SIR BENJAMIN RUDIERD HIS SPEECH IN BEHALF OF THE CLERGY, AND OF Parishes miserably destitute of Instruction, through want of Maintenance.  
CONFIRMED BY THE Testimonies of Bishop JEWEL, Master PERKINS, and Sir HENRY SPELMAN.  DEUTER. 33.11. 
Bless O Lord Levies substance, and accept the work of his hands; Smite through the Loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.  
Printed at Oxford, 1628. And are to the sold by Ph. Stephens and Ch. Meredith at the Golden Lion in Paul's Churchyard.   

SIR BENJAMIN RUDDIERD 'S speech in behalf of the Clergy.  
Mr Pimne. I did not think to have spoken again to this bill, because I was willing to believe that the forwardness of this  would have prevented me, but now I do hold myself bound to speak, and to speak in earnest.  
In the first year of the King, and the second convention, I first moved for the increase and enlargement of poor Ministers Live; I shown how necessary it was to be done, how shameful it was, that it had been so long neglected. This was also commended to the House by his ds There were then, as now, many accusations on foot against scandalous Ministers. I was bold to tell the House, that there were scandalous Live to which were much the cause of the other: Live of five Marks, of five pounds a year, that men of worth and of parts would not be muffled upto such pittances. And that there were some places in England, which were scarce in Christendom, where God was little better known then amongst Indians. I exampled it in the utmost skirts of the North, where the prayers of the common people, are more like spells and charms than devotions; the same blindness and ignorance is in diverse parts of Wales, which many of that Country do both know and lament.  
I declared also, that to plant good Ministers in good Live, was the strongest and surest means to establish true religion, that it would prevail more against papistry then the making of new laws, or executing of old. That it would counterworke courte-conscience and luckewarme accommodation. That though the calling of Ministers be never so glorious within, yet outward poverty will bring contempt upon them, especially amongst those, who measure men by the acre, and weigh them by the pound, which indeed is the greatest part of men.  
Mr Pimne, I cannot, but testify how being in Germany, I was exceedingly scandalised to see the poor stipendiary Ministers of the reformed Churches there despised & neglected by reason of their poverty, being otherwise very grave and learned men. I am afraid that this is a part of the burden of Germany, which ought to be a warning to us.  
I have heard many objections and difficulties even to impossibilities against this bill: to him that is unwilling, there is ever a bear or a lion in the way. First let us make ourselves willing, then will the way be easy and safe enough.  
I have observed, that we are always very eager & fierce against papistry, against scandalous Ministers, and against things which are not much in our power; I should be glad to see that we did delight as well in rewarding as in punishing, and in undertaking matters within our own reach, as this is absolutely within our power. Our own duties are next us, other men's farther off: I do not speak this, that I do mislike the destroying or putting down of that which is ill, but then let us be as earnest to plant and build up that which is good in the room of it; for why should we be desolate. The best and the gentlest way to dispel darkness, is, to let in the light; we say that day breaks, but no man ever heard the noise of it; God comes in the still voice; let us quietly mend our. Candlesticks, and we cannot want lights.  
I am afraid this backwardness of ours, will give the adversary occasion to say, that we choose our religion, because it is the cheaper of the two; that we would willingly serve God with somewhat that would cost us naught. Believe it Mr Pimne, he that thinks to save any thing by his religion, but his soul, will be a terrible loser in the end. We sow sparingly, that's the reason we reap so sparingly, and have no more fruit. Me thinks whosoever hates papistry, should by the same rule hate covetousness, for that's idolatry too. I never liked hot professions and cold actions. Such an heat is rather the heat of distemper and disease, then of life and saving health.  
For scandalous Ministers, there is no man shall be more forward to have them severely punished, than I will be: when salt hath lost his savour, let it be cast out upon the unsavoury place, the dunghill. But Sir, let us deal with them, as God hath dealt with us. God before he made man, made the world, an handsome place for him to dwell in; so let us provide them convenient live, and then punish them in God's name, but till then scandalous liuings cannot but have scandalous Ministers. It shall ever be a rule to me, that where the Church and commonwealth are both of one religion, it is comely and decent, that the outward splendour of the Church, should hold a proportion, and participate with the prosperity of the temporal state: for why should we dwell in houses of Cedars, and suffer God to dwell in skins.  
It was a glorious & religious work of King james, (I speak it to his unspeakable honour, and to the praise of that Nation, who though their Country be not so rich as ours, yet are they richer in their affections to Religion) within the space of one year he caused to be planted Churches through all Scotland, the Highland & the Borders, worth 30 a year a piece, with a house and some glebe land belonging to them; which 30 a year, considering the cheapness of the Country, and the modest fashion of Ministers living there, is worth double as much, as any where within an 100 miles of London. The printed Act and Commission whereby it was executed, I have here in my hand, delivered to me by a noble Gent. Of that nation, and a worthy member of this house Sir Francis Steward.  
To conclude, though Christianity and Religion be established generally throughout this kingdom, yet until it be planted more particularly, I shall scarce think this a Christian Commonwealth. And seeing it hath been moved and showed in Parliament, it will lie heavy upon Parliaments, until it be effected. Let us do something for God here of our own; and no doubt God will bless our proceed in this place the better for ever hereafter. And for mine own part, I will never give over soliciting this cause as long as Parliaments and I live together.  
TO confirm the complaint of this worthy and religious Knight: there follows the testimony of two excellent men of God, whose piety and zeal may move some to consider of the matter more seriously, than they have done hitherto, especially if they will please to read what is written more at large in their sermons of this argument.  
The Reverend and learned Bishop jewel in his sermon before Queen Elizabeth on Psal. 69.9. The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. saith thus. In England, since the Gospel hath been received, the maintenance of learning hath been decayed; and the lack of learning will be the decay of the Gospel. Loath I am to speak, yet the case so requireth, that it is needful to be spoken: I trust I shall speak in the hearing of them that will consider it. Maintenance of learning whereby an able and sufficient Ministry may grow and be established in all the Churches of this Realm, is to be wished for. The good estate of this noble Kingdom, the comfort of posterity, the stay of religion, the continuing of the Gospel, the removing of darkness hangeth upon it. One asked sometimes how it was, that in Athens, so good and great a City, there were no Physicians: to whom this answer was made, because there are no rewards appointed for them that practise physic. The same answer may be made for our times; the cause why the Church of God is so forsaken, is the want of zeal in them that should either for their courtesy, or for their ability be fosterers of learning, and increase the Live, where occasion is, and give hope and comfort to learned men. What said I? increase? nay the Live and provisions which heretofore were given, are taken away.  
Have patience, if any such be here (as I well know there are) whom these things touch. Suffer me to speak the truth, it is God's cause; the Live of such, as are in the Ministry, are not in their hands, to whom they are due. All other labourers and artificers have their hire increased double as much as it was wont to be; only the poor man that laboureth and sweateth in the vineyard of the Lord of hosts hath his hire abridged and abated.  
I speak not of the Curates, but of the Parsonages & Vicarages, that is of the places, which are the castles and towers of fence for the Lords temple. They seldom pass now adays from the patron, if he be no better than a gentleman, but either for the lease, or for present money. Such merchants are broken into the Church of God, a great deal more intolerable, then were they, whom Christ whipped and chased out of the Temple. Thus they that should be careful for God's Church, that should be patrons to provide for the consciences of the people, and to place among them a learned minister, who might be able to preach the Word unto them, out of season, and in season, and to fulfil his ministry, seek their own, and not which is jesus Christ's. They serve not jesus Christ, but their belly. And this is done, not in one place, or in one country, but throughout England. A gentleman cannot keep his house, unless he have a Parsonage or two in farm for his provision.  
O merciful God whereto will this grow at last? if the misery which this plague worketh would reach but to one age, it were the more tolerable: but it will be a plague to the posterity, it will be the decay and desolation of God's Church: young men which are toward and learned see this, they see, that he which feedeth the flock hath least part of the milk; he which goeth a warfare, hath not half his wages; therefore they are weary and discouraged, they change their studies, some become prentices, some turn to physic, some to law, all shun and fly the ministry. And beside, the hindrance that thus groweth by the wicked dealing of patrons, by reason of the Impropriations, the vicarages in many places, and in the properest market towns, are so simple that no man can live upon them, and therefore no man will take them. They were want to say, Beneficia sine cura; benefices without charge: but now may be said, Cura sine beneficio: charge or care without benefit.  
But there be many which can say, such as be ministers in the Church should teach freely, without hope of recommence, or hire for their labour; our preachers are no bettet than Peter and Paul, and the other Apostles. They are no better than the holy Prophets, who lived poorly, poverty is a commendable state, So say some in like devotion, as did judas. What needeth this waste? this might have been sold for much and given to the poor, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare that which was given. I doubt not there are many which teach Christ for Christ's sake, which say in their soul, the Lord is my portion; who seek you and not yours; I doubt not there are such.  
But for the hope of posterity, I report me to all you which are Fathers and have children, for whom you are careful: although yourselves have a zeal and care for the house of God, yet will you breed them up, keep them at school, and at the University, until 30. or 40. years old, to your great charges, to the end, they may live in glorious poverty, that they may live poorly and naked like the Prophets and Apostles. Our posterities shall rue that ever such Fathers went before them, and chronicles shall report this contempt of learning, among the punishments and murraines, and and other plagues of God, they shall leave it written in what time, and under whose reign this was done.  
In the mean time, what may be guessed of their meaning, who thus ruin and spoil the house of God, which decay the provision thereof, & so basely esteem the Ministers of his Gospel? they cannot say to God, the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up: howsoever in other things they do well; howsoever they seem to rejoice at the prosperity of Zion, and to seek the safety and preservation of the Lords anointed: yet needs must it be, that by these means foreign power, of which this Realm by the mercy of God, is happily delivered, shall again be brought in upon us. Such things shall be done unto us, as we before suffered in the times of popery; the truth of God shall be taken away, the holy Scriptures burnt and consumed in fire, a marvellous darkness and calamity must needs ensue. etc.  
The ox that treadeth out the corn is muzzled, he that goeth to warfare, receiveth not his wages, the cry hereof goeth up into the ears of the Lord of hosts; he will not abide so great contempt of his word and preachers, his own name is thereby dishonoured: our Saviour saith: Luc. 10. he that despiseth you, despiseth me. and Saint Paul, 1. Thess. 4. he that despiseth these things, despiseth not man but God; and think we, that he will suffer his holy name to be despised? nay his wrath is already kindled, he hath already begun his judgements, and therefore many places are left desolate, there is none that can warn them of their sin, none that can move them to repentance, none that can preach unto them forgiveness through Christ, none that can instruct them in the comfort of everlasting life.  
For this cause you live still in your sins, in adultery, in covetoussnes, and in pride, without any feeling of conscience, without any fear of God, thus we provoke God to anger; many walk (of whom we cannot think but with weeping) they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ; the name of God is blasphemed among them. etc. These words happily seem sharp and over vehement, but the darkness of our hearts against God, and the lack of zeal for his house, enforce me to them: we are almost fallen into the lowest pit; we are left without zeal as senseless men, & as if we had clean forgotten ourselves, as the Heathens which know not God: therefore unless we repent, the kingdom of God shall be taken away from us: he will send upon this land a famine of the word. jerusalem shall be overthrown and made an heap of stones, the man of Sin, and they which have not the love of the truth shall prevail with many, and withdraw them from obedience to the Prince; this noble Realm shall be subject to foreign nations; all this will the zeal of the Lord of hosts bring to pass.  
I could have spent thy time in opening of some other matter, but nothing, in my judgement, is more worthy your good consideration and speedy redress, etc. Wherefore he concludes with a grave exhortation to her Majesty, as followeth.  
O that Your Grace did behold the miserable disorder of God's Church, or that you might foresee the calamities that will follow! It is a part of your kingdom, and such a part, as is the principal prop & stay of the rest: I will say to your Majesty, as Cyrillus sometimes said to the godly Emperors, Theodosius and Valentinian, Ab ea quae erga Deum est pietate Reipub. vestrae status pendet, The good state and welfare of your commonweal hangeth upon true godliness, you are our governor, your are the nurse of God's Church, We may open this grief before you; God knoweth if it may be redressed it is run so fare: But if it may be redressed, there is no other besides your highness, that can redress it. I hope I speak truly that which I speak without flattery, that God hath endued your Grace with such measure of learning and knowledge as no other Christian Prince; He hath given you peace, happiness, the love and the hearts of your Subjects. Oh turn and employ these to the glory of God, that God may confirm in your Grace the thing which he hath begun. To this end hath God placed Kings & Princes in their State, as David saith, that they serve the Lord, that they may see, and cause others to see to the furniture of the Church. The good Emperor justinian cared for this as much, as for his life. Constantine, Theodosius, and Valentinian, and other godly Princes called themselves vassals, the subjects and bondservants of God. They remembered that God furnished them in their houses, and were not unmindful to furnish his house.  
When Augustus had beautified Rome, with setting up many fair buildings, he said. inveni lateritiam, marmoream reliqui. I found it made of brick, but I leave it made of marble. Your Grace, when God sent you to your inheritance and the right of this Realm, found the Church in horrible confusion, and in respect of the true worship of God, a Church of brick; or rather, as Ezekiel saith, daubed up with vntempered mortar. Your Grace hath already redressed the doctrine, now cast your eyes towards the Ministry, give courage and countenance unto learning that God's house may be served: So shall you leave a Church of God, and a testimony that the zeal of the Lords house hath eaten you up.  
Let us have care for the house of God, whosoever is not after this sort zealous, is a man of a double heart, we may not halt between two opinions: If the Lord be God follow him, but if Baal be he, then go after him. He that is not with Christ is against him. Many talk of the Gospel, and glory in their knowledge, but it is neither talk nor knowledge, which shall save them in that day: he that feareth the Lord, and serveth him with a pure heart, and may truly say, the zeal of thine house hath consumed me, he shall be saved; if they shall not escape, which have zeal without knowledge, what shall become of us which have knowledge without zeal.  
And you whosoever you are, that have decayed the Lords house, and abridged the provision and maintenance thereof, and see the miserable wrack of God's Church, if there be any zeal of God in you, if you have any fellowship of the spirit, if any compassion and mercy, if you love God, if you desire the continuance of the Gospel; Oh remember you have the patrimony due to them that should attend in the Lord's house; you take unto yourselves wrongfully that which was not lotted for you. Give unto Caesar those things that belong unto Caesar, and unto God the things which appertain unto him, and make for the beauty and furniture of his house. every yourselves by lawful means, and without the spoil and waste of God's Church. Let not the Ministry by your means be despised. You enriched them heretofore in the days of Popery, which mocked, and blinded, and devoured you: spoil not them now, that feed, and instruct and comfort you.  
That reverend man of God Mr Perkins in his sermon of the duties and dignities of the Ministry giveth 3. reasons of the rareness and scarceness of good Ministers. The first is, the contempt and disgrace of their calling by wicked and worldly men. 2. The difficulty of discharging the duties of their calling. The 3. reason is more peculiar to this age of the new Testament namely: Want of maintenance and preferment for men that labour in this calling. Men are flesh and blood, and in that respect must be alured and won to embrace this vocation by some arguments, which may persuade flesh & blood: the world hath in all ages been negligent herein, & therefore God in his law took such strict order for the maintenance of the Levites; but especially now under the Gospel, this calling is unprovided for, when it deserves best of all to be rewarded: certainly it were a worthy Christian policy to propound good preferments to this calling, that thereby men of the worthiest gifts might be won with it; and the want thereof is the cause, why so many young men of special parts and greatest hope, turn to other vocations, and especially to to the Law, wherein at this day the greatest part of the finest wits of our Kingdom are employed, and why? but Because they have all the means to rise; whereas the Ministry for the most part yieldeth nothing but a plain way to beggary: this is a great blemish in our Church, and surely I wish the Papists, those children of this world, were not wiser in their kind in this point then the Church of God: the reformation hereof is a work worth the labour of a Prince and people, and special care is to be had in it, else it will not be reform: for doubtless had not God himself in the Old Testament taken such strait order for the live of the Levites, they had been put to no less extremities than is the Ministry of this age, and this reason added to the other makes them perfect, and all put together make a reason infallible: for who will undergo so vile a contempt, & undertake so great a charge for no reward: and where there is so great contempt, so heavy a burden, and so mean a reward, what Marvel if a good minister be one of a thousand?  
Rulers & Magistrates are hereby taught, if good Ministers be so scarce, to maintain & increase, & do all good they can to the Schools of the Prophets, to Universities, Colleges and Schools of good learning, which are the Seminaries of the Ministry: herein the example of Samuel is very worthy to be followed, in whose days the Schools of the Prophets flourished; & even Saul himself, though he did much hurt in Israel, yet when he came to the Schools of the Prophets, his heart relented, he could do them no hurt, nay he put of his robes & prophesied amongst them. So should Christian Princes and Magistrates advance their Schools, and see them both well maintained, and well stored; the reason is evident and forcible, a good minister is one of a thousand, if therefore they would have the number increased, let them maintain the Seminaries. And again if Antichrist to uphold his kingdom (the kingdom of Satan,) be so careful herein to erect Colleges and endow them with liuings to be Seminaries for his Synagogue, and use so great means to sow his tares in the hearts of young men, that so they may sow them in the hearts of the people abroad, shall not Christian Princes be as careful, or rather much more zealous for the increasing of the number of Godly Ministers? shall Baal have his 400. Prophets and God have his Elias alone? great shame must it be to Ahab, or to any King, whose kingdom is in that estate.  
Add hereunto that passage of an excelling and worthy knight, Sr Henry Spelman, in his tract, de non temerandis Ecclesiis.  
Perhaps Lay Approprietaries think they may hold Parsonages & tithes by example of Colleges, Deans and Chapters, Bishops of the land, and of divers of our late kings and Princes. Before I speak to this point, I take it by protestation that I have no heart to make apology for it; For I wish that every man might drink the water of his own Well, eat the milk of his own flock, and live by the fruit of his own vineyard: I mean that every member might attract no other nutriment, but that which is proper to itself: yet are they greatly deceived that draw any juice of encouragement from these examples, for all these are either the Seminaries of the Church, or the husbandmen of the Church, or the Fathers and nurses of the Church; all de familia Ecclesiae, and consequently belonging to the care of the Church, and aught therefore to be sustained by it. For Saint Paul saith. He that provideth not for his own and namely for them of his household, he denieth the faith; and is worse than an infidel. 1. Tim. 5. Therefore before the statute of suppression of Abbeys, those that were not merely Ecclesiastical persons, yet if they were mixed, or had Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, they might by the laws of the land participate Ecclesiastical live, and tithes particularly. And this seemeth to take some ground out of the word of God. for the provincial Levites (as I may term them) whom David severed from the Temple, and placed abroad in the country to be rulers of the people, in matters pertaining to God and the King's business, 
1 Chron. 26.30.32.  (That is spiritually and temporally) had their portion of tithes notwithstanding, as well as the other Levites that ministered in the Temple.  
For a farewell; hear what Saint Augustine saith homil. 48. ex lib. 50. homil. tom. 10. maiores nostri ideo copiis omnibus abundabant quia Deo decimas dabant & Caesari censum reddebant. Our Ancestors did therefore abound in all riches because they did pay tithes unto God, and tribute unto Caesar: but now they are not willing to do either.  Act. 28.24. 
Some were persuaded with the things that were spoken, and some believed not.  
FINIS.