The holy state by Thomas Fuller ...

CHAP. 12. The good Patron.

THat in the Primitive times (though I dare not say generally in all Churches) if not the sole choyce, at least the consent of the people was requi∣red in appointing of Ministers, may partly appear out of * 1.1 Scripture, more plainly out of * 1.2Cyprian, and is confessed by reverend * 1.3 D^r. Whitgift. These po∣pular elections were well discharged in those purer times, when men being scoured with constant per∣secution had little leasure to rust with factions, and when there were no baits for Corruption; the places of Ministers being then of great pains and perill,

& small profit. But dissension creeping in, in after-ages (the eyes of common people at the best but dimme through ignorance being wholly blinded with par∣tiality) it may seem their right of election was either devolved to, or assumed of the Bishop of the Dioces, who * 1.4 onely was to appoint Curates in eve∣ry parish. Afterwards to invite lay-men to build and endow Churches, the Bishops departed with their right to the lay Patrons according to the verse,

Patronum faciunt Dos, Aedificatio, Fundus. A Patron's he that did endow with lands, Or built the Church, or on whose ground it stands.

It being conceived reasonable that he who payed the Churches portion, should have the main stroke in providing her an husband. Then came Patronages to be annexed to Mannours, and by sale or descent to passe along with them; nor could any justly com∣plain thereof, if all Patrons were like him we de∣scribe.

* 1.5He counts the Living his to dispose, not to make profit of. He fears more to lapse his conscience, then his Li∣ving, fears more the committing then the discovery of Simony.

* 1.6A Benefice he sometimes giveth speedily, never rashly. Some are long in bestowing them out of state, because they love to have many suiters; others out of covetousnesse will not open their wares till all their chapmen are come together, pretending to take the more delibera∣tion.

* 1.7He is deaf to opportunity, if wanting desert. Yet is he not of the mind of Tamberlane the Scythian King, who never gave Office to any that sought for it: for desiring proceeds not alwayes from want of deserving; yea God himself likes well that his favours should be sued for. Our Patron chiefly respects piety, sufficiency, and promise of painfulnesse, whereby he makes his electi∣on. If he can by the same deed provide for Gods house

and his own familie, he counts it lawfull, but on no terms will preferre his dearest and nearest sonne or kinsman if unworthy.

He hates not onely direct simony,* 1.8 or rather Gehazisme, by the string, but also that which goes about by the bow. Ancient Councels present us with severall forms hereof.* 1.9 I find how the Patrons sonnes and nephews were wont to feed upon the Incumbent, and eat out the presentation in great banquets and dinners, till at last the Palentine Councel brought a voyder to such feasts, and made a canon against them. But the former ages were bung∣lers to the cunning contrivance of the simony-engineers of our times. O my soul come thou not into their secrets. As if they cared not to go to hell, so be it were not the nearest way, but that they might fetch a farre com∣passe round about. And yet father * 1.10 Campian must nreot carry it so clearly, who taxeth the Protestants for maintaining of ••imony. We confesse it a personall vice amongst us, but not to be charged as a Church-sinne, which by penall Laws it doth both prohibit and punish. Did Rome herein look upon the dust behind her own doores, she would have but little cause to call her neighbour slut. What saith the Epi∣gram?

An Petrus fuerat Romae sub judice lis est; Simonem Romae nemo fuisse negat. That Peter was at Rome, there's strife about it; That Simon was there, none did ever doubt it.

He hates corruption not onely in himself,* 1.11 but his servants. O∣therwise it will do no good for the Master to throw bribes away, if the Men catch them up at the first re∣bound, yea before ever they come to the ground. * 1.12 Cambden can tell you what Lord-Keeper it was in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth, who though himself an upright man was hardly spoken of for the basenesse of his servants in the sale of Ecclesiasticall prefer∣ments.

* 1.13When he hath freely bestowed a Living, he makes no boasts of it. To do this were a kind of spirituall simony, to ask and receive applause of others; as if the commonnesse of faulting herein made a right, and the rarity of gi∣ving things freely merited ex condigno a generall com∣mendation. He expects nothing from the Clerk he presented but his prayers to God for him, respectfull carriage towards him, and painfulnesse in his Calling, who having gotten his place freely may discharge it the more faithfully: whereas those will scarce afford to feed their sheep fat, who rent the pasture at too high a rate.

To conclude, let Patrons imitate this particular ex∣ample of King William Rufus, who (though sacrile∣gious in other acts) herein discharged a good consci∣ence. Two Monks came to him to buy an Abbots place of him, seeking to outvie each other in offering great summes of money, whilest a third Monk stood by, and said nothing. To whom said the King, What wilt thou give for the place. Not a penny, answered he, for it is against my conscience; but here I stay to wait home on him whom your Royall pleasure shall de∣signe Abbot. Then quoth the King, Thou of the three best deservest the place, and shalt have it, and so be∣stowed it on him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Acts 14.2••. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.2

  Lib. 1. epist. 4
• * 1.3

  Defence of the Answer to the Admoniti∣on. pag. 164.
• * 1.4

  Concil. Tole∣tan. Anno 589. Can. 9. Synod. An∣tiochen. Can. 24. and 2. Concil. Gan∣grense Can. 7. and 8.
• * 1.5

  Maxime 1
• * 1.6

  2
• * 1.7

  3
• * 1.8

  4
• * 1.9

  Concil. Pa••ent. Anno 1312. Constit. 14.
• * 1.10

  Vid. Videl. Comment. in Epist. Ignatii ad Tralienses.
• * 1.11

  5
• * 1.12

  In the life of Queen Elizab. Anno Dom. 1596.
• * 1.13

  6