The apology of the Church of England, and an epistle to one Seignior Scipio…

But they have whole Flocks or Herds shall I call them of Monks, who do nothing, nor do they so much as pretend to any show of Holiness, and yet do not only live by the Labour of others, but fare deliciously and luxuriously.¹ 6. An ancient ⟨p. 89⟩Roman Council decreed, that no man should be present at that Divine Service which was celebrated by a Priest which he knew kept a Concubine; ²but they permit the Priests to keep Concubines for Money, and by force, compel men to be present at their Sacrilegious Services.³ 7. The ancient Apostolical Canons command that Bishop to be deposed, who shall exercise at the same time the Office of a Bishop, and the Function of a Civil Magistrate; but these men do, and will exercise both, or rather indeed totally neglect that which is most of all their Duty, and yet there is no man to remove and punish them. 8. The ancient Council of Gangra, ⁴forbid any man to put such difference between a married and a single Priest, as to esteem the one more Holy than the other upon that account; but they put such a Difference, that they think all the Holy Services which are performed by a pious and good man who hath a Wife are profaned. 9. The ancient Emperor^* Justinianus, commanded all things in the Divine Service to be pronounced with an audible, loud, clear, articulate Voice, that the People might thereby reap some benefit by it; but they, that the People may never understand them, whisper their Divine Service, not only in an obscure and low Tone, but also in a strange and barbarous Tongue. 10. The old^* Carthaginian Council forbade any thing besides the Canonical Scriptures to be read in the holy Assemblies of the Church; but they read in their Churches, what they themselves do not doubt to be mere Lies and silly Fables. And ⟨p. 90⟩