vie of
die
andimparitie ofmens liurngs. 3 3
the lame in the bulinefle now in hand.
Benefices Ecclefiaihcall, are like in
this CO Benefices Military or lecular.
Forasfuch arc giuentofouldiors and
leniitersin the warre for their faithfuU
and truilie feruices, lb thelc Ecclefia-
fticall or facred Benefices to men or-
deinedtotheMinifterie for the better
execution of their lacred Minifterie
and holy offices, and are alio reimi-
nerations of their painefull ftudies: In
Militarie affaires, all that leriicd re-
ceiuednotoneand the lame reward:
but diflferent honour, wages, or Iti-
pend, more or lelfe pay: a common
Ibuldior had not like entertainement
to a Captaine, to a Lieutenant or Co-
lonell and the reft, in and after leruicc
done, the Generallofthe field or Em-
perour diuided vnto them as eueric
man was more or lefte forward or me-
ritorioLis : witneftes vnto this ( after
the battell) the mancr of the auncient
Romanes jwhich was Ob dues feruatos,
for Citizensfaued in time of warres,to
giuc garlands or crovenes, Ibme laurell,
other of oken leaues, or holme or luch
D like
i
firril, aierea
p'chiribw tie-
mijfa mitttli
pendent.
« Bcnefichim
ePres Rctlefi-
'* - a qit.t fa^
'I -vcl rle-
'j -crum
ierittv? yr"
'ifperpe-
.m cone ai"
itr, Duaren,
,.Z- de farr.
iecl. M uifi,
at Btnejic^s,
34 ofparitie or e qualm e
likejfbme ofgolde, or to giucorna-
inets,as iewelsjchainesjbefides the fti-
pciid or pay due vnto them: Now yec
know the fervice of God is called a
warfare, & none ought to go this war-
fare on his owne charge, but muft be
prouided for by the Church, which
Church is a vineyard: eiiery dreflcr of
a vineyard is not of like skill & indu-
ftrie. TheChurchis aflocke,and Mi-
niftera (bepheard, butallfhepheards
haue not like hire or wages, or are of
like defert or paines taking j lacoh kept
Lab an s ihecpe & his own; and for his
painful feruice had double reward and
encreafe of reward. Some flocks are
greater then other, and mult be com-
initted to more difcreet and watchfull
ouerfeers ; Euen fo in Benefices or
paftorall charges, the greater cures arc
to be deliuered oner to the wiier and
learneder perfons.
A Benefice therefore (which is by
definition " a matter Ecclefiafticall gi-
uen to a Clergie-man to be vfed of
him perpetually for his facred minifte-
rie) whether rt taketh denomination
of
and imparhie ofmens liuings. 3 5
ofa benefit receiued J or ofa charge or'
benefit giuen, importeth thus much;
That Benefices of what quality or con-
dition (beuer, can not be equalled : it
followeth then that benefices haue bin
alwayes proportioned according to that
fame proportionable equalitie not
llridor abfblute, hauing an eye relpe-
diucly looking vpon the delerts of Ec-
clefiafticall men,Some Benefices hauc
title of dignitie, as Billiopricks, Arch-
deaconry,and tliclike: Ibme haue cure
offoules without dignitie annexed to
them, asParfonages : ibme neither ti-
dcof dignitienorcure offoules, but
fimply lo called. Amongft which a-
gaine, (bme are of more cminency and
ornament, other of infcriour and low-
cr degre. Such as are more conlpicu-
ous are prebends or the Canons of Ca-
thedrall churches : fuch as arelelTe are
rurall Prebends (b called. Some Be-
ncfices haue adual or habituall cure of
{bules,other haue cure habitually,and
arc difcured adually ; other neither
adually nor habitually, but vtterly difi
cured : yet neuerthelefle retaine the
D a name
3 O/^aritie or mparitte
name of Benefices in a gcncralitic, as
our impropriations. Bilhopricks and
Archdeaconries are Benefices with ti-
tleofdignitie , vnto both which arc
annexed lurifdictionall power and au-
thoritie : fome other Benefices with
dignitie, as Deanries, Chantorfhips,
Chancellodhips, and Treafurerfhips,
for the moft part are dignities (as the
cuftome of the Church dothbcareit)
without any Iurifdi<5lion : allwichin-
cquallitic is not difagreeing from Ec-
clefiafticall policie or adminiftration,
and may feme for the better conftitu-
tion of Cathedrallchurches,and other
Collegiat or not Collegiat churches
orParitlies : fb that many of thefe are
dignities, but none are indignities,
whofoeuer Ihall vndergoc the buahen
and charges of them.
if we ihall looke into the Aaroni-
call race of Priefts and into the Leuiti-
call order, it was according to impari-
tie not paritie. To defcend and goc
lower,if we ihall looke backe vpon the
Primitiue times of the Apoftolicall
men, the times ofMartyrs, and the
next
dndimpAritieofmensltumgs. 37
next fuccceding times, we fhall eafilie
finde fiiperioritie, and inferioritie, and
imparitieofJiuings. Ifwclhallvnfold
the memorie of former times in our
Church, and the ancient pradfife, we
fhal plainly fee an allotment of church
liuings according to inequality, and
that by the wifedome and difcreecdi-
iic flributionof theBilliop : all which is
a) matter worthy the dedudion j for the
diifr Bilhop and all his Clergie lined firft in
idEc- a kind ofcommunitie in the city(for in
jBOH, the cities were Bilhops Seas firfl plan^
flfr ted) whereofhe bare the name of a Bt~
ixbe fhop. He and they going abroad at
tchcs certeine moft conuenient and requifit
feait times to preach and minifter the Sa-
titics, craments in the territorie adioyning.
Iifllica At what time all Church reuenuesof
the whole dioceflc, whether lands gi-
Igini- lien by the liberalitie of Princes, or
tithes, oblations or legacies giuen by .
jpui- the people, were in common amongft
i got all, but at the diftribution of the Bi-
iQOtlu il^op to be diuided vnto all according
to a;proportion of their paines and la-
the hour; one part was emploied,/rii fnett-
next ^ S fi
5 8 Ofparitie or tqtialitie
fa epifcopali, for the Bil"hops hofpitali-
ty; another part to mainteine the com-
Prcsbyterie andthofe of the Clergie;
the third, for building or repairing die
Churches in the citieand Churches of
the countrey j the fourth part for re-
demption of Captiues, reliefe of the
poore, and for other godly vies. The
Bil"hops then feemed to haue had a
large part, one fourth part, as
much to his owne part as all the Cler-
gie had to their part : which part or
portion of the Clergies was not lb
proportioned to euery man equally or
alike, but as the Brfhop liked, who in
reuenewes of the Church in title as a
kinde of proprietarie, of himfelfe did
fet downe euery mans part. But after
all this, when diners godly men vpon
their zeale and deuotion to theglorie
of God and leruice of his Churchy and
the rather induced and lead thereunto
to haue the nominationof a Minifter^
had ereded and endowed diners chur-
ches in feuerall places farre diftant in
their countreys: inlbmuch that lb ma-
ny multiplied feuerall parilhes could
pot
andimpmne ofmens Itmngs. 3 p
!• not coniieniently and in due feafon be
® fo often and orderly relpeded by thole
ie; whole fpeciall attendance was about
\k the Bilhop, the general] Pallor of the
lesol Diocefle/auing at certaine times, and
)t !£. that the former communitie beganne,
filic partly by multitude of the Clergie
The thronged together in one place , and
Mil partly for other inconueniences to be
no lelTe troublefome than enuious.
jjQo. Then followed hereupon in the moll
jjito! parts of the world of Chrillianitie, a
diuilion ratable of all Church-reue-
lilies: fo that the BilBop and the Cler-
iflioiii gic which was to remaine ih the Ca-
■jjj J5I thedrall church of the chiefe citie, and
ii; the Clergy of the Diocelfc bclidcs had
their portions allotted vnto them, but
not by any Arithmetical] ecjuality. out
of which eueryone of them leuerally
jjil belides their owne maintenance, was
afterwards to defray for the fabricke of
their Churches,& reliefe ofthe poore,
as their abilities did llretch.
D Illatiue therefore is, the Bifhop
(as a common Pallor of the whole Di-
^ occlle, as the common law at this day
no: ^ 4 <ioth
T
4 ® Off Anne or equAlitte
jdoth account him) did call other MI-
nifters w fartem joUicitudim, into a part
of the charge: the BiiTiopby inlHtuti-
on of them into feuerall Churches,
and the reuenues thereof, did inueil
them into a title of that part of the
glebe and tithes, &c. which was rec-
koned as his owne before: Howbeit
at tlie prelentation of the Founders or
Patrons to whom the Canons gaue
the preheminence in regard of their
cofl; bellowed, the Billiops did not in-
flitute them who were of equalitieof
gifts, the Patrons prefented not their
Clerks to an equalitie of liuings: It fee-
metli euery Clerke was accommoda-
ted as was fit for euery Clerke. If the
originall Patrons did prefent any,their
prcfcntationwas nomatncbArioo^tt
incident preferments. How church
liuings fell into fb many fra(3:ions,I lift
not now to rehearfe: it feemeth the re-
mcdy found out for fb many incompe-
petencies & infufficiencies ofCler-^
gie mens eftate,wasfauor of the
law,and the priuiledge of
pluralities,
chaf,
L
4*
Chap. 4.
Of ftngulmtie andpluralitie of Bene-
fees, and of thecauje thereof
vz. Dijpenjations,
■f ■
Hat eucry Clergie
man fhould haue 2
eopetent liuingj that
is J fufficient maintc-
nance, and none be
infufficiently proui-
dedfor, hathbeeneprooued before:
that all Minifters of the word and Sa-
craments, iliould be prouided for 2
like J and equalled in preferment, can
liCLier be prooued : that Ibme haue en-
ioicd more, Ibme lefle, in portiop and
alloanents of tithes, oblations, glebe^
&c. which I call an imparity and in-
equalitieof Church linings, is not re-
prooued nor difallowed by the Scrip-
tures : that fingularitie or dualitie of
Benefices which is commonly termed
pluralitie of liuings ( which is more
then one) is defcended of the auncient
praftife and cuftome of the Church
& canons approoued: remainethnow
to
j^2 offingularlty AuAplurditie
to be handled in efpeciall. The points
in order are thcie: the word pluralitie
of Benefices, is not found in fo many ^
fyllablesinthewordof God, and yet
not repugnant to the word of God.
Diuifionof parifhesorfingularitie of
Benefices is not laid downe in expreife
termcs in tlie word of God, yet a mat-
ter deducible out of the word of God:
Refidencc and tarriance vpon a mans
Benefice or cure, is a matter praifeablc
with God and his Church, Non Refi-
dencc or ablence, I rneane, not to re fide
corporally for a time or feafon, Icauing
iufficientdirediion and inftrudiion for »
the cure, is not a thing vnlawfull or
damnable before God & the Church
of God.
Singularitie and pluralitie of Be-
nefices, that is, Pluralitie and Refi-
dence, are not oppojitiutly let one a-
gainft the other/as either priuately op-
pofite as light and darkneflejdeath and
life jfight and blindneffcjand fuch like:
or contrary oppofite, as white and
bl'ackej vice and vertue, righteoufiicflc
«nd vnrighteoufneflfe^ or contradidlo-
of Benefices. 45
rily oppofite, as feeding and not fee-
ulto (jing ^ preaching and not preaching,
®iny gouerning and notgouerning, mini-
ftring and not miniftring, teaching
fGd and not teaching, catechizing and not
nacft' catechizing : although in fome appa-
renceat the firfl: fight it might feemc
amai' fo: but rather Relatiuely oppofite or
God: letoneagainft the other: * Benefice * ^eUtiua fum
imis or Benefices, one or more, are a be-f"
At!: neficiated man his Benefice or Be- funZi^uZur
ODlefr nefices: a Beneficed man whether he
fifijih take his denomination from one Be- ZliT^ZuZd
Im neficeor more, is alwaybut aBene-Atift. Cwi.
fcfl/o: ficedmanj and theiefore one man to
Mo: both his Benefices is but, tanc^uxmv-
'kc num ad vnum quod eft aptifitmum^-is one
to one, which mofi: apt & agreeing. ^
; jfBi' This vnum (one) is vnum Revmwe.vel *
, /7 /• 1 r 1 • I • 1 (in.-jut -rm ^
J Iff- Curapajtoralt, thole things which arc Hd^m [.m
m one and the fame to one and the lame, f'
•jfo^ are betweene thcmfclucs, the verie^""^"
kanil lame Logicians doe well know that
ait one /» abHraSio ^ tn concrete ad duo in
jd AbflraSio vtlin concrete, is not repug-
0, nant: I will not Ipell Logicke: This is
[i^o- pl^e J for neither number is repug-
dy nant
44 Ofafid plura/hy
nanttonumbetj norfiibftanccto fiib-
flancc:To relbrtto the originall&be-
ginning ofPluralities: itfeemeththat
firft of al Pliiralitie did rize vpo fo ma-
ny diuifions of parifhes, which pari-
fhes fceme diuided again into fb many
Cap. icWfyi-u factions, DjonyJe Bifhop of Rome,
Mnf.ij. was the firft as fomefay, that diuided
Pm/J' parifties & appointed euery Presbyter
finguiM fingulit the limits & precinfls of parifh Chur-
Tnshjteru dc chcs & Chutch-yatds, and that none
dimus.parochi- ^ - i i • i • • - l
& (amitt- fhould intrude or intromit vpo other:
r<4 eii diuifi. Others afcribe it to EmrtHui Bifliop of
WM na ytde. about the 112. ycetes of
licttytnnlhti -n ^ rr r ti
aiterim faro- Chtift, did afligne to euery leuerall
thuterminoi Presbyter liis paftorall cure apart jWith
' utle thereunto, and a certaine limita-
tion or compafle to take charge there-
of alone, which was drawne into imi-
ration and matter of like confequencc
by all this part of the world of Chrifti-
anitie; for in the Apoftolicall writings
notliing is let downe, but that they
wereordeined in euery great or finall
14. Aft. 13.V. citie, 7;iyir,Sci(d]"iitx},nffjiy thorough
Tun. r. cucry Church: which words (eeme to
be equipollent, or of one and the fame
fignificatioi\:
cf Benefices, 45
ofii)' lignification : one thing by the way
Sib may be well obferiied, that all Pari-
Ihes, or for the moft part, grew by le-
loiii' uerall degrees to a narrower rcllridi-
^hpaii- on then in their firfl foundation or
'fflffl] originall planting they were. Eueric
lomc, man being defirous tocohabitc in as •
iiuded great neerencfle and proximity to the
stytB parifli Church as might be, was the
A® caufe why paritli Churches confined
btoou fb necre the one with the other, and
) odiff: was the begetter oflb many incompc-
lilliopj tcncies of Church linings, and occafi-
eeiBO oner of pluralitie w part, or rather of
lamli fraUiens and multiplicities of Benefi-
ijWitii ces: * Diftindion therefore ofparifh ^
limiQ. Churches, is of meere pofitiue lawc
not Di nine, and the prohibition to re- 4d moMjitri'
jito® taine two parilhcs or Benefices, was 1^"^*
C(|i)fflc! not a matter of Diuine ordinance, but 'itidtd'fiatm
ofEcclefiafticall decree and conftituti- Moimhorum
riling on, not of God, but brought in by
■ man, and by the will ofhimdiat made
.[jjf the canon, and by a contrariant will
may be taken away; agreeable vnto
that maxime and rule in law,'' Eim eft Lmh»
talUre velinterpretari euiutfuit condere \ l. yitimt.
ioi\: And
4 ^, Of(ingulmty andplaraky
And none other lawes befidesthelaw .
of man , doth forbid pluralities or re-
tention of more parilhes then one : it
will therefore follow by the former
maxime, that whatfoeueris prohibi-
ted by the law of man alone, by the
fame law may be licenfed againe, and
that dilpenfations as thereupon may
bejawfully granted for fuch things as
Gods law hath eternally and inuiola-
bly commanded to be obferued, no
man may by any Hcclefiaiticall or ci-
uill authoritie omit, nor that which
he hath contrariwifc forbidden, by a-
ny man be put in vre and pradlile.
And in cafe the pofitiue law of man
forbiddeth Pluralities, it doth not
tliereby take clcanc out of the way the
grauntingof difpen(ations,for if there
were no prohibition, there were no
need of difpcnlations. Now the or-
derly giuing of a difpenfationforplu-
ralities, affoordeth to eiiery woorthy
man according to his woorthincffe,
andprerogatiue of his perfbn, which
is called by the Canoniils OtfpenfatM
Jufiuu^ and conlequently denieth to
the
0:Cr
cf Benefices, 47
the vliwoorthyjthat fauour for liis vn-
worthineflc.
Sithence therefore plurality ofBc-
nefices is not a thing repugnant to the
word of God J Ileenocaulc why vp-
poneuery wordeofinansreproch and
contradi(5tionjit fhould be dilfalowed;
* elpecially handing vpontlieground * c.pemuUd
of law, or at the leaft vpon lawful! dif
pcnfation which is the favour of law. Extrag. fo.12.
And heere becaufe I wouldenotbe deprebcnd.
miftaken in the matter of pluralities of ^
the fimplieft man be he neuer fb igno-
rant nor of the fubtilleft Rabbyn be he
never lb arrogant. I am well witting of
this J that fimte pluralities, which are
grounded vpon auarice and ambition
are not only incommodious jbut plaine ''
odious J'' and by how much it is more
infatiable it is the more execrable.
Euery man of meaneft skill can eafily
tell them. " He thatholdeth two Be- p ufa-
nefices with cure without dilpenlation q»(> fit*
is of both depriuable,and to be turned
out, as alfo he that being (carle able to 'c.ordinary
dilcharge one office, doth not onely
feeke being vntjualifiedand vndilpen- m&'J "
fed
48 OfJmgukritjAndpluniUty
fed with to procure vnto himfelfe tvi^o
diuerfe Ecclefiafticall dignities but al-
4 WOtt- fo diuers parith Churches. Neither
tmOi, Eyt.de cuetv man of meane skill, of no
ciegrecs or vnqualified offer himfeife
into this Court of faculties or ob-
taine his difpenfation: for that were as
the learned Canonifts czU.it:
fotiui qukm diJpefi/aM, Rather a diflipa-
tioii or wafting of the fubftance and
patrimony of Gods Church, then or-
'.•Gniiiti. D»- derlv eiuine and difpenfation of the
renti.L.lo. r ^ t- . J T r •
fPttkui.dedi.^^^' Foreuery diipenlation isor
^enf. qKaiiter Quglit to befYOutdU. iuru conmuYiii re-
& qwndo.dt. vtihtate,fiuenecefit atepenfata: it
jptnf.fitfectm. , , -j'jvi ■
da. is'with a prouident deliberanon, not a
ralh or prodigal! hand to be dealt, and
that for vrgent neceifity or apparet vti-
lity,it is to be ftewaredly difpcnfed not
waftfully fpentorpowred vpon eiiery
iarisfrtumad oucs head ot altogether; it is atepera-
qaemfpttiat tiiteot mitigation ofthe rigor or ftrid
(cuerity of the common law: it is for
^iaxatK>.\.9. ^ J c . .
7.§mfir^or thctauourotccitaine worthy learned
2nd qualified perfbns ^ not a gap wide
open for all to make breach into.
Laftly it foe goeth againft common
righi!
of Benefices.
right, that itemplieth noDiarnetrall
oppofition againft common right;
but importeth an exception from the
rigour ot common Right. That which
common law or right doth binde pri-
iiiieged right doth vnbindej in a mat-
ter fauourable concerning the partie
fb priuileged: which beins^ orantedto '^rmHeirhm
r I 1 VI perfonxU per-
one or tew, may not by tne hke exten-
lion of fauour be yeelded to all, for lb
it lliould reuert to common right t
which common right doth not take a- Keg- Trmie^u
way, Speckle trhiite(ium, priuileged
• U J.U C J U V concefP^mfipe-
right, and therefore doth not lie as a flek conted^mr
maine barre againft the right of di-
r r * I i_ 1 • 1 con-rr.fine pritti^
Ipenlarion: butrather the onecarrieth Ugumtmnn
a fubalternation vnto the other, and
not abfolute contrariety: neither doth
any fuch difpenfation make a thing
which is limply vnlawfull j to be by
the operation thereof lawfull, ® but > See the
Iheweth the rigour of lb me generall
politiue law, weighed with allparticu- ^
larities ofcircumltances, and the rea-
fbn thereof to ccale or be releafed at
that time, and in that cafe : all which
difpenfations ( vnto which the Arch-
E bifhop
5 o of (inguhixtty And plurality
bilTiopof Canterbury is limited , arc
not contrary to the lawes of God, or
lawesofthe land, and hath bcene vfii-
ally granted vpon qualification lawfull
may not be denied to them that fue
for it. And farthermore the qualities
ofthepcrfons to whom he is in thole
cales to graunt are exprelled: And in
cale the Archbilhop would vniulllie
deny the dilpenlation, there is a reme-
die otherwile in all equitie prouided.
This is a matter infallibly euer true,
that Difpenlarions from their firfi; ori-
ginall haue euer Hood, and euer beenc
vvitlillood by lome maleuolent per-
Ions in the church of Chrift: All that
which hath bin grounded vpon malice
Itocke, and doth rile from the enuie &
emulation of the vnlearned againlt the
learned, and of the vnqualified and vn-
gifted men, againfi; thofe of better and
more excellent gifts; for the better ap-
peafement of Inch tumultuary Ipirits,
the law hath appointed who fliall di-
Ipence and haue power, and whofhal
aslcc or lue for liich lawfull dilpenlati-
on. The Chriftian (J^agijlrate or
Prince,
of Benefices. 51
Prince, and thofe authorized vnder^i-^'^-
him hauethis power, who muft doe
in prouidence or prudence for the
good of the Church, The parties who
are to be diipenlcd withall, are men of
ptcerogatiue of defcrts j who in diicre-
tion and godlinefle are to flie for it.
To giue lome too much,and other too
little were accepting of perfbns 5 to
aske more then a man in dutie can wel
menage or diicharge, were fauouring
of couetoufnelle, or iome worldly hu-
mour.- for the firlt and formoft ofthefe
two, becaule dilpcnfation is defined,
Commenfuratio commmuAdfingHla., the
faithfull and wife Steward of Gods
houfe, dijpenfatfmgtiU fingulu labo-
rem pr.Anmm, (jr legem 'vnmerfilem
ex cait/a interdim reiaxat : I fay the
fteward of Gods familie muff diftri- ^ .
bute and deale with the hand of iufticc
to euery particular, vpon fiite or re-
queff made, or othcrwife,/>jr»;/« ratio-
riu boni vniuerfiefr cauja propter
difpenjati * vpon contemplation as wel intuitKm rati}-
of fome reafonable caufc or
fiance, and for die vniuerfall good o£^Z}.i'p'roi>ter-
E 2 the
5 2 offirigulanty And plurality.
^uam dijpen- Cli urch, as tot the refpcft of gene-
fat.ijnxcaufj ralltulcs and axiomes of law: and lb
Zft^trifUx iudgeinent proceed as from the
2ieceffitasytiii- faccof God, ot as thc Angcll of God,
taifsr'uidens 3,^^] niittiaatc tlie feueritie of the
prxrozatiua i r • i r r
wemor»w c, loinecimesj and vpon loine caule,
demuitai& c. 35 the wifc and dilcret llev/ard, map-
eiiery hoiifehold feruant his
tmhdi prx- taske and labour, and the congruent
hend. fy-di^ni- -^yagcs or recoiTipence of his labour.
And as for thc fecond , none aredi-
ytre.c. extir- {pcnfible butfot One of theic three, or
ftnde. caufes, vtdtlicex, vrgent nc-
celfitie, apparent vtility, or euident
prajrogatiue of delerts : Other diuidc
the caules of pluralities into thefe fiue,
»Giofp.yerh. ^ nouc cuii ot Olight tohauctwo Be-
^"* neficesvhthcureof ibules, but where
deEUatojtc . i i i i i i
<<r fute- either tne one dependeth vpon the
fiait m cap. Qthcr, ot if thc oiic be annexed to thc
Dudun. 1. or where a man hadi one Bene-
fice in title, the other in
orby wayoftruft or tuition*, oraBe-
nefice in CovnmtndAm to a Bilhopricke
offinall reuenues, or where the Chur-
ches are poore and of meane rcuenue,
or where there is paudtie or penurie
of Benefices. 5 3
ofClcrkes, by reafon of fcarcitic of k c.
fuch men, it was permitted, or viilcfle diflinci.
as they then called it, by Apoltolique
dilpenfation. For concerning great
pcrlbnagcs and learned men which
arc to be honorably relpeded with
greater Benefices as reafon fhall re-
quire, they were then''difpenfed with- cc.jtmuita
aJI. But as for all other, which arc not § fintn KxtrJe
able to take charge oner themfclucs,
which doe notrefide vpon their cures, othibomde
which are not within any facred or-'"A'"'-/"«'
ders requifitc to the retaining of Inch a
Benefice, which doe notonely vfurpe
many, but tnfimte fuch Benefices,v^i(^
tl lOugh they would, yet by no poffible
means are able to fatisfie their charge,
which by violent intrufion or fubtilc
ihifces and colourable deuifcs, doe
leeke to retaine them, and laftly with-
out all lawfull difpenfation hold them,
all ages and times haue not onely lear-
nedly declaimed, but gricuouily ex-
claimed, lifting vp their voices like a
trumpet againft them. The neceffitic is
vTgent or enforcing, to difpenfe then
when many vnfit men are to be found,
E 3 and
*
5 4 ofJinguUrity ani ^lurdtty
and fewc fit for the gouernrncnt of
Churches, and inilru6tion of foules,
which cafe may fometimes fall out, at
which time it fliali be neceflfarie to
commit two churches to one man, ra-
ther then to fufifer them to be deftitutc
ofpaftorallcure, and fpirituall foode
and teaching: or in cafe the churches
are poore,and one maketh an incom-
petcntliuing. Thevtilitie is apparent
when the churches are infeded with
Ichifine and hserefie, vpon the new re-
formation of which dccaicd cftate of
the church,it is profitable to plant fuch
paftors as are able to diuide a right the ,
word, conuince aduerlaries and gain-
faiers, and preach Ibund dodrine; in
cafe the church of Chrift had beene
tainted with Arrianifinc andPelagia-
nifiue as of old, or Anabaptifme,and
. ^,, Libertinilmc, or fuch like poilbiiable
CtrcafMiwes i r n • t*
& littratas hcreiics as or late. The prerogatiue or
frfoxM, cjut merits is euident,where woorthy men
worthely rewarded^, whofe
n»rd«(/«. gifts are ihining in the church, whofe
' labors are aboundant, the teftimonies
d7>(7utknu. ofwhofegiftsisextant inthe fchoole '
of
of Benefices. 5 5
of learning, and theucforc their reward
miift be euidently let downe in the
coinmon-wealth, or elfe none will cn-
deuour for excellency in learning.
* That fuch meritorious men are *c.yhiptrfout
broad, and laborious or induftrious cr
teachers, may not feeme Ifranqe or a ^ ''T
' J r ♦ 1 1 ^ rata^cjtecerueU^
paradoxe now, being laid long agoc, usfdret, &■
who can better rule two churches
t r 1 11? tccleficis
ten, then iome otrier one church, and 4,cem\
fuch doth the priuiledge of difpenlatiS
alwaies refpedt. Euen fo the tenor
eucry dilpenfation runneth in the pre- {um iamiudum
amble, i^Utores m facrii lit em pro- Tn-dtpra-
^ n t ) i be»d,^di<rnit^
greljas pr^mia motor a pojtulant & plurts y,4_ Simw.
vit£ quotidiiin<£ nscefiliates plura vtt<e-^»^<'i'c.y'rb.
neceffaria fttbftdia requirnm. ^ Higher
degrees in (acred learning doth aske
higher rewards, and more necelTities ^
^ ^ . r y VmJX 77-
or wants doe require more lupplies
or helpes. The Elders Dodlorall or=af- i
Pafl:orall,arewoorthy ofdouble ho-
nour,elpccia]ly they that labour in the
word : well goucrning is the caule of
double honour, but with this condi-
tion, if they labor in the word: where
(as I take it)the word //'wf/jifitfignify
E 4 maintenance
5^ offngularity and plurality
maintenance requireth double main-!-
tenance, & as for Honor, it preiuppo-
feth maintenance alv\'aies, or cife it is
but finde Honor God v/ote : And as
for double, it is more then fufficient to
fbme,forfingle maintenance may al-
fb be fiifScient, but not to fome other,
whofevertues,gifts, and degrees muft
be doubly Honored: And for tliis
caufe the Fathers of the Church and
c5mon-wealth , although they ought
to allow to all their children, meate&
cloth, yet out of their indulgence and
fauor,& efpecially for their laborjgiue
a larger allowance for fome refpcifi
or due confideration, as lofeph the go-
uernor of Egypt, to Btnianiin his bro-
therin meflcsof meateaue not dou-
ble and treble, but fine times fo much
as to any ofhis brethrcn,43 34.-1;,
Hegaueall (none excepted)change
ofraiment, but vnto Beniamm he gaue
three hundred peeces of filuer, and
fiue futes of raiment. 45. Genef.ii. f.
And to dilpute with too much curi-
ofitie, rather then cunning, of the
fadl of the fathers of the countrey, or
ef Benefices. 57
ofthe fauour of the Prince, which is
the head, in whom Eccleiiafticallau-
thoritie and ciuill is vnitcd , * is not • samUgijt.
onely temerity and rallineire, but im- "'mmm'-neii^
pietie and facriledge: or to reafon a-
gainftthat which the Parliament and prmeej's appro-
Synode wliich are reprefcntatiuely
the whole Church and common-
wealth, hath proportionabiy laid out
for learned mens allowance, in tliree ^rlfelf'/'facn-
or fowre religious Princes raigncs,and
'"j cxt.de ^c.
tteuer make an end of needlefle refor-
mation, vntill all be turned topfie tur-
uie, lauoureth of Satanifmieor diue-
lilh audacitie; Who may dilpenle
and be dilpenfed with, it is hitherto
apparent: vpon what cautions they are
dilpeniable it remaineth to llrew in a
few words, all which maketh much
for the equitie of granting pluralitie of
Benefices, '' rohmus amem ftrtciecjue
monemui, &c. Wee will and Itridly
monilh and require , which the law
doth require: That in euery fuch Be-
nefice from which the partie difpenled
fhall occafionally be abfent, for the
greater part ofthe yeere, heneucrthe-
5 S Of(ingularitie and plaraliSe
lefle doe preach 13 • frmens in they ere,
and in thole fermons he do rencrently,
religioufly and lincercly handle the
word of God. And that alio in that
Benefice, from the which it iBallhap-
pen the Incumbent for the moll: part
to be abfent or away, yet for two mo-
neths in the yere he keepe fome icrmes
of hofpitality and reliefe of the poore;
proutding alwayes afufficientMinifler
and Curat,to be allowed by the iudge-
ment of theOrdinaric of the place to
adminifter facred and facramcntall
things, and able to expound and inter-
pretthc principles ofReligion, and to
deliucr vnto them the Word of God,
if the reuenew and profits of the Bene-
ficewillbeare it.
My inference is, if the granting of
difpenfation in .ctife of pluralities be
not repugnant to the Law of God, if it
be allowed by the Canon and Prouin-
ciall lav/, if the lawes ofthe realme vp-
on the very beginning of reformation
within the realme doe giuedue limi-
rations to the reprefling of the exceflc
of vnmeafurable pluralities of the Sea
of Bene fees.
of Rome, and doth there fet downc a
mitigation of former extremities and
coniienient allowance for a learned
Minifteric, they then do bnt lofe their
labor which skirmidi with pluralities,
or vniuftly charge the keepers of the
Law with the iniquitie of the fame, or
calumniate others as breakers of the
Law, or denigrate them with the infa-
mie of careleue,and wilfull,and conti-
nuallNon-refidency from their cures,
who themlclues haue a relation to
their owne flocks committed to their
charges, who by other deputed order-
ly thereunto, make a prouilionall care
who leaue an inftruding and edifying
feruice alwaies in the place. All which
with the circumilances aboue rehear-
fed being diligently prouided for, I fee
no reafbn to charge pluralities with
fiich odious imputations of abfolutc
Non-refidency, or continuallabfcnce
or defertion of duetie or relinquiih-
mentof the military ftation or place.
Finally ,no man (notwithff anding ma-
ny friuolous obiedions and idle colle-
dions which in fo many pamphlets
haue
6o of(ingularnie mA p ^urdlite
haue bcenc throweii abroad , thereby
to make abfcncc from a Benefice hate
fuli, I lay no man) as yet on our fide
did euer defend an abfolute ellranging
of die Paltors from their charge, or in
cafe of ablence the Teacher being oc-
cafionally ablent, may not apply him-
felfe fruitfully elfewhere and to his
owne panlh by godly dire£fipns.
It followech vpon the premiircs,
that fuch maner of pluralities dodi not
deduce to Non-Refidcncy , or to a
meere priuation or ablence from the
place , or difcharge of the duetie of
the place. Here it may be queftioned
whether Non-refidency r, in Ibme
refpcdl for fome time and vpon lome
occafion or caulc , be to be termed
Non-Refidency, ablolutely, and
whether a man may be abfent from his
charge, as thcle peremptory men doe
vtterly dcnie, and we defend in the af-
firmatiuepart. It leemeth Non-Refi-
dencie is not ablolutely againft the
Law of God, or diredlly oppofit, as I
fhewed before : for if it were fimplie
impious 5 thenibr none occafion, no
not
ef Benefices. 6i
not for an houre, might a man be a-
way, no more than hce may for an
houres (pace vie blaiphemic againft
God. And then it iTiouId follow, that
at no time, vponnocaufe, vpon no
commandcment of hisilipcriour, no
ambaflage abroad, for no attendance
vpon the Prince at home,for no prole-
ciition of Law to recouer or keepe his
right, for no leruicc of the Church ,for
no pacificauon of Schifine, nor con-
fultation ofmatters of the church, fi-
naliy, for no remedy and refticution of
health a man may haue a coadiutor or
liibftimte vnderncarh him, nonotan
hoiire, or be Non-Refident from his
paftorall charge. But this is moft ab-
liird in it felfeto defend, and they who
moll importunately call for continuall
Refidencie in other , olfend therein
themlelucs, as may plainly appeare by
their ordinary pra(Sile5in theirrunning
vpanddowne and abfencefrom their
cures, in riding to Sturbridgefaire or
to the Ade at Oxford, or inviliting
their friends in halfe alcorelhires, or
in traiielling halfe a Ibmmer from
country
6^ ofJingularitJ and plurality
country to country, toconfirme the
brotherhood, or in lying a dozen
weekcs or fuch a trifle at a friends
houle,or laft of alin meeting together
in their claflical conferencies or fynodical
afpmblies or in Parlament time.There-
fore to beNon-Refidentis notvtterly
vniawfull, but where thecauie isvn-
lawfuil there it is vniawfull, to dilcon-
tinue or be away from a Benefice or
cure, and that tor a time; where Gods
law and nature and other pofitiue and
prouincialllawes, doe difpentewith
Non Refidency ( as in diuers cafes) it
is not vniawfull; Non-Refidency is
there in deed a fault, where the peo-
pie of God are deftitute of fpirituall in-
ftruftion and that falleth out byway
of Client and confequence.
A difpenfation for plurality of Be-
nefices, being orderly fiied tor & fauo-
rably obtained (with the clautes afore
remembred) doth not inure any fiich
dangerous, or impious etfeds, or a-
ny abfolute ettranging of the Paftoiir
from his flocke, or ditiblure Non Refi-
fidency etpecially in a Church as the
Church
of Benefices. 6^
Church of England fo well reformed
in fuch multitudes of the preachers of
the Word, which are encrcafcd euery
day in time of lo much knowledge
and vnderlfanding of the word,which
we haue euery day,fo as the world gro-
wetli inexcLilable of their Athciline
and vngodlineflc and prophanefle
of life, finaliie in tiic adminiftration
and lyturgy of fb inftrudiuc and edi-
fying a feruicc which is read in our
leuerallcongrcgationsjcuery day. All
the arguments on the contrary fide,
if you muffre them arc few in num-
bcr, and wcake in force , if they be
cncountredas they may be withhan-
die ffroke of Sillogifme, or enthy-
mematicall conclufion : which is the
fayrelf & moft compendious decifion
ofa controucrfy.and without this ma-
ncr of fcholaflicall dealing, all kinde
of Allegations on the one fide and on
the other, are but an heape of waflc
wordes and the further way about.
Notwithftanding, thofe opinatiue
men who difpute againfl pluralities
haiielitle more to fay then this which
hath
^4 ofJinguUrity And plurality
hathbeene an hundred times anfwe-
red and iayd and rean{\vered againe.
A miniller, or one miniftcr may Iiaue
but one Benefice, Say they^ for no mail
may haue more then he is able to difi
charge, and no man in any meafiircis
able to difcharge more then one, and a
rcalbn is becaufe he can not preach in
fefbn, and out of lealbn to the people
committed to his charge, as faint Paul
enioineth : or, in this fort^ a minifter is
a iheapeard and his congregation is a
fioVe, and he muft attend on his flocke
and one Ihepherd can not attend two
flocks, for he mufl; alwaies go in and
out before the iheepe of his flocke.
Furthermore the minifters are lining
Oracles liuelypaterns and lamplers of
holines, ofintegrity, and of vcrtuous
life, they are leaders, feeders, guides,
inftruclors, and direders of theire
flocks, whereof the holy Ghofl: hath
made them ouerfeers, that is to fay of
their feuerall charges, feuerall congrc-
gations or pariihcs,and feuerall flocks.
A1 which emplieth vnity or fingulari-
ty of charge, and not a plurality or
multiplicity
of Benefices. ^5
multiplicity of flocks. Adde vnto this
that to be placed in wo curcs,ra, ,h^,
IS raarchandize or filthy gaine, &: none arum petriB^"
fhoLild feme two mailers, God and
c 1 I-/I • adptmaBc-
mammon.oo eiiery pluralilt is a mam-
monifl: by their interpretation. Againe
it is to afpire higher and higher,
and nottoftay in the vocation where-
in we are calledjwhich is to tranfgreire
the Apollles'rule : laftof all becaiife
plurality and relidency arc opofite and
contrary the one to the other and irre- , ,
concileably dilioyned. All thefe d.ndytf„i^.in^4'
the like fbphillications of theirs, de-//"»f
duce,as they thinke to necelfity offee-
ding, & that feeding one flocke, or to vm^ut fnuir*
impoflibihty of feeding, if a man vn-
It n \ ® . potent facere
derraketwo flockes, or to inconueni-;,frdii«M .• now
enceor abfurdity for him to be away "^m Tauiu*
or abfent from his floeke, who hath "pci"tpeX
vndertakena flocke, and thcrfore muft naUterinEc-
feede. To the firft ofthele arguments
a plaine anlwere is and muft nrft of all fuos minillros
be granted that no minifter muft haue ^ "'"f-
1 • r /- i * 1 \ fit P^ccuratU-'
more then in lome meajure he is able
to difcharge, that is by himfelfe or fuf- &aimtnea,
fidentdeputation:* as for the deputa-
V tion
66 OfJtngularity Anifluralitie
tion it is and eucr was lawfnll either
in ciiiill or ecclefiafticali fimdiion as
when the magiftrate or Minifter is a-
way: and that the Minifter may be ah-
fent is proued before, or if it be not
true in the former cafes , then ioine it
ftie with vs and makefbmeinftanceto
the contrary, and if it be true then
yeeid to the truethjthat by leaue of law
•and leaning fufficient direction the
Minifter may be away, and yet receiue
wages and procurations and maintc-
nance from them as Saint PauU of the
Philippians.
As for the realbn he can not preach
feafbn and out oflea-
Ibn ifhe be corporall ablentjas when a
man doth perfonally refide;a man may
preach by wordjby enfamplcjand hot
pitallity and by fubftitution of a care-
full curator or deputy, whcnheihall
happen to be away, the redtory and
gouernment of fmall Villages, or
townfhips, or country parifhes is not
as the adminiftration or dioceflesof
whole cities and Territory, which im-
portch Jitui and Timothy to preach
Icafonably
cf Bentfices, 6'j
fcafbnably and vnfeafbnably to the
obferuationof aftraiter mcaliire: be-
caufeit was then fuapofed that inci-
ties all things ncceilary being more
plcntifuli then in the Country, they
might by one Benefice be fufhciently
prouided for and honelHy maintained
or els fhew fome pregnancy of reafbn,
why in very good meafiirCj a prudent
and diligent, and well exercifed prea-
cher one adiue man may not dif
charge two cures, being norfarre di-
ftant, and preach, as fhall be fufficient
for both. But if in rigor ofconftrudi-
on, you will needs vnderfiand that
which pafleth al wile mens vndcrftan-
ding , that a Preacher vpon his cure
muft continually preach , then fhall
not a manhaue any time to Catechize
his people, or baptile Infants, or mi-
niftcr the Sacrament ofthe Supper of
the Lord, or be allowed any time To
frAy, which he is alio willed continual- Luk
lytopray, and neuer toccafie , then
Baalltherebeno caufe allowed of be-
ing away, no not for an hourc, which
mult needs be abfiird: as for that per-
F 2 pctuall
68 of (inguUrity andplurAlty
pctuall metaphorc,or ftrong allegory,
'videiicer, a mimfter is a fhepheard, and
the congregation a fiocke,and that the
fhepherd muft attend vpon his church
or fiocke, lliould not the l"hepheard
feede the flocke ? it may be likewife
granted, but in fbmefenlethat Princes
Inepheards, and the people com-
z'-f •34-i-. mitted to tlieir charge, may be termed
j.Rco 11.17. fheepe: All IfraeU was Icattered as
fheepe vpon the mountaines, that had
no ("hephcard, that is no King: And fo
44.Efay i8. Cyrtf} called my paftor or fhepheardj
that is,my goucrnour or king: how-
bcit for the illatiue hecreupon, that
one Ihepheard can haue in charge but
one iheepe-flocke, may not eafilie be
granted i for/aci?^inthe 50. o^Gentf.
30. Gen.3^.v. kept Labans and his ownc flocke of
l'heepc,andputthemin^/7«f^5 pAjlures^
which bufinefle might the better be
vndertaken by his vnder-lTiepheards.
And for a lliepheard to goe alwaies in
and out before his flocke is not euer
i.Sam.ir.zo. true, ior Dautd left his fathers fheepe
»8. with a keeper, and ran into the campe,
and fo ftandeth charged witli leaning
his
cf Benefices. 69
his iheepc in the wildernefle by his
brother Eliab, which neiierthelelle
were lafeiy left with a keeper. As for
that which is vfuaily inferred heereup-
on, that tliey are diners flocks or di-
uerfity ofchargcsrit is but one charge,
as committed vnto one, for it is al-
waies Regimen ^mmarum, one regi-
mentjOr cure offbiiIes,one in regimec,
and for that caufe not the hauing of
them both, but not hauing care of
them, is a matter woorthy of blame, if
they be not looked vnto, neither is it
fimpliciter, abfolutely eiiill to haue
more charges, or congregations then
one, for fb Saint Paule fhoiildfall into
this reprehenfion, who ieemed to
haue or beare a care of all congregati-
ons, although Saint Paw/ewere Apo-
ftle of the Gentiles Chrift his other
flieepe. Concerning that the Mini-
fter Ihould be lining Oracles,and line-
ly patterns ofholinelle and perfection
to their flockes, and lampes of light
to their fcuerall parilhes, it may not be
denied: but that (if they for a time be
abfcnt) or leaue a Curate fufficient,
F 5 perlbnally
70 offingularhy and plurality
pcrfonally to rcfide in tlieir place, all
the light of their doilrine to beextin-
guilTaed and goe out, and all example
otliolyand righteous conuerfationto
bedetaced, I fhallvttcrly denie: Ti'
■mothee whether an Euangclift or Bi-
fhopjTOV©- was a patternc of righ-
tcoufnefle, as well abfent asprefent:
and (b both the Perfon or Paftor and
the Curate in his place, may be both
famplers of comelinefle and honcllie
to their flocke. It is the Imags of ver-
that lenieth for imitation, not the
corporall reliance, and that this to be
mofttrueismanifeftin Chriftand all
holy Chriftians and Saints of God,
who haue left: enlamples of them-
fclues, althou gh they be not corporal-
ly prelentorrefident amongft vs: En-
famplc in this cale is much, but dire-
6Eon and inftrudion doth counter-
viaile as much, which being found-
ly deliucred, may feme for the good
of Icuerall flockes and dilioyned
places.
Now to come to that obiedion
which is often obiedcd', and as often
rcfdled
vfBeneficef, 71
i rcfellcd in eucry place, Xvherc moft
m plaufibly it darcth to fhew his face:
E^. God forbid that euery man of plurali-
m ties of Benefices or multipKciue of
t:Tt gifts fhould be the fcruant of
oil mon ; it is but rafhnefic ofiiidgement
fe of the fadionifts of our time, to con-
dcii demne fo many woorthy men and
oa learned ( incomparably honefter and
slut better learned then any of themfelues)
loit of auarice and ambition, and other
ij-f wordly humors. We haue not recei-
ootf ued Spiritum mmM^ fecLSpmtum Dei, i.Cor.r.
^tol) the fpiritofthe world,but the fpiric of
i God, and by the grace of God are the
{Go: feruantsnot of Adammen, but' of the
high God. And as for filthy ga!ne,that
ijpB iTiould grow out of this feruice and
paines taking : GodltneJJe is
kt g5^cat gaine, together with the benefit
•oitf gaine of contentation, if we reft
contented with that which lawe doth
caftvponvs, orthe fauouroflawftill
difpenfation, or any godly priuiledge.
And concerning the winning vnto
Ijjjjj; Chrift, and gaining of fbules, it is nei-
oil ther chopping nor changing,nor mer-
0 F 4 chandizing
OfJi^gularity and plurality
chandizingofmens fbules, but ratbei*
there where fbmewhat commeth be-
tweene patty and partie of fimoniacall
compaftjand of vnlawfull cheuifance:
which thelawes of tliis land doth moft
feiierely both reftraine &piinilhji"na-
king them depriueablebncapable^irre-
gularjcxcommunicable J which offend
therein j whether it be to afpire higher
& higher jor breaking off from our vo-
cation & calling, for an Ecclefiafficall
man to better by purchafe of diipenla-
tion for pluralitie,his eftate,being the
lame elf ate, let eiiery wife Si vnpartiall
man heerein be the iudge: In afetled
eftate of the Church, &profperity of
the fame,why any man Ihould ftand at
allay, & craue no other bleffing then
onely one at the hand of God , liither-
to I finde neither caufe nor reafon.
To acquitall fingularitie of Benefices,
of auaricious defire, is no matter of
aeqiiitie, or toaccufePhiralky of co-
uctoufnelfe, and that which is called
crauing or hauing of more,
isthelikeiniquitie, ^
, mffmm. crifociat fjibt ad vtilitatew mat am, vel
ad
fif Benefices, 7j
ad nugendttm patrimonium^ velvt Uut'ttu
vtvAt,'velvt factlius adEpifcopatum^vel
mdorem dignitatem pofiit ajcendere: cum
tali tntentione etiam 'vnum Beneficiwn
habere de fe eU inordinatum, quod eli
centra rattonem. They that procure di-
fpenfation to retaine more Benefices,
to make gaine and priiiatecommodi-
tie, or to encreaie their patrimony, or
to hue more gallantly,or to climbe the
fooner to a Bil tiopricke, or fbmeother
dignitie, they are in fault, andtoac-
quire or obtaine any one Benefice
with fiich intentions or purpoles, is a
thing inordinate or of the like fault,
oi fprouting out from the like root of
ambition and couetoufiiefle in any
man whatfoeuer.
Finally, touching the oppofition
rtiii betweenepluralitieand refidency, or
letisi, that fame or great or migh-
Oi tie gulph or infinite diftance betwene
the one and the other, and irrecon-
cileable contrariety, as (ome in their
; phantafies vie to depaint : it is onely
imaginary and not verifiable and true:
for iuch lawful! pluraHtie may ftand
j with
74 O/JtnguUrtty And plurality
with prouifionall Refidency; neither
is it the corporall abode or perfonall
refidency on a placejbut the difchargc
ofduetie, that lhall make anfwere vn-
to God : neither is it the pinning of
the Paftourvpon their fleeues, or any
(iich like indefatigable refidecy of the
Rector vpon his Redory or Parfon on
hischarge, butthewcll gouerningof
the people and laboring in the Word,
which Ihalfaue their foules. Where a
mans imployment is any waybenefi-
ciallj the fame ispraifeable and thankf-
worthy with Godjyet it foliowetli not
that they muR be affixed to the place;
for neither the Leuites of olde (whole
attendance was required in the Tern-
pic) did lie in the Temple, but had
their feuerall habitations, and waited
in their courfe: nor the Leuites of the
New Teftament are fb narrowly tied
to a continuall refidency, as if Jaw and
nature could not difpenfc with their
occafionall abfence. Yea fhepheards,
who are faid to watch ouer their flockc
by night and by day are permitted to
be fbmctimes aWay. ThcExcIicquer
men
(fBene fees, 7J
men muft of conueniency dwell neerc
to Weftminfter-hall, and the Singing
men of Panics neere there about, but
doth it follow they muft neuer go out
of their place?
etc To conclude this queftion,plurality
oIe and abfence from a Benefice with cure
fom oflbulesis lawfull, with Icaue andli
jingi cenfc ofthe law, with orderly deputa-
^CE tion: neither dodiit inure Non-Refi-
hh dcncie, as fome would vtterly infamc
flat itjueither is it any finne or ftandaU as
itiffi pcrhapps fbmc would mifdeeme at the
TO! firft; in cafe the fame bean offence or
\tf Jcandall, we can not doe with all, there
(tk arc many fcandalls of the world, and
liel: woe be to the world for many fcan-
tek dais at home & abroadc; they that are
jiE childifh or rather babifh will be fcan-
jifk dalized witli euery little or offenfiue
thing, they who are proud & pharifai-
(■an: call will be fcandalled alfo, euen at the
beft & well difciplined things,all emu-
ifjs latory men as thefe of the facHon will
joi take offence at or vpo euery light caufe
or.nocaufe giue. There is nothing can
^ be lb well deuifed for the good ofgods
^ Church
7 6 of(ingulitrity anifluraKty
Church but by the malice of Satanijls
may in time be ouerturnedjto the pras-
iudicc, hurt, and dammage, of good
men and to the great difaduantage of
God and the Churches caufe.
As for other ordinary obiedions
which may alio be more worthily re-
iededjit fhal not be amilTe to giue pla-
them their anfwere; let no Gierke be
ced in two charges,/'airthe 2. counceli
ef Nice, 1 5 C:forit is filthy marchan-
dize &c.no man can feme two mafters:,
impudent men to euid their purpolc
will not refufe omnegentu tefiium; any
witneflTc whatlbeuer euen the corrupt
and depraued, 2 comceUof Ntce^owi of
which counceli they may alfo proue
adoration of reliques, & inuocation of
faints, worfhiping of images with the
fame worfhip, that the Trinity is wor-
fhiped as well as reproue pluralities of
Bcneficesjletthem take better counfell
and confider that which is in the end
of the Canon: in Regm cimt&te; let no
man be placed in moe great cities then.
'Canf.io . one; in other Townfhips and Villages
w,' . it is lawful,® &fb Grrf^wrrexpoundeth,
and
ef Benefices. 77
and the counfell of Chdcedon, and the
glofc. Aman may be intituled to two
Churches if they be poore^Si with dif^
penfatioiijOr by way of truft and Com-
mendam. Touching that impertinent
allegation: no man in very deed can
ferue two mafters^that is contrary'ma-
fters, God &BelialIjChrift and Mam-
monrthe meaning is in plainneflcjand
truth, let no man be placed in two
charges without hability to difcharge
them bothi or let no man make a filthy
lucre of hischarge, as mechanicall and
trades-menj and vfurerSjand fimoners
are wont to do. Furthermore let him
that hatli an office wait vpo his office; ^
and the miniftery is an office: what of
this? The Miniilery is an office, ergo he
muft wait vpon the Minifterie, and
confcquently he may not hauetwo
offices: and if not two offices, ergo
much Icfle twoBenefices;thisParalo-
gifme is eafily defcried. He that hath
an office mu^ attend his office: this is
foorthwith graunted, ergo he may not
hauetwo offices, this is plainly to be
denied. He that hath an houfemufl
looke
7 S OffingulArity and ^laraFity
looke vnto his houfc, or repairc his
houfe, ergo^ he may not haue two hou-
fes to repairc: or he that hath a childe,
muft looke vnto his childe, erga, hee
may not haue two children to looke
to their education. This is childifnly
inferred ; aPhyfician hathapacient,
and a Lawyer his client, may not
haue two patients, or two clients to
^ue attendance vnto. Concerning
thcinferencie, A man may not haue
two Offices, ergo, not two Benefices:
although I mayiuftlydeniethe ante-
cedent and confequent both, becaufe
a man may retaine well and with a
good confcicnce two Offices or two
iiidiciall places, ifthey be fubalternatc
or fiibordinatc one to the other, and
the one be not an hinderance or rctar-
dance to the execution of the other,
yet I will infift vpon the deniall of the
Argument : for if it were in fpeciall
tcrmes forbidden in Scriptures, the
holding of two offices ^ which I can
Botfinde, yet the lawfullholding of
two Benefices or the equitic thereof
(vndcr terms of ^quipollcncy)which
ofBenfces, 7^
is TTfW and Mfvuvlct iv -minv tiyL^'ti is
)W not forbidden, but rather comman-
liiliit ded ; if all the queftion be, how many
•ilitt, mens (bules l"hali make vp a charge, or
)Wii what quantitie of ground in citie or
M' countrey fhall be the bounderie ofpa-
jffi rilhes , this is a matter of indefinitli-
m)!» miration. In cale any Clergie man in-
cuts 5 tromit vpon more than hee is able to
tt® difcharge, hemuftfearethe Apolloii-
ysk c^VAmihintfi'EttAngelizemi ofwhich
bii they would hauevs to be afraid. As for
tlius the other, which is the Prophetical]
jIkcs F-c I. ify. Wo be to them that ioinc
1(1 »i[ii houle to houle,and land to land, vntill
ioitwi there be no place the foore , that
. they may be placed alone vpon the
a earth ; what ftir would there be if any
jfjis fuch cleare place were extant againft
two Benefices, as if the Holy ghoft
had ftinted them and no body els. Yea
jjfjtt, but the Holy ghoft commandeth a
Minifterto giue attendance vpon the
flocke : jittenStexiobUe^vmuerfigre-
lol&J S} ' Attend or take heed to your iclues
and to the whole flock wherof the ho-
ly ghoft hath made you oiicrfecrs.Thc
'' 5 charge
5 o Of(mgularttie attd plurAlitie
charge is controuerfilefle in generall
to the Bilhops of the prouiiice in a gc-
neralitietotakc heed, to the generall
flocke that is to to many flocks: pr if
it be to the Biiliops and (hperinten-
dents of the flocks, and to make them
continuetheir attendancyj& to warne
them of Non-Refidency and to ex-
elude them from pluralitie of charges
6 flocks, what meaneth theapoftle to
fend for them fro their feueral charges,
or to withdrawe them from their par-
ticular cures or flockes allthough for a
feafon? Therefore all this mutt be vn-
derftood with the lawful! exceptions
and due limitations of the Apottles
words, and fentence of the holy
Ghott:howbeit to vrge a litlc further,
and to argue on their behalfe, is not
a BiOiop or Minifter a Pallor pr
fheapheard ? and the people Ihccpeof
thepafture? &isnotthiscommande-
mentoffeeding perpetual] andinuio-
lable, and fhould not therefore as Efe-
ehiel fj)eaketh,a fheapheard feed hn flocke?
True it is that the Prophet allegorizeth
(hrangly by a perpctuall metaphor a-
gainft
of Benefices* 81
gainft all iliepheards that feed them^
feluesj and feed not their flockc: it is
moll true that a fhepheard fliould
feed his flocke : and how muft hce
feed them ? and feed them himlelfe*
How many muft hee feed ? All that
are committed vnto him : as many
as Chriftj with the purchafe of his
blond J hath dearely bought: Chrift
biddeth Pexer teede his llieepe, the
fheepe ofcircumcifton, the number is
promiftuous: or a numberlefle num-
ber for his charge was Apoftolicall.
Peter is not forbid to feed the Iheepe
of diuers iheepefolds which were but
one flocke. Our Sauioiir faith Pafce^
feed: what is that ? feed, or caule them
to be fedde, The Lord is my 1 nep- jj. rfal.
heard, I lhall not want,he makcth me,
or caufeth me to reft in greene pa-
fture, and Icadeth me by the ftill wa-
ters : Hee Icadeth me in the pathes
of righteoufiielfe for his names lake:
and therefore to feed, is alway to feed
by himftlfe, and to caufe them to
be fedde: which is xquiualent in the joli.iy.
phrafe offeeding; now in that our Sa-1 e. \ r.v.
G uiour 'S.
8 2 of finguhrity affd plurality
uiour faith to Peter, Loueft thou mc
more then thefc: Feed my Lair bes,
andfotiie iecond and third time feed
my ihiecpe : it is more then euident
that Chrih committed to his charge
diners fheepefolds belonging to that
flocke of iheepe, for ihecpe & lambes
feldomegoc in one paihirage, but are
diuided and lorted by themfelues.
which not to be abfiird is alfo as eui—
dent by the words of our Sauiour:
Other'ihecpe I haue alio, which are
not of this fold, them alfo muft I bring
and they lhall heare my voice; fo that
fheepe of diners folds, may not incon-
ueniently heare die Ihepheards voice:
whole pains is the greater in reforting
to them: for which caufe two diftindl
and feucrall parilhes recommended to
one man, maketh but one flocke,
though two foldes. Which diftin-
guilhmcnt ofparilhes the pofitiue law
Ecclefiaftical hath deuifed,for if Gods
law had Icparated them, then no man
by vnion ( which is pretended) may
conioine them, as on the contrary fide
that which God hath conioined, no
man
fif Benefices. 83
fnan may fcparate. And whereas it
.may be farther faid, euery natural! bo-
die hath his natural! head, and one
head cannot be let vpontwo bodies,
and therefore it is as vnfitting in a po-
liticall bodietohaue more then a po-
liticall head, or two bodies to hauc
one head. It is eafieto callthelc two
flockes after they are incorporated in-
to onejand vnited togither, one bodic
and one flocke to that intent and pur-
pole : but this is an vnproper Deno-
mination, to call either parts homoge-
neall, orheterogeneali of an entire bo-
5 die, or the left member or parcels of
Chrifts myfticall body, by the name
ofanablbluteor political! body; and
it is al as improper to call tire Pallor of
a pariih. by the name of an head. The
head of die myfticall body which is
the Church, is Chrift v^'hich is the
head, andhcistheeftcntiallhead, by
whom the whole body being cou-
pled and knit together in euery ioint,
for the furniture thereof, receaucth an
encrealc. Nextvnder Chrift his pri- ^ .
I 1 • 1 I 1- AT 4.Epncr.iJ.
macie, the king hath luprcmacy; At-
G 2 tet
84 of (ifiguUrity and plurality.
terwhoin the Archbilliop in his pro-
uince,andthe Bilhopin his Dioceflc
may be tcarmed a Miniftcriall head:
but foreueiy Paftoror Pariih incoim-
trey and cine to be fo called by the
name of a body or head^s a mod: abu-
fiuc or catachrefticall maner of fpea-.
king: for they are but members of the
Dioceile, whereof the Dioccfan is the
head, and the whole prouince or Dio-
cclfeis theEccIefiadicall body: fo that
the belongingoftwo Benefices to one
beneficed man, is as two charges to
onegoucrnourj and two foldes to one
Paftor, two companies to one leader,
two families to one fither, not two
bodies to one head. Adde vnto this
the many dilprcportions bctweene a
naturall and political! both head and
body, and the manifold abfiirdities if
fuch conformitie be vrged in all re-
(pedis between the one and the other:
for if they were correlpondent echto
other, and that in euery point, tlien as
when the head is deadly wounded,the
bodie naturall dieth: fb when the king
yvho is die politicall head dieth, the
common-
of Benefices. 85
common-wealth llioiild die. And that
no kin;^ lliould be king ouer three
f 1
kingdomsjwhich are three bodies po-
litike, becauleno head can be an head
of three natiirall bodies : Marke this
argument of theirs , and the con-
feftaries thereof, whether it ftriketh
not at the very head. The conclufi-
on of all is, either two parillres may
be committed to one iiiflicicnt man,
which is that we call pluralities, or
they may not be committed, 'by rea-
ion of fome lirong impediment, or
or barrc againlHt in the law of God;
not in Gods law ; for nothing is fct
downcofdiftindionof pariilics in fb
many fillables in the word of God: for
all is of meere pofitiiie law of manrnei-
ther is there any iuft meafure or ftan-
dard of euery minifters lining, laide
downeinthe Scriptures', but all run-
neth on in thofe termes offufficiencie,
ofcoinpctencie, of maintenance, of
reward, of rccompence, of participa-
tion of al good things, ofreaping tern-
porall or carnall commodities of ho-
nor and double honor, and iiich other
G 3 allot-
S 6 OfJiftguUrme andplwralite
allotments for the miniftety and doing
of their office .But if they may be per-
niittedj videlicet^ two fciicrall parilhes
to one fiifficient man^ then alfb difpen-
fations are to be tolerated and permit-
ted thereupon, which is that wcde-
fend; orclfe a learned Miniftery (hall
lackc maintenance, ( as the ftate of
things now ftandeth ) if they iBouId
not be permitted: if one Benefice be
not a competent lining, it fhall be lavv'-
full with the circumfiances aforcfaid,
to adde another thereunto,for the bet-
tering of a Church-mans cftatc. A Be-
nefice now a daies is nothing lefie then
a Benefice,and an Ecclefiafticall lining
nothing leffethen that which affoor-
deth liuelihood or fufficiency of li-
uing j efpccially if you fpcake of fingu-
larity or of one Benefice: and fb(a few
Benefices excepted ) all benefices may
be refembled to the counfels of cer-
Ptmcfi, Tliiiip. taine Orators in Demolihenes daies,
which be comparcth to the diets of
ficke mem livi try-tw W
Kdv i£. which neither gi'ue a man life,
nor fuffer him to di?. The pittances
m
of Benefices. S7
arefbfmall, the annuities, penfions,
contributions, impofitions arc (b ma-
ny in compariibn of that which was
paid in former times; and as for that
which is now paid, it is either long de-
tained .before it can be paid, and lb
paid vnwilIingly,or ific muft needs be
paid, after extreeme delaies, & expcn-
ces, after fo many prohibitions, which
are common and eafie, and confultati-
ons which arefeldomeandnot lb ealy
to be had, with an euill conlcience at
the length they are paid, that the olde
(aid lawe is verified ftill ; Laid fim^er
funt non modo' tnfenfi, fed tnfejh clcri-
cU : The Laitie 'is alwaies oifended
with the Cieargie, and ready to hurt
what they can: they mull view and re-
uiew,&: inuiew tlie proceedings ofthe
Church: Some few Honorable and
wile, & learned amongft them excep.^
ted out of this number: Contra manjue-
tost err A res frauduUmifimas excogi-
tint, all their deuilc is to difgrace
and deface and put downe
them God would haue
aduanced.
G4 Chap.
88
C H A p. 5«
of the friends and enimies of Pluralities,
and of other Ecclefiaflicall fuperiorittes
andiurtjdiciions ^ all xehich tmpor-
teth an inequality or imparity
amonqll men of the
church.
Lthough it bee moft
true which the mouth
oftrueth hath fpoken,
a man hath enemies
thoie of his owne
is no leffe true that it is
moft difficill and hard to finde who are
a mans friends, and who are his eni-
mies 3 both within and without the
doore of his houfe ; fuch is the in-
ftnuatiue hypocrifie and colourable
dealing of one man with another that
it is an harde peece of worke to dh
fcerne friends from foes, euen in the
Church of GodjWhich is Gods houle;
Notwithftanding bicaufe(if the vilbur
ofhypocrifie and other counterfei-
fance be taken from their faces) it is
eafier
houle: Yet it
ofTluralittes, 8p
eafier found out, my enquirie or in-
ueftigation (hall be of thoie oncly
who are either diilcrablcd friends, or
profefledfocs, whereof the one dance
in a net, and fiippofe themfeiues to be
leeneofnomen, and are fecile of all
men, the otiier are liich, v. hofe can-
kred malice, and fliamelefle hoftilitie
againft the mount of Sion andvx alles
of lerufalcnijand the builders thereof,
as the funne at noonetide Ihining is
inoft euidently and cleerly to be icene.
Thefriends and enimies of Pluralities
and Ecciefiafticall dignities, are of di-
ucrs ibrts : our friends arc fewer in
number then our enimies: Howbcit
more prcualentthen our enimies: and
lb indeed more with vs then againft
vs: and therefore firft her late lacrcd
Maieftie, and his moft excellent Ma-
ieftie, and other godly and religious
Princes before them, their principall
fpirits of wifedome illumined with
Gods trueth, together with the heroi-
call prudent (pirits of certaine Hono-
rableperfonagesofthe Nobilitie and
Counfelli, and other induftrious lear-
ned
of the friends andertmies
ned men, affeding a prouident carc of
the pofteritie of die church,and patro-
nizing theprefent cllate of Church di-
fcipline, haue eucr ftood our friends,
and euer refifted the priuate fpirits of
thcfc new-fanglifts, or contentious
and quarrelous men : all which eni-
mies of Pluralities and dignities are or
may be digefted into their ieuerall
rankes, fb that we may reckon vpon
this diuifion, ail to be cither enimies
or friends, excepting fuch as thinke
Pluraiittes to be requifite and fit remu-
neration for learned men, but they
will not glue any man a fecondBene-
fice that hath one already, which fcru-
pie arifeth vpon this, that they fuppolc
too great diftance of Benefices with
cure to be inconuenient, or for fomc
other confideration beft knowen to
themlelues, or perhaps they thinke
themleluesonerated in confcience for
the truft repofedin them by the prince
andftate togiue and belfowvpon e-
uery one, one Benefice, vndll aU be
proiiidcd for, and not before, againft
whom I will not argue 3 fith they arc
no
ef PlurAlities, pi
no way our eniinies or neutrally af-
feded,but apter a great deale to be our
friends.
Amongft the multitude of them
who are enimies, I may number thole
who haue no lining at all 5 or haue li-
uing too SQO much: they who haue
no lining at all J arecertaine penurious
and greedy J or hungry companions.,
who will not ftay their time, but muft
b e preferred in hafte, and commonly
before their defert, and crcepe into the
world before they are ripe, or flitter
before they are flufh, or runne awaic
as the Lapwinge witlitheir ihels vpon
their head out of the Vniuerfities, as
foone as they foe a man haue two Be-
nefices, their enuious eie is faftened
vpon one; which is much to be milli-
ked. They who haue too much lining
are thofo whofo lippes arelweetened
with thcfatteofimpropriations, and
they would haue more. They take
vp all with the angle, tliey catch it in
their net ,and gather it in their yarne
whereof they reioice, and are glad,
therefore, they focrificevnto their net
and
^2 of thefr'ten^s afid enmies
andburnc inccnfeto their yarne, be-
caufe by them their portion is fat, and
their meat plenteous ;lhallthey there-
fore ftretch out their net and that
continually to flay the nations ?
I write not this to the pra^iudiceof
thofe who haue any or many impopri-
ated Benefices, and lawfully hold them
J ' J
although I may boldly maintaine it
more lawfull of the two, to hold two
TBenefices with cure offbules then two
difcured or impropriated linings as the
world efteemeth them; and how they
are efteemed void of all cure the Lord
knoweth, but my difpuration is dire-
<5lcd againft thofe who vnder a co-
lour of oppohtion againft pluralities,
giue a fecrct blow to all Ecclefiafticall
preferments and liuings, would haue
the tithes brought home from Gods
barne to their owne, and reduce all to
penfions, and would (v eepe the
Church cleane ; thefe are the moft
peftilent enginers againft the Biihop
and clergy, againft the Deanc and
Chapter,that is the Ecclefiafiicalfenate
and other prebends at large, all which
is
cf Plardities. ^5
is coiicrtly vndertakefor the moft part
by the impiigners of pluralities, the
pradilc whereof Ipringeth from this
original!, not lb much from hatred of
pluralities or duplicities ofhuings, but
from an intention forfooth to reduce
and bring backc all to the primitiue.
and Apoftolicall fimplicity, which
without Apoftolicall and primitiue
and extraordinary gifts reduced toge-
therwithitj is a fond conceit, and a
vaine intention. As for Platonicall co-.
munitic or Anabaptillicall confufion
which is the daughter of parity or any
fuch monafticall conucrlation, which
lome would haue tobe Euangelicall
perfedion J I hope they notlo much',
as dreame of, albeit they dote vponi
Ibme fuch like phanfied Church pol-.
licy,and gouernment of the Churclo:.-
But rather as I touched before, arifeth
from a deteilable and implacable ha-
tred againft all Ecclfiaftic^l fiiperiori-
ty & fuch like imparities, they would
haue one man as good as an other,
which is as much as they laid hxTufcu-
/4W queftions. Nemode nobiiVTiUiex-
cellat
^4 of the friends an^emmies
cellat y letnonofvs be better theno-
ther. And in cafe any fiich one be bet-
ter in gifts^bettcr in liuelelxjcd,better
inplace^orfiiperiorin dignity, orin
Ecclefiafiicall xMhcntyiomnem exuj^c.
rantiarn virttstuodtrnta^ all betterneflc
orpreheminency of vertue (fay they)
let vs hare. Howbeit firft let them
vnderftand what diis fuperioritie is,
and let them vnderftand vs, and let
vs vnderftand one the other, and
then let them become enemies to
that which they knowe: oderant nos
grafts, if they hate vs caufeleflie fo
let them hate. That one Minifter may
haue more linings then an other and
better meanes to line by the Church.
I.haiiefhewed before , that in the Mi-
niftery fbmc muft be both preferred in
lining and higher placed in anthoritie,
in a well ordered Common-wealth,
and well difciplined Church, I haue in
part declared, and will now enlarge
lomewhat more, for the fatisfadion of
curious men.
They who would haue paritic a-
mongft die Minifters, would likewifc
niaintcitic
ofplur alines, 9$
mainteinethem to be all equalled firft ■
either in equalitic of gifts, and equali-
tie of lining: or all to be ofincqualitie
of both gifts and linings : or els to be
vneqnall of gifts and eqnall in lining;
or vneqnall of lining & cqnall of gifts ;
for thefe are the parts: To make thcin
who arelutable and eqiiall in gifts by a
pofitine or generall law, to be inferi-
or and behinde one another in li-
uing, were againft the lawe of diftri-
bntiue iuftice, at the leaft againft c-
qnitie ; To make them who come
fnort of the beft gift, equali in pre-
ferment, were greater iniqnitie: To
defend all to be eqnall in gifts and e-
qnall in linings, ftmul & feniel, were
impolfibilitie : To mainteine ineqna-
litic of both gifts and linings, is the
matter we leeke for, and by argumcn-
tationandreafbn, is deduced from the
anthoritie of Scriptures, and praxis of
the Church. The enemies of pluralities
and friends of paritie, are for the molt
part haters of all emincncie of gifts, &
fwome enemies vnto all jianding liipc-
rioritieof'Miniftcrs oner Miniftcrsin
the
^6 of thefiiends and enemies
the church of England, and arc in a ma-
ner the fame, acaifing alwayes the in-
cqualitie & rule which are exercifed in
the church for order and Chriftian
policie of arrogant dominion or Anti-
chriftian tyrannic. For fo the falhion
is ofthcfe difcontented perlbns,to tra-
duce in their ^ceches all Archiepifco-
pall iuriidicf ion in the Prouince, or e-
pifcopall authoritie in the Diocelfc, or
archidiaconall power, or any other
fubordinate authoritie in their limits,
or v/hatfoeucr els branch ofciuil pow-
er & fiiperioritie annexed to theirpla-
CCS,for the well being of the fame,and
to fprinckle it with fuch afperfions of
d'ominarion & proud lordlinefic, as if
thofc callings did affed nothing elfe
than terrene glory and worldly ho-
nours,and minde earthly things. The
Bilhops are the fiicceftbrs of the Apo-
files,and are of the better fort and con-
dition of citizens, for they are citizens
ofthe Common-wealth they line in,
and are not nor ought to be without
all rule and fuperiority, or other ciuill
honour,ifit be caft vpon them. And as
ef Pluralities, > ^7
for any ciiiill iiirifdidion which Bi-
Ihops or fome ecclefiaftical men haue,
it is not claimed by them as due to
their fundiions, but impoled by the
. Prince as vpon fubiecls feruiceable for
theRealmejand for credit to their pla-
ces,as CounlellersEmbafladorjIulhce
of Peace, and the like; although ibme
of the Presbyteriall fadiondo call for
it as due,and that Minifters and Eccle-
fiaftical perfons may & in reiped they
are wife and learned ought to be of
counfell of Princes in affaires ciuill of
the Common-wealth,and to giue ipe-
ciall direction euen in letting vp and
depofingofPrinces, L.^. Depolitiaci-
uih(^ Eccle(ialticay which chalenge of
theirs procecdeth from a diftempered
humonr, and abominable arrogancie.
And becaufe there are many reicm-
blances betweene Eccleliafticall and
ciuill authoritie, and the exa£t laying
foorth of ciuill authority lerueth aptly
for the vnderftanding of the other,and
for the clearing of the Bifhopsand o-
ther that exercife EcclefialHcall iiirit
' didion thele many yeeres, both be-
H fore
^8 Of the friends andenemies
fore and fithence reformation in the
land 5 of the imputation of dominion
or tyranny ouer their inferioiirs, I
thinke it not amiflre(ifit may not feeine
tedious in fo Ihort a difcoiirfe and the
rather becaufe I was lately called be-
fore a Right Honorable prelence of
Lords & other ofhis MaielHes Couii-
cellby commandementj to fatisfie the
{crupulous coniciences ofcertaine dif-
contented perfons, who propofed ma-
ny things againft the authoritie and
gouernmentof BiOipps, but in fine,
would neither oppofe nor anflver in
the doubts which thelelues propofed)
and I will dilfribute ciuill or temporali
authority into his parts & differences
according to Ariflotle & other learned
•politicians. Authority ciuill or tempo-
rail, asfhecomoiiphrafeoffpeechis,
is cither oeeonomicall as that which is
cxercifed within the limits of a family,
or politicall ouer a great fbcietic, oeco-
nomicall is either of the huf^
band ouer the wife, being the moft
moderate ofal; or w7?/;t©-,of the father
ouer the children being more ample
ofPlurdittes, o^<»rthw«si«r
J, 1 . < . r University
and large, or which is or two Library
fortes, either of the mafterofthehottf-
hold, ouerfuch as be ofcondition free
men, and is lefle milde then the other
two or of the Lord oner bondmen
and villains, which is moftfeuere and
abfoliite of all other: Now iotPohti-
e ill author itie, it is either fupreme or fa-
uerdgne,ox. elfe fubordtnate and delega-
ted. Soueraigne or fupreme is either
abfblute calledwhich is of
two forts, JirmnK©-, that is called feig-
neuriall, fuch as ^ugujlm and Nerua,
and 7raian, and Adrian, and CMixrcua
and other Emperors had and
vfed, who though they had all autho-
ritie in them without reftraint, fb that
their word was a law, yet did they vie
it according to the rules of ciuill ho-
nefty ,& according to law: or
tyrannous, where not onely their will
became a law, but they alfo abufe it,
contrary to all rules of ciuill honefhe
and moderation ofthe law, as the em-
pire of Turkes and other Barbarians
who reuerence not Chrift and his
Gofpell: orotherwifc limited by cer-
H 2. teinc
I oo of the friends And enimies
teiiie bounds of lawcs: That which is
(bueraigne and yet limited , is alio of
twokindesj either vniuerfally limited
as is the authoritie of ordinarie chiefe
magiftrates in all free comon-wealths,
as the Dukes of Venice &fuch other
as come neere it; or reftrained but in
part, as for the moft part in all Chrilli-
an monarchies and kingdomes: for al-
beit kings and fuch loueraigne mo-
narches, are fb tied to lawes,that they
cannot diipole of their fubiects liues
or liuelihood and goods contrarie to
the lawes, yet they are at libertie to al-
lowordifallow lawes to be made, to
enhance or decrie the price or ftan-
derd of their coines, to pardon often-
ders condemned by law, and to make
warre or peace, truice or league. As
for thofe which haue fubordinate or
delegated authoritie by the fiipreme
Magiftrate, they may not exercile nor
claime more then is allowed them, ei-
ther by commifGon or by law. of all
thefe authorities there is none fimplic
forbiden, or altogither vnlawfull, but
the tyrannic^ goiierncment which
maketh
efPluralities, loi
makcth felfe-will a law, and that is vt-
terly forbidden in ciuill and Ecclefia-
fticall policy to all good ChrilHans.
Now to apply this to the purpofe in
hand, videlicet, to the authoritie that
Bilhops haue in thisRealmCj a matter
offuperioritie, fo much oppugned by
thefe pert or rather malepcrt compani-
onsjit cannot be relcmbled to oecono-*
micali authority ( albeit a Billiop in
fome Tenfe, as a Bilhop is called a fa-
ther of thofe in charge, and the huf^
band of that Church in a kinde of fig-
nification whereof he is Bilhop) and
that for two caufes; firfi:,in that his au-
thoritie is not conteined in the pre-
cin6ts of one family, butftretcheth it
(elfe ouer many congregations, which
comprehendeth many families. An
other cauie is, for that the Bidiops
authoritie ( which the fnBiomfls flip-
pole to be fo tranicendent and illimita-
ble, is tied by the lawes, not onely
what not to doe,but he is alio direded
and appointed what to doe: whereas
ceconomicall authoritie hath no pub-
like lawes^ofkiue, commanding a man
H 3 ho w
102 Of the friends Avdenemies
how to goucrnc his family ', butonely
Negatiue^ what they may not doe in
that gouernment, as not to hurt nor
kill, neither childe, wife, nor feruant,
and fuch like inclufiiie prohibitions:
and as for fupremc power, whether ci-
iiill orecclefiafticall, abfolute or limi-
table authoritie, our Bilhops neither
vie nor claime. It is that which they
condemne in the Pope,as well for that
asfudcenbrofthe ApoiUes, he claim-
eth both (words, and earthly king-
domes to be his to dilpoie ^finon
JdUemhahttu, !LsB(lIafmt»e diilinguifii-
eth to his ov/ne great confufion, as al-
fo for that in matters Ecclefiarticall,he
chalengeth to himfelf, & viurpeth not
onely ieigneuriall, but cuen tyranni-
call authority, for he may iudge a],and
be iudgedof none, may carie millions
offoules vnto hell, and none may fay
to him, Domme cur ttafacii ? may com-
maund angels to carrie and recarric
(bulcs at his pleafure, may pardon
(inncs paft and to come: yea in mat-
ters Eccleiiafticall, may doe what he
lift, as his ownc flatterers and claw-
backs
of pluralities, 103
backes, haue ibmetimes faid and now
would vnfay; ail this Lordly abfolucc
tyrannous and vfurped authoritie is
condemned in the Scriptures. There
reinaineth then to the Bifhops of the
Realme, none other but fubordinate
and delegated authoritie, which they
haue partly from Godjand panly from
the Soueraigne Chriftian magiftrate
and this is the point which is not well
vnderftood of the vulgar fort, or is
commonly miftaken of many fortes of
people, but principally or perhaps
wittinglie or maliciouflie milcon-
ftrued of thofe who band themlelucs
againit the orderly gouernment and
fatherly iurifdidion ofthe Bifhops of
England. From God they haue their
authority to preach and minifter the
Sacraments, and not from the Prince
but from Ghrifthimlelfe^zS. Mathex9
Goe teach all natrons Baptifing them
&c. Oiiely the Princes giueth them
publique liberty,without let or diftur-
bancc, todoethat which Chrifthath
commanded: allthatPrinces giue in
I this refpeil, is not by way of commif-
H 4 fion
I04 Of the friends an^enewies
fion but by a free permiffion that witli
peace and praiic, w ith diligence and
alacritie they may doe their duties.
From God theyhaue alfo either firfl:
to plant or elfe to gouerne, and direct
Churches planted already, to ordeine
Minifters and Deacons, andlikewile
the vie and power of thekeies, either
by looling the penitent, according to
the Scripture, or binding the impeni-
tent; thelaftofwhichisdoneby fine
meanes; firftby admonition; fecond-
ly by repreheniion; thirdly by fufpen-
lion; fourthly by excommunication;
and fiftly by Anathematifme, which
is the greatetl of all : The three firft,
of which cenfiires Ecclefiafticall are
in vfe and pradife, common to all
Minifters, lo farre as fufpenfion is
taken for the debarring of notorious,
deteded,orconuided perfons fro the
Lords Supper: The laft two though
by all pradile of antiquity in purer
times,they were principally attributed
vnto Bifhops,yet not fo,but other Mi-
nifters of the word, vnto whom the
kcies are annexed, might notvnlaw-
fully
pf Pluraltties. 105
fully heerein concurre, ifthelawcs of
the Church for weighty caulcs do not
otherwife dilpole, which they haue
done hcere in England as I conceiuc,
by realbn of fundry ciuil effedtsjwhich
excommunication & anathematifmc
by lawe doe worke, and are fuch as
without great inconuenience and con-
fufion cannot be permitted to euerie
Minifter in his cure or charge, that
haue but flender skill, no diredion of
lawinthat behalfe, none authentiquc
(eales to certifie of record^ nor tempo-
ralities to befuedjfor not performance
ofthe kings write,that lieth in luch ca-
fesj as De cautione admittenda deexcom-
wunicAto deltheraMdo,cjrc. And thele for-
met be the points wherin Bifhops au-
thoritie is from God, and not of man:
But now from the foueraigne Prince
by the mediating of lawes, Bifhops
haue let downe vnto them the places
where thecompafle of the Territme
how fane, the manerw, with other
circumftancesj ofexecuting both the
former authorities, and alio their /*-
rifdt£}m, which although it bcoriei-
1
io6 Of the frkndsmi enemies
nally founded in the word of God, yet
allBifhopshauethe alhftance of their
iiirifdidionEcciefiafiicall, fundry waies
from the Prince and his Jawes, for the
founder execution thereofjand reflrair
ning of offenders, as to burne an here-
tique, to iinprifbn a perfbn ftubburnly
and obftinately remaining excommu-
nicate aboue forty daies, and fuch like:
Lafllyjthe Bilhops of this rcalme haue
the heads and matters wherein their
iurifdicfion is conuerlant, by, & from
the Princes authority , in whom asfu-
premegouernour al iunfdi^ion with-
in his highneffe dominions, as well
temporall as Ecclefiafticall, by the law
of God, and by manslawe is inueibed.-
Such matters in the Church of Eng-
land, attributed to Bifhops, are caufes
bcneficiall, videlicet, for tithes i and
maintenance ofMinifters, vpholding
of Churches & Church-yards, caufes
matrimonialfcontrads and diuorcesj
matters diffamatorie, where there is
breach ofcharitie, and no action licth
in ciuill Courts, as alfbTeitamentaric
caufes, which euen at the common
law
of Pluralities. 107
law of the land hath alwaics bin made
Ecclefiafticall, both becaulethatlawc
hath litle diredion in thole caulesjbut
fuch as is borrowed from the ciuill and
Hccleliafticall lawes, and for that mens
laft wils ( atleaft were wont) doe con-
teine liindry demiles for Churchesjor-
phans, poore, captiues, and fiich like
good vfes 5 whereof the Church had
the fourth part 3 and wherein Bifhops
are intended to be inoft carefull to mi-
nifter right, indifferently to all for the
true performance of the deads will.
Finally the puniihingof diuers crimes
termed Ecclefiafticall, being fuch as
are not punilTiable at all at the com-
mon law, or elfe are left by law to be
puniftied by either authoritie ; and in
this reiped may this part of Epilcopall
authority and fundion, not vntruely
be laid to be deriued from the Kings
fupremacie which they haue vnder
God. By which matter that I haue hi-
thertoat large deduced, may plancly
appccre the vndutifulncfte of popilh
Bilhops and peeuifh confiftorials: the
firftwherofdcriueth their iurifdidion
EcdefiafticaU
io8 Ofthe friends and enemies
Ecclefiafticall within all Chriftian ^
kingdoincs from the Pope; the ie-
cond will needs deriue their iuriiHi-
dionall authoritie immediately from
God, and not from the Prince, and in
a larger manner, and in moe matters
then Billiops in England may any
wile exercife or intrude vpon, & make (
their Confiftory or Presbytery a court W
of Confciencc and ^Equitie, a tran-
(cendent court beyond his Maiefties
high court of Chauncery, and put 'o 1"
other courts to a perpetuall filence. Clin'l
And on the contrary fide may eiii- Mi
dcntly appearc to the World the duti- ft
full carriage of our Bifhops, the B B, it: Ira
of the Golpell, who draw neereft to MiPti
the ancient and orthodoxe Bilhops, as
lineally deducing their dodrine and erwitl
dilcipline, their gouernment and obe- idal
dience, and other conformities from bad;
the Apoftolicalland Primitiue and pu- ie&fe
rer times. And concerning papall Bi- tutj]
fhops (which is one of the extremi-
ties) they deriue all that from the Ca-
pitoll of the Pope which they well te^c
know a can not fetch his deriuation indj^
froii>
ef Plurdities lo^
from God, that is, borrowcofAnti-
. chrift his home or power, which they
can not deriue from the Head which
is Chrift: but for factious confiftorials
andpresbyteriallmen (which is the o-
ther extremity) they without any war-
rantife of the W ord witli a Luciferian
pride (asifthey weretoride vpon the
cherubins ) draw immediatly their lu-
rifdidtion from the emperiall feat of
God, and will not fetch that which is
to be deriued vnto them from the
Chriftian magiftrate or Gods lieute-
nant vpon earth.
The former oftheft will be exemp-
ted from Princes, whereas no Prieft
nor Prelate is exempted fro their tem-
poral {word, much lefte hath any pow-
er within or without their Realmes in-
dicially to depoft them, leaft of all to
inuade them, or to diftharge their fub-
iedfcs from their allegiance, or to war-
rant their liege people to rebel! a-
gainif them, but rather are fubicdto
rfieir power for reformation and cor-
redion of their errours in faith, abufes
in diftipline, dilbrders in life,and all o-
11 o ofthe friends And enemies
therEccIcfiafticall enormities, as ap-
• See the L plainely by the publicke lawes
Bifhopof ' z^so^Cenftantine,TheodofmJit-
Winchc/lers JlintAn, Carolui,Ludouicu4 and Lothariuiy
t'hTdtfference andother godly and woorthie goucr-
betweene noiits abroad 5 as alfo by the lawes of
Chriftun fub- Canatus and other religious Princes at
chiifliaiue-"' The later of thefc, although
bciiion. they challenge no exemption at all
from tlic Kingly gouernment, yet fb
munitethemfeluesj andaduance their
Puritanicall iurifdidionjas to attribute
therein no more to their fouereignc
Prince, but to be gouerned or ruled in
that behalfe by them, that is, to be o-
uerruled when they lift, and to defend
the exercile thereof by their temporail
(word when as they ihalbe called vpon
by them.
If thefe extremes be leadden,'then is
the mediocritie golden which our re-
uerend Fathers & Bifhops of the land
dopcrpetuallyobferueandkeepc : for
albeit the Bifhops are Spirituall Judges
and Miniftcrs of the lawes, yet do they
not make any new Ecclcfiafticall dc-
crccs or lawes,without the Princes au-
thoritic
ef Pluralities, III
thoritie both praecedent and /iibfe-
quentjand in the whole courfe of their
fundlion are tied ftridlly and precifely
to obleruation of due coiirle of law:
which if they iliall either negligently
or wilfully violate, it is remediable by
appellation. Thelaftrelbrt, wherein
is to the Soiiereigne Prince himlelfe,
who heareth and finally determinetli
by his ludges delegated. The fiimmc
of all is this. That our Bifhops neither
claime nor yet exercile any ciuill an-
thoritie at all as Biihops, though it is
wholly vnfit they fhould be without
^ it; and that their authoritieEcclelialti-
callisbutfiibordinate vnder God and
the Prince, moderated as much as any
other thing, in the whole Kingdome
and State, Exactly, both pojitmely and
priuatiuely by good and wholefbme
lawes, deriued for tliemoft part from
the Prince, and reformable by his Ma-
ieftie, and that it delerueth no fuch
flanderous alperfion of Supreameoxoi
Ab folate, of Tyranicall, of SigneuriaU, of
Lorldlyipomtt ox fuperioritie, accord-
' ing to the rulers luft. Let them rather
lookc
112 Of the friends and enemies
looke to this defemed reprehenfion,
who claime and exercife more abfo-
lute authority than the Bifhops,name-
ly 5 to haue dieir Confiftoriall iurifdi-
(ftion not deriued from the Kings au-
thoritie,but fiipreame vnder God, and
that in all caufes ofdodrine or maners
fo farre as apperteineth to confcience,
to make lawes and orders Ecclefiafti-
callj withoutthe knowledge and con-
lent of his MaielHe, to fit and deter-
mine as themfelues hell; iudge, with-
out any guiding of the lawj and where
a cafe hapneth with iuft and equall de-
cifionto determine contrary to lawe,
to haue their fentences once giuen, to
ffande in force (though they be ap-
pealed from, vntill they be in the laff
inftance reiierfed, to excommunicate
their Soucraigne, and confequently to
difchargc themfelues, for that time of
all aSiuall obedience^ to call their Sy-
nods and daffies without the Princes
writtes, and to haue the lafl appellati-
on 5 not runnc vnto the Prince, but
to a Nationall Synode. All which if
you rightly lean them, arc true notes
fifPluralities. 113
andchare(Sersof fbueraignty iniuril^
didliorijOr at the leail j^crTnvxj-y
Lordly or Seigneuriall, ifnottyranni-
call, and condemned by the cenfiire of
our Sauiour. And let no man replie
that the bare title of Lords to be giuen
toBifhops, for the lame without anie
authority in that relpecSl is giuen to
them : for the Scriptures giueth not
lawes to wordes, but to the matters
thanfelues. That is lordlinefle indeed,
when they pradilc and band them-
lelues, & confront the kings liiprema-
cicjand wil hauc him to throw downe
his Icepter, and to licke the dull: of the
feet of their Church, videl:cetxht prel-
byterie, an Epitome orcompendiarie
reprelentation of euery leuerall con-
gregation and church. All that I haue
hitherto dilcourfed,tendeth vnto this,
that thtjlanding fu^erior 'ity of Bilhops
ouer miniftets, and the other impari-
ties and inequalities amongft Mini-
Iters of the word, both for gifts and li-
uings (which are lb odioufly traduced)
may be iuftly defended againft the ad-
uerfariepart, and that the bitter ene-
I mics
If
114 ofthefrienis and enemJes
inies to pluralities are ficrceft enemies
to all dignitie, fupcrioritie, and autho-
ritic in the Church, for ought that I
can perceiue by many yccrcs obfenia-
tion, whole hatred is inlaturable,
whole malice is cancred, whofe indig-
nation is implacable againft this let-
led & prolperous ellate ol the church.
Their mcanins; is to hauc a bale and
beggerly and vnlearned and con-
temptible clcargie in the lande ; for
this caule their ordinary declamations
arc againft Epilcopall authoritic and
other fubordinate iurifdidion in tire
land ; infomuch that he tliinketh him-
felfe the propereft man nowe a daies,
tliat, although he otherwilebea feely
man and vnskilfull in his owne taciilty
oflawCjor other profelfion, as com-
monly fallethoutto be fo, or vtterly
deuoid of Vniuerfitie learning, and
true knowledge of Gods law & other
prouinciall conftitutions, yet con>
ineth in place with a premeditated
fpeech, or fome impolil"hed oration,
and that conned by heart, againft Bi-
fhop's. Archdeacons, Chauncclours,
ff Pluralities, 115
and officials, thorough out the land^
and for two or three mens fake worthy
ofreprehenfiouj ispleafed to fprinckle
with the afperfion of reproch all what-
foeiier Ecclefiafticall Magiftratcs and
ludgeSj and fb thorough the fides of
tWQ or three euill handlers of the fpi-
rituall iurifdidlion is contented to
I wound the whole body of Ecclefiafti-
cal adminiftration and gouerninent of
the Church. Were it well done(trow
you) fortlicgreedinefle and extortion
of 2. or 3. officers in a court, ifVnere
were any fuch, to cxclaime againft the
Exchequer^ or any fuch court, or for
' the auarice and exadioii of one or two
badde luftices, therefore to complaine
againft the whole bench : but this is
the falEion of the world, of certeine
fadiousmen, and other whole orato-
x\c^\sh\xx.CanmAeloquentia, they muft
for lacke of matter be euer babling,
though it bee but barking againft the
Moonerit is held aihongft the perhaps
a point of good pollicy to vfe inue-
(ftiues & declamatory fpeeches againft
) Pluralities of Church men and againft
I 2 the
n 6 of fu^portame aM keeping the
the faults of other men, that in the
meanetime, their ownc both mifde-
meanors and mifgoucrnanees, may
palTe vncontrolled, or at the leaft vn-
efpicd: now the Billiops are in high
court of Parliament, and in lawful!
Synode affembled, let them exhibite
complaints to their Lordfnips, that
there may bee reformation of that
v/liich is amilfe, or elfe with modelUe
and good maners hold their peace and
heereafter fhut vp their pipes.
Chap. 6.
Of fupportance and keeping the fahrique
eft he church vpright.
T is a true axiome
i which is read in Art-
ftotle FactUui ejl de-
ftruere quant conjlrue'
ere •• a man may pull
down more widi one
hand, than he can build with two: or
is it eafier to plucke downe many
churches then to build one. And for-
afinuchas many Churches are built to
our
fabrtqHC of the Church vf right, 117
our hand, which is the honor of the
kingdome-, eipecially the Cathedrall
and Collegiat Churches, the honor of
which churches is the orderly gouern-
inent andgouernorsof thefame : Let
vs doe our Chriftian endeuour to, fup-
port and vphold that fabrique of the
Churches which our forefathers left
vnto vs, and as neere as we can, keepe
and obferue Saint Cyprians rule for
matter ofdodtrine and Difcipline,that
is well fetled already, Ft mhtlcjuod tra-
dttum ejl tnnouetur, and to kecpe the
vnity of the Ipirit in the bond of peace.
^ The crafty enginers againft the con-
I hrudion and fabrique thereof, are of
fundrylbrts, by themlelues,for of him
I will fay nothing, who was principal
in this machination: Sceleris fabritator
Epata, our late Church-wright, but
oftheacceflbrs Ibmwhat may belpo-
ken. There lacketh not a number of
tho(e,who would haue the Cathedrall
Churches plucked downe,and vnder a
colour oferedling or making of euery
flich great Church, three or foure leL
ler Churches,and ofthree or foure lef-
I 3 fcr
11S offuf^ortAfice and keeping the
fer parochiall or countrey Churches
would enlarge or make one bigger
Church 5 but of endowment or reuc-
newe they talke nothing at all: they
would reduce all to penfionary per-
(bns : forfboth their meaning is to bee W
dilchargedfrom paying tythes. Some
doe oriely repine and mutter, other ^
vtter their malicious ftomacke againlk niPralx
theiurifdid^ion of Bifhops puer Prel- ®bi
bytersj and of one Presbyter letled in Wt,
gouernment ouer another, as if any wibl
of vs went about to make Bifnops tliclioi
Lords and maflers ouer the Church, vnto c
and all the reft to be their ftruants, or Dane;
that force did afcribe fb much power ddislk
vntoBifhops and fiiperior Minifters, lii!ciy(
as that ordinary Paftors had no power vdpo
Ouer their fcuerall flockes. As for the nordig
Bilhops, Erft they haue no charge but jndnM
paftorall, no power but paternalhthey iaininj,
haue'fuperiority but no Impery, they fe
haue authoritie legall not regall, their gtoimdi
prajeminence is fatherly notmafterly rftliei;
ouer the people and presbyters; of aid®
which confequence is all other Ecclc-
(iafticall inferiour power or fubordi- fpaed
natc
f
fxhriqueof the Church vpright 1
nate iuriflidion, ouer Gods heritage
and the Lords flocke : the clcereneilc
and lawfiilneile whereofbeing fuch as
no maligners can well ouerthrow or
cxpngnCjthey hold another courfc to
impugne and giiie the onfet, firft vpon
the Deane and Chapter, and Archi-
diaconall, and peculiar iurifHicSions
of Prebendaries and the like. As it was
myhappe to be in hearing when one
faide, that Bilhops hee did allowc
with all his heart, and did giiie them
the honor and reuercncc that was due
vnto their places, but concerning
Deane and Chapter, which is the Ec-
cleliallicall Senate, and the true Pref-
bytery (ifthere be any (iicii thing in
verity or analogic ) he could not abide
nor digeft reputing al that fuperfluous
and needlelTc, and notwoorththe rc-
taining. Needlcfle it lliall be to refute
this phanhe, which falleth to the
ground ofit felfe, as a ludibrious follic
of the man. As it he would haue laid,
a king is lawfull, but his countcll of
ftateisfijperfluous, and may well bee
(pared, a Maioralitic isnotvniawfull,
14 but
12 o Offupportance and keeping the ^
but the Aldermen are not needful!, a
Chauncellor is a necclTary office in the
Vniuerfitie, but congregations of the
Mafters or conuocarion ofRegents,&
not regents, is a needleffe thing, a Bi-
fhop is good,but cofultarionis naught
or alfiftance in matter ofthe church:as
who would fay, it will be eafierfor vs
to be plucked downe,one by one,then
many, and as if when the members are
cut off, the head could iland vpon the
flioulders: or as ifone did ftand alone
vpon the flage of their enuie and ob-
murmiiration, he were able to ftande
alone or withltand fo many gainf^ers
which would rife againft him. Sem-
blably tliey giue good allowance of
Epifcopal dignitie & their iurifdidtion
but they vrterly dilallow -and would
gladly infringe Archidiaconall power
and weaken that firft. They will make
the head fb monftrous and bigge that
all the body fball be the woorfe, and al
this to be done by reducing or bring-
ing backe all Church cenfures to the
Bilbops againe, whom they will faiior
fb long, and vntill they may tread the
one
fahr'iqueofthe Church -vpright. 121
one and the other vnder-feet, at leaft
fct them in oppofition each a^ainfto-
ther, whereof (as I thinke ) wife men
will beware, and a word of admoniti-
on lhall be fufficient to any wife man,
whenfoeuer this matter fhall be moit
plaufibly propofed, for it maybe fuch
kindeofmen will appeare forwardeft
in this ilratageme, who care neither
for Bifhop nor Arch-deacon, nor
Church nor Chapter, and are like to
thofe foldiors who woulde crucifie
Chriff, ic they might haue his do.-
thes, that is care not for any religion fb
they may haue the fpoile Neuerthe-
leffe what they woulde haue or not
haue, it skilleth not at all: that which
we in all zealc require, is, that die
Church of Chrift maybe ffillcheri-
filed, and if by Kings that haue beene
the nourilhing fathers, and Qeenes
that haue bin the nourilhing mothers,
then by herowne children it is moff
congruent andfitlhe fhouldbe reue-
fenced: and in cafe we honour God
who is our father, we may not offer
difhonpur to the Church which is our
mother:
122 Of fupportance and keeping the
mother: and if we credit Saint Cyprian,
we cannot haue God to be our father
ifwehauenot .the Church to be our
motlier. The Churh is our mother
faith ' Saint ^uften, ("heconceiued vs
fiJeBapiif. I. ofChrift, and nouriiTied vs with the
Tfai milivC of faith; iTie conccauethby the
zpijf.io}. Sacraments, as by the feed of her huf-
band : thou waft conceaued in that
thou receauedft the name of Chriit,
and againe, Ihe is a moft true mother,
which opcneth her boibme to all nati-
ons when they fhall be newe borne,
andoffcrethher teateswhen they are
borne. Whether we take the Chfirch
for the number and company of men
regenerated by the Word and Sacra-
ments, truely feruing God according
to the Gofpcll of his fonne, and lealed
by the fpirit of grace againft the day of
redemption: or whether we take the
'ytugniijt Church by Synechdocheforthe go-
ytrb. apofi. ijemors and prefidents of the Church,
"rl'mltb T,. rhat is, men fb qualified '' as Chryjo-
doth take, or whether we accept
^ citie or houfe, not built with
Tfai-iij.' ' hands, ^ which is founded by belee-
uing
fdbrique of the Church vpright. 125
iring,ere(fled by hoping,made perfe<fl
by louing,or laftly whether we cal the
Church the Temple, where the people
which are called the Church are con-
tained, that by the name ofthe church
the people which is conteincd, we fig-
nifie the place, which conteineth, or
as the fame Auftenfyc Aeth els where;
The Church is the place, where the
Church is aflembled, for men are the
Church; that is,for a materiall houfe,
and built with hands: The Church is
highly to be honored of euery one of
vs, for it is the place where the Honor j.King.8 c.
of Goddwclleth, and which he reple- i-CHto.j.tf.
niihethwith hisglorie, it is the houfe
which is built to his namejand wherin
he will hauehis name to be called vpo
for the obtaining ofhis bleffings or the
turning away of his curies; In which
fbeuer ofthejfe fignificatios the church
is taken, andbecaiifc Chrift raigneth
in his Church by his word and fpirit,
which is called his kingdome, citie,
and houfe, (whereby we learne that it
is furnifhed not onely with pcrfbns,
but witli all things needfull for the
feruants
*
124 OffupportAKceandkeeping the
feriiants Citizens and people of God,
to the conuerting and failing of their
foules:) many honorable things may
befpokenofit, many duties paie-ablc
vnto it. Giue to all men their dutie,
tribute vnto whom tribute,cuftome to
whom cuifome, feare or rcuerence to
whom feare, honor to whom honor
appertaineth : Saint Paule biddcth the
Hebrues remember their rulers or lea-
ders that goe in and out before them^
which haue fpoken to them the wordc
of God : many duties belong vnto
them. For the well being of the
. <church they arc to be remebred in di-
tiers refpecls: Foure things the church
may not want as requifitcs for the
good Sd efbblitliment of the church:
Honor, authoritie,reuenew, and trea-
furie or ftocke, witliout the which, the
very frame of the Church will fall
downe : Whether the world will ho-
nor men ofthe Church or not honor
them: honor confifteth tarn in honor a-
to ^uam in honor ante. Their gifts, ver-
tues, paines, or diligence, and places
are to be honored of all goodmen,yea
God
fdhrique ofthe chweh vpright. 125
God himfelfc wil honor thofe that ho-
nor hym; if you fhall deueft them of
authority they lhalfall into contempt,
yea the very abieds of the world will
make no regard of them: the bafis of
honor is authoritie amongll the peo-
pic: Reuenew is neceflary, and the fi-
new of Ecclefiafticall maintenance:
they may not goe a begging or behol-
ding vnto others: hpijcopm habetpecu-
niam.fioft vtferuet, fedvt eroget,'{zith.
S. jiufien, The Orator could (ay,
^ yiyiot^ Olynthiat.i.
Jioyiwy. As for ®/A.<*f>weuttheloueofmo-
ney the Apoitle forbiddeth, but bid-
deth or chargeth the rich of this world
to do good, to be rich in good works,
to be ready to diftribute to other, and
communicate,which is the true end of
all riches and reuenues in laitie or cler-
gic men: for braham the father of the 44. eccIcC
faithfull was rich (and as one tranflati-
on readeth) they were alio rich and a-
ble to comfort other, or mighty in po-
wcr. Laft of all,the Church muft hauc
a trcafury or ftocke,which is the ready
way to make prouiiion for the father-
leflc
22 6 Of fupportame 4tid keeping the
lefleand widdowes, captiues, gndthc
poore : In thecomiptcft time qf the
Church J or lewilli lynagogue, the
yt/^a.^vKctmov M'as nottakcn away butrc-
mained amongft them, in the time
of Chrift conuerlant vpon earth,
how much more requifireisthetreafu-
rietobcevpheldnowe, or Churches
ftocke, infiich infinitfwarms of poore
people, maimed .fbldiours, indigent
perfons, fickeanddiftrefled members
of Chrift: Here offereth itfelfe a great
ocean lea of matter to enlarge vpon,
but I will conteine my fclfe within the
narrowes and ftreightes of this my dif-
courfewhich now admonifheth mc
to be fiiort,& draw to an end: enough
hathbeene dilated oftheimparitie of
the gifts of men ol the Church, fome-
what of competency, &: fufhciencyof
their liuingSjlbmewhat of inscqualitiej
or of their Ecclefiafticall preferments
to much, (it may be in the opinion of
{bme)of thePluralirie of Benefices or
Beneficed men, a little of the fuperiori-
tieofBilhops ouer Minifters, and of
Ecclefiafticaliiurifdidlionouer all the
reft.
faBrique of the church vpright. 127
rcrt, agreatdealeagainftthe contem-
ners and breakers or {corners of the
{aiTie: what is due to holy Church is
apparentj 'videlicet^ tithes, oblations,
g!ebe-Iand, reuenues, and poffellions
&c.that God may be honored,his Mi-
niilers & fcruants mainteined, Chur-
ches repaired, thepoorerelieued, his
Gofpell and the trueth publifned, his
word multiplied jliis name magnified
vnto the ends of the world: what is due
from Church men, is by the way de-
dared. The Minifters of the Gofpell
which will line of the Gofpell muftat-
tend their Minifterie which they hauc
receiued of the Lord, the preachers of
the worde muft preach in feafbn and
out of feafbn: the lliepheards mufl at-
tend and watch their flocks by night
and day, and mufl feed their flockes
whether they be Ih.eepe or lambcs, all
muftbefedde, leafl: their blond be re-
quired at their hands, all muftbcCa-
techized, all mufl be comforted by
thcmfblues, and by a prouifional care
taken for them, they that are babes in
Chrift muft hauc milkc & not {Irong
meat
i
12 8 Offupportdnce d/id keeping the
meat, they that arc men mult hauc
ftrong meat, that they may growc vp
to the meafure of the age of the fill-
nefle of Chrift, as he with his fpitit
lhall replenifhthem. They who affed
Pliiralitie and Multiplicitie of linings,
muft likewife effed labour and more
paines taking: or elle it is difcommen-
ciableto vndertake that charge which
they^ minde not to difcharge, or to
feede themielues and ftarue their
flockes.
They who defire fupcrioritie and
Epifcopall charge which cariethwith
it honor J and dignitie, and authori-
tie, becaufe they defire a good workc,
muft oucr and aboue that they go-
uerne well, labour in the word, and
fo they may be woorthie of double
honor, teach orthodoxe and (bunde
dodrine, conuince the aduerfaries,
ftoppe the mouth of the gain-faier,
clenfe the Church from Schifme, and
keepe it fromherefie, defend by wri-
ting and preaching the Difiipline of
the Church. And for that they arc to
ouerlee many flockes, to fee ( where
want
fibrique of the church "vfright, nq
want is ) euerie place of their Dio-
cefle 3 as much as lieth in them to be
fupplied with able Minilters, and with
an edifying and inftrudiue leruice;
And farther, where impropriations
are, and the Vicarages endowed with
finall portions, and tlie Donatiues
withfmallerpenfions, they would in-
terpofe their fatherly helping handes,
for fome encreafe of ffipend or othet
augmentation to be gotten from the
proprietaries and leaflees J for the fu-
Ifentation of the poore Minifters of
thofe places, if there bee no other
way or meane to better their eftate,
which I referre to the grauitie and
wifedorae of my luperiors, writing
this vnder their Honorable reformat!-
ons. Lalfofall, becaufe it may not be
{uAe^tewptcsefferent, time of offering
ispaft, tempm cuferendt, of taking a-
way is come : or as our aduerfaries
more bitterly thentruely fpeake , our
doftrine tobenegatiue, our religion
to be ablatiue: Let eueryone doe his
beft for the fupportance and vphol-
ding of the fabrique of the Church,
K which
130 offupportAnce/inikeeftngthe
which is Gods houie, for it is not loo-
kedforinthefe daics, that anie newc.
Churches will be built: it is therefore
to bepraied for ^ that we may keepc
thefe churches which we haue, which
by the Angular prouidence and good-
neffe of God are left vntovs, by the
nioft famous Princes and Prelates of
the land, that haue gone before vSjand
left fuch precedents and famplers as
will hardly be imitated. The deftructi-
on and abominable defolation of the
Churches of neighbour nations and
kingdomes, may feme for a document
and inllrudiion to vs and thole that
come after vs, to giuc no grounde to
any fuch as gape after the like pray, or
would fo much as make the left breach
vpon the walles ofour Church, by ei-
ther rupture or interrupture, as Sanbd-
/4/theHoronite, and a leruant
an Ammonite Ibmetimes enterprked
againft: the walles of lerufalem, who
would haue the walles that Nehemkh
built to be lo weake, and in derifton of
them Ipake & thought fo, as if a foxe
goe vp he Iball cuen breakc downe the
frame
fahrique of the Church vf right. 131
frame of their ftony wall, but rather if
luch foxes as thefelues would adacn-
turetoclimbevp, they might breake
their necke: Who were alio fore grie-
ued as fom now adaies, that there was
come a man 5 as now the like is come,
afterfo graciom a ■woman as our late re It-
giom Gouernefje, (whofe mcmorie be)
blefled, which (eeketh the wealth of
the children of Ifraell, our zealous Ne-
hemiah: To conclude, let euerie one
of what degree or dignitie, of whatlb-
euer calling amongtt laitieor clergie.
Let him,! fay,do his beft for the main-
tenance ofthe fabrique ofthis faire or-
der and oeconomy, this decency and
comeiinclfe of Church policie and
dilcipline: And let vs all ioine in one
with vnanimitie of conlent againft
Church-theeues, and facrilegious per-
fbns, againft robbers, and (poilers of
Cathedrall Churches, and againft all
couetous Patrons or Latrons, the de-
uourers of parochiall or Countrey
Churches, the very authors &fautors
ofall Atheiftne and ignorance, of all
prophanefle vngodlinclle of the
K a land.
132 of fupprtince and keeping the
land J and againfl: al thole who wicked-
ly in their harts, or with their lips fay.
Let vs take the houfes of God into our
priuate pofleflions : Let vs holde our
felues to the facred anchor of the let-
tlement of thofe things which we now
enioy, and ( and maugre ail our ene-
inies ancient or vpftart,open or lecret,
forreine or domefticall) ihall long en-
ioy, to the glory of God, and prolong
the ioy, vntilltlie comining of our
blelledLord and Sauiour
lefus Chrift.
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