Speech Concerning Bishops Deans and Chapters

SIR BENIAMIN RVDYERD HIS SPEECH.

W EE are now upon a very great business, so great indeed, as it requires our soundest, our saddest consideration; our best judgment for the present, our utmost foresight for the future.

But Sir, one thing doth exceedingly trouble me, it turns me round about, it makes my whole reason vertiginous, which is, that so many do believe, against the wisdom of all ages, that now there can be no reformation without destruction; as if every sick body must be presently knocked in the head, as past hope of cure.

Religion was first and best planted in Cities, God did spread his Net where most might be caught, Cities had Bishops and Presbyters: Presbyters were the Seminaries out of which were sent laborers by the Bishops to propogate and cultivate the Gospel. The Clergy then lived wholly upon the free-will offerings and bounty of the people.

Afterwards, when Kings and States grew to be Christians, the outward settlement of the Church grew up with them. They erected Bishoprics, founded Cathedral Churches, endowed them with large possessions: Landlords built Parish Churches, gleab'd them with some portion of land, for which they have still a right of presentation.

I do confess that some of our Bishops have had ambitious, dangerous aims, and have so still, that in their government there are very great enormities: but I am not of their opinion who believe, that there is an innate ill quality in Episcopacy, like a specifical property, which is a refuge, not a reason. I hope there is not original sin in Episcopacy; and though there were, yet may the calling be as well reformed, as the person regenerated. Bishops have governed the Church for fifteen hundred years without interruption: and no man will say, but that God hath saved souls in all those times under their government. Let them be reduced according to the usage of ancient Churches in the best times, so restrained as they may not be able hereafter to shame the calling. I love not those that hate to be reformed, and do therefore think them worthy of the more strict, the more close reformation.

We have often complained, that Bishops are too absolute, too singular. Although Cathedral Churches are now for the most part but receptacles of Droanes and Nonresidents, yet some good men may be found or placed there to be assessors with the Bishops, to assist them in actions of moment, in causes of importance; there is maintenance already provided for them. If either in Bishoprics, or Cathedral Churches there be too much, some may be pared off, to relieve them that have too little. If yet more may be spared, it may be employed to the setting up of a preaching Ministry through the whole Kingdom. And until this be done, although we are Christians, yet are we not a Christian State. There are some places in England that are not in Christendom, the people are so ignorant, they live so without God in the world, for which Parliaments are to answer both to God and Man. Let us look to it, for it lies like one of the burdens of the Prophet Isaiah, heavy and flat upon Parliaments.

I have often seriously considered with myself, what strong concurrent motives & causes did meet together in that time, when Abbeys and Monasteries were overthrown. Certainly God's hand was the greatest, for he was most offended. The profane superstitions, the abhominable idolatries, the filthy nefandous wickedness of their lives did stink in God's nostrils, did call down for vengeance, for reformation A good party of religious men were zealous instruments in that great work, as likewise many covetous ambitious persons, gaping for fat morsels, did lustily drive it on.

But, Mr. Hyde, there was a principal Parliamentary motive, which did facilitate the rest: For it was propounded in Parliament, that the accession of Abbey lands would so enrich the Crown as the people should never be put to pay subsidies again. This was plausible both to Court and Country. Besides, with the overplus there should be maintained a standing army of forty thousand men for a perpetual defense of the Kingdom. This was safety at home, terror and honor abroad: the Parliament would make all sure.

God's part; Religion, by his blessing, hath been reasonably well preserved, but it hath been saved as by fire: for the rest is consumed and vanished: the people have paid subsidies ever since, and we are now in no very good case to pay an Army.

Let us beware, Mr. Hyde, that we do not look with a worldly, carnal, evil eye upon Church lands, let us clear our sight, search our hearts, that we may have unmixed and sincere ends, without the least thought of saving our own purses. Church lands will still be fittest to maintain Church men, by a proportionable and orderly distribution.

We are very strict and curious to uphold our own propriety, and there is great reason for it: Are the Clergy only a sort of men who have no propriety at all in that which is called theirs? I am sure they are Englishmen, they are subjects.

If we pull down Bishoprics, and pull down Cathedral Churches, in a short time we must be forced to pull down Colleges too; for Scholars will live and die there as in Cells, if there be not considerable preferment to invite them abroad. And the example we are making now, will be an easy temptation to the less-pressing necessities of future times.

This is the next way to bring in Barbarism, to make the Clergy an unlearned contemptible vocation, not to be desired but by the basest of the people; and then where shall we find men able to convince an adversary?

A Clergy man ought to have a far greater proportion to live upon, then any other man of an equal condition. He is not bred to multiply threepences, it becomes him not to live mechanically, and sordidly: he must be given to hospitality. I do know myself a Cleargyman, no dignitary, whose books have cost him a thousand pounds, which when he dies, may be worth to his wife and children, about two hundred.

It will be a shameful reproach to so flourishing a Kingdom as this, to have a poor beggarly Clergy. For my part, I think nothing too much, nothing too good for a good Minister, a good Clergy man. They ought least to want, who best know how to abound. Burning and shining lights do well deserve to be set in good Candlesticks.

Mr. Hyde, I am as much for reformation, for purging and maintaining Religion, as any man whatsoever: but I profess, I am not for innovation, demolition, nor abolition.