Archbishopricks, and Twenty-Five Bishopricks, inftead of Three Arch-Flamens, and Twenty Five Flamens, changing their Sees into Bishopricks; all the Archbishops, Bishops and Clergy of England, in the Inftitution of a Chriftian Man dedicated by them to King Henry the 8th, fol 59, and 60. fay, That 'tis beyond all Doubt that the Order of Bishops was devifed by the Ancient Fathers of the primitive Church, for the Confervation of good Order, and that by the Confent and Sufferance of the Prince, and Civil Power: And Bishop Hooper faid, that Archbishops were first conftituted in the Days of Conftantine the Great; and Archbishop Whitgift fays, that Archbishops are neither of Divine or Apoftolical, but human Inftitution, and fince the Apostles Time. And 'tis very remarkable, that as Angels are faid to be Miniftring Spirits fent to Minifter to the Heirs of Salvation; fo the Angels or Meffengers of the Church of God, whofe Converfations and Affections ought wholly to be fix'd on Heaven and heavenly Things, have no need of Palaces, Manors, Lordships, &c. to recommend them to the People. The Angels or Minifters of the Churches in Afia had no fuch Temporalities as their Succeffors now claim and enjoy, and fo eagerly contend for; and feveral ancient Writers record, that when the Emperor Conftantine the Great

Great endowed the Bishops, the Church, and Clergy, with Temporal Laws and Poffeffions, the Voice of an Angel was heard in the Air, crying out, hodie Venenum infunditur in Ecclefia; and in thofe Days it became a common Proverb, Ecclefia Peperit Divitias, & Filia Devoravit Matrem; and I wish I could fay, we do not often find, where there is the greatest Wealth and Temporal Poffeffions, there is the greatest want of Religion, Charity, and Piety.

Far be it from me to debafe the Order, or to write any Thing to leffen the Efteem all true Britons ought to have for fome now in the Church, who are a Glory and a Defence to it, are the true Defenders of the Proteftant Religion, and an Honour to the Establishment; who are Guardians of the Rights and Privileges of the Subjects, and of universal Charity to those who differ from them in Circumftantials; may they ever shine as Stars in the Firmament, and hereafter receive Immortal Crowns for the generous Oppofition they have made against Impofition and all other Doctrines, which are only propagated by Men who pretend to be Ambassadors of Chrift, and pretend to love God by hating their Brethren; and who, instead of Feeding thofe Flocks, over which the Holy Ghoft hath made

them

them Overfeers, are for fleecing them, and leaving them to be devoured, giving them over to the Devil, that they may learn no more to Blafpheme, as they charitably term denying any Thing they fee fit to have them Believe.

The Spirit of Perfecution ever was and ever will be contrary to the whole Tenor and Doctrine of the Gofpel, and I always was inclined to believe a Man's Actions rather than his Words: Some of the Inferior Clergy always were (for Ends peculiar to themselves) for promoting Strife and Perfecution: He that calls me a Heretick, Schifmatick, &c. perfecutes me as much in Fact, as he that excommunicates me, and divests me of Church Communion; and · was he to be my Judge, I doubt not but Ifhould fuffer the utmost Severity.

I am forry I am obliged here to take Notice of the Source and Origin of all our Mischiefs and Misfortunes, thofe polluted, corrupted Fountains, from whence all our Evils proceed, I mean the Universities; not that I am an Enemy to good Literature and Education, for he must be favage and ignorant indeed, who is an Enemy to Knowledge and folid Learning; but I am for an entire and compleat Reformation of all our Seminaries.

Seminaries. The Purification of the Univerfities is of fuch Importance to the Nation, that the Hinges of our Government depend upon it, and the wifeft of our Princes have and ought always to take this Matter into their own peculiar Infpection, and Regard; there are many Laws and Statutes now in both our Univerfities, but particularly in the Colleges and Halls in Oxford, which are diametrically contrary to our Constitution, and to many Acts of Parliament made for the Security of the Civil Government; The Univerfities, fending into the Nation every Year fuch a prodigious Number of Priests, educated in all the Doctrines of Bigotry and Slavery, muft needs have a very great Influence on the fuperftitious Laity. What may not the more sober loyal Part of the Nation hope for from a Royal Visitation? Why may not Oxford have need of one as well as Aberdeen? And upon due Examination I am fure it would be found, that a proud, popish, perfecuting, bigoted Party Spirit prevails entirely there, instead of a free generous and fociable Temper; and that Loyalty which ought to be propagated in thofe Colleges and Schools, which enjoy all the Benefits that can arife from the powerful Protection and Encouragement of a Proteftant Prince, whom they have all fworn Allegiance to, and

are

are bound by all the ftricteft Ties of Honour and Loyalty to defend and obey. It is too well known to be difputed, that fome of the Decrees of the Universities of Oxford have been burnt by Order of the House of Peers, by the Hands of the common Hangman, as tending to deftroy the Rights of the Subjects, contrary to the Principles of Civil Government, and the Dictates of human Reafon; and how often have his Majefty and the Royal Family been treated with all the Marks of Difgrace and Contempt; how have the Laws made in Defence of the publick Peace, been there trampled upon and defpifed; how often has the Impoftor's Health been publickly toafted in the University with Impunity and Protection, and all the Friends of the Government discouraged and perfecuted? And I am perfwaded no true Briton will have any regard for the many-Proteftations of Loyalty they can make, unless they fee a manifeft Reformation in them, an humble Repentance, and due Submiffion to the best of Kings. Sedition there, has been made meritorious; and 'twas no Matter for Christianity, fo long as fome of their Members profefs'd a Zeal for the Church by Rebellion against their Sovereign. The Mufes Refidences have been Seats of Treafon; and the ignorant Populace have

I

had