But what should I mention Bishops and Divines (of whom there have nmany declared the same mind,) when as Master oLambard, a gentleman and Lawyer, speaking of a Kentish Benefice converted to an appropriation, doth censure it with these words: One (amongst many) of those monstrous births of covetousness, begotten by the man of Rome in the dark night of superstition, and yet suffered to live in this day light of ⟨p. 30⟩the gospel, to the great hinderance of learning, the impoverishment of the ministry, and the infamy of our profession. Hard may this seem to such as have the livings: & some peradventure will say of these speeches, pThe land cannot bear them. But it is harder to suffer the land to stand in those terms, in which God saith to Judah: qYe are cursed with a curse for that ye spoil me, even the whole nation. And if heathen men Philaeni, Codrus, Curtius, have given their lives to benefit their country with a temporal blessing, and that uncertain too: what should Christians do to draw that blessing on it, which he, who cannot lye, doth promise, rBring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven unto you, & pour you out a blessing without measure: & I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, that he shall not destroy the fruit of your ground, neither shall your vine be barren in the field, saith the Lord of hosts: & all nations shall call you blessed, for ye shall be a pleasant land, saith the Lord of hosts. Wherefore let us (beloved) of the University, get ⟨p. 31⟩our country this blessing, as much as lieth in us, by providing that Pastors, where we have appropriations, may be maintained with their tithes, that there may be meat in the house of God. I mean not hereby that we should give away that by which our schools and scholars be maintained. For God hath ordained Ecclesiastical goods to find, not only Priests and Levites, but their offspring; even them, who are brought up to be Priests and Levites, and them who bring them up; the children of the Prophets, & the Prophets themselves. That, if there be enough in our appropriations for the Pastors maintenance, beside that which we have for the nursery of Pastors, as commonly there is: we may with good conscience receive our own revenue.
But what should I mention Bishops and Diuines (of whom there haue nmany declared the same minde,) whē as Maister oLambard, a gentleman and Lawier, speaking of a Kentish Benefice conuerted to an appropriation, doth censure it with these wordes: One (amongst many) of those monstrous birthes of couetousnes, begotten by the man of Rome in the darke night of superstition, and yet suffered to liue in this day light of ⟨p. 30⟩the gospell, to the great hinderaunce of learning, the impouerishment of the ministery, and the infamy of our profession. Hard may this seeme to such as haue the lyuings: & some peraduenture wil say of these speeches, pThe land cannot beare them. But it is harder to suffer the land to stand in those termes, in which God saith to Iuda: qYe are cursed with a curse for that ye spoyle me, euē the whole natiō. And if heathen men Philaeni, Codrus, Curtius, haue giuē their liues to benefit their countrey with a temporall blessing, and that vncertaine too: what should Christians doe to draw that blessing on it, which he, who cannot lye, doth promise, rBring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meate in mine house, and p•oue me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I wil not opē the windows of heauē vnto you, & powre you out a blessing without measure: & I wil re buke the deuourer for your sakes, that he shall not destroy the fruit of your ground, neither shall your vine be barren in the field, saith the Lord of hostes: & al nations shal call you blessed, for ye shalbe a pleasant land, saith the Lord of hostes. Wherefore let vs (beloued) of the Uniuersitie, get ⟨p. 31⟩our countrey this blessing, as much as lyeth in vs, by prouiding that Pastors, where we haue appropriations, may be maintained with their tithes, that there may be meate in the house of God. I meane not hereby that wee should giue away that by which our schooles and schollers be mainteined. For God hath ordeined Ecclesiasticall goods to finde, not onely Priestes and Leuites, but their ofspring; euen them, who are brought vp to be Priests and Leuites, and them who bring thē vp; the children of the Prophets, & the Prophets themselues. That, if there bee enough in our appropriatiōs for ye Pastors maintenance, beside yt which we haue for the nurserie of Pastors, as commonly there is: we may with good conscience receiue our owne reuenue.
- nM. Latimer, in his 1. & 6. Serm. preached before King Edward. M. Fox• in the Acts & mon. lib. 4. All the Bishops of England (300. years since) misliking in the monks that they had gotten benefices to be appropriated to them: as appeareth by Mat. Westm. in Florib. histor, an. Dom. 126•.M. Latimer, in his 1. & 6. Serm. preached before King Edward. M. Fox• in the Actes & mon. lib. 4. All the Bishops of England (300. yeres since) misliking in the moonks that they had gotten benefices to be appropriated to them: as appeareth by Mat. VVestm. in Florib. histor, ann. Dom. 126•.
- oThe perambulat. of Kent: in Frensbury.
- pAmmo •. 7. 10.Amo •. 7. 10.
- qMal. 3. 9.
- rVers. 10.
