I Do verily beleeve, that there are many of the Clergy in our Church, who do think the sim­plicity of the Gospel, too meane a vocation for them to serve-in: They must have a spescious, pompous, sumptuous, Reli­gion, with Additionalls of Temporall great­nesse, Authority, Negotiation: Notwith­standing, they all know better then I, what Fathers, Schoolemen, Councells are against their mixing themselves in secular affaires.

This Romane Ambition will at length bring in the Romane Religion, and at last a haughty Insolence even against supreame [Page 16] power it selfe, if it be not timely and wisely prevented.

They have amongst them an Apothegm of their own making, which is, No Miter, No Scepter; when we know by deare experience, that if the Miter be once in danger, they care not to throw the Scepter after, to confound the whole Kingdome for their Interest.

And Hystories will tell us, that whensoe­ver the Cleargy went high, Monarchy still went lower: If they could not make the Mo­narch the head of their owne Faction, they would be sure to make him lesse: witnesse one example for all, The Popes working the Emperor out of Jtaly.

Some of ours, assoone as they are Bishops, adepto fine, cessant Motus, They will Preach no longer, their office then is to governe, But in my opinion they governe worse then they Preach, though they Preach not at all; for wee see to what passe their government hath brought us.

In conformity to themselves, They silence others also, though Hierom in one of his Epi­stles saith, that even a Bishop, let him be of never so blamelesse a life, yet he doth more hurt by his licence, then he can do good by his example.

Mr. Speaker, It now behooves us, to re­straine [Page 17] the Bishops to the duties of their Fun­ction, as they may never-more hancker-after heterogeneous extravagant employments: Not be so absolute, so single and solitary in Actions of Moment, as Excommunication, Absolution, Ordination, and the like: but to joyne some of the Ministry with them, and further to regulate them according to the u­sage of Ancient Churches, in the best times, that by a well-temper'd Government, they may not have power hereafter, to corrupt the Church, to undoe the Kingdom.

When they are thus circumscrib'd, and the Publique secur'd from their Eruptions, then shall not I grudge them a liberall plentifull subsistence else I am sure, they can never be given to Hospitality.

Although the calling of the Clergy bee all glorious within, yet if they have not a large considerable, outward support, they cannot be freed from vulgar Contempt.

It will alwaies be fit, that the flourishing of the Church, should hold proportion with the flourishing of the Common-wealth wherein it is. If we dwell in Houses of Cedar, whie should they dwell in skins? And I hope I shall never see a good Bishop left worse then a Parson without a Gleab.

Certainelie Sir, the superintendencie of e­minent Men, Bishops over divers Churches, [Page 19] is the most Primitive, the most spreading, the most lasting Government of the Church. Wherefore whilest we are earnest to take away Innovations, let us beware we bring not in the greatest Innovation that ever was in England.

I doe very well know, what very many doe very fervently desire. But let us well bethink our selves whether a popular Democraticall Government of the Church (though fit for other places) wilbe either sutable or accep­table, to a Regall, Monarchicall Government of the State.

Every man can say (It is so common and knowe a Truth) that sodain and great changes both in naturall and Politique bodies have dangerous operations: and give me leave to say, that we cannot presently see to the end of such a consequence, especially in so great a Kingdome as this, and where Episcopacie is so wrap'd and involv'd in the Laws of it.

Wherfore Mr. Speaker, my humble Motion is, that we may punish the present offenders, reduce and preserve the Calling for better men hereafter. Let us remember with fresh thankfullnesse to God, those glorious Martyr-Bishops who were burn'd for our Religion, in the times of Popery, who by their learn­ing, zeale, and constancie, upheld and con­veyd it down to us.

We have some good Bishops still, who doe Preach every Lords Day, and are therefore worthy of double Honour; they have suffer'd enough already in the Disease: I shalbe sorry wee should make them suffer more in the Remedy.