A SPEECH of the Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Say and Seal, one of his Majesty's Privy Council.  
SPOKEN IN PARLIAment the 25 th'. day of February, Anno Dom. 1642. Concerning the Bishop of Canterbury's Petition, delivered to the High Court of Parliament, February the 22. 1642. 1641  
Avouched by Richard Browne, Clericus.  
London, Printed T. Banks. 1642.   

A SPEECH OF THE right Honourable the Lord Viscount Say and Seal, one of his Majesty's privy Council.  
Spoken in Parliament the twenty fifth day of February, Anno Dom. 1642. Concerning the Bishop of Canterbury's Petition delivered to the high Court of Parliament. February, 22. 1642.  
Master Speaker.  
I Have waited to find you free from greater businesses, that I might crave leave to speak of some things concerning myself, and this I have the more desired since my Lord of Canterbury's Petition, who expressing his troubles, and bewailing the misery of his condition, and of the condition of the Church of England (for he would needs join them together) which I think he may, as the cause and effect, (for the miseries of the Church have certainly risen from him.) as also he insisted much upon this, that these troubles had befallen him through the malice of two parties, the Papists, and the Sectaries, and by those he said the Church was greatly afflicted, how fare this man will extend this word Sectary, and whom he will comprehend under it I know not, but I have cause to fear; that I may lie under some misapprehensions in respect of matters of this Nature, which how fare it concerneth him, your Lordships will perceive by what I shall say. My Lord of Canterbury a man of a mean birth, bred up in a College (and that to frequently falls out to be in a faction, whose narrow comprehensions extended itself no further, then to carry on a side in the college, or canvas for a proctor's place in the University, being suddenly advanced to highest places of Government in Church and State, had not his heart enlarged, by the enlargement of his fortunes, but still the maintaining of his party, was that which filled all his thoughts, which he prosecuted with so much violence, and inconsiderateness, that he had not an eye to see the consequences thereof to Church state; until he brought both into such distractions, danger and dishonour which we now find ourselves encompassed with all.  
My Lords, as for me he hath been pleased to say that he had observed me, not to come to prayers and added that I was in his knowledge, as great a Separatist as any was in England.  
For the first of these that he chargeth upon me, it may be he was willing to have it thought that I would not join in prayer with your Lordships, (which is altogether false, for I should most willingly join in prayer with you, and further I will add that I do not think but some set forms of prayer by some men, in some cases, may be lawfully used, but this is that which I am not satisfied in that, a certain number of men should usurp an authority unto themselves, to frame certain prayers, and forms of divine service, and when that is done under the name of the Church, to enjoin them upon all persons in all times, and upon all occasions to be used, and no other.  
This sets aside the gifts and graces which Christ hath given; and thrusts out the excercise of them to substitute in their places, and introduce a device of man, This munition of such forms upon all men, turns that which in the beginning necessity brought in, for the help of insuficiency, to be now the continuance and maintenance of insufficiency, and a bar to the excercise of able and sufficient gifts, and graces, as if because some men had need to make use of crutches, all men should be prohibited, the use of their legs, and enjoined to take up such crutches as have been prepared for those who have no legs, as for my part I will not refuse to come to prayer; for I take the sin then to be personal, and to reside in the person officiating only I know not whether I express myself clearly in this or not, and it may seem to be a vice scrupulosity, give me leave therefore to endeavour to clear it by an instance or two, in the time of the law when God appointed himself to be worshipped by offerings, and sacrifices, the shadows and tips of those truths which were to come, if a poor man that had not ability to bring a Bullock, or a Rame, or a Lamb, had brought a pair of Turtle Doves, or two young Pigeons, it would have been in him an acceptable service, but if a man of ability who had Herds and flocks, should out of negligence or covetousness have spared the cost of a Bullock or a Rame, and brought young Pigeons, his service would have been rejected, how much more would the service have been abomination if men should have taken authority, to have enjoined all to bring no other but Turtle or young Pigeons, because some were not able to do more.  
Now in this time of the gospel God hath appointed the foolishness of preaching, for so the world accounts it to be the means whereby he will save those that believe, I conceive that where there are no gifts enableing men to preach, there might be a lawful & profitable use of reading of printed sermons and Homilies and in such case they might very lawfully be heard, but if some men upon pretence to prevent extravagant preaching should take upon them to publish and set forth a book of public and common sermons, fit for all times and occations, and should enjoin ministers to conform to those, and use no preaching at all, this would make it utterly unlawful, and to be professed against, as that which were the bringing in of a human device & munition the place and instead of God's ordinance, and therefore the evil of it would soon appear to us if so injoind. Therefore I hope your Lordships will in that respect let me stand right in your opinions, and I shall now end with two requests.  
The one that your Lordships will please to pardon me for troubling you with so long adiscourse concerning myself.  
The second is humbly to entreat of you that where you know there is one and the same God worshipped, one and the same faith embraced, one, and the same spirit moving, working love and an unblameable conversation with out any offence to the state in your brethren that in all these concure with you, will not suffer them (for Ceremonies and things to you indifferent) but not to them, but these which with out offence to the state, or prejudice to the Church you may take of, to be thrust out of the Land, as it wear and cut of from the native Country, for if thus you shall wound the consciences of your brethren, you will certainly offend and sin against Christ.  
FINIS.