To the right worshipful and Reverend Judges, Sir John…: Of the calling of the ministry two treatises, describing… by William Perkins | AskReformation

Skip to content

:111img 36

Right worshipful, it is said in other Nations, and written in some of their books, that there are three disgraces of the English Nation: The Ignorance, or (that I may so call it) the Unlearnedness of our Gentry and Nobility, the Beggary of our poor, and the Baseness of the body of our Ministry. The first blot, our Nobility and Gentry have well wiped off, since the first days of blessed Queen Elizabeth, partly by study at home, partly by travel abroad, and I hope they will do it more and more: The second hath been well l•ssened by good laws of late, and wou•d be more, if the Execution were as good as our laws be, and it were much honour to our Nation, and more to our Religion, if it were quite taken away: for he that tells us there shall be poor ever with us,¹ saith also, there shall not be a beggar ⟨image 36⟩amongst us; If there were no poor, what should become of Charity: for it is charity to relieve poverty, not to maintain beggary: Poverty may be a Cross, but it is no Curse: but beggary is a fearful curse, threatened on the enemies of God: and David saith not,² be never saw a righteous mans child poor, but that he never saw him beg his bread. The daily cries in our streets, cry for yet further reformation hereof, that the impotent poor may be sufficiently provided for, that he need not, and the sturdy beggar compelled to work, that he may not be suffered to beg. Happy you, or whosoever can have a hand, in effecting this blessed work, we, who can do little else shall pray for it, and for them that labour in it. But now f•r the third, I fear none but the very hand of God, can wipe out that stain from our Church: The bas•nes of the general body of our Ministry, whence is it, but either from the unworthiness or poverty thereof: and the unworthiness thereof, whence is it but from the poverty, and base maintenance of our Ministry, which was once robbed by the Abbeys, and after worse by some in our own State: and Popery that stands so much upon Non dimittitur peccatum nisi restituator ablatum, yet for all that, would not restore unto the Church her tenths again.

RIght worshipfull, it is sayd in other Nations, and written in some of their bookes, that there are three disgraces of the English Nation: The Ignorance, or (that I may so call it) the Vnlearnednes of our Gentry and Nobility, the Be•gery of our poore, and the Basenes of the body of our Ministery. The first blot, our Nobilitie and Gentrie haue well wiped off, since the first daies of blessed Queene Elizabeth, partly by studie at home, partly by trauell abroade, and I hope they will doe it more and more: The second hath beene well l•ssened by good lawes of late, and wou•d be more, if the Execution were as good as our lawes bee, and it were much honour to our Nation, and more to our Religion, if it were quite taken away: for he that tells vs there shal be poore euer with vs,¹ saith also, there shall not be a begger ⟨image 36⟩amonst vs; If there were no poore, what should become of Charitie: for it is charitie to relieue pouertie, not to maintaine beggery: Pouerty may be a Crosse, but it is no Curse: but beggery is a fearefull curse, threatned on the enemies of God: and Dauid saith not,² bee neuer sawe a righteous mans child poore, but that he neuer sawe him begge his bread. The dayly cries in our streetes, cry for yet further reformati•n heereof, that the impotent poore may be sufficiently prouided for, that he neede not, and the s•urdy begger compelled to worke, that hee may not bee suffred to begge. Happie you, or whosoeuer can haue a hand, in effecting this blessed w•rke, wee, who can doe little else shall pray for it, and for them that labour in it. But now f•r the third, I feare none but the very hand of God, can wipe out that staine from our Church: The bas•nes of the generall body of our Ministerie, whence is it, but either from the vnworthin•sse or pouerty thereof: and the vnworthines thereof, whence is it but from the pouerty, and base maintenance of our Ministerie, which was once robbed by the Abbies, and after worse by some in our owne State: and Popery that stands so much vpon Non dimittitur peccatum nisi restituator ablatum, yet for all that, would not restore vnto the Church her tenthes againe.

1Ma•h. 26, 11. Dent. 15.
2Psal. 109, 10 Psal. 37, 25.

:112img 36

But as Popish Abbeys stole ⟨image 37⟩them, so a popish state kept them, and to their shame some of th•se good Professors of our Religion, have restored such as were in their bands, and there is hope that all our Professors, (unless they care not to be accounted hypocrites) will make some conscionable restitution. We do not crave that they would with Zacheus restore fourfold (though it is apparent,¹ that the Tenths were got from us in old time, by most false and forged Cavillations) we only crave our own, we would ask no more, nor willingly take less: for our whole duty is still required, then why should not our whole due be paid. And yet that the world may learn of us contentedness, as well by our practise as our doctrine, we would for the present, take in good part, and rest contented with a part of our own, and some competent portions out of the Impropriations, (proportioned to the quantity •f the charge imposed, and the gifts and pains required) would for a time be a reasonable satisfaction to our Ministry, until our state found it self, either better enabled, or more straightly tied in Conscience to full restitution. But as I said, this is a work of God himself, f•r if man could do it, so many Parliaments would not have slipped it, but some of them would have ete•nized it self, with this honourable name to all posterities. The Parliament that restored Impropriations, ⟨image 37⟩but till that, or some other course (as good) be taken, it is both unseasonable, and unreasonable to complain of the Ignorant, or to c•ave a learned Ministry. For shall the Ox's mouth be muzzled, ²which treads out the corn, or shall a man go to war at his own cost? and hath not God ordained (mark it is his Ordinance) that those who teach the Gospel, shall live of the Gospel? But alas, how shall the Ministry of England live of the Gospel, when my small experience can show, that in one Corner of one County of this Kingdom, wherein there are some 150. parishes,³ or parochial Chapels, almost a 100. of them, (if not a full 100) are Impropriate, and amongst them I can show the most parishes have but 10. pound or thereabouts, some 8. li. some 6, li. some 5, li. some 4, pound, some not 4, pound yearly living for the Minister, and those impropriations worth some 300, pound, many 200, pound, almost all 100, pound, per an: yea there is one worth 400, pound, per an:

But as Popish Abbies stole ⟨image 37⟩them, so a popish state kept them, and to their shame some of th•se good Professors of our Religion, haue restored such as were in their bands, and there is hope that all our Professors, (vnlesse they care not to be accounted hipocrits) will make some conscionable restitution. We doe not craue that they wold with Zacheus restore •oure•old (though it is apparant,¹ that the Tenthes were got from vs in old time, by most false and forged Cauillations) we onely craue our owne, we would aske no more, nor willingly take lesse: for our whole dutie is still required, then why should not our whole due be payd. And yet that the world may learne of vs contentednes, as well by our practise as our doctrine, we would for the present, take in good part, and rest contented with a part of our owne, and some competent portions out of the Impropriations, (proportioned to the quantitie •f the charge imposed, and the gifts and paines required) would for a time bee a reasonable satisfaction to our Ministerie, vntill our state found it selfe, either better enabled, or more straightly tied in Conscience to full restitution. But as I sayd, this is a worke of God himselfe, f•r if man could doe it, so many Parliaments would not haue slipt it, but some of them would haue ete•nized it selfe, with this honorable name to all posterities. The Parliament that restored Impropriations, ⟨image 37⟩but till that, or some other course (as good) be taken, it is both vnseasonable, and vnreasonable to complaine of the Ignorant, or to c•aue a learned Ministerie. For shall the Oxes mouth be mousled, ²which treads out the corne, or shall a man goe to warre at his owne cost? and hath not God ordained (marke it is his Ordinance) that those who teach the Gospell, shal liue of the Gospel? But alas, how shall the Ministerie of England liue of the Gospell, when my small experience can showe, that in one Corner of one County of this Kingdome, wherein there are some 150. parishes,³ or parochiall Chappells, almost a 100. of them, (if not a full 100) are Impropriate, and amongst them I can showe the most parishes haue but 10. pound or thereabouts, some 8. li. some 6, li. some 5, li. some 4, pound, some not 4, pound yearely liuing for the Minister, and those impropriations worth some 300, pound, many 200, pound, almost all 100, pound, per an: yea there is one worth 400, pound, per an:

1Luke, 19, 8, &c.
21 Corinth. 9, 7, 9, 14.
3The East-Riding of the County of York.The East-Riding of the County of Yorke.

:113img 37

where there were but 8, pound left for the Minister, until of late with much ado, 10, pound more was obtained for a preacher, and so there is out of 400, pound, 8, pound shared for a Minister, and 10, pound carved for a preacher, in that parish where there are 2000, Communicants. Of all the rest, the Crown hath some 100, ⟨image 38⟩pound rent, or not so much, and the remainder of 280, pound (being a rich living, for a worthy learned Minister, a competent living for 2, and more then some 7, painful and able Ministers […]) I know not what becomes of it, unless it go to the feeding of Kits and Cormorants. Are not these goodly livings for learned men, and may not we expect a learned Ministry, where there is such maintenance? and I heartily wish that other countries, be not able to show the like Presidents▪ have the rather made relation hereof, that our high Court of Parliament, may see how great cause they have, to go forward with that motion already by them made, for the establishing of a learned Ministry. But if they bring it not to pass, what then remaineth, but to hope that the great God of heaven, will put into the hart of the God on earth, our noble King (into whose hands he hath put the sword of sovereign authority) an irrevocable and unresistable, resolution to execute his supreme power, for the reformation of this evil, which (as Master Perkins saith in this treatise) may well be called the Kings evil, for it will hardly be healed, but by the will and power of a king. In the mean time, this Treatise of that worthy man, may be a motive to our zealous professors, who have any impropriations in their own hands, to excite and provoke them to a ⟨image 38⟩conscionable restitution, in whole or in part, as their estates may bear, or their conscience shall move them. For herein are laid down and mixed together, both the duties to be done by faithful Ministers, and the Dignities due unto them for their duties: and so seeing the dignities of that calling to be most honourable, and the duties so chargeable, it cannot but grieve their Christian harts to see the maintenance so miserable.

where there were but 8, pound left for the Minister, vntill of late with much adoe, 10, pound more was obtained for a preacher, and so there is out of 400, pound, 8, pound shared for a Minister, and 10, pound carued for a preacher, in that parish where there are 2000, Communicants. Of all the rest, the Crowne hath some 100, ⟨image 38⟩pound rent, or not so much, and the remainder of 280, pound (being a rich liuing, for a worthy learned Minister, a competent liuing for 2, and more then some 7, painfull and able Ministers 〈…〉) I knowe not what becomes of it, vnlesse it goe to the feeding of Kits and Cormorants. Are not these goodly liuings for learned men, and may not wee expect a learned Ministerie, where there is such maintenance? and I hartely wish that other countries, be not able to showe the like Presidents▪ haue the rather made relation heereof, that our high Court of Parliament, may see how great cause they haue, to goe forward with that motion already by them made, for the establishing of a learned Ministerie. But if they bring it not to passe, what then remaineth, but to hope that the great God of heauen, will put into the hart of the God on earth, our noble King (into wh•se hands he hath put the sword of soueraigne authoritie) an irreuocable and vnresistable, resolution to execute his supreme power, for the reformation of this euill, which (as Maister Perkins saith in this treatise) may well be called the Kings euill, for it will hardly be healed, but by the will and powere of a king. In the meane time, this Treatise of that worthy man, may be a motiue to our zealouse professors, who haue any impropriations in their owne hands, to excite and prouoke them to a ⟨image 38⟩conscionable restitution, in whole or in part, as their estates may beare, or their conscience shall mooue them. For heerein are layd downe and mixed together, both the duties to be done by faithfull Ministers, and the Dignities due vnto them for their duties: and so seeing the dignities of that calling to bee most honorable, and the duties so chargeable, it cannot but grieue their Christian harts to see the maintenance so miserable.

:114img 38

This Treatise I first of all send to you, and under your names to the world, and to you first, for as I am sure you loved the Author, and honoured those excellent gifts of God in him, so you cannot but accept this after birth of his, (as a fatherless child for the fathers sake). And for my self, (to conceal all personal and private respects) in the name of many thousands in the Northern Countries, I praise God for the good done in those parts, by your painful courses, and religious care, not doubting, but if your selves, or the like be employed there, to assist our Honourable and Religious Lord President, that the multitude of Popish Priests there lurking, will be daily lessened, the number of painful preachers augmented, Popery put d•wne, and the Gospel maintained more and more. Which blessing God grant to that and all other Countries of this Kingdom, for his mercies sake: & give unto you & all others in your place, ⟨image 39⟩the spirit of courage and constancy, in these declining days, that being faithful in your great charges, unto the end, you may receive the Crown of life: for which he heartily prayeth, who will ever rest

This Treatise I first of all send to you, and vnder your names to the world, and to you first, for as I am sure you loued the Author, and honored those excellēt gifts of God in him, so you cānot but accept this after birth of his, (as a fatherlesse child for the fathers sake). And for my selfe, (to conceale all personall and priuate respects) in the name of many thousands in the Northeren Countries, I praise God for the good done in those parts, by your painfull courses, and religious care, not doubting, but if your selues, or the like be imployed there, to asist our Honourable and Religious Lord President, that the multitude of Popish Priests there lurking, will bee daily lessened, the number of painfull preachers augmented, Poperie put d•wne, and the Gospell maintained more and more. Which blessing God grant to that and all other Countries of this Kingdome, for his mercies sake: & giue vnto you & all others in your place, ⟨image 39⟩the spirit of courage and constancie, in these declining daies, that beeing faithfull in your great charges, vnto the end, you may receiue the Crowne of life: for which he hartily prayeth, who will euer rest