TOuching Church maintenance it is well to be weighed, what is Iure divino, and what is Iure positive; it is a constitution of the Diuine law, where-from Humaine lawes cannot derogate; that those that feed the flocke, should liue of the flocke; that those which serue at the Altar, should liue at the Altar; and which dispence Spirituall things, should reape Temporall things. Of which it is also an appendix, that the preportion of this maintenance be not small or necessitious, but plentifull and liberall; so that all the places and offices in the Church haue such a donation, that they may bee maintayned according to theyr seuerall degrees, is a constitution parmanent and perpetuall. But for particularitie of the endowment, whether it should consist in Tythes, or Lands, or persons, or mixt, it may make a question of conuenience; but, no question of precise necessitie: Againe, that the case of the Church De facto is such, that there is want in the Church of patrimonie, is confessed for the principall places; namely, the Bishops liuings are in some particulars not sufficient; and therefore inforced to bee supplyed by toleration of Commendams, things in themselues vnfit and euer held of no good report.
And as for the Benefices and Pastors places, it is manifest, that many of them were very weake and penurious; on the other side, that there was a time when the Church was rather burdened with superfluitie then with lacke; that is likewise apparant, but it was long since, so as the fault was in others, the want redoundeth vpon vs againe. And therefore, that it were to bee wished that Impropriations were returned to the Church as the proper and naturall endowment thereof. As a thing likewise whereon mens judgements will not much varie. Also, that it is an Impossibilitie to proceed eyther to theyr resumption or redemption, is as plaine on the other side; for men are stated in them by the highest assurence of the Kingdome, which is Act of Parliament, and the value of them amounteth much aboue tenne Subsidies. And the Restitution must of necessitie passe their hands in whose hands there is interest and possession.
But of these things which are manifestly true, to inferre and ground some conclusions; First, for mine owne opinion and since I must confesse, let mee speake it with reuerence, that all the Parliaments since the 27. and 31. of King Hen.8. who gaue away Impropriations from the Church, seeme to mee to stand in some sort obnoxious and obliged to God in Conscience to doe somewhat for the Church, to reduce the Patrimonie thereof to a competencie; for since they haue debarred Christs wife of a great part of her Dowrie, it were reason they made her a competent Ioynture. Next to say, that Impropriations should bee onely charged, that carryeth neyther possibilitie nor reason. Not possibilitie for the reason touched before. Not reason because if it be conceived that any other persons bee charged it should bee a recharge or double charge, in as much as hee payeth tythes to the Church, so the Realme hath taken that away againe from the Church, and gaue them to the King, as they might giue their tenth sheaffe, or ninth sheaffe; and therefore, the first guist beeing evacuated, it cannot goe in deseazance or disgrace of that perpetuall bond whereby men are bound to maintaine Gods Ministers. As we see in example, that divers godly and well disposed persons doe put in vre who are content to increase their Preachers livings, which though in Law it bee but a benevolence; yet before God, it is but a conscience. Farther that Impropriations should not be somewhat more deepely charged then other revenewes of like value; me thinkes cannot well be denyed, both in regard of the ancient claime of the Church and the intention of the first giver. And againe, because they haue passed in valuation betweene man and man somewhat at the lesse rate, in regard of the said presence or claime in Conscience before God: But of this point touching Church maintainance, I doe not thinke fit to enter into a farther particularitie, but releeue the same to a fitter time.
Thus haue I in all humblenes and sinceritie of heart, to the best of mine vnderstanding, given your Majestie tribute of my cares and cogitations in this holy businesse, so highly tending to Gods glorie, your Maiesties honor, and the peace and welfare of your States; in so much, as I am perswaded the Papists themselues should not need so much the severitie of the penall Lawes, if the sword of the Spirit were better edged, by strengthening the authoritie and suppressing the abuses in the Church.
To conclude therefore, renuing my most humble submission of all that I haue said, to your Majesties most high wisedome; and againe, most humbly craving pardon for my errour committed in this writing, with the same weaknesse of Iudgement which suffered me to commit them, would not suffer mee to discover them. I end with my devout and servent prayer to God, that as hee hath made your Maiestie the corner stone in joyning your two Kingdomes, so you may bee also as a corner stone to vnite and knit together these differences in the Church of GOD, to whose heauenly grace, and neuer erring Direction, I commend your Majesties Sacred person and all your doings.