the legislature might, after the Reformation, have juftly applied them to fome de pious or public uses.

In a very few centuries after Chriftihanity became national in moft parts of Europe, although the Church of Rome had already introduced many corruptions Rin religion; yet the piety of early ChrifSi tians, as well as new converts, was fo great, and particularly of princes, as well as noblemen and other wealthy persons, that they built many religious houses, for those who were inclined to live in a reclufe or folitary manner, endowing those monafteries with land. It is true, we read of monks fome ages before, who dwelt in caves and cells, in defert places. But, when public edifices were erected and endowed, they began gradually to degene rate into idlenefs, ignorance, avarice, ambition, and luxury, after the ufual fate of all human inftitutions. The popes, who had already aggrandized themselves, laid hold of the opportunity to fubject all religious houses with their priors and abbots, to their peculiar authority; whereby these religious orders became of an intereft directly different from the rest of mankind,

2

kind, and wholly at the pope's devotion. I need fay no more on this article, fo ge nerally known and fo frequently treated, or of the frequent endeavours of fome other princes, as well as our own, to check the growth, and wealth, and power of the regulars.

In later times, this mistaken piety, of erecting and endowing abbeys, began to decrease. And therefore, when fome newinvented fect of monks and friars began to start up, not being able to procure grants of land, they got leave from the pope to appropriate the tithes and glebes of certain parishes, as contiguous or near as they could find, obliging themselves to fend out fome of their body to take care of the people's fouls: And, if fome of those parishes were at too great a diftance from the abbey, the monks appointed to attend them were paid, for the cure, either a fmall ftipend of a determined fum, or fometimes a third part, or what are now called the vicarial tithes.

As to the church-lands, it hath been the opinion of many writers, that, in England, they amounted to a third part of the whole kingdom. And therefore, if that wicked

,6

wicked Prince above-mentioned, when he had caft off the Pope's power, had introduced fome reformation in religion, hè could not have been blamed for taking away the abbey-lands by authority of parliament. But, when he continued the most cruel persecutor of all those who differed in the least article of the Popish religion, which was then the national and eftablished faith, his feizing on those lands, and applying them to prophane ufes, was abfolute facrilege, in the strongeft sense of the word; having been bequeathed by princes and pious men to facred uses.

In the reign of this Prince, the Church and Court of Rome had arrived to fuch a height of corruption, in doctrine and difcipline, as gave great offence to many wife, learned, and pious men through moft parts of Europe; and feveral countries agreed to make fome reformation in religion. But, although a proper and juft reformation were allowed to be neceffary, even to preferve Christianity itself, yet the paffions and vices of men had mingled themselves fo far, as to pervert and confound all the good endeavours of those

who

who intended well: And thus the reformation, in every country where it was attempted, was carried on in the most impious and fcandalous manner that can poffibly be conceived. To which unhappy proceedings we owe all the juft reproaches that Roman Catholics have caft upon us ever fince. For, when the northern kingdoms and states grew weary of the Pope's tyranny, and when their preachers, beginning with the fcandalous abuses of indulgencies, and proceeding farther to examine feveral points of faith, had credit enough with their princes, who were in fome fear left fuch a change might affect the peace of their countries, becaufe their bishops had great influence on the people by their wealth and power; these politic teachers had a ready answer to this purpose. "Sir, your Majefty need not be "in any pain or apprehension: Take away "the lands, and fink the authority of the

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bishops: Bestow thofe lands on your "courtiers, on your nobles, and your great officers in your army; and then you will be fecure of the people." This advice was exactly followed. And, in the Proteftant monarchies abroad, little more

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than

than the shadow of Epifcopacy is left; but, in the republics, is wholly extinct.

In England, the Reformation was brought in after a fomewhat different manner, but upon the fame principle of robbing the church. However, Henry VIII, with great dexterity, discovered an invention to gratify his infatiable thirst for blood, on both religions,

VOL. XVI.

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