they appointe In this church of England then your Majestics famous Predecessors havinge ordeyned and your selfe gratiously confirmed that the Ministers Maintenance be gathered by Tythinge of your people I most humbly pray that the full Tythes of the Lande be given to the Lords Cleargy Doubtless dread Soveraigne the permission of Impropriations where not the Cleargy but Lay persons reape the Tythes causeth both a discouragement to Gods Cleargy through want of convenient Maintenance in such Parishes and also a scantery of able Ministers to serve the Lord in those places And truly it is lamentable to observe both how poorely some Cleargy are faine to live even there where they execute the Office of their Ministry and where a Lay Man gathers such a quantery of Tythes as would serve for a sufficient Maintenance for one or two of the Cleargy and also how many Ministers painefull in Preachinge the Ghospell after they have vvorne out their life in poverty leave their vvife and children well neere to beggery But seinge it is Gods Lawe that his Cleargy may marry 1. Tim. 1 2 and seinge it is likewise his Lawe that the married yeild due benevolence 1. Cor. 7 3 meete it is that the Cleargyes portions be such as that they may with thrift lay up also for their Wife and children Yea the Apostle in sayinge 2. Cor. 12 14 for the Children ought not to lay up for the fathers but the fathers for the Children implies a Necessity laid upon all fathers and amonge them such of the Cleargy as have children that they provide and lay up for their children therefore such Cleargy as keepe such Hospitality as spendes the Revenewe of their livings are rather to be blamed then commended whilst withall they lay not up for their vvife and children Moreover seinge it were most unbefittinge Christians to villify the Ministers of the Ghospell in maintenance whom they are to have in honor for the Ministration of the Ghospell most meete it is that every Paris hes allowance every Bishopdomes and Arch-Bishopdomes allowance be such as may serve for to maintayne each of the Cleargy in such ranck and fashion as best beseemeth therefore as our Bisshops and Arch-Bishops have place of eminency and dignity amonge our Nobles so the Pastors of Congregations are to have such Maintenance as may in able them to beare company rather with the better then with the meaner sorte in each Parrish As for our Bishops and Arch-Bishops their Maintenance is already commendably greate through the large Bounty of our fore-fathers and your Majesties confirmation of what they now injoy thereof but because I have in the former Chapter intreated for the multiplyinge of the number of Arch-Bishops and Bishops in this Church I now humbly petition your Majestie that I may move unto one thinge which would be needefull If it be necessary that there be more Bishopricks and Arch-Bishopricks in Englande then now there are and this I have proved before then it followes necessarily that Maintenance also be increased I therefore petition That unto that which already our Bishops have among them there may be added a taxe upon all the People of the Lande that every house-holder contribute a smale yearely Gift to his Bishop and an other smale Guift to the Arch-Bishop in whose Province he is for by the multitude of families in a Bishopdome a smale matter raised from every family would affoorde a very greate portion to the Bishop and by the multitude of families in an Arch-Bishopprick the like greate portion proportionably would arise to the Arch-Bishop Hereby the Bishop and the Arch-Bishop woulde be the more bounde to have care of and vvithout Charge often to visit privately the severall Parishes seinge to it that all things be therein accordinge as they ought to be for it cannot vvell be that they should neglect them when halfe yearely or quarterly they are put in mynde of them by their Benevolence unto them And verily better it is for Gods people accordinge to their severall conditions of quallity to parte vvith an easy payment of six pence or a shillinge quarterly or more or less to their Bishop and Arch-Bishop that here-through their Iurisdictions being the smaller they may proffitably execute in them their severall Ministrations accordinge to Gods Ordinance then for want hereof to suffer them to injoy so large and spatious Iurisdictions for Pontificality and Revenewe as that they doe not nor conveniently cann execute rightly their severall dutyes and Offices I grant that every Parishes Charge is already greate by the payinge of Tithes or other somes of mony towards the Maintenance of the Cleargy of their severall Parishes but yet for so good and proffitable an occasion as is this they shall doe Christianly to beare moreover a smale taxe for their Bishop and another for their Arch-Bishop Greate was the bounty of our Predecessors in this kynde and this also done even under Popery and shall we then injoyinge a most happy Reformation and a pure Doctryne be greived to parte with a little In the second of Chronicles chap. 31 8 we reade thus And when Hezekiah and the Princes came and sawe the heapes they blessed the Lord and his people Israell So likewise 2. Cor. 9 12 the Apostle saith thus The Ministration of this Service not onely supplieth the necessities of the Saincts but also is aboundant by the Thanksgivinge of many unto God And Phili pp. 4 17 he saith Not that I desire a Gift but I desire the fruict which may further your reckoninge Now I have received all and have plenty I was even filled after that I had received of Epaphroditus that which came from you an odour that smelleth sweete a sacrifice acceptable and pleasant to God Here we see what Blessings what Thanksgivinge to God this liberality in Gods people towards the Lords Ministers stirred up in the Kinges and Apostles of the Church here we see also that this is to God as a Sacrifice acceptable and pleasinge unto him And our Lord himselfe Math. 10 42 saith thus Whosoever shall give unto one of theise little ones to drinke a Cup of cold Water onely in the Name of a Disciple verely I say unto you he shall not lose his rewarde It is a pretious thinge therefore in the sight of God when any one giveth to his Ministers because they are his Ministers and giveth not onely of Necessity or of Superfluity for we must not give onely because of our Superfluity we cann give but we ought to give in faith sayinge in our hearts Lord this is a Minister of thy Church I give therefore to him Beleevinge thy vvorde of Acceptance This is a holy Liberality this true Christian Liberality therefore thus mynded and not grudgingely or onely for the Lawes sake we should give to the Maintenance of the Lords Ministers For this cause as I have vvritten for our Bishopps and Arch-Bishopps so I write also for our Parrish Cleargy that the full Tythes be allovved and that
ignorance And indeede we fyndinge in Scripture that Deacons remayninge Deacons were Preachers Acts 6 8 and 8 5 vve may vvell say that Deacons as Deacons have right to Preach But here vve fynde Governours who are not to be Teachers therefore theise cannot claime the Priviledge of Cleargy as may Deacons I conclvde therefore that seing Gods Cleargy is as his Lot to be maintayned at the Charge of his People and seing the Apostle claimes this for Preachinge the vvord therefore theise Governours not being to be Teachers have no right to be of the Cleargy but are to be Lay Elders Againe some may say But must such be in every Parrish Church I answer yes For Acts 14 23. we reade thus And when they had ordeyned them Elders by Election in every Church they commended them to the Lord in whom they Beleeved if then in every Church there were ordeyned a plurality of Elders safest it is to have many Elders in every Church Moreover seinge here it is said that Elders implyinge many were ordeyned in every Church and seing vve have before proved that in those tymes there were in the Church Elders who onely Ruled and taught not and seing it is not likely that the Apostle would so soone Charge every Church with many Cleargy therefore most likely it is that theise Elders vvere many being parte Cleargy for Rulinge and Teachinge parte Lay Elders serving so Rule onely And indeede seing the Apostle commended the Churches to the Lord it argues that he had furnished them with such Elders as in those tymes vvere ordeyned by God to be in the Church but I have before proved that God ordeyned Governours who were not Teachers aswell as Teachers who also Governed therefore we may not thinke that the Apostle left theise Churches defective in either of theise Furthermore seing every Congregation is necessarily to have a Teaching Elder for should a flock be without a Shephearde every Congregation is likewise to have such Ecclesiasticall Officers as are under Teachers for though every Congregation be not to have those Offices above Teachers and which are set over Teachers such as are Bishops and Arch-Bishops yet such Offices as are under Teachers every Congregation is necessarily to have To conclude seinge a Parrish Church cannot be denied to be a church therefore necessarily it ought to have in it as Elders to Teach so Elders to Rule onely for the defect in either of theise would surely produce a defect in the Governinge of the same For this cause we may not content our selvs with our Civill Lavvyers onely seinge they are not in every Church but onely in the whole church of a Bishopdome and in the Bishops courte onely Neither may we take our Church vvardens and Side Men for theise Governours seinge they have not Power of Iudgement and Punishment vvhereas Goverment is lame of one hand if it have not this Power Surely therefore accordinge to Gods Ordinance every church which hath any Elders in it is to have a Goverment by Elders but Governinge implies power of Iudginge and Punishinge therefore every church is to have this power in it as it vvill not be defective in its Goverment Verily if we looke upon our people in England observinge their life and conversation in every Parrish vve may well say that here vvants the Goverment in overy Parrish which here we see the Lord ordeined For our people for the most parte contentinge themselves to come to church onely and satisfye the Lawe by hearinge Divine Service and the vvorde Preached never make conscience of livinge also thereafter and this for vvant of feeling neere them the Power of this Parishionall Goverment For vvhilst at home in their Parrish they may use unchristian Liberty in their actions and Talks so long as they keepe themselvs from so offendinge as that the Lawe takes hold of them our people are mervailous careless of observinge in their speach the holy restreinte of the Ghospell But if they sawe neere them in their owne Parrish a Teacher and a Deacon for Cleargy and some of their Neighbours of the Laiety havinge Power to call the disorderly to Accoumptes and to Punish them who live not as the Ghospell requires then what with the neereness of the observinge eyes of these Governours and what with the sence of their power to Iudge Punish them if they observe not the Ghospell in their life and Conversation a holy Awe would fall upon Gods people in every Parrish causinge an abstayninge from unseemely Acts and Conversation And this much the rather because theise Governours dwellinge here and there among them they are neere in every quarter of the Parrish to have knowledge of such as make no conscience to live and converse as beseemeth Christians Therefore aswell for the utility to Gods people which vvould arise by the havinge in every Parrish diverse of the Antient godly and honest of the Laiety to Governe in the Parrish as for this evidence from Scripture that such vvere ordeined in every Church we should be moved to receave willingely the ordeyning of such in every Parrish Church If it be obiected that here every City not every Church is meant then I answere That in those tymes it is likely that some Cityes had but one Congregation and beinge so then to say of them every City or every Church is to one effect neither truly is it likely that so soone every City affoorded many Churches Moreover seinge it was Churches not Cityes that were to be thus ordered we are rather to understande every Church then every City for theise reasons I conclude that it is safest and most proffitable that every Parrish-Church have ordeyned in it Lay Elders to Governe onely aswell as Cleargy Elders who both are to Teach and Governe If it be said that every Parrish-Church havinge Cleargy Elders as a Teacher or Pastor and a Deacon then thus Scripture makes nothinge for Lay Elders then to this I answere That seinge there is evidence that in those tymes there were Elders which Ruled and Taught and Elders which Ruled onely and taught not therefore fittest it is that here we understande not a plurality of Cleargy Elders onely but rather parte Cleargy part Laiety Againe some may say How many must they be in Number I answere seinge we reade of Elders ordeyned without readinge also any set Number therefore the Church is not bounde to observe any set or certaine Number As the Parrish therefore is more or less in circuit of grounde or quantety of people so theise Governours may be more or sewer for where a Parrish is narrow of boundes though it conteyn much people yet three or fower of theise Governours may serve seinge they are neere in neighbourhood to every one of the Parrish whereas where the Parrishe is large of circuit there it is needefull that they be seven or eight to the end that their dwellinge may be here and there to be neere to those of the Parrish in every quarter
accompany it will not be admitted For the avoidinge of Gods judgements therefore and for the betteringe of our people yea for the augmentation of the State and Majesty of our Church of Englande let theise Lay Elders be admitted into the Ecclesiasticall Rule and Goverment To this I may add that as common experience shews the puttinge Offices of Power and goverment into Mens hands maketh them growe in kuowledge of the Lawes and carefull of their Manners so surely the puttinge this Ecclesiasticall Power and goverment into the Elders of the Laiety would both occasion their search more diligently into the worde of God thereby to increase their knowledge of the Divine will and also their carefull taking heede unto their Manners that they give not offence to them whom they are to governe Yea the yonger Men also in every Parrish seinge the Credit honor of such place of government would study the Scriptures and take care of their Manners that so they may attaine a fame or good reporte for their honesty and Piety so to be the fitter to be imploied in such Office of goverment as their turnes may come Lastly some may say Must theise beinge once imployed in this Office ever remaine in this Office and not be imploied in other Offices of the Kingedome I answere first that there is greate difference betweene the Ministration of the worde and the Ministration of government onely the first is not to be left off the second may without offence For the vvorde of God hath laide no such bond on this as on that Secondly seinge it would be an insufferable mischeife unto Kingedomes if many of the Elders thereof in every Parrish should be wholy exempted from its imployment in Offices needefull thereunto therefore we may not conceave that the Lord would send such a Goverment ecclesiasticall into them as which should bringe with it such an inconvenience and mischeife I conclude therefore that theise Lay Governours are not bounde by the Lord to continue ever in their Office but now may serve in the goverment of the Church and another tyme not Thus have I Dread Soveraigne bene the more prolixe in my wrytinge of theise because this our Church of England doth hitherto rather oppose then admit of such but now havinge showen from the vvorde of God that of Gods Ordinance such a kynde of Governours or Rulers are to be in the Church I humbly petition your Majestie that you commande our Cleargy in whom is the Power to confert ecclesiasticall Powers and Offices that they exercise their Power herein ordeyninge some of the antient and godly of the Laiety to this Power and Authority in every of our Parrish Churches So shall you surely doe a vvorke acceptable to God beneficiall to the Church and worthy of that great Name which you have raised to your selfe in the Churches of God Suffer therefore patiently I humbly pray you this my petition for the admission of theise kynde of Ecclesiasticall Governours that so the Officers ecclesiasticall ordeyned by God may be wholy found in this our Church of Englande I grante that many other Offices may be ordeyned in the Church as the Change of tymes increase of Magnificence of Gods Divine Service and other like things may occasion but theise before written of are such as may not be omitted because they have evidence from the vvorde of God to by the Ordinance of God Apostolically delivered therefore also the Cleargy in whom is the power of Ordination are of duty bounde to renewe this Ordinance of the Lords in the Church But havinge written thus of theise ecclesiasticall governours I proceede to write of extentions also of ecclesiasticall jurisdictions 2. PETITION That Parishes Bishopdomes and Arch-Bishopdomes may be conveniently bounded SOme of our Parishes are so small and withall conteyne in them so few people that neither the Congregation beareth a State befittinge a Church nor yet cann a convenient Meanes or Revenewe be raised therefrom for a Pastor and Deacon his assistant And on the contrary some other Parishes retayninge their very antient boundes conteyne now by Gods multiplyinge the people in that place so many People that al cannot at one time conveniently assemble in the church I therefore petition that the smaller be made larger and those which are too large may be divided that so neither Gods Ministers be discouraged by the smaleness of Revenewe or Meanes of life nor Gods people dishartened from comminge to Church through want of convenient place when they come there Some Parishes also abounde with strangers who are but lodgers for a time yet in such places provision were good to be made that such may have convenient place in the church least else it occasion in them either a wandringe from the Parrish or a Neglect to resorte to any Church at all It hath in all ages bene seene that Change of condition of things hath caused change of former orderinge of thinges for it is no disorder to change the antiēt disposure of things vvhen to reteyne the same brings with it great disorder and detriment Moreover though Changes carry with them diffently of perfourmance yet experience hath declared that when the Magistrates authority concurreth with the occasion all difficultyes have readily bene overcome by the peoples voluntary tendinge their owne Benefit and the Benefit of other Populous Congregations are surely most meete both because a convenient Meanes may be better be raised for a Teacher or Pastor and a Deacon his assistant and also a plurality of grave and godly Men may be chosen by turnes to serve in that Parrish for Governours accordinge to that which I have written aboue if therefore such a multitude be appointed as which beinge close seated together disposed in galleries the voyce of a Preacher may well be hearde of them then judge I the Congregation to be duly proportioned And indeede want of disposinge the roome of the church as best may fit to conteyne a greate multitude and this also within hearinge the voice of a Teacher causeth that farr fewer assemble convenlently then vvere meete for it is but vaine there to resorte where though the church have roome enough yet use cannot be made of it for hearinge the Preacher True it is that Mens voices are diverse neither cann all volces answere to the serled disposure but yet if respect be had to the ordinary voice of Man and the Roome fitted accordinge thereto fitter it is that the defect of voice be supplied by some helpe then that the disposure of place for audience be changed Such Pastors therefore as have lowe voices may doe well to supply that defect with oftner Preachinge that so at one time some at another time others of the Parrish may conveniently heare them Theise things I write of our Parrishes in populous Cityes vvhere the neereness of dwellinge and multitude of strangers lodged causeth a very great Congregation in a smale quantity of grounde but in the Country where in a very large circuite
then as necessarily the Churches are multiplied so also is tho Charge increased and consequently the dutyes of the Office are made the more disticult to be executed in all Neither is it probable nor is it likely that in the time of Titus all the people in that yle of Crete vvere converted to the faith but if they vvere not then to retayne in the Successors hands the same extent of grounde as had Titus were to commit to the less able Successor a greater charge of Churches then the Apostle intrusted to Titus vvhich thinge cannot be done without great preiudice to the Christian church As Parishes therefore are to be multiplled and one to be made tvvo or three after the people growe too many for one Congregation so antient Arch-Bishoppdomes boundes shoulde be lessned and one divided into three or fower when the People make too many Churches to be intrusted unto one Arch-Bishopp I most humbly pray your Majestie therefore that the perticulers of the Office be duly considered and then that the bounds of our Archiepiscopall lurisdictions may be fitted thereunto Doubtless if our Arch-Bishops tooke care as they ought of the perticulers of this Charge they woulde soone make a holy People in this Lande by reason of their neere eye to observe the severall Churches and their receavinge Accusations when neede requireth And truly the Arch-Bishops Courte should not be ordeyned so much for some perticulers tendinge to the Rule over other Bishopdomes as it should be for the correctinge of disobediences in all theise perticulers when neither in the Parishionall nor in the Episcopall Courte and Goverment order is taken in the same For the Archiepiscopall Charge is no less to see Evangelicall Ordinances observed in the Manners of every particuler Christian then to see that Pastors and Bishops other ecclesiasticall Officers execute their Ministrations rightly I grant that Parishionall and over them Episcopall Goverments greatly ease the Arch-Bishop and because of them his Charge may be very large comprisinge diverse Bishopdomes but yet with this caution that he may conveniently visit every parte and also from all parts Accusasations may conveniently be made unto him when there is any faile in the Parishional and Episcopall Goverment Neither truly ought Arch-Bishopdoms to be extended out as Kingedomes For Kingedomes are in larged or restreyned as their Power cann extend its selfe which also is ordered by God himself he letting loose and restreyninge the Powers as he will whereas Arch Bishopdoms ought to be fitted to the execution of the Charge of the Office Thus have I Dread Soveraigne bene the longer in my wrytinge of Arch-Bishopps because of the necessary consequence that if they be made less then Bishopdomes also should not bee too large because diverse of them are to be comprised in one Arch Bisho-dome For Bishopdomes therefore I in breife pray that in our England they may be more that so they not comprisinge over many Patishes the Bishop may conveniently visit the perticuler Parishes and Accusations conveniently be made out of all Parishes which faile in Goverment unto him The Bishop differeth from the Arch-Bishop cheisely in this that his Charge streatcheth not over other City Bishops but onely over Bishops or Pastors and other Cleargy of perticuler Congregations As for other differences which the Canons of the Church have put they are necessary as the tymes require onely For the Churches Ordinances have ever bene dispenced with in cases of Necessity when they could not be observed and when there is no more needefull use of the same but this difference which here I put seemes to be a Divine Ordinance in asmuch as Titus was set over diverse Cityes and the churches therein consequently over all ecclesiasticall Officers vvhich necessarily are in them But then if the Arch-Bishopps Charge streacheth to Man and Wife Parents and Children Masters and Servants seinge to it that they in their Manners one towarde another observe the commandements of the Ghospell should not the Bishops Office within his perticuler limits streatch to the same Therefore I humbly pray that our Bishops Office be not streigtned unto some few perticulers but that it be enlarged to see even to all theise things also as the most weighty perticulers of his Charge Which thinge duly considered I hope it will soone appeare that necessarily for the due seinge unto theise things and for the convenient makinge of Accusations of breach of them vvhere the Parishionall Goverment is remiss not takinge due Care of and order in such things our Bishops jurisdictions are to be made less then at this time they are in this our Church of Englande Doubtless theise Powers and Offices ecclesiasticall were cheifely ordeyned for Rulinge of the Manners of Christian people least they not observinge one towards another the Evangelicall Commandements bringe a scandall upon the Ghospell of Christe therfore into theise thinges should our Bishops watchfully looke and not content themselves with the observation of Ecclesiasticall Canons onely If any say that the description of this Office is in Scripture such as is rather to be wished then effected I answere that the Apostle would not so deepely Charge Timothy with theise perticulers as he doth 1. Tim 5 21 if he thought the execution of theise things to be rather to be wished then effected therefore I hope none shall be suffered to shrowde their Negligence under the mantle or coveringe of this devise If in after tymes many inventions are made to busy Atch-Bishopps Bishopps so with them that they cannot attend to theise other are theise which are the weightlest to be left for the lighter Shall honor and Glory attend rather those then theise were not this a notable corruption a snare of Satan and an insufferable divertion from the true Episcopall dutyes But now my most gratious Soveraigne in hope of your reproofe of such things and commandinge and honoringe theise the cheifest episcopall dutyes I pass from writinge of the boundings and Iurisdictions unto my Petition for your freeinge our Cleargy here from forreiue and unlawfull Ecclesiasticall Powers 3. PETITION That your Majestie continue to free this Church from all forreine and unlawfull Ecclesiasticall usurpations and Powers THe permission of inconvenient extents of Iurisdiction hath bene the cheife cause not onely of the disorders of Ecclesiasticall Politie and of the evell execution of true Episcopall Charges but also of the Antichrists Reigninge in the Church therefore high tyme it is that in the Churches Reformation this maine error be taken order for It is reported of that first great famous Councill of Nice that it confirmed to the Bishops of certaine cityes the huge extents which formerly their Charge had streatched its selfe unto but what followed hereupon surely there followed not onely the turbulency of such great Powers and the insatiable affectation of Glory but also the openinge or reveilinge of that Man of sinne For as the Apostle said 2. Thessal 2 6 And now ye knowe what
no Reformation of thinges if therefore Gods vvorde hath made us happy in overcomminge the dangers of the greater Change should we neglect the yet further Conforminge of things to the vvorde for feate of the danger of the lesser Change I beseech your Majestie therefore that you will so tender the Good of the Church of God as that no feare of the danger of a Change may hinder the yet further conforminge of things to the evidence of the vvill of God as vve fynde it in holy Scripture With which Petition I put an end to theise my Collections out of holy Scripture humbly praying that I may yet further continue this wryting of mync shewing unto your Majestie the evidence of the prevaylinge or not prevaylinge of the Kingdome of heaven amonge your People as the Ministers are good or bad painefull or idle who are allowed in this your Kingdome to possess our Spirituall livings Verily my most gratious Soveraigne who so loveth the prevaylinge of the Kingedome of heaven and desireth the suppression of the Kingedome of Sathan cannot but cherish and rejoice of the industrious Ministers of the Ghospell and be zealous against the negligent and idle Hopinge therefore of your Majesties gratious disposition towards the Kingedome of Heaven and zealous hatred of the Kingedome of Sathan I vvill proceede to shew the Meanes by which the Kingedome of Heaven prevayleth amonge your people petitioninge also your gratious cherishinge and assistinge the same V. CHAP. EXperience hath declared that the Kingedome of Heaven hath increased and Sathans Kingedome decreased by the Ghospells beinge Ministred by Men vvho have an inseazoning of the Spirit of God therefore every childe of the Kingdome of Heaven as he loveth the prevaylinge of the one declyninge of the other Kingedome so he is to love cherish and susteine to his Power such Ministers of the vvorde as have cvidence of an inseazoninge of the Spirit of God The Seripture every vvhere vvitnesseth that the Ministration of the vvord through the Spirit in the Minister is truly that prevaylinge vaylinge Power and effectuall Ministration by which if not onely yet cheifely the Kingedome of Heaven prevalleth the contrary Kingedomes subdued therefore though the vvorde Ministred by a wicked Minister may be of some yet certainely it is not of like Power as vvhen the Spirit of God assisteth the Minister in ministringe the same It is therefore none of the least vertues of a godly King to observe the Ministers of the Ghospell markinge in whose Ministration the Ghospell most prevaileth and in vvhose not the one to cherish as proffitable Ministers the other to reprove as unproffitable Suffer me therefore Dread Soveraigne I humbly pray you to set before your viewe in a breife manner the diverse sorts of Ministers which I fynde in this your Kingdome of ENGLANDE and the diverse effects in your people of their diverse manner of executinge their Ministrations that so it may by the effects and Fruicts appcare vvho be those Ministers vvho cheifely have an evidence of an inseazoninge of the SPIRIT of GOD. Some are admitted Ministers in the Church of Englande vvho neither by the Spirit nor yet of industrious Study cann Preach at all therefore they content themselvs to reade Divine Service onely or at the most to reade some tymes a Homily to their Parishioners Theise vvhen they reade Divine Service you shall fynde them to doe it very irreverently postinge over it also as hastily as they may Also if they reade any Homilyes it is then but seldome and this also in such a manner as plainely shewes that they little tender the peoples in struction If you observe the Speach or Communication of theise out of the Church you shall fynde the same to be vvholy of the vvorid and vvordly things havinge no evidence of Religion or of faith accordinge to the Ghospell Yea you shall fynde the most of theise to be pott companions and this also in the lewdest and most prophane company of the Parrish they are as lascivious as those who have no feare of God their talke also is full of foolish jestinges if not also of ribaldry Looke into the familyes of theise and what shall you fynde verily as little shew of Godliness feare of God or faith as in the most ignorant and prophane familyes of your Kingedome No Morninge or Eveninge Praier scarce Grace before and after meate little or no Readinge of the Scriptures No repetition of Sermons nor any Catechising throughout the yeare As for your People in such Parishes you shall commonly fynde them ignorant in Divine Mysteries necessary to Salvation Careless to knowe them at all Swearers Drinkers Iesters filthy speakers and in a vvord vvithout any Showe of true Godliness save onely that to satisfy the Lawe they resorte on sundaies to the Readinge of Divine Service but there neither caringe to marke oughts for their instruction nor comminge away to be oughts at all bettered in life or conversation In theise Parishes you shall commonly fynde very few if any Bibles no use made of them at home if there be any Nor any religious Dutyes as I said above exercised in their familyes such as are Eveninge Praier Grace before and after Meate Repeatinge of Sermons or Catechisinge Alas what evidence of the Spirit of God in such Pastors vvhat prevayling is here of the Kingdom of heaven Doth not the Kingdome of Sathan rather prevaile in such Parishes verily my Lord and Kinge you shall fynde under such Pastors as now I write of the rudest ignorantest and wickedest of your people therefore my humble petition is that for the betteringe of your people in such places and for removinge a scandall from our Church such unpreachinge Pastors enjoy not vvholy the livings but rather be put to some smale stipend and the residue bestowed on some other who cann Preach the Ghospell I grante that Homily-readinge is not wholy without use in such Parishes but yet no Divines but will confes that skill in a Pastor to divide the worde aright as the Necessityes of the Parishioners requires is much to be preferd unto the same for though Homilyes conteyne excellent and sounde Doctryne and are fraught with Christian precepts yet they are so generall that vvithout a skilfull makinge use of the perticulers in a Homily applyinge things to the present Necessityes of the Paris hioners they cannot proffit the people as doth a skilfull Sermon composed by the Spirit in the Pastor and fitted to the occasions of the tyme and of Persons For in a Pastor in seazoried with the Spirit of God the Spirit assists in his choice in his judgement and directs him secreately to the Doctrynes most proffitable for the people of his Charge therefore a Sermon so disposed is farr to be preferred before a Homily which is penned at random servinge generally for all places and all people a like But when the people feele not their owne ignorance met with nor their owne knowledge confirmd nor their owne Manners reprovd
vvere used to theise pious exercises it would occasion a makinge conscience to resorte to Church and there to vvorshipp God vvith faith in the Spirit aswell as in the externall Gestures of the Body as also it would make them carefull of that taught to remember a parte and some speciall things either to Beleeve them heartily or to practise them in their Actions and Speach all the tyme of their life for some things are to be Beleeved onely other things are to be practised and in both every hearer ought to be carefull that he doe it as he is taught by the GHOSPELL of CHRISTE Thus havinge vvritten of some sorts of Ministers and observed unto your Majestie the effects of their defects in your People I now humbly pray that I may proceede to vvrite also of those other Ministers in vvhom I cannot but rejoice blessinge God also for them and for the rich and plentifull Fruicts of their zealous and painefull Ministration Other Ministers there are in this Church of Englande who beinge learned are also painefull Preachers of the word They preach once at the least but ordinarily twice on the Sabbaoth day if not once in the weeke dayes also Theise observe their Parishioners whither usually in their life and conversation they bringe fourth any Fruicts of their Preachinge Theise vvatch over any erroneous opinions in their Parishioners informinge them better and stayinge their outspreadinge Theise watch also over the Manners of their Parishioners aswell their conversation as their dealinge observinge vvhen they are either vitious or vertuous Theise apply themselvs to fit their Preaching also unto theise observations usinge Comminations or Consolations as the peoples vices or vertues neglect or observation of Doctryne gives occasion Which that they may the better doe they observe marke the common fame that goes of any in the Parrish and herewithall they have their eyes and eares abroade in the Parrish even faithfull and godly Men vvho observinge the common conversation and dealings of their Neighbours doe faithfully informe them how they fynde their Neighbours commonly disposed whither to observe religiously what is Taught them or to neglect to observe the same All this they doe before any of their Parishioners come to such height of iniquity as to be publickly accused and proceeded against in any courte of lustice Yea and hereby they so prevent peoples so offendinge that well neere rather they by their well directed Doctryne and grave or Pastorly Authority then the feare of the Punishment which is by your Law to be inflicted doe bridle and restreine your people from offendinge your Lawes Theise in their owne familyes use Morninge and Eveninge Praier Grace before and after Meate Readinge the Scriptures thorowe in time every one of the household their turne or parte Theise use their family to Repeatinge of Sermons and also Catechise them conveniently often If you talke with theise you shall fynde them religiously disposed affectinge also in all conference with Men to leave some Seedes and gratious impressions either confirminge Men in the faith of some speciall thinge of the Ghospell or dehortinge them from some wickedness to which they are by reporte inclyncable Theise are religiously courteous and affable lovinge their Parishioners not for their owne private gaine they have by them onely nor onely for neighbourhood and freindshipp but after the example of the Apostles for the evidence of their faith and for the evidence of their receavinge carefully and practisinge conscionably the worde of Life Theise shew themselvs by many apparant Signes that they love and seeke the Salvation of their People rejoycinge of the comforteable likelihood of many and assurance of some that they shall be partakers in the future Glorification Theise are grave in gesture sober and meeke in conversation they are devoute they are Holy yea a Man may by good Signes discerne that from a Springe of faith in themselvs they exhorte others unto faith and from a sence of the sweeteness of obedience in themselvs they incourage or animate others to obey the Ghospell In a worde theise goe before their Parishioners in those things vvhereunto by their Preaching they exhorte them This for the Ministers themselvs and their familyes now consider the people also under them You shall fynde here the common voice of the Parishioners to be to this effect We have God be blessed a learned and a good Man to our Teacher he taketh greate paines to teach us he loves us he is ready to instruct and teach us even in private conference upon any scruple of conscience he is courteous even to the meanest of us shewinge also by evident signes that he heartily desires the Salvation of our Soules In theise Parishes you shall fynde in the people in the meanest aswell as in the greatest more knowledge in Divine Mysteries then in the Parishes formerly written of Here more evidence of faith of those holy Mysteries and in God and in Christe accordinge to the direction of those Mysteries Here you shall fynde more store of Bibles in families more readinge in them more proffit by readinge in them then in the other Parishes Here eveninge if not morninge and eveninge Praier Here grace before and after Meate and the same done with Reverence also and an evidence of faith and feare of God Here you shall fynde repeatinge of the Sermons at convenient tymes Here catechisinge also conveniently often Here the Neighbours will conferr some tymes one with another aswell of heavenly things as of vvordly yea and this they vvill doe not to shew what they cann say of such things or to get a Mastery in conference but with a mutuall Hope for such things confirminge one another in the faith and esteeme of such things animatinge one another to preferr them in their love and desire before theise vvorldly things which all men have and enjoy When I sawe this in some I rejoyced as one who had founde some who are answerable to that exhortation of the Apostles where he describinge in some measure the future resurrection of our Bodyes 1. Thssal 4 17 saith Comforte your selvs one another vvith theise wordes Doubtless where people thus doe as fit opportunity and mutuall disposition of myndes vvill serve the Lord vvill drawe neere to heare their talke openinge also their understandinges yet better as we reade of him that he did Luke 24 13. Furthermore in theise Parishes vve fynde the People not onely to reverence their Pastor but heartily to love him beinge glad also to have occasion of doinge any thinge whereby they may manifest the Love they beare him Here there is an abstayninge from usuall and unlavvfull swearing Here you shall not fynde usually any excess in drinkinge Here no lasciviouss filthy or beastly talke no bold lustfull and filthy gestures but rather you shall fynde here the contrary vertues even an abstinence from evell and yet a freedome of Love and delight as youth requires but with a restreinte of such wicked excess Here in a
ENGLANDS PVRGINGE FIRE Conteyninge two Petitions the one to the Kinges most excellent Majesty the other to the High Courte of Parliament held at this tyme in England Shewinge in diverse perticulers how the Church in England might be ordered yet more consormably to the will of God reveiled in his Worde then at this day it is Herewithall is declared the evell and lamentable effects of our vnable and negligent Ministers and the happy fruict of our learned and painefull Pastors A worke most needefull for theise tymes as servinge to turne away the wrath and Iudgements of God from this Lande through the removinge accordinge to the Advertisements herein given such disorders and evells as for which the wrath of God may be and is kindled against this Land and the Church therein IER 6 16. Thus faith the Lord stand in the wayes and behold and aske of the ancient paths which is the good way and walke therein and ye shall finde rest for your Soules 16â—â— ENGLANDS PVRGINGE FIRE To the Right Honorable the Lords Spirituall and Temporall of the upper Hovvse vvith the Knights and Burgesses of the lovver hovvse assembled in the high Courte of Parliament RIGHT HONORABLE IT pleased the Kinges most excellent Mastie very lately to confess among you that in the Civill affaires off this Kingdome he founde not things answerable to that face which our excellent Government would induce any man to have hope of Might it therefore please this Honorable Assembly to examine the State of this Lande in Spirituall affaires also we then the subjects of this happy Kingedome may well have comforteable hope of your happy successe in theise as in those It is truly a greate measure of Happiness to this Kingdome it is also to be acknowledged to our Kinge as a singular Grace off his unto us that the Ghospell of our Lord Redeemer is freely preached in this Kingdome Solemne Divine Service maintayned and people pressed to resorte on the Sabbaoth to both but because the prevailinge of the Ghospell in the lives and conversations of men is most acceptable to God and because our people are not answereable herein to the face of that excellent Government which our Church carryes I most humbly pray that I may petition this Courte for an entringe into an examination hereof also For my part I havinge here in this Land drawen my first breath of this mortall life thinke my selfe bounde to imploy whatsoeuer Grace my God hath given mee for the Good thereof therefore I have adventured to expose my selfe to danger in movinge you to vouchsafe your examination of the State also of the Church in this Kingedome This high and worthily Highe Courte hath here to fore taken care that God be both solemnely worshipped and also served in this Land by peoples obedience acknowledginge that this is the Meanes to put away punishments and plagues from this Lande As therefore the Ghospell is not sent by God to be hearde onely by our people but to be obeyed also by their ordering their life and conversation thereafter or otherwise serves vnto condemnation rather then to Salvation so surely it will turne from us punishments and plagues and insteade of them will bringe vpon us holy favours and Blessings if you take care of the peoples livinge as becommeth Saincts For the furtheringe whereof I by a writinge adventured many yeares since to petition his sacred Majestie declaringe therein the perticulers wherein I petitioned his Roy all Assistance If it shall please you Right Honorable that I for discharge of my Conscience may exhibit vnto you the copie well neere of the same that so both his sacred Majestie may be put in remembrance thereof in this so sit a tyme for this motion and also you may bee occasioned as you professedly tender so now also to further the good of this Church you shall shew to me a Christian favour and I shall pray for you that God will second with happy succrss all your pious indeavours Your Lo pps in all bounden Duty THOMAS PROCTOR TO THE KINGES MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTY TO my heartes ioye and to the ioye of all good Christians have you my most gratious Lord and Kinge made knovven to the vvorlde by vvritinge your knovvledge of the office of a Christian Kinge As vvhere you vvrite That Christian Kinges within their owne Dominions are to Governe the Church to commande obedience to be given to the vvorde of God yea and to Reforme Religion according to Gods prescribed vvill Which Office most mighty and dread Soveraigne vvell may you perfourme longe may you live vvell to perfourme the same vvithin theise your most flourishinge Kingedomes Imitatinge herein the good Kinges of Israell and Iudah vvhom and vvhose Actions in Governinge the Church your Majestly hath set before Christian Kinges and Princes as examples unto them for their rulinge over the Christian Church vvithin their seuerall Dominions Which excellent knovvledge and religious Care of your Majesties so made euident to the vvorlde put me in good hope that it vvould not be displeasinge vnto you if collectinge out of Scripture some of the speciall Acts of those good Kinges of Israell and Iudah I thereby tooke occasion to vvrite vnto your Majesty of some thinges of greate importaÌ„ce vvherein the Church of God in England needeth the redress of your povverfull hande Which thinge Dread Soueraigne I have not done either vvith any vaine conceipt thinking to better by instruction your excellent knovvledge or vvith any insufferable presumption in pressinge your executioÌ„ of Royall Dutyes vvith more hast then convenience but onely that I might discharge a Christian Duty by petitioninge your povverfull Assistance in some things vvherein your tymely helpe may greately further the good of the Church of God Neither truly is there any thinge better besittinge your Royall hande then is the yeildinge succour to the Church of God in those things vvherein shee greately needeth in theise tymes your aide For thus to doe is not onely the perfourmance of a very speciall duty of the kingely office but also it is an eterniznge of your fame in the eternal continuance of the Church Hovv pretious a Name hovv longe duringe a Fame have those good Kinges of Israell and Iudah obteined by vvhose blessed hands tymely assistaÌ„ce vvas yeilded to the Church of God VVhat marble Monument of theirs like this VVhat other Act of theirs is comparable to this Their marble monuments are mouldred and their other Acts hovv greate and famous so euer yet make they not their Name and Memoriall so blessed as doth the Recorde of those things done by them in ordeninge the Churches Gouerment according to Gods prescribed vvill Hopinge therefore both of your Majesties beinge like mynded vvith these good Kings and also of your gratious acceptance of this my poore vvritinge vvritten for the good of this Church of Englande I humbly pray that I may prooceede first to collect out of the Scriptures some of the speciall Acts of the good Kinges of
of grounde are but few inhabitants the proffit of the people rather then State of a Congregation is to be tendered leastby too long leangth and difficulty of way people be dishartned from resortinge to Church Surely the former disposure of theise things in this Lande was very good accordinge to the times and we in theise tymes neede the less alteration save where the Parrish is too smale to yeild a convenient Revenewe or else too great to assemble within hearinge of a Preacher Thus havinge written of our Parrish-boundes I pray that I may write also of the bouudes of our Bishoppricks and Arch bishoppricks If Arch-Bishhopps succeede in the Office of Timothy Titus meete it is that they execute in the Church that Office therefore the bounds of their Charge should be such as wherein conveniently that weighty Charge may be executed by them And indeede it is fitter to respect rather the Proffit of the due execution of the Charge then the Pontificality of the Bishop though both are to be tendered yet the former rather then the latter Now that Arch-Bishopps propperly rather then Bishops succeede in the Office of Timothy and Titus I gather from this evidence First because Titus had intrusted unto him by the Apostle the Charge and Care of diverse Cityes and their Churches Titus 1.5 Secondly because the Scripture shews by many perticulers that the Office of Titus and the Office of Timothy was one and the same but the Office beinge the same the extention of the Charge over diverse Cityes may also be the same Thirdly because the antient Fathers with one voice did ever accoumpt of the Offices of Timothy and Titus to be a like Lastly because the antient Christian Church allowed of the Charge of one over diverse Cityes and their Churches and Officers as an Ordinance Apostolically delivered to the church and in antient tyme such were called Arch-Bishopps which also was a Name very antiently given even to the Bishop of Rome himselfe Theise thiugs considered I conclude that in asmuch as now and in the most antient tymes Arch-Bishops have and had the Charge of the Churches in diverse Cityes therefore they propperly succeede in the Office of Timothy and Titus For surely City-Bishops never had the Charge of diverse cityes but onely of one city and some circuit of ground there about at most This therefore I now petition your sacred Maiestie for that in Englande the Office or Charge of Timothy and Titus be required of our Arch-Bishops to be executed by them in this Church and that the bounds of their Iurisdiction be so limited that conveniently they may execute that Charge And for the Charge I rather have an eye to that which I fynde in the Epistles of Timothy and Titus then to the Canons of the Church in after tyme for the first I am sure are necessarye dutyes for which the Officer is answereable to God whereas the latter are not of like Nature save onely that they may be wholesome Ordinances so farr fourth as they are accordant to the evidence of sacred Scripture The charge which we fynde given to Timothy and Titus is a Charge to see all of all sorts to live accordinge to the Ghospell and observe the Ordinances of God given to the Church by the Apostles therefore his Charge streatcheth to private Christians to see that they live as the Ghospell requires and also to all Officers of the Church to see that they be chosen such as are appointed perfourme their Offices righty in the Church Which great Charge that it may the better be effected the Apostle intrusted him with Power to commande things that are right and to receave Accusations against them that doe evell and to silence Teachers of evell things and reiect heretiques 1. Tim 4 12. 1 Tim 5 14. Titus 1 11. Titus 3 12. Many perticulars are set downe in those two Epistles which I wil obbreviate as I may in this manner in the first Epistle to Timothy The place of aboade is assigned Chap. 1 3 He hath the Charge of other Teachers that they teach none other Doctryne then they ought Chap. 1 4 That heede be not given to thinges that breede questions and brawlinges rather then godly edifyinge Chap. 1 4 That there be an Order of Divine-worship or Service chap 2 1 That women be silent in the Church Chap. 2 12 That Bishops be such and such and doe so and so chap. 3 1 That Deacons likewise be such and such and doe so and so chap. 3 8 That he put all in remembrance of Apostolicall Doctrynes chap. 4 6 That the Church be not unnecessarily burthened with Charge chap. 5 16 That he rebuke them openly that sinne chap. 5 20 That he have care of layinge on of hands chap 5 22 That Elders who Rule well be honoured chap 5 17 That the Elders who not onely Rule but Teach also be both honoured and maintayned chap. 5 18 In the second Epistle He is warned against those who havinge-itchinge eares will get them Teachers after their owne lusts chap. 4 3 That he must doe the worke of an Euangelist chap. 4 5. In the Epistle to Titus That be redress things Chap. 1 5 That he ordeyne Elders chap. 1 3 That he silence Teachers of evell thinges chap 1 10 That obedience be yeilded to Principalities and Powers chap. 3 1 That foolish questions contentions and brawlinges be staied chap. 3 4 That Hereticks be rejected chap. 3 10. Many other are the perticulers of this Officers Charge as to see that Servants behave themselvs as they ought towards their Masters Titus 2 9 That Elder Men and Women be so and so and the yonger Men and Women likewise and other like besides his owne private Ministration of the Ghospell Now therefore if the perticulers whereto this Officers Office streatcheth be duly considered let any judge if our Arch-Bishopps bounds in England be convenient for the due executiō For to what end hath a mā charge of theise perticulers if both he be not conveniently neere to visit places and see to the observation of theise things and also that Accusations against disobedience be not conveniently to be made unto him If one Arch-Bishop should be set over all England were it sufficient coulde he conveniently execute this Charge in the church neither truly cann two therefore Arch-Bishops should be multiplied that so the Lande may have so many as well may serve for the due execution of this high Charge True it is that Crete is an yle of greate circuit of grounde and conteyned in old tyme many moe cityes then in theise tymes it doth but respect is tobe had unto the tymes for difference is to be put betweene tymes when but few in a Lande are converted to the Christian faith and when all the people of a Lande are converted When few are converted the Congregations or churches are the fewer and consequently the Charge is the less and the better to be executed but when all are converted
Musick and vvith the sight of the Stately ordetinge and perfourmance of things but this without caringe at any tyme to vvorshipp God in the Spirit and vvith the understandinge so that they onely stand gazinge thinkinge it a sufficient worshipp if they have but bene there seene Divine Service But as this evell in Gods people cannot but be displeasinge to God so surely if some good order be not taken for redress hereof it cannot but endanger the Lords acceptance of the very Service its selfe for it is not so much the Service vvherein a few vvorship as the vvorship of many in Spirit that he regards Thus havinge vvritten of my first petition I humbly pray that I may proceede to the second If onely Art be heeded in them admitted Ministers in the Divine Service as if so they be skillfull then it matters not what their lives and conversations be then vvhen any prophane or irreligiously disposed Persons are admitted we from experience cann hardly expect other then that their unsanctified Soules will bringe fourth as prophaness in their life and conversation abroade so irreverence and a measure of prophaness in the very execution of their parts in the Divine vvorshipp But when people see irreverence or any measure prophaness in the Ministers it abates their devotion and is no smale Scandall to the Service its selfe Therefore I humbly petition that our Bishops have not care that they reverently perfourme their parts in the Service onely but also that they or the Deanes doe inquire of their life and conversation abroade also out of the Church for if abroade in their howses or common company they be wanton lascivious or prophane no Awe will serve to restreine that in the Service also their disposition breake not fourth upon every little advantage or opportunity to shew the same If therefore our Bishopps and Deanes Inquire after the common life and conversation of such what it is abroade out of the Church if also they inquire whither in their familyes they use or neglect religious Dutyes such as are eveninge Praier at leastwise Grace before after meate readinge the Divine Scriptures Repeatinge of Sermons some tymes and some tymes Chatechisinge then this would Awe them to exercise themselvs to a Holiness of life and conversation Especially if as they shall be founde conformable or disorderly so they shall be admitted or put by the Service Yea it were good that an exhortation were given to all that if any of them knowe any amonge them to be loose and lascivious of Speach prophane in conversation or negligent of religious Dutyes in their familyes they should informe the Bishop or Deane of the same that so the party may be observed as occasion is given be proceeded against Verily it greately endangers the Service both towards God and towards Men when the Ministers of the same are knowen to be wicked Men in their life and conversation for it cannot be but that the Lord should turne his face even from a good Service executed by such if authority allowe such to be Ministers therein as who commonly are knowen to be wicked of life and conversation Neither cann it be but that the people also should take such offence at such as that even the very Service also shall well neere be sorsaken If theise things therefore Dread Soveraigne be carefully seene unto I nothinge doubt but that our Divine Servico now used in our Cathedrall Churches will both be more acceptable to God then heretofore and also more conscionably and religiously then heretosote srequented by your people I may here add the like petition against our Clearkes of Parishes who commonly beinge of the lewdest of the Partish for life and conversation doe also so irreverently unskilfully and unseemely perfourme their Office that the people of God cannot but take offence there at and this to the scandall of the Service its selfe of out Church To conclude my Collections together with my observatiōs upon theise collected Scriptures I now humbly petition that as here it is said That the Kinge and the Princes commanded c so as in your Presence your selfe see to theise things so likewise in places remote from your sacred Presence your Princes and Magistrats by commission from you may have power and Authority to see that Divine Service be celebrated orderly and reverently throughout the Kingedome So vvill our Bishops and other Ecclesiasticall Officers be the more carefull that just cause of reproofe be not given not just cause of your Princes and Magistrates proceeding against any for disorders and unseemely perfourmance of Dutyes THeise Collections most mighty and Dread Soveraigne I have made out of sacred Scripture thereby in some speciall perticulets to shew how Gods Kinges and Princes in that antient Church under the Lawe tooke care of and by their Authority ordered even Ecclesiasticall things also pertayninge to the Divine vvorship and service Hereupon I have adventured to note unto your Majestic diverse weighty perticulers wherein this our Church of Englande needeth the redress of your powerfull hande If therefore you vouchsafe to be assistant unto the Church of God in theise things you shall surely bynde the same unto you to hold your Memory blessed for ever for by orderinge these things you shall both restore the Ordinances of God to his church and dispose rightly the extents of our Cleargy Iurisdictions you shall further the Preachinge of the Ghospel in all places of this Lande and also be the Meanes not of a pompous Service onely but of a Stately Magnificent Holy Proffitable vvorshipp of God Which beinge done it will be no less your Glory that preventinge the abuse of your and your Peoples Bounty by our Cleargy the Cleargy have a large and rich Revenewe togeather with Dignityes and Honors among your Nobles Gentry I neede not here prove from evidence of holy Scripture that Kings and Princes under the Christianity are confirmed by God in the same Offices which the Kinges under the Lawe executed this I shall prove elsew here where I have occasion to write of this subiect to those who as yet are so deluded of Papall leasings that they acknowledge not the same but your Majestie professinge your knowledge hereof and practisinge in your Kingedomes accordinge to such know ledge I neede but to certify of some things only which even to this day neede redress in this our church of England If it be obiected that I move unto Changes that Changes are ever dangerous in Kingedomes I then humbly pray your Majestie to consider that I move to no Changes but such as which the evidence of the will of God in Seripture witnesseth unto And what the Glory of Changes made under the Reformation accordinge to the vvorde of the Lord in Scripture hath bene the whole worlde now seeth your Majestie enjoyeth and inheriteth the Glory and Power of the same Doubtless without a greate Change and the same very strange dangerous we had had
worde you shall fynde a comforteable shewe of Godliness Here a true evidence of Christian life and conversation Here therefore is indeede an evidence of the inseazoninge and habitation of the Spirit of God both in Pastor and People Here a plaine evidence both of the Kingedome of Heaven in Power and also of the weakeninge if not castinge out of the contrary Kingedome even the Kingedome of Satan Of theise Ministers and Parishes therefore I rejoice and for your gratious favour towards them for their better incouragement in well doing I humbly petition your sacred Majestie in this writing But some and too many of theise are in the number of those whose Ministers are silenced and whose people are reproached with the nick name of Puritanes My Lord and Kinge I petition not that their errors be suffered but this I petition that the Ministers leaving their errors and the people also forsakinge them both Ministers and People may fynde you gratious towards them by restoringe the Ministers to their former Ministration and by acceptinge the people as the Lights of our Lande for Religion There is no Garden where vveedes will not growe neither doe men destroy the Garden for the vveedes sake but rather vveede out the vveedes and preserve the Garden still We may not conceave that none that are true Christians and have the Spirit fal into any errors for Peter had his error Galat. 2 11 and the Churches of Corinth Galatia had their strayinges from the truth vvhen yet neither Peter was silenced but onely the error he fell into withstoode nor those Churches forsaken but onely the vveedes weeded out And it is truly a harde thinge that Mens Ministeryes are wholy suppressed for an error or two in Iudgement whereas rather first they should be but staied from Preachinge such errors and afterwardes upon obstinate persistinge silenced But seinge many of our learned and painefull Divines whose Ministry hath bene very proffitable in this Church of Englande are wholy for some few errors silenced I am now a petitioner that their Ministery may be restored so as they forsake those things which truly are errors in them And for the people I humbly pray that leaving to speake against Lawfull Powers and Offices in the Church and against our Divine Service leaving to condemne Gods people in lawfull things they may be relieved from those scandales which vvicked Men cast upon them Surely Dread Soveraigne theise Congregations vvhere silenced Ministers have bene doe manifestly declare themselvs to be Gods Saincts in your Kingdome yea I have observed that vvhere a Minister conformable to the Ordinances of our Church hath succeeded in the place of a silenced Minister Godliness hath more and more decayed in your People I vvill not say it is the fault of their Conformity God forbid but this I say it is the fault of their not exercisinge like Pastorall dutyes as the silenced Ministers exercised and it is the fault of our Bishops not pressinge them to exercise such but rather leavinge them to a prejudiciall Liberty in Life and Conversation Thus have I my most gratious Soveraigne adventured to set before your viewe the diverse dispositions of your People according to the diversely disposed Ministers set over them I neede not now doubt of your Majesties quick apprehention and discerninge where in your Kingedome the Kingedome of Heaven most prevaileth neither yet where are the best evidencyes of the Spirit of God You have given such Signes of your excellent judgement in theise things that I rather rejoice thereof then infourme you oughts at all True it is that it is not rigour of Punishment no nor Lawes that vvill bring people on to theise holy exercises in their familyes and to this blessed restreinte from ungodly conversation so well as the vvorde of God frequently preached wisely directed by a skilfull Minister Neither is there any expectation that a vvhole People should at an instant be brought to this measure of conformity to the Ghospell of Christe Yet if Parishionall Goverment might accompany Parishionall ministration of the vvorde the people would doubtless the sooner be brought hereunto Not that there should be any violent disgracinge or proceedinge against all that presently are not conformable for this were to provoake untymely the people before the Lords tyme for their conversion be come but that by little and little with Meekeness and Gentleness the Parishionall Governours drawe them on to conforme themselvs to the Rules of the Ghospell But where any family is too obstinate refusinge for longe tyme to exercise therein any religious dutyes there I humbly pray that your Majestie incourage the Parishional Governours to proceede on orderly against such for surely a family that within its self doth wholy neglect all pions exercises is neere unto Atheisme yea though they observe customarily their comminge to Church This if your Majestie vouchsafe to doe you shall surely make your Memoriall blessed for ever even as is the memory of theise good Kinges blessed of whom before I have vvritten If it be obiected that Tradition shews us no evidence that ever at all the Church had such a Goverment by Lay Elders also as which I now press for this is the difficultest Change I petition for then I answere If we receave the Office of Bishops Arch-Bishops because Tradition brings them to us when yet we have not any great vvarrant from Scripture both for Bishops and Arch-Bishopps though indeede for one set over Teachers and Churches we have great evidence shall we not much more receave a Goverment by Lay Elders vvhich hath evidence as I have before showen in Scriptures yea though corrupted Tradition affoorde us no Light for such The Lord hath not given such evidence to a Reformation which hath aymed at the purest Tradition onely as to that which hath aymed to Reforme things by his vvorde in Scripture therefore to Conforme the Offices and Goverment Ecclesiasticall to that vvhich the Scripture gives us Light for is surely most acceptable to God and shall receave the greatest blessinges Therefore I vvill conclude this my vvrytinge first vvith a petition to your Majestie for the admittinge of such a Parishionall Goverment having an eye rather at the Ordinance of God as we fynde it in holy Scripture then at corrupted Tradition and its testimony and authority and secondly with my Praier to God That he give you a hearte to execute his will and establish your Throane in the Church continuinge your flourishinge Kingedomes to your selfe and your posterity for ever For truly our Church prayeth well where it saith Almighty God whose Kingedome is everlastinge and power infinite have mercy upon the whole Congregation and so rule the hearte of thy chosen Servante Iames our Kinge and Governour that he knowinge whose Minister he is may above all things seeke thy honour and glory And that we his Subiects duly consideringe vvhose authority he hath may faithfully serve honour humbly obey him in thee and for thee according to thy blessed vvorde and ordinance through IESUS CHRISTE our Lord. Your Majesties Loyall Subiect THOMAS PROCTOR Faults escaped in the Printinge IN the Tytle of the Booke for consormably reade conformably In the Petition to the Lords of the Parliament page 3. line 1 for Ma â—tie reade Matie And lyne 4â— for off reade of And line 12. for off reade of In the Petition to the Kiuge page 6 line 32 for ordeninge reade orderinge Page 7 line 9 for your Royall Povverfull reade your Royall and Povverfull Page 7. line 15 for burnts Offeringes reade burnte Offeringee Page 8 line 5 for ovet reade over Page 8 line 11 At conveyed conceave that a full point should be Page 9 line 7 for not reade not Line 31 for miply reade imply Page 10 line 7 for rhus reade thus Page 11 line 6 for frow reade from Line 8 at labour conceave a vvantinge Page 12 line 28 for I vvrite reade I vvrite of Page 14. line 3 for Preachers of the Ghospell are may c reade Preachers of the Ghospell may c Page 14 line 6 for vvho preach the Ghospell exempted reade Preach the Ghospell are exempted Page 16 line 35 for Talks reade Talke Page 17 line 29 at City conceave a full pointe vvantinge and in the same line for for reade For. Page 20 line 17 for the Elders Church reade the Elders of the Church Page 34 line 1 for Scripturies reade scriptures for nstruction reade instruction Page 36 line 14 for as superfluous reade as are superfluous Page 38 line 21 for Officet reade Oflicer Page 39 line 28 for Iudas reade Iudah Page 46 line 18 for Lands reade Lande Page 47 line 20 for petion reade petition Page 49 line 18 for of reade off Page 52 line 3 for and made reade have made Page 55 line 2 for but reade both and line 5 for uuto reade unto Page 5 line 17 for also and reade and also Page 60 line 2. for Offeringes reade Offeringe Page 63 line 3. for Childreu reade Children Page 67 line 7 for iu reade in Page 68. line 12 at idle conceave a full pointe vvantinge Page 69 line 3. for Kingedomes reade Kingedome Page 72 line 13 for commned reade commend
onely an affectation but also a reall effectinge of chalenginge the Charge of all those Churches whereunto some Bishop of speciall Accoumpt streatched his Advise Counsalle as if over all to whom Advise and Counsaile is given the giver of Advise Counsalle should have Charge over thē exercise Episcopall Authority If thus the Bishops of those tymes did and some evidence there is that some so did then this is no sufficient warrant for chalenginge of so excessive charges or Iurisdictions as some Patriarchs Arch-Bishops chalenge much less should we admit of such extentions when we see that it is discordant to the Ordinance of God as I have before shewed Moreover if the Councill of Nice approved of such large excessive extents of Care and Iurisdiction in any yet we are to thinke that it but Confirmed that Iurisdiction which they then had but at that tyme the extentions of Inrisdiction were not so large as in after tyme. Had the Pope of Rome then such Iurisdiction as now when no parte of Germany nor other Nations had embraced the faith as since they did Or should we thinke that that Councill subiugated to that Bishop Churches not as then propagated If no then neither by warrant of holy Scripture nor by warrant of that Councill hath that Bisshop any right of Iurisdiction over all the Arch-Bisshopps of all the Christian Nations in the West As for claime as Successor to the Apostle Peter it is strange that he alone should make a claime of succeedinge to an Apostle for where be the other Bishops who claime to succeede to this or that Apostle I fynde none but him of Antioch and that also rather a figment of the Bisshop of Romes then any true claime of that Bishops And as for his claime from Scripture I have elsew here proved it to be directly against that which our Lord commanded to his Apostles Theise things considered I now humbly beseech yoursacred Majestie that as hitherto you have showen great favour to our Cleargy so you will continue to preserve them from any forreine and unlawfull ecclesiasticall Powers which would chalenge Authority over them Princes may doe well to have an eye at the vvisedome and gratious Ordinance of God observinge with what Powers ecclesiasticall he Apostles taken away sent the Church under their wings For surely there cann be no better Politie of ecclesiasticall Goverment for Princes then that which we fynde the Lord to leave in the Church after his takinge away of Apostles Should the Lord send any Officet under the wings of Princes who should streatch his Authority farr further then any Prince cann streatch his vvings of protection Or should one Bishopp be under the vvings of many Princes protections vvhat then if those Princes fall at variance shall the one protect his Adversaries subiecte Therefore I cannot but conclude that as it is not good for the Church so it is also in convenient dangerous for Princes that there be in the church any Ecclesiastical Ministers of huge extents of Iurisdiction such as are some Patriarchs and the Pope of Rome Thus havinge written at large of theise things because our tymes greately neede the so doinge I now close up this Chapter and my notes upon the former Scriptures collected prayinge that I may proceede to other II. CHAP. OF King Hezekias we reade 2 Chron 31 4 That he commanded the people that dwelt in Hierusalem to give a part to the Preists and Levits that they might be in couraged in the Lawe of the Lord And when the Commandement was spread the Children of Israell brought abondaunce of first fruicts of Corne and Wine and Oile and Hony and of all the increase of the Feild and the Tithes of all things brought they aboundantly And Hezekias questioned the Preists and the Levits concerning the Heapes And Azariah the cheife Preist of the house of Zadock answered him and said since the people begann to bringe the Offerings into the house of the Lord we have eaten and have bene satisfied and there is left in aboundannce And Hezekias commaunded to prepare Chambers in the house of the Lord and they prepared them and caried in the first fruicts and the tythes and the dedicate thinges faithfully And over them was Coniah the Levite the cheife and Shimei his brother the second And Core the Sonne of Imnah the Levite Porter toward the east was over the things that were willingely offered unto God to distribute to their Brethren the Oblation of the Lord and the holy things that were consecrate their daily portions Againe of Kinge Iosias we reade 2. Chron 34 8 That he sent Shafan and Maaseiah the Governour of the City and Ioah the Recorder to repaire the house of the Lord. And when they came to Hilkia the high Preist they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God which the Levits that kept the dore had gathered at the hands of Manassch and Ephraim and of all the residue of Israel and of all Iudas and Beniamin and of the inhabitants of Hierusalem And they put it into the hands of them which should doe the worke Againe Exodus 36 3 we reade thus And they received of Moses all the Offeringes which the Children of Israel had brought for the worke of the service of the Sanctuary to make it Also they brought still unto him free Gifts every morninge So all the wise men that wrought all the holy worke came every Man from his worke which they had wrought and spake to Moses saying The people bringe too much and more then enough for the use of the worke which the Lord hath commanded to be made Then Moses gave a Commandement and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the hoste saying Let neither Man nor Woman prepare any more worke for the Oblation of the Sanctuary So the people were staied from Offeringe In theise Scriptures I note theise fower things specially First That the Kinge commanded the People to give to the Maintenance of the Ministers Secondly That Maintenance is for their incouragement to serve in the Ministery Thirdly That the Kinge cared also for the Repairinge of the Churches wherein God was vvors hipped Lastly That when there was a Sufficiency this was to be acknowledged by the Cleargy and the People were to be staied from giving According to which observations I humbly pray that I may petition your sacred Majestie as hereunder shall appeare It beinge the Commandement and Ordinance of God 1. Cor. 9 14 that the Ministers of the Ghospell be maintayned by them to whom they Minister the Ghospell Christians are bounde to fynde them Maintenance if they be not bounde also to maintayne them by Tythes first fruicts free-will Offeringes and the like But where the Manner of doinge is not appointed by God vvhen yet the thinge to be done is appointed there Gods Ministers of Rule and Goverment have Power to appointe the Manner of doinge and none may lawfully except against the Manner which