have them redreffed, but by difgracing the present state, to make way for their own difcipline. As therefore in Venice, if any fenator should discourse against the power of their senate, as being either too fovereign, or too weak in government, with purpose to draw their authority to a moderation, it might well be fuffered; but not fo, if it fhould appear he spake with purpose to induce another state by depraving the prefent. So in all caufes belonging either to Church or Commonwealth, we are to have regard what mind the complaining part doth bear, whether of amendment or innovation; and accordingly either to suffer or suppress it. Their objection therefore is frivolous, Why may not men speak against abuses? Yes; but with defire to cure the part affected, not to deftroy the whole. 2. A fecond fault is in their manner of complaining, not only because it is for the most part in bitter and reproachful terms, but also it is to the common people, who are judges incompetent and infufficient, both to determine any thing amifs, VOL. I. CC amifs, and for want of skill and authority to amend it. Which also discovereth their intent and purpose to be rather destructive than corrective. 3. Thirdly, Those very exceptions which they take are frivolous and impertinent. Some things indeed they accuse as impious; which if they may appear to be fuch, God forbid they should be maintained. Against the reft it is only alleged, that they are idle ceremonies without ufe, and that better and more profitable might be devised. Wherein they are doubly deceived: for neither is it a fufficient plea to say, this must give place, because a better may be devised; because in our judgments of better and worse; we oftentimes conceive amifs, when we compare those things which are in devise with those which are in practice: for the imperfections of the one are hid, till by time and trial they be difcovered the others are already manifeft and open to all. But laft of all, (which is a point in my opinion of great regard, and which I am defirous to have enlarged,) they they do not fee that for the most part when they strike at the state Ecclefiaftical, they fecretly wound the Civil ftate: for perfonal faults, what can be faid against the Church, which may not also agree to the Commonwealth? In both, ftatefmen have always been, and will be always, men; fometimes blinded with error, most commonly perverted by paffions: many unworthy have been and are advanced in both; many worthy not regarded. And as for abuses, which they pretend to be in the laws themselves; when they inveigh against non-residence, do they take it a matter lawful or expedient in the Civil ftate, for a man to have a great and gainful office in the north, himself continually remaining in the fouth? He that hath an office, let him attend his office. When they condemn plurality of livings fpiritual to the pit of hell, what think they of the infinity of temporal promotions? By the great philofopher, Pol. lib. ii. cap. 9, it is forbidden as a thing moft dangerous to commonwealths, that by the fame man many great great offices fho e exercised. When they deride our eremonies as vain and frivolous, were it hard to apply their exceptions even to thofe civil ceremonies, which at the coronation, in Parliament, and all courts of juftice, are used? Were it hard to argue even against circumcifion, the ordinance of God, as being a cruel ceremony? against the passover, as being ridiculous-fhod, girt, a staff in their hand, to eat a lamb ? To conclude: you may exhort the Clergy, (or what if you direct your conclufion not to the Clergy in general, but only to the learned in or of both Univerfities?) you may exhort them to a due confideration of all things, and to a right esteem and valuing of each thing in that degree wherein it ought to ftand. For it oftentimes falleth out, that what men have either devised themselves, or greatly delighted in, the price and the excellency thereof they do admire above defert. The chiefeft labour of a Chriftian fhould be to know; of a minifter, to preach Chrift crucified in regard whereof, not : only only worldly things, but things otherwise precious, even the difcipline itself is vile and base. Whereas now, by the heat of contention, and violence of affection, the zeal of men towards the one hath greatly decayed their love to the other. Hereunto therefore they are to be exhorted to preach Chrift crucified, the mortification of the flesh, the renewing of the Spirit; not those things which in time of strife seem precious, but (paffions being allayed) are vain and childish. G. C. THE END OF VOL. I. |