judgments, to terrify the fimple, which have not fufficiently understood out of Solomon, that the causeless curfe fhall not come.' (Ibid.) 4. Evil Example fet by the Dignitaries of the Church. Now concerning the occafion of the controverfies, it cannot be denied but the imperfections in the conversation [= daily lives] and government of those which have chief place in the Church, have ever been principal caufes and motives of fchifms and divifions. For whilft the bishops and governors of the Church continue full of knowledge and good works; whilft they feed the flock indeed; whilft they deal with the secular states in all liberty and refolution, according to the majefty of their calling, and the precious care of fouls impofed upon them, fo long the Church is fituated as it were upon a hill; no man maketh question of it, or feeketh to depart from it: but when these virtues in the fathers and leaders of the Church have loft their light, and that they wax worldly, lovers of themselves, and pleasers of men, then men begin to grope for the Church as in the dark; they are in doubt whether they be the fucceffors of the apoftles, or of the Pharifees; yea, howfoever they fit in Mofes' chair, yet they can never speak 'as having authority,' because they have loft their reputation in the consciences of men, by declining their fteps from the way which they trace out to others; fo as men had need continually have founding in their ears this fame, Nolite exire, 'Go not out' [St. Matt. xxiv. 26]; fo ready are they to depart from the Church upon every voice. And there"fore it is truly noted by one that writeth as a natural man, that the humility of the friars did, for a great time, maintain and bear out the irreligion of bishops and prelates. (Ibid.) UNWORTHINESS OF HIS- I cannot fail to reprefent to your Majefty [James I.] the unworthiness peregrination: za mats of az rezida ix and * Provi , before it ACT and your pe it is now starglafive szumanent of of the hiftory of England in the main continuance thereof, and the partiality and obliquity of that of Scotland, in the lateft and largeft author that I have feen; fuppofing that it would be honour for your Majefty, and a work very memorable, if this island of Great Britain, as it is now joined in monarchy for ages to come, fo were joined in one hiftory for the times paffed, after the manner of the facred hiftory, which draweth down the ftory of the ten tribes, and of the two tribes, as twins, together. And if it shall seem that the : greatness of this work may make it less exactly performed, there is an excellent period of a smaller compafs of time, as to the hiftory of England; that is to say, from the uniting of the Rofes to the uniting of the kingdoms; a portion of time, wherein to my understanding there hath been the most varieties, that in like number of fucceffions, of any hereditary monarchy, hath been known for it beginneth with the mixed adoption of a crown by arms and title; an entry by battle, an establishment by marriage; and therefore times answerable, like waters after a tempeft, full of working |