silent, and then at last she will be out of breath with blowing her own trumpet.

Fame sometimes reports things less than they are. Pardon her for offending herein, she is guilty so seldom. For one kingdom of Scotland, which, they say, geographers describe an hundred miles too short, most northern countries are made too large. Fame generally overdoes, underdoes but in some particulars. The Italian proverb hath it, "There is less honesty, wisdom, and money in men than is counted on;" yet sometimes a close churl, who locks his coffers so fast Fame could never peep into them, dieth richer than he was reported when alive. None could come near to feel his estate; it might therefore cut fatter in his purse than was expected. But Fame falls most short in those transcendents which are above her predicaments as in Solomon's wisdom, "And behold, one half was not told me; thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame that I heard: " but chiefly in fore-reporting the happiness in heaven, which "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive.”

OF MINISTERS' MAINTENANCE.

MAINTENANCE of ministers ought to be plentiful, certain, and in some sort proportionable to their deserts. It should be plentiful, because

Their education was very chargeable to fit them for their profession, both at school and in the university: their books very dear, and those which they bought in folio, shrink quickly into quartos, in respect of the price their executors can get for them. Say not that scholars draw needless expenses on themselves by their own lavishness, and that they should rather lead a fashion of thrift than follow one of riot; for let any equal man tax the bill of their necessary charges, and it amounts to a great sum, yea, though they be never so good husbands. Besides, the prices of all commodities daily rise higher; all persons and professions are raised in their manner of living. Scholars therefore, even against their wills, must otherwhiles be involved in the general expensiveness of the times; it being impossible that one spoke should stand still when all the wheel turns about.

Objec. But many needlessly charge themselves in living too long in the university, sucking so long of their mother, they are never a whit the wiser for it; whilst others, not stay

ing there so long, nor going through the porch .of human arts, but entering into divinity at the postern, have made good preachers, providing their people wholesome meat, though not so finely drest.

Answ. Much good may it do their very hearts that feed on it. But how necessary a competent knowledge of those sciences is for a perfect divine, is known to every wise man. Let not men's suffering be counted their fault, not those accused to stand idle in the market, whom no man hath hired. Many would leave the university sooner, if called into the country on tolerable conditions.

Because ministers are to subsist in a free, liberal, and comfortable way. Balaam, the false prophet, rode with his two men; God's Levite had one man: Oh let not the ministers of the Gospel be slaves to others, and servants to themselves! They are not to pry into gain through every small chink. It becomes them rather to be acquainted with the natures of things than with the prices, and to know them rather as they are in the world than as they are in the market. Otherwise, if his means be small, and living poor, necessity will bolt him out of his own study, and send him to the barn, when he should be at his book, or make him study his Easter-book more than all other writers. Hereupon some wanting what they should

have at home, have done what they should not abroad.

Because hospitality is expected at their hands. The poor come to their houses as if they had interest in them, and the ministers can neither receive them nor refuse them. Not to relieve them were not Christianity, and to relieve them were worse than infidelity, because therein they wrong their providing for their own family. Thus sometimes are they forced to be Nabals against their will; yet it grieveth them to send away the people empty. But what shall they do, seeing they cannot multiply their loaves and their fishes? Besides, clergymen are deeply rated to all payments. Oh that their profession were but as highly prized as their estate is valued!

Because they are to provide for their posterity, that after the death of their parents they may live, though not in a high, yet in an honest fashion, neither leaving them to the wide world, nor to a narrow cottage.

Because the Levites in the Old Testament had plentiful provision. Oh 't is good to be God's pensioner, for he giveth his large allowance. They had cities and suburbs, (houses and glebe-land) tithes, freewill-offerings, and their parts in first-fruits, and sacrifices. the ministers of the Gospel deserve worse wages for bringing better tidings? Besides,

Do

the Levites' places were hereditary, and the son sure of his father's house and land without a faculty ad succedendum patri.

Because the Papists in time of Popery gave their priests plentiful means. Whose benefactors, so bountiful to them, may serve to condemn the covetousness of our age towards God's ministers, in such who have more knowledge and should have more religion.

Objec. But the great means of the clergy in time of Popery was rather wrested than given. The priests melted men's hearts into charity with the scarefire of purgatory; and for justice now to give back what holy fraud had gotten away, is not sacrilege but restitution. when those grand and vast donations were given to the Church, there was (as some say) a voice of angels heard from heaven, saying, Hodie venenum in ecclesiam Christi cecidit.

And

Answ. If poison then fell into the Church, since hath there a strong antidote been given to expel it, especially in impropriations. Distinguish we betwixt such donations given to uses in themselves merely unlawful and superstitious, as praying for the dead, and the like; and those which in genere were given to God's service, though in specie some superstitious end were annexed thereto. And grant the former of these to be void in their very granting, yet the latter ought to be rectified and reduced to