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denyed that no people have been lefs active, if not altogether paffive against the Popish Plot, than these Ceremony-Idolaters, and the Bishops themselves: So that with Submiffion I take it to be plain that Popery is at the bottom; And whileft that prevailes, there is little hopes of uniting Proteftants by our dignifyed Clergy; and therefore the Parliament muft do it, if 'ere it be done.

If Ceremonies are of that Moment that we muft suppose the Church cannot fubfift if they be layed afide; Therefore I will let that pafs, and humbly offer one thing, that I conceive will conduce greatly to the compofing the differences that are amongst us, and I am the more confident to propose it, because altho it fail in this yet I hope that thing will appear reasonable. In fhort therefore it is this, that a Law be made to take away pluralities and non-refidences: Not to have any retrofpect, for that I would not do, but to bar them for the future; For by thefe it is that much of our divifions are increafed and high laid, and I'le fhew you how it comes to pass: They who are bred up to be Minifters are for the most part the Sons of fuch parents, who are not capable of doing further for them than to maintain them at the Univerfity till they are capable to be admitted into a benefice: And when they have done that, they turn them off to provide for themfelves, who poffibly have not five pounds in all the world, or a Crols (as we fay) to blefs themfelves with ;

So

So that being put to fhift for themselves, they find it difficult to get into a living, for when any Vacancy is, it is oftener fupplyed by a Man that is beneficed already than by him that has none. Therefore what muft hedo, he has nothing to fubfist on, he can get no preferment, he muft not ftarve; Work he cannot, to beg he is afhamed, fteal he dares not; what then is his refuge ? There is no way left, but to infinuate himfelf into the opinion of them that separate from the Church, and to gain approbation, he must preach up a new fangled doctrine, and fo gain to himself a people; And these he must be fure to keep from the Church by fpeaking against it and telling terrible ftories of it, to fill them with fear and apprehenfions that they may not come at it; fo that he is fure that if he can give them a diflike of the Church, their benevolences will be the more liberal and certain: Whereas if room were made in Ecclefiaftical preferments, by preventing pluralities and won-refidencies, young Clergy men would not be fo apt to turn afide, because they need not difpair of preferment; I acknowledge this would not wholly cure our diftemper, but I dare appeale to any reasonable man, whether it would not go a great way in the work.

But to let this pafs, I will proceed and mention a few things, and then let any man,if he can, Juftify pluralifts, and nonrefidents; firft,where do we find in Scripture

that

that any one man had feveral flocks committed to his care? Nay that of a Bishop (which if allowable in any, ought to have the over-fight of many congregations) yet they are confined to one Church, by the primitive inftitution of them, when the Clergy made the work of the Miniftry their bufinefs: Therefore I would fain be fatisfied, how it comes to pass that the work of the Miniftry is or ought to be lefs the care of the Clergy than heretofore For fo it is now adays, and it plainly appears by their Coveting Pluralitics For how can he that has feveral livings preach at them all; vifit and comfort the fick, and do all the duties of him whofe cares it is to watch for their Souls: And how unreasonable a thing is it for one man to have five, fix, perhaps more preferments, and five or fix men of learning and Piety perish for want of bread? It would make a man begin to think that Church preferments were ordained for thefe we alifts, and not defign'd for every worthy avourer, who well deferves his hire; befides, not to fay any thing of the Debauchery, Pride, Covereoufnefs and contention of the Clergy; what a fhame is it to fee how thefe pluralists make choice of their Curates; their question is not, what is he? but how little will he take? as if piety and learning made no Matter; and were not requifite; and if a good man be preferred to be a Curate, it is by accident, and not by defign: And therefore I humbly conceive that the divifions of our

Church

Church are not a little occafioned by this, and contempt brought upon it: And is it not fad to think that men shall be prefered to the Church, upon the account of intereft and not for Merit; This being fo plain I will not multiply words upon it, but conclude with this, that every mans religion is to do Juftly, love Mercy and to Walk humbly with God, to believe in our Lord Jefus Chrift, and not to put our brethren out of the Church, for which God Almighty will not shut Heavens Gates against use

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Of the Abfolute Power exercised in the late Reigns, and a Defence of King Williams acceffion to the Thone, &c.

Gentlemen,

T

He prefervation of the publick peace is the occafion that has called us together at this time, in which no

man can be remifs or neglect, when he confiders that his particular intereft, as well as his duty, does indifpenfibly oblige him to do what in him lyes to fupport it; In order to this, that which is now more efpecially expected from us is, first, To inquire into the neglects of thofe in whom the Law has repofed any truft, and Second, to difcover thofe who have broken or violated the Laws, that fuch criminals may be brought to condign punishment. And fince the execution of the Laws is our proper bufinefs, and that the Laws fhould have their courfe, is abfolutely neceffary to the

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