TO speake of a learned Ministerie, it is true, that the worthinesse of the Postors and Ministers is of all other points of religion the most summary; I doe not say the greatest, but the most effectuall towards all the rest. But herein to my vnderstanding, while men goe on in Zeale to hasten this worke; they are not aware of as great or greater inconuenience then that which they seeke to remoue. For while they inueigh against a dumbe Ministerie, they make too easie and too promiscuous an allowance of such as they account Preachers; hauing not respect enough to their learnings in other Artes, which are hand-maides to Diuinitie; nor respect inough to the guift it selfe which many times is none at all. For God forbid that euery man that can take vnto himselfe boldnesse to speak an houre together in a Church vpon a Text, should be admitted for a Preacher though he meane neuer so well, I know there is a great latitude in guifts and a great varietie in Auditories and Congregations, but yet so, as there is aliquid infionum, below which you ought not to descend. For you must rather leaue the Arke to shake, as it shall please God, then put vnworthy hands to hold it vp, and when we are in Gods Temple, we are warned rather to put our hands vpon our mouth, then to offer the Sacrifice of fooles. And surely, it may be justly thought, that amongst manycauses of Athiesme, which are miserably met in our Age, as Schismes and controuersies, prophane scoffing in holy matters and others, it is not the least that diuers do aduenture to haudle the word of God, which are vnfit and vnworthy. And herein I would haue no man mistake me, as if I did extoll curious and affected Preaching, which is as much on the other side to be disliked, and breeds Atheisme and scandall as well as the other (for who would not bee offended at one that comes into the pulpit, as if he came vpon the Stage, to play parts or prizes,) neither on the other side, as if I would discourage any who hath any tollerable gift.
But vpon this point, I ground three considerations, whether it were not requisite to renew that good Exercise which was practised in this Church some yeares, and afterwards put downe, by order indeed from the Church in regard of some abuse thereof, inconuenient for those times, and yet against the aduise and opinion, of one of the greatest and grauest Prelates of this Land, and was commonly called Prophecying; which was this; That the Ministers within a Precinct, did, meete vppon a weeke day, in some principall Towne, where there was some ancient graue Minister, that was President, and an Auditorie admitted of Gentlemen, or other persons of leasure; then euery Minister successiuely, beginning with the yongest, did handle one and the same piece of Scripture, spending seuerally some quarter of an houre or better, & in the whole, some two houres; and so the Exercise beeing begun and concluded with prayer, and the President giuing a Text for the next meeting, the Assembly was dissolued. And this was as I take it, a fort-nights Exercise, which in my opinion was the best way to frame and traine vp Preachers to handle the Word of God as it ought to be handled, that hath been practised. For we see Orators haue their Declamations, Lawyers haue their mootes, Logicians their Sophems, and euery practise of Science hath an exercise of erudition and imitation, before men come to the life, onely Preaching which is the worthiest, and wherein it is most danger to doe amisse, wanteth an introduction, and is ventred and rushed vpon at the first; but vnto this Exercise of the Prophesie, I would wish these two additions; the one, that after this Exercise which is in some sort publique, there were immediatly a priuate meeting of the same Ministers where they might brotherly admonish the one the other, and especially the elder sort the younger, of any thing that had passed in the Exercise in matter or manner vnsound and vncomely. And in a word might mutually vse such aduise, instruction, comfort or encouragement, as occasion might minister for publike reprehension were to be debarred.
The other addition that I meane is, that the same Exercise were vsed in the Vniuersities for young Diuines before they presumed to Preach, as well as in the Country for Ministers, for they haue in some Colledges an exercise called a Commonplace which can m no degree, bee so profitable, beeing but the speech of one man at one time. And if it bee feared that it may bee occasion to whet mens speeches for Controuersies, it is easily remedyed by some strict prohibition, that matters of Controuersie tending any way to the violating or disquicting of the peace of the Church be not handled or entred into; which prohibition in regard there is euer to be a graue person President or Moderator, cannot bee suffered. The second consideration is, whether it were not conuenient there should be a more exact probation and examination of Ministers. Namely, that the Byshops doe not ordaine alone but by aduise, and then that the ancient holy orders of the Church might be reuiued, by the which the Byshop did ordaine Ministers but at foure set times in the yeare, which were called, Quatuor tempora which are now called Ember-weekes; it being thought fit to accompany so high an action with generall Fasting, and Prayer, and Sermons, and all holy exerciles. And the names likewise of those that were ordained were published some dayes before their ordination, to the end exceptions might bee taken if just cause; were.
The third consideration is, that if the case of the Church of England bee, that where a computation is taken of all the perochian Parishes, as allowing the vnion of such as were too small, and adjacent, and againe a computation to bee taken of the persons who are worthie to bee Paftors. And if vpon the said account it fall out, that there are many more Churches then Pastors, then of, necessitie, recourse must bee had to one of these remedies; eyther that Pluralities must be allowed, specially if you can by permutations make the benefices more compatible, as there be allowed Preachers to haue a more generall charge to supply and serue by turne Parishes vnfurnished. For that some Churchas should bee prouided of Pastors able to teach, and other wholly destitute, seemeth to mee to bee against the Communion of Saints, and Christians, and against the practise of the Primitiue Church.
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