fhould live of the Altar; that thofe who difpenfe fpiritual Things fhould reap temporal Things: of which it is alfo an Appendix, that the Proportion of this Maintenance be not fmall or neceffitous, but plentiful and liberal. Whence, that all the Places and Offices of the Church be provided of fuch a Dotation, as they may be maintained, according to their feveral Degrees, is a Conftitution permanent and perpetual: but for Particularity of the Endowment, whether it fhould confift of Tythes, or Lands, or Penfions, or be mixed, might make a Question of Convenience; but no Queftion of precife Neceffity. Again, that the Cafe of the Church, de facto, is fuch, that there is a Want of Patrimony in the Church, is confeffed. For the principal Places, namely, the Bishop's Livings, are in fome Particulars not fufficient; and therefore obliged to Commendams.be fupplied by Toleration of Commendams; things of themselves unfit, and ever of a bad Report. And for the Benefices and Paftors Places, it is manifeft that many of them are very weak and penurious. On the other fide, that there was a Time when the Church was rather burthened with Superfluity, than with Want, is likewife apparent; but it is long fince; fo that the Fault was in others, and the Want redounds to us. Again, that it is to be wifhed Impropriations were returned to the Church, as the most proper and natural Endowments thereof, is a Thing likewife wherein Mens Judgments will not much vary. Nevertheless, that it is an Impoffibility to proceed now, either to their Refumption or Redemption, is as plain on the other fide. For Men are stated in them by the highest Affurance of the Kingdom, which is, Act of Parliament; and the Value of them amounts to much above ten Subfidies; and the Reftitution muft of Neceffity pafs thofe Hands, where they are now in Poffeffion or Interest.

40. But from these things, which are manifeftly true, to draw fome Conclufions. First, in my Opinion, I muft confefs, that all the Parliaments fince 27 and 31 of Hen. VIII. who gave away Impropriations from the Church, feem to ftand in a fort obnoxious, and obliged to God in Confcience, to do fomewhat for the Church, to reduce the Patrimony thereof to a Competency. For fince they have debarred Chrift's Wife of her Dowry, it were reafon they made here a competent Jointure. Next, to fay that Impropriations fhould be only charged; that carries neither Poffibility nor Reafon. Not Poffibility, for the Reafons touched before: Not Reafon, because if it be conceived, that if any Perfon be charged, it would be a Re-charge, or Double-Charge, inafmuch as he pays Tythes already, that is a thing mistaken. For it must be remembred, that as the Realm gave Tythes to the Church, fo the Realm fince has given Tythes away from the Church to the King; as they may give the eighth or ninth Sheaf. And therefore the first Gift being evacuated, it cannot go in Defeafance, or Difcharge, of that perpetual Bond, wherewith Men are bound to maintain God's Minifters. And fo we fee in Example, that diverfe well-difpofed Perfons, not Impropriators,

are content to increase their Preachers Livings; which, tho in Law it is but Benevolence, yet before God it is Confcience. Farther, that Impropriations fhould be fomewhat more deeply charged than other Revenues of the like Value, methinks cannot well be denied; both in regard of the ancient Claim of the Church, and the Intention of the first Giver: and again, because they have paffed, in Valuation between Man and Man, fomewhat at a lefs Rate, in regard of the faid Pretence or Claim of the Church, in Confcience, before God. But of this Point, touching Church Maintenance, I do not think fit to enter into farther Particulars at prefent.

End of the General Supplement to the De Augmentis Scientiarum.