his time that had better been laid out in painfull Preaching to his flock Whereas we all know that Preaching is but a very small part of the Ministers Calling yet of late times it hath been made by some to swallow up the rest of the Ministers Duties as necessary and Essential to his Callings as that can be and have observed also that some Ministers themselves otherwise good men have been a wanting to themselves and the Church in complying too much with a sort of men amongst us whose interest it is to draw all Causes into their own Courts for the support of their own Grandeur and Faculty whereas otherwise those Suites and Causes might perhaps with little or no charge have been more speedily yea and satisfactorily determined Our last instance shall be in Gregory the Great de Cur. Past with who some close the good Popes whom we find complaining that Sub colore Episcopatus ad seculum retractus sum in quo tantis terrae curis inserrio quantis me in vita laic a nequaquam deseruisse reminiscor He was never in all his Life time so encumbred with Worldly business as after he came to be a Bishop but he afterwards adds that Et si cogamur terrenis negotiis intendere mens tamen nostra saeculari varietate non delectatur sed tota in unum currit atque confluit finem Though he was forced to do this for the good of his People yet he took no Pleasure in it and his mind was taken up with better things for all agree that these must not be undertaken out of love to them but Christian Charity and Compassion to the oppressed Aug. de Civ Dei l. 19. c. 19. Now these Imployments were conferred upon those Father 's not as Bishops but as Subjects more Eminently qualified than others both by their Prudence Experience and Integrity as well as Humane Learning But Three there are in which they did Principally engage and which may seem most agreeable to their Coat First To be in the Commission of Peace and to speak Impartially Who fitter for such a Work than they whose business and Calling it is to reconcile those that are at variance And this was the design of the Ancients though at first it began in a way of Charity yet being found profitable it was upon mature Deliberation by the Christian Emperors confirmed particularly by Constantine Zozom lib. 1. c. 9. who leaves it free to any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Valens and Valentinian enlarged it and intrusted them with the Rates of Commodities Sold in the Market Cod. l. 1. de Aud. Ep. tit 7. Their Jurisdiction I confess hath been in several ages various sometimes more sometimes less as the Emperors were more or less favourable to the Church whoever kept the Soveraignty in their own hands Constantine was the first that passed the Royal Grant in favour of the Clergy permitting the Cognizance of all Civil matters even between Laymen to the Episcopal Tribunal if either party did require it though the other denyed his consent and their appeal was to be obeyed by the Magistrates whenever made though the action was already commenced in another Court. Arcadius and Honorius did a little retrench this unlimitted power yet still allowing it by the joint consent of both parties and making the Bishops as it were Referees l. si quis ex consensu de Aud. Episcop and their decision to be binding and final without appeal This Law was after ratified by Theodosius and Justinian l. Episc c. eod Nay this latter Emperor Justinian reposed so much confidence in them that he made them Overseers of the Secular Judges Novel Const 56. This then has been the practise of that pure and Primitive Age and the greatest Enemies the Church had could never deny but that the Bishops have had their Tribunals for above these 1300 years Erected by Constantine confirmed by Arcadius and Honorius Theodosius and Valentinian c. Only some Curiously mince the matter and allow them power to hear Causes and to become Referees and Umpires by the consent of both Parties but yet they will not hear talk of any Coercive Jurisdiction though as eminent Civil Lawyers as any are Attribute it to them and particularly Accursius interprets Audientia Episcopalis a term frequent in the Code by Jurisdictio and Constantine forbad expresly the greatest Prince in the Empire to revoke what once the Bishops had Decreed Euseb Vit. Const l. 4. c. 27. In process of time the Magistrates having encroached upon and almost outed the Clergy Charlemaine revives that good old Law of Constantine confirming the same Jurisdiction to all Bishops repeating the Charter word for word Car. Mag. in Capit. l. 6. c. 28. What the practise was in our own Country of England shall God willing be made out in what follows wherein I doubt not but to give abundant satisfaction of the Factum that the Clergy were employed as much as the Laity in the Decision of Secular Causes so far as we have good Authority and Record in the times of the Saxons and so downwards till our late and unhappy Divisions 1640 c. which God grant may be ever buryed in Oblivion and that we may never live to see the same again Secondly To be of the Privy Council where frequently Cases of Consciences relating to State-matters may arise As suppose there be a Consultation about a War or Marriage the Lawfulness or Unlawfulness thereof must be judged in foro Conscientiae and so is the proper Subject of a Divine or Clergyman and perhaps the thing will not bear so much delay as to Summons Prelates together for Advice nor Reason of State to be so much published for want of such Knowing and Religious Counsellours Princes may often be entangled in unjust Massacres and rash Wars and Innocent Blood be spilt which otherwise might have been prevented And for prevention whereof the Godly Prudent Princes both of our own and other Nations have ever admitted some spiritual Persons to their Counsel Tables and Closet Debates To the good advice of Bishop Fox of Winchester we owe the Union of the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland for the other Privy Counsellors advising King Henry the 7th to Marry the Eldest of his Daughters to France the more Noble and Rich Kingdom the old and wise Bishop adviseth his Majesty the contrary at which the King seeming somewhat surpriz'd the Bishop gave him this as the reason of his Opinion that by Marrying the Elder to Scotland that Kingdom would be brought to England and old Enmities reconciled and for ever buryed Whereas on the contrary England being under France we should have here been ruled by a French Liuetenant of Deputy which the English he doubted would hardly brook and perhaps our Government and Laws by reason of their unagreeableness to the French might have been attempted to have been changed into those of France which the English man his Opinion was would hardly bear Whereas those of
President of Wales under Hen. 8. Gervase Babington Vice Precident of Wales A. 1597. NORWICH Hen. 2. by a special Commission makes the Bishops of Norwich Winchester and Ely Lord Chief Justices of England in my Authors words Radalphus de Diceto Archi Justitiarios Angliae who there adds Clergymen were pitched upon by the Kings for this employment rather than others for that they were the likeliest persons not to oppress the poor nor to respect the face of the Rich. John Salmon Chancellour A. D. 1319. Robert Baldock Chancellour An. Dom. 1324. John Wakering Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal A. D. 1416. HEREFORD Thomas Cantelupe Chancellour A. D. 1275. Thomas Charlton Lord Treasurer 1329. John Gilbert in the same employment 1386. Thomas Melling of the Privy Counsel to Edw. 4. Charles Booth Chancellour of the Marches of Wales Ann. Dom. 1517. WORCESTER Galfridus Giffard Lord Chancellour of England Ann. Dom. 1267. Walter Reynold first Treasurer then Chancellour of England under King Edw. 2. John Barâ—â—s Lord Treasurer Ann. Dom. 1362. Henry Wakefield Treasurer An. Dom. 1376. Nicholas Heath Lord President of Wales and Chancellor of England under Queen Mary CHICHESTER Ralph Nevil Chancellor of England Ann. Dom. 1222. But Sir Henry Spelman reckons it 1226. who saith he was appointed to that Employment by Parliament John de Langton Chancellor under Edw. 1. and 2. John Stratford Lord Chancellor Ann. Dom. 1360. Adam Molins Clerk of the Privy Council Ann. Dom. 1451. And that very Learned Prelate and industrious Preacher Lancelot Andrews Privy Councellor of England and Scotland under a Prince who knew the worth of Learning and advanced it accordingly ROCHESTER Walter de Merton Founder of that Colledge that bears his name in Oxon Lord Chancellor of England Ann. Dom. 1274. John de Shepey Lord Treasurer Ann. Dom. 1358. OXFORD Hugh Curwyn Lord Chancellor of Ireland St. DAVIDS Adam de Houghton Lord Chancellor of England Ann. Dom. 1376. Lindwood the famous Canonist Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Ann. Dom. 1440 and a person much employed in Embassies to the King of Spain Portugal c. I might here add several Deans and Arch-Deacons promoted to the same and like Dignities and with industrious Mr. Stow take notice that till the dissolution of Abbies and Monasteries the Prior of Christ Church in London was ever a Member of the Court of Aldermen and that the Dean of Westminster is by his Charter allowed no small interest in the Government of that Neighbouring City But I shall not nauseate the Reader any longer with the repetition of any more antient names but observe as others have done before me that in the Catalogue of Chancellors Recorded in Spelmans Glossery amounting to about 170 near a 100 of them were Clergymen more than all the other Professions put together can make up These then are the Honours which if any humane Testimony can make a thing certain by an uninterrupted Custome equal to Law which Wise Antiquity in the best of times gave them through all the Saxon Danes and Norman times without Controul and Dispute till within these 40 years or thereabout since which England hath groaned under the very great sin of Dispiseing the Embassadors of Christ and with some it hath been no small step to preferment to rail at them to murmure at and decry their advancements for secular ends of their own yea to rank the great Trustees of Souls with the vilest Peasants in the Nation as if there were no better way to shew their Love to their Redeemer and their own Christianity than by hatred to his Servants who conveyed it to them as if men had no other way to manifest their respects to the Majesty of the great God but by powring out contempt and obloquy upon those who represent his Person And thus Corah and his accomplices great complaint and grievance against Moses and Aaron was That they were too high took too much upon them Numb 16. They were advanced and honoured above the rest this was the main Eye-sore but the revengeing hand of God would not then bear it Nay have we not here in England dureing our late and unhappy troubles heard such Language as this nay have we not seen the thing reduced into practise All the Congregation is Holy and one may Preach as well as another Thus would these Sons of Confusion have brought upon us a Munster Confusion and Disorder by taking away the Distinctions of Callings The Wise God we know appointed it otherwise under the Old Testament when every one we know was not admitted to the Priesthood We cannot but think that there were 1000 in Israel who knew how to kill slay and dress a Sheep Ox or Goat as artificially as the Sons of Levi yet none ever attempted it in reference to the Altar without a severe rebuke And was Moses a more Prudent Lawgiver or Steward of Gods house than Jesus Christ the Wisdom of the Father Would it be fuffered in humane Societies in any well regulated Corporation that every man who should conceive himself fitter to discharge an Office manage a Trade Husband an Estate should presently exclude another legally possest of it and invade his propertys grant this and farewell Government and welcome Babel Let me say it once for all ' t is folly for any to expect the prosperity of the Nation whilst the Clergy of it is in Misery a Low and Despicable Condition whilst the sacred Function is deposed nay with black ingratitude revil'd to whose learned labours do we owe the Translation of our Bibles and who as before once was intimated under God were the principal Instruments of delivering us from that Egyptian Darkness our Forefathers sate in Is not this like the Deer we Read of in Plutarch who browsed on that Bush in a Calm he was glad to creep under in a Storm Certainly they are not worthy the Name of Christians or Friends of the Gospel whatever their pretences may be that despise and vilifie the Ministry than which nothing more bespeaks a vile and reprobate Heart We all know that under the Law presumptuously to rise against the Priest was punishable with no less than Death Deut. 17. for these are the Embassadors of the King of Heaven and how sacred such persons were esteemed by the Laws of all Nations all Histories do abundantly Witness 't was the shame of our Neighbour Nation of Scotland the Murder of the late learned Prelate there and that small indignities offered to persons of his Rank have been highly resented the Ammonites are a lasting testimony in the days of King David and prood Corinth was for no other reason burnt to ashes by the enraged Romans Florus CHAP. VI. The Antient Estate of our Bishops and Clergy under the times of the Britains Saxons Danes and Normans VVHat incouragement the Clergy found in the times of the Britons will appear to have been very great if we will but read Arch Bishop Usher de Primordiis Ecclesiae Britanicae through the Series
Scotland were not so much differing from the Laws and Customes of England and t was to be hoped the two Nations would better accord together than the English and French would The good event of which Counsel we have seen with our own Eyes and may it long continue It is recorded of Constantine that he would not in any wise dispense with the absence of his Bishops from him who had he lived in our Prophane age the Churches Enemies would have said that the good Emperour had been Priest ridden a well-meaning man but not overwise But the good Emperors joy it was to see His Court to be as it were a Church Nay so much use of these Holy men he made that he made them follow him in his journeys and warlike Expeditions Euseb de vit ejus l. 1. c. 35. Idem l. 4. c. 56. So that we read in Peter Blesensis Ep. 84. ad Alex. 3. how he proves at large there That it is not only lawfull but very expedient for Prelates to be in the Courts and Counsels of Princes upon such like important reasons as those are and therein excuses the Bishops of Winchester Ely and Norwich Thirdly To be employed in Treaties and Negotiations of Peace and Commerce and this both the Ancient and Modern practise will justifie that none have been more frequently or more successfully used and employed in such Messages than the Ambassadours of Christ Solemn Embassies cannot be expected before the Magistrate embraced the Gospel But in the very beginning of the 4th Century we have Maruthas Bishop of Mosopotamia sent Embassador from the Emperor of Rome to the King of Persia Socrat. l. 7. c. 8. Presently after Theodorick dispatcht Epiphanius Bishop of Ticinum or Pavia to Gunebald King of the Burgundians Eunoch Tisin vit Epiphan who at his request released great numbers of poor Christian Captives Then we have St. Ambrose sent by Valentinian to Maximus that commanded the British Armys to desire Peace which he happily effected to the great contentment of his Master Ambros Ep. 27. l. 5. where he mentions an other Embassy wherein he was imployed I might add St. Chrysostome imployed to treat with Gainas as Baronius informs us John Bishop of Rome commissioned by Theodorick to Justine the Emperor Niseph with multitudes of others in latter times whereof if I should give instance some perhaps would reply upon me that those were times of Popery and Ignorance yet perhaps of more candid simplicity and honesty than the times wherein we live and for the Moderns the time would fail me to speak of our own and Neighbour Nations for this continued the Universal practise of Christendome till Sincerity gave place to Hypocrisie and that new Definition of an Embassadour came up that he was Vir peregre missus ad spetiose mentiendum Reipub. causa A good man sent abroad to tell specious lies for his Countries service Then indeed it was high time for these Holy men to resign up these Employements to others whose Education and course of Life better became them Thus we have seen both Ancient and Modern Usage on the Clergys side the uninterrupted practise of the World for above 5000 years before and under the Law in the purest times since the Gospel all sorts of men both Pagan Jewish and Christian allowing it in their practise and none ever questioning it save some late and those few Innovators who though they have disclaimed the infallibility of the Church of Rome seem to stick a little to close to that of Geneva or Scotland we have heard the most eminent amongst the Fathers engaged by their Princes in Secular Employments and if yet still this must be an Error sit Anima mea cum patribus I dare cast my Lot on that side 'T is confest 't is pitty that any should be misled by Authority but 't is most miserable not to be moved by Authority This then being the Factum or usance as is Evident let us a little in the next place examine the Jus of it and for any Fanatick to except against it is a self-contradiction since their avowed Principles and dayly Practise allow their Teachers to follow any other Calling either of Camp Country or City without control But it is the rigid Disciplinarian who takes the most Offence at it and therefore to him we shall address our selves and for once suppose him to be of the little Commonwealth of Geneva and to have the best parts and to be Master of the best head-piece amongst them If the Senate or Syndiâ— should commission him to decide a difference between his quarrelling Neighbours or send to him to advise with him about a War with their great Enemy the Duke of Savoy or engage him to Solicite at the Court of France or at the Suisse Cantons as a Publick Agent there being none more likely to prevail in such an Embasie than himself and the little Commonwealth otherwise would be in danger to be lost In this case should he be heard pleading the inconsistency of his Holy Profession with such an imployment and thereupon return a denyal if so then the Magistrate will be an ill condition who must be obeyed in nothing more than the others Calling enjoins him whether commanded or no and his being a spiritual Person will make the Civil Magistrate loose the service and use of his Subject A thing yet which the most eminent amongst them have not declined for that neither Mr. Calvin formerly in the one nor Mr. Henderson of later times in the other have not scrupled greater matters But let matters be made never so clear it may be feared that the Vulgar have taken up such prejudices from the inexcuseable business of some late Preachers here amongst us interesting their very Pulpits in State matters dureing our late Troubles a practise never sufficiently to be condemn'd that all perhaps may be bound to their good Behaviour for a while for the Miscarriages of these men who have been so notoriously guilty of the supposed crime they have been guilty of in their Preaching against it and chargeing it upon other men who never as they did engaged in any thing of that nature but when they were commanded to it by the Magistrate Though 't is hoped that all learned and judicious Persons will be more considerate and distinguish between the frantick madness of a few giddy Pates and the sober actings of Eminent Prelates commission'd by lawfull Authority and not take an advantage from the miscarriages of this other sort of men to bring an irreparable injury on Posterity by debarring others more sober than they It is a true saying and confirmed by the experience of many hundred of years Laici sunt semper inimici Clero When the World was Pagan the Devil taught the multitude to cry out if any publick Calamity hapens that the Christians were in the fault and they must to the Lyons but now the cunning Sophister hath changed his note and if any thing be amiss either